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***

The world had finally noticed it lost its chosen one, and now it had come looking for her.

Ash kneeled near the closed attic hatch, the smallest crevice letting her peer down on the top of her parents' heads. There wasn't much room to see through, but it was more than enough to let in the conversation.

"You haven't heard from her at all?" Desperation filled Lord Farley's voice. He had been the most joyous when the gods chose a citizen of Lumena Village. Her success would have elevated the village and brought great glory to it—as well as him. Farley made it no secret that he saw his family's position in such an out-of-the-way village as an embarrassment. "Surely, Percival, you must have at least gotten a letter."

"My Lord, if we knew anything about our daughter's whereabouts, we would tell you," Ash's father assured.

The shock of blond hair that belonged to Ash's mother shifted forward. "We are just as worried for Odella as you are, Lord Farley."

And it was then that a hand fell on Ash's shoulder.

She managed to bite back her squeak of surprise as she spun around, but the sudden movement caused her to bump into one of the crates stored there. The thud was quiet, but it could as well have been thunder with how loud it was in her ears.

"Did you hear something?" Lord Farley asked. "Is there something on your roof?"

Ash's breath caught in her throat as she held absolutely still. Her heart's frenzied race echoed in her ears, and she was sure it would further give them away.

Her mother let out a breathy laugh. "I am so sorry, My Lord. This is so embarrassing. You see, we actually are experiencing a bit of a pest problem. I am so very sorry that you had to lower yourself to enter such a poor home."

The Crest household was one of the most well-kept in the village. Any of the other citizens would have seen through the lie, but Farley was not familiar with the very people he lorded over.

"Well, I hope you can deal with the infestation swiftly," Farley said, his voice an octave higher. "And if you hear anything, anything at all, I implore you—"

Ash tuned out the rest of the conversation now that she knew they were safe. She carefully shifted around, avoiding any spots that would creak, to face behind her.

Odella stood there, blank eyes staring down at her.

Ash could never look at her twin anymore without her heart giving a painful lurch. It felt like the more Ash looked upon this version of Odella, the further away the true Odella became. Memories of her so full of life and passion that she shone as brightly as the hottest sun were slowly giving way to this blank shell of a girl.

Swallowing back the swell of emotions in her throat, Ash put on the sternest face she could muster. "Odella," she whispered, low enough it would be lost to those conversing below, "I told you to stay seated."

Her twin said nothing in response; instead, she placed her open palm to her stomach. Lord Farley had arrived shortly before they were supposed to have their evening meal, and even now, the smell of the stew wafted through the floorboards.

Ash reached out, taking Odella's hand and squeezing it. "Soon, Odella, soon. I promise."

Odella nodded, turned, and returned to her seat on the chest, all as silent as the ghost that she was.

A familiar tightness closed around Ash's throat. She turned away before Odella could see the tears collecting in her eyes. Very few things garnered a reaction from her sister, but seeing others upset always unsettled her.

"We are very aware of the village's struggles, My Lord." The controlled anger in her father's voice drew Ash's attention back to the happenings below her. "We are all doing our best to make it through this drier season, but I cannot magically know where my daughter is."

"Of course, of course, Percival. I know this." There was a small pause, and she could imagine the well-fed man dabbing at his head with a handkerchief. "I just want to be sure you understand how important your daughter is to all of us."

An awkward silence stretched between them. Her father likely held her mother close while giving Farley and his men a hard stare. Percival Crest may not have been among the village's assigned knights, but he had served in the King's Army in his youth, and that still showed with his formidable appearance.

Farley's nervous cough only affirmed Ash's thoughts. "Well, we have taken up enough of your time, I believe."

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Farley," Ash's mother said. "We hope Odella is found soon."

After a few final pleasantries—if they could be called that with such tense conversation—Lord Farley and his men finally departed.

The house fell silent. Ash held her breath and strained her ears for any indication that this was all a trick. That the moment they relaxed, Lord Farley and the guards would burst in, catching them in their deceit.

A full minute passed, and then another before the hatch door creaked. It lowered, revealing her father's face. New lines had formed over the past two quarter-lunes that Odella had been back. Right then, they seemed even deeper than before.

