Forsaken

The afternoon sun sent beautiful rays of sunlight dancing through the trees. The birds were chirping happily away in the treetops and the smell of the forest filled her nostrils to the brink. Her tiny legs carried her ahead of her mum and sent her on a sprint onto her favorite climbing tree. It actually wasn't much of a climbing tree, as much as it was just a log lying on the ground covered in moss and ivy. But it was fun none the less to climb onto, and stumble around on. She looked towards her mother, who had now caught up to her, before making a big jump from the trunk. "Careful Nylah! You could get.." She landed on the flower-covered forest floor, giggling and with a giant smile on her little face. She looked up at her mother, who had suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Her mothers' eyes were glossed over, as so many times before, when a mind link came through, and her expression stiffened, until it changed into that of pure terror. Before any of them could even utter another word, Nylah was immediately shoved into some dense bushes near the tree trunk, and her mother hissed at her to stay put until she, or her father came for her. With the mood changed entirely, Nylah recognized the importance of her mother's words, and so she waited and stayed completely still, just like her daddy had taught her to do. She waited until the sun started to disappear and darkness enveloped the forest. A mist began to creep up on the forest floor, and it was starting to get really cold. Yet she sat still, and faithfully waited for her parents to come and get her. Goosebumps spread all over her body as the old memory of that fateful day crept up on her. She had allowed herself to space out for a bit, but got lost in her thoughts and left herself vulnerable to memories like that. Memories she usually suppressed because they hurt too much. Memories from a time that was long gone, and from a carefree time when she thought the whole world was amazing and nothing could ever happen to her. Until it did all too soon and all too sudden. A ding from the bell above the entrance door pulled her from her frozen state, alarming her of a customer that required her attention. "Hello, welcome to Harpers' bakery and crafts shop, how can I be of service?" she asked monotonously in a rehearsed voice. "I'm just taking a look around" came the standard reply from the incoming customer, and she nodded while politely adding the customary "if you need anything just let me know". She changed her gaze away from the customer and looked back down at the counter she was standing behind. She had got to keep those old memories at bay while at work. She needed this job and the money that came with it if she wanted to actually rent a place some day. It had been four months since her 15th birthday and she had run away from the orphanage after another failed attempt at being part of someone's family. She had just had enough of all of it. When the day of her birthday came up, she had already made up her mind and she quickly gathered all of her belongings into a backpack and a small satchel. She didn't own many things, so it didn't take her long to be ready. She went downstairs and decided to hide the backpack in the garden outside, while she went to dinner. She often wore her satchel, so no one would be suspicious of her for having it on her at dinner, even though she did receive a few frowns from the employees. They preferred to have some standards or 'manners' around the dinner table, as they called it, and a worn-out old satchel didn't quite fit into that vision. But Nylah never really cared about that, and they had pretty much given up on scolding her about it. After having shoveled down her food and smuggled an extra piece of bread into her satchel, she excused herself from dinner. Since she was one of the older kids who had been around a long time, she was mostly left to herself, probably considered a lost cause by now. She wasn't sad about it though. The younger ones needed more attention and she didn't care much for the place anyway. Before going to the garden, she went down to the kitchen to enjoy the company of one of the cooks for one last time. She had always liked Jacky, an elderly woman who had worked in the kitchen since forever. Her actual name was Jackelyn, but when Nylah first met her, at the age of five, she had a little trouble remembering and pronouncing the longer name, and therefore ended up calling her Jacky. Jacky loved the nickname, and so she had just been Jacky ever since. Down in the kitchen, Nylah quickly spotted Jacky in her usual corner, knitting away while she waited for the dinner to finish upstairs. The elderly woman lifted her gaze and a smile broke out on her face. "My little troublemaker! Happy birthday my dear girl!" she said excitedly and stood from her seat while spreading out her arms for a hug. "Thank you, Jacky!" Nylah answered happily and breathed in the woman's scent of freshly baked bread. That smell always bought her comfort and it was the only thing she would miss about this place. Granny Jacky and her bready smell and big bear hugs. "I've made you a little something dear. For your trip", the older woman winked at her knowingly. "Uhm.. What trip Jacky?" Nylah asked, evasively. "Oh, come on now dear, I know you are not just going to sit around and wait for the next family to come along and then bring you back here again. I can see it in your eyes, even if you are trying to avoid looking at me", Jacky said, and made eye contact with the determined teenager. "Here you go my dear", she added, and shoved something soft and thick into Nylah's hands. Nylah looked at the cozy bundle in her hands and her face immediately lit up in a smile. It