Krystelyna

The two girls quickly gathered some food and their most treasured possesions. They loaded them on the old donkey and set out through the village. All through the village Krystelyna held on to her most precious treasure. It was a pendant that her mother had given her before she was killed. As they walked, Krystelyna was thinking about the things her sister had told her. She looked at the people through different eyes now. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw how the villagers turned to look at her as if they were waiting for her to change into a monster or something. It took a lot of effort to hold back the laughter when that picture popped into her mind. It took even more effort not to turn and look at some of the people and say, "BOO!" She bent her head and covered her mouth, pretending to cough, to hide the silly grin on her face.

The girls made their way through the village, buying just a few fresh fruits to eat on the way to the caves. It was only an hour or so from the village to the caves, but the girls had not taken time to eat anything before they left the cottage. At the last booth, Dawnetta was paying for some apples, when the owner asked where they were going as he glanced at the donkey and their possesions. Dawnetta gaathered up as much courage as her 15 years would allow and replied, "Since no one here in the village can help or wants to help my sister, we are going to seek outside help." The shop keeper shook his head and told her, "The next village is several days journey from here. You girls don't have enough food or other supplies to make such a trip. Besides, you are both too young to be making a journey such as that." Dawnetta finished loading the apples on the donkey, turned to the shop keeper and said, "Not that it's anybody's business, but we're not going to the next village. She would get as much help there as she did here, so we're going to see if the Lady of the Caves can help." With that, Dawnetta turned and walked off, leaving the shop keeper standing there with his mouth hanging open.

News traveled fast through the tiny village. By the time the girls had reached the edge of the village, several villagers and the priests were there. Dawnetta put herself between her sister and the people. Krystelyna was really scared. This was only the second time in her 10 years of life that she had felt this much fear. She watched as the priests approached them. "Why do you insist on going to the caves? She can't help you or your sister. You know as well as the rest of us that there is no help for your sister. You should let us send her where she wll be properly cared for. As it stands, we cannot allow you to continue on with letting her think that there is nothing wrong with her. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that we can't allow either of you to take this trip." Dawnetta looked at the people that stood before her. She was determined not to let them see that she was scared, but at the same time she was very angry at all of them. "You have no right to tell us where we can or can't go! We are not bound to any of you in any way. You are not our keepers. So kindly step aside and let us pass." She took the donkey's lead rope and started down the path with Krystelyna between her and the donkey. One of the priests stepped in front of them and said, "If you continue, neither one of you will ever be able to return to your home here."

Dawnetta looked at the priests and the others fully in the face. "Why should we ever want to come back here? We have no one left. Nobody has ever lifted a finger to help us before. All you people do is point fingers and critisize each other.Everybody turns a blind eye to most of the things going on in this village. You say it isn't right for us to go to the caves. Is what you want to do any better? Tell me what the difference is between the two except for the fact that with our way at least we will still be together and have each other to depend on. You want to send her off so you don't have to deal with her. I love her and as long as I can prevent "caring people" like you from getting ahold of her, she will stay with me. Haven't we been through enough? Especially her. When she was younger, she had no friends, save one, because you people said she was too strange. We haven't been a part of theis village since our parents were killed. Now you think that you have the right to tell us what we can or can't do? Or where we can or can't go? I don't think so!" With her final words, the two girls walked past everyone and out of the village, leaving behind the only home they had ever known.

The Beginning? -- chptr 1