The Tiara. Lila's Pov

Lila changes dress, bath at the stream and eat half done meat, complains and Derek helps

 It was pretty dark when I opened my eyes. 

 I had the most sweetest dream ever in my life. 

 I dreamt I was home. I was with my grandfather Gilmore and we shared cluster of grapes. Then I dreamt of Mason and I cuddling on my soft fluffy bed and we talked about the future. 

 Head maid Ophelia hated Mason so much that she would growl and scowl at him but in my dream, she brought us a tray of juice and dessert while smiling at us.

 The weird people were gathered around a camp fire, seated and eating. My stomach groaned compelling me to make a firm grip of my tummy.

 I grunted uncomfortably as I struggled to get up. Aurora saw me trying and ran to help me sit up.

 "You're awake. We were begining to wonder." She chuckled.

 My elbow itched and hurts. The side of me that touched the hard grassy ground equally ached me. I was tired, wished I was home instead and all these were indeed a dream.

 I winced. "My body hurts. My dress is shredded, I haven't eaten nor taken even the least decent bath since morning. I don't deserve this, I'm not a sinner."

 My mind wandered back home. I wondered if they've begun searching for me. If head maid Ophelia had started panicking already and if head guard Morrey had gathered the search party because if they had, I should be found by tomorrow. 

 I sighed at this assumption as I struggled to sit. 

 Derek brought a plate of roasted burnt slices of a kind of meat to me, I didn't have the strength to question the source or what kind of animal was it, I dug into the meat, gobbling, shoving it down my throat hungrily.

 My skin gritted with the gazes on me but I cared less. My stomach wasn't allowing any modesty or decency as it was completely empty and it needed to be filled up.

 After many bites did I realize the meat was half done, yet delicious.

 My plate was empty. I stared at the big pot hanging at the center of a smaller glow of fire.

 "You want more?" Aurora asked.

 I extended the plate to her. "Yes please. Thank you."

 I could hear Ondine's grin. I didn't mind.

 "Here you go." Aurora handed me another plate and this time, I ate slowly, allowing my taste bud mix with the sweetness of the meat.

 "What kind of meat is this?" I finally get to ask.

 Orion was breaking more wood into the fire to keep it burning.

 Lucas was leaning against a huge rubber tree, Derek was a bit distant, standing as a guard. Ondine sharpened her sword. I hadn't seen that with her since I collided with them.

 I noticed they all sat like a nomad or little kids listening to night time stories. More distant cries of wolves but I didn't shake, I was used to it already. Hooting owls, leave rustling here and there and I didn't move a bit!

 "Deer." Orion answered.

 My eyes glowed in amazement. "A deer? Orion, you caught a deer?"

 He shrugged. "Pretty well and easy. Your men don't do that? What kind of meat do you eat?"

 "Well, from where I come from, we eat beef and chicken mostly. But the animals are bred so we don't have to go into the forest to look for one." 

 "I see. Do they use spears and arrows too?"

 I chuckled despite my pain. "No. We use spears and arrows for games not to maim. However there are guns and knives, it just like Ondine's dagger, not everybody owns them, just some group of people." I explained.

 "Do you have one?" Ondine asked to my surprise.

 I thought of the knife in my kitchen. "Yes. I have a knife but we use it to cook. Only. My grandfather has a pistol, he keeps it in the basement."

 "A basement?" Aurora asked confused.

 "Yes. It's like underground."

 "I see." She nodded her head.

 "How are you feeling?" Derek had come back, he was standing beautifully while gazing at me.

 "My body hurts. My dress is shattered and I really really need a nice bath."

 "This place is really secluded. It was tough looking for a river earlier. But I found one, quite a considerable distance from here. You can change your dress, you'll have your bath tomorrow." He informed.

 "That's great! I need one too. I wish it was nice and warm." Aurora chirp.

 "Right!" I supported.

 "Well, there's no warm bath. It's a cold stream. I'm sorry."

 "Thank you Derek." 

 He made a lasting look at me and smiled, then walked off to resume his watch.

 The night dug deep and soon, it was midnight as I presumed. I couldn't catch a nice sleep, the ground was hard, my body itched terribly and I tossed. 

 Later, I had my eyes gazing at the red full moon. There was a bright star besides it. My grandfather told me it wasn't just an ordinary glowing star but astral, associated with gods and goddesses. I would smirk and twitch my nose in unbelief.

 I heard whisperings and I tilted my eyes to look. It was coming from where Derek was seated while keeping watch. Another figure was with him. A female, Aurora, I thought and I focused my ear to listen attentively.

 "Do you think she was the one said about in the prophecy? That she would bring us to the mystical pearl?"

 "We can't be quick to conclude. We had more like her before we met her, that's why Ondine is paranoid." Derek answered.

 "But, she looks like the goddess of wishes. We should tell her!"

 "Let's observe her for a while. Time will tell."

 "Also, I think she's confused about where she came from, her dress is weird too. I feel she fell from the sky and maybe lost her memory. The gods know what they're doing."

 "Let's just hope your theory is right so we can get to the bead as fast."

 I wondered if they were talking about me because I couldn't be the goddess they hinted about or me helping them find some sort of bead. 

 Speaking of some pearl, my tiara came to mind. I was sure it was sitting pretty on my hair when I fell. But now, it wasn't on my head anymore, it must have fallen off when I fell or while running.

 If I could find my tiara, I could definitely find my way home! I just need to know where it laid, then I would be home.

 My tiara!