I don't look the same as the rest of my family. Where they have blue eyes, black curly locks and pale skin, I have dark brown irises, my hair falls down my back in brown waves, and my skin tans as easily as fire starts on dry wood.

I never used to compare myself with my brothers and sisters, but ever since my mother told the story of how she had found me abandoned next to the road leading home one night, I couldn't stop seeing the differences.

But I know that, despite our different looks, they love me as family, treat me like another Mercia. And I love them just as much.

For as long as I can remember, I've been running through the fields, chasing my siblings or the other way around. As I've grown, I've started helping with the cooking, stirring the pans, collecting berries from the forest, and even gutting the animals my older brothers and father hunt. But I've always helped out in the fields, more because I wanted to than because I was told.

I've always had lots of energy, and the only way I seemed to be able to tire myself out was by running around the golden plants, cutting down the grass, feeding the animals, carrying piles of wood from the wagon and in the barn, where we store it for winter.

"Got you!" My elder brother, Timothy, shouted, his arms wrapping around me.

Shrieking, I tried pulling myself out of his arms, his laughter loud in my ears as I finally gave in, my shrieks slowly fading into silence as I stared ahead in annoyance.

We had been playing hide and seek in the barn, and so I had hidden behind a big stack of hay we used to feed the horses in the stables, my usual spot. Which was probably why it had only taken a couple of minutes for Tim to find me.

"Okay, now let's go and get Richard and Phillips," He whispered in my ear, pulling me out into the open.

Nodding, I pointed towards the upstairs in the barn, "Phil went up there... And I think I saw Riri hide inside the water barrels," I whispered, my eyes moving back towards Timothy, his blue eyes shining in excitement, "Let's go for Riri first, and then you can go up for Phil,".

I didn't like being alone. And I didn't like the dark. So the thought of Tim leaving me alone for five minutes as he climbed up the creaky stairs and found Phillips made chills runs down my spine.

"Okay, good plan,"

Slowly walking towards the barrels of water, now hopefully, empty, my foot got stuck on something. Crying out, I tried to stop myself from falling by pulling my fingers out of Timothy's grasp and throwing them in front of my body, bracing for impact.

"Ouch," I cried, looking down at my hands and knees, knowing I had also grazed my elbow by the stinging sensation I was now so accustomed to.

Something rustled from upstairs, before the creaking of the steps made me glance towards the staircase, where Phillips was appearing from the darkness.

"What happened?" He asked, concerned.

Timothy helped me up while Phillips rushed towards us, both of them holding onto one of my hands as I straight up, pain searing through my body.

As I tried to stop myself from crying, I concentrated on my younger brother, "Riri, come out!". Once I saw him climb out of the water barrels, completely soaked from waist to toes, I let my tears fall, and walked slowly towards the house.

"Mummy!" I shouted, once we were just outside the house, "Mummy!"

My mother's head popped out of the door, her black curly locks falling into her eyes from the movement. Brushing them out of the way with the back of her hand, she takes us in, "Oh dear, not again," she sighed, looking at me sympathetically, "What did you do this time, my little acorn?"

Letting my tears fall, I sob, "We were playing, an-and I accidenta-al-ally tripped, scraping my..." and looking down at my small body, I wept, "Everything!".

Stroking my back, Phil tries to calm me down. Both my older brothers helped me into the house, my concerned mother following behind us as we advanced towards the living room, "Shh, come on Mo, be strong!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed the prologue and are ready to read the adventure of our protagonist, Moira Mercia! Make sure to comment any suggestions you have, it really helps!