Post by Mysti on Jul 8, 2007 7:59:10 GMT -5
The carriage bumped along the old dirt road, swaying and jolting with every rock and pothole. Inside a woman gazed out the window. Up ahead something caught her eye. Off to the left plumes of thick black smoke rose into the air, casting shadows on the ground in the long rays of light from the setting sun. As they drew nearer, she saw that it was a town, pillaged, burnt to the ground, and smoldering. She rang the bell than signaled the driver to stop. The carriage wheels eased their pace and then jerked to a halt. The carriage door opened after a moment, revealing the big, burly driver. She smiled at the large man, whom she had known since she was a child, and he helped her from the cabin.
Once her feet were on the ground, the pair stood surveying the awful scene before them. “Do you think anyone is alive, Faolan?
“No mum. Men who dun this wouldna left anythin’. If it was worth anythin’ they took it wit’ ‘em. If not they killed or burnt it up.”
Reaching back into the carriage, she pulled out her sword and then turned towards what was left of the town. Sighing, Faolan followed her reluctantly. The air smelled of smoke, fear, and death.
Drawn as if by some unseen force, Asta Sitara moved into the smoldering ruins. She looked at the devastation around her, wondering why she had stopped here. At the end of the road there was a tiny house that seemed to be relatively intact compared to everything else, as if by some miracle it had escaped the fire. Asta moved toward it slowly, thinking that if she blinked it would disappear. She walked to the door, stooping to pass through the low entrance.
After a moment, her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. Most of the furniture was destroyed, the room in disarray. She stood looking around her, a feeling of disappointment overcoming her. There was nothing here. Asta turned to leave when a tiny mewling whimper stopped her. Something was moving in a pile of straw in the corner. She moved quickly, kneeling down beside the straw and beginning to move it. Beneath the first layer was a bundle, and from it came another whimper. Pulling back the cloth, she gasped. Asta carefully picked up the bundle and walked outside to where Faolan waited. He turned at the sound of her footsteps. His eyes widened as he saw what she carried. Wrapped in yards of cloth was a tiny baby girl with a tail and ears like a cat.
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~15 years later~
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“Sanura! Come here a minute! I need to talk to you!”
Asta Sitara stood in the outside kitchen doorway looking out over the fields. A shape was coming up the hill, dark, small, and moving quickly. Asta smiled as the girl drew near. She had rescued her from a pillaged town, given her a name, and taken care of her. Sanura was happy, but things were about to change for her.
Sanura rushed into the room. Asta studied her for a moment. She had long, dark hair and deep dark eyes. She had pointy ears atop her head and a long sleek tail, both of which were a dark black with a hint of red when the sun hit them. She had a dark complexion. Her name, Sanura, was Egyptian for kitten. The name suited her.
“What is it? What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Come in. Sit down and have a glass of milk while we talk.”
“That’s never a good sign. Last time you gave me a glass of milk to have a talk it was because Faolan was going away.”
Asta sighed, pouring the milk and setting it on the table. She looked at Sanura, urging her to sit. The girl moved warily to the table, tail twitching nervously. Asta sat across from her.
“Well the good news is Faolan is coming back.”
The girl’s face brightened, and then curved into a frown. “I get the good news first, huh? So what’s the bad news?”
Sighing, Asta looked into her glass, trying to put off the inevitable. She looked up at the girl who was so strange and different from everyone else, and knew how hard this was going to be for her.
“We’re moving…to a town. The landlord raised the rent again.”
“What? We are moving? There are people in towns! People who will…” Sanura looked at Asta with tearful eyes. “How could you do this?” With a sob she ran out the door, disappearing into the tall grass and trees, heading for the hidden stream.
Faolan stepped through the door, a combined look of amusement and disbelief on his face. “She didna even see me, she was goin’ so fast. She’s grown so big since I last seen her. Still a scrawny li’l runt though.” His face grew serious. “But we both know the lan’lor’ didna raise anythin’, an’ if’n he did you’d be able to pay it.”
“I know Faolan, but I couldn’t tell her we were moving so that she could learn to deal with people. She can’t hide from others forever. I don’t want her to become a recluse, something that is feared and hated. The sooner she confronts her differences, the better.” For the hundredth time today, Asta sighed. Faolan put his arm around her, and she leaned into the big barrel of a chest. It was good to have him back. She did not feel so alone.
