Her Destiny

Chapter 1

Persephone is running with her bare feet through the woods. She loves it here, she was born here. When she was running around between the trees, she felt free.

Her people were used to living in the woods. They used to be with so many people. The tribe was called The sapphire mountain warriors. They were called that name because they lived in the woods on the mountains who was called the Sapphire woods. And they can proudly say that they were also excellent warriors.

Their kind nursed for nature and the animals who lived freely in the woods. Persephone was still very young when her tribe got attacked by wolves. Her people would call them Rogues. Those were shifters who had no pack and became nothing more than bloodthirsty murderous. But although they knew the difference between Rogues and wolves in packs for them, it didn’t matter. From that moment, all wolves were enemies.

Only Ten people survived, her Granny Nana was one of them. She told lots of stories about the old days. When the tribe was alive and full of lust. When they all lived very peaceful with every character in the woods. Those days are now nothing more than a fantasy.

They used to live on the ground in cabins made of wood, grass, stones,… But since the attack, they made houses in trees with bridges to each treehouse. Nana’s house was next to Persephone’s. They felt safer away from the ground. Other animals couldn’t get up so high, especially wolves couldn’t.

When someone is further away from the group, they’ll communicate through noises. There are fluid signals for lots of things. But the sign Persephone knew the best was the one for danger. That was the sign Persephone has used the most. Her sight is incredibly good. She can see things coming from miles away. So she is the one that warns her tribe every time she sees danger is on its way. The threat is mostly rogues or bad weather. Having great eyesight isn’t the only thing she’s better in than the rest of her folk. She’s stronger, faster, ages very slowly, and she can hear abnormally well. She can also talk to some animals but not all of them.

Every time someone starts to ask questions about Persephone being different, they’re shut down by Nana. Persephone stopped asking those questions long ago. Because there was no use, Nana would never answer. But when other people dare to ask, she would secretly listen, hoping Nana would give some hints. Until now, no one could get a word about the situation from Nana.

This was very frustrating for Erick. He called himself the chief of the little tribe. Nobody really saw him as a chief. In the end, everybody would listen to Nana instead of him. That made him mad at the duo. All his life Erick hated the pretty Persephone, and the great Nana everybody talked about. He firmly believed that they weren’t really descendants of the tribe. But even Erick had to Admit that Nana and Persephone were there ever since he remembered. He couldn’t show his hatred against Nana because the people wouldn’t let that happen. So Erick was unbearable against her granddaughter. When there were difficult things to do, he would always give her the tasks. Since she was so perfect at everything.

One of those horrible tasks was fishing. The tribe didn’t hunt other animals since it was against their nature. So Persephone has never tasted meat before. For them killing an animal other than fish was like a crime. Fishing wasn’t easy, but when time passed, she learned some tricks and techniques. And now she can catch about 20 in 5 minutes. That’s enough for all of them as a meal. In the summer, she doesn’t mind to fish and even likes it. The water is very refreshing. During the winter, it was a little harder. But due to her ability’s she never had problems getting food on the table. That made Erick hate her even more. Every task he invented was done efficiently by Persephone. It seemed that he couldn’t find anything she wasn’t able to do. Not that Persephone noticed, she even finds herself very weak and unuseful. If Nana wanted it, she could shut down Erick. But without knowing, Erick was actually helping Persephone. There was a great challenge waiting for Persephone. And by giving her so many challenging tasks, she could even learn something. So Nana let him be.

When Persephone arrived in their camp, she exchanged looks with her Nana. Nana looks at her with a questioned look, her head slightly bowed to the left. Persephone knows why Nana is looking at her like that. Her hair is a mess, her clothes are wet and dirty, you can see that she’s been running and she was hiding the fish she has caught. To reassure Nana, she proudly shows her catch in the air. 20 fishes were captured in her trap and were banded with robes together. Persephone climbs the ladder to get to grandma’s cabin.

“Hi Nana, look what I caught, in only 3 minutes this time” The young girl is smiling adorably, and Nana worried thoughts quickly disappear. Even her wrinkles disappear a little. Nobody knows how old Nana is. Persephone is sure she is over 100 years, that doesn’t mean the old lady looks over 100. She even seems rather young, but she seems to be the oldest one of the tribe, and her wisdom comes from long years of experience.

