Forgotten One

Discovery Arc: Sweet Sixteen

It had been a long six weeks.

And thankfully, she had not spent the whole time just collecting shadows, Sarah had managed to set aside time to study, do her summer homework, set up the stall at the marketplace with Joanna and go shopping.

Very busy.

They had learnt that they needed a license to sell goods, thankfully they could buy day licenses that her grandmother help get. They sold everything Sarah had made... even the pottery from Corinna claiming it was a gift.

It was Sarah's sixteenth birthday and Joanna had given her a handmade necklace with a fang on the end, the 'chain' was leather.

Her grandmother gave her a new smelting fit, which she really wanted to get upstairs and try out.

And her old friend Amy had not forgotten her- the rich girl had come early in the morning so not to be seen, handed her a crystal ball and strawberry cake, then left.

...Sarah actually hated strawberry cakes, it was Amy that liked that, she only ate them because she did not want her friend to feel left out. It had only been the two of them and Amy's older sisters when they ate this together during Amy's lonely birthday parties, and the sisters used to tease their younger sister, claiming that strawberry cakes were for babies.

Amy was not lonely anymore since entering high school she had become the bell of the ball, so to speak, and her last birthday party just before the summer started, had the whole first year filling her large house- Sarah did not go, instead just handing her a gold ring that acts as a torch.

Thankfully, Joanna had the thought to ask what she liked beforehand; Sarah's reply brought a smile to her friend's lips since it was not a cake she asked for, but a piece of meat.

Sarah was surprised when her only birthday guest showed up at her house with her whole family. Four older brothers and two younger ones, her mother and father, her mother's sisters and their offspring, her father's brothers and sisters, along with their offspring.

Sarah never had so many come to her birthday before.

Sarah's grandmother took one look at the werewolf clan and started clearing the shop's contents into the storeroom, and sneakily into Sarah's Soul Room.

The Hancocks Family help with this as well.

Joanna throws down on the counter a whole deer, explaining that she had hunted it by herself. Sarah had merely stared at the corpse with the blood slowly oozing down the sides of the counter... and then smiles at her friend.

As a birthday gift Joanna's mother Smadar, came over and told all the girls to gather around, then started to prepare the deer.

Smadar showed how she cut the flesh, gutted and emptied the inners, then carefully showed how she prepared it to tan the shin- the hide and bones were to be given to Sarah when they were ready. Smadar's sisters then vanished and came back with more deer that the males had hunted... which two of each girl was meant to prepare themselves.

Sarah and Joanna teamed up- then gutted the animal, the cuts were less skilful than the older woman but managed to get them all out. They had problems skinning the thing and Smadar was always on hand to help guide them.

The meat was cut up and handed around, apart from the deer that Joanna caught for Sarah, a piece was cook just for her and the rest was given for her to eat later- it was an interesting birthday gift and since Sarah loved to learn, it was one of the best.  

Smadar kept asking Sarah to join their family, claiming that her eldest son had yet to take a mate for himself. It seems that in their family, they began finding mates when they turn sixteen. Sarah politely declined with a smile.

Sarah brings up a piece of meat and shoves it in her mouth, her friend likes to eat her meat rare but she likes it a little more cook- Smadar knew how to cook for a human thankfully.

Glancing around she smiles, it was nice to have this many people around, all laughing and joking. It had always been her and her grandmother, Amy and sometimes her family..., although, she knew that her childhood friend's family did not like her very much and always told their daughter to stop hanging out with her.

They got their wish, even when Amy promised to always be there for her-

Sarah felt a hard pat on the back, turning she see her new best friend grinning at her.

"Eat! My meat is good right?" Joanna says, her shoulders rising up and back proudly, "That was a good chase!"

"Yes, it tastes great." Sarah answers with a soft smile, she stares down at the rest of her meal, lovingly cooked for her and Smadar prepared and tanned it instead of letting the younger ones do so because she wanted it to be perfect for her daughter's friend, "I think this is the great piece of meat I've ever had."

Joanna grins at her, looking like she was going to burst. Sarah places the last piece in her mouth, enjoying the flavour and texture; even if it was not as good as it was, she would have thought the same because it was given to her in such a heartfelt way.

Suddenly the music got louder, Joanna leaps up and drags Sarah along.

Soon Sarah was in a sea of bodies, all dancing wildly. Laughing she danced along with them, not caring who saw her like this... the image of Amy appears, proper dancing, legs straight, foot pointed, not a line out of place- it made sense she worked so hard at it, her oldest friend wanted to be a professional dancer when she grew older.

Sarah could not dance like perfect Amy no matter how she tried for her, but now, it did was of no concern.

Throwing her arms up and moving with the beat by stamping her foot, swinging her hips and swinging side to side- she must have looked stupid.

And suddenly, Amy did not matter. 

It was fun.

And it was more fun because Joanna was doing the same thing, laughing like crazy along with her. Yes, it was fun.