“I will go talk to ‘er. Talk some sense into ‘er thick head. An’ let ‘er know I’m home.” He sat the pale complected woman at the table with a smile. “Finish yer milk, miss.”
Faolan headed out the door in the direction Sanura had gone. He knew where she was. He had found the place and shown it to her. He moved quietly for a big man, and never hurried. When he crested the hill, she was right where he thought she would be. She sat with her back to him, gazing down into a pool created in the stream by a beaver’s dam. Her feet dangled in the cool water, and she was not crying. He walked up beside her and sat down, his great size making her seem impossibly small. She turned to look at him, smiling a bit and then laying her head on his arm.
“It is not fair Faolan. I am happy here. I do not wish to leave, to go to a town where people will run from me. Where they will throw things at me and call me names. Asta should not make me go.”
“I know. An’ I’ll tell ya the truth. Yer the reason yer mum is movin’, not the rent. I’m the lan’lor’ here, an’ I didna raise no rent. She wants ya to learn to deal wit people. To be…socialized. Ya canna be mad to ‘er. She does it 'cause she loves ya.” He smiled at her. She smiled back, wiping away the moisture that had collected in her eyes.
“Thank you Faolan. I am glad you are back. Will you be coming with us to the town?”
“Aye, I will. Can’t be havin’ two pretty ladies in town wit’ no one to protect ‘em, can I? My sister’ll be comin’ to watch after this place. We ain’t movin’ forever, hinny.”
Sanura jumped up and threw her arms around the big man, hugging him tight. “Thank you so much Faolan. Welcome home!”
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A few days later, everything was packed and they were headed on their way to the town Asta has decided to move to. It was a quaint village with beautiful houses and nice people. She had been there many times. The people were nice to her…but would they be kind to Sanura?
The girl set in the furthest corner away from Asta, gazing out the window. She wore a long skirt with a full-length hooded cloak. Whenever they were around people, Sanura would put the hood up so as not to let anyone see her unique features. Nevertheless, a few people had seen her as a child and the news had spread of her strangeness. People treated her with distrust and sometimes, even fear. She hated the look in their eyes when they saw her, how they constantly watched her every move. It was terrible.
A couple hours later the town came into view and Sanura sat up. She looked out the window fearfully. There were many people, children and old ones alike. Sanura looked at all their faces as they passed, studying each one. It was a town that worked hard and supported each other. Her fear, however, was most small towns did not accept outsiders, and especially not an outsider like her.
They stopped outside of their new cottage, one of the largest in town. Asta exited the carriage and turned to help Sanura down. Sanura looked at the paler woman with sadness in her eyes, and pulled the black velvet hood up. She allowed Asta to help her from the carriage, and then stepped away from her. Asta frowned and then turned to the man that stood at the door. “Good day, Mister Landson. I see you are doing well.” She smiled and he nodded his head to her. “This is my daughter Sanura.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and grunted.
“’Ere’s the key. It’s all ready fer ya. Rent is due at the first o’ each month in the amount we previously agrees upon. Good day.” Shuffling away, Sanura noticed he kept glancing over his shoulder at her. She frowned as he did it again, and he turned quickly and moved out of sight.
Asta smiled softly at Sanura, but only got a cold shoulder as the girl turned and walked into the cottage. Faolan chuckled at her. “It wilna last long. She’ll be fine in a few days.”
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A few weeks later Sanura was miserable. Nobody in the town spoke to her. The children either called her names or ran away from her. The adults shunned her and told their children not to speak to her. She was an outcast except around Asta and Faolan. She resented Asta for bringing her here, and so Faolan was her only source of comfort. She spent most of her time with him, and if she had to go into town he went with her. No one would throw things at her or hit her while he was with her. However, she could hear them laugh and talk about her after they had passed. The disadvantages of having extremely acute hearing were sometimes worse than the benefits.
One day as she was walking alone, she heard a commotion in the town square. Curious, she braved the crowd to see what was going on. From beneath the hem of her cloak hood, she looked around the town square. The mayor stood on the gazebo in the center, urging everybody to listen.
“Please listen. Everybody stop!” Finally the busy crowd noticed, and stopped to look up at the frantic man. “My daughter is missing. We have not seen her since very early this morning. We have checked the entirety of our lands and property, and all of the surrounding area. We cannot find her. Please help us. She is very small, only five.”
