Three

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Her feet thudded on the ground, shocks reverberating up through her body every step. As she ran, she somehow managed to dodge the branches that shuold have whipped at her face and arms,  bushes and thorns gently brushing, instead of tugging at her clothing and legs. Breath loud and harsh in her ears, she ran. Every few steps, she would think that she simply couldn't run anymore, and her legs would falter, but each time, barely, she managed to push herself on, too terrified to even stop and listen for anyone persuing her.
Although she didn't know it, the men following her had long since given up. Although she'd passed the same way only moments before, they kept finding themselves facing a seemingly impenetrably solid wall of bush and trees. Roots seemed to appear where there had been none before, causing them to trip and stumble into thorned creeping p[lants which clung to their clothes, sinking tiny, sharp pricks into their skin. After half an hour, they had realised that it was futile, and turned back, telling themselves and each other that there was no way a worn out girl like that could survive in the wild forest
But she didn't know that, and so she ran on. On and on, stumbling on weak and exhausted legs and an injured ankle forcing her to limp and hobble, until, finally, she simply couldn't run anymore and her legs collapsed beneath her, weak and watery.
Sobbing and panting for breath, she crawled into a small hollow made between the enormous roots of a an ancient tree that towered high into the forest canopy. Hidden from sight by brush and plants, she lay still, sight swimming, pulse thundering in her ears. She strained to hear any sounds of pursuit, but couldn't, and although she was too scared to close her eyes, eventually, as the forest grew dark with the start of night, exhaustion pulled her into a deep, heavy sleep, and curled in the embrace of the giant tree, she slept.

When she woke, it was midmorning, warm, golden sunlight streaming through small openings in the green canopy of leaves to dapple the ground in glowing patches.
Sitting up, every part of her ached, her muscles stiff and sore both from her mad flight the nigth before, and sleeping on the hard, forest floor.
Looking around, the forest didn't seem nearly as threatening as it had that night before. Birds trilled high up in the branches, and a light breeze blew softly over her face. She was surprised at how refreshed she felt, despite her sore body. He head ached, though, and as she stood, she winced at the pain in her feet.
Limping and walking gingerly, she moved away from her little hiding spot, and into the forest.
She'd known she was lost the night before, but hadn't cared. Her only concern had been getting away. Now, surrouded on all sides by brush and trees, she began to wonder how she was ever going to find her way out. She walked slowly, stopping often to rest, and despite her predicament, often found herself gazing around in wonder at the strange, wild beauty of the place.
She had no idea how far she'd come, or hoe long she'd been walking, but she was getting both hot and thirsty, and guessed it must have been coming up on noon. She stopped for a rest, sitting down on an old, half rtted log that was covered in moss and lay on it's side in the undergrowth. Closing her eyes, she rbeathed the fresh, clean forst air in deeply. Everything around her was quiet, except for the odd bird chirrup, the sound of a small creature moving through the brush, and a faint sound of running water.
Running water.
If there was a river nearby...not only would she be able to drink and bath her sore, swollen feet, but with any luck she'd be bale to follow it out of the forest.
Her hopeful thoughts soon clouded.
And then what will I do? Where will I go?
She shook her head, refusing to let herself dwell on her problems. The first step was to get out of here, and find out where she was. She could deal with the rest of the problems when she had to. No point worrying about the future, when there was pleanty to worry about in the present.
With a little more spring oin her uneven steps, she made her way in the directoin that it sounded like the water was coming from.
It took her longer than she thought to find the river. And it turned out to only just be a river, anyway – more of a stream. But it was something, she told herself, watching the sun glimmering off it's softly rippled surface. Kneeling on the edge of the bank, she lent down, cupping her hands and lifting them up to her mouth, filled with water.
The water was so cold it made her teeth aceh, the stream still being fed by the spring snow run offs, presumably. It slid down her throat with the tingling fresh taste of mountainwater, and she drank more and more, quenching her thirst until the cold water gave her a headache. Squeezing her eyes shut, she gritted her teeth until the cold ache behind her eyes faded.
Sitting down, she carefully tugged the unomfortable, too small boots off her feet. Her left ankle was swollen and bruied where she had twisted it the night before, and she gasped as she sank it into the cold stream. Chill water cascaded over her foot and ankle, and she forced herself to leave the swollen joint submerged as long as she could. When the cold became too much to bear, she pulled her dripping foot out of the water flow, sitting back on the riverbank.
