Chapter 2: The reunion/Finding my place

"Hazel?" "Yeah is everything ok?" "Yes um is there a job I can do? I mean I know I am only 16 and a girl so there are limited things I probably can do." "Hmm lets see. I don't really remember what I liked but, I figure I need to make money so I can get stuff I need and want." "I understand. After the festival is done I will show you where all the jobs are hiring ok?" "Sounds good." So we continued walking around the festival and saw there was going to be a show. "Can we go see the show?" "Sure lets go." "You ok with that Kaden?" I asked. He nodded in agreement. So we sat down and watched the play.

Once the play was done someone came to us and said the elder is looking for me. So all three of us went to see the elder again.

"Elder what is it? Is everything OK?" "Yes everything is fine. There is someone here who claims to be your uncle with his kids as well." "Where are they?" "They are in back." "Can you come in with me boys?" "Sure we will." "OK then. Now I know she will be safe."

We stopped by the door and I took a deep breath and let it out a couple of times. "Are you ready?" I nodded then we all walked in.

When I walked in the boy that looked no older than me hugged me. "Zuri we thought you were dead! I know you don't have your memory but we grew up like siblings. You are my cousin. My sister Keve and your uncle Ben." "Where are my parents?" "They died when you were 5. You were raised by uncle Ben and aunt Lia. My parents." "Did I have any siblings?" "Your mom was pregnant when she died so your sibling never made it." "I see. So its just you 3 plus me?" "Uh no mom is still alive." "Where is she?" "Uh I need to talk to the elder first. It has to do with your missing memories I'm sure." "Sigh. It probably has to do with who I am. Of course." "Who are these two boys?" said uncle Ben. "These are the boys who saved me." "My name is Hazel sir. This is my brother Kaden. He doesn't speak due to a tragedy." "I see I'm sorry. Thank you for finding my niece. When can she come home?" "That your going to have to talk to the elder about." Said Hazel. "Its fair. After all we are strangers."

The elder came in to check on us. "Hello. How is everything?" said Elder. "Its fine elder. I have a feeling they are family but I'd like to continue staying here for awhile until like you said, I heal a little more and find out who I am." "Well what do you think?" "That's fine. Mind if we stay for a few days and check the place out?" "Sure why not?" "It's a festival today and we were checking it out when you guys came." I said. "Oh what is that?" said Ben. "Oh this necklace." I Showe him and I noticed his eyes were big. "Its ok. I ended up being the chosen one." "Really?" "Yeah." "OK then." "Uh when I get my memories back and I want to continue being here is that ok uncle Ben?" "Uh we'll see ok?" "Yeah thanks uncle ben." So we all went to the festival except for elder.

We saw some cool stuff then walked around ate then headed over to the boys house. "Here we are." Said Hazel. "I'll take your stuff to your room ok?" "Just put them on the bed. I'll go through them later." "Sure." Then he smiled at me I smiled back. "So what things did I like to do? Is there a job I have always wanted to do?" "Well we know you really loved to read. I see you still do. Some of the stuff you bought were books." I blushed. "Anything else?" "Well you were like a tomboy growing up. I see the style of the dress isn't girlie so that is not surprising. You wanted to either be a black smith or a warrior is what you said you wanted to do. Either one of them would be fine you said. Even though you didn't like girly stuff, you always made up Keve and dressed her up in pretty dresses. Right Keve." "Yes brother she did until…" "Not yet remember?" "OK brother." "How old are you Keeve?" I'm 10years old." "A year younger than my sibling would have been if they survived. Also same age as Kade." "Yeah it would have been." "What happened to them? How did they die?" "In time Zuri." "I hate this. I want to know now! I have the right to know who I am. Excuse me." I got up and went to my room.

I sat down on my bed, put the bags on the other side of my bed grabbed one of the books and laid down to read it. After reading for awhile, I heard a knock on my door. 'Knock Knock' "Who is it?" "Its Hazel." "Come in." I wasn't really reading my book I was just crying with it openly silently. When he came in I closed the book. "Hazel? I want to know who I am? Don't I have the right to know who I am? Would you want to know who you are if you lost your memories?" "Yes but I would also know they are keeping it from you until you heal because it could cause a shock to you and make your memories come back to quick." "Come sit with me on my bed. I need a hug." "OK I'll give you a hug."

He sat next to me and I hugged him tight until my crying calmed down. "You ok now?" "Yeah. Sorry about that. I got you all wet." "Its ok I can change. I came in because your uncle was going to head over to the elders where they are staying." "I see. I guess I can see them off."

I saw them off then went back in the house. I didn't have an appetite so I told them I just wanted to go to bed. So I got ready for bed and went to sleep.

The next morning I woke up late. I was told it was already 10:00 in the morning. "Whoops sorry." "Its fine. By the way you look nice today." "T-thanks. So since my cousin said what I wanted to do can we try one of them?" "Sure which one do you want to try? A smith or warrior?" "I'm sure I'll like a warrior but I want to do a trial run on the smithy." "Ok then you might not want to wear that. What else do you have?" "Follow me." So he followed me to my room and we looked and found something. "This is one of the outfits I'm sure they picked out for getting dirty in." "OK change into those and we will head out."

