'You're really funny, Maria.'

'W-wait! No! Wrong way! Maria-!'

'Phew… I got to you on time… Stop scaring me like that.'

'I'm lucky to have you as my little sister.'

'Anyone bother you today? Good, they remember last time.'

'You became a guard…? …Let's celebrate, then!'

'…Maria…?'

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I could feel myself flying through the air, falling lower and lower until I felt the unforgiving impact of my body hitting the earth. I could feel my body start to bruise, but not a single bone broke. Slowly, my eyes opened, immediately closing as I felt rain hit my face. I took a deep breath, squinting against the blurred landscape. I could not spot anything familiar, nothing that rung a bell or gave me a sense of recognition. This was not home. This was not home.

Panicking, I begin to look around. There were houses everywhere, and the nearest exit I saw was one headed towards a giant tree. The houses looked inviting with the warm lights emanating, but something… The tree…? It was… calling … The tree was calling me… telling me that it would be a safe place to take refuge in…?

I was scared, but I knew somehow the tree would keep me safe- safesafesafe.

As I burst through the door and into the tree, I felt a wave of dizziness overwhelm me. I stumbled, landing harshly on the ground even as a bright light filled my vision.

Now was not the time to be blacking out, but…

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"Hey…"

It was too warm to be getting up.

"…you okay…?"

Actually… I did feel a little restricted… and I felt a little damp all over…

"…get some help…"

Help…?

"…tree… never acted… before…"

What were they saying? Were they talking about me?

"Can't… chop her out! …Sacred…. Sharance…"

Chop me out of where!? What the heck!?

"…grew out of the tree?"

What the heck was going on? I forced my eyes open, trying to see through blurry figures standing around me. Leaves covered most of my face, and what seemed like roots or branches were growing around me, forming some sort of shield.

"You're awake!" The voice, a female, was excited, kneeling next to where my head was slightly visible. "Are you alright? What happened here?" As she questioned me, I could hear a child's voice tell the girl to ask me if I grew out of the tree.

"I…" I felt the roots loosen its hold around me, shifting to help me sit up. "…I don't know…" My head was fuzzy, my mouth was dry, and my vision was blurry. What the hell was going on?

"Her ears are round… That rules out being a monster…" The old man hunched over at the door was mumbling to himself, and it was not that strange to me that I could hear him. "Perhaps… a child of the Sharance tree…?"

"You don't remember anything? What about your name?" My attention focused back on the ginger-haired girl in front of me, her blue eyes filled with worry.

"I… My name…?" My head started to feel like someone was hitting it with a rock, and flashes of blurred faces rushed past. "My name… I… my… I am Maria…" I grasped at my head, leaning forward onto my knees.

"Oh my…!" I felt gentle hands on my back, calling for a person named Monica to bring a drink and some medicine. "Keep your head between your knees. I need you to breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose. There… like that…" Her instructions felt familiar, so I followed them without question. My headache slowly eased until only a dull throbbing remained, and finally I whispered a mumbled 'thanks'.

"How did you get here?" It was the old man, hunched over and leaning on his staff. I blinked, closing my eyes and leaning back onto the roots. "You are… human… aren't you?" His voice was full of suspicion it hurt. I could hear the girl admonishing him, but my mind was focused on trying to regain some sort of memory as to why I was here.

"I… believe I am human…" I looked at my hands, at my oval nails, and felt my ears. Humans had round ears did they not? "I just… I can't remember anything right now…" I clenched my fish hands into fists.

"Grandfather…" She was looking at the man with pleading eyes, and he was staring at me with a speculative look.

"It looked as if you grew out of the tree, missy," He said, slowly walking forward. "The tree even responded to you. I can't help but to think that you are the personification of our Sacred Sharance Tree, and that we must guide you in this life of yours." He had this strange glint in his eyes, something that spoke of wonder, mystery, and suspicion.

"I do not know what to believe…" I said, allowing the tree to help me stand. I looked at my clothes, all brown and greens and doing nothing to help against the man's claim that I was this Sharance tree of theirs personified. Something in me felt indignation about being called the child of a tree. I was respected because… Because…?

