FINDING MY MATE

"Run! Run Ava! Run as far as you can," Lena shouted at Ava who was still looking back at the crumbs of bricks the destruction had caused. Lena ran towards Ava and pulled her by her hand roughly. "I told you to run, Ava," she screamed as she dragged her along. "Mama and Papa," Ava's voice failed her as she burst into tears. Sure that they had ran to a safe range, Lena stopped running and looked at the crying Ava. "Mama and Papa are gone. It's we now. We are left to this world," Lena said patting Ava. After spending almost the rest of the day comforting Ava, Lena left her to go hunting. While waiting for the return of Lena, Ava gathered sticks and made them ready to be matched into fire. About an hour later, Lena came back with two dead squirrels. "You are lucky to get two kills," Ava said whilst collecting the dead animal from Lena. "My hunting adroitness are beginning to show off," she said. Ava nodded and stuck a light before placing the meat above the light. "Can't we go back? At least, to check on anyone who might still be alive but injured," Ava asked looking at Lena with her tears-filled glassy eyes. "I wish but I don't want us risking our life for a cause liable to claim our lives because we decide to turn a blind eye to it. The destruction is so ample that our escape was because we were in the training ground," Lena said turning the meat over on the fire. Ava just nodded and looked far into the forest along the way they had come. "Here," Lena handed the already done meat to Ava. "Eat well. Tomorrow is a new day." 'A new day; a new beginning," Ava thought as she munched her meat. ~Earlier in the day Lord Fenton and his lady, Lady Kathleen sat on their throne with the Chiefs in his palace. "My Lord, My Lady," Sean, the highest ranked chief, bowed, " The other royal family wants to take over the land. They didn't concur to the rule. They insisted vehemently. And My Lord, I'm afraid they can be rebellious," he concluded. Lord Fenton smirked. "They wouldn't want to die at the mercy of the Royal Sword. Send delegates to their household and tell them I want to see them before the brightest sun is out," he said. The Chiefs bowed. Some of the chiefs left to relay the message of the King. "My Lord, My Lady, I think we should be prepared for war. I heard the hooting of an owl in my dreams last night," Lorca, the oldest chief said. "Be rest assured. There shall be no war. The hooting you heard might be imaginary. Old age is telling on you," Lady Kathleen said. "Alright, My Lady," Lorca bowed. The delegates sent to the second Royal Family were taking too long to return so the King ordered two of his guards to go check what the delay was for. The guards hadn't left not up to ten minutes when the heads of the delegates came rolling into the Palace. Lady Kathleen screamed terrified. Lord Fenton sat unshaken on his throne. The chiefs turned their heads to look at the entrance of the door. "Rolling heads gather no mass. Or does it gather fear?" the baritone voice of George mocked as he walked into the Palace. "Annihilating three chiefs is not enough to allay fear in my Kingdom," Lord Fenton said. "Well, maybe yes, maybe no but it is enough to make the Queen of the Kingdom shout in terror," George had a smug grin on his face. "All I ask for is to take the throne of my forefathers," he said faking a sob, "But instead, you turned me to a murderer. Must I have bloods on my hands like you do, Lord Fenton?" he questioned sarcastically. "Guards," Lord Fenton called out. He was already angry at George's guts. George let out a sinister laughter. "Do you think I left them alive on my way here? Your guards are gone so soon," a devilish smile grew on his face. Lord Fenton smirked and hit his thumb slightly on his chair. "Of course, I should have thought so too. What do you want?" Lord Fenton questioned. "Nothing much. Just step down from the throne of my forefathers. I'm the one entitled to the seat," George said. Lord Fenton laughed. "My father didn't teach me how to let go. I'm so trained such that letting go is never an option. Since you want this the hard way, then maybe being hard isn't a bad thing," Lord Fenton said and pulled out a sword from the arm of his chair. As soon as the sword made a clinging sound, guards burst into the Palace. George's men also marched into the Palace. Then, the war began. For the first time, a war erupted from the Palace. No one was left untouched. George's men began to slit the throat of whosoever they come across. Children, adults, pregnant women, the aged, and even the disabled were not left to live. They destroyed everything they came across. When the war had escalated and looked as though Lord Fenton was gaining an upper hand, George resorted to throwing fires into houses. Tens turn fifties of torchlight fire began to flew up in the air landing on anything. Two hours after the war had began, the land became soiled with the blood of the people and the ashes of the once well erected houses. Ava screamed from her sleep. The previous day incident became her nightmare. Lena came rushing towards her. "Are you alright? What happened? Did anything sting you?" Lena threw questions at her as she checked her out. "Did all that happened? Mama and Papa are gone?" Ava asked with tears streaming down her cheeks. Lena sighed and pulled her into her embrace. "We will go and check later in the day," she said. "Maybe they are still alive," Ava said with a glint of hope in her eyes. "Maybe," Lena patted her. Sure that she was now calm, Lena went back to what she was doing earlier. "Wash up Ava. We will move once the sun is out," Lena said. Ava nodded and left in search of a river.