Quest of the Heart

‘It was not her fault’. Amelia kept repeating it in her mind over and over again ‘It was not her fault!’ Yesterday she had been sent with 5 other members of the West Sun clan to hunt for food. The West Sun clan was located in the west of what used to be Winnipeg before the big fall.

When the big Pandemic hit the world caused by the climate change, the economic crashed too. It didn’t take long for people to blame each other and not only did people lose their homes and work; many lost their lives as well. People went savage, for years it was not safe to be. It still wasn’t.

Big Cities all over the world disappeared. For a long time, chaos reigned. Until survivors regrouped into small communities. Time had gone backwards and people where back to hunting food and exchanging products for products and services.

Amelia did not remember the time before the big fall. She was born into this new world and abandoned by her birth parents and whatever community her birthparents belonged to. Karla her adoptive mother, had found her and brought her with her to the West Sun clan where she had stayed. She was a great mother, if that’s what you could call it. But family dynamics out in the clans are different then what they used to be before the fall, and when Amelia was old enough to be able to join in on the food hunts and raids, Karla had moved her to the community sleeping hall and left for a different clan to be with someone she claimed to love. It had taken Amelia a very long time to get over the hurt of being abandoned yet again. But eventually she had gotten past the pain and it had given her the drive she needed to become a good huntress. Amelia knew the surrounding woods like the back of her hand. At just seventeen, she was one of the best in following tracks in her age group and she had gotten very skilled in tracking hunting game. The killing did not come easy but many of her peers had learned to trust her instincts and they would just follow her and do the killings for her.

Just like this morning. Graham, the head hunter, had specifically sent her with Jayden, Tristan, Kayleen and Terra for deer hunting. Amelia had been excited for the day and it had not taken her long to find a track to follow. Except it had not been a simple deer or wild pig track. This had been a Dyna-Deer track. Amelia did not know why she had not picked up on the slightly different smell and only when it had been to late did, she realize her mistake.

A Dyna-Deer was a DNA mutated Deer that looked more like a monster than a deer. It was almost twice the size and its antlers where stronger, thicker and more majestic than anything. Nobody knew where they came from. After the fall, they had just been there. Amelia had heard many stories but never seen one in person. When they came across its way it had already been too late to escape unnoticed. It had charged at them right away and although Tristan and Jayden were very good in archery, it seemed that the inflicted wounds and arrows piercing its body did nothing to stop it. Soon the hunters became the hunted and they ran in panic leading the Dyna-Deer right back to the community. It was luck that some of the great man hunters where just back form a successful game hunting, and where able to take the Dyna-Deer down. But not before the Dyna-Deer had done some significant damage to the community. Fields had been trampled, the great hall where the winter rations were stored was greatly damaged and from what Amelia had gathered, a significant part of the food was gone too.

After the bestie was taken down, and the shock wore off, people had been angry. Tristan, Jayden and Terra had been quick to turn all blame on Amelia for leading the group to the dyna-deer. Kayleen had tried to take ward some of it off, but since for many Amelia was still an outsider, many had been quick to turn their anger on her. Today at nightfall, after the community supper, the town council would decide what her punishment would be.

Amelia had not recognized any difference in the smell and track markings than the regular deer. Angrily she pushed a ceramic bowl from the table and watched it shatter on the floor. It was not her fault! But she also knew that trying to explain was senseless. People needed someone to blame and to make an example of, and without a close family member and no ties, she was perfect to make an example of. They had pushed her into the holding cell and blocked the door so she could not escape before the hearing. She understood the anger. The food had been collected for many months and destroyed on one day. It was the winter reserve and there wasn’t much time left to restock before winter.

The sun was already setting when they finally came for her. Tyson and Luda, the heads of the order keeper. Luda was a mean woman with evil eyes who had had it out for Amelia for as long as she could think. Tyson was the opposite. Although 6 feet 5, with a slight protruding belly and a greying beard, he was almost grandfatherly looking. As far as Amelia could think back, Tyson had been the kind reasonable voice where Luda seemed to take joy in inflicting pain. But today Tysons’s face was hard and his eyes were void of any kindness. Today Amelia feared Tyson more than she had ever feared Luda. “Put your arms behind your back you useless girl.” Luda aggressively pulled Amelia’s arms on her back. With evil glinting eyes she bound her arms with a rope, taking joy in pulling the strings as tight as she possibly could. Amelia fought hard not to cry out but could not help a whimper to escape.

