Eflana

Chapter 1

The first thing I was aware of was the sun.

It was soft and warm, with a gentle summer breeze. I felt peaceful and content, like I could lie in the sun for hours and never want to move.

I did lie there for quite a while, simply feeling the sunlight on my face and arms, before I realized I didn't know where I was.

I opened my eyes to a bright, cloudless sky, squinting until my eyes adjusted to the intense color. Then I sat up and took in my surroundings.

I was lying in a beautiful meadow. The grass was still a little damp, but warm now. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds visited the flowers that grew in small bunches around the edge of the meadow, which appeared to be a perfect circle. The meadow was about an acre of space, with a small brook that divided the clearing in half. Large trees formed the circle around the meadow and provided plenty of shade. The meadow was unusually quiet.

I still had no idea where I was.

I quickly determined my cardinal directions. The sun had just cleared the top of some mountains in the distance in front of me, so that way was east. The brook was flowing from north to south. If the sun had just entered the meadow, then that meant it was morning, but morning where? And what was I doing lying in a meadow? A beautiful meadow, yes, but still . . ..

That was when I realized I didn't know who I was.

My heart stopped dead, and then took off at light speed. I started hyperventilating. I needed to calm down. But I couldn't. How did I not know who I was? Who am I? I don't know my own name. I don't know my own parents. I don't now who I am. Who am I? Why can't I remember anything? What happened to me? Who am I?

Just when I thought my heart was going to explode, I realized I was a girl. I heaved a sigh of relief and flopped back down on the grass. Me being a girl may not be much, but it's all I got, and right now it seems like the most important thing in the world.

As I listened to my heart clam down, I shove aside my panic and fear, locked it up, and told myself I would worry about it later. I still had questions, but I lied to myself, promising those would be answered later. By the time my heart was beating normally again, I was ready to do everything I had to survive. I made a promise to myself right then and there (where ever there was), that I would do everything I had to do to live to see tomorrow, no matter what happens today. 

I counted to three inside my head and pushed myself up so I was standing. I nearly fell back down again. My head swam and dark spots clouded my vision. I swayed and stumbled backward against a tree to support myself. When my head stopped pounding and I could think straight again, I realized I was just dizzy and a little off balance because I got up so suddenly.

Slower this time, I pushed myself away from the tree and walked toward the center of the clearing.  As I approached the brook, I kept both eyes on the forest surrounding me, expecting something, anything to happen. Although it became apparently clear no one was going to attack me, I remained on edge and unstable the entire time. When I finally got to the brook, for the trip had seemed to have taken a long time due to my apprehensive behavior, I just stood there staring at the crystal clear water in front of me. Eventually I crouched down and cupped my hands in the water, letting it wash over me. I brought my hands up to my nose and sniffed the water. It smelled like minerals, but no chemicals or bacteria I was able to detect. I carefully tilted my hands and let the cool water run down my throat, realizing I was very thirsty. I resisted the urge to drink some more water, thinking I better wait and see if I get sick or die before I have more, just so I know it's completely safe. 

I rise from my crouch and look at the forest again, just so I know nothing decided to attack my during the few minutes I spent at the brook. Seeing nothing more unusual than before, I looked down at myself.

Rags. I was wearing rags. A dingy brown shirt, much to large, hung from my frame. Dirty gray pants, just as large as the shirt, pooled around my bare feet. Both garments had holes and tears that made them look like they were about to unravel themselves. I was covered in dirt and dust.  I might not remember my old life and what one should wear, but even I could tell that this was not how you were supposed to dress. But it was all I had, so I knew I would have to keep them if I was going to survive.

A twig snaps behind me.

My reaction is purely instinct. I spun around, eyes locked on the dark trees in front of me. Silence. The meadow's peaceful calm as turned into an unnerving silence, like it's holding it's breath, waiting. Keeping my eyes on the trees, I crouched and felt around for a large rock. I find one about the size of my head, very heavy. I slowly rise and walk toward the trees. My heart speeds up, faster and faster.

When I stand just a few feet from the nearest trees, my entire body locks down, refusing to go any farther.

I stared into the woods in front of me, expecting something terrible to spring at me any second. I considered making a run for it, but I had no place to run to. Plus I'd rather deal with one beast than a whole forest full of them.

I don't know how long I stand there, trembling, sweating, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Eventually my heart slows down, my fear turns to confusion and curiosity. No other sounds come from the trees. Did I scare it off? I highly doubt that. It probably thought I wasn't good enough for it, and went to find something more worthy to be it's lunch.

I realized my hands were struggling to hold up the huge rock. I carefully placed on the ground at my feet and rolled it away, not wanting to risk tripping over it. I snatched up a smaller rock. I took a deep breath, and then tossed the pebble into the brush.

I jumped as a weak yelp sounded from the woods. So something was still in there. My earlier panic started to come back, but I shoved it down and locked it up, knowing I would need a level head to deal with this ... creature.

Based on the yelp, it probably wasn't as big as I thought. I guessed it was only the size of a large dog. But it sounded very weak. It might be injured. Yes, that's why it hasn't attacked me yet.

That thought forced me to take action. I stumbled over the bushes, and before I could lose my nerve, tore the plants out of the way.

I found myself staring into the ice blue eyes of a teenage girl.