Chapter 3

"Here we are. The village," the man says with a smile.

Just on the outskirts, the man stops and let's the girl down. She can't contain her excitement at the sight. All around within the village, people are moving.

Some walk around leisurely, enjoying the nice day. Some are hard at work, fixing up the village. Some are on patrol, calm but alert. Some are just outside the village, tending to crops within the clearing. Some are even playing, running with the children and enjoying the weather.

"Well, do you think you recognize anyone?" the man asks, pulling the girl's attention from her wandering eyes. Quickly, she focuses.

She doesn't know those on patrol, or those playing, or those working, or those walking. No, she doesn't know any of these people. She shakes her head.

"Well, still, maybe one of them might recognize you," the man says with a sigh. "Let's go ask around."

The girl simply nods.

Together, the two of them step into the village. However, their hopes are quickly dashed.

"No, we've never seen her before," answers those who are out walking.

"Please, we would remember a cute little girl like this if we had seen her," answers those who are fixing the village.

"Too busy with the crops to remember every face that passes through town," answers those in the field.

"We don't remember her playing with the kids," answers those watching the children.

"No, we haven't seen this girl before. Is she lost?" asks one of the villagers on patrol.

The man sighs.

"Yeah, I found her while out gathering firewood in the woods."

"In the woods you say? What was she doing out there?" the villager asks.

"I don't know. She can't seem to talk. Also..." The man pauses before leaning towards the villager. "I don't think she can remember anything."

"Interesting. How about you take her to the Mabel. She might know what's happening with her," the villager suggests.

"Will do, thanks."

As the villager on patrol walks away, the girl looks up at the man, her face almost seeming to ask who is Mabel.

"Mabel is a doctor. She might be able to help with your voice and your memory," the man quickly explains.

Oh, if Mabel can help her remember, than of course she should go and see Mabel!

"Here, Mabel lives in the house just ahead," the man says, pointing to a small wooden house, one smaller than the rest in the village. "Why don't we go and say hi."

The girl nods with excitement, quickly running ahead, much faster than any of the other children in the village run. In fact, she ran faster than everyone in the village could run.

Though the girl seems unsurprised with her speed, the same could not be said for everyone else that saw.

A look of pure amazement was on their faces as they watched her zoom past, right up to Mabel's house.

"..."

The man's mouth drops with shock as he watches the girl sprint at a speed much faster than he could ever hope to run.

"Who is this girl..?"

While the man started moving to catch up, the girl didn't wait. She knocks on the door three times, and just as the man shows up behind her, the door opens.

Behind the door is an aged woman, clearly in her later years. She has greyish brown hair and a wrinkly but endearing face. Her eyes are a dull blue, and yet she seems to see perfectly clearly as she looks at the two who knocked on her door.

"Oh, hello Paul," the woman says from the door. She then looks down to the girl. "And hello to you, too. Who might you be?"

An awkward silence fills the space between them before the man, Paul, speaks up.

"Uhm, Mabel, it is good to see you again. While I was out getting firewood, I found this gir lost in the woods," the man quickly explains.

"Oh dear, what was she doing out there?" Mabel asks.

"That's just it, I don't know. The girl can't seem to talk, and she can't remember anything either."

"Oh my! How about you both come inside. I just made some tea," Mabel says, moving aside so that Paul and the girl can come in.

"Go ahead and sit at the table and I'll be right with you two. Would either of you like a cup?"

"Yes, thank you," Paul says.

"And you dearie?" Mabel asks, looking at the girl.

Tea? What is tea? The girl seems confused as she tilts her head at Mabel.

"Do you not know what tea is?"

The girl shakes her head.

"Well, I'll get you a cup, and if you like it, you can drink it. If not, then you can leave it on the table. Does that sound okay with you dearie?"

The girl nods. She was starting to feel thirsty anyways.

"Okay, just a moment then," Mabel says with a smile. She then moves over to the fireplace where a small pot with a boiling liquid is hanging, suspended just above the fire.

One after the other, she pours the liquid into three separate cups. Next, one at a time, she brings the cups to the pair, first to Paul, then to the girl, and finally one for herself.

Both Mabel and Paul take a sip as soon as they have their tea, but the girl is much more hesitant.

The drink looks hot. And why is it green? What a weird drink. Should she drink this?

"Won't you give it a try? You might find that you like it," Mabel says with an encouraging smile.

The girl really is hesitant, but her thirst nudges her to bring the cup to her mouth and take a sip.

The drink is warm. Very warm. And it has a bitter taste. The girl almost spits it out, but she resolves to swallow it at the very least.

Her face shows her clear distaste for the drink as she sets the cup down.

"Do you not like it?"

The girl quickly shakes her head, her hair flying from the swift motion.

"Well, now you know. It's always good to try new things to find out if you like them or not," Mabel says with a smile.

Why should she try new things if they might be bad like the tea?

"Now then Paul, tell me the whole story from the start."