The mayor’s voice trailed off and the silence was replaced by the murmur of the crowd. Everyone began moving at the same time, and calling out the girl’s name. “Phaedra! Phaedra!” The chorus rang out all over the town as word spread that the girl was missing.
Angrily Sanura spun and headed into the forest. If it had been her, they would not have cared. They would have said that she ran away, or that she did not want to be found. They would not have created a mass search for her. She stalked through the forest, whipping the hood of her cloak back. She briefly wondered where the mayor’s daughter was, and then decided that she did not care. A small sound made her stop. It was not one of the normal sounds of the forest. It was a tiny cry; its sound was of human pleading. She turned her ears, listening closely. It was off to the north and the east, and it was a little girl pleading for help.
Taking off at a run, Sanura threw the cloak away from her and sped toward the sound. Her shoes came off as she ran in order for her to get better traction. Her nails had always been sharper and stronger than a normal person, a side effect of her deformity she imagined. Toes and nails dug in to the soft earth, gaining ground rapidly. She skidded to a stop to listen again. The sound was close. Her ears twitched, waiting to hear another sound. Nothing. “Phaedra!” she cried. “Phaedra, can you hear me? Say something!”
A tiny whimper came from somewhere close by. “I’m here. Help me. I’m scared.”
“Phaedra, my name is Sanura and I am going to help you. I cannot see you Phaedra. Where are you?”
“I dunno. I was running and I fell down. I think I’m in a really big hole.”
As the girl was talking, Sanura followed the sound of her voice. The girl was right; she had fallen into a deep depression in the ground. It looked like a hunter’s trap for large animals. “Hold on Phaedra, I’m going to come and get you. Just hold on a coupled minutes more.” Sanura walked all the way around the hole, looking for the best way down. The walls were straight up and down, the dirt soft. She looked around, spotting a small log that had fallen from a tree. She walked over to it, lifting one end to test its weight. It was heavy, but she could move it. She dragged it over to the edge of the hole. Looking down, she spotted the girl.
“Phaedra, I want you to move all the way over to the other side of the hole, as far as you can go, okay?” Nodding the little girl moved where she was told. When the girl was out of the way, Sanura shoved the log into the hole, jumping in after it. She picked up one end of the log, wedging it up against the wall of the trap. She scooted it up as high as it would go. The log was slightly less perpendicular than the wall, but it was enough that she could climb it. She jumped on the log, testing her own strength as well as the strength of the wood. It held, and so did she. The question was could she climb it with the extra weight on her back? She walked over to Phaedra, whose eyes were huge with fear.
“Have you ever had a piggy back ride before?” The little girl shook her head no. “No?” Okay Phaedra, what I want you to do is wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist, and I am going to pick you up, alright?” Phaedra nodded, and Sanura knelt down and turned around. Phaedra wrapped her arms tightly around Sanura. As Sanura stood she did the same with her legs.
“Good. Now hold on tight, and I will get us out of here.” Sanura moved to the log. Grabbing hold with both hands, she began climbing. She fought for balance, tail swishing from side to side. Her nails dug into the wood, leaving marks as she went. Finally, after much effort, she was able to look over the top of the hole. Grabbing hold of the earth, she drug herself and the child up on to safe ground. She scooted quickly away from the edge, taking Phaedra with her.
Sanura was tired and sweaty, but the girl was safe. She stood and picked Phaedra up in her arms. She walked back the way she came, smiling as the girl laid her head on her shoulder. She found her shoes, and picked them up. When she came to her cloak, Sanura wrapped Phaedra in the soft velvety cloth. She wandered into the town square and sat down. Everyone began looking at her strangely.
“Go get the mayor. He needs to come quickly.” Nobody moved a muscle. “Go now!” Suddenly a young boy took off running, and moments later came rushing back with the mayor pursuing him. The boy pointed, and the mayor walked to where she sat.
“What is this all about, young lady?” He asked, looking at her as if she were crazy.
“Tell your men not to leave their hunting traps open. It is not safe.” With that she handed over the sleeping girl, who woke at the movement.
“Daddy? I fell in a hole. And that lady saved me.” The mayor hugged his daughter as everyone looked on. After a moment, the man looked up with tears in his eyes.
“Sanura Sitara, I owe you a personal apology on behalf of the entire village. We were wrong about you. We only feared what we did not know. WE should have taken the time to get to know you, instead of judging you. I hope you will forgive us in time.”
