Chapter 1

As I made my way out of the barren woods- a figure stood before me, as I stumbled out the trees.

"I was wondering why you were so late, you dimwit" the girl stated with an accusing finger.

I nervously laughed while straightening my posture.

"I haven't been home in a while, I wanted to see the woodlands, Talia" I admitted.

"I figured, we have to go, the others are waiting" she sighed.

We walked side by side, I couldn't help but take glances at her.

"Haven't seen her in 4 years" I thought, before looking straight ahead.

"So, how was it?" she asked.

"Everwinter?" I questioned.

She nodded her head in anticipation.

"It's alright, it's Cold that's for sure, but It was quite boring at first,since, I didn't know anyone, but It got better" I answered.

"That's good to hear, I'm glad you were having fun" she replied with a smile.

I smiled nervously, as we continued to walk through the dirt path. The town seemed empty.

"What's going on?" I asked while looking around.

" a storm suppose to be coming, everyone is staying inside to wait it out" she informed me.

"I completely forgot, it's so different here, from when I was back at home" I said while laughing it off as a joke.

"Tch, This is your home!, here in Ironbridge, not Everwinter!" She yelled angrily.

I could practically see the steam, emanating from her head.

"Ok,ok, I got it, sorry..." I mumbled.

She turned away and we both walked to the house in silence.

Unable to break the awkward silence, I rambled in my mind, before her voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Papa!" She yelled.

An older man smiled and waved, as he walked down from my mother's porch.

"Hey kiddo, and who do we have here... We haven't seen you in a while" he grinned as he looked towards the door.

An awkward smile appeared on my face, as my mother stood at the door, with a grim smile.

"H- Hi, mom" I greeted her before walking towards her.

She wrapped her arms around me, securely holding me as she buried her face into my neck.

"How have you been," she mumbled, as her grip got tighter.

"I thought I lost you" she mumbled as her tears started to fall.

"I've been fine,mom, I been doing well" I answered back as I wrapped my arms around her.

Her thin body, her broken voice and her unfocused gaze.

It was like staring at a poorly made doll as I comforted her.

"I'm here, I'm home, mom, please, please don't worry, don't cry" I whispered in her ear, as I tried to comfort her.

My own voice was breaking, as she started to shake me.

"He's gone, he's gone, your father was killed!" She shouted, and cried as Talia father pulled her away.

I stood there, unsure what to do.

"M-mom..." I froze as I watched him pull her away from me.

"Your mother watched, as your father was torn to pieces, it happened right in front of her" he was informed.

"She had to watch, while I was away from home, she endured so much, so much pain all alone?" I questioned.

The tears I been repressing since I heard of the news, came rushing out. I was pulled into the warmth of the house, before Talia gently wrapped her arms around me.

"Sadly, we don't have his body, but he'll always be in our memory" she whispered into my ear, as she rubbed my back gently.

As if she was trying not to break, a delicate flower.