Toni Ann Bryson, Youth Writer Amora stirred, her slumber slowly fading, gently awakening into the world of consciousness. Images of the present flooded back to her, erasing memories of the past from her dreams. Slowly her eyes opened, squinting into the new dawn sky, remembering events that brought her here.
Propping herself up on an elbow, she felt a sharp pain shoot through the right side of her abdomen, stealing a small, bewildered gasp from her lips. It cleared the fog in her mind and then, she recalled the night of her attack. It confounded her how she could be in this much pain, since with every rising sun, it should have been dulled. However, still, morning after morning the jolting pain lurching up her side was evidence enough of the bad state her body.
Amora glanced towards her beloved Omec still sleeping beside her, sword in hand. She smiled at the thought of him protecting her. He tried so hard yet if someone were to sneak up on them he'd probably sleep right through it. After all, here she was, right next to him, yelping in pain, and still he slept. She was glad though, he had stayed up most of the night, watching the darkness beyond the trees, waiting for the culprits attempting to steal their lives. He deserved to sleep.
She reminisced of how weeks before the attack Omec had used a large portion of his savings to buy her a beautiful dark green dress, cut low at the top, curved in V-neck, with long sleeves, green lace cuffs and a gorgeous silver chain that slid around the waist of the dress. It was made of the softest smoothest material she'd felt. Silk was like the texture of treebark compared to this. It felt so warm and comforting against her skin. She had spent many nights lying in her bed, gliding her fingers across the material, delighting in the feel of it. Omec joked that if she kept it up, she would soon wear a whole in it.
They had decided it would be her wedding dress - once they found their way home.
Amora slid her fingers across the tattered pieces of cloth she wore - it was all that was left of her beautiful wedding dress.
Suppressing a tear at the thought, Amora stood up, glancing once more at her husband-to-be, still sleeping soundly on the grass-covered earth next to her bed. She still had trouble believing that the man huddled up on his side, clutching up on his side, clutching her blanket and sleeping like a new-born, was the same man whose mere presence caused all around him to take uneasy breaths -- the very man who had saved her from the four men who had attacked her.
She went for a walk, observing her surroundings in the early morning sun, the sky was a bright blue and birds sang their songs to one another. The dew from the night before was still clinging to the tips of leaves.
She hated this new land. It was full of mystery and wonder, yet so dangerous, all at the same time. Creatures of all types seemed to aimlessly roam - all intent on killing anyone is their path. She stopped not far from their camp, atop a hill overlooking a beautiful valley full of green, rolling hills, blooming flowers, butterflies floating around them and nearby a small stream ran through the valley's centre. It was amazing how a place that looked so wondrous could hide the violence and hatred of vagabonds' thieves. She and Omec were merely passing through the valley, observing the luscious scenery. She was wearing her new wedding dress, with Omec following closely behind her staring in appreciation of how beautiful she looked.
He was in mid sentence, suggesting they stop and have a romantic picnic, when an arrow fired from atop the hillside struck him. She had screamed, pulling her own from her pack while she ran to Omec's side. As she searched the horizons for their attackers she saw out of the corner of her eye a man brandishing an axe a large wooden club --- too late. He brought the club down upon her back with such force it nearly knocked her out cold. She struggled to return to consciousness as the throbbing pain began to grow, spreading across her body like a wild flame. Suddenly, she felt a man's hands, tearing at her dress, ripping it from her body. She tried to ward off the attack with flying hands and feet but the blood from the gash on her head trickled down into her eyes and blurred her vision.
Nor could she sense him, as the pounding in her skull steadily increased. It was hazy but she could remember Omec rearing with rage at the man attacking her. There was a snap of bone as Omec twisted the attacker's arm behind him. Then Omec plunged his sword through her assailant's chest - ensuring his death would be quick and very painful. Just then, she slacked out.
When she came to, she lay with her head in Omec's lap, a warm, wet washrag cornering the gash beneath her hair. She looked to where the dead savage lay and upon noticing a piece of green cloth caught in his hands. Instantly, her hands went to her chest, searching for her dress as if hoping it was all some horrible nightmare. Amora burst into tears as she realized that her dress had been stolen from her. They were not sure why they had been left alive. They didn't much care. She in particular did not. Her thoughts were filled her beautiful green dress, a gift from her husband-to-be, a reminder of her homeland, forever gone.
Omec, had tried to make light of the situation, holding her weeping head in his lap. Attempting to make her feel better he said: "It's just as well, we'd have had to buy you a new one any how. Besides, I'd already seen you in it. I've heard it's bad luck to see your bride in her wedding dress before you are wed."
She turned her head towards the body of her attacker. The man who had somehow managed to steal away the one symbol of her future life and homeland. Reaching for Omec's hand she whispered to herself: "It would appear so..."