She smiled and stood up, brushing clumps of dirt from her clothes. He handed her cloak back, and she took it. Gently hanging it over her arm, she looked at the townsfolk. “I am not angry with you. I may have done the same thing, had I been in your place. My forgiveness is yours.” She smiled. “Now if you will excuse me, I have an apology of my own to make.” She turned and walked away, heading towards the lovely cottage where she lived together with Asta and Faolan.
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~The End~
Once her feet were on the ground, the pair stood surveying the awful scene before them. “Do you think anyone is alive, Faolan?
“No mum. Men who dun this wouldna left anythin’. If it was worth anythin’ they took it wit’ ‘em. If not they killed or burnt it up.”
Reaching back into the carriage, she pulled out her sword and then turned towards what was left of the town. Sighing, Faolan followed her reluctantly. The air smelled of smoke, fear, and death.
Drawn as if by some unseen force, Asta Sitara moved into the smoldering ruins. She looked at the devastation around her, wondering why she had stopped here. At the end of the road there was a tiny house that seemed to be relatively intact compared to everything else, as if by some miracle it had escaped the fire. Asta moved toward it slowly, thinking that if she blinked it would disappear. She walked to the door, stooping to pass through the low entrance.
After a moment, her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. Most of the furniture was destroyed, the room in disarray. She stood looking around her, a feeling of disappointment overcoming her. There was nothing here. Asta turned to leave when a tiny mewling whimper stopped her. Something was moving in a pile of straw in the corner. She moved quickly, kneeling down beside the straw and beginning to move it. Beneath the first layer was a bundle, and from it came another whimper. Pulling back the cloth, she gasped. Asta carefully picked up the bundle and walked outside to where Faolan waited. He turned at the sound of her footsteps. His eyes widened as he saw what she carried. Wrapped in yards of cloth was a tiny baby girl with a tail and ears like a cat.
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~15 years later~
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“Sanura! Come here a minute! I need to talk to you!”
Asta Sitara stood in the outside kitchen doorway looking out over the fields. A shape was coming up the hill, dark, small, and moving quickly. Asta smiled as the girl drew near. She had rescued her from a pillaged town, given her a name, and taken care of her. Sanura was happy, but things were about to change for her.
Sanura rushed into the room. Asta studied her for a moment. She had long, dark hair and deep dark eyes. She had pointy ears atop her head and a long sleek tail, both of which were a dark black with a hint of red when the sun hit them. She had a dark complexion. Her name, Sanura, was Egyptian for kitten. The name suited her.
“What is it? What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Come in. Sit down and have a glass of milk while we talk.”
“That’s never a good sign. Last time you gave me a glass of milk to have a talk it was because Faolan was going away.”
Asta sighed, pouring the milk and setting it on the table. She looked at Sanura, urging her to sit. The girl moved warily to the table, tail twitching nervously. Asta sat across from her.
“Well the good news is Faolan is coming back.”
The girl’s face brightened, and then curved into a frown. “I get the good news first, huh? So what’s the bad news?”
Sighing, Asta looked into her glass, trying to put off the inevitable. She looked up at the girl who was so strange and different from everyone else, and knew how hard this was going to be for her.
“We’re moving…to a town. The landlord raised the rent again.”
“What? We are moving? There are people in towns! People who will…” Sanura looked at Asta with tearful eyes. “How could you do this?” With a sob she ran out the door, disappearing into the tall grass and trees, heading for the hidden stream.
Faolan stepped through the door, a combined look of amusement and disbelief on his face. “She didna even see me, she was goin’ so fast. She’s grown so big since I last seen her. Still a scrawny li’l runt though.” His face grew serious. “But we both know the lan’lor’ didna raise anythin’, an’ if’n he did you’d be able to pay it.”
“I know Faolan, but I couldn’t tell her we were moving so that she could learn to deal with people. She can’t hide from others forever. I don’t want her to become a recluse, something that is feared and hated. The sooner she confronts her differences, the better.” For the hundredth time today, Asta sighed. Faolan put his arm around her, and she leaned into the big barrel of a chest. It was good to have him back. She did not feel so alone.
“I will go talk to ‘er. Talk some sense into ‘er thick head. An’ let ‘er know I’m home.” He sat the pale complected woman at the table with a smile. “Finish yer milk, miss.”
