LIFE AND DEATH

Renewal

It was around 1 in the afternoon, the curtains flowed gently with the wind and the sunlight crept among the wispy clouds in the baby blue sky and into the small house. Leaves rustled outside as well as the whistling wind right after. It was a nice day for a walk, however, being the lazy girl her parents unfortunately raised, (Name) was slouched on the puffy armchair, her legs hanging on the top part of the chair, and her shoulder leaning on the armrest. What came to this kind of personality is a story to tell at a another time, but (Name)'s dead (e/c) eyes stared at the game, her hands ruffling through her long, messy (h/c) locks that fell back to the edge of the chair. Father would complain about such unkept hair, how it covered her eyes and threaten then to cut it in her sleep, and mother would create such a fuss about it touching the floor when she sat and how it would get (Name) easily dirty. Brighter days were in the past, and (Name)'s parents had to somehow bare with it, it wasn't their fault, nor was it (Name)'s. Let's not start with (Name)'s attire, since it mainly consisted of loose pajamas and a dirty jacket thrown over.

"Ma, when is dad coming home?" (Name) turned her head a bit, though her focus remained at the television screen, a pixelated soldier clambering over rubbish and shooting at ruined trucks.

"Depends on the cycle." A typical response. "What about you? When are you going to practicing that flying of yours?"

"... Later. After this mission." (Name) sighed, wanting Mother to say something new like: 'Your father will be here in a few days', 'In a few months', or 'Never.' The last in particular would however be heartbreaking, luckily impossible.

"You're doing it now, young miss." Her mother unplugged the television and stood in front of the screen. (Name) groaned, she slowly got up and dragged herself out of the house, slipping on her boots in the process. She walked along the friendly streets of her hometown, her village: The Hidden Star Village, The Village Hidden within the Stars, or Hoshigakure. It was small country, north marked the Sun Region, while south Marked the Moon Region. (Name) remembered the geography, the village was in the deep valley of two great mountains, isolated in a vast ocean. Population wasn't very dense as (Name) recalled, since most of the natives would move to the other villages across the ocean. Lack of nationality kept the village at edge, which was debatable by authorities whether or not it was good or bad.

"Finally out?" (Best Friend's Name) went up to her smiling. "I thought you were sealed in there forever!"

"Yeah, but mom kicked me out." (Name) huffed sarcastically. "Look at you, you look..."

"Like a ninja? Thanks." (Best Friend's Name) laughed, the two walked along the streets.

"That's a weird way of saying retarded." (Name) grinned, and her friend playfully shoved her.

"Now that you're out, we can spar each other!" She looked at (Name) with bright eyes. "I can show you what they taught me, and you can show me what your dad taught you!"

"Look friend, I came here to practice my flying skills. I don't want to go home and get figuratively and literally roasted by mom, alright?" (Name) crossed her arms. The thought of disobeying gave her chills, she didn't want a shoe thrown at her face like the last time (Best Friend's Name) helped (Name) to sneak out during range practice.