Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 1

My name is Eva, and I’m the youngest of six siblings. Having a bunch of older brothers can be tough, especially when they all think they’re stronger, faster, and smarter just because they’re boys. But I’ve made it my mission to show them that girls—especially girls like me—can do anything they can do, and sometimes even  better.
Kyle, Zayn, Xavier, and I had just returned from one of our hunting trips up in the mountains. The day had been long, but it was worth it. The mountains, with their towering pines and crisp air, had been generous. Between the four of us, we’d managed to bring down two deer, enough to feed our family and a few neighbours for days. I’m not saying I did all the work, but… well, I did most of it.
By the time we reached home, the sky was tinged with the orange and pink of sunset, and the smell of fresh bread from the ovens in the village made our stomachs growl. As we approached the house, Kyle nudged me with a grin.
“You going to tell them how we made the kill, or are you going to claim it was all you?” he teased.
“You’ll see,” I shot back with a smirk. “They’re going to want to hear my version of the story.”
Our parents were waiting for us when we got back, our mother already preparing a feast. We brought the deer in, and the moment was full of laughter and excitement as our mother praised the size of the catch, our father inspecting it with a nod of approval. Dinner was soon roasting over the fire, and the delicious smell filled the room.
When we finally sat down for the meal, I couldn’t wait to share the story of the hunt. I stood up in front of the family, dramatically spreading my arms as I launched into the tale.
“So, there we were,” I began, drawing everyone’s attention. “The four of us, silent as shadows, moving through the forest like ghosts. The deer didn’t even know we were there. And then, out of nowhere, I spotted it—a massive buck, at least ten feet tall—”
“Ten feet?” Zayn interrupted with a laugh, shaking his head. “It was barely six feet if that.”
“Hey, who’s telling the story here?” I shot back, grinning as I continued. “As I was saying, a massive buck. I drew my bow, took aim, and with one perfect shot, I brought it down. My brothers just stood there, amazed—”
“Actually,” Xavier piped up, a playful glint in his eye, “what really happened is that Eva tripped on a root, and her arrow accidentally hit the deer.”
“That’s not true!” I protested, but I couldn’t help but laugh along with the rest of them.
Kyle leaned back in his chair, grinning. “I mean, it was a good shot, but let’s not forget who tracked it in the first place.”
“I tracked it,” I insisted, crossing my arms and pretending to pout.
“You? Track it?” Xavier laughed. “You didn’t even see it until Kyle pointed it out.”
Our father chuckled from his spot at the head of the table, clearly amused by the back-and-forth. “Sounds to me like it was a team effort,” he said with a wink.
“Exactly!” Zayn agreed, raising his cup. “To teamwork—and to Eva’s ‘heroic’ stumble.”
Everyone laughed, including me, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. The room was warm, filled with the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread, the crackling of the fire, and the sound of my family’s laughter. Even our mother, usually quiet during our hunting stories, was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
“Well, however it happened, you brought home dinner,” she said with a smile, patting my shoulder as I took my seat again. “That’s all that matters.
As we dug into the meal, the playful banter continued, and the house was filled with joy. It was moments like these that made everything else—the long hunts, the hard work, the challenges—worth it. Here, with my family, there was always a sense of belonging, of love, and of laughter.