I dedicate this book to Katrina McNew and Izzy Schell

    My eyes burst awake. Flickering around the room like tiny jack rabbits, searching the dark above me, my eyes found a crack in the rafters and the shinning moon and stary night sky above. I smilled slyly to myself as I crawled as quietly from my straw bed as I could. Stepping lightly on the planked floor of our house, I walked quietly past my parent’s bed. I paused for a split second letting my shadow cast over their peaceful sleeping faces. I didn’t want to wake them. I slipped past my Grandpa Ishee's matress and let my quick feet guide me. I unlatched the hard wooden door, pushing hard aginst it to get it to move. It oppened with a slight creak and I shushed it as if it was a person. Quietly, I slipped though the small opening. Stepping outside I looked ahead of myself at the skylit paths of the village. I turned, slowly closing the door behind me. Turning back around once more I looked up at the golden moon. I pressed my fingers gently to my lips and held them up to the moon, sending prayer to the godess Launthet. I placed my feet carefully in the soil and started my gentle trot though the dust laden streets. 

      As I ran and approached the second windy street, I paused in front of my friend Kara’s door, thinking of weather or not to invite her on my small exploit of thievery. For a moment I reached out for the door, ready to rapp my small knuckles on the door thrice. Then my hand hesitated. I withdrew, a sly smile plastered to my face. Tonight was special, and I wanted it to be mine. I ran on into the perfect night. 

    There was no one about, of course, there was never  anyone, no one was ever about at night, they were sleeping in the dark shadows of the houses. Their scattered yet perfect pattern around me as I dashed through curves, my feet digging into the dirt. I came to the stream and fleet-footed raced across, the shadows of my friends circling in me as the misty demons and shadows left over from the day. Outlined by the moon, I say the treetops of the orchard grove. I sprinted through the fields, a laugh on my tongue, ready to burst forth. My feet were thumping harder, digging in I sprinted. I giggled slightly.  I passed the end of the fields, made across the small band of dry land. I landed in the rows of trees. The orchard was dark, and the silhouettes of the trees were startling.

    Moonlight and starlight seeping in through the trees, illuminating my path as I watched my feet press down the wet grass. Shadows lurked in corners and the sound of crickets chirping filled my ears. The night seemed peaceful, I stood and breathed it in, making it last a moment longer. Perfect. Waiting.  I hurried towards the back of the orchard, my feet slipping in the grass, I stumpled, tighting myself quickly, I ran to where the fields of grass stopped and turned into trees. Where the mountain began not to far above me, looming and blocking the moon to cast shadows and night upon me.

    Quietly I stalked to the row of Uipu trees at the base. There fruit was soft and juicy. I jumped up to reach the lowest branch. Then again and again. I climbed the tree to a higher branch.  Until I caught the Uipu and was dangling a little off the ground. I twisted and trashed until the fruit let go of the tree's branches and we both tumbled to the ground. I landed uncomfortably. I picked myself of the ground and clutched the Uipu to me. I heard noises, villagers, and ran for the trees. I didn't want mami and dapi to get in trouble. I ran and hid behind the first thick tree that I saw. Crouching very low to the ground, slinking, like a cat, I peered around the tree. bright and beautiful silver moonlight illuminated the grove, and stark figures stood abound the trees. One reached up and pulled down a fruit, then ate it. They carried long sticks and waved their arms about a lot. At one point I noticed a glint of silver on the tip of the stick and  gasped, it was a spear. I gasped. These weren't the villagers, they were here to attack us. One turned toward me. My breathing slowed, I closed my eyes tried to calm and opened them, watching intently. The man shouted in a strange language at me. And began to advance.My breathing began to acceletate. I looked around for my options. Anywhere I went would make a sound, except one.  I began to climb. The Uipu tucked safely in to my nightgown. I clutched the tree, wrapping my short arms around it. The man walked into the forest and looked around. I held my breath, hoping that he would not see me.

    The man left the forest after a while and I stayed in the tree for forever, My eyes shut, the Uipu up against my back and my front scraping the hard bark of the tree. I hoping that they were gone. I worrying about Mami and Dapi and Grandpa Ishee about Kara. I climbed down the tree cautiously. And peered into the grove. I saw flames in the distance. Flames. The Village was burning. R'tanni was burning. Everything was burning. I dropped the Uipu on the ground and ran toward the village. I ran out of the grove, acoss the feilds, picking myself right back up when I stumbled and fell into the dirt. I stopped at the river, the bridge was burning. I started running again, my feet hit the bridge, heat sared the soles of my bare feet, the memory of me and my freinds burning as I surged across and into the village streets. There was fire that danced across every building, every speck of dry grass. Smoke stung my eyes and burned my mouth.

    “Mami!” I shouted, desperately “Dapi! Ish-Ish!” Where are you. I ran towards our burning house. I stopped at the door and pushed my hands up against it’s burning surface. Pushing and pushing. the metal bolts seared my hands, and couldn’t get it open. The tears were flowing like a dam had collapsed. I tried again, pushing, I needed to get to them, My nightgown sleeves, burst into flame, and I cried out and dropped to the dusty ground. I rolled and rolled until I was caked in a layer of dirt. I turned and looked at the burning house through wet and muddy eyelids. “Mami, Dapi.” I blubbed. I got up and tried the door again, pushing with all my might, I couldn’t move the door, It appeared that it had been barricaded.

    “Tali.” Whispered a voice on the other side of the door. Dapi? I asked hopeful through my tears, I hiccuped. “Ishee.” The voice cried. “It’s Ishee.”

    “Hold on grandpa Ishee.” I said. “I’ll get you out of there.”

    “No.” He said. “It’s too hot, the metal has warped. leave me here.”

    “No!” I wailed to the world. “I won’t leave you here grandpa Ishee. I won’t leave you here.” I broke into another set of tears.

    “Tali.” he said, bursting into a fit of coughing. “You must be strong. For your Mami and Dapi.”  

    “No! Ishee, I can’t loose you.” I sobbed. “I want Mami and Dapi”

    “Tali, you must run, they will be back and they will kill you, you must.” Grandpa Ishee burst into a fit of coughing. “Go over the mountain, find your grandmother, find Yuu. Be strong Tali.”

    Then there was silence. I banged my bloody hands against the door and cried.  The flames were getting larger and soon I would have no way of escaping the village. Ii ran. Towards the grove and the mountain. Grandpa Ishee was dead. The sun began to rise behind me, It was morning. And it was my tenth birthday.