My bare feet fly by, dodging puddles, jumping over sticks and limbs, sliding through the wet sticky mud. Using my momentum I throw up one of my arms and catch a low branch, swinging myself unto it. I stay there for a moment to catch my breath, watching all around me. I hear a snap a few feet ahead of me, and I climb near the top of the tree. I become still as I hear the squelching of mud beneath me. Orc comes running out of the bushes and looks around at the small, muddy opening. He looks down to find my tracks, but they have sunk in already. I almost snicker. Almost. His big bulky shape is not supported easily, and his feet keep sinking. "Up here Orc!" I call out, as I jump to a neighboring tree. His body comes to attention, and he jerks his head up. "Firefly! Thats not fair!!" he says, as if trying to convince me to come down. Snickering, I quietly climb down the tree, to its base in intention to run to another spot, but I stir one of the tree's natural inhabitants by placing my hand on its head : A sleeping Rock Python. The snake's weight shifts suddenly and I fall face first into the mud. I lift my head up, and look straight into the dark eyes of Orc. He lifts me up like I am a twig and sets me on my legs. "I win." He states. I stick out my bottom lip and pout, and he opens his hand. Wistfully, I hand him my last frog leg. He tears the meat off it and eats it right up. My mouth waters as he licks his lips, making my stomach rumble. I start to challenge him again, when I hear the horn, a sign it is time to go home. We both look at each other sadly, and race back to the village. I win.

I walk into my house, and quietly tiptoe to my room. Then, to my dismay, I hear a small voice behind me say "Hi Firefly! Why are you so muddy?" I turn around and say " Hey Zafar! Uh, Orc and I were just playing in the mud. Yup, we were playing in the mud." His big eyes open up and I fear he will tell on me "Okay" he eventually says and runs by the fire, where his leather and wood toy horse sits. I briskly walk into my room, and sit down on my alpaca wool blanket. I push back my leather curtain, which covers up a small, head size hole and let fresh air and light rush in. I grab my paints and step over to my wall, where I currently am painting a tree, with many animals in it, including a sloth, snake, monkey, leopard and lemur. I finally finish the sloth and begin with the lemur when Mom comes to my door. I set down my black paint and she comes to inspect what I have done today. Then she notices the mud in my shiny mid back length black hair. "Firefly! What did you do to your hair! We have the ceremony tonight!" she says in a cross tone. "Orc and I were just PLAYING mom! I completely forgot it was tonight!" I reply, feeling my cheeks get hot. She leaves, taking me with her. Mom makes me take a bath in the smaller, more private spring near her room. While I bathe she fetches me my clothes she made, with help from the rest of the village females. I dry off, and she gives me the first part, a thin layer of some type of animal skin that drapes over my body. Then a colorful poncho, with intricate swirls and dots, making a downright beautiful design. I slide on my thin moccasins which are only used in ceremonies. I walk into my room get my necklace, which my father made me when I was born. It has a small gold piece in the center, and flanking the sides are two small black pearls. Then I walk into a room where all of headdresses are kept. My mother and father have already taken theirs, and the only ones that are there are mine, Zafar's, and the empty plaque where my youngest sibling, Rocco's was. I pick up mine and place it on my head. It almost covers all of my hair, and the feathers tickle the back of my neck. I feel so adult with it on, even though I am only 12. Almost thirteen. Almost.

I leave the room and head back to my room to apply the traditional face paint. I decide on black and white, and put my hand into the pouch. I draw a straight line down my nose, and blend it, to make it seem like it is coming off my skin. Next I put the black around my eyes, in lines. Then, I get the white and make my jaw look like bone. Finally, I grab a paint I have only used to paint once, and ceremonially twice . First to paint my ceiling mural : a massive intricate firefly. Second: When Zafar was born and when Rocco was born. I put both fingers in the pouch and bring the gold coated tips out. Carefully, I place my fingers on my forehead and keep tracing, down my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, down the tip of my nose, past my lips. I take a deep breath in, readjust my headdress, and step out of my room. I walk down the passageway, and I peak into Zafar's room. His headdress has a mere neck length of feathers on it. I keep walking, and finally step out into the center room. My mom turns around to tell me something, but puts her hand to her mouth when she sees me step out into the light. I smile, but then I remember what this ceremony is for. It is my brother Rocco, who died of some odd fever that struck the village. Tonight, I am going to Rocco's funeral.

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SO? This was super fun to write! Like I said, I will try and update as much a possible. You only met one of her friends, but she has many more. Also, Rocco was only an infant (just to clarify). To wrap it up: Please vote, comment, and follow!