A/N: Please leave a review if you're enjoying this! More to come.
The white-haired woman picked Amaryllis up, uncaring of the dirt caking the girl's skin and cradled her against her chest, though Amaryllis was more than half the woman's size, and began walking. She seemed to glide effortlessly through the grass, barely jostling the child in her arms.
"What is your name, da'len?" She asked.
"Amaryllis." The girl murmured against her shirt, coughing at the dryness in her throat.
"Well, it is nice to meet you, Amaryllis. That is a beautiful name. I'm sure that under all of this filth you resemble the flower you were named after."
They were slowly approaching what looked to be a small clearing. Amaryllis made out the tips of tents that looked tall enough to stand in, the same color of the trees, a deep leafy green with the rich brown of the trunks, like the camouflage pants her dad wore when he left in the early mornings to go hunting with his friends. She remembered the way he smelled when he came home after, of tobacco and dirt: earthy. She wondered if that was what she smelled like now.
"My name is Keeper Deshanna." The woman said, stepping past the line of trees. She walked forward, past a fire where a few people sat cooking until they noticed the Keeper and then their mouths dropped open in surprise. "These are my people: my clansmen. They are my family."
Amaryllis turned her head slightly to the side and took in the sight before her. She hadn't noticed during their approach the strange carriages shaped like boats. They even had sails — bright red with intricate golden designs, lines spreading across like the blinding rays of the sun. She couldn't look away. These people, their home, was like nothing she had ever seen before.
They entered one of the tall tents and Amaryllis found herself sat upon a bed of furs lining the ground. They were incredibly soft. It was then she noticed just how weary she was, though anxiety and adrenaline coursed through her, forcing her heart to thump heavily against her ribcage.
Deshanna, the Keeper (whatever that was), went to the other side of the tent where there were crates and trunks and clay pots. She opened the trunk and rifled around inside, setting smaller clay pots and piles of white linen to the side, closing the lid quietly. More long-eared people filled the entrance of the tent, blocking the sunlight so Amaryllis had to squint to adjust her eyes to the newly darkened space. She pulled her knees in towards her chest and wrapped her arms around them to hide her body from onlookers.
"Keeper," One man began, stepping inside, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. "You brought a shem child here? You're putting us all at risk!"
"Mihris, this child was in the woods, all alone, crying out for her family. You can see that she is defenseless. It is our duty to help those in need."
"Those of our own. She couldn't even pass for half-blooded, her cheeks are too round, and she is far too big. It could be a trap! What will happen when the humans come for her? We could be killed!" The man, Mihris, threw his arms out in righteous anger. His hair was shaved along both sides but long on top, pulled into a loose bun. She noticed the lines upon his face, then, a dark black tattoo that stretched across his face from chin to forehead like thorny branches.
"If it comes to that, I will handle it." The Keeper lifted the supplies and brought them to the girl's side, attempting to push Amaryllis's matted hair back away from her muddy cheeks, but it was stiff to the touch and fell right back into place. She noticed Keeper Deshanna's own tattoos then, but they were so faint that it was no wonder she hadn't seen them before. They looked like scars, carved into her flesh in intricate swirls. Amaryllis shuddered. It must have hurt. "Would one of you please fetch something for her to wear, and some cloth and water so she may wash?"
A woman with long black hair and tattoos like antlers beneath her eyes nodded, dashing out quickly. Mihris looked as if he might stomp his foot like a moody teenager for a moment, but he huffed and stormed out, coming back with a yellow dress that looked as if it had seen better days. The hem was torn and ragged, but the shoulders were ruffled, as if it had once been pretty. It reminded her of the Easter dress her mother had forced her to wear to church the year before. Mihris threw it to the ground and stormed out once more.
The long-haired woman came back with a bowl, filled to the brim with water, and crouched down beside her, gently laying the bowl in front of the bed of furs. She dipped a cloth into the water and began scrubbing away at Amaryllis's face, putting a soft hand against her arm when the girl jerked back. "It's alright. I will try to be gentle." She smiled, showing two little dimples in her angular cheeks. "My name is Faelyn. What is yours?"
"This is Amaryllis," Keeper Deshanna answered for her. She pulled one of the girl's feet into her lap, gently, and dipped another clean cloth into the bowl, using it to tenderly wipe across the ball of her foot. She winced in sympathy when she hit a particularly sensitive spot and Amaryllis yelped, teary-eyed. "Like the flower."
"How beautiful," Faelyn commented, continuing on down the girl's neck. "I love flowers."
"Da'len," The Keeper began applying some kind of herby smelling ointment to her foot, wrapping another clean cloth around it after she finished. The salve calmed the pulsing ache in Amaryllis's foot, which caused her to relax little by little. "Do you know where you came from or why you were in the forest?"
Amaryllis shook her head, hesitating to speak. She wasn't sure how to answer the question. Yes, she knew where she came from, but she had no idea how she hadn't gotten to the forest, or why.
"Do you know where your family is? Do you know their names?"