The rope burned her flesh and she already could feel her hands going numb while Tyson pulled her across the community place to stand in front of the council. The crowd surrounding her was quiet. Almost to quiet. Amelia didn’t understand the meaning of it. Sure, they thought she had messed up, but was this really necessary?

Luda and Tyson stopped when they had her in front of the crowed and council. She lifted her head and looked around. Angry eyes. Here and there some looked to almost feel sorry for her but most of the crowd looked angry. What was the meaning? Was there more going on then she initially thought? She almost felt safe between Tyson and Luda.

Councillor Terek stood up. He was a small and sweaty man who many thought a pawn for those that controlled the community. Before he addresses the crowed, he pulled a used yellowing rag out of his pocket and almost ceremonially whipped his dripping face. “Hear hear! Today this community has suffered a great loss. We have damaged buildings that will take to much time to rebuild, and lost food resources. Because of today’s carless actions, many will suffer with the restrictions that will have to take place. This girl, who we have opened our doors and homes to. Who we have clothed and fed for many years, has single handily destroyed hard summers work with her carelessness and headless actions? To make an example for every community member, she will be asked to leave this community. Everyone shall see that reckless actions have consequences. At midnight she will be escorted to the community border to never return.” Amelia starred speechless at the councillor, while the crowd roared around her. She could not believe what she had just heard. She was to leave the community because of one mistake? A mistake that wasn’t even her fault? With unbelieving eyes, she starred at the crowed applauding the council’s decision. She had always known that for many she was an unwelcome sight and many called her an unnecessary mouth to feed. But she had worked hard to do her share once she was old enough. She had not known that people wanted her gone this much.

Luda aggressively pulled her through the crowed while Tyson walked on her side to shield her from the people of the community she grew up in. This time they did not walk her back to the holding cell but to the community sleeping place where her sleeping room and belonging were. “You best pack your things. Fast.” Luda hissed before she pushed her through the door and slammed it shut behind her. For a little wile Amelia stood forlorn and still unable to comprehend what just had transpired. But then the dam broke and tears escaped wetting her cheeks. Why? She understood the anger and for the lost buildings and food. But would it not make more sense to make her help to rebuild and use her skills to hunt for new game? It just did not add up.

There was a pain deep in, a pain she had already experienced growing up and knowing that her parents had abandoned her. A pain that came back when Karla left her and a pain that almost seemed tenfold now that her whole community was shunning her. She felt lost and alone. Where was she going to go?

“You do not have much time to midnight, so you better start packing. Else you are leaving without any belongings.” Luda’s voice sounded liked she hoped that would be the case. With hands whose wrist still burned from the strings, Amelia started gathering her belongings and stuffing them in a sack. She did not have room for much, and tried to think practical despite her confusion. As she looked around the room, she heard some scratching on the window before she saw Tysons’s face appear. He motioned her to be quiet before pointing to open the window. When she did, he pushed a small pine box with colored markings though the opening. “This belonged to your mother. Your real mother. I can not explain much and I do not know the story, but when Karla left, she made me promise to give you this box when the time is right.” Tyson nervously looked around before he added: “Before you ask, I do not know what is in it.” With that he disappeared around the corner of the building. Amelia grabbed the pine box and slowly stroked over the fine woodwork. It had some curious symbols craved into the wood. Something she would explore later. Right now, she just wanted to see what was in it and she lifted the lid of the box. A piece of folded paper fell out.

This belonged to your mother. Come and find me.

Karla

Nestled in straw that was cramped into the box was a beautiful heart locket on a silver chain. Amelia had never seen such a beautiful jewelry. It was simply made with a smooth surface but what seemed to be a very sparkling stone in the middle. When she opened the locket, she found a face starring back at her. A face that looked just like her own. Suddenly Amelia could not wait to leave this town. She had a purpose. She was going to find Karla and maybe even her mother. Hope took root in her heart and mind and she was excited to pack her sack. Midnight could not come fast enough.