A bright light shown in her face as she cracked open her
eyes. Where was she? Blinking several times, the light would not go away. There
was no light like this at home. Home was dark. Smells wafted through the air
into her small nostrils. Those were not the smells of home. Straining to hear
familiar sounds, she stopped blinking and focused. Strange voices softly spoke
near her, though she couldn’t make out any words. This was not home. If this
was not home, where was she? Where was Mother? Brother? Father?
Desperate to
find them she forced her little eyes open and tried to ignore the bright light,
turning her head to look around her. It was everywhere! She looked around her
and fuzzy shapes started to form, filling with black dots flying all over the
place. This was definitely not home. Tears started to roll down her soft cheeks
and a whimper escaped her lips. It was then she noticed that her mouth was so dry, no words came.
Maybe Mother was near water, so she should go find some water. She raised her
head a few inches and pain exploded in her head, back, and everywhere. Even
moving her fingers hurt. What was happening?! Her tears started to rush faster
and had her throat not been dry as a desert, a cry would have started.
Suddenly, her ears picked up movement. Something was coming
towards her! “Shhh. It is alright. You are safe.” The rough male voice was
unfamiliar and only made her chest hurt more as she continued to cry. Then the
bright light was gone. Above her now was a dark shape. As her eyes adjusted, a
person appeared over her. He had a dark face but his eyes held hers as if he
were holding her in his arms. Her tears stopped. “I know you can’t move, little
one. You were in a fire and you were hurt. But we have medicine that we have
put on your skin so you should feel better soon.” She could only understand a
little of what he said, but his rough voice was comforting. The face shifted
slightly and then drops of water hit her lips. She licked up the water eagerly.
After a moment of letting her drink, he spoke: “I am Sven. What is your name?”
Swallowing hard, the 6-year-old human girl croaked out, “Ruby,” before her eyes
closed, darkness and quiet once again taking her.
“Sleep Ruby. You are safe now.”
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