She tried to fight the sorrow bubbling up from the deepest depths of her soul, but it spilled over and out in a steady stream down her trembling cheeks. "M-My family is d-dead."
"Oh," Faelyn leaned closer, wrapping an arm around Amaryllis's shoulder and brought her to rest against her chest, rubbing her shoulder as the girl sobbed. "Oh, I am sorry, little flower."
Keeper Deshanna finished wrapping Amaryllis's other foot and picked up the yellow dress, sitting cross-legged beside her and coaxed her out of Faelyn's embrace. She helped the girl stick her arms and head through the holes of the dress and ran a hand down over her back in a caring gesture, then touched her tangled tresses. "I'm sorry, da'len, but I think we will have to cut your lovely hair. But do not worry. With time and care, it will grow, and you will forget that it was ever gone."
Faelyn and Deshanna brought out small blades instead of scissors and began softly cutting it away. Amaryllis continued to cry, tears collecting in her upturned palms where they sat in her lap, unmoving. A small shadow crossed the entryway and the Keeper spoke gently from behind her. "On dhea, Ellana. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, Keeper," The voice spoke, high-pitched like a child's. Amaryllis looked up. "...Babae said not to come this way. He said there was something dangerous in your tent."
Deshanna sighed but laughed as Ellana stepped in. She was wearing a dress much like the one Mihris had brought for her but in a light green color. Her ears were pointed and hair brown and long, just like the others, but she had no marks upon her face. Her eyes were large and green, amber around the pupil, reminding Amaryllis of a sunflower, much more beautiful than her own boring brown.
"This is Amaryllis. Amaryllis, this is Ellana."
Ellana stared at her inquisitively, kicking at the ground with her foot. None of these people seemed to wear shoes. "Why were you so dirty?"
Amaryllis blinked one, twice, unsure how to answer but settled for the truth, She sniffled, thankful that her tears seemed to have dried up. "I don't know." She mumbled.
"Why don't you know? Did you forget?"
"... I don't know."
Ellana came to stand before her and sat, cross-legged like the others, so that she was directly across from her. "How old are you?"
"Nine." Amaryllis watched her carefully, skeptically, but Ellana seemed unperturbed.
"Oh, me too! Do you like swimming?"
Amaryllis shook her head quickly, feeling the anxiety come back at full force. She could feel the water against her ankles, the shaking of Akasha's fingers as she had held her hand, the feeling of letting go— The Keeper's grip on her arm tightened, just a bit, but it brought her back down. She sucked in deep, painful breaths, heart racing in her chest. Amaryllis hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.
Ellana watched her with a mouth wide open, expression confused but apologetic. "It's okay." She finally murmured. "I don't really like it, either. Do you like halla?"
"What's a halla?"
"What?" Ellana leaned forward, shocked, and laughed. "You don't know what a halla is?"
"I-I've never seen one before."
The Keeper chuckled and stood, along with Faelyn, and ushered Ellana to stand as well. She did so quickly, clasping her hands in front of her looking eager to please. "Da'len, why don't we leave Amaryllis to rest for a moment while we go help the others prepare lunch?
"Yes, Keeper."
"I will close the tent to shut out the light so you may sleep," Keeper Deshanna gestured for her to lay down upon the bed, pulling a white woolen blanket over her. Amaryllis was grateful for it. Though it was obviously summer time, and the air was beginning to heat up, her body felt cold. She shivered. "Would you like that?"
"C-Could you keep it open," She asked, grasping the top of the blanket with trembling little fingers. "Please?"
"Of course, da'len. Now try to sleep. I will bring you something to eat, later."
Amaryllis was surprised to find that when the others walked away and she closed her eyes, sleep came easily.
Lunch came and went and Amaryllis slept, undisturbed by the sounds of daily life around her. It was almost past dinner when Faelyn finally woke her and urged her to sit up, handing her a wooden bowl and spoon. The bowl was filled with a deep brown stew, thicker than gravy. It contained onions, carrots, and potatoes, which she was familiar with, but there were green, leafy sprigs of something that tasted distinctly like dirt, and meat that was gamey, chewy and almost grainy in consistency. She didn't like it and pushed it around the bowl once she had finished, feeling guilty for not eating what food had been given to her. Her mother had always said it was impolite, as a guest, to not enjoy the food provided.
Keeper Deshanna came to collect her bowl and smiled while Amaryllis looked bashful and apologetic. "It's alright, da'len. Did you eat enough? Are you still hungry?"
"No, ma'am." She mumbled, scratching at her naked scalp. Her head felt strangely light without the weight of her hair. It would take some getting used to. "I'm not hungry."
"Good. Here, drink this." She handed Amaryllis a cup of something cool. It was minty, just like the ointment. "The elfroot will help your feet heal faster."
"Thank you." Amaryllis handed the cup back after she drained it, unsure of what to do next. The Keeper just continued smiling.
The sun had gone down, but the air hadn't cooled much. It was more humid than Pennsylvania summer, but the sun seemed to be just as bright and stinging.
