Edition 1

Silvia Davis is a twelve year old regular girl with a friendship with the forest, the uncontrollable need to bathe her mothers phone, and a past that she doesn’t know about. Totally normal.

When her mother decides to move to the city, Silvia is shook. Little does she know, this is the least of her problems. After finding an old journal in a box that her grandmother left behind in the new house, and starting school, she starts learning things she shouldn’t. With the heat building up between she and her mother, Silvia see’s past reality, into her forgotten past and out of the mist.

Prologue of Silvia and the Five Regions

By Fern Forwood - Class of 2025

Question: “How's it going, Jeff? With the baby coming, and all?”

Answer: ”Great.”

Question: ”What. That's all? No “she’s kicking a lot,” and stuff?’’

Answer: “Look Frederick, stuff has been hard for Jennifer and me-”

Tedious talk: “I know, the baby is probably a lot of work. But you wait and see. Diane and I had little Bella a while ago, but when she was in the womb, she was almost ready to cast and fight other regions! At least that’s what Diane told me. Isn’t it great to finally have a leader who has a part human part forestis silva baby- and to think her name will be Sil-”

Denial: “No, not that stuff, Frederick. Other stuff.”

Not so helpful quote: “Oh. that's sad. But as my dad used to say-”

Truth: “ She doesn't want me in the house anymore.”

Question: “...So, who will rule?”

Agreeing: “My exact thoughts, and I honestly don’t know.”

The two friends silence, while considering.

Idea: “Unless…”

Firm statement: “No.”

Idea: “But if you think about it-”

Firm statement: “No, Frederick. It has always been the tradition that only the latest ruler's child rules. We can't elect a new ruler that is not in the family.”

Argument: “Then we have no other choice. We must give power to your sister's child, and that doesn't make me happy. You know her name means volcanic eruption- sounds like she is from the Vulcano Region-”

Command: “ Can you stop talking about names and start talking about what we are going to do!?!”

Idea: “Yeah, I think we should-”

Leaving statement: “Nevermind, I’ll find something out.”

Question: “Are you sure?”

Confirming: “Yes.”

Thought: I hope you like the Vulcano Region though.

Edition 2

Chapter 1

Getting around

It all started during lunch.. Silvia Davis was an eleven year old girl who was homeschooled by her mother, Jennifer

Davis. Her friends called her Jenni. Silvia grew up in the forest and loved the animals, who seemed to love her. Silvia

was eating her favorite food, a PB & J sandwich. “So, do you think it would have a remainder or it’s a whole number?"

her mother asked, bringing Silvia back to earth. “I’m not sure yet.” Silvia replied. The truth was, she just wanted to enjoy

her food in peace and quiet. It was one of the things she enjoyed here in the forest. Besides, she was born here. “Can I

talk to you for a second?” Her mom asked. “Mhm.” Silvia replied, taking a bite into her sandwich, which left a smudge of

jelly on her face . “I’ve been thinking about it, and well, I think it would be a good idea to move. I was thinking of the

suburbs.” Jennifer said quietly.

Silvia was in complete shock. She didn't answer, how could she? She thought her mom loved it here too! "But I love the

forest” wiping the previous jelly smudge away with her bare hand, “I grew up here.” Silvia replied, still in shock. "I'm

aware, but homeschooling isn't doing you any good. Your grades are dropping, and I'm afraid the only school nearby is a

couple hours away. Plus, I can find a better job, and you can meet new friends.” Silvia didn't answer. She lost her

appetite

by the second. She couldn’t bare hearing that she and her mother were leaving their little cabin. All of her memories

were made there. She couldn't possibly leave. “Oh sweetie, I didn’t mean to- I didn’t mean for you to take it personally.”

“It’s okay.” Silvia had lied. It was clearly NOT okay. “ I think I’m going to go upstairs for a while.” Silvia said. “Oh I don’t

want you sulking up there. You're too old for that.” Her mom said with a new, disappointed tone. “Don’t worry, I’ll just- I’ll t

ake a nap.” Silvia had lied again. She didn’t want to disappoint her mother, but had she already without knowing it?

