Anna

I have gotten used to nature being my home.

I guess it was normal for kids to live in houses and towns, but Mommy and I were always traveling. She wouldn't tell me why.

But I don't mind. I like nature. It's really pretty. Mommy said living among the wild makes us stronger. Mommy had already begun teaching me how to hunt and track! It was really fun to help her!

I peered at the ground and saw the tracks of a rabbit. I pulled on Mommy's sleeve, pointing at the trail. She nodded and silently ordered me to stay where I was. I sat in the grass and patiently waited her to come back.

A few minutes later, she came back with the carcass of a rabbit on her spear. A lot of kids look horrified whenever they see a dead animal, but I'm not bothered by it, anymore. Sure, I feel really bad for the animals that have to die just so we can eat, but Mommy always told me that Naga blesses us with food and we should be grateful that she gave it to us.

Mommy set up a campfire and began to cook the rabbit. I sat down my bedroll and got comfortable, watching the fire. 

Still...I want Mommy to tell me why we have to move around so much!

"Mommy?" I spoke up as she poked the fire with a stick.

"Yes, pumpkin?" she replied, not taking her eyes away from the fire.

I fidgeted with my hands. "Um, why don't we have a house?"

Mommy stopped and looked up at me. "W-why are you asking?" Her voice sounded nervous.

I shrugged. "I dunno. It's just that a lot of people have houses and we don't!" I exclaimed.

She sighed, biting her lip. "Well...it's a long story that I don't know if I should go into detail with..." she muttered. "But I suppose you should know a bit of it. The reason we move around so much is that we're running away from some really bad people who want to take you away. When you were born, they tried taking you from me, but I was able to escape with you."

I stared in awe. "Really?! From where? And from who?"

Mommy sighed. "I... It's complicated, my dear." She pulled me into her lap. "I promise I will tell you everything when you're older. But what I can tell you is that we ran away from Plegia."

"Plegia..." I've heard people talk about that place. I don't hear good things, though. "Will we ever go back to Plegia?"

She hugged me tightly. "No. We are safe right here in Ylisse," she said. "In fact, you actually have Ylissean blood in you."

That made me really excited. "Wow! Cool! Was Papa from Ylisse?"

She flinched. "N-no...he was Plegian..." She swallowed thickly. "My father was Ylissean, but he came to Plegia to marry my mom. I am half-Plegian and half-Ylissean, making you a quarter Ylissean."

"Ooooh. Cool!"

She smiled and ruffled my hair. "It's funny, Little Bird. You look nothing like me or your father..." she began to cry. "You look just like my mother and father... I'm grateful for that..."

I reached up and wiped away her tears. "Don't cry, Mommy. You don't have to talk if it makes you sad."

Mommy giggled. "Thank you, love. In truth, I am happy to keep the memory of my parents alive by talking about them, but I am not ready to tell you everything." She looked back at the fire and jumped slightly. "Oh! The rabbit!" I scrambled off of her lap as she tended to our dinner.

I sat back and watched. I don't like it when Mommy cries... I guess I'll wait until I'm older and then she won't cry!

*****

Sorry that this was posted late. My morning was very chaotic. I cannot say much because I only have so little time for homeroom and I need to study. Thank you so much for reading and look forward to reading more!