Sunset - Chapter 3

I pulled my cotton tunic on, and wrapped my feet tightly in leather... I stared down at my feet, I hadn't worn these sandles since the "incident" in fact, it'd been three weeks since it had happened, and i'd not breathed fresh air since. Nervous bubbles floated and popped in my stomach, but the axious pain kept me centred. My hand stroked the thick crocodile skin curtain, which seperated my room from the inner circle. I pulled it back noting the heavy silence of the little ones as they glanced over to me.
"Lanlan! You're better?" my little three year old sister said making grabby hands at me. I strolled over and hoisted her up onto my hip.
"Of course I'm better Roro, how's Dylan?" I asked looking inspectingly at the cute little slate blue bunny that hopped to Mikka, Roro's twin brother.
"He's OK, Mikka almost dropped him in the salt lake." she whisped, but Mikka overheard and glared.
"Only 'cause you pushed me!" he shouted bitterly. I put Roro down as she started explaining why she didn't mean too, and how he still should be more careful. I went looking for Mar.

Stepping out of the hut, I was hit by the extreme cold. Strange weather for the time, I thought. Water had frozen itself to the buckets, and the walk ways were almost empty, except for the few people buying preserves from the vender. I'd always loved the position of our hut, far away enough from the town, but not too far. On a hill, giving it a high views of the huts below. It's how the hut got it's name. Aerialice because of it's almost aerial views. Mar and father weren't in sight, could only mean one thing... hunting. Father was one of the best hunters in town, and Mar was where I got my climbing skills from. She'd climb the high trees, and tell father where the game could be found. It was actually how they fell in love, Mar's family had always owned the Aerialice, maybe that's why all females born into the family have the cunning ability to climb high trees. I ran out to the back, picking the tallest tree and grabbing at the branches till I was practically sat a top on the tree. The town looked tiny from up here, then I found them. Mar was sat in my usual tree. Although a little lower than I usually climb. Her long green hooded cloak shielded her from seeing me. Father was at the bottom busing himself with something that I couldn't quite see. I was just about to shout to Mar, when she delicately jumped the remaining distants to the floor. I glaced back at the clearing line. But they didn't emerge. I frowned looking back at the tree. I gasped. It was gone. Left in it's place was a gaping whole in my eye line, and a large stump. Anger filled me. How could they chop down my tree? Why would they? It's not like it was the trees fault Marcia died... Was it?