He placed the wooden ladder at the opening. "It's safe for you guys to come down now."

"You should not lie to our child, Percival," her mother muttered.

Ash flinched, though she wasn't sure if it was from the bitterness in her mother's voice or the implication that her father only spoke to one person.

Shoving aside her unease, Ash stood and turned to Odella. Despite their father's words, she still sat on the chest, the only movement the blink of her eyes and the rise of her chest.

"Come along, Odella. We're going back downstairs, okay?"

Ash followed her sister down. Once they had the hatch shut and the ladder put away, everyone moved into the kitchen. Ash and Odella took a seat at the table. Her mother and father huddled around the stew, speaking in hushed, angry voices.

Forcing a smile on her face, Ash took Odella's hand. "Food will be ready soon, okay, Odella? You've done very well today."

Two slow blinks were all Ash received, and then Odella twisted her head to stare at their parents. The hand in Ash's own began to tremble.

Ash let out a comforting shush, patting Odella's hand to get her attention again. "It's okay, Dellie. They're just making dinner. It's all okay."

Odella's tremors passed, and she relaxed once more in her seat. Ash sighed, though she kept her smile in place. She was ready for dinner to come and go so she could get to bed. The day had gone on too long. Hundreds of hours had passed in the dozens of minutes the lord and his men had been in the Crest household.

Her mother ladled stew into bowls, and Ash's father sliced pieces of hardened bread to serve with it. Sometimes, her mother sat nearby to assist with feeding Odella. Today, though, she sat on the opposite side of the table, eyes pointedly directed at her own food.

Ash tried to ignore the bitter tension as she spread some jam on Odella's bread. "Here. Eat this while—no, Odella. You can't eat that yet," she said, grabbing Odella's wrist before she could grab her stew bowl. "It still needs to cool."

Odella frowned and strained against Ash's grip. When she couldn't break free, she reached for the stew with her other hand.

Ash caught this hand as well. "It will be cool soon," she said, unable to stop a bit of desperation from leaking into her voice. "I know the bread is old, but please, let's eat it first."

With one last tug, Odella gave up the fight. When Ash tried to give her the bread, though, Odella turned away with a low whine.

"Odella." Now Ash's father spoke up, his voice firm. The thin veil of water in his eyes told of the pain he hid. "You need to eat."

She opened her mouth, and Ash's breath caught. She hadn't heard her twin's voice in so long. Except when she stumbled back home on that stormy day, barely able to hold herself up. Then, it had been an almost inaudible, heart-shattering "I'm sorry." Her heart ached with a need to once again hear Odella say something—anything.

Instead, Odella pressed her lips together and released that wordless whine that had become her main form of verbal communication.

"This is enough!" Ash's mother slammed her open palms against the table. She turned to her husband, fury blazing in her expression. "It is about time we went to the priest about this!"

"Corliss—" Ash's father began.

But Corliss didn't let him finish. "No, you listen here, Percival," she snapped, turning all her outrage on him. "We have tried for half a lune-cycle now. Over fourteen days, Percival. Odella hasn't gotten any better since she woke up. We need help."

Although his fists shook, Ash's father kept his voice level as he spoke. "If we get the priests involved, they'll try to send her back out, or they'll scorn her for returning."

"Mother. Father," Ash whispered. They didn't see what she did—the tremors beginning throughout Odella's body as her focus turned inward.

But Ash's warning went unheeded. "Maybe her being out there is what's needed! Maybe this is all punishment for her returning. The gods chose her, and now they are punishing all of us with this state of hers."

"We don't know that." Percival Crest sat straight in his chair, making the height difference evident even while seated. "We have no idea what she went through out there. Maybe she just needs time to—"

"We've given her plenty of time and she still acts like a mere babe!" Once more, Corliss slammed her hands on the table, this time standing as she did.

And that's when Odella began to scream. 

*****

And so we begin!  Already there's drama and angst fun going on :D Ash and her family are struggling, Odella is in a strange mental state, and now screaming!  Excited to dive into this and let you guys see all the fun Ash shall have >:D

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