Ayla waited restlessly, her heart pounding and head spinning. Thoughts flew in and out of her mind like flies. She couldn't fathom the whole situation and felt so scared for her mum. She gently told Clevo to go back to bed as she remained close to the door eagerly waiting for her mum's knock.
Night passed and the sun rose, she still kept awake and waited. Suddenly she heard a knock on the door, she rose quickly to see who it was. She hurriedly opened the door and lo and behold, her mum. She stood outside in shock and distress at the same time. Ayla hugged her tightly and held her then started "Mum, what happened?, Are you okay?, why were you called?, is everything fine?" She kept asking different questions that ran through her mind. Her mum stared at her all this while without giving her an answer then she walked into the house. Ayla quickly offered her a seat and knelt at her front asking again "Mum, Are you fine?, What's the matter?, Is everything Okay?"
She brought a glass of water for her and calmed her. Her mum looked closely at her then said "You've been chosen to save us" she suddenly stopped and began to sob. Ayla couldn't understand what she said or what was going on at all. She just kept still and tried to read meaning into what her mum just told her. "What do you mean, Mum?" She asked. Qadira continued "Don't worry, everything will be fine, I'll make sure you're not taken" she said and kept sobbing.
Ayla felt so restless more like invisible or useless, she didn't know what to make out in what her mum just said. She stood still and cried, not knowing what to do at all. Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. They were all alerted but scared at once. Shivers swam through the room and thoughts flew in and out of their minds. They were stuck, confused, frustrated. Ayla thought of what the outcome of the knock could be. Could it be just a mere knock or something that could change their lives forever?
Ayla walked straight to the door, she held the knob attempting to open it. The knock continued but she hesitated. She prayed in her mind. Qadira's heart was not at rest either. The tension that flowed endlessly in the room was much and nothing but a blank mind they had. Ayla finally opened the door and there stood the exact same elders that came to pick her mum.
At that moment, she was dumbstruck, her mind was full with a lot of things " why are they here?Did we commit something bad? What did they do to mum?" One of the elders, Magnus, spoke up " The moon goddess wants to see the daughter of this household, Please step forward" Qadira, who was already standing then
said" What for? Why do you need my daughter?" Magnus was surprised. It never occurred before that a mere villager would ask for a reason after the moon goddess' judgement. He said "that reason is best known by the moon goddess". Qadira replied " I won't let my daughter go with you without knowing the reason, I refuse to allow that" She said firmly but with fear showing in each and every word she spoke.
Magnus scoffed then spoke up "that decision of yours will cost you a lot so I would comply if I were you" Qadira tried to counter him before Ayla interrupted" I am the one" the she looked at her mum, who was already burning with anger and fear at the same time. She then said to her mum " I'll be fine, I promise" . Qadira looked at her with hope and fright combined then said "Please take care of yourself, be very careful" She hugged her and allowed her to go.
Ayla left and assured her mum that she would return safely. She followed the elders quietly but with thoughts swimming through her mind "why did they send for me?, Did I do something wrong?" She couldn't land at a specific question or thought. After walking down the path, through bushes, they finally got to a huge palace surrounded by guards and protected tightly. They walked into a small road leading inside the building, then opened a huge brown steel door that looked like those of ancient days. She saw a room with candles and lamp stands. At the end of the room was a large chair with monstrous painting and thick edges. The room was decorated with flowers and sculptures of people and magic rods.
She looked at the diagonal direction of the room and saw wooden pots and stone plates. The room was well decorated with ancient things as a means of worship to their ancestors and seeking for more powers. The moon goddess sat on the chair at the far end. Ayla had never seen her before but had heard stories of how mean and cruel and powerful she is.
Suddenly she heard her name, "Ayla" she looked scared and shaking, "who's that" she replied with her voice shaking uncontrollably. "Come here" the voice spoke, the elders took her to where the moon goddess was sitting. The moon goddess was on a very pretty garment, with her hair covered with a veil as though she was a bride. Her staff was leaning on the right arm of the magnificent chair where she sat. Ayla looked terrified then said "who are you?" The moon goddess looked into her eyes and gave a loud gasp "you…you shall save us" Ayla looked so confused but happy a little that she would save her people.
Ayla scoffed then said " I am nothing, I can't even save my family let alone the entire village" Then the moon goddess said "who are you to decide that?I have seen your future and your name and I know you're the one" Ayla was dumbstruck and couldn't even move. She then said to the moon goddess "why me?"
"It's been revealed to me, no more questions asked," the moon goddess replied. The moon goddess told Ayla what was to be done. Ayla couldn't fathom all that and was so scared. She couldn't just leave her family like that and go to a place she has been warned never to come close to.
Broken, confused and surprised, Ayla was
escorted back by the elders. On her way, everyone looked at her strangely as though she committed a grave sin or murdered a person. She went home, tired, restless and weak with thoughts going through her mind. Her whole body was not at rest as she kept thinking of what fate had in store for her. Qadira was so scared to even ask what happened. She didn't know if Ayla had found out already but she kept strong.
Helpless
Weak
Depressed
Ayla went to her mum to explain everything to her. It was difficult for her but she had to. She assured her mum once again that she would be fine and safe. She didn't know what would happen in future but she was certain that nothing bad would happen to her.