“Kick it to me, Mariyah!” Petrah shouted amidst the bustling streets of the market.
Mariyah swung her foot against the ragged ball and watched with an eager smile as it flew over to Petrah. “Don’t let Siloh get it!” she hollered as she watched Siloh from the opposing team make his way over. Mariyah giggled as she ran towards him, trying to block him long enough to allow Petrah to kick it towards the collection of glass bottles on the edge of the street.
While holding Siloh back, she stumbled over a crate of apples, spilling them into the cobble street. Just as she scrambled to get up, she saw Petrah kick it towards the lined up bottles, knocking them all down.
“Yes!” the two girls shouted, cheering.
“Aye, watch my things, you four!” a shopsman shouted from behind his booth in the marketplace that they played in.
“Sorry, Hupert!” Mariyah shouted, holding in her smirk.
“Don’t make me tell your father, Mariyah!” he replied, and she waved him off with an eye roll.
“No fair,” Siloh mumbled.
“Yeah, you two shouldn’t be one one team. It’s not even,” Equevo muttered.
Mariyah dusted off her long dirtied dress and shrugged her shoulders with a giggle, “Next time we’ll change up the teams.” She bent down to begin collecting the apples and tossed them back into the crate. As she collected the spilled apples, her eyes wandered to a young boy who was sitting down, leaning against a small stone building beside her. A small, young girl sat beside him, clutching his hand tightly. A gray line lay tattooed on the boy’s forehead, but the girl's forehead was blank.
Her eyebrows lifted in interest. A young Shifter? In the kingdom? Nerves of curiosity slowly spun in her stomach. It was rare she’d see Shifters even remotely close to her age in the kingdom. It was usually only elderly Shifters who had remained in the kingdom during the persecution…most of the young ones fled to the forest. A few more days and none of them will be allowed here at all.
Her curiosity overcame the reasonable portion of her brain and she bit her lip as she silently debated a way to at least speak to him. But even that…even that was illegal. She looked at the young girl beside him who must be his sister. Instead of curiosity, she soon felt sympathy as she realized why they must be here. With Soliath banishing them, they must be preparing for life in the forest.
She scrunched her lips to the side in thought and glanced over at her friends who were gathered together in the street, setting up the bottles again. Seeing no eyes watching her, she took a few steps closer to him and the girl. As much as she’d like to, she knew better than to offer to the boy, so she gave him a kind smile before asking the girl, “If you are allowed, would you like to play with us?” she asked her quietly. Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot. What are you doing?
He looked up from playing with a short string in his hands with a questioning look. “Her?” His black hair covered half of his tattoo, and his brown eyes planted butterflies in Mariyah’s stomach.
The young girl beside him gleamed and straightened her posture at the question. She looked up at her brother with wide eyes, blinking eagerly.
Mariyah glanced at him with a smile again. “If she’d like.” She watched the girl’s excitement and began to explain, “It’s a game we made up where you have to knock down the bottles on your side. If the other team knocks theirs down, they get a point, and if we knock ours down, we get a point. First to five wins,” she finished, motioning with her hands as she explained.
“It’s not a good idea,” the boy said quietly, brushing his black hair from his forehead.
“Please? I want to play,” the girl whispered, squeezing her brother’s hand tightly with her small one. Her big eyes looked at him, almost pleading.
“I won’t say anything,” Mariyah replied. “And I’ll make sure my friends don’t either.”
He shook his head silently, leaving both girls with a frown. “Better to not.”
Mariyah frowned but nodded her head. “I understand. I’m sorry for intruding.” She looked behind her to her friends who were messing around and kicking the ball. “If you change your mind, let me know.” She gave them both a small smile before returning to her friends and starting a new game.
Petrah’s eyes followed Mariyah as she approached her group of friends. “Were you talking to those Shifters?” Petrah whispered, her sharp eyes flashing towards the black haired boy and his sister.
“The little girl is a Natural,” she answered, joining back in to kicking around the ball.
“What were you talking to them for?” Petrah pressed.
“To ask if the girl wanted to play,” she replied, kicking the ball towards Siloh who had joined her team. “She’s a Natural, her brother was the Shifter.”
“You offered them to play with us?!” Petrah rolled her eyes. “Of course you did.”
Mariyah squinted her eyes in irritation, trying to focus on the ball. “I’m not loose. I only offered to play ball with the Natural girl. I didn’t invite them over for supper.”
“Inviting the Shifter animals to play with us?!” Siloh returned the ball to Mariyah as he dodged Equevo’s footwork. “Playing ball is still associating with them. You’ll get us all in trouble, Mariyah!” Siloh called out to her as he ran towards Equevo to block him.
“Did you not hear me? I only offered the Natural one to join us.” Mariyah grunted with frustration as she kicked the ball to the left of Petrah, knocking down more of the bottles. She turned to her friends who stood in the street after she scored, catching their breath. “Not going to get in trouble for reaching out to a Natural child.” Upon their silence, Mariyah swallowed and wiped her forehead. “Sorry, I just wanted another girl on the team,” she lied, hoping they'd buy the excuse.
