Fallen Kingdoms And The Ones Left Behind

Chapter One

I walk to the back of the barn, carrying two pails of water for my horse Umi'ilo. I set the pails down, and lift the latch that holds the door to the barn closed. I pick up the pails again, but I do it so quickly that some of the water in the pails splash on my legs. Grinning from the cold water, I rush inside the gloomy barn.

 There are three stalls, one for our dairy cow, Nupa, and the two others for Umi'ilo and my brother's horse, Be'ela.

The horses winny as I come inside. 

"Good morning, girls," I say smiling. I pour the pails  of water into their troughs; Umi'ilo's  is barely holding together. At least a third of the water leaks out before she can drink any. Be'ela's, on the other hand, is nicely kept and holds the small amount of water nicely.

"I'm sorry I couldn't bring any more water than this," I murmur as I pat Umi'ilo's gray back, running my other hand through her golden mane. She is only able to drink a small amount, and the trough is empty. mostly from leaking. 

"The well is almost dry," I tell her, "Gari hopes to dig a new one soon."

I stare at Umi'ilo's trough. Even if I had had much water, she wouldn't have been able to drink much with the trough in that condition.

"Gari really should fix that, huh?" I ask in frustration. My brother Gari always takes care of his horse by making it nice things, but never mine. I would make Umi'ilo a new trough, but the forest is too far away for me to get the wood by myself. Besides, Gari wouldn't bring home any extra and he'd definately never take me. I sigh angrily.

Suddenly, the barn door flies open, startling the animals.

"Api!" Gari stands there, his dark black hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, his muscled arms holding the door open. A grin is spreading across his face. 

"What?" I ask.

Gari's grin widens. "The Laupo recruiters are here."