stop

A bright light blinded her as she tried to open her eyes.

The ground felt wet and soft. 'Weird' she thought. But she was too tired to care. so she closed her eyes once more. This time the chirping of bird awoke her.

She sat up rubbing her eyes. Around her was a lush green forest with no human civilization in sight. This was also what she saw yesterday when she woke up. She can't remember how and why she was suddenly there. but there was nothing she could do so she just stayed there till night came and fell back asleep.

A growling sound surprised her. it was coming from her stomache. She reached for her backpack she had used as a pillow. it was empty.

with no other choice she got up and romed around for a bit. There were some plants that looked somewhat edible so she collected them and put them in her backpack.

Fortunately there were no encounters with wild animals till she got out of the forest. there she saw it. a big fortress. it was some kind of city surrounded by gigantic walls. there was a big gate guarded by some soldiers. She also saw a long line of people waiting to get in.

'A city is safer than a forest.' So naturally she also wandered toward the city.

there were actually two lines. one for people with just a few belonging. and another for horse carriages.

No she could also she the guards examining and then taking some sort of fee.

After Two hours it was her turn.

"Alright Missy, give me the thing on your back." she obliged. After all there just some plants and rocks she found interesting in there no weapon or anything.

"Where you from? Your clothes look foreign."

She had also noticed that. She was wearing a marron jacket that wend down to her knee and some black leggings. meanwhile all the women around her were wearing some sort of a long dress.

"From the north" she answered back. It was only logical since she was dressed like she was from a cold region. and the north is cold. the guard looked at her suspiciously.

"Okay . What's your name."

Since she couldn't remember she made one up on the spot.

"Nolly"

"Nooli?"

" No Nolly."

"Yeah whatever. Look here. Don't you dare cause any kind of trouble. Got it Missy?"

"Yes sir."

"Alright. I'll take this as fee since you got nothing else to offer." He said as he took four apples from the backpack.

"Now move along. I haven't got all day" she passed through the gate and entered the city.

The smell of food hit her and her stomach growld. but she had no money.

She went up to a food stall and asked if a trade was possible. the owner an old lady smiled at her with three teeth.

"it depends on what you have to offer sweetheart." Nolly gave her her backpack. " Anything you see as useful, except the bag of course."

"Hmm" the old women looked at all the stuff in the bad before taking out a bundle of strange grass.

"I'll take this in return you get four dumpling. Deal?"

"But isn't that just gras?" although Nolly was on the verge of starving her curiousity overtook her. she couldn't get why the old lady would want the strange looking gras.

the old women laughed.

"This is medicine great for pain relief. Take all the stuff you have to the herb shop right over there. Who knows if you can get some money out of these thing."

"Oh. Okay. thank you." she slightly bowed her head to show her gratitude before going the direction the old lady pointed at.

"What a nice child."

"Finding the herb shop was easier than expected. She went inside. There were various smell she recognized. Lavender, rose and all that but she could remember from where.

"Yes miss can I help you?" a middle aged man said from behind a counter.

"Hello. I have collected some stuff from the forest. I want to know if I can exchange them for some money."

"Let me see. Hhmm."

The man began to take some stuff from the bag and sorted them in piles. Now everything was in a neat pile except the rocks.