She relaxed back, stretching out on the soft, mossy grass, not caring about the dampness that soaked slowly into her clothes. Glimpses of blue sky and sunlight could be seen through the trees far above her, and she lay beside the river for some time, not wanting to move, not wanting to face reality.Eventually she decided that she had to get moving again, and find somewhere to sleep before nightfall. Beside the river, the way was easier, the bank reasonably clear of the obsctructing fauna. Carrying her boots in one hand, she walked barefoot, enjoying the feeling of the soft grass beneath her bare feet.She kept walking, walking, putting her boots back on after awhile, when the ground became rougher again.Her ankle didn't want to fit, but she forced it in, wincing as she laced up the boots.
Above her, the sky was growing darker and the shadows were lengthening when her stomach growled, reminding her of how hungry she was. She'd eaten as much food as her captors had given her the day before, but it had only been dry bread and a thin, watery broth. She sighed, wondering what she wouldn't give to be back at home, sitting aorund the table with her family, brothers arguing, her mother dishing up one of her famous roasts. Saliva flooded her mouth at the thought of the food, and tears flooded her eys at the thought of her family.
She wiped them away with the back of her hand, angrily. Now was no time to grieve, or to think about what had happened. There would be plenty of time for later. She squashed the feeling down deep inside her chest, trying to ignore the aching pain that seemed centered around her heart.

Beginning to despair at finding anywhere to sleep for the ngiht, she was relieved when out of the dim evening light loomed a small cliff. It wasn't more than a few meters high, but there was a rocky little overhang, just below her shoulder height that she could barely see in the half light. She crawled under the rocky outcrop on hands and knees. The earth was dry and sandy and she huddled against the back wall of her little *hole*, glad to be out of the breeze, which had cooled considerably with the onset of night. Rubbing her arms with her hands, she wished she had some kind of light or warmth.
Why didn't I think to steal a flint?  she berated herself, before realising how hard that would have been. She'd only just managed to get away as it was, let alone take any provisions with her.
The rough shirt she wore wasn't very warm, and she pulled it more tightly around herself to try and keep the night chill at bay. With difficulty, she managed to remove her boots again, wiggling her toes to get the blood circulating around them again. Prodding her ankle carefully, she decided that it felt a little better. Maybe the soak in the stream had helped take the swelling down some. Her stomach grumbled again, and she wondered if she was going to make it out alive, or if she'd simply starve to death, her body feeding the immense trees that grew around her, never to be found by anyone.
Night birds could be heard crying in the distance, and the river gurgled nearby, sounding louder in the quiet night than it had in the day. Nearby, something rustled, and she jumped a little, telling herself that it was only some small nocturnal animal out hunting for food.
Outside her little nook, a gust of wind picked up, dancing in the treetops and shaking the branches of the trees around her. When it died down, all was quiet again, except for the sound of the stream, and the far-off birds, calling out to their mates through the night.
Feeling surprisingly safe beneath her little roof of stone, she closed her eyes. Outise, a nearly full moon shone down in pale streams between the tres, and with the sounds of the forest lulling her gently, she fell asleep.

The smell of roasting vegetables and meat wafted through the house as Tierra heard the front door open and slam shut. The house was isntantly filled with the deep voices of her father and brothers, talking and joking about their day at work. Her father was the town's blacksmith, and he was a good one – Tierra's three brothers all worked in the forge with him, learning the family trade. Ethan, the oldest at 19, was due to leave in a month's time, going to start his apprenticeship in the City, specialising as a bladesmith. Alon, 16 and a year younger than Tierra by a year, seemed to be intending to take over the family forge from their father, happy to be a jack of all trades. And the youngest, Thomas, althoug only 15, seemed well set on his way to beocming a specialist farrier, given his particularly good way with horses. Tierra smiled as the familiar, smokey smell of sweat and the forge migled with the smells of cooking.Wiping herhands on her apron, she turned ot go and met her father and brothers – there was nothing more to do in the kitchen, and the food would be reayd in half an hour. She entered the main living area at the ame time as her mother, who had come in from the back door with an armful of herbs she had picked from her extensive garden out the back of the house.
“Tierra! What's for tea?” Alon called across the room, and instantly the room fell silent, all four men looking at her expectantly. She laughed at the hungry expressions on their faces. “Roast beef and vegetables.” she told them, amused as they exchanged happy grins. “Anyone would think we don't feed you lot, judging by the look on your faces.” her mother commented, kissing her father quickly with a smile as she brushed past.