I came out in a bun with the clothes he gave me. "Good now Kaden let's go take her to Jim." He nodded. So we walked to the smithy.

On the way there I spotted something that seemed familiar somehow. With out telling them I walked over to the building. When I saw the object my head started hurting. "Ah ow." Then the flash went slower and I saw the person with the object. "I have to get it."

I heard Hazel call my name but I had to get the object. I would find him later. I went in and looked around. "H-Hello?" "Ah hello there young lady." Said a man. "What are you looking for?" "This. What exactly is it?" I picked it up to show the man, and I told him about my amnesia and the memory I had. "If indeed you saw it then you have to be.. Never mind." "Have to be what? Please tell me. I promise I won't tell. People around here won't tell me." "Sigh." He looked around and said, "You are a demon Princess. That is all I can say. Also if you want to know where you are, you are in a demon village. You didn't hear it from me ok? Also that object is on the house." "Thank you sir." I put the object In my bag and closed it. then I went off to find the others.

I didn't have to look for long. I bumped into someone that happened to be Hazel. "Where the hell were you? We were worried sick!" "Sorry lets go now. I was just spacing and didn't know where I was going." "Ok then lets go to the smithy.

We made it to the smithy and Hazel asked for Jim. Then a man no older than Hazel showed up. "Hey Jim. This here is Zuri she wants to do a trial on the smithy." "I heard about her. She is prettier than I thought. Sure we can do that. I'll get everyone together. Yo! Everybody gather round! I have an announcement to make!" They all gathered and I saw a couple of girls there too. I sighed a relief I wasn't the only woman there.

"This here is Zuri! She is the one you have been hearing about. She is here to do a trial one with us! Lets show her a good time!" Then they all shouted. "Ok now as who she will be working with!" I tugged on his shirt. "Is everything ok Zuri?" "Yes I want to work with a woman for my trial if that's ok. I will work with the guys too but for the trial I will alternate." "Ok we can do that. Ok she said she wanted to alternate between people! She wants to start off with a woman! Any volunteers?!" Then a woman stepped up and raised her hand. "I will Jim." "Ah ok come with me! Everyone else go back to work!" They scattered and I sat down with the two of them and the boys. "My name is Zira by the way Zuri I am 20 years old." "Nice to meet you Zuri." After we talked Hazel wished me luck and Kade gave me a look to say he wished me luck too. I thanked them both. Zira had me put on some work clothes over the clothes I was wearing. Then she took me to the place she was working at. Another woman came by to tell her something and after introduced herself. "My Name is Namine. People just call me Mine. You can too." "Nice to meet you Mine." "You too Zuri." "Ok first you are going to see what I am doing, then after I will show you from the beginning how this all works." "Sounds. Good." I had a bandana on my head to catch the sweat. Once she was done I was shocked at the nice weapon she made. "What is that?" "Oh uh it's a unique weapon I have always wanted to make. I don't think it has a name yet? What shall we call it?" "Hmm. We can call it a Zari its both our names put together." "Yeah good one. Ok we call it Zari then."

We took a break and ate then she showed me the ropes on how to do things. She started having me make a dagger for my first task. That went great. It was beautiful. "Can we keep what we make sometimes?" "Yeah as long as we pay for it. Since its your first piece we can usually keep it for ourselves. So keep it." Thanks I can't wait to show Kade and Hazel! By the way, do you know the story of why Kade doesn't talk? I've been embarrassed to ask." "I do. I was there the day the tragedy happened. It is not my place to say. I'm sure if you ask them they'll say they will tell you when they are ready. But, You never know they can tell you sooner than that." "Thanks Zira. I'm glad I met you." "You too Zuri. By the way, is it true you lost your memories?" "Yes. What everyone heard from the elder is true." "Its time to get off work. You can take that thing off. Oh and I'd like to hang out with you and the girls sometime." "yes thank you. I would as well. Tomorrow we can talk about when we can." "Sure. See you." 

I went outside and saw Hazel and Kade. I had my dagger in a sheath. "I had a lot of fun. If I could have it both ways I would be a warrior and a smithy. Warrior's have a taxing job though." "I'll tell you what. After your trial, why don't you have a trial for the warriors? Also if you don't end up being a warrior and end up a smithy you will still be going to battle just not when you start. You have to be working for awhile before you can do that." "Hmm. I see." Then we started walking back home.

I noticed Kade was staring at the sheath the whole time we walked home. Once we got I said, "OK so Hazel, Kade. I got to make something with Zira's help. She is a girl who they gave me as a partner. It's a dagger." I took out my dagger to show them. "Woah that's gorgeous." Said Hazel. "Yeah I chose the purple jewels on the hilt."

"Hazel and Kade. I have something say. Well two things actually. First thing is thank you. Thank you for being a friend to me even though I was a stranger. Thank you Kade for finding me. I'm sorry I'm crying a storm here. I'm ok. Also I think I have found my place here in this village. I call this home. I think even if I got my memories back, it would still be home." After I calmed down a bit, I said, "Ok Hazel. You don't have to answer this now and I can wait. Can I ask what the tragedy was that caused Kade not to speak?" Hazel looked at Kade. He agreed. "Well since Kade was the one who suffered the most it was his choice and he chose to tell you. So lets see…."