Chapter 1
I ran toward the hill, wanting to see the fallen star for myself. I was running so hard, I kept stumbling and tripping. I heard my friends following closely behind.
I scrambled to the top of the hill, panting like a dog. I gasped in horror. The once, beautiful, green hill flourishing with wildflowers was completely transformed. The grass was now black, choking smoke rising from a burning crater now scarring the hill.
Then I noticed something that I didn't see at first. Inside the billowing smoke, there was a shadow of a thin figure, standing at the edge of the newly formed crater. It started to move toward me. It was moving so unevenly, it was like it was staggering. I didn't know if it was hostile or not… I couldn't run. I felt like I was rooted to the spot.
When it escaped the smoke, I was shocked. It…was a boy. He was staggering with a bad limp, his eyes downcast. He was covered in a layer of grey ash, clothes torn, his body covered in wounds.
He stopped, slowly raising his gaze. I was startled. His eyes were the deepest shade of blue I had ever seen! He stared at me for a moment, and I stared back. He muttered something that I didn't understand. I blinked. "What?" I asked. His legs buckled, and he tumbled to the ground. I yelped in shock.
The other three came up behind me. "Who's that?" Inatori asked. "Beats me…" Itzu replied. Even she was a little shaken.
I ran over to his side and fell to my knees. His eyes were now closed, his breathing so faint, it worried me. I laid my hand on his forehead, then instantly recoiled. "He's got a fever, too! Go tell my parents we're bringing someone home!" I called to them. Miko took off with the message immediately.
This is where a week of first-aid came in handy. I placed my hands on his chest and pushed down hard. Nothing. I pushed down again. He coughed, and a small cloud of dust escaped his mouth. He sucked in a mouthful of air, inhaling and exhaling heavily. I sighed in relief.
I took a good look at him. He didn't look like he was from around here. First of all, he was a lot skinnier than the boys at school. He looked like he was around my age. His hair was a mess, wildly pointing in all directions. Past the ash, it looked like his hair was light brown, but it was hard to tell. His clothes were very torn, but I could make out short, fingerless gloves and a short sleeved jacket. What really caught my eye was his necklace. It was a small, silver crown hanging from a silver chain. Even now, it sparkled in the starlight.
He coughed again, startling me. I needed to get him away from this smoke! "Guys! Give me a hand here!" Inatori and Itzu rushed over. "Hand me your jacket, Tori!" Inatori quickly took off her jacket and handed it to me. I wrapped it around his shivering body, protecting him from the harsh winter air.
"He came from that star? He sure is beaten up!" Tori exclaimed. "All those wounds…was there an attack?" Itzu wondered.
"I don't know what happened, but we've got to get him to my house!" I exclaimed. "He's got a fever, too! Let's hurry!"
Itzu dropped the book bags and lifted the boy's right arm. She pulled it across her shoulders and held it on with her right hand. I did the same with his left arm. We then slipped our free hands under his legs, making it easy to lift him up.
I nodded to Itzu, and we stood up at the same time, lifting the sick boy along with us. He wasn't as heavy as I expected.
"He's so scrawny…" muttered Itzu, "it's a wonder he's heavy at all…" I nodded in agreement.
"C'mon, guys! Hurry!!" Inatori called, already halfway down the hill.
With that, we started carrying home a boy that came from a fallen star, his head slumped against his heaving chest.