So some of you already know about this but I had to write a story for my English class recently and I decided to write it about you all. I think I got all the names right now but if it's the wrong one, as you all seem to have so many different names to keep track of, just let me know. <3 you all.

My First Day

No one knew where I came from, but they knew there was something different about me. I'll never forget the first day I set foot in town, when I finally worked up the courage to interact with the people who I knew everything about, yet they knew nothing about me. I took everything I had not to tell them what I knew and who I was, but how could I even explain it? It's not easy to explain to them how I am not just a person, but the place they live as well. I've desired companionship all this time and finnally needed to talk to at least one of them. Who knew the trouble that would get me into when I first walked into a town meeting?

The district of Netherward didn't attract much attention to onloookers. Some would question if it was even listed on a map. Positioned in between nowhere and nothing much, those who were born in the Netherward tended to stay in the Netherward. Overall there were maybe 200 people who lived there on a good day. Sometimes the residents would see a new house being built and if they were lucky someone new would join their community. They never really questioned how they got to the town, they were just excited to see someone new appear. If they weren't lucky, the house would disappear overnight, never to be heard of again. As a result, when I first showed up it wasn't completely unheard of. People come and go all the time with their houses, so why not just a person on their own?

The day I showed up just so happened to be Netherward’s town meeting day, when everyone who felt like throwing an opinion on the table showed up at town hall to decide on new laws. The Netherward had a formal government system, but over time everyone decided it was easier just to let those who wanted to help decide on laws talk. Those on the council became mediators and anyone who was a resident and showed up could vote. On average about 20 people showed up every time and of those 20 only 10 spoke up in actual discussion. So when I stepped foot into the meeting room, 20 pairs of eyes immediately turned to focus on me. Many watched curiously, for I didn’t look very much like the rest of the town. Citizens of the Netherward mostly wore darker colors, and I had shown up in a royal blue with gold embroidery. My red hair shimmered in the dim light of twilight, the strands dancing like the fire lit in the middle of the room. As seconds passed I looked at each resident who attended the meeting that day. I could name all of them: Pika the bright spirited youth from the house on the corner who loved animals, Bonesong the town lawyer who always greeted everyone when he saw them, Der the head of the Inquisition in town though there were never many laws to enforce, Messenger who always ran around talking about fluffy chickens and the latest story he had created, and so many more. Their stories were so familiar to me even though none of them had ever spoken to me before. I smiled softly and bowed to the room.

“Hello everyone.” I said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’ve just arrived here from out of town and thought I’d drop by to introduce myself.”

No one spoke at first, each one trying to process my sudden presence. Most new folk didn’t know where the town hall was much less that there was a meeting on this day at this time. Finally the mediator jumped down from his place at the podium and walked over. I recognized him from the outskirts of town with his dark hair and lighter complexion. His name was MrHello and everyone thought of him like a grandpa though he probably was younger than a portion of the citizens. “Welcome to the Netherward! I apologize for our silence, we’re just a bit shocked to have someone new at this hour. I’m MrHello. We were just finishing up our town meeting.”

Almost as soon as MrHello finished speaking, the floodgates broke loose. People immediately began asking questions, talking over each other until the room was roaring with unintelligible noise. Only seconds later someone shouted “Everyone be quiet! You’ll scare the poor girl away!” The noise subsided almost as quickly as it started and the little girl who yelled at them came forward. She was only ten but could still command everyone’s attention. “I’m so sorry. They’re all just so excited. I’m Vonkie.” She grinned and twirled, her dress casting shadows on the walls around us. “I’ll ask the questions, Hello. You can sit down.”

Hello nodded once and returned to his place at the front of the room. Everyone else watched curiously, yearning for their questions about me to be answered and fast.

“So first things first, who are you?” Vonkie asked.

“I’m N-” I shut my mouth quickly. I can’t just tell them I’m the town. They’ll think I’m crazy. Some random girl showing up and saying they are the physical representation of the Netherward? They’d chase me out of the room with pitchforks and torches. “I’m Hawk.”

Vonkie smiled. “Pretty name. I guess the other main question would be how you figured out we’d all be here. It’s a little strange.”

I shrugged my shoulders and looked around at all the curious faces again. “Something just drew me to this place. I don’t know. It felt….right.”

Smiles began to appear on the faces of the citizens. Pika poked Der next to her and whispered something in his ear. Both of them held back laughs and waved at me. Bonesong waved and Messenger looked about ready to jump up and hug me while talking about chickens again.

Vonkie giggled beside me. “We understand. We’ve all gone through it. Those who belong in the Netherward will eventually end up here. That’s no mystery to us.”

I couldn’t help but smile. They didn’t think I was completely crazy showing up like this. They didn’t question why and didn’t even care if I told them everything about myself. Each one was accepting and was delighted I had shown up. All that time watching and wishing I could talk to just one of them but thinking they wouldn’t like me. I had been blind to their nature, forgetting their acceptance of whatever came their way. I couldn’t help it. I laughed in delight.

Vonkie took my hand. “Come and sit by me. You don’t have to say anything, but we do have a meeting to finish. Then afterwards you can play a game with us! We love to play games. I think you’d like it. You remind me a lot of the people here, almost like, I don’t know, like a representation of us all.”

I chuckled and sat down in one of the dark chairs with her. She didn’t know how close to the truth that statement actually was.