Surviving to fight.

Her family was dead. Her father being the last one to pass from starvation, then fever. The hovel they lived in reeked of the stench of death all around. She could hear the soldiers coming by on their horses, checking the ramshackle hobble. Morbid as it was , Mary decided that it best if she hid herself underneath the bodies and stayed still as she could. The animals stopped, and she heard footsteps on the stone outside. 'Lads. the stench is f****n awful. there doesn't seem to be anything stirring except rats. I wouldn't even bother counting the corpses, not worth it" None of them set foot inside. they were afraid of catching the fever" We will let his lordship know, another bit of land available . Light it up" Best if these poor scum, be burned. Come back later and knock it to the ground. See what you can find to take that we can sell off." The soldiers, walked around and threw a lighted torch into the shack, and walked away as quick as they could to get away from the smell of burning, grabbing the dry pots, and anything they could find. There wasn't much, as anything that could be cooked was cooked. They started lighting the thatch, Not a living creature was around. The lack of food, brought on a raging fever, and nobody survived, except one young girl. Mary snuck out from her hiding spot. She had hidden a knife, for later, knowing her family wouldn't make it, also a small cup, that was all she could salvage. Offering a silent prayer on the poor souls who had left the corpses. She crawled to the doorway and peered out. They were gone down the narrow lane away from where she was. Now she had to figure out what to do and where to go. She was weak from hunger and desperate, but she didn't want to die. She looked up and decided to just walk across the fields, in the opposite way of the soldiers. Staying low along the stone walls, and be wary of her surroundings, climbing over the low parts. She passed many scenes of death and burnt out cottages and shacks. Onward Mary shuffled along weakly. Stumbling upon some goats, she decided to tag along and hide with them for awhile. Corning a nanny, she pinned it against one of the stone walls, and knelt down squeezing the warm milk into her mouth. She did this a couple of times a day. Sharing the milk when a kid came along to nurse, . It felt good to her shrunken stomach. Over the next few days, Mary stayed within sight of the goats, repeating her liquid nourishment. Watching what they ate, nibbling herself on some of the green leaf that they did. She came across a pheasants nest, which was fresh. Seizing the opportunity she grabbed an egg out of it. After holding it up to the light - she checked to make sure no chick was within. She grabbed some stones, and twigs, and made a small fire for herself. Careful to keep it low so nobody would notice. Once the flame was going, she found a flat stone, cleaned it off with some grass, and broke the egg over it, and as soon as it was done, she scooped it up into her mouth. It wasn't much, but for Mary it was a feast. Egg, milk. So many didn't have that even. She was the sole survivor of her family, and she was determined to push ahead, and survive, by whatever means she could. Out in the marsh hidden with the animals, she was not alone. Mary grew used to things. While right now, the weather was damp - it was still summer, she knew she had to figure something before winter hit. Her clothing was almost none existent and she lived with the beasts. No live human was in sight, nor did she come across any. Snaring rabbits and small animals, she skinned them with a flint stone, and her knife and cooked on her flat stone. She needed to move on. So wrapping multiple skins that she had tied together, around her for warmth, she proceeded to head towards where she thought water was. The urge to be near water, was strong. She had no plan, no idea what to do or where to go, so she just put one foot in front of the other, keeping wary of her surroundings and listening. Some inner urging pushed her onwards. No longer having the milk to sustain her, she tried to manage by sneaking into gardens, and stealing food when she got near any place with people. This wasn't easy. Unfortunately she was not the only one doing this and there were guards posted to watch for food thieves. The Gentry would have their feasts, and simple peasants and the scum that walked around would not deprive them of their pleasures. Even the dogs were fed better. Orphans like herself were often snagged and shoved into workhouses. With nothing to sustain them but a bit of thin broth, they were expected to become little workers, producing for the well off, with no education. If they survived, they were then shipped off to work in houses, with the orphanage getting the wages and those running it, growing fat off their backs. Mary watched in horror as in several populated areas she watched young children being dragged through the streets, nothing on them ,but threadbare rags, and skeletons. Still she hid, climbing high on trees and watched from a distance. They were dragged off to a big gray building with no windows. Large doors, bolted across. Some were beaten and barely alive as they were thrown in. Their weak cries tugged at her, and she determined to not get caught. During the night, she snuck around under dusk, she had covered herself with mud and whatever dirt she could find. Her goal was to blend in to her surroundings. What she had to be wary of was dogs. It was hard to fool them. Sneaking