Siloh scoffed with a chuckle. “Aw! Equevo, you’re not good enough - how do you feel?”
Mariyah rolled her eyes. “I’m hungry. I’ll see you all later.” She gave them all a small smile and turned around.
Anxiety stung her chest. She knew she shouldn’t have done that. She knew it but it was growing harder and harder to blend in. She cursed herself and glanced back at her friends who had already continued about their game. She imagined how crazy she must have sounded to them. And the reaction of her mother if she found out she was acting this way…She silently promised to never be so outspoken again and looked up at the sky.
Above her, a large wave of gray clouds moved in. She frowned and took a few steps to the boy and girl who still sat against the wall. And she broke her promise. “So, what brings you guys here?” She smiled. “Buying food?”
He nodded his head.
She stood there awkwardly for a moment before speaking again with a hopeful voice. “Do you all need help carrying the bags to your village?”
He shook his head. “I’ll carry them. Thank you.”
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind helping-”
“I’m sure,” he quickly replied. His eyes darted around the shoppers behind her. Mariyah turned to look, noticing the disapproving eyes on her.
She pressed her lips together, realizing her annoying intrusion, and nodded her head. “Well, I’ll see you around then,” she said with a small smile.
He nodded silently in response and she quickly walked away and back to her home, her face reddening with the sting of regret. Way to sound desperate…
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Her father was hunched over the anvil as usual, beating down on a metal tool. “Hello, Father,” she said as she entered her home.
He looked up from his work and gave his daughter a quick smile. “How was today?”
“Good.” She smiled. “It’s going to rain soon. Where’s Mother?”
“You must’ve passed her. She just left to buy her usual jams and cheeses. She’ll be home in a bit.” He nodded towards the kitchen table. “I meant to give that to you this morning, but I had to deliver some knives to Clover. Identify it for me, will you?” His warm smile brightened her heart and she looked at the golden flower that sat on the wooden table.
Her face gleamed as she observed it carefully in her hand for a moment before fetching her flower guide and sitting down at the table. She quickly opened the large, thick book and began searching, dragging her finger up and down each page. “Where did you find this, Father?” she asked after some time, excitement filling her voice. “I think I’ve found the family it’s in…It may be some sort of daisy…”
“I found it working on my project last night. There were a whole bunch of ‘em. I figured I’d bring you home one to search up.” He set his tools down and sat down beside her and kissed her forehead. “I know you’re always achin’ to use that book of yours.”
She smiled widely and hugged her father tightly, “I am.” She flipped one more page before nodding, “A Marigold. That’s what it is.” She pointed to the drawings and held the flower beside it.
“You really enjoy that, don’t you, Mariyah?” He smiled as he looked up and down the page.
She nodded her head. “It’s exciting to hunt down the names…” She looked up from her book to her father, “You’ll have to bring me on one of your trips to your project, right?” She asked her father, curiously. “Or at least you must tell me about it one day?”
He nodded his head with a chuckle, “We’ll see, we’ll see, dear.”
It wasn’t much longer until her mother walked through the door and soon after, the small family sat down for dinner.
“Played with Petrah and the boys again today, Mariyah?” Lucinda asked before taking a bite of chicken.
Mariyah nodded her head, swallowing the big bite of food she had taken. “For a bit. I saw a Shifter boy in the market. He looked around my age. He had a little sister too.”
“I heard.” Victoria kept her eyes on her plate but Mariyah could read the disapproval.
“You heard?”
“Hupert and Clover both. My daughter chatting with a Shifter boy.” Lucinda chewed her food and poked her fork into another piece of chicken.
Victor cleared his throat while he and his wife exchanged glances.
Mariyah gave a defeated look “I only offered his sister to join our game! That’s all.”
Lucinda cleared her throat and met eyes with her daughter. “Must you make it so obvious that you sympathize with the Shifters, darling?”
The young girl looked down at her plate and picked at her chicken with her fork. “They were sitting alone. I just needed to offer.”
“You didn’t need to do anything. I know it is hard for you, I know. But you can’t afford to be looked at any differently for your kindness towards them. I never ask you to treat them harshly, but I do ask that you not be so vocal about your compassion towards them. That is not too much.”
Mariyah looked at her father, hoping he’d say a word or two, but he remained silent. It was just the usual reminder to stay low regarding her feelings towards Shifters. Those who sympathize with their kind get viewed as lowly and scoffed at. Her parents didn’t want that for her. Especially with the dangerous secret that she held.
It wasn’t long after supper when her father kissed them both goodnight before departing into the rain to tend to a blacksmith project that he often worked on. “Maybe one day Father will let me help him with whatever he’s building out there, you think?”
Lucinda sighed softly, “Maybe one day, dear.”
“I’ll try to find some violets for you, Mother.” Mariyah said as she finished the lunch her mother had made her.
“I’d love that, dear.” Lucinda replied, kissing her daughter goodbye and watching her close the door behind her.
