“Useless as always!” a hard backhand graced the face of the young raven haired girl as she cried. “I ask one damn thing of you and you can't even do that!” The man grabbed her by the hair as he dragged her to the basement door. “You’re gonna stay down here until you learn some damn respect!” throwing open the door the girl was thrown from the top of the stairs.

She came to an abrupt stop as she collided with the hard stone wall. Her cheek stung and her limbs ached as she pulled herself up. Her malnourished frame struggled to stay upright as she leaned her back on cold concrete. A familiar warm taste entered her throat as her mouth opened to cry.

She wiped her split lip as she brought up her knees to meet her chest. She wondered what she had done this time to incur the man's wrath. She had been peacefully playing with her colours. She reached into her front pocket of her denim dungarees and pulled out her crumpled drawing.

She had drawn her mother and her holding hands in a park surrounded by flowers and ice cream and all things sweet. Though in the darkness she could not see it she still hugged it close. She thought back to a few years ago when the drawing had been reality.

She and her mother played in the park from the morning until dinner time. She ran around with a smile on her face and love in her heart. She licked her lips at the thought of the ice cream they had shared that day. Waffle cone with raspberry sauce. She longed for those times again.

Her thoughts shifted to a hospital. The loud scary machines and big men in coats had scared her as she sat beside a bed. Her mother lay emaciated and frail. Her beautiful long black hair had vacated her head as she held the girl's hand and hummed her a song. One day her mother let go of her hand and the scary men in coats had taken her away. The girl didn't understand why her mother was taken away.

“You miss her a lot don't you?” a creaking old voice called from the darkness. The girl clutched her drawing close as she backed into the corner of the room. She shoved her head into her arms as she sobbed silently. “Come child I mean no harm.” The voice held a warmth to it like that of a caring grandparent. “I like your drawings, young one.”

The girl shook with fear as she heard slow heavy footsteps beckon from the opposite corner of the basement. “I've seen how he's mean to you. I don't think he's very nice.” a thin bony hand placed itself on the girls shoulder and began to rub it gently. “Let me help you child” the hand radiated with a comforting warmth as the girl began to look up.

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Before here in the darkness were the soft features of a wrinkled woman illuminated by a small gas lantern hanging from her neck. Surprised to see anyone at all, the girl reburied her head in her arms and wailed loudly. “Shhhh shhhh shhhh there there child. I'm here to protect you.” the old woman's soft tones coursed through the girl's body bringing about an unnatural calm.

“Why am I bad?” The young girl lifted her head and looked at the old woman before her. “My child you aren't bad.” the woman turned a dial on her lantern. As it turned the room lit up impossibly bright from the small flame inside. The light revealed the woman to be wrapped in a moss cloak and holding a large branch as a cane. She pulled over a small wooden stool as she set down her lantern in front of her.

“How did you get down here?” The little girl looked at the peculiar woman as she set down her drawing next to the lantern. “There's a part of that day you missed child. I was there. Among the trees I saw the strength of the love you and your mother shared. Such a thing should have been celebrated for a lifetime.” The girl looked at her crudely drawn mother as the woman spoke.

“What happened to her brought sadness to my forest child. Your love gave us life. Now we wilt.” the old woman held a look of great sadness as she spoke. “We can take you away from this place, my child. We can show you our ways. You can be happy again. Your mother will smile upon you from the heavens.” the girl looked at her feet in consideration of the woman's words.

“He wouldn't hit me again?” the woman stood and leaned against her stick. “No one will ever hurt you again child.” she reached an outstretched hand to the girl as she smiled. “We will teach you our ways and you will grow into a fine woman like myself.” the woman let loose a hearty chuckle as she took the girl's hand.

The girl woke amongst tall redwood trees. Their canopies shaded her sight from the blazing sun overhead. Over her stood the old woman stick in hand. “Good morning my child. There are many that wish to meet you. I've told them all about you.” loud braying came from behind the girl as she sat up.

Behind her two deer looked upon her curiously. They bowed their heads as the girl looked towards them. Coming to her feet the girl walked slowly towards the bowing deer. Large heavy footsteps shook the ground as a large brown form exited the trees. Emerging from the green a large bear followed suit in bowing its head to her. The girl backed away in fear at the large creature's presence.

“Calm child. Though he may appear fierce he is our friend.” the old woman paced over to the bear and rubbed his head as she spoke. The bear slumped to the ground as it enjoyed the affection. “These creatures wish to be your guide, my child. They wish to instruct you in our ways and protect you from the evils of man.” The woman walked to a moss covered stone and rested upon it.

In response to the woman's touch wind blew through the trees as the deer lifted their heads and called aloud. The old woman smiled as she threw down her stick and stood up straight. “Already your presence lifts us my child. We now need only one thing.” the old woman pointed to the girl with a long bony finger. “A name my child. There is much power in a name.”

“Ava…….. Ava Alderman”