Fiction: Group 3
Rei tentatively took a step forward. Tentatively, she took another. Suddenly, she lost her balance, falling
into the woman’s arms.
“Good job, Rei.” The woman said, stroking her hair, “I knew you could do it.”
Rei woke up, startled by the sudden memory. That was the first memory of her mother she had
ever had. Whatever it meant, Rei felt more determined than ever to find the fire lily.
As the sun crawled up into the sky, Rei started hiking again. Soon, she was met by a waterfall
tumbling down a cliff. Luckily, she was prepared. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a rope.
Throwing one end of the rope to the top, she hoisted herself up. She knew that stepping on the wrong
place would cost her life, so she was extremely careful about where she put her foot. At last, she heaved
herself up and onto the peak of the Pearl Mountain.
The scenery was amazingly beautiful. The sun was slowly creeping behind the hills, pouring out
hot oranges and reds into the sky. Brilliant shades of blue and purple sneaked in as well. The waterfall
tumbled down the rocks like the heartbeat of the world. Cicadas had started chirping a cheery tune. Rei
smiled. She sat down and admired the view. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, making her jump. She
turned around and saw another girl staring at her. The girl had ginger, bright green eyes and a face full of
freckles.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you!” The girl said shyly.
“No worries, I’m just surprised that someone lives up here.”
“Oh, it’s not just me, my whole family live up here.”
“Really?” Rei asked curiously.
“Really.” The girl smiled and Rei noticed that she spoke in an accent, “I don’t even know your
name yet! Mine’s Sonia.”
“Mine’s Rei, nice to meet you, Sonia.” She laughed, the name curling on her tongue.
“Nice to meet you, too. You seem absolutely exhausted, stay at my house for the night! Come on,
my house is this way.” Sonia led Rei towards a small cottage. Sonia opened the front door and went inside,
Rei following behind her.
“I am back, Mother!” Sonia called out.
“Who is that with you?” she inquired, “Oh my,” Sonia’s mother gasped when she saw Rei, “ You
look absolutely exhausted! What have you been doing? Climbing the mountain?
“Yes, actually.” Rei admitted, and she told Sonia and her mother her story.
“We actually have the flower you’ve described planted in our back yard.” Sonia said after Rei
finished her story, “I’m sure no one will mind if you pluck a petal off of it.”
“Thank you so much!” Rei said brightly. They then headed to the kitchen and Sonia’s mother
served dinner. Rei met Sonia’s father, little brother and her grandparents.
They are a happy family.
Rei
thought.
Rei sat by the window, staring outside. The full moon hung in the starry sky like a great, luminous
pearl. She sighed and decided to go back to sleep.
Tomorrow,
she thought,
I will be on my way home.