Would lying without her mom knowing count? She had so many things to think about that she couldn’t understand

anything any more. Her mind was swirling with questions she thought were impossible to answer. Why would her mom

want to move? Was her mom disapproving of her likes? Was their home not good enough for her? Did she look weird or

unkept to her? Were her questions legal as her daughter? Soon she couldn’t realize that some questions were related to

the problem. She decided to focus on her room.

Silvia walked up the stairs looking dazed, but on the inside she was infuriated. As she walked up the stairs quietly, she

gripped the railing with anger. When she got up to her neat and tidy bedroom, she jumped onto her bean bag with relief

that she wasn't downstairs listening to her life being destroyed to bits. As the questions started to take shape in her mind

again, she thought that enough was enough! She grabbed her thin, teal journal and started to jot down ideas for when

she would “move”(goals for her new home). #1; Keep writing in her journal every night. #2; Keep a low profile in school,

but try to make friends. #3; The most important rule! Try to get a pet! She wrote. Number 3 was the easiest goal to

achieve. She could guilt trip her mother into getting her one, since she made her move.

Day of the Move

Silvia awoke that morning with a stomach ache that she felt like she was growing, like she had just been on a swing

that had the chains all twisted up like pretzels. The queasy, unwanted feeling seemed to grow as she put on her

clothes, got on her shoes, picked up her bags, and walked downstairs. As she walked down the stairs, she realized that

she might never see her old cottage again. In fact, she might forget what it looks like and how the mountain air smelled.

She might get so used to the suburb she might not even want to come back! Then she realized that she was becoming

frantic. She would never forget, not even regret, her life in the forest. No matter what, she would remember.

She decided to not think about what was swirling around in her mind. “So I thought it might be a good idea to tell you

that your new school is Jerome Middle School.” Jenni said coming into the doorway of Silvia’s room. “And that I want

you to try and make some new friends there. We’re moving to the northern part of town, and there will be lots of kids

your age in our new neighborhood.” Silvia wasn't listening. She was looking around her clean, tidy room, for the last

time.

Once they got to their car, they put their luggage in the back. Silvia took out her teal notebook and started writing down ideas of what her new house would look like while Silvia's mom started the car’s engine. 1. A nice three story house with three bedrooms. 2. An old house with rats and a rickety fence.” As she wrote, Silvia caught one last glimpse of the old cottage which put a lump in her throat. Silvia had just left her cottage and was going to Merrel town. The trees around the car started to grow thicker the farther they drove, meaning they had entered the forest. We are supposed to arrive in three hours. I’m not sure if I will like it there, but I’m going for the positive. Mom says there are lots of kids my age. I wonder if any of them like the forest as much as I do, because, like, they live right next to it. Silvia had only been to a city once, when her mom got enough money to go on a summer vacation to New York. Let's just say, as a mountain girl, it did not go so well. Will I find a friend there? Mom also said that my grades are dropping, so will I do good in school, or will I be like the teacher's pet? I hope not. The last thing I want is to be the crazy nerd who lived in the forest. That would definitely answer my friend's question. Two letters; N O. This would not be great for Silvia, or her mom who seemed to be desperate to make her a city girl, but Silvia could live with that. It wasn’t like she was desperate for this change or that it would be her incredible life moment of triumph. More like her incredible life moment of sadness. She could tell that her mom really wanted this new job she was talking about. Silvia decided to talk about her new neighborhood.

“ So, do you know what kind of thing I might actually like about this place that you could tell me ahead of time, unlike some other things.” Ignoring the skepticism, her mom told her some interesting things. Silvia wrote them down, which took longer than expected due to the bumpy forest path they rode down: Lots of nice neighbors, New job as an employee at a restaurant called the eclipse, The mascot of Jerome is a jaguar (cool, huh?) And the colors are black and gold. Her mom interrupted her writing. “We need to talk about your privileges.” Her mom said “I think you should get a phone.”

This hit Silvia hard. Her mom knew that Silvia hated anything electronic. She couldn’t have forgotten the time I tried to give her phone a bath. Silvia thought She couldn’t go so far so quickly like that. Something is changing her. After living with me, I would be surprised to have any access to any electronics! “Why now?” asked Silvia in a worried voice. “I just thought that it might be time you learned how to take care of your own things.” her mom replied. “You're old enough.” Through all the commotion, Silvia lost track of time.