“Now go and clean up before you eat. You know the rules.”
The boys groaned, but obediently filed through the house to the washroom out the back, scrubbing the worst of the dirt and black stains off their hands.
Tierra's father, ***, returned first. He gave her a quick hug, planting a kiss on the top of her brown hair. “How has your day been, Tierra?” he asked, sitting down at the table with a sigh of relief.
“Fine,” she answered, fetching him a drink as she told him abuot her day, which had consisted mostly of gardening and cooking.He smiled at her as she escitedly told him about the platns that were just beginning to break through the dark soil and into the sunlight, amused and fascinated, as always, by her intense interest in plants.
Her brothers all returned to the table together, bickering good naturedly about where to sit and flicking water form their still-wet hands at one another.
Her mother called from the kitchen, and Tierra quickly went to help bring th food through, along with Ethan. She knew in some houses, the cooking and serving was considered a strictly woman's job, but in her home, everybody helped with everything.
Filling her plate up with food, she ate slowly. She always loved the way the table fell silent as the ravenous male members of her family devoured their food, on;y speaking to compliment her on her cooking.
When he'd finished, which appened in a remarkably short time, her father sat back, crossing his hands over his stomach and looking at Tierra.
“That was delicious,” he complimented her, and she grinned. “Soon your cooking will rival even your mothers.”
Tierra's grin broadened. It was widel considered in the village that her mother was the ebst cook aorund, and to be compared to her was big praise indeed.
Her mother smiled, a twinkle in her eyes. “Oh, she's not going to over take me just yet. I still have plenty more to teach her.”
Her father spoke again.
“Speaking of Tierra growing up, in a few weeks will be her Testing.”
Tierra's head shot up. She'd forgotten all about it!
“Haha. You don't really think I'm going to have the Power, do you? It's only a formality.”
Her parents exchanged a look.
“Actually, dear, we're quite sure you might have some Power. It does run in both sides of the family.”
Her father grinned. 'And if you are a Wielder, I think we're all pretty certain what your Affinity will be.”
Surprise flooded through her. 'Huh? What do you mean?”
Looking around the table, she saw her entire family grinning at her. “What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Ethan shook his head. 'You honestly have no idea? Come on, Ti. Have you ever had a plant die in your garden? Ever had a seed that didn't sprout? Ever had anything go rotten?”
“No, but that's just good luck and-”
“No, Ti, it's not.” her mother broke in gently. “Your grandmother was reasonably strong. She always said you'd be a Green. I thik she was right.”
Tierra's mouth dropped open. “You..really think that I'm going to have Green Affinity?”
Her entire family nodded, amused at her *IGNORANCE*.
Thinking about it, it did kind of make sense, she realised.
“Of course, there's no gaurantee.” her father noted. “You shuldn't get your hopes up too high.”
She nodded slowly, thoughts still in turmoil.
“Right, you lot. Let's get this table cleared up.” her mother ordered, Alon and Thomas both getting up quickly to help.
For a change, Tierra wasn't called upon to do the dishes, left to her thoughts by her family as her father and Ethan spoke quietly.
After a while, her father went to the kitchen to refill his mug. Tierra stood up. “I'm going to go for a walk. I need some air.”
Ethan looked up, and smiled at her. “Okay. Don't take too long.”
As she looked at him, she realised just how grown up he was. And how goodlooking he'd become. She smiled, wondering if he'd meet a girl when he was in the city. Always her favourite brother, when thye'd been children they were nearly inseperable.
She glanced back just before she shut the door behind her. He was gazing into the distance, lamplight glinting off his golden hair, a faraway look in his eyes. She grinned. From the looks of things, he might have already met a nice girl.
Outside, the air was still mild, although with a slight nip in the air. It was early evening, the sky shaded oddly, gray-black clouds blowing in overhead, but turned a strange, odd colour by the thick, golden sunlight that flowed around them
The breeze tangled it's fingers in her hair as she walked, the streets of the small town empty at this time of night, everyone inside eating dinner. She felt odd, a little detatched and light headed, walking through the strangely deserted town.
Was it true, what her parents had said? Could she have the Power? A strange thrill of excitmenet ran through her at the thought, mingled with a healthy amount of apprehension and a little frea.
And if she did have the Power, wuold her Affinity really be Green?
She sighed, impatient to know, but realising she'd have to wait until the Testing ceremony on the eve of the spring equinox to find out.
