Anya's first night by her self didn't go as she planned; she tried to hunt for her own food but ended up scaring off her prey. The hut she built was strong, or so she thought. That is until it started to storm and she quickly learned that Mother Nature was not on her side.
"Stupid storm, now I have to be wet and cold until day break.", Anya said to her self as she huddled under a tree to keep out of the rain as much as she could. "Stupid Alexa and Luna, I would not be here right now if those two would just keep out of trouble. Who is there?", Anya said to her self then to the noise that she heard, it sounded as if someone stepped on a branch and it snapped. She thought she was alone in the woods, but once again she was wrong. Hopefully who or whatever this was it was not going to kill her where she stood. "I said who is there? Show your self.", Anya said as the noise of foot steps got closer.
"You can put the dagger away. I am not going to hurt you.", someone said to Anya. When Anya looked to her right she saw someone in their mid twenties with a little girl that seemed to be around Alexa and Luna's age. "You look like you could use some food.", the woman said to Anya as her and girl got closer to Anya.
"Nomon I know her. You are friends with Alexa, correct?", the little girl asked Anya as she got closer to Anya, who noticed the girl right away.
"I would not say we are friends, just friendly. You are Costia are you not?", Anya said the asked the little girl.
"I am, this is my Nomon, Dahlia.", Costia said to Anya, who nodded her head in respect to Costia's mother.
"Dear why are you out in the forest all by your self?", Dahlia asked Anya, with a sweet smile on her face.
"This is my punishment for something stupid that Alexa, Luna, and I did. Though I am sure their punishment is a lot less then mine.", Anya said to Dahlia with an eye roll.
"Where is your mentor?", Dahlia asked Anya, looking around to see where Anya's mentor was.
"She left me here to figure things out on my own. She said it builds character.", Anya said with an eye roll.
"Leaving a child alone in the forest does not build character. What kind of mentor does that.", Dahlia said to Anya annoyed that someone would leave a kid on their own in the forest.
"A good mentor, Indra is the best mentor. She maybe hard at times but she is a good warrior and one day I hope to be just as good as her.", Anya said to Dahlia.
"I am sure you will. But until then you need food and dry clothes. Take these I will fix your hut.", Dahlia said to Anya as she handed Anya a knapsack with dry clothes and then started to fix her hut for her. "Costia, go get some bark off a tree.", Dahlia said to her daughter as she handed her a machete to cut some bark off a near by tree.
"I can help, I am supposed to do this on my own. If Indra finds out that I had help she will punish me further.", Anya said to Dahlia.
"She will not know that you had some help. It will take a few days for the storm to pass. No one will travel until it is over.", Dahlia said to Anya who started to help her anyway.
"Why are you and Costia out then?", Anya asked as she started to help Dahlia build her hut.
"We were coming back from the Capital when the storm started. We will be home before it gets bad.", Dahlia said to Anya as Costia came back with some bark.
"I will get more Nomon.", Costia said knowing that what she returned with was not enough for her mother to build a roof.
"Take Anya with you. Between the two of you, you can carry more.", Dahlia said to her daughter with a smile.
"Sure, come Anya.", Costia said as her and Anya walked to some near by trees to collect more bark.
"How do you know how to build a hut? You are young.", Anya asked Costia as they started to strip the trees.
"My father is a warrior for Heda. He taught my mother and I how to survive in case we ever need to without him.", Costia said to Anya.
"Your father is a warrior for my father? What is his name?", Anya asked Costia wanting to know if she knew the girls father.
"His name is Gustus, he usually is right by Heda.", Costia said to Anya.
"I know him well, he has been with my father since I was little. He is a good man, and a strong warrior as well. When I go back to the tower I will tell him that you helped me. Why do you live in another village and not in the capital?", Anya asked Costia.
"Father does not want us in danger. He says the further away we are of Heda the safer we are. We visit father when we get the chance, he also visits too when he travels.", Costia said to Anya as they gathered more bark and headed back over to Dahlia.
"That makes sense, father does not like me getting in danger either. Though I do not care if I am or not.", Anya said to Costia.
"A good warrior never puts them selves in danger. At least that what father tells me.", Costia said to Anya.
"Well I am not a warrior yet so I can do what I like.", Anya said with Costia with a smirk on her face which got Costia to giggle.
"That is true I guess.", Costia said to Anya with a laugh to her voice. She wonders if Alexa is just like Anya. She can see her self-having a good friendship with them.