Mariyah quickly took off into the busy cobble street and began skipping towards the gates, greeting the familiar faces of the citizens as she passed by. Hearing commotion in the distance, she lowered her head and tried her best to blend into the moving bodies.
As she grew closer to the gates, she saw Equevo and the others running through the crowd and causing grumpy passersby to scold them as usual. She carefully blended into the crowd and looked away in hopes of them not noticing her. She had just played with them two days ago, and as much as she adored them, she’d rather be with another…
“Mariyah! We’re over here!” A loud voice called out.
She scolded herself silently, and turned her head around to see her three friends smiling widely at her.
“How long have you been looking for us?!” Petrah asked with rosy cheeks and labored breath.
“Not long,” Mariyah gave them a smile, “I just left the house a few moments ago.” Her forced smile grew to be true as she began to feel that she did indeed miss their presence.
“Okay, well, we’re about to start First Wall. I call being Gater since I’ve had to run the past five times…” She gave Equevo a glare and then looked back at Mariyah. “Alright, Mariyah, you start by the East Tower, Equevo by the West, Siloh in the Town Square. I’ll be waiting by the gates.” Petrah said with her arms crossed, an excited smirk across her lips.
“Mariyah always gets to start in the East,” Siloh muttered.
“I have to run in a dress, Siloh, I’m already sweating.” She looked up at the bright sun above them that sat in the blue sky. “Plus, you’re naturally much faster in your moveable trousers,” Mariyah replied. What excuse can I use to get out of this game? But as soon as she thought that, a feeling of guilt fell over her. They were her best friends after all. Mariyah sighed, listening to herself, and forced herself to focus on enjoying her time with her friends.
Petrah rolled her eyes, “Hush, Siloh. Are you three ready? One minute for each of you to get to your area.”
“Ready!” Equevo shouted.
Petrah grinned, “GO!”
Mariyah took off in a sprint, pushing past townsfolk and trying her best to not bump into anyone. 15…16...17... She squirmed around and through the people going about their business and continued running until she looked up and saw the tower above her. East Tower. She quickly ran over to it and placed her hand on the wall. 42...43… She looked down the large stone wall that bordered the kingdom and went on and on as far as she could see. Originally, these four tall walls were built to keep out invaders from the Kingdom of Evergrala and Montesun when King Ruchar was in reign, with a tower standing at each corner of the kingdom. Now, it serves as a reminder of the separation between the Naturals of Seenparay and the Shifters who have found refuge in Seenparay’s surrounding forest, far from the King’s persecution.
60! Her eyes shot up to the sky in the direction of the Kingdom Gates where Petrah would be. In a split second, she saw a small cloud of dirt disperse in the air. GO!
She took off running, with one hand holding up her dress and the other skimming her fingers against the wall. As she ran, she pushed herself to go as fast as she could, running behind the buildings with no one to get in her way.
Her legs began to burn as she pushed harder and harder, and finally she was met with the second wall that led to the Kingdom Gates. She skidded to a stop, almost stumbling, and took off in the direction to her right, running against the wall even further. The gates! She could see Petrah clapping her hands and waiting for whoever was fastest.
But to her disappointment, Siloh’s figure appeared out of nowhere, tapping Petrah’s shoulder. Mariyah groaned and pushed herself harder until she was able to make it to Petrah and tap her shoulder as well. “How are you so fast, Siloh?!” Mariyah asked, panting as she hunched over and put her hands on her knees.
“I can’t help it, I’m the fastest in Seenparay,” he replied with a smirk.
Equevo came finally at a slow jog, clearly winded from the long run. “Don’t bother laughing, Siloh. I had to push through everyone- the crowds make me go slower.”
Siloh laughed and Mariyah finally caught her breath. “I have a hunch that the West Tower is closer to the gates than the East.” She giggled, knowing Equevo would not like that comment.
“Now you know that’s a lie, Mariyah.” Equevo replied, narrowing his eyes.
Mariyah smirked and gently pushed his arm.“Oh come on, Equevo. Must you be so competitive?”
“Yes, I must,” Equevo muttered. “Anyway, what game next?”
She looked out to the massive green forest that surrounded the kingdom…Oliver...She looked at her friends who were so excited to continue to play with her. Tomorrow, Olly.
The evening ended with Mariyah sitting beside her friend on the edge of the wall, braiding Petrah’s hair. Her fingers gently handled each group of hair and intertwined them with one another, focusing on Petrah’s long chestnut hair.
Petrah stared off into the sky as she sat there.“You do know you’ve begun to worry me with your lack of fun…we never see you out anymore.” She looked over at her friend.
Mariyah puffed out a big breath. “I know, you must forgive me. I’ve gotten into..reading. Lot’s of reading.”
Petrah puffed out an unchanged sigh.
“But I know…I will be better. I’m sorry.” She tied the end of the braid with a small string and set her chin on Petrah’s shoulder with a sweet smile. “Okay?”
“Fine.” She couldn’t help but smile as she leaned her head into Mariyah’s.