| Chapter 1 - A full moon overlooked the small group of wanderers taking refuge in the dusty cave. Two of the forms were crouching protectively over a third, who lay panting with her back resting on the cave wall. "Why now? Why tonight?!" one of the crouching forms exclaimed, his voice staying low to avoid trouble. His face was a mask of fear that mirrored the appearance of the rest of the travellers. "Fate cannot be stopped, Lami, not even the gods can avoid destiny," the woman next to him replied. She turned to the woman lying in front of her. "Have no fear, Onin, it will be over soon. Bear down, now." Moments later a shrill and piercing cry rang through the cave. The woman looked at the baby now in her arms, her face paling. "Well? what is it, Epal?!" Lami said impatiently. "It's a girl... heaven's mercy, it's a girl," she said in quiet awe. Her companions gasped. The amazed and somewhat dream like tranquility that had over taken the cave was quickly replaced by a gnawing fear. "The Foreseen.. oh gods, they're going to know. The Dissidents are sure to find out of her birth! There is no way we can go back to or city. Even if we stay away for some time, there will be some suspicion of the day of her birth!" Of course, Onin was right. everyone on the planet knew of the prophecy since the time they were children. That in a time of division and hatred a girl would be born on the night of a full moon who would bring their people to glory. And of course, the Dissidents were looking to keep this from happening. They thrived off of terror and hatred, sometimes provoking the Royals into a fight just to see the look in the eyes of the soldiers as they fell. No one had ever found out where they had come from, but their horrible domination from afar had been a part of their lives for many long generations. Now the news of the savior would spread like a wild fire, and surely bring unneeded trouble to the child's parent and people. "We must hide her," Lima said quickly. "Move somewhere else where no one knows us, and won't be suspicious." "You know that is impossible. Anywhere we go someone will be suspicious of an outsider with a baby. Especially with Epal along. Sorry, but having a Frutosin companion is slightly suspicious. They wouldn't risk the Dissidents wrath to shelter outsiders." Epal looked up at her companions. "There is a way. Let me take her to Frutos with me. On my planet, who would care about a little foundling that someone adopted. No one would miss me here, and you could easily say the baby was lost. No one would question that, as they didn't even really know of my presence here." The two young parents looked at each other, then at the small, red form that was now cradled in Onin's arms. "It is the only way for my daughter to live. I can't bear the thought of giving her away, but her death at the hands of those Dissident boors." Lami nodded in agreement. "A life away from us is better than no life. The prophecy can not be fulfilled if the Foreseen is dead. She will go with you." Working together, the three quickly created a makeshift carrier and attached the baby to Epal's back, freeing her hands for the hard climbing ahead of her. As the Frutosin was leaving the cave she turned to the tearful couple. "Farewell, young warriors." "Good luck, wise prophet. when the time is right, I know you will return our daughter to her rightful place," Onin said. Epal smiled lightly. "Fate would not allow me to do otherwise." |