Ellana came to the opening of the tent again and kicked at the ground, seemingly a habit of hers, and looked between Deshanna and Amaryllis. "Babae left for patrol, Keeper. You said to come here after."
"Yes, da'len, thank you for listening well. You can sleep here for tonight, so you are not alone."
"Where will you sleep, Keeper?" Ellana plopped down onto the bed, quickly making herself at home. She spread out across the blankets like a starfish. The bottoms of her feet were black with dirt.
"I have some things to do that will take some time, so I will be staying with Faelyn tonight." She crouched in front of the girls and ruffled Ellana's hair, then ran a hand gently over Amaryllis's shoulder. "Sleep well, you two. I will not be far."
"Good night, Keeper." Ellana said. They watched as she left, tying the tent closed behind her.
Amaryllis laid back again and tried to get comfortable, but though there were many thick furs covering the ground, it was still hard, and there were no pillows to cushion her head. Plus, there was a stranger laying beside her, close enough to touch. It was safe to say that Amaryllis was uncomfortable.
"So, where did you come from?" The girl asked. Amaryllis could hear her shuffling around, trying to get comfortable as well. "The nearest village is quite far, and you don't seem to have the same accent those humans do."
"I'm not sure," Amaryllis lied. She didn't know these people, and though they had helped her, she didn't know the rules of this place. It was obviously a very different place; she doubted they would have heard of "The United States."
"Why were you all alone? Did someone hurt you?"
"I don't know." She mumbled, fighting against the prick of fresh tears in her eyes. Her eyelids ached from all the crying she had done that day.
"Do you have parents? Where's your family? Do you know their names? What's the weather like where you're from? Have you been to the ocean? What's your favorite food? Do you—"
"I don't know!" Amaryllis tried not to yell, tried not to cry, tried to stay calm, but the other girl's questions were incessant, annoying, and she was in no mood to answer them. She didn't even know her. Ellana would never understand what Amaryllis had gone through in such a short amount of time. "Please, stop talking. I just want to sleep."
Ellana did go quiet, for a while. Almost long enough for Amaryllis to find control over her breathing, steady the beat of her heart, and to begin falling asleep. "Babae said not to trust you, because you're a shem, and shemlen are evil. They will pretend to be friendly, pretend they will not hurt you, but will only end up stabbing you in the back. He said they are all like that. Are you like that?"
"No. I don't want to hurt anyone." Amaryllis turned to her side and pulled her knees in close to her chest. "What's a shem, anyway?"
"That's what you are. A human." The other sighed heavily. "I've never actually met a human before, I've only ever seen them from afar. You're the first." She paused a moment. "You don't seem so bad."
"I'm not bad." She grumbled, pressing her forehead against her knee.
"Babae said it was shems that killed Mamae. She went out one day to gather herbs, not far from camp, but she didn't come back until Babae and the other hunters went out looking for her. When she did come back, she was sleeping. Babae and I slept beside her for three days before we lit the pyre." It was so quiet that Amaryllis could hear the chirping of grasshoppers from outside. She imagined them happily hopping along, only to be stepped on by someone who hadn't cared to notice them underfoot. "Keeper says it's okay, because Mamae is in the Beyond, and one day we will join her there. I still miss her, though."
It was as if she couldn't hold back any more, and the words just spilled out of her like a cup overflowed. "My mom and sister are gone, too. I don't know where my dad is."
"We could try to find him. Keeper Deshanna would help you. I would help you." Ellana suggested. Amaryllis felt the furs shift beneath her and suddenly one was thrown over her shaking body, and Ellana was pressed lightly against her back, bringing her comfort she hadn't known she'd needed. "Maybe you'll remember some things. Maybe he will find you."
Amaryllis thought for a moment, imagining what it would be like to see her father again, knowing that both Akasha and her mother were… dead. What it would be like to see her father as the only surviving member of the family. She shook her head quickly. "I don't know that I want him to find me."
"It will be okay. You can stay with us until then, Amaryllis." Ellana sidled closer until her shoulder was pressed against Amaryllis's back.
"... You can call me Lis." She whispered, slowly extending her legs back out, turning to lie on her back. Ellana's hand found hers and squeezed once. Amaryllis was surprised to find that she didn't hate it.
"Okay, Lis. Good night."
They were quiet for a long while, listening to the crickets and the soft whooshing of a breeze through the tree tips, when Amaryllis finally spoke again.
"Ellana?"
"Hmm?"
"What is a da'len?"
Ellana laughed once, loudly, before dissolving into a fit of giggles. Amaryllis felt a smile spread across her face. Though she was in a strange place surrounded by even stranger people, it seemed she had found a friend, at least, and that brought her comfort enough to fall asleep to the sounds of a sticky summer night, and her friend, snoring away beside her.
A/N: Once again, I'd love any comments you may have! I live in South Korea and have been in quarantine for some time, and will be for longer still, so the updates should come fairly quickly. Thanks for reading!