Sheep. Had I been counting them? No, that couldn’t have been it. Why would I count sheep? Who would? What a silly idea; I had fallen asleep right away.

Why was I thinking about sheep? 

I searched my head, looking for the answer, and then, finally, I found it. Sunlight had woken me up, so I thought “What bad curtains!” and the word bad reminded me of ba-a, like a sheep. What strange thoughts I had this morning.

But why were my thoughts strange? I felt so strangely-drowsy. I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t focus on one thing. Every thought I had led me back to. . .what? I just couldn’t think. It was like someone was controlling my mind, limiting it to only certain ideas and thoughts. 

Weirdly I felt happy too. Like a strange happiness, like I wanted to jump around but also be calm and just watch the fun. What kind of feeling was this? 

I suddenly noticed my surroundings. For a moment I didn’t remember where I was, but then realised that I was in Karym the Personio’s bedroom, in her old run-down hut, in the village, in the chain of villages, on the cold mountain.

Before any other thoughts could come into my head, my stomach growled like a lion. When’s the last I’ve eaten? I wondered, and soon got off the bed of hay, and left Karym’s bedroom.

A door in front of hers was ajar. My curiosity took over, and I peeked in cautiously. This room only had one small window in the corner, and no curtains. Below it was a similar bed of hay to Karym’s, but smaller. Beside it was a large dresser, and the rest of the small room was bare.

Then I noticed that a figure lay on the bed. It was the old Personio I’d seen the night before. She was still asleep, so I didn’t disturb her any longer. I crept quietly down the stairs, for fear of waking Karym if she was still asleep.

When I made it to the bottom, I saw Karym at the fireplace, cooking something over the dancing fire. She sat on a wooden stool that creaked when she moved. Karym wore a bathrobe of an unrecognisable blue cloth, and her long black hair was tied in a braid down her back.

Her long Personio ears perked up when I got there, like a cats’. She turned around, scared, but then smiled warmly when she saw it was me.

“Why, good morning, Mariel. How did you sleep last night?” she asked in a still cracky voice from sleeping. She hadn’t woken up long ago.

“Very well.” I said, caught off guard. No one had ever really asked me how I’d slept, not even Rachel. Karym smiled, not noticing that I hadn’t asked how she slept.

“I’m making breakfast. It’s almost ready.” she replied. The Personio pointed to the couch, so I sat down. With my constantly grumbling stomach, and Karym repeatedly telling me that it was almost ready, time passed extremely slowly.

But what felt like hours later, Karym announced that it was ready. That was when the old Personio came waddling down the stairs.

“Good morning, Karym and Guest. How did you sleep?” she asked. We both answered fine, which concluded the conversation.

We sat down at the table, and Karym set down the plate of. . .I wasn’t too sure. She had been cooking it for so long-but it wasn’t burnt. What was it? I soon gathered up enough strength to ask.

“Why, these are eggs!” exclaimed Karym after taking a bite. Then I noticed that they somewhat resembled eggs, but they were a lot bigger, softer, and still in their shells.

“Are they boiled?” I asked, poking at mine nervously. But then I realised what a stupid question that was-I had seen Karym cook the eggs, not boil them. Fortunately, the Personio just smiled and said no, and then sank into a deep explanation about how they’re made.

Normally I’d have been bored out of my mind. But weirdly I was fascinated. Like I was meant to hear this.

And also weird, Karym spoke like she was saying a speech that she had practised for a long time. Like a robot who spoke with emotion.

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When we finished the meal, Karym decided that I should be brought to Arkel, to clear things up. So we went. The old Personio (I was told during breakfast that her name was Jukon) stayed in the hut.

Karym and I walked to the big tent in the middle of the village. Everywhere you looked well-armed guards were placed around the tent. Now closer up, the tent was about four stories high, and as wide and long as maybe ten huts.

  Karym led me to the entrance, explained the situation to the guards, and one of them went inside to get Arkel. The moment they left another armed Personio arrived in the spot that the other one had been in.

 A few awkward minutes later the guard arrived with Arkel at his side.

“Ah, Karym! I was going to fetch you, but you’ve come first! And what greatness! You’ve brought Mariel the Human!” exclaimed Arkel, throwing his arms in the air. Then he looked Karym and me over, and quickly invited us inside, away from the biting cold.

