Little Girl Lost: The Valley of Ten Crescents, #0

By Tristan J. Tarwater

**5,000 Word Short Story**

Tavera is a child passed from hand to hand as a source of cheap labor in the underworld of the Valley. When she finds herself at the mercy of the vicious sausage maker, the elderly Madame Greswin, she discovers secrets from the woman's past and the consequences leave Tavera fighting for her life.

"Little Girl Lost" is a short story and prequel to "Thieves at Heart", the first novel in the series "The Valley of Ten Crescents".

**5,000 Word Short Story**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Back That Elf Up
• Release date: Apr 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781513083391

Tristan J. Tarwater

Tristan J. Tarwater is a writer of novels, comics and RPG bits. Their titles include The Valley of Ten Crescents series, Hen & Chick: The Marauders’ Island, Shamsee and more. They have also freelanced for Onyx Path, Pelgrane Press and contributed comics to the Ignatz and Eisner award winning comics anthology, ‘ELEMENTS: Fire’ as well as LionForge’s ‘Puerto Rico Strong.’ An advocate for better representation in media, Tristan created the #LatinxsCreate hashtag in 2016, which features many amazing illustrators, writers and more. Born and raised in New York City, they now consider Portland, OR their home. They live there with their spouse, Small Boss, and two cats, all of whom are dope.

Book preview

Little Girl Lost

A Valley of Ten Crescents Tale

Tavera gulped as the ancient crone limped towards her, her eyes two points of shining black in her wizened face. The old woman’s hunched back loomed over her head, the shape of her body suggesting some powerful creature had bent her in unnatural ways. The little girl felt her heart beating in her chest as the wrinkled creature approached, the odor of spices and old sweat wafting from her. Tavera’s dark eyes traveled over the old woman’s small frame as the crone licked over her dried, cracked lips with a pink tongue as if the girl was a morsel and not another child up on The Block.

I’m not scared, Tavera told herself, balling her fists behind her back. She mustered all the courage she could. If nobody picked her for winter work, she would be thrown out on the streets to fend for herself till planting time. Tradesmen came to pick up cheap labor for winter work. If she did a good job and didn’t cry, maybe the person would keep her on in the spring so she wouldn’t have to go back to the fields.

The ancient woman finally stood before her, still licking her lips. Her dark, sharp eyes darted over the girl’s tattered clothing and body. Amazingly, she waved her hand to signal an attendant with great vigor, her shawl billowing with the movement hinting at great strength inside the sinewy, twisted frame.

Yes...Madame Greswin? The tall sinewy attendant stood out with his albino coloring. His heavy lidded eyes gave absolutely nothing away; Tavera couldn’t read his expression. He held a formidable looking spear in his right hand, more for effect than