"You can believe that we will protect you," The girl interrupted, cutting off whatever her grandfather was about to say and my train of thought. "Grandfather, since it appears the Sharance tree will protect her the most, maybe it is best if she lives in it…?" This girl… she knew her way with words, despite her flowery appearance. "I'll show her around, and you go see if Monica is alright with everything, okay?"

She grabbed my hand after assuring that I was alright, and then led me down a ladder at one side of the tree. "My name is Shara. I hope we can be friends." She then continued to talk about the importance of the Sharance tree, of my tree, and how Sacred it was. She then moved onto farming, showing me the two huge plots of land filled with herbs and branches and weeds. "You see, the only place that grows crops would be under the Sharance tree, your tree. We'll send a bed over for you later, and I'll help you find a refrigerator for food…" She continued to talk, looking through a storage shed overgrown with weeds and not even rotting and finding a rusty old hoe. "Aha! Here, you can use this to till the land, and I'll give you a watering pail…" She trailed off, looking to the distance.

"Huh…?" Her blue eyes were wide, and her body was shaking as she pointed behind me and screamed. I turned, and just in time as a blade went straight to my chest.

I reacted on instinct. I lifted the hoe in my hands up, using the brittle wood to deflect the attack. I prayed to whoever was watching, the Sharance tree mostly, that the hoe would not break. In one sure movement, I found an opening in the thing's stance and stuck the rusted metal end of the hoe at its body. The handle broke in my hands as the monster fell to the ground. It disappeared in a flash of light, dropping several things onto the ground.

"Ma-Maria…?" I turned around, shakily smiling at the girl who had helped me so far. "Are you okay? Your hands…" My hands? I looked down at them. Oh…

"I'm alright. Its just… splinters." I winced at the blood as I pulled pieces of wood out. The old and now broken hoe lay forgotten as Shara helped me. I turn my head away as she pulled a particularly large piece out.

I looked at the landscape, finding two springs and two exits/entrances from the land. Actually… What were those… "Shara! Move!" I pushed her towards the ladder, looking for something to use as a weapon as two more of the thing from earlier appeared. They looked angry, and if their snarls were anything to go by, it was because of what happened to their friend earlier. Crud.

I grabbed a large stick off the ground, swinging it up and blocking a wild swing from one of them. The other sneaked behind me, presumably to get to Shara, but I spun and kicked it out of the way. The kicks and several hits from the branch didn't hurt the things, the monsters, at all. In fact, all it seemed to do was make them even angrier.

"Maria!" Shara screamed. I stumbled, my knees buckling from the blow to my ribs. I could see two blurry shapes running towards us from the entrance as I rolled away, clutching my chest and still gripping my stick.

"Damn it!" I growled, running further away from Shara to distract them. They followed, and in the corner of my eye I could see a red-haired girl and dark-haired guy looking at the scene with shock.

"Here!" The guy shouted, distracting the monsters as he threw something in the air. It was a long sword, and before I could attempt to catch it, one of the monsters saw fit to grab it. Double damn. "Shit!"

"Over here!" I yelled, dashing to the side as he quickly responded with a smaller package. I ripped the cloth hiding it, revealing dual blades with a simple but effective design. This… This was sparking something familiar in me. Good.

With a yell, I ran forward, slicing at one monster and parrying its attacks. The second came at me with the long sword, but it was easy to dodge because of the monster's clumsy handling. I took a risk, dashing forward and kicking at one's head before rebounding and hitting the other in the chest with one of the blades.

My move worked, and soon, both disappeared in a flash of blue light. I stood there panting, trying to loosen my grip on the blades but only succeeding in stopping my shaking. I collapsed onto my knees, still breathing hard. That was… It was… familiar… terrifying… What the hell happened…

"Hey…" I found myself looking up, staring into a dark silver eye. "Are you okay…?" I looked back down at my tightly clenched hands, willing them to let go of the blades.

"I'm… okay…" I lifted the blades up, reluctantly pushing them towards him. "T-thank you…"

"You should keep them. You look like a capable fighter, and you use them rather well." I blinked at his compliment. Actually… looking closer at him… "Here." I stared at his hand, grabbing it as he helped me up.

"…Thanks…" I looked at my hand, small pieces of wood still stuck inside. "…"

"Maria!" I turned back to Shara, blinking at her inspection of me. "Oh- you still have so many splinters…! Grr…." She started furiously picking at them, sliding the slivers of wood out of my hand so fast I didn't even feel it.

