Okay. Sorry this is kind of mixed up. I blame tiredness. 😉 Please give critique. I would like to know if anything confuses you, or if it is too long, or anything like that. I have a feeling it is too long. 😑 Thanks, guys!

-Mercy

Rissa Pacer:

I cried when my brother left, but that was only the beginning of all that was about to change. Several months later, we left First Warren. Father had been made Captain of the Forest Guard at Cloud Mountain, and Mama and I went with him. Then the king fell, and along with his fall came the afterterrors. That was when I gave up any hope of seeing Felton again.

When the nearby citadel of Vandalia was devastated by a wolf raid, Mama went with a large company bringing supplies. The company was attacked, and Mama was severely injured. Due to a broken pelvis, she was unable to come home for weeks. The rest of her life was lived in terrible pain.

About a year later, something else happened. Mama met me after school one day with a hug and news.

"How was your day, dear?" Mama asked, her eyes glowing with excitement.

"Enjoyable. How was yours, Mama?" I replied, eager to see what so enlivened my mother.

"Oh, precious, I've had a wonderful day. I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise? Mama, when will I know?" I squeezed my schoolbooks to my chest, watching Mama attentively.

"I will tell you now, if you wish, and I shall tell Father when he gets home tonight."

"Please do!" I loved and hated surprises. This one seemed good, since I didn't have to wait.

"Yes, dear," Mama pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "You are a big sister!"

For a minute I couldn't move. Mama was having a baby? I thought I was the baby. Then, all thoughts of jealousy were banished from my mind as I realized what joy Mama must be feeling. I squeezed her neck, grinning wide.

"Oh, Mama! Do you think he'll be like Felton?"

"Darling, your 'he' might be a sister, for all we know!" Mama replied, squeezing my back and laughing ecstatically.

In the next few months, Mama's pain increased horribly, but so did her happiness. Father, on the other hand, seemed worried. I sometimes felt the old twinge of jealousy, but most of the time I was as excited as Mama. In late winter, I was working in the gardens with several of my classmates. We were beginning a springtime garden, and I was covered in dirt. I suddenly heard Father's voice, and felt a hand grab my shoulder.

"Karissa, come quickly."

"Father, what's wrong?" I asked, pulling my cloak around my shoulders as I started to run.

"Your mother," Father replied, and for the first time I remember, I saw fear in his eyes. I bit my lip, my breath coming quicker in my panic. As we passed through King's Garden, I glanced up at the statue of Fleck Blackstar. He looked so strong - so brave. I took a deep breath and bit my lip harder. I tried to be brave.

Father quietly pushed open the door to Mama's room. The room was bright. I saw Doctor Zeiger standing beside the bed, working quickly and expertly, his apprentice holding a tray of tools. No one spoke. Blood was everywhere, but I realized Mama must have been put to sleep for surgery.

"Wait outside, child," Father said, shutting the door. I threw my back against the wall as tears started to run down my cheeks. I checked them quickly, turning again to place my ear against the wall. I heard muffled voices.

"That has been bad hurt-break to hips. Zeiger-doctor working ways zeiger-doctor can, but much danger-bad." That was clearly Doctor Zeiger.

"Please, Doctor, you must save her," Father's voice was pained.

I waited. No one talked much more. A half hour later, I was called back in. Mama was still asleep. She was covered mostly by a blanket, and Father sat by her bed, tightly clasping her hand. I came to kneel beside him.

From one of the other rooms, I heard wails, and Doctor Zeiger speaking to his apprentice. My sibling. I had a sibling. I started sobbing.

Through my tears, I saw Mama's eyes flicker open.

"Ris.... Ri...ssa.... Eric...."

"Mama!" I cried, grabbing her arm. Father smiled, touching her forehead gently. Doctor Zeiger came in, holding a baby wrapped carefully in a white blanket.

"Having doe-child you are. Small. Wants mother. Poor rabbit-family keeps and alone-talk."

Mama reached out one arm weakly. Doctor Zeiger laid the bundle on her chest, then left the room. I had no idea what the last thing he said meant.

"Rissa..." Mama whispered.

"Mama?" I asked, wondering.

"I love you, dear. You, and Felton. And Eric, darling."

Father made some strange clicking noise in his throat. He was trying not to cry.

"Take... care... of her... Rissa.... Her name is... Katherine...," Mama's eyes closed, and I screamed.

"Mama!! No!! I want you, Mama!!" Bawling, I dropped my head down beside hers. I heard another scream. I raised my head, and saw my little sister crying loudly.

Sniffling, I picked her up. She fur was grey, and her head looked too large for her small body. She stopped crying, and kicked her blankets. I smiled. Kathy Pacer. My baby sister.