fantasy

The little girl sniffed, dragging her hand under her dripping nose as she cowered against the damp wood of her pen, her face streaked with dirt and tears. Greasy blonde hair hung about her thin shoulders. Her torn dress was spattered with filth. She had lost her shoes on the forced march from the village. Now she drew her scabbed knees up under the ruins of her skirt, trying not to shiver. It would be another cold night....