Six months later, things weren't as happy as I thought it would be.

I woke up, and as usual, I bounded out of bed to eat my breakfast and play with my friends. We were planning on exploring the Forbidden Jungle (but staying away from any wumpbee nests, mind you).

My father must have heard me going outside, as he called for me upstairs.

I entered the my father's bedroom, my dad was turned away from me.

"What is it, daddy?" I asked.

My dad turned around. His face was red and swollen, and there were wet patches on his face. It looked like he had been crying all night.

"Lila, I'm afraid we'll have to move back to our previous home."

I looked at him in shock, "Why? Where's mummy?"

"I'm afraid she's... Gone... Come here and I'll explain."

My father told me that my mother went swimming the night before, and she swam quite far away. He wasn't sure if she got swept away by the tide or a lurker shark got her. By then it was too late.

Tears brimmed my eyes, and I wiped them, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry," my father said, giving me a comforting hug, "I wish I could have done something about it."

"It's not your fault."

We sat on the bed in silence. I couldn't think of what to say.

It was my friends outside who broke the silence.

"They're probably waiting for me... When do we leave?"

"The sooner, the better."

I nodded.

I was too upset to say anything to my friends. Me and my father packed up everything in the house, and left two hours later.

Me and my father moved back to Snowy Mountain, and bought a small shack at the base of the mountain. We were very poor, and we couldn't afford any food, even if there was food anywhere. I was too young to work, but my father worked at the eco mines. He eventually died from exposure to harmful ecoes and chemicals. Six years later I worked at the exact same eco mine. I had no choice.

I had to fend for myself.

Hello, guys! Sorry for the really slow update, I have a life outside of computers, unfortunately. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and I hope you enjoy the next one.

I'll try my best not to take too long for the next one.