Faolan headed out the door in the direction Sanura had gone. He knew where she was. He had found the place and shown it to her. He moved quietly for a big man, and never hurried. When he crested the hill, she was right where he thought she would be. She sat with her back to him, gazing down into a pool created in the stream by a beaver’s dam. Her feet dangled in the cool water, and she was not crying. He walked up beside her and sat down, his great size making her seem impossibly small. She turned to look at him, smiling a bit and then laying her head on his arm.
“It is not fair Faolan. I am happy here. I do not wish to leave, to go to a town where people will run from me. Where they will throw things at me and call me names. Asta should not make me go.”
“I know. An’ I’ll tell ya the truth. Yer the reason yer mum is movin’, not the rent. I’m the lan’lor’ here, an’ I didna raise no rent. She wants ya to learn to deal wit people. To be…socialized. Ya canna be mad to ‘er. She does it 'cause she loves ya.” He smiled at her. She smiled back, wiping away the moisture that had collected in her eyes.
“Thank you Faolan. I am glad you are back. Will you be coming with us to the town?”
“Aye, I will. Can’t be havin’ two pretty ladies in town wit’ no one to protect ‘em, can I? My sister’ll be comin’ to watch after this place. We ain’t movin’ forever, hinny.”
Sanura jumped up and threw her arms around the big man, hugging him tight. “Thank you so much Faolan. Welcome home!”
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A few days later, everything was packed and they were headed on their way to the town Asta has decided to move to. It was a quaint village with beautiful houses and nice people. She had been there many times. The people were nice to her…but would they be kind to Sanura?
The girl set in the furthest corner away from Asta, gazing out the window. She wore a long skirt with a full-length hooded cloak. Whenever they were around people, Sanura would put the hood up so as not to let anyone see her unique features. Nevertheless, a few people had seen her as a child and the news had spread of her strangeness. People treated her with distrust and sometimes, even fear. She hated the look in their eyes when they saw her, how they constantly watched her every move. It was terrible.
A couple hours later the town came into view and Sanura sat up. She looked out the window fearfully. There were many people, children and old ones alike. Sanura looked at all their faces as they passed, studying each one. It was a town that worked hard and supported each other. Her fear, however, was most small towns did not accept outsiders, and especially not an outsider like her.
They stopped outside of their new cottage, one of the largest in town. Asta exited the carriage and turned to help Sanura down. Sanura looked at the paler woman with sadness in her eyes, and pulled the black velvet hood up. She allowed Asta to help her from the carriage, and then stepped away from her. Asta frowned and then turned to the man that stood at the door. “Good day, Mister Landson. I see you are doing well.” She smiled and he nodded his head to her. “This is my daughter Sanura.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and grunted.
“’Ere’s the key. It’s all ready fer ya. Rent is due at the first o’ each month in the amount we previously agrees upon. Good day.” Shuffling away, Sanura noticed he kept glancing over his shoulder at her. She frowned as he did it again, and he turned quickly and moved out of sight.
Asta smiled softly at Sanura, but only got a cold shoulder as the girl turned and walked into the cottage. Faolan chuckled at her. “It wilna last long. She’ll be fine in a few days.”
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A few weeks later Sanura was miserable. Nobody in the town spoke to her. The children either called her names or ran away from her. The adults shunned her and told their children not to speak to her. She was an outcast except around Asta and Faolan. She resented Asta for bringing her here, and so Faolan was her only source of comfort. She spent most of her time with him, and if she had to go into town he went with her. No one would throw things at her or hit her while he was with her. However, she could hear them laugh and talk about her after they had passed. The disadvantages of having extremely acute hearing were sometimes worse than the benefits.
One day as she was walking alone, she heard a commotion in the town square. Curious, she braved the crowd to see what was going on. From beneath the hem of her cloak hood, she looked around the town square. The mayor stood on the gazebo in the center, urging everybody to listen.
“Please listen. Everybody stop!” Finally the busy crowd noticed, and stopped to look up at the frantic man. “My daughter is missing. We have not seen her since very early this morning. We have checked the entirety of our lands and property, and all of the surrounding area. We cannot find her. Please help us. She is very small, only five.”
The mayor’s voice trailed off and the silence was replaced by the murmur of the crowd. Everyone began moving at the same time, and calling out the girl’s name. “Phaedra! Phaedra!” The chorus rang out all over the town as word spread that the girl was missing.