off and setting some snares, she filled her skin bag with little pieces of meat and bone. Many of the dogs on the street were beaten and starved. She had to be careful as they could turn and tear her apart. She learned to climb and watch from a higher perch. The men of the house would come out and set the dogs. She would blend in and go tree to tree within reach. Her frame was so small and underfed, it was light. Watching the patterns of the coming and going around some of the kitchens, she would time herself, and sneak in, put her finger in the dirt, grab a root vegetable here and there, and some leaf, without going over, she only needed a small bit.. Mary was turning into a little thief, but only for survival. She had to survive. She had to make sure she wouldn't end up in one of those buildings, or one of the deep pits, where the dogs, rats, and other creatures tore limbs off corpses. Having filled her little bag with bits of food, she quietly snuck away out of the town, and again turning her face into the wind - went to see where fate would bring her. She had been crossing along the dirt road, dodging into ditches, when she would hear people coming for several hours, it was dusk. pushing herself till the moon rose, eventually she looked around, and found a corner under some bushes by a stone wall to sit and rest. Sleep claimed her exhausted body, after nibbling on some carrots, lettuce and other scavenged food. Mary did not realize that a whole day had passed, but her spot and her camouflage did well in hiding her. Nobody noticed the little body curled up under the bush. Unfortunately her luck was about to run out and she was about to be discovered. Mary was curled up, her aching body stiff, slowly opening her eyes, she looked around. It was dusk, confused, she had wanted to move further along. did she sleep the whole day away? Her little bundle of food was clutched still in her hands. What had woke her up? Blinking, she looked up and saw a very large dark dog with pointed ears sniffing the air and ground, heading towards her. it's sharp teeth clearly visible and sharp looking. Putting her hands over her head, she tried to curl up into a smaller version of her already tiny self. It didn't protect her. She was no longer hidden... The dog sniffed around her, whimpering, not growling. Mary felt unsure. She heard a male voice, "Max, what have you found an interesting little treasure, bring it here.", Next thing she knew it had clamped it's jaws around her hair and started pulling her out of her hiding spot. Her limbs being stiff and weak from not having enough food, and laying in the dirt so long, she struggled to get away, but the pain shot through her. She moaned, but did not scream. She didn't want to scream. She had not cried, and didn't want to. She kept her mouth closed. Somehow she managed to get her arm and tried to grab the animal by the leg, but it was so huge. She got a grip on it's fur, but it didn't hurt, nor did it turn and bite her. Actually it laid down, and started nosing her and pushing her toward it's large back. This dog was the size of a donkey! The voice - then said, can you climb on his back and hold on?" ' Looking up she looked into deep ocean colored eyes, which shone out from a face hidden in shadow. She nodded, but was terrified.. "Climb on, we won't harm you" Oh, and he is a wolf, his name is Max, not a dog. For some reason she could not understand she felt no fear. She should have. But didn't. In fact, a strange pull and comfort was what she felt. It could not be explained. Not in her state of mind. What she would find out in the coming time - would make her doubt her own sanity . The strangers face remained in shadow, and she clung onto the wolf. They went through hidden paths the woods, then they came to a cliff. The man got off the horse, his coke billowing behind him, and lead the horse carefully down the edge of the cliff. Mary's jaw dropped when she saw them disappear on the edge. Then the wolf went to follow, she closed her eyes and hung on tighter. Max carefully stepped down on the hidden steps between the grass. One wrong move - either beast, and all would be over to the rocks below. The horse turned into the wide crevice and the wolf with the girl on his back followed. It continued on for half an hour like this, then opened suddenly into a wide cave, with the water coming in. It was well hidden. "You can open your eyes, little one your safe". The shadow man said. "Mrs. McDonagh, we have another one for ye". he called. Mary opened her eyes and looked around they were underground somewhere, but there was a deep river, and there were two ships moored. One larger and one smaller. Neither one was overly huge. There were people milling around, young men, some very young, some her own age. Going on and off the ships, carrying barrels, and trunks. Out of the far end of the cave an older woman came bustling along. She eyed Mary, and said "well, child, do you have a name"? Now Mary had not spoken to any other humans in a long time. She tried to reach back in her mind to see when she was last called something other than the usual names not repeatable. Hesitantly, she looked up and said "Mary, ". quietly, not knowing which way to look. The shadow man and the wolf had disappeared suddenly. Mrs. McDonagh held her hand out and said "come with me". Obediently she complied and went down what look like a c***k in the cave wall. "Sure it's not a fancy place, but by the looks of ye, it might be a bit better than what your