Family Secret

 Ezlynn is running through the forest, soggy bright green leaves squishing under her feet. Her raven black hair was flying around her head, and her muscles were burning. Ezlynn plopped down on a large moss-covered boulder and stared at the cloudy blue sky. Ezlynn fell asleep soon after and slept for around seven quiet hours. 

As Ezlynn woke up, sunlight was shining through her closed eyelids. Around her was a variety of forest creatures. It spanned from deer to robins. She was still half asleep, but she swore she heard the animals talking, YES, TALKING! Ezlynn shook her head to shake herself into reality, but the talking didn't stop! She jumped up and ran as far as she could...which wasn't very far because she tripped on a rock not too long after. The forest was spinning from the impact of her head on the hard dirt ground. She forced her eyes shut and just lay there for a few very long minutes. Ezlynn got up and realized there was a barrier of animals surrounding her like a moat around a castle. The animals shouted questions at her so fast she could barely make any out. She stared at her animal barricade with wide eyes and tried to find a way out. 

Eventually, the animals got tired of not having their questions answered, so they went on their way. Ezlynn had found an old abandoned cabin in the middle of a large number of fallen trees. She flopped onto a dusty old bed with no blankets and fell into a peaceful slumber. 

Ezlynn woke in the early hours of the morning. The sun had barely risen, but she got up and continued her journey to find her family's secret. She knew her family had a secret that no other family has ever had. Nobody has told her what it is, and with her close family dead from a city shooting, she has had to try and discover the secret on her own. The shooting had killed many families and left many people on the run like Ezlynn was...Except most of them were running to escape the madness the city had become. Ezlynn's older sister Mara had always told her that she would be the best of the family. Ezlynn laughed every time she said that because she thought it wasn't true. She always called her sister delusional and told her that her little stories meant nothing. But now, Ezlynn would do anything to have her sister here, telling her the interesting and exciting stories she made about the future. Ezlynn missed everyone from her small neighborhood. There, everyone knew everyone, and they were all like one big family.

Ezlynn had been wandering around for at least an hour now, and she had no idea where to go next. She was following a map that she'd found in the basement of her old house before she ran away from the mad city. She loved a good scavenger hunt. She would spend hours on one sometimes. But, this one had gone on for far too long. It had been about seven very long hot months of searching for this capsule that held her family's secrets. Sun rays burned into Ezlynns neck as she ran through the forest yet again, following the map. In the distance, she could hear voices, but she decided to ignore them and kept going on her way. 

A small deer runs in front of Ezlynn, so she jolts to a stop to avoid hitting the frail creature. For some, odd reason she thought she heard the deer yelling for its parents, but again, she was probably becoming insane due to the constant heat! Not long after, she heard more and more voices coming from not only in the trees but up in the trees! She went to check it out...and you wouldn't believe what it was! It was more animals! Ezlynn was scared to death and ran as fast as she could so she could get away from those freaky animals. She had pretty much given up hope of ever finding her family secret, but she kept searching because she had nothing better to do. 

It had been a few days since Ezlynn's last encounter with those strange talking animals, and she was grateful for it. She found old abandoned cabins all over the place because it most likely used to be a camping ground. She barely slept during her search, so she was constantly tired and slow. Running wiped her out, but it made the search go a bit faster than it would if she walked. 

Ezlynn had been hearing voices all day. So, she was going insane, or she was already insane. Both options were equally as likely. Ezlynn found that if she shouted at the animals to go away, they would run. Either they were scared, or she had some crazy superpower. Only one option is logical because who the hell has superpowers? Well, other than all the Marvel and DC superheroes. Ezlynn had reached a very dark and creepy part of the forest...it was freaking her out. But, it was worth it if it helped her find the capsule. 

A small robin landed on Ezlynns very sunburnt shoulder as she slowed down. "What do you want?" she asked it, annoyed. "Can you understand me?" the bird chirped "the other birds have been flying around spreading a rumor that there is a human wandering in these woods that possesses the powers to speak to animals." "WHAT THE- HOW IN THE LIVING HELL?!" "so you caaaaan understand us!" Ezlynn just nodded, eyes wide in horror. "All the other birds have been too chicken to test out if our theory was true, but I decided to be the bigger bird and see for myself!" "Uhm- cool?" and then the robin flew back to his nest whistling.

Ezlynn was about to put off her search when she noticed something shiny sticking out of the dirt. She bent down and dug it out, dirt jamming into the area behind her nails. When she finally dug out the object she saw that it was a small metal capsule! Was this the capsule she'd been looking for? There was only one way to find out. As she slowly opened the lid, a piece of scrap paper fluttered out into the wind. Ezlynn chased it and snatched it out of the air. As she settled onto a small log, she began to read the small yellowing letter. In neat writing, it said: If you have found this, you have most likely been searching for it. This capsule contains many letters from ancestors providing their guidance. This family possesses a power like no other, and it has been passed down for generations. With the ability to speak to animals of any species our family has helped tend to many. Unlike the others of this family, one new member has abused this power using it to eavesdrop. This young boy, Justin, has been taught a lesson and promised that from this day forward he never abuse his power again. You, reader, should know that you should do the same. Use your power for the greater good and help those in need. -Nuri.

Ezlynn was very shocked after reading this letter. No wonder she could understand and talk to animals! But, were there worse sides to this power she wondered...She will have to find out.