Maria's POV;
What it feels like when you lost the love one infront of your eyes? Well, it was a burden for me which i can never forget in my whole life.
That night on the jungle, Miata and Nora clunged to my side, sleeping. While i remained awake, as if i knew the cost of asleep. The only anchor of mine on that time was the locket on my neck, it was with us from our birth, maybe from our parents, we don't know. Miata also has one and sister Mia used to said it's a gift and a reminder that you are seen and you are unique. She always used to encouraged me and Miata and all of us but watching her like that, giving her last breath for us, broke something inside me-maybe hope or the realization that i am not even the level of ordinary.
I didn't realized that how fast the night passed until the first rays of light touched my skin. Miata and Nora were still by my side and i heard Nora's stomach making the growling sound. I knew she is hungry though the three of us hadn't eaten from last 18 hours.
I had to did something fast, so i made my way deeper on the jungle leaving the two of them. My foot were bleeding from the rocks and my lips were drying from the crisp air of morning and for water. It almost took half an hour when i finally made to find some berries but when i turned to return, i forgot from which direction i came.
And that's when it happened, two pairs of eyes appeared from the distance and i stumbled back, Demons, monsters. I thought but then the eyes start grew closer and my breath stopped but then i saw two little pups-one with gerw blue eyes and furr and other with mid-blue eyes. I exhale the air i didn't know i was holding.
"You almost killed me by shock" I whispered ruffling my hand on their back. "But where is your owner?"
We don't have any owner. I heard that voice and it shiver down my spine "who is there?" I gasped, looking around.
We don't harm you. I am the pup you are holding in your hand. We will guide you. Follow us.
I looked at the pups on my hand. They jumped from my embrace and start guiding me. Within minutes, i found Miata and Nora, who was awake now.
"Sister!" Miata rushed and hugged me, i could clearly hear how her heart was beating fiercely. "Where you were? I was too worried for you. I.. I thought..." she stopped, knowing the weight of the sentence.
I hugged her tightly " I am here Miata and i promise i will never leave you".
Nora watched from distance, though her fingers twitched for longing and i hugged them both.
When we parted, i pulled out the berries from my clothe "look what i have. Nora, you are hungry, aren't you?" i whispered.
She mumbled ".... yeah".
We ate the berries quietly, though it wasn't enough for the three of us but it was something more than a food on that time-a hope that we are still alive and together
Nora turned to the pups and asked "where you got them?"
Then i realized that, i really forgot about the pups and guss what, we already finished all the berries already.
I knelt on the ground and blurted "i really sorry. I promise next time i will leave some for you two" i kneel both hand joining and i thought what i am even doing.
We are fine. But next time make sure to also serve us.
"Yeah! Sure! Why not".
"What are you doing Maria? Are they saying something?" Nora asked suddenly and i turned to her but Miata was first to speak.
"Didn't you hear anything?"
"No" Nora sight "it means you also heard. it's only me who can't".
I stood up to her, hand lifting but then they again said;
She can't hear us because the only one could hear the creatures whom they choose as their owner and we already choose you and Miata.
"Are you serious?" I blurted and then looked at Miata who was composed and calm as always. "Say something, Miata. Your silence always makes me to think what's on your mind".
Instead she grew closer to the pups and bent to the ground and breathed "what's your name?"
I stirred by her sudden approach. I never saw her like that-she always used to clung in my side.
We don't have any name but it will be an honour if you two name us.
"Ok then how about Amelia, grey blue eye?" I teased.
"Sister!" Miata glared at me.
"What? It's a beautiful name and suite on her. It means hardworking and brave-just like me".
"Don't listen to her" Miata said almost ignoring me and turned to the blue one. "So what i call you?" she pause for a moment them said "How about Zoe? It means life".
The another one smiled at her and start licking her cheek and Miata laughed. First time in years i saw her laughing that way-freely.
While mine was looking a little bit angry on me but i lift her on my arm swinging her on the air.
Hey...! Stop.... stop or i... i will start crying.
"Ohh but you are already crying" i mocked again.
I knew life never will be easy and simple like before but i can't let them die in this jungle, so we start walking towards the town near the jungle. We didn't know which place is this or how far we were from our orphanage-all i knew was our life was about to change.
And after 3 days of constant walking, we finally reached the town. Life was not easy. No one showed pity or sympathy towards us, they treated us like beggers and we used to ate leftover of others and used to sleep on the cold streets, but i knew this will not work for forever. So i did something every Sister do for the lives of her little sibling.
I started working on a noble house but Nora and Miata insisted too. They didn't want me to suffer alone. Though the nobles and the servents never treated us like human, amd always looked us in disgust but atleast we had a shelter for nights and leftover to ate.
days turned into months and 3 months passed and that day came when Nora finally turned to 10.
That day we sneak from the mansion to the temple of the town. This time we didn't had
any new clothes for her like we had on that day but we were with her and that matters.
The temple was too vast than our on that village. Nora was nervous, too much that i could feel the weight and i knew why she was afraid this much. So i put my hand on her shoulder, reassure her that no matter what will comes, we are with her. When her turn came, she put her hand on the basin and within seconds, a green Fawn formed from the fog, leaf's patterns all over it's body and Nora named her 'Twila'.
When we returned that day, the lady-in waiting was on the gate, "so here you are, huh? How dare you escape from the mansion without my permission!" She shouted and Nora clung to me in fear, i hugged her tightly all i could.
Then that woman added " You can't stay here now. Go from where you came-in the garbage. There is no future for children's like you. It was a pleasure for children's like you that you got to stay here" and with that she went inside, closing the gate in our faces. We again came from where we started. Nora sobbed in my chest "sorry... sorry it's all my fault". I lift her chin to meet my gaze.
"It's not your fault Nora. Don't blame yourself and i know something big is waiting for us-and i promise that one day we will live happily in our own home". Even if i said those words that day but i also didn't know what will come next.