The warmth from the still far-off volcano could be felt at the edge of the Roraldi forest, making the chilly fall day pleasant and bearable. The trees were more sparse here--plenty of clearing space to have a small family picnic. Kasari grinned to herself--she still wasn't sure why she and her daughter and decided a fall picnic was a good idea and then reminded herself that it was because Alana really hated bugs hungrily eyeing down her food.
Carrying the small basket, Kasari handed the clique red and white checkered blanket to the little six year old girl at her side. Alana took it eagerly and set about putting it perfectly flat on the ground--something the breeze did not want her to accomplish. Her dark black/blue hair tied back in a little ponytail with a few stray bangs falling into her face, Alana stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on her task.
Kasari watched her for a moment, her own lemonade-blonde hair streaked with natural dull orange highlights blowing freely in the breeze. Both girls had on long sleeved t-shirts and jeans, though while Alana had opted for a zip-up hoodie, Kasari had opted for a light jacket.
There was a crunch in the leaves behind her, and Kasari turned in time to see a metal creature lurch from the bushes at her. "Alana, run!" She screamed before everything went black.
~*~
All she could remember was a dark room with a spotlight on her, lying on some sort of surgical table, circled pictures of identical men and one very angry gothic girl. And the sharp, throbbing pain in her chest. Kasari found she couldn't really open her eyes, but the bite of the breeze and the occasional smell of sulfur told her that she was right back where she'd started. She blinked a few times, looking around her blearily.
The basket was crushed, the blanket shredded. Food and containers were strung all around her. But there was no Alana. Kasari opened her mouth to speak, finding that her jaw was almost too sore to move, She winced in pain, noting for the first time that her feet were not on the ground. lucidly her yes drifted up to find a rope attached to a thick branch above her. Slowly, she became aware of the bonds wrapped around her arms and waist. She sputtered out a mouthful of blood and felt herself slide back out of consciousness.
"Alana...."
~*~
Sobbing heavily, Alana sat in an old hollow and dead tree in what must have been a fox or raccoons old burrow or stash for winter. She could feel the curious insects reaching out their disgusting feelings to see if she was food or an enemy and she sobbed harder. Something had taken her momma--she'd heard them come back not long ago, but she was too afraid to go and see what was happening. Maybe they were waiting for her to come back to try and help her mother--that's what all the bad guys on her favorite cartoon movies did.
This time, however, she didn't have a brave prince or anyone who could help her fight off the bad guy. She didn't have a wand, or a magical instrument, or any kind of super powers. She was just a little, terrified girl who was cold, covered in bug and dirt and tears.
She heard someone call her name and poked her head out of the tree. She could see, far, far away, her momma hanging up in a tree. Way too high for her to reach. And she could see the metal things walking around--and even though they got smaller and smaller as they walked away, Alana didn't dare move. Maybe her momma was....was...
Another sob wracked through her little body as she pitched herself backwards into the tree. She just wanted to go home...
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