AU One-Shots

Others

Written by Sushi
  •••••  

A young woman pressed her hands to her chest. It was today, today that she would have to choose. She wasn't ready. Fourteen was too young to decide how the rest of your life would go.

She could stay with her family, the most reasonable choice. Yes, she would probably do that. Home, comfort, food, warmth, everything that she could ever want.

Or she could join them. The risky choice that could end horribly. But the thought of adventure intrigued her.

She could stay at home, ensure a good future for herself and her future children, or she could join the vagabond group of travelers, she could join the Others.

The Others were a strange group of people, cast aside by society. They were hungry, and hurt, and happy. Children born into the group were treated well, as were elders. It was the age in between that you had to watch.

The girl's dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and she wore a simple dress. Raised in a family that actually had money, she was expected to stay. She was really about to let down her parents.

She began to climb the steps that led to the stage. She was perspiring, and breathing seemed harder than usual. These weren't butterflies in her stomach, these were elephants.

The man on the stage addressed her.

"Young ma'am, I do believe I already know your choice, but it is required of me to ask. So, are you going home on this wonderful afternoon?"

She hesitated. So much to lose, so much around her. Her parents, sitting in the second row of the auditorium. Her little brothers, who wouldn't get to choose for a couple more years. But that wasn't enough.

"No."

There were gasps, and even a few screams. Her mum started crying.

"I will not be going home tonight."

The man laughed. "Now, be sensible. You have a home, a family. Why would you want to leave?"

The girl just shook her head. "You wouldn't understand."

"Okay, well then get going!"

The door opened, and the light of the outside world appeared. She ran towards it, ran like she had never run before. This was her one chance at freedom, and she wasn't going to waste it.

   •••••

The Clan was calm at the moment. A group of people ran about, flinging rocks at each other and giggling. In the center of the group was a girl, a girl of fourteen.

She squealed and yelped. Born into the Clan, she was entitled to many things, and safe from many others. The teasing of her peers was not one of them.

Of course, it was all play. They didn't want to hurt her, they loved her. Well, most of them loved her. Some envied her, but those were few and far between.

Another person, this one a few years older and of an unknown gender, walked up and asked her to help catch dinner. The girl obliged and the two set of together, leaving the flailing mass of others to themselves.

"I hear you've been after the girl with dark eyes and frizzy hair" said the other one. Others did not have names. Names were only for those with importance, and Others weren't important.

"Oh yes," she replied, "she's very nice looking, don't you think?"

"That's not going to stop Auburn from attempting to win your affections, you know."

"I thought she was with Freckles!" They may not have names, but they did give each other nicknames on occasion.

"Ah, I believe Freckles has taken a liking to the new girl."

The girl laughed. No one could stay in a stable relationship around here, at least not with Auburn around. The only person she left alone was Mum, seriously.

   •••••

The dark haired girl huddled in the makeshift tent with the Others. It was cold, so very cold. She sat back to back with another girl who looked just like her, except younger.

The thing that confused her most about the Clan was that none of them had names, yet they all knew who was who. She missed her name. It was something that was her's, and her's alone. Now it was gone, and she was nameless.

When she had first arrived, two girls and a younger boy had ran up to her. The boy seemed excited, and the girls wary. They led her to the camp, a crowded place bustling with activity.

A group of three had sat in the corner, teasing each other. Two appeared to be a couple, and the third a close friend. One of the two girls ran over to join them.

The other girl said that the Others often referred to her as Freckles, and that the other girl was Auburn. But these weren't names, simply identifying traits. Everyone had one. She was Quiet.

According to Freckles, the girl sitting behind her was Little, and the young boy next to her - the same one that had been with the two girls - was Squeak.

One person had a name that stood out. Mum, just Mum. It had taken her a while to realize that all of the people in the Clan were children. Mum took care of them. Well, Mum and Fluff, but Fluff was named for their hair.

   ••••• 

She was sad. She didn't know why, she just was. Her Clan called her Magpie. She hated it. A magpie was a bird that stole, and Magpie never stole a thing. Well, she did once. It was a scrap of bread, from the Town. She had been hungry, so very hungry.

And now here she was, stuck with a name that she hated. It wasn't just that. Dusk was named for the color of her hair, a beautiful dusky color. Yes, she loved her, but it wasn't fair.

Nothing was fair. Quiet had had a choice. If she could choose a family, a warm, loving home, she would in a heartbeat. Quiet had left all of that to live with them. Magpie wished she had that option.

Hunger, pain. Those were the two things Magpie was most familiar with. They'd lost Spot and Bird to starvation already this winter. Was she really worth the food?

Her answer to that question was no. Squeak deserved the food. Her beloved Dusk deserved the food.

And those were her last thoughts before she jumped into the lake.

   ••••• 

The entire Clan woke up to Fluff screaming. About Magpie. About her baby. Dusk was the first one out, when she realized the spot next to her was empty. And them Mum, Freckles, and Auburn. It was chaos.

The whole ordeal was new to Quiet. The noise, the panic, the reeling in of a body. To everyone else, the process was all too familiar. Speckle, last month. She was the first to jump into the lake.

Auburn held her current love/fling to her chest, sobbing. Dusk just yelled. Fluff cried silently, trying to comfort everyone else. Squeak didn't know how to react. Mum was angry. Little sat with Squeak, an arm around his shoulders.

But Freckles and Quiet had it the worst. Freckles' sister had just died, and Quiet had never seen death before. They took comfort in each other, in knowing that the other was just as bad off as them.

And that was the birth of a beautiful relationship.

   ••••• 

Sorry this was so upsetting :(

Quiet - Whisper
Magpie - Rio
Fluff - Ren
Dusk - Dusky
Auburn - Sushi
Freckles - Catty
Little - Cherri
Squeak- Blue
Mum - Blaze
Speckle - Hazel
Couple & other dude - Frost, Ember, Spino
Spot & Bird - Leopard & Olivia