Obligations

Her eyes burst open as she awoke from the nightmare that had plagued her dreams for years. Tears swelled in her eyes as she remembered her brother. "Why'd it have to be you," Quinn said in between sobs, "My stupid pan took you away from me." Quinn still blamed herself for the loss of Caleb six years ago, "If only I had the strength you possessed," Quinn said as light began to pour into her window. We must never fail to rise Quinn, Demacia will need us one day.

Quinn sat up off of her bed as letting feet rest on the wooden floorboards which let out a soft cry. She examined her shift until she was dissatisfied enough with its condition to change into another. After putting on her shift she dressed in her usual emerald-green trousers, littered with holes; brown boots, covered in grass stains accompanied by mud; and a red shirt that hung loosely on her form. Fully dressed, Quinn stepped into the living room to see if her father had woken. She was met with silence as she stepped out into the living room, her father nowhere to be found. Might as well go and wash my hair before he wakes.

The sun barely hid behind the trees as she stepped outside onto the farm her father owned. Her father didn't own much, as he was a hunter over a farmer, but he had enough for them to make it by if he wasn't successful at his catches. Quinn started towards the forest where a river sat a few hundred yards from the property. She inhaled the smells of the forest as she walked within it. The smells soothed her as she continued towards the river. She stopped in her tracks, mouth sitting agape as she looked at what sat in the clearing.

It flapped its Demacian blue wings as it enjoyed the refreshing splash of the water. The droplets shined in the bright sunlight as they played along with the eagle. Indigo stood erect on the edge of its wings and grey tinted its underbelly. It seemed carefree, almost invincible, as it splashed in the water. "I thought they were extinct," Quinn muttered under her breath. The Demacian Eagle heard the words and turned towards the sky, his three-foot wingspan spread to gain flight fast. He soon caught air, and soared into the sky as Quinn watched in awe.

She stood at the edge of the clearing still trying to get over the sight she had just witnessed. The Demacian eagles were said to be myths that sprouted from the many legends that defined the land. Yet, she had just bared witness to a living one merrily playing in the river. She quickly grabbed a few feathers the eagle had lost in order to gain such quick flight. She then frantically washed her short raven hair, before rushing back to the house to show her father.

Quinn quickly made it back, and hastily opened the door. She heard the clang of pans in the kitchen and made her way through the living room into the kitchen as fast as she could get her legs to move. "Welcome back, Quinn I thought I'd make Caleb's favorite meal today in remembrance," her father said a smile sprouting on his face, "Your brother always enjoyed running up to your mother when she cooked bacon," he said greasing the pan. "Six years to this day, can you believe it sweet pea?" he said his voice distraught.

"As if it were yesterday," Quinn said sighing as she looked at the feathers she had collected. "Only if he were with us today," the feathers began to crack under the clench of her hands, so she relieved pressure.

"After this I was thinking me and you could head up to his grave and give our respects. What do you think of that?" he asked as he began to grease the pan.

"I think that's a grand idea, but I have something to show you first," Quinn said holding out the feathers. Her father examined at the feathers, and prepared for the incoming story. " You won't believe it, a Demacian Eagle was in the river taking-" she was cut off as her father set down the pan, and tore the feathers out of her hand. "What was that for?" she asked as he examined the feathers, most notably the indigo tips.

Sticking the feathers into his pocket he turned to Quinn, "We'll have to postpone this till later Quinn. This'll be the catch of the decade if I'm able to bring down that bird. We'll be safe for a long time with the money it'll bring."

"You're going to poach it!" Quinn exclaimed as she grabbed for her father as he walked through the living room. "It could be the last of its kind father you can't kill it, not today," she said trying to plead with him.

"I'm sorry Quinn, but if I don't do this I won't be able to support us, the hunting isn't bringing home as much as it used to; I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. I'm sorry, Quinn," he said as he closed the door behind him.

She fell into a chair, defeated. She sat there for what seemed like hours until she got back up again. Her father had not returned, and made no sign of coming back soon. I guess I'll just have to visit him myself then. Quinn said heading out into the brisk afternoon breeze.

She walked through the forest for what felt like ages, until she came across his grave, sitting right next to their mothers. Both pained her to look at, but they also brought a sense of comfort being where they rest. She sat in front of Caleb's grave as she thought about what they would be doing if he were still alive. We would likely be in the Demacian Volunteers by now. He always liked the idea of the volunteer forces. She sat for a while longer thinking about her brother, until she decided to depart. As she stood up, she heard a cry of pain come from above. She looked up to see a bird falling fast to the ground, its blue wings now covered in blood. Not caught the bird and looked at Caleb's grave as she said, "I won't let you be slaughtered."