fragile bird

It had been so long since young Ara had first encountered the giant willow trees, but ever since that day she dreamed about them. Their tall, billowing branches that dipped so low they nearly touched the earth; they were more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before. And yet now that the Kingdom of Seracia had expanded its territory to support the growing pack, Ara could not help but feel as though her private sanctuary had been stolen from her. She was not angry, but could not help but feel a slight bit of annoyance, but she would never express it to anyone.

And so she had wandered, seeking a place equally as fertile and lovely, a place she could retreat to when she needed, a safe place. Home was safe, always safe -- but she needed a place to herself. Who knew a child, not yet a year old, could need so much space. Even though her father had returned home, and even though she preferred being near him often, she still needed time to herself. The young child had taken it upon herself to supply him with endless herbs and food to ease his ailments. She was aware her parents were not as young as most, and she was not too stupid to see the occasional limp in his step.

Her goal today was to find berries. A particular kind that she'd heard of -- elderberries. They were dark purple and were rumored to be great at keeping the body adept at fighting sickness. Her father was weak and tired often, though his condition seemed to be improving as the cold vanished and the earth thawed -- but one could never be too sure.

Her journey would not carry her far, only a few hours' journey from her home. The trees appeared in the distance, perfectly spaced, nothing like the wild variation of a forest. The dual-colored girl's curiosity would be piqued, and she would rush forward to get a better look at what she had encountered.

The scent of the orchard was pungent in the air as she drew closer to it, and it began to seem less orderly than she had anticipated. Though the trees were spaced perfectly, like nothing she had ever seen before, between the trees were wild bushes and shrubs, a place clearly not inhabited by any wolves. But it was likely bustling with other life -- of birds, of rodents, and many other plant-eaters. The faintest hint of a smile would tease the corner of the girl's lips as she began to venture into the orchard, weaving carefully between obstacles that threatened to disrupt her journey.