There was a young girl, living on the outskirts of a small village. She was the pride of her parents; nurturing, always bringing home animals she found and nursing them back to health. Her father, a ranger, carefully taught her when it was best to do this, or best to leave the animal to be reclaimed by the lands. Though she was not yet old enough to actually do it, she was also taught when it might be best to help the animal to a merciful end.

The girl learned all this, accepting it even at her tender age, and understanding it in a way fitting her innocence.

She had recently helped a duckling whose wing had been injured. Though it healed, it could not fly well, and she was overjoyed when her father suggested she keep it as a pet. The duckling had imprinted on her anyway, and followed her everywhere, quacking pitifully when it could not. Needless to say, she adored the duckling.

One day, while she was out walking through the town green (followed, of course, by the gleefully quacking young duck), a group of older children started laughing at the sight. One pulled out a sling and fired at the duck...his aim was, unfortunately, true, and his strike deadly. The girl's beloved duck was struck dead. She picked up the broken body and ran home, sobbing. Her father, as broken-hearted as his daughter, helped her bury her pet.

Only a few weeks later, an invasion of marauders hit her village. Her father hid her under a bed and went out with the villagers to try to hold back the force. She stayed there, listening to the shouts of battle, and the screams as the marauders raided the village. The next night, the poor girl stood by, silent tears in her eyes, as her parents were buried.

At the marauders' camp, the victors reveled, telling again the stories of those they killed. They soon heard the quiet cries of a child. A few went out to investigate, and found a young girl sitting outside their camp. They grinned at each other and mockingly asked the child if she was lost.

She looked at them and quietly replied, "No...you are."

With that, an attacking force of survivors from the village appeared from among the trees and swept through the surprised camp, laying all inside to the sword.

The girl stood by, watching with a hard, cold light in her eyes.

Her innocence lost.