This story so far has little to do with wind on fire but it will.

Chapter 1 Thought

"Janglek, get down from that tree!" I yelled to my younger sister who was hanging from a branch of the old maple tree. She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Why?"

"Because I am your brother."

Shaking her head irritably, she said, "Alright…" as if she really didn't want to. "You know, I am going to be eight soon."

"Yes." I agreed. "You will be old enough to start sewing quilts with the rest of the women."

Janglek groaned. "Yuk, I hate stuff like that. You're lucky you're a boy." She gazed jealously at me. "You get to be an apprentice and go to town and run a trade."

"Lucky?" I was amazed. "That stuff is not fun, I'd rather stay at home with you and Uncle."

The little girl shrugged and ran off into the barn. I was still amazed at the boldness of that statement. Certainly she did not think that way, nobody did. At least, all the little girls I had met did not want to become an apprentice.

The day carried on normally. The sun rose in the sky, shining its light on my hair. Sitting by a shallow stream that was on the border of Uncle's farm I observed my muddled reflection. Suddenly, I felt an unexplainable loss, and I wished desperately for my mother.

I could almost feel her presence. "Ma?" I thought I saw a bit of golden hair out of the corner of my eye. But when I turned to look, there was no one but the sunshine. "Ma?" Feeling like a lost child, I felt my eyes fill with tears.

Fly. The thought seemed to be coming from the breeze. I have confidence in you.

Ma? There was no answer. I cannot fly, I thought. Not without ma, she was my wings.

You have no wings, but you will learn how to have them. How can I? I wondered and lay down on the side of the water. Closing my eyes I thought to myself, I know how to fly, but I do not need to.

"Opun!" the shrill voice of Janglek awoke me from sleep that I did not know I had fallen into. I got up and acknowledged the girl with a hug. "I was worried." Janglek confided. "I could not find you.

"Do not worry, I am safe."