FOUND

Preface

Living alone has its perks.

No one to say when a bed should be made, no one to nag that clothes are everywhere, no one to worry about or look after. She would never say that she secretly longed for that. She was content out in the woods, on the outskirts of the kingdom. All alone.

She was not always alone, however. There was an old woodsman who had taken her in when she was three. She does not remember where she was before then, and He never told her. He taught her many things. They trained everyday, he taught her how to take care of herself in any situation. But as he grew older, he became very sick and sent her away. She settled just outside the kingdom near a small village, where no one ever spoke to her.

One day, however, she was walking to collect some water from the well when she saw something move out in the distance, and then to her left. She spun in a circle, scoping the area. She saw no one. Then, a lanky, bulky boy with messy curls dropped from the trees to land directly in front of her. He wore a devilish grin and his thick, caterpillar like eyebrows, raised as he looked her over. His dirty hand reached out towards her, but she remained calm. His rough, mud caked fingers picked up the braid that laid on her shoulder. He ran the braid through his fingers and smiled at her. She eyed a large stick on the ground, not too far from her. She smiled sweetly back at him before raising her knee to his groin, and bringing the empty bucket to the back of his head. He bent over in agonizing pain, she took this time to lunge for the branch.

She held it defensively as she faced him. He stood up tall and pulled a knife from his belt.

"You want to play? We'll play." He taunted.

He approached her and made a jabbing motion towards her torso. She avoided the dagger skillfully and graciously. She side-stepped out of the way, causing him to spin in a complete circle as he lunged for her again. Another misplaced jab was sent in her direction and she could not help the laugh that escaped her lips. She brought the tree branch down hard against his back. He moved quicker this time and sliced through the thin fabric across her forearm. They took turns taking shots at the other until she tired of his game. She easily knocked the knife from his hand, dropped the branch, and curled her small hand to punch him square in the jaw. Another blow to the face was delivered before she swept her leg and out him on his back. She placed her knee on his throat, holding his arms down with most of her body pinning him to the ground.

"I think I win." She says with a sweet smile.

She releases him, grabs his dagger, and tosses it down the well. She fills her bucket and turns to leave, when she sees a man with dark hair and a scruffy face standing in her path, clapping.

He smiles and rests his hands. She walks past him, but he follows closely behind her. After a few paces, she turns to him, puts her bucket down, and pushes her mess of hair out of her face.

"May I help you with something?"

"That was impressive what you did back there." He says with another smile.

"Fetching water is not that difficult a task, I have seen children do it." She shrugs while his grin widens.

"No, the other thing. Where did you learn to do that?"

"It's just something I picked up." She shrugs again.

"What is your name?" He asks.

"What is yours?" She counters.

"Luc." He tells her proudly. "What are you doing right now?"

She looks at him curiously, wondering what he could possibly want from her.

"We could really use someone like you. Come with me." He suggests.

"Come with you where?" She asks.

"Come with me and you'll find out." He shrugs. " I think you'll like it." He smiles before walking away. He stops and turns to face her again. "Or you could stay here, fending off creeps like him."

She watches him walk the path that leads to the kingdom. She really should not follow him. She knows this, but if she does not follow him she will regret it forever. She sighs, drops her bucket and chases after him. She catches up and he smiles at her.

"Malia." She tells him, and they walk the path together, side by side.