Prologue
In the deep part of Windom Forests, a widow struggled through a fierce storm with her crying baby girl. Holding the baby close, she ran as fast as she could without slipping. The widow kept running despite her tired feet, stopping occasionally to cough or sneeze. After about two hours of weaving through trees, and jumping over fallen branches, an opening appeared. A clap of thunder and a crack of lightening flashed across the dark night sky. The widow's heart was pounding in her chest. She struggled to breath.
She had finally made it to the clearing, when suddenly she collapsed to the ground. She lay there motionless. The baby's cries rang throughout the forest. Many animals gathered around the baby looking upon it curiously. So many thought popped into their heads. Was the widow dead? What would happen to the child if she were?
The baby continued to cry. Some of the animals ran away to escape her cries. Her cries became louder with every deep breath she took.
Out of nowhere, a tall black figure came running to where the child and her dead mother laid. The figure scooped up the baby and a note that fell from the blanket that protected the child. The baby quieted as the figure headed north to their cottage.
A simple fire warmed the cottage. The stranger made some hot tea and spoon-fed the baby. The stranger searched the baby and it's belongings for some identification. But the only thing she found was a crumpled picture of the baby and her mother, a letter to anyone who found the baby and a gold chain that remained clutched in the baby's hand, bearing the name Hailey.
In the deep part of Windom Forests, a widow struggled through a fierce storm with her crying baby girl. Holding the baby close, she ran as fast as she could without slipping. The widow kept running despite her tired feet, stopping occasionally to cough or sneeze. After about two hours of weaving through trees, and jumping over fallen branches, an opening appeared. A clap of thunder and a crack of lightening flashed across the dark night sky. The widow's heart was pounding in her chest. She struggled to breath.
She had finally made it to the clearing, when suddenly she collapsed to the ground. She lay there motionless. The baby's cries rang throughout the forest. Many animals gathered around the baby looking upon it curiously. So many thought popped into their heads. Was the widow dead? What would happen to the child if she were?
The baby continued to cry. Some of the animals ran away to escape her cries. Her cries became louder with every deep breath she took.
Out of nowhere, a tall black figure came running to where the child and her dead mother laid. The figure scooped up the baby and a note that fell from the blanket that protected the child. The baby quieted as the figure headed north to their cottage.
A simple fire warmed the cottage. The stranger made some hot tea and spoon-fed the baby. The stranger searched the baby and it's belongings for some identification. But the only thing she found was a crumpled picture of the baby and her mother, a letter to anyone who found the baby and a gold chain that remained clutched in the baby's hand, bearing the name Hailey.