Lost Handkerchief

Through the years, the family grew, until they became their own village. The youngest daughter of Robi also possessed all the languages: Fire, Wind, Water, Tree, Animal, and People Speaking. The youngest daughter in every family was given the name Robi.

The North wind never came to their forest, only their own. The children would often times walk in disguise to the towns in Kildenree. The parents trusted them. They had the languages necessary to protect themselves.

Everyone was outside of the home, waiting to see the child. A soft, sweet cry filled the air, letting the family know how happy she was to come to the family. All the aunts and uncles entered the room giving the child their gifts.

"She has your eyes Ana, and my smile." The grandmamma said holding the babe, and looking over at her husband, jesting him. "Are you sure?" He said challenging her statement.

"Yes, I think so." The new child's older brother peeked over the shoulders of the adults, trying to catch a glimpse of the young one.

"Lanfa, Rita! Let Feden see the babe!" The group parted, and let Feden see his new sister, with a wide smile, he whispered, "I will teach you how to climb, and I will teach you the language of fire, Robi."

Feden taught her how to climb the highest peaks, and how to wash the rocks clean with water. Robi enjoyed every minute with her brother, and every day would make sure her chores were done in time in order to go on her outings with Feden and his friends.

She enjoyed the company of her brother being the youngest, and loved any adventure. She would take any dare, and would prove her bravery at any chance she could get. One summer her brother's friends had teased her for wearing a dress, and told her she couldn't climb the high peaks. "She can too!" Feden had said, defending his little sister. However, she was not one for backing up from a dare. She grabbed her dress, and ripped the bottom half of her skirt off, so it would be easier to climb. She grabbed the rock, and prayed that she would overcome the mountain. The first time she had climbed the mountain, she was wearing her brother's tunic, with long pants. But, this time she was wearing her newly trimmed dress. As she grabbed the next rock hold, she looked down, and saw the boys waiting till she finished her bet. After she got to the top, she looked down, and said, "See, I can climb just as well as you can!" Rahn was unhappy, and knew that she was as good a climber as any boy. So he shouted, "yeah, for a girl!" This made her angry. She started down much to quickly, and lost her footing. Robi fell onto a ledge. All she remembered was her brother and his friends leaving. She called Rahn, and told him to stay with her. He stayed, although he knew she had the gift of people speaking. All the Robi's did.

He stayed until her brother returned, with help. Her brother and father started scaling the mountain, with rope and mountain gear. Her father grabbed her, and tied a rope to her waist and over her shoulder.

"Father, I'm sorry I fell." Robi said with her head low, apologizing.

"Do not apologize. I have spoken to Feden, and to Rahn. Rahn will not see you again, I'll make sure of that." He said stepping down onto the slopes. "As for Feden, he will have double his chores. Why he let you climb I will never know." Robi felt a lump forming in her throat. She had told him to let her climb. It wasn't Feden's fault. She had told Rahn to stay. She decided to keep quiet, to let it pass. Father knew she had said something. Her father knew what gifts she had. Once she glanced over at Rahn, but her father glared at him. Rahn looked ahead towards the trail, and was quiet also.

When she was safe inside her home, her mother embraced her, and gave her a large bowl of stew. (It wasn't large; it was the size of two fists.) In the mountains, there was little food. The pines that grew on the slopes and meadows gave enough food for summer, and could be stored for winter.

In the spring of her fifteenth birthday, she developed the languages of wind, and water. She became sick, and needed fire. Her brother Feden taught her. Rahn helped. And so did her father. Her father was constantly watching Rahn, but was courteous. Feden taught her how to take the heat from live things, and use it to burn. He was only allowed to teach her small things. Rahn taught her (with the supervision of her father), how to warm metals, and to bring energy from fire around her. Her father however taught her how to learn the red wind. She could pull great gusts of wind to feed the fire, and set things on fire. On her first try she flew back.

"Be careful Robi, stand your ground." She used the language of wind to feed the fire, and then doused the fire with water.

"Fire is the center of the languages, as is people speaking. Use caution with these gifts."

Her father was concerned. His brother, and her uncle had died using fire. But her father had to teach her. Robi needed it. If she had not received it in the warm times she would have died. You can die from fire, but you can't live without it. Red Wind can be dangerous.

The winter came, and they left. The mountains were no longer sufficient. The family packed their things, and retreated into the forest. Robi was to stay in the middle of the group. The men were in a circle around the women and children, to protect them form the Kildenreans. The passing went well. They would stop ever so often, and keep going. When the group stayed for the night in a clearing in the forest, Robi explored. She crossed a stream, and saw a small handkerchief. The small piece of cloth had a red stain on the front, and golden lace around the edges. Robi reached into the stream, and held it. Some famous gentry must have owned it: because the cloth was soft. She folded it and placed it into her pocket. She would keep it a secret. If Treylani saw it she would want it. She started to turn around, when Rahn said, "You shouldn't stray far, and go back to your mother." He was nearly a man now, and he knew her place, respected it, and wanted her to be safe.

"You know I am brave enough," she replied. Those words stung him, and reminded him of the day he questioned her bravery.

"It's not your bravery. You are probably braver than me, so leave. If you are brave, you will leave." He knew that two people speakers would not do anything.

"Let me stay. The trees will tell me if there is danger."

He listened, and did not question her. Though he did insist she not go past the stream. She could not argue with him, so she had to listen. They sat side by side for a while. The wind told her that her father was near, so she went back to camp.

"My father is near, so I have to go. Meet me tomorrow, here at this stream." She said this, and he was silent. Always quiet. Polite Rahn. Her father would not approve. But she knew she was in love with him. She grabbed hold of a tree trunk, and let her thoughts sink into the rings of the old tree. The tree she picked had many things to say. Trapped, lost. Something sad had happened. She surrendered more of her to the tree.

The tree began to reject her. Memories flooded her like water, but they burned her like fire. She felt the pain of the people speaking. Her lies, not telling her father the truth, and lying to her mother. Her heart began to burn, and she couldn't stop it. Robi tried to pull herself from the tree, but the tree had something to tell her. After she felt that she could not stand it any longer, the tree answered.

The tree was telling her something about the forest. Some person was in distress. Robi stood, and in the trees branches was yellow hair. She gently touched the hair. Some one from came through this forest, and this person was from Kildenree. When she was walking back to the camp, she wondered if the handkerchief belonged to the Kildenrean.

Robi was not a forest girl, and within a few hours, she was lost. The dark shadows began taunting her, whispering to her, beckoning her to follow. The only benefit was a new tree to ask. She sat by the trunk of a tree, and saw a light. She could not think, so she fell asleep. While she was dreaming, she pictured her father looking for her. Her brother wishing she had not been lost. And Rahn. He must feel guilty for letting me walk far. I listened to the wind, but could not pick up the scent of my family. The wind was lying to me. Holding the truth from me.