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A heavy sigh escaped my lips when my eyes saw the mess that sat in front of me.
My traps had been trampled on. Though it wasn't hard to make, my heart still broke for the basket I had weaved in order to catch rabbits.
It looks like deer prints... I think?
Well it was about time to move the trap anyway. I'll have to replace it tomorrow.
I stood up from the ground and brushed myself off. Thankfully, the other traps managed to trap a rabbit and a squirrel. Since it was the first time I had ever hunted on my own, I squirmed when I had to kill the poor creatures but now I simply gave thanks.
Two weeks had passed since we had arrived, and though Dixie had recovered remarkably, she had yet to wake up.
I trudged back to the house to find Benji waiting for me on the porch like always.
His head raised when he heard the crunching of the leaves.
"It's me." I spoke up.
"You're back later than usual?" He raised an eyebrow. "We were starting to get worried."
"One of the traps broke and I went to look for a better place to place the new trap."
"Oh yeah, you've been wanting to do that for a while."
"Did you know there was deer in the area?" I asked.
He nodded, "My dad used to bring some all the time."
"I actually saw some prints, but I have no idea how to hunt one." I muttered with a groan.
Benji smiled, "My dad would use a gun,"
"Well maybe I can hunt some dear once I come back."
He grew quiet. "Are you really still planning on going there?"
He and I had gotten very close during this time. Benji understood the heartache I had gone through and supported me entirely. He had become a close friend, someone I could trust, and someone I would miss a lot.
That being said, my determination did not waver.
I was going to that training camp and was going to get stronger. Strong enough so I could protect them. Miss Maria, Benji, and especially Dixie.
"I'm going to come back and protect all of you." I smiled, though I knew he couldn't see it.
"You better Snowie." He returned my smile. I'm sure if it were not for the scar across his face, he would have grown to be very handsome, handsome enough to be in a film. His hazel hair fluttered in the wind and his smile could charm almost everyone.
The door swung open.
"Oh thank heavens you're alright." Miss Maria fussed. "I was starting to get worried. Benji had to calm me down. 'She's fine, trust me.' He would say."
I punched his arm playfully causing him to groan in pain.
"Yep, I was telling Benji I had to look for a new place to put a new trap."
"I see you caught a squirrel and rabbit!" She grinned. "We can dry the squirrel and grill the rabbit tonight. Will you come in and help prepare?"
"Sure!"
We made our way inside but before any preparation could begin, a small groan came from Dixie's bed.
I quickly dropped what I was doing and flew to her. "Dixie? Are you okay?"
Her eyes fluttered open. "S-Snow?"
Her voice was hoarse and rough.
Miss Maria came quickly with a cup of water. "Drink up dear."
Poor Dixie, however, had different plans.
She wrapped her arms around me and bailed without stop. Her tears soaking my shirt and snot dripped from her nose.
"Dixie!" I stuttered. "Dixie don't cry, you'll get worse!"
"Snow!" She choked on her tears, and my eyes also started to get watery.
"Dixie-" Before I could finish my sentence, she began to cough violently.
Miss Maria quickly handed me the water, in which I helped Dixie drink it. My hands rubbed her back gently as she drank.
She continued to sniff quietly when she finished.
"How do you feel?" I asked her but she could only respond with more sniffing. I inhaled slowly, trying to gather my courage. "We're okay now Dixie. We're okay."
She clung to me again, glancing at her surroundings with fear. "Where are we? Where's Addie and Gus?" Dixie sent Miss Maria and Benji cautious looks as she hid behind me, grasping me tightly.
"We're in Miss Maria's house, she's a good friend of mine."
"She's your friend?"
I nodded at her wide and trusting eyes.
Her grip on me loosened slightly. "Oh. Okay."
"We're going to stay with Miss Maria until Addie and Gus can find us." I explained.
She grew quiet. "Are we lost?"
"Yeah... they're looking for us just like our parents are. But don't worry, they'll find us soon."
Dixie raised her pinkie. "Promise."
I hooked mine with hers but my heart thumped loudly in my chest. "Promise."
After stamping it, she glanced over Miss Maria curiously this time. "Hello." She mumbled timidly.
"Hi there." Miss Maria responded eagerly. "What's your name?"
Dixie lit up at the adults kindness. "My name is Dixie! I'm six!"
Miss Maria gasped. "Six! Wow! You're almost a grown up!"
Dixie puffed up with pride and her eyes sparkled like before. Then she proceeded to point at Benji's face without fear. "What's wrong with his eyes?"
I quickly pulled her hand down. "Dixie, it's rude to point at someone, no matter what they look like or who they are okay?" She nodded glumly at my reproach. "Why don't you ask him what happened instead?"
"What happened to your eyes?"
Benji smiled at her straightforwardness. "I got into an accident and hurt my eyes, so I can't see very well now."
Miss Maria shifted uncomfortably in the corner of my eye. Her eyes quivered with guilt and pain.
"Did it hurt?"
"A little!" He nodded. "But it doesn't anymore."
"Can I touch your face?"
"Sure!"
His mother led him towards the bed and gave him a seat. Once he sat down, he leaned closer.
"Woah." Dixie exclaimed. "It's all bumpy!"
He laughed. "Right?"
"Dixie," Miss Maria started, "Are you hungry?"
