Safe & Sound
CHAPTER 1
"It's time that I found a new home… I can't stay here." Michiru had said as she walked around town where she had lived on streets for as long as she could remember. Michiru is an orphan who has been in foster homes – back and forth but now she has run away from her last foster home as she was always physically abused. From then on, she strived to live on the streets but she thought that it was time to find a place that she could finally call home – safe from the hands of smugglers, safe from the hands of any abusers be it physically or emotionally. It was time that she moved on to a new life.
She walked for miles, away from the town and into the forest where fruits were abundant and where wild animals reside. Being a playful child growing up, she was able to climb trees, the closest she could see from the town. Up on a tree, she knew she'd be safer. She searched for a place where there was clean water, still close to the trees and fruits. After walking north, further into the forest, she finally found a river and it was the clearest one she saw and probably also the cleanest. "I guess this is better than nothing…" she muttered under her breath as she cupped up a good amount of fresh water into hands.
Though Michiru felt so tired that she could collapse any moment, she gathered as much food as she could with all the strength she could muster. After gathering a good amount of food that could last a few days, she built herself a makeshift home out of branches, leaves and vines up on the strongest tree she saw that was near the river. "There, all done." She said wiping her sweat on her forehead with her left arm. She stretched her arms out, tired from the day and she then gets ready to bathe and wash her clothes in the river. She was lucky that the water was really clean and clear although as the sun went down, the breeze grew colder. She was used to this kind of thing though since she would sleep in the nearest open and unguarded car she could find through the winter and through the rain.
Michiru grew to be sneaky yet careful, a tad bit clumsy yet fairly responsible. She would be aware with her surroundings and with every little detail; she'd remember what would be a safe bet or not when it comes to surviving alone. She was used to being a loner, she was not easy to trust but she is one to be the most loyal person. Surviving alone in a vast world isn't easy – having abandoned to no family to cling to, to call out to for help. All Michiru ever had was herself and until she finds a home – a true home, all she will ever have is herself.