It wasn't until the wind began to pick up and turn a little cold that she looked around. Without knowing it, she'd ended up walking down the road that lead out of the town to the North, rarely travelled. Soon, the road turned to a rocky track leading up into the mountains, and there was nothing up here but a few old temples. As she surveyed where she was, large, heavy raindrops began to fall. Looking up, she saw a large cloud hanging almost directly over the village, buton all sides, the sky was clear. For a moment she debated running home, but realised that it would be better to just shelter from the brief storm and walk home afterwards. Looking around for something to hide from the rain under, she noticed a small track leading off the road, an old stone building just visible, tucked away behind trees and bushes. Quickly, she ran down the path and after glancing around to make sure it seemed safe, into the old Temple that stood there. The entire front of the building was open to the air, vines and plants growing around the entrance way and up the walls. Inside, there was just one large room, a small altar standing at the far end.As children they'd all explored the old tamples out here a few times, but that was long ago, and she struggled to remember exactly which temple stood where. Looking at the walls, she could just make out some carvings, but they were so worn it was almost impossible to tell what they were of. Slowly, Tierra made her way down the center of the room. A shiver ran down her spine, briefly.
 'By the Seven, I hope this isn't the Temple of *DEATH GODDESS*' she thought.
Approaching the altar, she felt a moment of apprehension – but then relaxed as she saw the craved figurine that stood atop the stone block, a sigh of relief running through her.
Nemestrina.
She smiled to herself, amused at the coincidence of ending up in the Nature Godesses' temple after the discussion she'd just had with her family.
Tentatively, her fingers ran over the cool stone statue, worn smooth by many hands over the years. The figure was of a woman, with long, curling hair flowing down to her waist. She was naked except for vines which twined up her legs and around her body, clothing her with tiny leaves and delicate flowers. Animals aurrounded her, some laying at her feet while others stood nearby.
A strange, thirlling pulse ran through her body, and she gasped quietly, snatching her hand away.
Outside,a brief flash of lightning lit up the insde of the temple, a peal of thunder rolling across the sky.
She wondered, idly, why the old temples were never used anymore – she knew she'd been told the reason as a child, but couldn't remember it now for the life of her.
Slowly, she at down on the ground beside the little altar, listening to the rain pour down outside, hoping her family wasn't worried about her being gone so long.
Eventually, the rain lessened, and then stopped. Outside, she could see a few golden rays of late sunlight spearing their way down through the clouds.
For no reason she could think of, after she stood up, she slowly turned to the alter, placing both hands on the figurine, closing her eyes and bowing her head. Silently, she thanked Nemestrina for lending her the shelter of her temple, and smiling, she left.
She walked home quickly, the sun glinting brightly off the puddles that the brief rain storm had left lying on the ground. Trees twinkled golden, raindrops hanging off their leaves catching the deep goldenr ays of the sunset and gilding them beautifully. Around her, everything was silent, the strange, heavy stillness of the world after rain.
It didn't take her long to get home, walking briskly instead of wandering. When she walked inside, her family was sitting around the table, talking and laughing. No one seemed concerned by her absence, and she took a seat after leaving her slightly muddy shoes by the door.
A few times throughout the evening she caught he mother looking at her, a soft, strange, knowing look in her green eyes. And although Tierra sent her a questioning look, her mother just smiled and glanced away.

Tierra woke with a start, sitting up and almost hitting her head on the rock overhang above her head. Outside her little cave it was still the heavy darkness of deep night. She wondered briefly what had woken her, and found her answer quickly when somewere nearby, a wolf's howl echoed into the cool night air. A slight shiver of fear ran through her, and she huddled back against the rock wall behind her. The wolf howled again, closer, and she couldn't help but notice the strange, hautning beauty of it's call, echoing across the forest.
And then she heard something walking, very close by. Freezing, unable to move, she almost heal her breath, breathing in tiny shallow breathes that she hoped wouldn't give her away. The rustling grew louder, and outside in the faint moolinght, she saw something move. Her heart thundered, and for a moment she was terrified that watever if was would hear her beating pulse. As she watched, stone still, she realised the shape of a large gray wolf stood out against the black trees, coat catching the light strangely.
Fear thudded through her. As she looked, the wolf's eyes shone in the moonlight, watching her. They stared at one another, not moving, for another minute or so, and then the wolf turned, and padded quietly away into the night. She lay awake, adrenalin flowing through her, for a long time, but each time she heard the wolf's howl it was further away, and eventually she fell back asleep.