Dixie nodded furiously causing Miss Maria to smile.
"I better get started then. I'll go get some potatoes."
She exited the house and Dixie grabbed my hand. "She's not like the other grown-ups. She's like Addie and Gus. I like her."
Those people at the camp were cruel, I thought, to isolate a small child to the point of distrust.
The desire to protect came over me again stronger than ever and I glanced at Dixie.
Now that she was well, it meant it was time for me to leave. It broke my heart to leave her like this, all alone, but if I could get stronger then she would be okay for a bit. Besides, she had Miss Maria and Benji, without a doubt they would take care of her.
I glanced over at Benji, who sensed my resolution and nodded in my direction.
"Dixie, I'll be back. I need to ask Miss Maria something for a moment. Why don't you tell Benji about the time you beat me at hide-and-seek?"
She was afraid of me leaving, the squeeze on my hand told me so but she nodded anyway. "Okay... but don't take too long!"
A chuckle escaped my throat, "I won't."
I stood up and left her in Benji's company, exiting the house as well.
Miss Maria was hunched over in the garden that laid behind the house. She placed a few potatoes into her apron and straightened her back.
"Miss Maria." I called out to her meekly as she brushed off her dirty hands.
Her grin faltered when she saw the expression on my face. "Come, sit down with me."
The both of us sat on a log not far from the garden and an eerie silence came over us.
I have to say something.
"It's a relief that she woke up." Miss Maria began, and while she did sound relieved, she also sounded a little regretful.
"It- It is." I stuttered, "I don't know what I would've done without her."
The silence came back.
With each passing moment, the words I had constructed in my head disappeared without trace.
"Miss Maria, I- I-" The words would not come out and I squeezed my eyes together in frustration. However, they opened again when I felt a warm hand touch mine.
"I know, dear."
I stared at her, wide-eyed. "How?"
"Benji told me."
A feeling of betrayal came over me. Even when I should've felt relieved I didn't have to explain myself to Miss Maria. How could he, when he promised not to say a word?
"But don't blame him. It's his way of easing the guilt inside me, though it does very little." She looked up to the sky, which was growing close to changing colors. "Did he ever tell you? The story about his eyes?"
I nodded quietly.
"Even though he constantly tells me it wasn't my fault, I can't help but live with this guilt. My precious baby cannot see the sunset, or how the trees change according to seasons, or even his own mother's face. I've robbed him of that because of my own selfishness. But I would do it again." She squeezed my hand. "I would do it again if I had a second chance to do it all over. I can't bear to hear of his meaningless death in a war like my husband."
Her voice sounded so sure, so firm and confident, but her hand shook like a leaf against a strong wind.
Clasping my hands, she faced me. "You've become like my daughter. I- I don't think I can allow you to leave to such a horrid place and let your chance of dying grow."
The idea of death still scared me. The way it easily looms over anyone and everyone left me frozen to the core. But the desire to protect them was stronger than the fear. I was going to come out of that place alive. I would make sure of that.
"I'm grateful that you think of me as your daughter Miss Maria but I have to. I've lost too many people I've loved," I squeezed her hand, "and I don't want to loose anymore. You and Beji have also become very special to me, and I will only bring trouble."
She shook her head.
"It's true. They won't stop looking for me, so the only way I can stay with you is if I get stronger to protect all of us."
Miss Maria's eyes looked away but her hand stayed on mine.
"I'll be back, please believe me."
I watched as she inhaled sharply and tried to hold in tears.
"You are so incredibly brave Snow." She whispered, her other hand reaching out to brush my cheek. "I wish you had been born in a better world, one where adults weren't so greedy and evil. No one your age should have to be so brave and mature."
There was a knot in my throat as my eyes grew blurry with tears. "Will- Will you take care of Dixie for me?"
Miss Maria pulled me into a hug, "Of course dear."
Maybe it was because she was also a mother, but her embrace reminded me of my mother. Whenever my mother and I hugged, it seemed as though we were made for each other like a salt and pepper set. Molding perfectly together in one heart beat.
My heart stung.
I'll find her. I'll find her someday.
"Let me know when you plan to leave, I'll make a delicious meal before I go." Miss Maria smiled as I nodded in response. "Come on, let's go inside. I bet the other two are starving."
She stood up and walked to the entrance as I followed behind her like a lost lamb.
"It was the biggest tree!" I heard Dixie exclaim. "Not even the little boys were brave enough to climb it!"
"Woah!" I heard Benji exclaim. "You're really strong Pixie!"
Dixie was recounting the story when she climbed to the top of a growing pine-tree. A laugh nearly escaped when I remembered how that day ended. Tons of little boys had gotten hurt after attempting to do the same. Their mothers were furious at Dixie and me.
I smiled, Pixie was probably his nickname for Dixie. I'm sure Dixie loves it.
Before Dixie could say anything in response, she fell into a fit of coughing.
A terrifying feeling came over me as I ran into the house, landing right next to her.
"Dixie, are you okay? Just breathe." I fussed anxiously. "Here drink some water."
A few moments later, Dixie was breathing normally again.
"Does anything hurt?" I asked Dixie.
She nodded and placed a hand over her chest. "Right here."
The only thing I could do for her was hug her tightly.
Please, let her live a long and healthy life.
I pleaded to anyone who would hear me.