used to." "everyone here has something to do, they earn their keep., but the master is fair, even if he may seem a bit frightening at first". "all youngsters will get a chance to do a bit of learning, basic reading and writing. It won't be forced. It's up to you if you want it. We will get ye settled with some of the other girls, after we clean ye up.". Mary was bewildered by it all, but kept quiet, but it must have shown on her face, there were several cracks in the wall, and noises could be heard from them, Some had doors, some had cloth across. It was like an underground world. Mrs. McDonagh, said " We're under a bog, and deep down, but through holes and the peat, air gets in, and we gather fresh water at the other end, through an underground stream, the master's house is above on some rock, but has some underground passages to here" "Whatever you see here, must not be said outside of here, ye will hear stories, and many are true". " We sometimes keep prisoners, Some have escaped - and went out and reported, but were locked in the insane hospital". As they were walking about half an hour, they turned to the left, went through a c***k and there was another cave. Mary looked up and saw beams and candle laterns hung from them. . There was a fire, and water in a large pot, 2 girls were scooping wooden buckets of hot water out of it and pouring into a large natural cistern in the ground. A was closed off with an oil skin and wood. "Strip off and in ye get, and we will get ye cleaned up and have a better look at ye". "Kate, Maggie, get yerselves here, with one of those candles. Start scrubbing her, see what ye can do with that hair, I fear that it may have to be cut, but sure it will grow ". Mary took what was left covering her off, and at their command slowly sunk herself into the tub. "how old are ye, lass?", Mary shook her head , she had no idea what age she was. Nobody ever talked about it. Her parents when they were alive were busy trying to feed everyone, and keep their landlord happy. The failed crop had finished them. "Never mind, we will figure it out". Kate and Maggie started pouring the water over her, which was warm, and it shocked her at first, but then they grabbed a bar of soap, and started rubbing it all over her, then handed her the bar, and indicated what she should do. She stood up and rubbed it over her entire body. More water was poured over her, and she sat down again as they scrubbed her hair. She had no comb, and it was nothing but long matts, and tangles. Mrs. McDonagh, Kate and Maggie added some grease to the hair to try and comb it out , but it was no use. "Grab the knife, we will have to cut the hair". Cutting the hair didn't hurt as much as the pulling as they tried to straighten it out. So once the hair was cut, very short, they again scrubbed her head, and combed her short hair. When they were satisfied she was clean. They had her climb out and sit on some animal skins by the fire. Then handing her britches, and a large shirt, they indicated to tie a belt around the shirt, then handed her a wooden bowl filled with a thin soup with bits of vegetables and a little meat. Once Mary was clothed and fed, she was brought out of the room with the fire, and to the right to another room. In the room was pallets of straw, wrapped with a skin, it looked so soft and inviting. She was exhausted. "Now Mary, get your down there to sleep, and we will take a better look at ye in the morning". Mary laid her head down, with a skin above her for a blanket, and fell asleep, warm and fed. She didn't feel unsafe, and was unsure why. She awoke some time later, having no concept of whether it was day or night. She sat up, and looked around as her eyes adjusted to the dim light she noticed, a few other girls and women sleeping on the other pallets. No men were in this area. She was glad. She sat up, and listened for movement. She heard someone mumbling in one of the outer areas. She decided to quietly slip out and see if she could get a sup of water. Quietly she slipped out and tried to remember which direction she had come. She crept towards the voices, and came around to where they had bathed her the night before. There was another lady there, with long red hair. She heard Mary coming, and turned to her, and said come in Mary, we've been waiting for you to wake up. Sit and have a bit of bread and cheese. "I am Grace". she introduced herself. "you will see me come and go, and I may bring you with me at some time" When I am not here, you will be addressing me as Lady Ann Darraghmore" Passing a bowl of porridge to Mary, and helping herself to one, she sat down on the floor facing her. "you will receive training from me and my crew here, it will be different , to see what you are best at. Don't be shocked by anything, and it's very important that you remain calm always. " "Fright, panic can cloud one's judgement". Mary was confused by all this. Then two men came in to join them. They grabbed a bowl of porridge each and sat down by Grace, all three of them sitting, eating and watching her. She kept her eyes down, trying to see through her eyelashes. No fear was felt. One of them grabbed a jar of jam off the table. He said, " here, Mary, put some of this on your porridge, it will sweeten it". Looking up, she reached for the jar from him, meeting a pair of ocean eyes. It was the shadow man. She froze as their hands touched when she took the jam jar. He eyes going wide and both staring at each other. Waves of comfort went up her arm. The warmth.