The Village Called Hazel (Taka's story)

1 The past

   The sunny day was turning to a cold night. The cold night would turn to dawn. The dawn would hold the day of a young girl's birthday. The little girl's name, Taka. She had grown-up in a town called ash shore.

10-year-old-Taka
   I slowly awoke from my slumber. I looked out my window to see the sun only starting to rise. I quickly trotted downstairs to see if my family were in the gathering room. Only to find a present and note. The letter read:

Dear Taka,

Your father, sister, and I have gone to the market. We went to get baking supplies and another special present. We should return shortly.
Sincerely,
Mama

   A few hours on my own wouldn't hurt, right?
As I looked at the present, I caught notice of a note that read
"try your best to keep the present inside until we return."
I hesitated before unwrapping the tiny box. I regretted it as soon as I tore off the baby blue wrapping. I probably should have waited for their return. On the inside layer, a necklace with a small chunk of blue quartz and a small heart-shaped metal locket attached. On the inside carried a picture of my mama, father, sissy, and me.
I placed the locket around my neck with care and snapped the halves back together.

   Not long after I trotted upstairs and was reading a book in my small shared room, when I heard the noisy rattling of metal by my house. It was a well known rumor around town that if a knight was near, there was a terrible event taking place. As soon as the sound stopped, a loud echoing knock could be heard throughout the tiny dwelling. I slowly crept down the stairs and towards the door. Another loud knock could be heard coming from the door. I looked out through the peephole that I had created a few months back with a thin piece of metal to reveal an ash shore guard that was quite tall because all I could see was his shins. I turned the knob and opened the door.

   In front of me stood a man with an impatient, sad look on his face. He scanned the entrance, like expecting to see an older and taller resident. When he could not see an older resident, he looked a little farther down to see me. When he saw me his glare softened and his eyes saddened even more. He squatted down to my level to look into my hazel orbs. He removed the little bit of helmet he was wearing and opened his mouth. A few heartbreaking words spewed out. I demanded to see the incident. I just had to. Now on the brink of tears, the man came up to me. He held my hand with slow movement to delay time. Then we headed towards the market square. I needed to see it with my own eyes to believe the words he had spoken. I just did. I opened my mouth for my voice to come out. "Can you please release my hand, sir?" The guard replied with a soft tone "yes m'lady."
I slowly left his hand not wanting to leave his side anymore. I made my way towards the group of crowded people. As I pushed my way through the mass of people to the center, I had seen what the guard had told me.

"My parents were truly dead. My sister...nowhere to be found."