An angel of Svaneti forest

First chapter The morning came, and I was woken up at seven by the rays of the sun, falling down directly in my eyes from the old wooden window. I barely opened my eyes and looked at my mother sleeping peacefully on the bed next to me. I immediately got up and put on my forest clothes. Although it was summer, Svaneti is still Svaneti, it was still a little chilly outside. I washed my face, braided my hair again as usual and went out. "Oh, can I love my Svaneti more!" I thought, and inhaled the fresh air greedily. From the peak of Tetnuld Mountain, the sun was beautifully cut out, piercing my eyes. The mountains reaching up to the green sky were proudly silent. I took a bow and arrow from the hollow of an old walnut tree, climbed over the fence, and headed for the dark and mysterious forest behind my house. * * * Hello! I'm Lile, 17 years old. I finished school this year, but I can't go to college because we lack money. However, I always wanted to become an artist. I paint my forest all the time, but I can never fully convey what this forest holds in a painting. I live in one of the districts of Mestia. I have a mother - Lida, 39 years old, and a brother - Giorgi, 22 years old. He didn't manage to go to school either. Father... this event is a topic I never wanted to talk about. My father left us when I was months old and Gio was 4 years old. I don't know why or how he could leave us this way, but as the time passed, I grew to not want to ever know. I appreciate my mother for raising us and not making us feel fatherless. Despite the fact that he left us, and I don't know anything more than his name, Dato, the feeling of longing for love and anger towards him increases every day. I have naturally blonde, waist-length straight hair and blue eyes. At height - 1.76, I have this weird condition: I start to panic when I'm afraid. If I’m afraid of something, I constantly hear deafening loud sounds, which increases with fear! Like an alarm. There is nothing more terrible than this, believe me. They took me to a psychiatrist many times, but apparently, it is a psychological issue and no doctor appeared capable of helping me overcome it. I have a very cool best friend - Nino, 18 years old. She’s my neighbor. We understand each other very well because she doesn't have a father. Her father died in an accident. Instead, she has a very cool mother - Aunt Gvantsa. She works and supports her family. Nino also has the loveliest grandmother - Marta, and the most beloved four-year-old brother - Dachi. And lastly, she has a boyfriend - Luca. My family is poor, but I am not ashamed of it. On the contrary, I'm glad because I got a taste of real life. I don't look through rose-colored glasses like rich people. But others think that if they humiliate the poor, nothing will happen except that they will have fun and enjoy themselves. Trust me, I know that from my personal experience. But you know what? I am proud... I am proud that I am from Svaneti... I love nothing more than this place. Even the land of Svaneti is sacred! Ushba, Shkhara, Tetnuldi, these are the mountains where the devil could not penetrate for many years. Here they do not know what is evil, envy or arrogance. Even the word "Svani" makes me shiver, there is no greater happiness for me than that I am Svani. Svans only call out the necessary sentence at the right time and rarely speak, but what they say is so much meaning... so much wise, something special that only we can understand. The Svan language... this is the language spoken by only the Svans, Svan hat. This is the hat that only a Svan man can wear. A person may not be a Svan by name and origin, but he loves Svaneti and Svans so much that spiritually he is a real Svan. Svan tower... It's really hard for me to describe it. This is the most ancient building which the Svans built with their sweat and united forces. Who knows how many things are stored in these towers? Who knows how many times Svan had been telling these towers something that he could hardly say to himself? Who knows how many Svans have set foot on this tower before? You don't know what it feels like when you stand on the roof of the tower, looking at the heart of Svaneti, these amazingly beautiful and mysterious mountains, and imagine that in the place where you are now standing, centuries ago, a man in a Svan hat, dressed in a cloak, with a sword in his belt stood and prayed. I feel so proud when I imagine... It’s not enough description of the total wealth that Svaneti has, but at least it gives you a little idea. * * * In the meantime, I went to the forest. I took the archer and silently began to look at this amazing beauty. * * * I returned home with one rabbit and one squirrel. It was already 11:30. I gave the gain to my mother and she told me: "Leave something in the forest too!" She smiled at me. "Come on, Lida! I hunt once a month!" I gave her a funny look. "Don't confuse a month in a week!" She told me with a smile and went to the kitchen. I went over to my bedroom and changed. I wore ripped jeans, a white short-sleeved t-shirt, and white shoes. We never had a shortage of clothes, because my mother's brother, Uncle Thomas, sends us irresistible gifts every week. He has a daughter, Marie, who is my age. Uncle Thomas told us that he would definitely pay for my education, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I don't want to bother Uncle Thomas too much… I left the room and entered through