When she woke in the morning, it was slowly, from a surprisingly heavy sleep. Outside, morning sunlight poured down in the golden cascade, illuminating everyhting with a fresh, bright light. Tierra made to crawl out of the little shelter on her hands and knees, and stopped. There was something lying on the sandy floor at the dge of the overhang, less than a meter from where she had slept. Crawling closer, she saw that it was a rabbit. A dead rabbit, blood matting the pale tawny fur around it's throat.She reached out with a hand to touch it, and saw the racks that had been left in the soft ground.
Wolf tracks.
She frowned, confused. And then shrugged. She wasn't going to let it go to waste.
Crawling out of her hiding spot and into the gently warm sunlight, she grabbed the rabbit by it's hind legs, and made her way down to the river. Kneeling on the edge, she searched for a sharp edged stone. It took her some time, but finally she found one that she thought would work. She made her way over to a large boulder that was nearby, and sitting next to it, began to rasp the small stone agains the boulder.
It took her until mid morning to have the stone sharp. It would never be as good as a knife, but it would have to do. Crudely, she half cut, half hacked a slit down the belly of the rabbit. She butchered and skinned many animals before, but it was slow going with only a crudely sharpened stone to use. Still, she managed, and withint half an hour, had a rabbit carcass ready to cook.
Now she needed fire.
She and her brothers been taught by her father how to make a fire with stick if they were ever stuck out in the wild, but they'd used a rope and some decent tinder. Looking around, she couldn't see much that she could use, and didn't want to go too far in case she either got lost again, or some wild animal took her rabbit. Then an idea struck her, and she tugged the lace from one of her boots. Tying it around the rabbits hind legs, she hooked it over a nearby tree branch, just low enough for her to reach. Keeping within sight of the river, she began to hunt for some dry wood and material to use for tinder. She found some dried moss and twigs fairly quickly, along with suitable sticks for starting the fire, and soon had a handful of tinder and a handful of kindling.She made her way back to the rabbit, untying it form the tree, and using her shoelace to create a bow out of one of the small stick's she'd grabbed, aand a stone to hold onto the top, began the process of drilling into a fairly flat, dry piece of wood she'd found on the bank of the river.
It was harder than she'd remembered, and soon her arms were aching and sore, hands hot and red.
Frustration welled up in her, tears burning the back of her eyes, aching in the back of her throat.
She stopped working on the fire for a moment, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyesockets, hard, until strange dancing and warped lights flowed into one another behind her closed eye lids.
Takign a deep, shuddering breath, she picked up the sticks again, stomach growling to remind her she couldn't give up.
This time, after a lot of work, she saw a spark, and then another. Quickly dropping a few tiny bits of tinder onto the the small red flicker of hope, she worked with renewed effort, hoping, hoping, as a small strand of smoke slowly wound it's way upwards.
And then, fire.slowly, carefully, she fed the delicate, flickering flame, terrified it would go out, but with gentle coaxing, it slowly grew, and soon she had a small pile of burning *STUFF*.
For there, it was easy tobuild it upinto a fire big enough to cook over. Before she'd started, she'd cleared a small pit on the riverbank, surrounded it by stones to stop any wayward sparks from starting a forest fire.
Briefly, she left the fire to hunt for some bigger pieces of wood, surprised at how quickly she seemed to find them, just lying on the ground in front of whever she walked.
She gathered an armful, retured to the litle blaze, and gently placed af ew on top of the kindling that flamed in the pit. The larger pieces caught fairly quickly, and she set about making a litle stand of green branches to roast the rabbit on.
Slowly, as she watched, the meat on the carcass began to turn the pale colour of cooked meat, darkening on the outisde. The smell was odd, but made her mouth water, her stomach grumbling in impatient anticipation. Finally, the juices from the meat began to drip clear into the fire, sizzling on the burning embers below. She removed it from the heat, placing it on a flat rock she'd found and washed in the river. Pulling the hot meat apart with burning fingers, she dug in, not waiting for it to cool or caring about the way it scalded her mouth. The rabbit meat was sweet and juicy, and Tierra thought it might possibly have rivalled even her mothers best dishes for taste. She crammed the meat into her mouth until her intial huger was sated, and then made herself stop, knowing full well it might be some time before she got another meal, and that she'd have to ration it out.
