1: The Scarecrow

22 Years Later

The market at midday was as usual, cacophonpus and crowded, smelling like wet earth and rot. Crawling with animals and opportunist, an indistinguishable lot.

I squirmed my way through herds to the market stands where I found Mr. Jara, an optimistic old florial. A grin lit up his features when his eyes landed on me. I returned a smile beneath my scarf.

"How's it going Mo-Mo darling?" Mr. Jara greeted.

"Oh just the usual, supper," I answered, already picking out the best looking vegetables among the rotting mess on his table.

"Yeah, you be safe on your journey back lil girl, these roads aren't as safe as they used to be." His voice crackly and his eyes kind.

I threw him a smirk, and pointed at him with a greying carrot. "Course, you too, don't get in too much trouble. You'll only worry Mrs. Jara."

He snickered.

I handed him his silver pieces and bid him goodbye. The journey back was long, for we lived on the outskirts where it's mostly tall grass and savage creatures who'd probably kidnap you and turn you into a scrumptious soup for supper.

When I reached home I found my brother, Hirai, hanging from his feet in a tree, bow and arrow in hand. He had yet to ever hit a target, but he sure was skilled at making mom and dad worry.

I flicked him on the ear. "Hirai I swear, Mom's gonna have a heart attack. Get off the damn tree!"

"Save it sissy, how can I become a knight if I can't hang from a tree while shooting an arrow," he retorted, aiming around me for a make shift target he had painted on the house walls.

"I don't think that's a requirement." I couldn't help an eye-roll.

"Says you."

I could've easily pulled him off the tree but it'd have been much more enjoyable to watch him fall.

When I did step into the house I almost had a heart attack because my little sister sprung out of nowhere and practically jammed her head into my throat at an attempt to hug me. Children have hard skulls, I thought I was going to die.

Mom saved my life when she detached her from my neck. "Ray, we talked about this. No, surprise attacks."

She pouted, hugged me by waist then ran off.

I rubbed my throat and passed the basket of goods to my mom. She took it reluctantly, her lips lifting into a hopeful smile. "Anything good?"

I shook my head. "The usual."

The hope in her eyes immediately diminished but she hid it behind her smile. I wished I could bring home better food for my family. But that was all I could offer. That was all the land could produce these days. Beggars can't be choosers, as they say.

"Thanks anyway baby, why don't you go check on your father out back, while I prepare supper." She flicked her head in his direction.

I went ahead to the back door. Outside in the fields was my father hauling hay onto a cart. I rushed to his aid in a heartbeat, picked up two bales of hay and placed it on the cart. I could practically feel him radiate disapproval behind me.

"Girls aren't supposed to lift hay," he muttered.

"Neither are old men," I retorted.

His eyes narrowed on me. But soon he was grinning ear to ear. "Yep you're definitely my kid."

"Of course, who else's kid would I be." I chuckled.

He straightened his back igniting consecutive little pops. I regarded him knowingly. He rolled his eyes. I gave him an expectant look. He sighed. "Don't tell your mother."

"Only if you let me lift hay from now on."

"I can't ruin my precious daughter's hands. I refuse." He was indignant. But so was I.

"MOM!"

"Ok ok fine. But only until my backs alright again." He shook his head and went to sit on his chair on the porch muttering something about stubborn children and complaining woman.

Day was ending soon. The vibrant blue slowly shifted to a hibiscus pink and soon supper was ready. We brought out our bowls and decided to have supper out in the fields. Sitting around a fire, singing songs to dad's mandolin tunes and listening to his stories that sounded more like make-believe than truth.

He spoke of fighting in the king's army. He spoke of days at sea, meeting mermaids and unknown races. He told us his love story, again, for the fiftieth time.

"Your mother here was such a stubborn pumpkin. I swear, do you know how many times I asked the woman to marry me?"

Mom hit him playfully. "Stop exaggerating. I did say yes."

"Yeah only after I broke both my legs, crossing kingdoms to meet you."

"That's too much Darrell." Mom laughed.

"Ooh and what happened next?" Asked an eager Ray. Hirai yawned, we had heard the story enough times to be able to recite it off the top of our heads. Ray just liked it when dad sang.

"Well we got married. And we had Mo," Mom answered.

Dad played a tune and sang:

I'm the poet, you're the ballad

You're the damsel, I'm the bastard

You're the treasure, I'm the thief

I'm the sea, you're the cliff

Daffodils and Dandelions

For a woman like you I'd touch the heavens

To a man like me you're more than diamonds

Oh how I'd bid every bit for your hand

You're the kettle, I'm the flames

I'm the roof, you're the frames

You're the blanket, I'm the bed

You're the mom, I'm the dad

Perwinkles and Peonies

For the woman you are I thank the heavens

From the man who lacked faith in destinies

Oh now I'd trade every tune to keep your hand

Dad exaggerated quite a bit, but one thing was for certain, he loved mom.

"And then, what happened next!?" Ray prompted.

Dad strummed a tune and told in story, "one quiet night, they woke to a knock thinking it were a mock. But then came another, so they went to the door. And opened it to find a baby in a basket, skin lined with scales and breath as hot as flames. They picked her up and brought inside. One day went to the next, and here we are many years later."

They're my family, and nothing can change that.

"And then I came?!" Ray clapped.

"Well, Hirai first then you," Mom said.

Then, I saw it. Off in the distant, what looked to be a burning scarecrow speeding towards us. But the flames were purple and the scarecrow was not running rather it seemed to fly. I stood, the bowl full of supper slipped off my lap and spilled onto the grass. Dad's mandolin stopped abruptly. It was silent, save for the flickering flames.

"Mommy," Ray whimpered.

"Kids, get behind me." An urgency and fear laced Mom's tone. "NOW!"

I grabbed my siblings. Ray clung onto my legs and Hirai gripped my hand tight. We watched the figure of the entity only grow larger with the passing seconds.

Dad stood and played a tune. It was slow and hypnotizing. Almost dark and magical. The air grew warm and we were soon surrounded by a green gas. The cover of green protected us from the living scarecrow's first attack. Its form pressed into the gas but it didn't pass through. Though it did land an impact on the gaseous cover that felt and sounded like a cannon ball.

"My children," Mom said, her voice heavy and her eyes on the verge of tears. "You must go."

Another blow.

"Listen to your mother kids," Dad said, still playing that tune only increasing the tempo. He seemed to be struggling though and he didn't focus on us for too long.

"But Mommy and Daddy have to come too!" Ray cried.

"Yeah." Hirai sniffled. "I'm not leaving without you guys."

Another impact.

"I can't hold on for much longer," Dad grunted, heaving a heavy, rough breath. He was in pain.

I felt like crying. Confusion mixed with helplessness is paralyzing. I felt suffocated and trapped.

"Darrell, should I do it?" Mom asked Dad.

Another shake to our shield. The scarecrow was not going to give in.

Dad looked over at her with such sorry eyes, I was only flooded with a million more questions. "We will protect her," he said, his voice strained.

Mom turned to me, smiling. I knew she was about to deliver terrible news. "Go to the guild on the edge of town, ask for Anselm."

My breathing seemed to pause. "Mom, what...?"

She dropped to a knee, her hands clawing around a mound of dirt she spoke such strange words, "obey my commands Aigar. Take back what is yours but preserve our souls."

The green gas fell, the scarecrow was a mound of ash and my family was gone. What remained of my loved ones was a green gem.

A/n: was that sad enough for you?? Or do you think I can make it sadder?! edit: i wrote a new song, hope it wasn't too long. you didn't have to read it. i suck at song writing. Also, if u can make a tune for me, I'd love that.