Everyone has talent. What's rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.
-Erica Jong
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May 3, 450 A.D.
Before the Sun has Reached its' Peak
The Town of Wolpine along the Southern-most Coast of the country called Aceion
Makayla, also known as Mak, did not often freak out: but when she did, it was explosive. This girl always kept her emotions buried deep down inside herself in a strong, oak box. Yet sometimes, when she became particularly excited, scared, or happy, the lid would come open and and ruin everything. It would happen at the most random of times, when she was feeding the chickens, milking the cows, or even playing with her two dogs. The only thing that was the same about each event was the fact that there was always an animal involved. Some might call it coincidence but Kayla wasn't so sure.
"Contrary to popular belief," the paper read, "it is easy to join the milita. There are many types that cover all range of interests. There are foot soldiers, officers, navy, and the newly opened Hunters group. Whatever branch of the militia you would like to join, tryouts and qualifications are on the 18th of May. Please bring a weapon and have housing arrangements made for the three days of testing. (18-20th of May) The physical and emotional requirements are below. Females MAY tryout for healer and nursing positions.
1. You must be male
2. You must be over 18 years of age
3. You must be able to read and write
4. You must be able to ride a horse (horses will NOT be provided for the three days of testing)
5. It is RECOMENDED that you not have any spouse or children as this career can be very dangerous
6. Healing and nursing students may bring a bird or cat as a companion. (Horses will be supplied for those without)
7. Milita students may bring a dog or other large animal as a companion (Horses will be supplied for those without)
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"Makayla, what are you going to do?" a worried female voice cuts through the silence.
"Honestly?" The voice is the smooth and lilting soprano of a teenager almost in her 20's. "I'm going."
"No." This is the rough, low bass of a man in his early 50's.
"Father!"
"I said no."
"Why?"
"You could get hurt! You could be killed! Think about us," the man and woman turn and hug each other. "think about how we would feel if you died. Also, you're a girl! You can't go try out for the militia! Its says so right in the rules!"
"Mother, Father" the girl is getting visibly agitated and starts twitching in her seat. "I want to do something with my life, I want to help people."
"Become a healer, everyone needs healers!" this is said by the woman, trying in vain to get her daughter to change her mind; though the more she argues, the more the girl wants to go.
"Mother, you know I can't be a healer! I have no magic!"
"Well... Well... " her father is searching for something so she won't go. "I... I... I... I forbid you to go."
"You forbid me. You FORBID me? Who do you think you are?" Makayla is standing, palms flat against the table she was just sitting at, chair carelessly strewn across the floor.
"Makayla von Ferrin D'Laruier, I am your father and I expect you to treat me like so!" The girl's face grows cold and stony. She brings her head down so that her light, fawn brown hair is hiding her face.
"Father" her voice is the calm before the storm, the chaos ready to spring at any second and her parents both take a step back. She has only used this voice two other times, and both times, someone had almost died. Her brown cat comes over and jumps onto the girls' lap; her dogs lay down next to her chair. "I am a legal adult. I can take care of myself. I am not going to let you make all the decisions for me! I am my own person; a person with feelings and dreams." The girls' box is starting to rattle and shake. "Go ahead, try and stop me." She looks up. "You won't like the consequences."
The girl makes eye contact with her parents who, even though they are used to it, take another step back when they see her eyes. They are cold, like flint chips, one a bright verdure hue and the other brilliant cobalt.
YOU ARE READING
The Girl of Two Hues (Soon to be Gemini)
FantasyMak is a boy. Mak is a girl. Mak is breaking laws. And following her dreams. Can she follow her dreams before they eat her alive? Makayla wants nothing more than to become a soldier in the royal army. The problem is, she's a girl. Girl's aren't all...
