Her name was Saya, her eyes reflected back like a mass of grey, not having any interest in any of petty conversation. We laid layers of thick blanket on her small frame, her shoulders were completely wrapped in the blankets we gave her. As the fire crackled, the warmth began seeping into the room, she started to sprawl all over the bed and smile in comfort. The elders of the village scolded us for bringing a stranger back to the village however it was they finally agreed to it as it had a benefit towards our village.
In all honestly, we didn't think Saya would ever be allowed to leave the village, it was a cage for those who wanted to go outside, but for those who wanted to stay it was all fun and games. We were of the latter, finding our games and small entertainment everywhere we went. We were the weaker rogue bunch in the village, we would never have been accepted into normal society so we stayed in the mountains, where no one who ever wandered into except for Saya.
Saya didn't ever talk to us either, just silent glances or nods, as if we understood sign language. Most of the time we laughed it off, but sometimes it hurt, we knew she could speak and hear us, why did she refuse to humour to us? She usually spent most of the day, sitting upright, completely straight like a door, and looking out into the eternal winter days.
And her days continued like that.
The winter began to melt into one of the few weeks of warm weather we had every year, and at this Saya began to talk, still not to us but she did start talking. We ate dinner and then followed the elder's instructions to collect the firewood before the winter returned. We went out into the field and started to chop down the wood, we felt tired soon but it didn't really matter. And then Saya came over and started to sing. At that time, we forgave her for ignoring us, her singing almost lulled us into sleep. She then led us to the room of the elders, the door was slightly ajar and we peered inside. Saya walked inside and handed us a pair of keys.
And she told us she had found the key of our cage. She was now allowed to be set free. Away from being our entertainment.
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