Upon A Star (Chapter one)

  The night was windy and the air aridly cold but it didn't bother me, I liked the cold air in my hair.

As I looked up at the sky excitedly with my Father's old binoculars in one hand and with a star map I'd roughly copied from a very old astronomy book in my other hand. I was going to find Orion, it was most visible at this time of the year.

I take in my surroundings again, the vegetation wasn't very thick here not as thick as the forest west of here. Our little village was surrounded by sparse vegetation. With a big river north of the forest.

I liked the night, everything look more mysterious and prettier at night and the stars and the moon were a lot more visible at night.

The wind ruffled the thick blanket I had around my shoulders. I had come out in my night dress, my sturdy winter boots and my blanket. As I settle on the ground I pick up a stone to hold my map in place on the ground and placed it. With my blanket wrapped around me like a robe and binoculars in my hands I look up. Then back at my map then up again, I was looking for Rigel and Betelgeuse the brightest stars in the constellation.

There they are! The two other stars at the other corners form a rough quadrangle as I connect them. I was in luck his head was also visible!

I sat there for there for so long, my legs were starting to cramp up. Musing about Orion, in Greek mythology he was a great supernatural hunter. I bet he had countless adventures in his day, went to many interesting places. His life must have been really interesting.

Unlike life in our little village where nothing really ever happened.

I got to see Mrs Bernard's goat give birth last week, but that wasn't really interesting albeit a little disgusting.

Gazing at the sky with my binoculars I saw a star shoot across the sky, I immediately wished upon it ; "I wish to go on grand adventure, like Orion".

The wind picked up for what must have been the umpteenth time and it was strong enough to pull my map and fling it in the direction of the forest.

I immediately got up and went after it without thinking. When I caught up to it, I hadn't really gone far but I was in the forest now. It was darker here than it was under the night sky. And the different sounds coming from different creatures of the night were more distinct and audible.

Then it all went silent, as if the forest waited  on something dangerous in anticipation. Ahead of me I heard very faint movement, movement from something on two legs.

I called out uneasily, "whose there?!" And abruptly as if i had imagined it the movement seized and the night creatures sang again almost in relief. A few paces ahead of me I saw a shinny object on the forest floor. Curiously, I moved towards it and picked it up. It look like a very fancy gold button or cufflink? I don't know, it had something that looked very much like an eagle engraved on it. This interests me enough to want to keep it, maybe I can find a book about the eagle like creature I know there was a name for it...ah yes! A Griffin.

With my map in hand I returned to my spot and picked up the binoculars and my blanket not really feeling the bite of the cold. I decided the safely of my home was preferable and daylight had its benefits.

  Waking at dawn I feel refreshed despite my short night's rest. I dress and go about our little cottage straightening it out just a little to make it look more presentable. I pick up books from the ground, table tops and put them back in the little book shelf. My father must have been up reading again, as one of our oil lamps was still lit on his study table with numerous books scattered about.

He liked reading - studying anything concerning the business world and the economy. He was a very successful merchant until misfortune struck and he lost everything in the China seas. Well except his mind, he was still a brilliant man.

We moved from the city to the village because we could not afford living there anymore.

That was eight years ago, when I was thirteen years old. The loss of his business was not the only misfortune we faced.

He lost his wife and I lost my mother. Needless to say, the change of scenery helped us both cope.

The only thing I miss about the city were the big bookstores and libraries.

We have one in the village, but it was small and I've  read every book available.

Which reminded me, the librarian John, one of the few in this village that understands the importance of books. Told me he was expecting new ones from the city. New books! That thought excited me, so I hurriedly finished my chores and made breakfast. And soon I made my way into the village to get meat and bread for lunch and hopefully a new book about the most wonderful adventure ever, or a book about griffins any would be equally exciting.

After getting meat and stopping at the Baker's for bread on my way to the library I ran into Gabriel and his companion, how wonderful.

Despite me declining his advances more than a million times, he however still had the confidence and motivation to keeping coming after me. 

"Bella..." He said with the affection one would accord to their pet cat or rabbit. I didn't like the way he was looking at me, I never did. It was akin to the way you'd look at merchandise you just had to have so you come ready to haggle.

I didn't like being called Bella either and especially not by him. I don't need a pet name, I've never considered myself needing that type of attention or affection.

"I've told you, my name is Isabel not Bella" I said, striving to be polite to him.

"You look like a Bella, isn't she the must beautiful girl you've ever seen Tommy? " "Oh yes..." His companion chimes.

He's a smallish man with whiskers wearing a coat a little too big for him. A hand me down from Gabriel perhaps?

"So don't you think a creature as beautiful as she, should be with a creature equally as beautiful as me?"

He said showing off his jawline and his chest swelling.

I guess he could be considered attractive. He was really tall with a heavy build. Dark hair and even darker eyes. He was uncannily pale didn't have that dark hued skin akin to the villagers which made him stand out more.

Don't get me wrong he was very desired by the young women and even some married women. Sure he was strong and a good hunter. But his wit only favoured him when he was talking about himself. Other topics considered he was pretty slow.

"No it doesn't!" I retort my patience slipping.

"You'll be mine Bella" he says to me with a toothy grin.

"Even if you don't know it yet." I, at the end of my stick just roll my eyes and walked away thinking gods above, please grant me my wish. So that I can be away from this pompous human at least.

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