Washing her mea down with another long dirnk from the fresh tasting stream, she sat back for a moment and let herself enjoy the feeling of being full. Judging from the sun's pistion overhead, it was just past midday. She sighed. Time to move on.
After pondering what to do with the left over rabbit meat, she ripped a sleeve off her shirt, and wrapped the cooling carcass in that. After a moment's thought, she also gathered up the little fire starting contraption and her sharpened rock, sticking them in her pocket, although the bowlike contraption stuck out, occasionally digging her in the ribs. It meant she'd have to walk without a shoelace in her boot, but since they were too small anyway, it didn't really matter.
She moved off down the river.

By the end of the day, although she felt she'd made good progress, her ankle was throbbing again, and her feet ached. The land here was more open, and she hadn't seen any good spots to stay for the night in some time. It was getting into evening, the sky she could see to the West through the trees was stained orange and pink by the setting sun.
She decided that the small clearing she was in was as good a place as any to stay for the night. Within an hour, just when it was starting to actually sink into night proper, she had a small fire going and was eating some of her rabbit from earlier that day. She could feel the exhaustion beginning to seep into every corner of her body as she huddled next to the flickering flames, more for comfort than warmth. She limited herself to eating half of the cold meat, although her stomach still felt fairly empty when she'd finished. Wrapping the rest up in the torn sleeve, she tucked in beside a rock, close to the fire. She felt exposed, out in the open like this, but given the lack of any other options, hoped that the fire would seve to keep any animals away. A reasonable pile of wood lay nearby – she'd made sure she had a stockpile big enough to keeo the fire going all night.
Tomorrow she fgured she'd have to start hunting for some edible plants, which shouldn't be too hard, given her knowledge of the loacl fauna. Although...she had no idea just how far away she was from home, and would have to be careful.
Home..
Thoughts of her family and village invaded her thoughts, unwanted. She shook her head stubbornly.
No home. Not any more.
Banishing the painful thoughts, she built up the fire, and lay down, curling up on the hard ground, using a pile of leaves for a pillow.
Slowly, waking many times from a light doze when some animal made a sound, she fell into a real sleep.
The fire crackled beside her.

Crackling fire...
She'd woken up late, wll after the sun was up and her brothers and father and gone off to work. It was unsual for her mother to let her sleep so late. Maybe she'd heard Tierra tossing and turning all night, restless and unable to drift off.
Dressing quickly, she thumped down the stairs, the smell of freshly baked bread rising up from the kitchen.
Her mother was in the kitchen, and greeted her with a smile.
“There's not much to do today. Just the washing to hang out, and then the day's yours, at least until lunch time.”
Still a little sleepy and bleary eyes, Tierra nodded, ambling through the house to the back door, grabbing the laundry basket on her way past.
Spring sun streamed into the back yard, and she smiled. A perfect gardening day.
She hung the washing on the ropes that stretched between two largeish trees, and headed straight away to her gardens. Arranged along the west side of the yard, the three beds were full of rich, black soil. The bed on the far right was already well established, full of herbs and spices, useful for both cooking and medicinal uses. The bed on the left contained small berry bushes, bright green witht heir new leaves. The center bed was her vegetable garden, this year's plants just beginning to come up into the sunlight.
Time flew as she meticulously picked out any weeds or plants that didn't belong, cut back some of the herbs and watered all three gardens. By the time she was finished, he mother was caling from the back door step.
Washing her hands beneath the cold tap in the laudry, she heard her brothers and father in the main room, home for lunch. When she took her seat at the table, she saw her mother had prepared fresh bread, butter, thick slices of cheese and pickles, and cold left over meat from the night before. Grinning as she watched her family tuck into the simple but delicious meal, she beagon to load up her plate, creating a thick sandwhich between two thick slices of still warm bread.
From the opposite side of the tbale, Thomas grinned at her with his mouth full, and she shook her head in vaguely disgusted amusement. She'd just picked her sandwhich up when there was a strange cracking noise from outside. Someone yelled. Another screamed.
The family looked at each other. Tierra slowly put her meal back down on the plate.
As one, they stood up and rushed for the door.
Outside was chaos. A thick, ominous pillar of smoke rose into the sky from the south end of the village, tinting the light with an odd, redgrey colour.
Other families and people had rushed out of their houses as well, and as they all watched, a small group of strange people on horseback made their way up the road to stand in the town center square.