"I…" The guy looked slightly scared. "I still have work to do, so, uh…" He waved, giving me a small smile as the red-haired girl trailed after him.

"…cute…" I blinked after the guy, ignoring Shara's attempts to heal my hands.

"…and there!" I looked back at Shara, finding my hands cleanly bandaged. Since when…? "Chew on these." She handed me a mix of leaves and white flower petals, and obediently, I placed them in my mouth. "It helps numb the pain and gives you nutrients. You don't have to swallow it, you can just spit it out when all the flavor is gone and it turns to mush."

"Thank you…" I nervously looked around, somehow finding myself moving after Shara. "Huh? Wait- Where are we going?"

"We're going to introduce you to the town." Her tone of voice made no room for objections, and like the pet I had become to her, I was dragged towards a fate as inescapable as death.

"…Shara…?" I asked, out of breath and extremely tired. I'd met all but two of the villagers, and Shara, being the stubborn person that she was, refused to let me go to my tree home until I met the two. "Where will I find Raven and Gaius?"

"You met them earlier; they helped during the monster attack." She glanced back at me, pulling me to a halt beside a building with a sign that had crossed swords out in front. "You go and introduce yourself, and then meet me back at my store." Oh, her store… I was kind of afraid of going there seeing that Monica, Shara's little sister, bit me.

"…Fine." I sighed, giving her a small nod as I meekly made my way into the shop. "Hello…?"

"Welcome." I turned to the side, blinking as I met familiar silver eyes. "Oh, the girl from earlier."

"Hello," I said, some instinct in me sketching a quick bow. His eyes widened in confusion before smiling welcomingly, gesturing me closer.

"What brings you to my humble abode?" He asked, all easy-going smiles and care-free attitude.

"Shara has me… introducing myself to everyone…" I said, shuffling my feet. "And thank you for… earlier…" I was having troubles speaking for some inane reason, and I was glad for my tan if only because it hid the heat flushing to my face.

"Haha, no problem at all!" He smiled happily, looking behind me and at someone. It was the red-haired girl from earlier, her name being Raven if memory served me right. "Raven, come here and introduce yourself!"

The girl halted, then slowly walked forward. There was something… familiar about her. "Name's Raven…" She mumbled, her body turned away from me.

"And I'm Gaius. We run the Weapons Shop. If you ever need any weapons, don't be afraid to check our stock. Also, if you ever need any farm tools, we sell those, too." His smile was infectious, but my awkwardness prevented me from giving an answering smile back. He looked between Raven and I, an eyebrow raised in thought. "You two could be related, with your same indifferent expressions." Raven's face heated and she turned from him in embarrassment. I kept my neutral façade, instead bowing my head in acknowledgement.

"I should be going… Shara is expecting me…" I backed out of the shop, turning and practically high-tailing it outta' there.

Yeah… if only I was as brave like when I fought those monsters…

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"Great job, Maria!" Shara smiled happily at my blank face, finding my indifferent attitude somehow adorable. "Here, this is the award you receive whenever you complete a request." She handed me some flower packets along with a watering pail. "Sorry, but that watering can was the only one I could find. I hope you find it of good use." Oh I bet I would.

"Is there anything you need help with…?" I avoided looking at her face, finding talking with people uncomfortable. Gosh… if only I could just go home and sleep already…

"Actually… if you finish planting those flowers… I… would really like one!" She smiled, clapping her hands together. Relieved to not be running around anymore, I promised her a Toyflower and made my way back to my tree home.

All was not to be, actually. I was stopped by what looked like a squirrel-like monster loitering around the entrance. Its foot was bleeding, and it was whimpering pitifully.

"It's okay…" I whispered, kneeling down and inching my way forward. It hissed at me before whimpering as its foot brushed against the ground. Remembering the herbs I picked earlier thanks to Shino's advice (Shino being the woman who runs an inn with her daughter and adopted daughter) I took some out and began chewing it between my teeth. The little monster seemed to have recognized the herbs, because it stopped hissing at me and was now making its way towards me. I took the mush out of my mouth, slathering it over the bleeding wound and scooping up the animal into my arms.

"Maria…?" I turned to the side, spotting Raven from earlier coming back from the paths to the left. I ran up my stairs, shouting a hasty good night and slamming my door closed. I checked the injured monster in my arms before deciding its wound needed to be cleaned.