The tent was even bigger from the inside.There were no windows, but torches all along the walls. In a big circle were fancy cushioned chairs, and in the middle a beautifully hand carved wooden table. Spiraling around was a staircase leading to the next floor up and down. 

“Come, come.” insisted Arkel. He led us to the staircase, and up we went. It seemed that the next floor was even fancier than the first. There were clear glass pillars, and around each one a wooden table. Fancy chairs covered in blue fur sat around the tables, and each one occupied by an Personio in a business suit. They all leaned over the tables, staring hard at papers, and scribbling with pencils.

Not a minute later, Arkel led us up the next flight, where we finally stopped. But the staircase went on.

On this floor was a dark red couch that went all around the circular room. In the middle of the room was the grandest chair I’d seen in this tent so far. It had a high back cushioned with golden fur, and a bottom decorated with swirls and zig-zags in golden thread.

The room was absolutely gorgeous. 

“Sit, sit.” rushed Arkel. “I don't have much time.”

So Karym and I sat down on one end of the couch, and Arkel carried the fancy chair towards us. Then he sat down on the grand chair. For a very awkward and scary moment he just stared at me like wondering what would become of me, like I was a caged animal. In a way I was. I was simply running around this horrible world, trying my very best to survive.

“We have gathered here today to finalise the future of Mariel the Human in our humble village, Robus. We are one of the guardians of the center village, the home of the Royal Family, Makchus.” announced Arkel, speaking like he was saying a practised speech in front of thousands of people.

Arkel stared at Karym and I expectantly, like he wanted us to clap. More than a minute later, Karym told him to go on, and he proudly did.

“First things first.” Arkel began. “I need a proper introduction. Last night was too cold and dark and frightening to have something formal as this: My entire name is Arkel Byois, and I am the leader of the mighty guardian village Robus. As I’ve said, we guard the center village, home to the Royal Family, Makchus. I have already reported your being here to their loyal servant, Numew Yohin. The Royal Family should have been notified by now. But anyway, we’re moving off topic. Our original discussion was about what was to become of you, Mariel the Human. After a night’s thinking, I have decided to give you two options. Option one, you may stay (with the Royal Family’s permission) in our humble village Robus. Option two, you may leave with some of our supplies, to help you survive your days.”

Arkel drew in a long breath; he had said this very fast, in one breath. Then he nodded at me, waiting for my decision.

I didn’t know what to say. Everything in my life had always been laid out neatly for me. I couldn’t decide on what to do. Had I ever made a decision in my life? Had everything been preplanned and ready for me? The doctors always had tests planned on certain dates months ahead of time, and all my meals had been made for me, and. . .

While my horrid thoughts had been running wild, I’d missed a part of what Arkel the Personio was saying.

“-you choose? I don’t have all day, Mariel. Please make a decision, and then we’ll run it by the Royal Family.”

It was like I woke up from a dream. My head was fuzzy with bad thoughts, and I couldn’t focus on the ongoing conversation.

“I-I don’t know.” I admitted.

“Well, not knowing won’t do. You have to decide eventually, and sooner rather than later.”

“Wh-what were the options?” I croaked. Arkel repeated them, but I still didn’t know what to do. If I left I’d be alone, but if I stayed I’d never get back to the hospital. I quickly shoved aside the thought of not wanting to go back to the hospital.

Pros and cons, I told myself. Staying, pros: I wouldn’t go hungry, I’d have a warm place to sleep, I’d be safe, and I’d be with people. Going, pros: I would have a chance of getting back to the hospital, and. . .I couldn’t think of anything else. Staying, cons: I would be stuck with people of a different species, and would always be the odd one out, I would have a small, repetitive life, and I would have to forget about my own world. Going, cons: I would be alone, I would be cold, I would probably starve, and I most likely wouldn’t get any more help for a long time.

So which option?

Arkel was tapping his green foot impatiently.

“How about we pay a visit to the Royal Family, and let them decide?” he suggested. Not knowing what to do, I nodded.

Before I knew it Karym was waving goodbye and I was in a carriage with Arkel, and then it started thumping down the road, and hours passed before I finally found myself feeling tiny before a great castle.