The journey (a series)

prologue

          I was just getting some materials from the market for my father when it happened. I had got everything I needed and turned on my heel to head back home, there was little chatter in the town square, along with the sound of children laughing and playing in the streets. I had to turn down two streets to get home when I saw some smoke coming from the direction of the house. "Oh, I bet dad got done with the last batch of cavalry swords!" I picked up my pace, dad promised to teach me how to forge a short- sword today after his work. A commotion started down on the last turn to my house. People crowded and stared and pointed down the street. They started yelling, what was wrong? I wondered. Then it occurred to me, that smoke it was black, not white like the smoke that comes off of a cooling blade, I've watched bad enough to know. I panicked thinking the worst had happened. I dropped my sack of materials and ran. My feet hit the stone road hard, panting as I went. When I finally arrived the sight was terrible. smoke so much smoke, more than before. All of It was ablaze my house all my memories. I became frantic I started toward the door I was going to get them out. But people started grabbing my arms holding me back " let me go!"I yelled angrily an old friend of my dad, a former blacksmith his name was Mr. Baltfour looked me in the eye, weary " it's too late lassie" he said. " no, no, no let me go I can save them! " I hissed. he shook his head sadly and averted his eyes." sorry lass" everyone was quiet. No one offered to help or even tried to save them. Slowly, I stopped resisting, I crumbled to my knees I felt my throat tighten as I started crying uncontrollably sobbing and screaming at the top of my lungs. Screaming their names hoping for a response. I sat there crying, helpless. It hurt more than any physical injury could. All of them, gone. Each one, my mother kind and supportive, my dad the strong provider, and my little brother Joshua, he was only four, so innocent. I remember him with that toothy smile. Grandpa was in the crowd of people he had been playing checkers with one of his older friends when the fire started. I ran to him and buried my head into his shoulder he ran his hand over my head comforting me "it's alright dear, it's alright" he said soothingly. I gripped his shirt hard and cried and cried until there was nothing left. They were gone, all of them.