Their Obsession Rose

Burned to a Crisp

It’s still early the sun has already risen, casting a golden glow over everything. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp, fresh air as I survey my surroundings. The village lies nestled in the valley below, the little white houses dotting the landscape with their soft, smoke-filled chimneys curling into the open sky. The morning dew sparkles on the lush, green grass and earthy, sweet scent of nature fills the air, grounding me in the peace of the moment.

I close my eyes for a second, letting the sounds of the morning wash over me. The gentle chirp of birds on the trees, the soft bustle of the villagers starting their day and the familiar snort of my beautiful wild horse-Lilly- reaching my ears , who is always near when I’m awake.

I named her Lilly and she’s as wild and untamed as I am. The bond between us is something unspoken, something that goes beyond words. She lets me ride her bareback, but no one else can. She’s fiercely loyal to me in a way that only an animal of her sorority can be. I can’t say I found her-it’s more like she found me. The day after Mother passed, I was lost in my grief, sobbing uncontrollably in my favourite spot, the place where I come to heal. Lilly appeared out of nowhere and I swear she could sense my heartbreak.Without hesitation, she licked my tears away, her warm tongue on my cheek and in that instant, I stopped crying. I was so stunned by her sudden presence, I forgot my sorrow.

I gave a soft whistle and soon Lilly trots toward me, her majestic white coat glowing in the soft morning light. The forest,spreading like a green plush blanket, seems to part as she moves, making her even more striking. I greet her by offering a treat, her favourite, while running my slender fingers gently over her smooth, soft pelt. She closes her eyes, leaning into my touch and I can’t help but press a soft kiss to her neck, feeling warmth against my lips.

Before I can be distracted, I climb onto her back and we begin our ride. We make our way through the forest, winding along the familiar paths toward true waterfall and the massive oak tree-where I first met Lilly. It doesn’t take us long, less than an hour. The ride leaves me feeling warm, the sweat of the journey cooling on my skin. When we arrive, I slip off her back, tugging my dress over my head and dive into the pool beneath the waterfall, the water cool and refreshing against my skin.

I swim a few laps, letting the water cleanse me before I float onto my back eyes closed. The sky above is an endless expanse of blue, the sounds of the forest surrounding me in perfect harmony. I take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, clean scent of the trees, the earth, the very soul of the forest. For a moment, I feel weightless, as if time has paused and nothing else matters, but the sound of the water, the breeze and the distant calls of birds.

When I eventually open my eyes, an orange light falls from the sky, its descent frighteningly fast. Whatever is falling, it has no chance of survival! My heart races as I spring into action, dashing towards the edge of the pool. In my haste, I leave behind my cloak, dress and green ribbon, barely noticing as I rush toward the spot where I think the orange light landed.

As I round a large tree, the air is thick with the smell of burned ash. The Forrest suddenly silent- as if waiting in anticipation.

In the middle of the grass lies a massive bird, burned to the crisp. The heat radiating from it is so intense that smoke rises in waves from it’s charred body. I step closer, the sight more surreal with each passing second. Amid the burnt blackness, are orange spots where the bird remains untouched, which is a miracle in itself. The contrast, eerie and I can’t help but wonder what could have caused such an unnatural thing.

My bare feet hesitate as I ponder my next steps, looking at the bird lying in the middle of the burned land, unsure if I should step onto the scorched earth.

Carefully I consider stepping forward, my foot hanging in the air- I want to take the bird with me, to show Father and Grey. This is no ordinary creature, but the sheer size and weight of it present a challenge I hadn’t anticipated.

I estimate and stop myself from acting impulsively, turn around and race to where Lilly waits with my clothes. After dressing quickly, I glance around for my green, but it’s gone-vanished into the forest, no trace of it anywhere. I don’t have time to search any longer, my focus is on the bird, on getting it back to the village.

I head back to the site and after some thought, I fashion a makeshift bed with branches and twine. As I step onto the burned grass, heat radiates through my shoes, burning my feet-but I don’t think about it and push through. I tie the bed to Lilly’s back, determined to carry the bird with me, but the weight of the bird is so staggering, it takes several tries and a lot of effort to get the creature onto the bed without causing further damage-my hands sting from the heat and my eyes water from the smoke still rising from its body. Finally after a lot of strain, I manage to secure the bird. I breathe heavily, making sure it’s steady and won’t slip off during our journey.

Lilly trots ever so slowly, her hooves steady as if she also knows we need to be careful as we make our way back to the village. The silence between us feels heavier now, as though we’re transporting something sacred, something not meant to be disturbed.