Angrily Sanura spun and headed into the forest. If it had been her, they would not have cared. They would have said that she ran away, or that she did not want to be found. They would not have created a mass search for her. She stalked through the forest, whipping the hood of her cloak back. She briefly wondered where the mayor’s daughter was, and then decided that she did not care. A small sound made her stop. It was not one of the normal sounds of the forest. It was a tiny cry; its sound was of human pleading. She turned her ears, listening closely. It was off to the north and the east, and it was a little girl pleading for help.
Taking off at a run, Sanura threw the cloak away from her and sped toward the sound. Her shoes came off as she ran in order for her to get better traction. Her nails had always been sharper and stronger than a normal person, a side effect of her deformity she imagined. Toes and nails dug in to the soft earth, gaining ground rapidly. She skidded to a stop to listen again. The sound was close. Her ears twitched, waiting to hear another sound. Nothing. “Phaedra!” she cried. “Phaedra, can you hear me? Say something!”
A tiny whimper came from somewhere close by. “I’m here. Help me. I’m scared.”
“Phaedra, my name is Sanura and I am going to help you. I cannot see you Phaedra. Where are you?”
“I dunno. I was running and I fell down. I think I’m in a really big hole.”
As the girl was talking, Sanura followed the sound of her voice. The girl was right; she had fallen into a deep depression in the ground. It looked like a hunter’s trap for large animals. “Hold on Phaedra, I’m going to come and get you. Just hold on a coupled minutes more.” Sanura walked all the way around the hole, looking for the best way down. The walls were straight up and down, the dirt soft. She looked around, spotting a small log that had fallen from a tree. She walked over to it, lifting one end to test its weight. It was heavy, but she could move it. She dragged it over to the edge of the hole. Looking down, she spotted the girl.
“Phaedra, I want you to move all the way over to the other side of the hole, as far as you can go, okay?” Nodding the little girl moved where she was told. When the girl was out of the way, Sanura shoved the log into the hole, jumping in after it. She picked up one end of the log, wedging it up against the wall of the trap. She scooted it up as high as it would go. The log was slightly less perpendicular than the wall, but it was enough that she could climb it. She jumped on the log, testing her own strength as well as the strength of the wood. It held, and so did she. The question was could she climb it with the extra weight on her back? She walked over to Phaedra, whose eyes were huge with fear.
“Have you ever had a piggy back ride before?” The little girl shook her head no. “No?” Okay Phaedra, what I want you to do is wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist, and I am going to pick you up, alright?” Phaedra nodded, and Sanura knelt down and turned around. Phaedra wrapped her arms tightly around Sanura. As Sanura stood she did the same with her legs.
“Good. Now hold on tight, and I will get us out of here.” Sanura moved to the log. Grabbing hold with both hands, she began climbing. She fought for balance, tail swishing from side to side. Her nails dug into the wood, leaving marks as she went. Finally, after much effort, she was able to look over the top of the hole. Grabbing hold of the earth, she drug herself and the child up on to safe ground. She scooted quickly away from the edge, taking Phaedra with her.
Sanura was tired and sweaty, but the girl was safe. She stood and picked Phaedra up in her arms. She walked back the way she came, smiling as the girl laid her head on her shoulder. She found her shoes, and picked them up. When she came to her cloak, Sanura wrapped Phaedra in the soft velvety cloth. She wandered into the town square and sat down. Everyone began looking at her strangely.
“Go get the mayor. He needs to come quickly.” Nobody moved a muscle. “Go now!” Suddenly a young boy took off running, and moments later came rushing back with the mayor pursuing him. The boy pointed, and the mayor walked to where she sat.
“What is this all about, young lady?” He asked, looking at her as if she were crazy.
“Tell your men not to leave their hunting traps open. It is not safe.” With that she handed over the sleeping girl, who woke at the movement.
“Daddy? I fell in a hole. And that lady saved me.” The mayor hugged his daughter as everyone looked on. After a moment, the man looked up with tears in his eyes.
“Sanura Sitara, I owe you a personal apology on behalf of the entire village. We were wrong about you. We only feared what we did not know. WE should have taken the time to get to know you, instead of judging you. I hope you will forgive us in time.”
She smiled and stood up, brushing clumps of dirt from her clothes. He handed her cloak back, and she took it. Gently hanging it over her arm, she looked at the townsfolk. “I am not angry with you. I may have done the same thing, had I been in your place. My forgiveness is yours.” She smiled. “Now if you will excuse me, I have an apology of my own to make.” She turned and walked away, heading towards the lovely cottage where she lived together with Asta and Faolan.
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~The End~