It was going to be a long night.

"Are you okay now?"

"Chirrup!"

"Your legs doesn't bother you anymore, right?"

A swift nod of the head.

"And you won't fall down from my shoulder?"

A soft head nuzzling into my neck.

"Haha, okay! I promise to stop being so worried!" I patted the small animal's head before making my way to the forest on the edge of town. An elf named Daria lived near there, and she was an… enthusiastic person…

It was early morning, and after watering my flowers real fast I had taken the cute little monster (its type I learned as a Chipsqueek) to where it nudged me to go. We were looking for its family members at a forest nearby, I think it was called Privera Forest or something.

Anyways, the Chipsqueek was urging me with happy yips and squeaks to certain directions, me having to dodge monsters and grabbing some food along the way. I bite into an apple as I dodge a sword, feeling the Chipsqueek hidden in my shirt grip onto my skin with sharp claws.

"!" I hear a startled gasp, and then there are no swords swinging at me and there is a flash of light. "You are-!"

"What did you do?" I gasp, looking at dropped items and feeling the Chipsqueek's claws dig sharper into my skin. I feel light-headed and scared, and the one silver eye staring worriedly at me makes me feel no less scared.

"You were going to be hurt." He says, face turning stern and full of concern. "You should not be out here alone."

I stare at him, my feelings of nervousness vanishing and being replaced by indignation. "Y-You just don't assume things like that! I was doing just fine!" I exclaim, my face feeling hot.

"What are you doing out here?" Gaius asks, not at all raising his voice and remaining calm. "You are far out in Privera Forest."

"I-I'm looking for something. You don't have to know…" I lose whatever courage I have and gain a feeling of bitterness. I do not like this person anymore. I do not…

"In which direction were you heading?" He asks, already going to where I was headed without waiting for a response. The Chipsqueek in my shirt has loosened its hold and is now nudging me left, in which I respond. Gaius follows after me, keeping monsters away with his hammer and me dodging them, sometimes back Gaius up when several attack us at once.

"There!" I exclaim, picking my shirt up and letting the Chipsqueek fall into my arms. It is yipping excitedly and Gaius has a flustered expression on his red red face, mouth gaping and hammer loose in his grip.

A family of Chipsqueek come bounding towards me, the one in my arms alternating between yips and barks. It jumps down, looking to me and then to its family. It gives one final bark to them and they scamper off, leaving me with Gaius and the Chipsqueek.

"What is it?" I ask, bending down to reach eye level. It yips, jumping onto my shoulder and nuzzling me. "…?"

"It wants to stay with you." I jump, momentarily forgetting the presence of the dwarf.

"He does…?" I ask, wonder in my voice and looking to the Chipsqueek settled on my shoulder, tail curled around my neck. "Oh…"

"You were here for him, huh?" Gaius asks, a soft smile on his face. "Sorry for getting kinda mad earlier, but you really shouldn't be here alone."

"I was with him." I reply, waving away his apology. "I'm sorry for getting mad at you- you were just concerned…" I do not like this person. I do not-

"You're a really kind person. Most people would turn away from monsters, big or small." Gaius looks to the distance, focused on a distant memory.

"Everyone is the same, aren't they?" I say, smiling at the feeling of soft fur against my cheek. "Monster and Human, dwarf, elf, whoever they are, whatever they are, they have feelings and families. They live and die, they bleed when cut…" I sigh. "S-sorry… I'm rambling… Everyone knows this already…"

"No… actually, you're one of the first people…" He is looking at me differently, a curious look to his face.

We reach the entrance, and I race away after grabbing some apples off a tree. I bite one apple, bidding Gaius goodbye and running home. It has been a long day, and it would be wonderful to get some sleep. I water my plants, lingering outside as I look up past the leaves of the Sharance tree, to the stars shining bright in the sky.

A distant memory of a song comes to mind…

'Away, away in the briny sea

Take me where I yearn to be

Where love nor care will bother me….'

"Let's go to sleep, Toffee." The Chipsqueek yipped in agreement.

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"Away, away in the briny sea…"

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AN: This is one of the few stories I have actually decided to put up. 'm not saying am busy and all... more like I fail at being motivated. So I wanted to experiment with this! I hope you liked it!