Ah, the tranquility of Bower lake.
Gently, softly, gold crept along the grass, dew shimmering in the mild morning light. The lake was silky, a myriad of colours from teal to a gauzy golden-pink, mist curling around the surface, a blanket. Quiet. Peaceful. In the distance the hill stood huge and proud, a gentle giant watching over this scene, a clearing of perfection in a busy world of chaos.
Ella stood there, only eight at the time. Just watching the sun cover this small world of hers with light, pushing away the darkness. No beatles to be seen - recently the guards had gone on a desperate hunt to clear out the area.
She stood on that path for a good hour or so, contemplating. Let everyone else call her a melancholy, serious child. She was just so...so happy to be alone. To be surrounded by nothing but peace and...well, peace and-
"THE BLOODY MUTT WON'T STOP, MY CHICKEN IS TRYING TO RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR BARMY AUNT'S ANTI-DEPRESSANT HERBS." The peace Ella craved was rudely interrupted by two teenagers - one had quite the curliest, wildest midnight hair Ella had ever seen, hair that recklessly shunned modern society's favoured hairstyles such as a neat back knot, or a tidy yet pretty braid, or even the half-up half-down one the adventurous, unmarried young woman flaunted.
No, it looked more like it had been in a fight with a curler, and ended up losing. And it was on the head of a tall, slim teen, perhaps about fourteen? She was tanned, with freckles on her face and giant dark blue eyes that were filled with enough vibrant emotions that it could fill Bower Lake! And the girl was wearing boy's clothing! And she had a bedraggled chicken under one arm! She looked like everything Ella's mother despised about the 'new generation'.
As for the boy next to this girl, he looked around her age. And he was even worse. Ella could not help but gawp and the messy bronze hair that fell to his shoulders (boys weren't meant to have hair that long!) and the paleness of his skin, despite the abundance of freckles! And his eyes were a bright, curious green. And the dog...
The dog was huge and shaggy and gold, and it's giant pink tongue was hanging out of it's mouth as it happily panted, padding alongside the boy as if butter wouldn't melt.
"Is it my fault your chicken learnt how to remove jar tops? I'm annoyed too, Mother Elena's going to kill me if she finds out what happened to those herbs, and for the last time, they aren't anti-depressants, they're natural sedatives!"
"Dork."
"Chicken-lover."
"Dog-snogger."
"It was one time, and it was accidental!"
"Haha, I win!"
"Great, can we go back now?"
"Uh huh...prepare for me to boast about my victory!"
"Can't wait. Really. Can't wait."
"Sure you can Sparrow."
Ella watched with young, perplexed eyes as this strange pair walked back to the gypsy camp. Well that would explain how strange they were! Mother always said gypsies were strange, half-people and that Ella better be glad that they stuck to their camp and Bower lake.
Ella wasn't to glad when her mama came storming over and sent her to bed early that night.