“You should be careful, child, take somebody with you the next time you go. Only to watch your back, I will not lose my only granddaughter to one of those rogues! Perhaps the young Simon can accompany you the next time? I bet that boy would give his life for you.” Hinting that she would love to see those two together.

“Bah Nana! I don’t think about Simon that way, and I don’t need any protection. I am stronger than anyone in the clan!”

“Only fools aren’t scared!” Nana scolds Persephone. Her calm face changes to the strict one she always has when she lectures Persephone or talks to Erick. But with Persephone, there is still a hint of love, while Erick only gets coldness.

“Forgive your old Nana for hoping that her granddaughter won’t be alone when I finally go to the other side.” This time she can’t hide a little mocking smile.

“Nana you won’t go to the other side soon. I bet you are going to outlive me “Persephone is looking full of adoration at her Nana. She really loves that old woman, she is strict, but she has learned so much from her.

“My sweet child, I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want to outlive you either! I couldn’t stand to watch you die. But I feel my day is almost there”. The mocking glance changes into one full of seriousness and a little flash of sadness.”

“No, Nana, don’t say that! You are fitter than the quart of the people in our tribe! I don’t want to hear you talk about leaving me” Persephone runs away. She knows it childish, but she can’t stand it when Nana acts like that. Nana always wanted to prepare her for when the time of saying goodbye comes. However, this was the first time she said that I wouldn’t take long anymore, which scared her. How could she survive without her Nana? Who would tell stories about the tribes and heal her when she gets hurt. Who would dry away her tears and fight with her against her fears? Who will try to understand the bad dreams she has about a woman and a man who were killed while a baby was crying.

Persephone was sitting on the little balcony in front of her small cabin. Her head was resting on her knees. She was all curled up, looking at two birds who were making a little love nest for their eggs. Her long brown hair was hanging low against her head and almost reached the ground while she sat there. She wanted to cry, to scream. Why would Nana scare her that way? She was the only family she had left, the only link with her parents.

A cute boy with brown hair approaches her. “Spying on the birds again?”

Simon was always cheerful; she had never seen him sad. He had a bow in one hand, indicating he was probably on his way to his cabin after training when he saw her sitting. However, his laugh disappeared soon as he saw his dear childhood friend fighting her tears.

“Was Erick acting like a jerk again? Simon was trying to hide his anger. He thinks very low of Erick. He is good for nothing but acts like a leader. Someone so shellfish can’t be a good leader.

“You know, that fake leader is going to get us killed one day.” Simon sits down next to her.

The last sentence was enough for Persephone to finally let go of her tears.

“Don’t you start too !”

“Nana already made me depressive about leaving and dying, and now you say it too!

She starts sobbing, hiding her face deeper in her knees and her hair as a shield over her.

“So Nana made you sad. “

Simon took Persephone in a hug and whispered soothing words.

“Was she telling about her going to the other side and preparing you to survive again?”

“You know she only wants best for you, and she’s afraid that you’ll be alone.”

“This time was different, Simon, she has never said the moment would arrive soon.”

“She probably said that to make you a little afraid, she wants you to take it more seriously.” Simon is lightly rubbing her back. Persephone let’s out a deep breath.

“I take it seriously. I just don’t want Nana to be gone”.

She was about to say that Nana was the only person in her family she had left. But the words didn’t come out of her mouth. Simon also had nobody, only his childhood friend, her. And Nana, who treated him like family. Simon’s parents got killed the same day as Persephone’s parents. Both had lost their parents because of the Rogues attack.

“Freshen yourself up and go get ready for tonight. Can I have the honor of dancing with you this evening? “

Simon stands up and offers his hand to help her up. She is looking at his charming green eyes and nods. It’s the last day of the month, and the tribe always celebrates the beginning of a new month. On the evening of the celebration, the girls wear beautiful dresses and accessories in their hairs. They dance with a chosen boy for the whole evening under the stars in the moonlight around the campfire. Every month she dances with Simon. The others are or too young or too old for her. She loves the celebration of the new month. Her parents met during such a festival. Since that evening, they’ve never danced with anybody else. Her mum would choose her dad every month. Now they’re only dancing in her memories.

Looking above her, the atmosphere is slowly changing. Clouds are disappearing. The sun paints the sky in the typical sunset colors purple, orange, and yellow. She knows that tonight will be a full moon. A full moon on the evening of the celebrations means good luck for the coming month.

Persephone closes her eyes and prays to the Gods that it would be indeed a lucky month.