| The Blood | Chapter 1 | Part 1 |

Instructions

I walked slowly through the woods, heading back to my home. Was this the day that I’d be ambushed? They’d threatened at school. I shook my head and quickened my pace, just in case. I was blinded as I emerged in the clearing of the Enyana Tribe. Our clearing. I let out a sigh of relief. I was fine. I was home. The clearing was large, small wooden homes spread out along the edges. Some were abandoned. Some, like ours, were not. In the middle of the clearing was a large oak tree. It was sacred to our ways, our ancestors. At the base of the tree, two Enyana’s chatted and laughed. My smile broadened and I began to run towards them. “Eriku!” I shouted, embracing the older boy. He smiled down at me, returning my hug, “Anya! Hi!” Eriku turned towards the other Enyana, who was leaning against the tree. I recognized her as Jane. It was not a Enyana name. It was a Shibuya name. I narrowed my eyes. Jane waved at me politely, but we both hated each other at heart. I hated her because her family supported the Shibuya tribe. She hated me because my family didn’t. Eriku released me, “Do you have any work you need to do?” he asked curiously. I shrugged, “Not right now, but I’m sure Lyna has some for me.” As if summoned, my sister walked out of our cabin on the far side of the clearing, her small hands on her hips. “Anya!” she shouted, gesturing for me to come. I jogged over to her, waving goodbye to Eriku. And Jane. Lyna studied me intently, “Anya,” she began, running her fingers through my hair, “Why are you so dirty?” I looked at the ground, not wanting to admit that I’d trekked through some mud, staying off the path just in case. Lyna sighed and lifted my chin up to her, saying softly, “The path? I did the same thing.” I smiled, taking a deep breath, “Yeah. How’s Mum?” Lyna’s smile fell and she shook her head, “Sleeping.” I nodded, “And--” She cut me off, “The boys will be here soon.” I nodded, entering the cabin. We were a family of five. The shelter was small for us, but most families here were big. In the Shibuya area, they had big houses and small families. It was annoying. Our litter two room house was nice, because it was ours. The room I was in currently was where we cooked and ate. There were little uses for it. The other room in the house was referred to as the ‘Sleeping Room’, since we slept in it. There were four mattresses on the floor, each with a few worn-out blankets. The other bed in the room was a cot. Mum slept on it. I walked over to the cot and tapped my mother’s shoulder, “Mum, hi.” I whispered, knowing she wouldn’t reply. I unwound her long, dark braid that I had made earlier that day, before going to school. Her hair fell and framed her pale face. Even asleep, my mum was beautiful. I set my satchel down on the mattress beside Mum. It was my mattress. Families here didn’t own a lot. If you owned something-just you, no one else- you would cherish it. Therefore, I cherished my mattress, even if some (also known as the Shibuya’s) had more than us. It was a nice life. Sitting down on the mattress, I studied the individual threads of the blankets. Was that boy right? Could Enyana’s do anything? I snorted. Of course, he wasn’t right! Shibuya’s were raised so that they hated Enyana’s. We, the Enyana’s, were mostly raised to reciprocate this, but of course, some didn’t agree. Jane’s family, for example. Simple, Shibuya names. Eriku’s family on the other hand, traditional Enyana names. How different they were. Lyna called from the other room, persuading me to get up and wash myself before the twins came home. There wasn’t any running water in the house. If you had to wash up or get a drink, you’d have to go all the way down to the river. Along the path. I shuddered just thinking about it. It was my time, I was sure of it. Sooner or later, they would ambush me. I continued to ponder this idea as I walked down that very path to the river. It wasn’t like I’d be the first to get attacked in the woods, all Enyana’s did, sooner or later. There would be that one fight, that one person, that caused the whole thing to come crashing down. Sometimes it was more violent. There used to be an older man in the clearing who was half blind from his. Some were barely anything. Lyna’s was a simple scratch, not even a scar. Some were in between, scars with no real consequence. Enyana’s would grow up wondering what theirs would be like. I hoped mine would be quick and easy, but I doubt I’ll get that wish. I felt a sudden chill and looked down, chiding myself for not paying enough attention. In front of me was the river, which I had almost stepped into, in fact, I had stepped into it.