7 years ago…
In a forest glade, sitting on a light brown wooden chair, in front of an easel, sat a young girl in her early teens.
The warming sunbeams peaked through the trees shining down upon her, giving her appearance an angelic ambience.
Her long reddish brown hair draped over her shoulders down to her elbows covering the top of her tattered banana yellow colored dress.
She leaned forward towards the easel, finishing up her painting of the surrounding area. Each brush stroke careful and strategically placed.
She finished up and sat back in her chair, comparing her painting to the area that surrounded her.
'It's missing something, but what,' She wondered, shifting her eyes back and forth between the painting and area.
"I got it," She stated, picking up her paint brush, "The trees need more flowers."
She continued painting, each brush stroke she made, gentle, as she hummed a calming tune. Her mind was captivated, completely focused on her painting, she ignored her surroundings, losing her sense of situational awareness.
Further in the distance, walking through the forest was a young boy in his mid-teens.
The young boy had bluish black medium length hair, intense icy blue eyes, medium straight eyebrows, deep set eyes, a straight nose, and downward turned lips.
On one side of his mouth was deep fully healed scarring from multiple knife cuts that reached to the center of his cheek.
His taper fringe styled hairdo bounced with each step he took. As the gentle forest breeze slightly blew back his aquamarine colored cloak that had golden swirl detailing around the edges.
His booted steps were heavy and determined. As he looked around him, taking in the scenery.
Beside him walked a fluffy medium sized black dog that had gray paws.
He looked down at the dog, patting the top of the dog's head.
"When I become of age, this whole forest will be free range for you," He promised.
He crouched down, continuing to pet the dog, looking all around him, he pondered on the future.
He quietly sat, listening to his surroundings, the sounds of the teenage girl's humming, caught his attention making him freeze.
He stood up slowly, turning in the direction of her sound, he walked towards it.
Shhh-shhh
Bushes rustled around him and his dog as they walked through them, finally seeing the girl in the distance.
He silently watched on, seeing her brush her hair behind her ear. Her side profile captivated him.
"That's it," She uttered softly, admiring her work, "It looks like an exact replica."
She danced in her chair, bubbling over in excitement.
"Another painting finished," She sang, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
She stood up, jumping up and down.
"It looks like a photo copy," She bubbled, dancing around, "All those years of hard lessons finally paid off."
He continued watching on, her lapis colored almond shaped eyes striking an arrow through his heart.
He grabbed his chest, his heart racing, making him take a step back.
SNAP
A twig snapped beneath his feet, making the girl pause.
He hid behind a nearby tree, peaking his head out to see her looking around.
"Is someone there," She called out, getting no response.
She continued looking around her, searching the area with her eyes.
He pulled back, pressing his back against the tree stump. He stood frozen, his cheeks burning red.
Crunch, crunch, crunch
He gripped his pants leg, hearing her footsteps getting closer, he looked down at his dog, unable to move.
"Is someone there," She called out once more.
He gripped his chest, his heart feeling tight.
Snap, snap, ruff
His dog ran from behind the tree, running up to her, startling her. She jolted back.
"A dog," She gasped, catching her breath as the dog circled around her, finally stopping in front of her.
She crouched down, petting the dog as he licked her hand.
"What is a friendly dog like you doing all the way out here by yourself," She wondered, continuing to pet the dog.
She looked around the dog's neck seeing a golden collar with a tag that had the name Marlo on the front and a dark blue oval shaped diamond encrusted on the back.
"So your name is Marlo and you're from the Brightly Kingdom, that's not too far from here, it's less than a mile away. Your owner must be worried sick about you being out here all alone," She hummed, standing to her feet, "I really hope you know your way back home, any owner that's willing to spend so much on a collar must care greatly for their dog… If I knew where you lived I would return you home myself… No matter, I'll wait here with you until your owner comes, I'm sure they'll be here soon… Until then do you want to see what I've been working on?"
She turned around and walked over to her painting, Marlo following behind her.
She stood next to her painting, showing it off to Marlo.
"What do you think," She smiled, "Looks pretty realistic doesn't it… Bark if you agree."
Marlo sat down, giving one loud bark.
"I knew you would," She crooned, petting him, "My first real critic and they love it."
She whirled around, her excitement contagious.
"One day I'll have my own art exhibit, displaying all my paintings… People will come far and wide just to see them and maybe one day they'll be hanging up in a far off castle admired by all who see them," She plotted, stopping to look at Marlo, "You think I can do it?"
Ruff
Marlo let out a hardy bark, lifting her spirits.
"A little cheerleader you are," She beamed walking over to her paint.
She rubbed the edge of her painting with her finger, staring at her work.
"What I would give to actually be able to take this home…" She sighed, looking over at Marlo, "You see this broach? It's from the Sectar Kingdom, that's where I live. Most people would find it crazy to walk two miles away just to paint but I have to… It's my favorite hobby. Please don't tell anyone because if my father found out that I was painting, he'd destroy my paintings all over again. I had to save up all my money just to buy a new easel and paint brush from the last time he destroyed them so I have to be cautious… Sounds silly to keep painting knowing that I can't keep them but I can't stop, it helps me clear my mind."
Back behind the tree, the teenaged boy sighed, listening in on her story.
"No matter, you being able to critic my art is enough for me," She chirped, swaying side to side, "As long as someone has seen my art, I've succeeded greatly."
The teenage boy gripped his chest, his heart beating rapidly against it.
He sighed, forcing himself to speak.
"Marlo," He called out, hoping to stay hidden from her.
She looked towards the forest, seeing no one.
The teenage boy, peaked his head from around the tree, being unnoticed by her, he caught a full glimpse of her face.
She had smooth skin and a button nose. Her long layered bangs draped along the sides of her unblemished face. Her eyebrows were arched, her eyelashes were naturally curled, and she had bow lips.
He went back behind the tree, his face completely red. He forced himself to speak.
"Marlo," He called out once more.
"That must be your owner," She said, crouching down to Marlo's level, petting him, "Guess it's time for you to go home now. I hope if you ever come back out here, I'll see you again."
She stood to her feet looking towards the forest, "He's over here," She responded, still seeing no one.
"Marlo," He called out again.
Marlo stood to his feet and ran deep into the forest, disappearing in the bushes as she waved goodbye.
'I should be getting home too,' She thought, looking back at her painting, 'I hope the weather doesn't destroy it but what choice do I have… I can't take it home and I would rather the rain get it, than seeing my art destroyed at the hands of my drunken father…'
She sighed softly, kissing the tips of her fingers, she touched her art, and left, all being watched by the teenaged boy.
He waited a moment, making sure she had completely gone, he left from behind the tree, walking over to the easel to see her art.
He stared at it, his eyes widening in amazement.
'It looks like a photo, an exact copy of the forest. Why would anyone want to destroy something so beautiful,' He wondered, picking up the picture.
Shhh-Shhh, ruff, ruff
Marlo ran out of the bushes, walking up to him.
He looked down at Marlo, smiling softly.
"Well we certainly can't allow this painting to get destroyed, it looks as if it took a lot of time to make… We'll have to take it back with us, for safe keeping," He smiled, carefully holding on to the painting.
'I don't know who you are but if it means that much to you… I'll make sure your art gets seen by all…'