the old door of my brother's room. At the sound of an old wooden door, he yawned. I went to the old window and pulled the curtains open to let the sunlight in, then I opened the window itself and let the air in. I leaned on Gio's side and looked at his sleeping face. "God, what a handsome brother I have", black curly hair with a low beard, big lips and green eyes. He suddenly opened his eyes along with a little *BOO* and I jumped a little on the bed. "Are you stupid?!" I shouted at him. He was bursting with laughter. "What a coward you are, girl!" he told me with a laugh. "PUMPKIN-HEAD!" I said and made a stupid face. "Let me sleep now!" he said and closed his eyes again. "Do you have a girlfriend?" This question sounded very childish, but everyone already calls me that, so it doesn’t matter. Laughter broke out on Gio's calm face again. "What kind of question is that, fool!" he said and laughed. "Why are you laughing? Answer me!" "Yeah right, a fifth one already!" he answered with a smirk. "Mom, told me to wake you up. Be ready on time, otherwise she’ll probably break the bed over your head." I don't even know how I came up with such a big lie. "Liar." Gio told me, and turned to the other side. I had nothing to do, so I decided to go to the forest again. "Mom! I’m off into the forest!" I called out. "I don’t really understand what did you loose in that forest! What did you see so amazing?" Lida answered. "Mom....don't say that again!" I said with an upset tone in my voice, and left the house. * * * I was walking slowly when some boy appeared from nowhere. He didn't see me at first, as he was looking around aimlessly and hit me by accident on the shoulder. I let out a small sound from the pain and looked at the boy. I have never seen this guy anywhere. "I'm sorry, are you okay?!" he asked nervously. I was a little angry and tried not to get into it. "Yeah, it’s okay!" I said and was about to leave when he continued. "Can't you follow me home?" he asked from behind. "What... excuse me?" I looked confused. "Yeah! In return, I'll tell you all about myself!" he told me with a beaming face. "And why would I be interested in you?" I asked with a dull face. "Well... I don't know…. I think I lost my way and all I know is I could really use someone’s help" he said in a pitiful manner. "Why do such people come alone to the forest... Let’s go!" I murmured the first half and followed him downhill. * * * "My name is Nika! I’m 21" he told me after five minutes. "what is your name?" "Lile, I’m 17" I answered briefly. "Wow! I know Lile means sun in Svaneti. I have a friend here, whose friend has the same name as you, that’s how I know!" he told me and I was surprised. "Whose guest are you?" I asked with interest. "Nino Devdarian" "Are you with Nino?" "Do you know her?" he asked me with eyes widened. "She is my best friend! Has Luca arrived? Why didn't they tell me?" I asked questions over questions "AAA! I remembered... she must have been telling us about you!" "Well, it is nice to meet you Lile, tomorrow we are going to go on a hike! Nino meant to tell you this before. We want you to come with us! There still are people left you need to meet. Will you come?" he asked me suddenly. "I don't think so!" I said as we reached Nino's house. "Thank you for bringing me, till tomorrow!" he told me rather confidently, and entered the yard. When I entered the house, mom greeted me with a smile. "What is it?" I asked. "Uncle Thomas sent you clothes, shoes and everything you need for hiking!" She said with a smile "He sent me and Gio some stuff too!" "How did he know about a hike?" I asked, surprised. "Nino called him a few days ago and told him!" Mother smiled again. "Oh, Nino!" I said and entered my room. countless clothes and shoes, a couple of wrist watches, hiking and normal backpacks, a tent and many other things... all chosen to taste. Then I went to Gio's room. Gio was also surprised by so many gifts. "Hey, lend me your phone!" I asked him and immediately called Uncle Thomas. "Hello!" Uncle Thomas's voice was heard. "Hello uncle, it's me!" "Hey! Lile, how are you girl? I missed you a lot" he said warmly. "Me too! Uncle, what did you do?!" I said in an upsetting voice. "What was needed!" He told me seriously. "I will remove Nino's tongue and then who will tell you..." I said in a genial voice. "When will you grow up Lile!" he said with a laugh. "Thank you very much, uncle!" Now I thanked him wholeheartedly. "Lile, don't say such things again!" he softened his voice. "Thank you uncle, and give Marie a kiss from me!" "Definitely!" he said and hung up the phone. Now I dialed Nino's number and called her. "Hey, Gio!" Nino's voice was heard. "I’ll show you 'Gio' when I tear your face off!" I raised my voice. "Not so violent girl!! Look, Lile… I know I shouldn't have done that, but it needed to be done, you need to get out of the house and meet people. Sorry! Will you come tomorrow?" She said with a laugh. "There’s nothing else I can do now except for coming along. And thanks…" Now I smiled "when are we taking off?" I asked. "Can you come by at eight?" "Okay, till tomorrow" I said and hung up the phone. I went to my room and looked at a pile of clothes once again and got somehow a weird feeling. A part of me was happy to have things that I have never had, but the other half constantly reminded me that this was the life I could never afford. I picked out the clothes that I decided to take for the hike and went to take a shower.