~ a lily among thorns~

"a family once again"

And so Nari left with her Father, little Poong-yeon by her side. They snuck out of the city under the cover of darkness, then travelled into the depths of the forest as the sun rose slowly over the land. Throughout the journey, little words were spoken. But Nari clung tightly to her Father, the warmth of his presence now more than just a memory.

Around midday, the three arrived at an opening in the trees, where a large meadow riddled with small red flowers and dancing butterflies sat peacefully before them. Nari stared at it in wonder, a smile lining her lips. It was a heavenly sight; one you wouldn't find anywhere in Silla.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

Her Father looked down at her with gentle eyes, before turning his gaze back to the field. "I thought you'd like it," he said softly. "It reminds me of your mother."

Nari nodded, her grin broadening. And for the first time, the mention of her mother was warm and sweet, instead of bitter. "You think so?" she sighed, still caught in a dreamy trance.

Her Father nodded; the corners of his lips turned slightly upwards. "You can feel her. In the breeze."

Nari closed her eyes, focusing on the wind as it gently skipped across her cheeks and rippled through her hair. It had a playful nature around it that she'd never noticed before. A pleasant feeling enveloped the girl, and she suddenly felt a happiness that she hadn't experienced in so long. Here she was, her father and little brother safe by her side, and her mother's spirit flowing through the air. She couldn't contain her joy.

Nari shot a toothy grin at her Father, then down at little Poong-yeon, before bolting into the meadow. The boys chased after her, and they all flitted through the tall grass with not a care in the world on their shoulders. Their laughter echoed through the trees like cheerful melodies, the birds joining in on the singsong.

Eventually, they all found themselves lying on their backs, looking up the puffy clouds that floated through the blue sky. "That one looks like a person," Nari giggled, raising her finger to the heavens. Her Father chuckled, and Poong-yeon was determined to join in on the search.

"That one looks like a dragon!" he exclaimed, a bright smile on his face.

"That one there?" Nari asked, pointing upwards. "With the pointy end?"

"Yeah," her brother replied. "It looks like the dragon from the stories mother told me."

Nari squinted at the cloud, shaking her head. "No, it looks more like a chicken."

"A chicken?" her Father chuckled, turning to her.

"Yep," she laughed.

"No, it doesn't!" Poong-yeon argued, scrunching up his face. "It looks like a dragon."

"No...I think a chicken," Nari teased, a cheeky smile on her lips.

"You're a chicken," Poong-yeon muttered, annoyed at his sister.

"I'm a what?!" Nari questioned, suddenly sitting up. Poong-yeon smiled shyly, trying not to laugh.

"A chicken...," he repeated.

Nari gasped dramatically, causing Poong-yeon to burst out in a fit of giggles. "How dare you!" she proclaimed loudly, before jumping on her brother to tickle him breathless.

As the afternoon began to draw to an end, Nari's Father led the pair to a nearby cabin that stood quaintly on the edge of the meadow. The inside was very different to the houses back in the city, and Nari guessed it was what interiors looked like in the West. A small wooden table sat in the centre of the home; an unlit fireplace positioned beside it. A ladder leant against the wall next to the chimney, leading up to a modest loft with bedding sprawled across it.

"So, this is where you've been staying?" Nari asked, carefully examining the place. She was relieved he hadn't spent his nights cold and crawled up beneath a tree.

When Nari and Poong-yeon eventually became acquainted with their new surroundings, their Father led them back outside. "The wind's picked up," he said slowly, as if something were wrong.

Nari looked at him nervously. "What's wrong with that?"

Her Father turned his head away to smile, before pulling something out of his coat. Nari stared at it speechless, not knowing whether to cry or sing. A large green paper kite sat in his hands.

"Shall we fly it?" he asked.

Nari nodded, tears brimming her eyes. "What do you say, Poong-yeon?"

The little boy answered with an enthusiastic 'yes', and the three spent the duration of the sunset watching the kite flit through the evening sky.

A family once again.