Magical Despair

Burning town

I pricked my finger accidentally while sewing a dress for a client. It was for a young girl around Kara's age, I looked up unconsciously to see Kara dangling off a tree like a monkey.

"Kara gets down from there, I've told you many times that's dangerous," I said just as she stuck her tongue out at me.

"I've never fallen before Hana, besides get down in a minute," she told me.

But my eyes were drawn to the caravan entering the town, we live a bit away from town since my family made a living off farming, we ain't have much but we did what we could.

The caravan went by quickly, looked like they'll be in town a few days, I always enjoyed their arrival. All the magic they brought along with them made it feel like you could just fly away in a second.

The way their fireworks would light up the sky and be seen all the way here, I loved that feeling. Looking forward to it as I continued to make the final touched on this dress.

I felt at ease working on the dress and wondering when Kara and I could head into town, see what the caravan brought. Just then mother walked up to us, holding a basket.

She sat beside me, "The dress is looking lovely, I'm sure she'll love it." she told me. I was glad to hear it after working on it for over two weeks.

Kara jumped down from the tree coming to sit beside mom, her curious eyes looking at the basket, "what are your carrying mom?"

Mommlifted the cloth covering the basket and handed us both a fresh pastry, "Just through you girls might want something to eat." she mentioned as her eyes drifted to the far caravan, "Looks like the town will be busy a few days..."

"Yes, hey, wasn't father in town? Maybe he can tell us what's special in this caravan when he comes back." I casually mentioned, but with all the silence from the two I looked up at them.

Mother's eyes widening in what looks like despair, "You need to leave." she spoke in a hurried town standing up.

When I followed the direction of her gaze I could see a wildfire rising from the town. The smoke already hiding the blue sky. The caravan that had been arriving was nowhere to be seen as you could see the people from a distance running.

But what made us all silent was the soldiers from a distance running around as a group of them headed straight for us.

"You need to leave." my mother repeated pushing my arm.

Kara grabbed my hand hiding behind me, "Where will we go?" I questioned stepping back slightly.

My mother seemed deep in thought pointing at the woods, "There's a path, take it, then divert from it, you'll have to hide..." she turned to look at the town past the soldiers, "Hide until these men leave."

Just as she was moving toward the town I grabbed her hand, "Then let's go."

She frowned, "I need to get your father."

Kara moved and grabbed Mom's hand, "but you'll come to get us right."

The soldiers were too close, they could see us as mom spoke, "go now." she told us and gave me a knowing look.

Pushing me one last time as I grabbed Kara's hand and ran. I didn't think this day would ever arrive... War had finally reached our once peaceful town. Two big kingdoms on either side of our small town, yet we were not a part of either.

So no one was coming to save us, we were on our own now. Being driven from our home. But my eyes were set in the woods. Pulling my sister's hand and rushing faster towards it.