The Dragons Daughter

The Dragons Daughter: Growing

It's been a month since Atsuko left the village she was now wandering a small fishing town. She worked hard and lived with a nice older woman who only asked for very little. Atsuko stashed the money from her father under a lose floor board. 

"Atsuko! Come help granny make dinner."

Atsuko quickly went to help her, they made a nice meal for the men coming home from a long day work. Everyone called Maya granny and even asked her for advice. They gathered on the pourch and ate qucikly laughing and talking. Atsuko felt at home, but she knew she could'nt stay long.

"Atsuko. You work so hard for granny! I think she should take the day off."

"Your right. Atsuko here, take some money and buy some new clothes. You've had these for a few months now there all worn."

"Yes, granny."

~

The next morning Atsuko got up early to take a boat into the town across the river. When she arrived the town was full of life. People selling things and buying. Everything was just as she inmagined. However she stood out she wished she could wear the clothes her father had given her. The kimonos she owened were too big for her she would have to wait a few years.

Atsuko walked into a small shop and looked around at the clothes on the stand. She saw a beautiful purple one and just held it in her hands.

"Sir, How much for this one?"

"Oh, You have such good taste little girl. It is just fourty won."

She sighed and put it back. Granny only gave her just about ten. The shop owner picked it back up and handed it to her.

"Take it."

"R-really?"

"Yes."

Atsuko thanked the man and went to find a place to eat lunch. While she ate a small bowl of kimchi a  group of soliders came in and grabbed her up. She kicked and screamed.

"You little theif."

"I didnt steal anything."

Out from behind the group of men the owner of the clothing store grinned. 

"Yes. that's her she took this out of my shop when I wasn't looking."

"He's lying!" She cried still fighting the man that held her tight.

"I say you cut her hands off. that little theif."

The people around the shop gasped. The men took Atsuko away to the jail were she sat and cried for hours waiting for someone to come. No one came, soon it was night and she had to sleep sometime.

A guard came and gave her some food, she ate quitely as he just sat and drank.

"Little girls should'nt be in jail."

"I did'nt steal anything, the man gave it to me." she mumbled scooping some food in her mouth. Sudenly  he stood and bowed to someone she couldnt see.

"Anything new?"

"No, Sir just this girl." 

A man dressed in imperial robes stepped over to the jail, he looked down on Atsuko and smiled a bit.

"Why are you in jail?"

"A man lied and said that I stole from him sir."

"Oh?"

"Yes, he gave me the clothes and said it's okay. I wanted to pay for it but he said no. Than he lied and I'm stuck in jail. My granny must be worried."

The man took the keys from the guard and unlocked the cell, Atsuko stood there waiting. He motioned for her to come out.

"Let's go find this man." he said calmly. Atsuko followed the man out into the streets and lead him to the shop. He knocked on the door and the shop owner came out.

"Ah, Feng. I should have known."

"General! I mean sir, its so late what are you doing here?"

"This young girl says you lied today about her stealing."

Atsuko watched as the man just instantly broke down and pleaded with the general not to kill him ot send him to jail.

"You will give this girl all your finest cloths and work the feilds for a a year."

"Oh. Thank you, Thank you!"

~

The young girl struggled to carry the bundle of clothes back to granny's house she just couldnt wait to share with the village. Everyone sat ouside of grannies house eating and talking.

"Granny, Atsuko is back!"

Granny came out and hugged her tight.

"We thought the worst when you did'nt come back. Oh whats all this?"

She grinned and sat the clothes on the pourch and told the long story of how she got them. Everyone was in utter shock.

"Wow thank you so much Atsuko. Granny she's such a sweet girl. Oh we must send something for the General." Lin said.

"We'll get something in the moring. Right now Atsuko needs her rest."

Atsuko slept by the fire just as she always did. She enjoyed the warmth and thought of her father and mother laying beside her. The only time she could use her powers was at night. the next morning she woke to hear voices and horses.