At the head of the column rode a man on a huge, dark bay horse, whose burnished coat gleamed like tarnished brass in the sunlight. The man stood in his stirrups, and raised a hand to the sky. Above him, a strange, twisting light began to grow, dark crimson and rippling. Tiny tendrils snaked up from his hand, adding to the roiling, growing stain. It grew, larger and larger, brighter and brighter, and soon the whole town square was bathed in an unearthly red wash of light, staining everything the colour of blood.
And still the light grew.
The horses began to stamp restlessly, chomping at their bits and skittering. Their riders held them steady, but the unease in their eyes was plain to see, as well.
Beside her, Tierra could see her mother grasp her father's hand.
The leader's voice rang out, amplified many times over, echoing loudly between the houses.
“Anyone between the ages of 17 and 22. Bring them out. Now.” he called, his voice booming, loud enough that Tierra could feel it vibrating through her chest. She looked at her Father with fear filled eyes, and he shook his head, just a tiny bit. Up and down the street, people murmured, shuffled, confused and frightened.
“Come out. All of you. NOW.”
Children were bustled back inside, to watch, terrified, from curtain covered windows. Cries of worry and shock echoed through the small town.
The man waited.
“I ask you again. Bring them to me.”
A tall, heavy man stepped forward from the growing crowd. Tiern, the unofficial town Mayor. “What...what do you want??”
“What I WANT is for you to bring me every single person withint the ages of 17 and 22, and line them up before me.” his voice carried a tone of impatience and cold annoyance that sent a shiver through Tierra.
The man shook his head nervously. “Why? What do you want them for?”
The man on horseback stared down, disdain written on his face.
“That is none of your concern. Bring them to me, or your village will be destroyed.”
“But I don't -”
A fine line of red light streaked out from the growing cloud above the mounted man's head, striking a middle aged man in the chest. He screamed, once, shortly, and fell, a huge ragged hole gaping from where his torso used to be.
Involuntarily, Tierra gasped, coverng her mouth with her hand. Steven, who owned the local store. Steven, who had a son a year younger than her. Steven, who had always snuck them a piece of free candy when they were little and had gone to the store with their mother. Dead.
Screams erupted from the villagers, and they began to mill around like terrified sheep.
“SILENCE!”  roared the man on the horse, his voice loud enough to rattle windows. “If anyone moves, they will be next. Now. Will you do as I say?”
The assembled crowd was silent, except for some quiet weeping.
The man sighed.
“If you do as I say, no one will be harmed. If not, another one dies!”
Slowly, Ethan began to move forwards. Tierra's mother grabbed his arm, and he looked at her with sad eyes.
“I have to go.” he murmuered. “I can't be responsible for someone dying. He's said no one will get hurt.”
Legs shaking, Tierra stepped up beside him.
“I feel the same.”
Her face pale and eyes wide with tears, their mother squeezed their hands quickly, as they turned and began to walk to the square together. Other young men and women began to move forwards, parents weeping quietly.
Slowly, they assembled in the flat, paved area before the horsemen. Closer now, Tierra could see a thin scar running across the leader's face, running across his nose and down over his cheek.
Beside her, Ethan gripped her hand tightly, as around them, their friends gathered.
A lone hooded horse rode out from the group, it's rider sliding easily to the ground in a swish of material. Slowly, the hood was pushed back, and Tierra found herself staring a the face of a tall, regal looking woman. Slowly, the woman began to move among the group of youths, stopping before each person and staring into their eyes.
She murmured something to them, quietly, and one by one, they left, fleeing back to their families. But every so often, she would say something different, whomever she was gazing at standing still, quivering, not allowed to leave.
She was only a third of the way through the group when Tierra realised what was happening. Anyone without the Power was being allowed to go. Those that had it, however, were the ones who stayed.
She came to Ethan and Tierra.
“Let go of her hand.” she ordered Ethan, voice flat. Her eyes were dark, bottomless, emotionless.
Tierra felt the warmth of her brother's hand fall away as the lady gazed into his eyes.
“Red. Stay.” she said, a small smirk on her lips. Tierra frowned. Ethan didn't have the Power, or a Red Affinity. Why was he being asked to stay?
A cold rush over her body jolted her from her thoughts. The woman was staring into her eyes, and suddnely, she realised she couldn't move. Something tickled inside her head and she grimaced. It felt like someone was touching her brain.
The chill left her. The woman smiled, cold and malicious.
“Green.” she said softly. “Stay.”
Tierra felt her heart thud in her chest, a mixture of terror and surprise shuddering through her. I have the Power. And I'm a Green. But...what's going to happen?
