“GOD DAMMITT!!!
Stupid root!!! Every time. Its like its out to get me!!!”
Hartly walked up behind her.
“Calm down Lea. The root is not out to get you. Its has been there for ages. You just need to watch your footing.”
“Oh shut up Hartly. I get enough lectures from the Elders, I dont need them from my best friend as well.”
“Well you wouldn’t get so many lectures from them if you behaved properly.”
Arlea glared at him
Hartly sighed
“They just worry about you. Specially Faolan. He is the closest thing you have to a father and he has a right to worry.”
Arlea sighed
“I know, I know. I just….”
Hartly put his arm around her and gave her a light squeeze
“I know. you are frustrated. You just found out your father isnt your real father and…”
“I dont care if Faolan is my real father or not! He raised me so in my book that means he IS my father!!!”
Arlea was getting fed up with everyone. Today was supposed to be a happy day. It was her Moonday, which was 6 months before her alleged day of birth. Now she wasnt even sure if that was true.
When Arlea went to bed last night she thought she would wake up this morning and everything was going to be fine. She thought she would wake up to the smell of her father’s amazing sourdough pancakes that he only made on special occasions, her Moonday being one of them. She would then meet up with Hartly, whom had been her best friend since forever, and they would lazy the morning and afternoon away, swimming in the river, climbing the blue bluffs and picking wild berries till they were stuffed full. In the evening she would sit by the fire in the elders hut and listen to the storys of the history of her people, and then there would be cake. The cake was made of multiple layers and had strawberries and raspberries. This cake was made only for her on her Moonday. No one else got this cake on their Moonday. She never thought to ask why she just thought that it was because it was made by her father and he made it special for her only just like the pancakes in the morning. She would fall asleep to the deep voice of her father as he sang the lullaby she fell asleep to every night as a child.
However, Arlea did not wake up to the smell of pancakes, instead she woke up to silence. There was never silence in their hut in the morning and for that matter there was no sound coming from outside the window either. Arlea fell out of bed and stumbled over to the door. Walking into the main room she called her father’s name and received no answer. As she went to open the front door, it burst open to reveal Hartly. He was gasping for breath and his face was all red.
“Lea. You are late. You were supposed to be at the Elder’s Circle 30 minutes ago.”
“What??? Why??? No one told me I had to be there, and where is my father?”
“Your father is already there and waiting. He said he woke you up over an hour and a half ago and told you to get up and dressed and be there”
“Oh so that wasnt a dream then…”
“You had better hurry, the elders are upset about something and you being late is not helping.”
As Arlea returned to her room she said over her shoulder, “They are always upset about something and usually it something to do with me. Why would today be any different?”
“Because it is your Moonday”
Arlea turned and gave him a questioning look, but he said no more.
Arlea
Hartly
