Poisoned

Intro; The Woods

Snow

Chapter One

As I sit perched in my tree evening sets in the sky, turning the sky orange, pink, and purple. Clouds turn darker, but It does not matter to me. I have had my day set and match. I have had my fun and Mr. Kae has had his usual heart-attack as he does every day.

My bow hangs in my hand, lingering on my fingers while I twist around an arrow on my back – it sits in the sheath next to so many others – disrupting the rest. I feel the feathers melting against my skin, showing no protest to my fidgeting.

“The day's done,” I murmur to myself. “Go and relax. You're safe today.” After so many years by myself, I began to get lonely. I go to town, but don't utter a word. I can never trust anyone, and if I didn't use my voice, I could lose it forever. So I pushed myself into this state of delusion, believing that someone hears me, that maybe someone soon would answer me.

Of course, no one does.

Still, as I stare at the gates of town closing with the guards inside, I cannot push aside the alertness that takes over my body. I always have to watch my own back, me and not another. I have not a single person that knows my secret, that will help me succeed or become my successor. I don't want anyone to come with me, though. I do not want to doom another child to my fate; sitting in trees and talking to herself, thinking that some person will answer her crazed thoughts. I don't have anyone, although it was never like that always. I once had a family; a mother, father and younger sister. I used to hug tightly to my mother's skirts and tug on my father's sleeve. I used to sing my sister to sleep, brushing her brown hair from chocolate eyes and thin brows. Check the closets for monsters for her and make sure she was safe. I used to kiss her goodnight then turn to my bed across the halls.

It was taken from me. Everything I cared about, everything that helped me survive the night. In a matter of hours, my life dropped from heaven to hell.

I cringe when I remember and drop to the ground. When I crunch the leaves under my feet, I recall my first day facing the guards. Twelve years of age and challenging the kingdom was probably the stupidest thing that any person could do. Long story short, I got a cut across my left shoulder and a bruised ego. The scar still rounds me from the corner of my neck all the way around to the section where shoulder becomes back. Now, at seventeen, I have more power and can take on a number of swordsmen and get enough food for myself.

My vest adjusts when I pull it down. I added extra layers to cover myself up. I make sure not a person can see jet-black hair tumbling to my elbows, indicating I'm a girl. Most people – okay, every people – miss that about me. I'm glad for it, glad for my hat.

I turn and head out for the woods. I walk with many crunches as dry leaves break against my shoes. It does nothing for the animals that ready for their long sleep, nor for the families that live a mile away.

A deer runs straight in front of me. I freeze, for I do not want to scare it off; I'm starving. I reach back and grab the arrow I was playing with earlier. The feathers still melt against my hand, on the many blisters I've acquired over the years. Practicing with arrow and blade, needing both skills to be able to survive. I always have a sheath of arrows on my shoulder and a sword at my waist.

I pull back my bowstring, arrow in place, and take a deep breath. My mind analyzes everything; from the light shining through the clouds to the yellow grass at my feet, to the curious eyes of the deer in front of me. I shake my head, clearing out all the images that come to mind. The ones that make me hurl. “It's okay,” I whisper to the little creature. “I'll make it quick.” My hand freezes for a second, then the whistle of wind crashes through the air and into my ears a split-second before the strangled cry of the deer hollers out. I flinch and close my eyes. Seconds pass by before the wailing cuts off, a gurgle, then the life is gone. I feel remorse for the poor animal, but that's life. And death.