Forgotten Wonders

Chapter 2: Sakura Day

"Wake up, Amber!" Jayden shouted, excitement in his voice, "It's almost time!" Mother looked amused,

"Jayden, dear, do calm down,"

"I can't, it's Sakura day!" I sat up and looked at the sky, the sun was starting to set,

"Look, Jayden, Mother, It's time to go," I said excitedly,

"You're right, it is," Mother nodded "Watch Jayden closely, Amber, you know how he is,"

"Don't worry Mother, he won't leave my sight!" I slid my hood on "Bye Mother! See you after the festival!" I shouted before grabbing Jayden's hand and guiding him to the festival, our tails fluffed up against the cold. As we reached the Cherry Blossom tree, it was just starting to glow,

"Yes! Right on time!" my little brother exclaimed with joy, causing a few people nearby to laugh, he laughed with them as he stared at the tree, watching it glow brighter and brighter, until it got so bright, a few people looked away, a few closed their eyes, and some stared at it still, Jayden looked away, I stared at the tree. It was magnificent, the tallest tree in the town, possibly in the world, all I wanted to do was climb on it and touch it, but such things were forbidden on the Sakura tree. As I watched the tree, it stopped getting brighter, and started to dim. When it stopped glowing again, I grabbed Jaydens hand to take him back, "Wait, can't we stay a bit longer?" Jayden whined

"I suppose we could, we go back when the moon starts to set, alright?"

"Yay!" Jayden exclaimed and ran off before I could stop him,

"Oh, Mother's gonna have a fit when she finds out I let him run off," I spotted him playing with a group of kids his age, all different types of folk, I looked at the moon and saw it was creeping down, Had it really been that long? I thought, "Jayden! Time to go!" I shouted,

"Already?" he whined,

"Yes, Now let's get back to Mother, she must be worried sick," I grabbed his hand again and he didn't protest, as we walked back to the alley we lived in, I thought about the Sakura festival, about the kids he was playing with, one of them was a fox, the least trustworthy species, foxes are well known for scamming. As we turned into the alley, I saw Mother, laying on the ground surrounded by red water, "Oh, Mother?" I asked, holding back a wail,

"Amber, Mother is just sleeping," I stared at Jayden,

"Right," I forced a smile and looked back at Mother, her long brown hair was sitting in the red stuff and was stained red, she had been killed by foxes.

"Can we go into town and play now?"

"Yes, yes we can" I looked at Jayden, his purple eyes were full of innocence.