was a very big and thick scarf, almost as big as a blanket. It had been knitted in the most beautiful dark green color and it had her name written with a red-brown thread in the right corner. When she unfolded the scarf to get a good look at it, something else fell out and ended up on the floor. Nylah quickly picked it up, to see a matching beanie in the same fabric. It was the perfect running away gift. She looked back at the elderly woman with dampening eyes. "Thank you, Jacky! For everything. This is so much! I will cherish it always!" she whispered sincerely, while hugging the clothes tight to her chest. "Don't mention it sweetheart, it is my pleasure!" Jacky said warmly, looking fondly at Nylah hugging her new gift, before she was pulled into another embrace by the young girl. "Just be careful and take good care, sweetie. I hope I will see you again some day." She added into Nylah's ear. "You will!" Came the response. Nylah found herself a little teary-eyed after the interaction with Jacky. She had gone out in the garden and pulled her backpack out from its hiding spot, and was adding the beanie and a bag of some extra food into it. This should be enough for her for the next couple of days if she rationed it wisely. Tightening the scarf further around her neck, she swung her pack onto her back and climbed the nearest tree close to the fence. The jump down over the fence would have been unsafe, had she been a human. Luckily, she was no such thing. As a werewolf, she landed elegantly on her feet even without shifting to her wolf. Her wolf, Accalia, had been a part of her since she was 13, as was normal for werewolves. However, the orphanage she came from was mixed with both werewolves and humans, so the werewolves had to keep quiet about what they were. Once she was on the other side, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders, and she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Time for her and Accalia to be free. "How much for the baguette?" A voice said, interrupting Nylah's thoughts once again. "Oh, uh, it will be $2,99", she quickly responded while scolding herself for letting her thoughts wonder on their own accord. "Two of them please. And one of those pretty tote bags over there." The customer said and pointed towards a tote on the back wall with some leafy motive on it. One of Harper's crafty ideas. They had become quite popular nowadays, after plastic bags had been reduced almost to a curse word. The only thing worse would be a plastic straw.. Rolling her eyes at the thought, she once again relaxed her posture and let her mind wander as the customer left the store with the same sounding 'ding' from the doorbell that had initially announced the arrival of said customer. Alone once again, Nylah thought back, and her mind wandered to when she found this small town. She had been lucky to meet Harper, because it led to her landing this job, even though she was only 15. It was not her proudest moment though, considering she was about to steal some clothes that were hanging outside to dry. “Is this how shopping works nowadays?” an amused voice sounded, while Nylah was tearing down some sweatshirts from a hanger outside of a house. She stiffed upon being caught, her ears turning red in embarrassment and she dropped the sweatshirts she had torn down. She was about to make a run for it, but the woman who had spoken was suddenly right in front of her. “Don’t worry, I know these people, and even though they kinda deserve it, I don’t think it will be a good idea for you.” She continued and locked arms with Nylah as if they were the best of friends. “Come with me”, the woman added, as if Nylah was actually given a choice, and they went down the road and straight into a diner. “The usual Mona, please. And make it two.” She said to the waitress as they entered and went to a booth in the furthest corner. Silently and rather confused, Nylah sat down opposite the strange woman and waited in anticipation for her to explain what had just happened. “So you’re a wolf.” She stated, which made Nylah’s brows furrow. “Don’t worry, I’m a witch, not a human,” she explained. “So what brings you to this town all alone? You were stealing, so I guess you don’t have a pack? Or did you not like it in your pack? Perhaps you were raised by rogues?” The woman started to think out loud, without looking like she wanted the actual answers right away. “There is something about you, though. Are you sure you are just a wolf? Or maybe.. Oh you could be an alfa perhaps? That would certainly explain some of it. Your aura is quite the sight really.. And here I am just rambling on with my mumbo jumbo thoughts. I’m sorry, I must have forgotten my manners! I am Harper!” She shut her hand straight into Nylah’s face to shake her hand. “Hi.” Nylah said hesitantly. “I’m Nylah.” “Hello Nylah, welcome to Manson. What brings you to town?” Harper asked. “Well, you are right about the wolf part. And I think I am an alfa. Or was. I’m not anymore. I don’t have a pack.” Nylah started, but then grew silent. Why was she even telling all of this to a complete stranger? “I was just in need of some supplies.” She decided to end her explanation. “Have you thought about getting a job?” Harper asked, and Nylah slowly nodded. “It just isn’t very easy to get one. I don’t have any papers or credit cards or anything.” Nylah said, purposefully avoiding telling the woman about her age. “Well Nylah, I feel like this is your lucky day then!” Harper beamingly proclaimed. And just like that, Nylah had made a friend in Harper, gotten a job in Harper’s little bakery and craft shop 4 times a week all while eating a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake. It actually was her lucky day.