She glanced back at her family, who stood, arms around one another, in the doorway of their home. Even from here, she could tell that Thomas had been crying.
By the time the lady had finished, 9 people still stood before the horsemen.
She moved back to her horse, and mounted gracefully, moving over to stand beside the group's leader. He smiled, cold and hard.
“Excellent. Load them up.”
Before she knew what was happening, Tierra once again realised she couldn't move.
Men ran out from the horses, grabbing the frozen and stunned Wileders, and dragging them to two waiting cages on wheels, harnessed to 4 enormous horses, where they were unceremoniously thrown, still powerless to move. Behind her, Tierra heard a cry of rage as someone ran forwards to protect their child. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another bolt of red light, heard the horrible gurgling scream.
“If you resist, you will all die. Behave.”
Tierra caught a glimpse of Ethan being shoved into the other cart, his eyes furious as his gaze met hers. She could tell he was fighting whatever was keeping them still with all his strength, and suddenly he seemed to break free, lurching toawrds her. Quickly, guards grabbed him, overpowering him, but he kept fight.
“Tierra! I'll find you!” he bellowed, just as one of the armed men brought a solid batton down on the back of his head with a crunching blow. Inwardly, Tierra winced, crying out for her brother.
He slumped to the ground, and they threw his limp body back in the cage.
Slowly, the carts began to rumble away, the horsemen following. Tierra fought for a glimpse of her family as the leader stood up in his stidduprs again.
“Thankyou.” He smirked. “That wasn't so hard, was it? Nine people to save your entire village?”
He sighed theatrically, looking back to see that his men were at the border of the village.
“Unfortunately, I lied.”
He flicked a finger in an intricate pattern, and the red light exploding, engulfing everything in a great wave of flames and carnage. Bodies fell, exploded, gore spattering the ground only to be consumed by the hungry flames. Screams rang through the small town. He stood amidst the carnage and dancing inferno, tipped his head back, and laughed, long, loud and gleeful.
The captive Wielders could do nothing, not even shut their eyes or look away as their friends, family and home were destroyed in front of them. Bile, horror and fear rose up in Tierra's throat threatnening to choke her.
Spinning his horse, the lead horseman rode out of the town, looking back with a smile to survey his work. Satisfied, he spurred his horse, galloping through his men and past the rolling cages. Tierra glimpsed a wild, excited light shining in his eyes.
The group followed him, the captives unable to even move or cry as the screams of their wounded and dying friends and family echoed hauntingly in the smoke tainted spring air.

She woke suddenly, gasping for breath. It was early morning, the sky just beginning to lighten, and the fire glowed beside her, burnt most of the way down during the night. She sat up, trying to shake off the memories of her dream. Rubbing a hand over her face, she discovered that her cheeks were damp with tears. Gulping down deep breaths of the fresh, clean forest air, she forced herself to calm down. Limbs stiff, she stretched as she stood up, throwing a few pieces of wood on the fire as she made her way down to the river. The water was cold as she splashed it on her face, washing away the stiff drying, salty tear tracks and the dust and dirt that had accumulated on her skin. She longed to strip off her clothes and wash, but the river was fairly wide and rather shallow, and she decided that she'd keep a look out for any good pools along the way today. For a while, she just knelt beside the river, gazing into the flowing water with unseeing eyes. She made her way back to the fire, noticing that her ankle seemed to be mostly better, unless she stepped strangely, or put her weight on it too suddenly or forcefully.
When she got back to the fire, the wood she'd put on it had caught, and was burning happily. Beside the fire lay her bundle of meat from yeterday, tucked in beside the rock, and beside that...lay another dead rabbit.
Suddenly nervous, she looked around, studying the forest aorund her, but even in the full daylight she wouldn't have seen anything. Slowly, she walked to the rabbit, and put her hand on it.
It was still warm, thick crimson blood from the wounds in it's broken neck just beginning to congeal and clot. A faint wash of fear trilled through her, but she told herself to be calm. After all, it was clear that whoever – or whatever – was leaving her the meal didn't mean her any harm.
Briefly, she studied the ground around the rabbit, but it was too hard for any tracks to have made an imprint.
“Hello?” Tierra called, tentatively, her voice sounding strange to her own ears after days of silence.
She listened hard, but there was no answer.
“Is anyone there?”
She sighed.
“Well...thankyou.” she called into the forest, feeling vaguely foolish, and sat down to begin skinning the rabbit.