The flames erupted in the woods like the sun had descended down. The shockwave picked up the winds, and the dead trees turned to torches. From above, it felt like a funeral was going on.
The snow was steaming up, ashes flew around, and the mountain shook.
Far away from there, there was a small pit covered with a stone in the jagged, tall mountain close to the cliff, where the way narrowed down to only options.
The stone that seemed like a part of the mountain moved, and from there a fragile figure came out; she was Violet.
She slowly crawled out with fear riddled on her face. She moved her head around, looking for the direction of the sound of the explosion.
Her heart was beating fast, her mind was filled with dreaded thoughts, and she started running in the direction where the glimmer of bright lights was coming from.
"MAMA!!" she cried. Violet remembered the moment when Maria hid her in the pit.
**
"Listen well, Violet. Don't come out until I or Papa come back, or wait till you see the sunlight." Maria slowly put her down and started looking for the pit the woman mentioned.
"But Mama, what about you? What are you going to do? Where will you go?" Violet grabbed her leg.
Her eyes were filled with tears and hopeful wishes for things to go back to how they were before.
"I won't lie to my love. I am going to attract their attention. Either I'll lose them and come back for you, or I'll make sure that they won't come for you." Maria finally found a stone that had a narrow opening to a pit.
"No, Mama, I won't leave you. Please don't leave me." Violet hugged her from behind. "Please don't go. What will I do without you?" Violet's arms wrapped around her tightly, thinking she might lose her the moment she loosened up.
Maria turned to her and hugged her again, her tears dripping on Violet's shoulder.
"We don't have much time. Listen carefully, little bird.
Make sure to eat well and don't be picky. I've told you the recipe for the medicine, so make sure to eat it daily.
Take care of your Papa. Tell him Mama needed to do what she had to.
From now on, make sure that your happiness is your first priority. Don't hurt the innocent, but don't hold back against injustice because you are your Papa's daughter.
I have so much to tell you, but I can't. They are coming.
I am sorry I lied. I might not return, so don't come out until the sun comes out..." Maria's voice grew heavy with tears flowing down.
The winds blew like whistles, and the moon kindled the woods. The world was silent, as if it gave her time and peace to say everything she wanted to.
"I love my baby. I love you so much. I am thankful for every single day I see you in our home. I love you so much. Not just me but your Papa too. Please be happy.
I pray to the good to give you every happiness and blessing. May you live a long and happy life. May the high ones give you everything you seek, my little world." She then slowly pushed Violet away.
But Violet's grip wasn't getting lighter. She wanted to cry her heart out, but Maria put a hand on her mouth and shook her head, telling her not to.
Violet bit her lips but couldn't do anything. She whispered,
"No, no, take me with you. Please don't go. What will I do without you—"
"You can do anything, my love, anything… even conquer the world. I know because that's my Violet." Maria's eyes were looking into the past, where she saw the determined Violet who walked even in pain because she wanted to help her Mama and Papa.
She started sewing and knitting even with shaking hands because she wanted to help earn money for her Papa's treatment.
She recollected every bit of memory that proved that the fragile girl was only held back because of illness. If not for that, she might've been among the bravest and most determined of commanders.
"Now, Violet, Papa is fighting, so I need to do my best too." She then tried to pull her hands—that's what her mind wanted, but her heart didn't.
"Please, Mama." Violet grabbed her hand, but a pat on the head from Maria made her realize something.
She needed to fight too. Violet wiped her tears and then nodded.
Maria tucked her into the pit and then, before closing it, her lips moved again. "I love you, my daughter."
Then she closed the pit.
She wanted to cry but didn't have any time. She picked up a few stones and then pulled out a talisman.
"Anyone who unwraps the blanket shall trigger the wrath of the blessed."
She then buried the talisman between the blankets and started running.
---
Violet was staring at the burning flames and started running toward them. Her legs were moving on their own close to the deep cliff, and tears were gushing out like an open wound.
"Mama, Mama, Mama!" she cried and cried.
She just wanted to see it once, just wanted to make sure it wasn't her. But the threads of fate, once tangled, don't loosen easily.
The mountain shook again, and Violet, who was running close to the cliff, lost her balance when she stepped on a loose rock and then fell into the dark chasm.
Her light body slowly descended through the cold fog of the chasm...
---
Violet's POV
No! What's happening? Am I... going to die? But I didn't see Mama!
Who was it? Is she okay? Please not now! I need to see her! I need to see Mama!
I felt like I was flying. The wind felt like it was lifting me, but my mind was convinced that I was falling.
Then reality slowly caressed my reason, and I accepted it. This was it.
This is how I die, in the end.
I hurt my Mama. I didn't listen to her.
I refused what she asked me.
Forgive me, Mama, for being such a bad girl. If only I wasn't born, you might've led a good life.
Then I slowly felt the speed of the fall on my skin. Survival was impossible.
So I closed my eyes and thought of the days of our family, and suddenly I felt a gentle touch of feathers on my back for a moment.
Then I lost consciousness.
---
"Is this death?" Violet questioned herself as she was enveloped in cold darkness. There weren't any dreams or nightmares.
She felt like strong winds were taking her like fallen leaves.
"Maybe I can meet Mama here?" The words echoed in the empty mind of Violet. She was asleep but somehow aware of it.
Then she saw a light. She saw her Papa and Mama nudging her to wake up. "Get up, child. It's morning. Wake up." The warm voices healed her ears.
"Get up..."
"Get up....." The voices slowly got distorted, and the nudging became stronger.
"Get up!" Violet jumped up with her eyes open wide, gasping for air while coughing out water.
"Mama! Papa!" Violet yelled out, but she didn't see the old cottage in front of her. Instead, it was a dark cave dimly lit by a few torches.
"Where am I? What happened? Where is Mama? Papa?" Questions whirled in her head, and then she felt a gaze drilling a hole into the back of her head.
"This is my first time seeing your violence bringing someone back to life." A hoarse, high-pitched voice came from behind her.
She slowly turned and jumped back like she'd seen a ghost—or maybe something like that.
There was a young boy around sixteen or seventeen. His skin was pale as snow, with scarlet red eyes and lips. His ears were a bit longer than usual with pointy ends. Long black hair was tied with a golden ribbon. He had smooth silk clothes. He looked strong but also weak.
When her gaze moved a little up, she saw a white bird covered in red markings sitting on a dry branch.
"It wasn't violent. If it was, she wouldn't have woken up." The boy spoke in a sharp voice that had a noble demeanor.
Then he stood up and walked to Violet.
"Yeah, only if your little twig of arms had that kind of strength." The same voice Violet heard first came out from the beak of the white bird.
Violet's eyes gaped because her ears couldn't believe what she saw. None of it made sense, and she was convinced she was dreaming.
"Who are you? You don't look like someone from here." The boy leaned closer to her, his scarlet eyes scanning her from head to toe.
Violet's eyes slowly lowered, thinking she might wake up in a few moments.
But then a gentle cold touch under her chin lifted her face, and she slowly opened her eyes again and felt warm breath around her face.
"This isn't a dream, little girl..." the boy spoke.