The pebble skipped across the pond, creating slight ripples as it hopped. Red threw another, and she watched the water as the waves dispersed in a circular motion under the tiny stone. It felt good to be out of the house. Out of that tiny room, that made her so cramped. A wisp of raven hair fell in front of her eyes, she brushed it away with the back of her hand and skipped another rock. Gramma told her to not be seen nor heard, unless she said otherwise. If she were to leave her room, she would have to be back in time to start supper. Red needed the fresh air, and a different environment. She had grown rather suffocated the past few weeks. She didn't know if she could keep going everyday. A sad reality for a child so young. On top of it all, she felt so lonely. She felt like it was as if, she didn't belong in the village of Drastaire. Maybe Gramma was right. Her mother, Marian didn't belong either. 

"An outsider," Yayha said as she spat. "She spoke nonsense of this place called a town. No walls, and buildings made of brick and stone. No walls I say. Just feeding yourself to the beasts I say. She wanted to take my only son to ... to this town. Devil woman, with black devil hair. Your the spawn of the devil, Redalynne. Did you know that" 

Rethinking about the venomous words that came out of Yayha's mouth made her tremble in rage. She grabbed a rock as big as her fist and slammed it into the pond. Two mallards got frightened and flew off. Their wings making a whoosh sound as they lifted them upwards. 

"What is wrong wichu!," screamed a boy, whom she didn't notice standing behind her. "You scare da beardies."

Red turned towards the child. He was a year younger, but a head taller. With bony knees and uneven patches of dry, reddened skin. Rassel, the kid who once lived three doors down from her, started to scream again.

"You mean mean, girl. MOMMY!!" 

Rassel's arms started to sway wildly. "MMM..OMMY" 

Haitte, Rassel's mom started to make a run towards them. She came to her son, and knelt down to his level. "What is the matter, my sweet boy. Mommy's here." 

Rassel pointed to Red with a shaky finger, and tears in his eyes.

"Redawin, she, she scare da beardies. Meanie bo beanie," He hollered before sticking out his tounge towards the accused. "I dun like her Mommy."   
Haitte continued to hug her son. She kissed him on forehead. She grabbed his chin, and stared back at him lovingly.

"Ok, it's ok my Rassy-Boo. Let's go home, forget her. She's not worth your cries."  

"What about the Beardies," he shrieked. 

Haitte hugged her son even tighter. "They will come back. This pond is their home, as this village is ours. Let's go home. Let's have some sugar tarts, I made them fresh."

"Why does she have to live here too, mommy?"

"She is Yayha's granddaughter. Yayha is next in line to be an Elder. We just have to accept her presence. That doesn't mean you don't have to ignore her. If you pretend she's not there, she won't bother you."

They walked off. Rassel turned his head once more in Reds direction, giving her a scowl.  

"I really don't belong... do I," she said with a deep sigh. "They all say Momma didn't either." 

Her mother was born somewhere else, yet she never heard of it much. People around here didn't like to talk about what lied beyond the walls. Her father sometimes, would tell her stories before bed. Stories that her Mother had told him. She came from a nice town that had a small mountain ridge running through it. The people we're friendly and easy going. Fruit trees grew around the town, their blossoms making spring time look and smell so lovely. He would often bring up, how they should of moved there. He couldn't leave his mother though. She may have been sour towards his wife, but she had been there for him when he lost his home. She found him work, and an even bigger home. She birthed him, and fed him for eighteen years. As age took over, she relied on him more. Just as he once relied on her, through his younger years. 

Red wondered how different it would all be, if they did leave the village. If they did go to her mother's birth town. Would mom, still be alive, would father? Would life be better, would she have no pain in her hands that a child shouldn't even feel anyways. She loved her father, but something in the pit of her heart made her feel some resentment. He should have left. They all should have left. She tossed another pebble. It calmed her down.  

The sun started to get lower now, and nightfall would only be a few hours away. She should make her way back to Gramma's before trouble found her. She already learned her lesson a couple days ago. Gramma may be old, but she sure could whip hard with a wooden spoon. 

She tronched on, making sure to keep her shoes clean. At least clean enough to not track dirt into Gramma's home. She really didn't want to spend an hour sweeping each room. Eventhough, she herself doubted that she made that much of a mess. She imagined Gramma as the broom as she walked on. Her hair as the bristles filling with dustbunnies and dirt as she swept. That thought made Red smile slightly. She giggled to herself. 

If only her daydreams could be reality. 

WOW, I can hear so many of you uttering "Poor Red, whatever did she do?" Yes I am an evil author, who just can't make things easy on my characters. Don't worry things will get better, well for a while anyways. *evil laugh* Thanks for reading again and if you liked it, don't forgot to give me that lovely star. Feel free to leave any criticisms.  Something you can discuss between yourselves --  How can our own societies relate to the ostracization, and discrimination that Red is feeling. How can we change it? Please keep any debates respectful to other readers. Once again the questions will be in the graphic below.