Isha

I laid back, thinking of what was soon to come. As the years had passed I'd kept an eye on Elian's mother, waiting for the day when she would split, when I could see my friend once more. Soon, it would be soon; already were white hairs starting to form, just a few, but enough for her to split, any day now she'd make that call, and I couldn't wait to see Elaya's face when she did.

Ever since the fire and the banishments the village had been split, the rift growing deeper almost by the day. The elder's closest people kept to her, always near, but they were few, and weak in comparison to those gathering around Adia. So many so that the older woman might be pressured to leave. We also had almost every user of the fire in her circle, another powerful motivator.

“Time for the break is nearly over,” Atie said as she slid in beside me. “Have you thought about our offer?”

“To leave my family's hut and come join yours?” I asked, smiling over at her.

“It's a good option, and when we get Elian back it will put you in the right position...”

“You're assuming he hasn't found someone else,” I retorted. “And what about his parents? They're accepting of this? My family wasn't exactly the best off before I came along, and they're not particularly thrilled with how I'm aligning either.”

“Accepting? Sweetling Eduan's the one who suggested it, said his son would need someone to help keep him in line,” the older woman answered. “Though I wouldn't wish that job on anyone,” she added with a snicker.

It was a good offer, to move from where I was to join them. It would also cement my position more than anything else. Already I was moving more in the circle that Elian's mother led, gathering more with them, trading more with them. The few girls my age who'd fallen in with me reaping benefits from our association.

Sadly my parents didn't approve at all. Mother particularly didn't like Elian after the fire, though I sensed she'd been holding a bit of a grudge for some time. She was trying to get me to side with Elaya in the coming conflict, as she seemed to think that the safer option. It likely had to do with the fact that if Elaya and I were the only ones with power left in the village, our standing would climb through the trees.

“Let's talk a bit later,” I finally answered, not wanting my decision to be overheard until it was done.

“Sounds good to me,” Atie answered in a singsong voice.

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That evening as everyone headed back to the village the two of us broke off. There was a small little rock overlook on the path, visible, in case something happened, but private enough for us to speak without being bothered. I'd have preferred to speak to Adia myself, but that would have been too obvious, too forward. As we settled in I looked at Atie, trying to harden my face.

“If I do this it means I'll be basically alone, dependent on your family. Should that happen and you betray me I'll never forgive you,” I said.

“Nor would my nephew. You know what he's like, and you know how he feels about you. We really do want you with us,” her voice was calm, a bit chiding, but overall sincere.

“Okay then, since nobody's going out tomorrow I'll do it then. Want to do it during the day when my parents won't have the time to corner me before it's done. What about some of the others who run with my gathering group?”

“You'll have to talk with them, see where they fall,” she replied with a shrug. “Obviously we do want more people, but if they don't want to then it's no major issue.”

“Okay, I'll do that...” My thought was interrupted by an angry yelling, and I turned to the village. “What?”

A group had come from the woods, from the far side, and met with the returning men. These people were dressed differently, but many, and armed. All of them seemed to be male, except the one in front, a girl, slightly familiar. Their arrival had set off a ruckus, and instantly set people to yelling, the men, led by Larus, moving to the front.

“Is that Cala?” Atie asked, squinting at the converging masses of people. “This isn't good.”

Elaya had moved to beside Larus, hands igniting with some form of power. I didn't know what she'd do, but the conditions of any exile were strict, if you returned, you died, that was it. Before the elder could act though another strode from the trees, a man, with hair of pure white, walked like the world was his towards the confrontation, Cala's arm wrapping around his as he moved beside her.

“Atie...” I questioned.

“Very not good.”

From our vantage I couldn't hear the words that were exchanged, but the results were instant. Before any others could act there was a noise like a thousand rolls of thunder and everyone before the interlopers ceased to be. One second they were there, then they weren't, replaced by a wall of destruction the likes of which I'd never seen. Wood was splintered, the ground was torn apart, the people were reduced to little more than chunks of red.

For an instant I froze, the whole world froze, there was perfect silence and stillness. Not a bird chirped or insect called for that moment, even the wind seemed to briefly die. Then the screaming began, the surviving villagers tried to flee as the newcomers fell upon them like wolves.

I almost jumped as a hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me hard.

“We need to run!” Atie nearly screamed, pulling me as she turned.

Before we could move there was a flash of movement. My companion fell as the man who'd snuck up behind us slashed out with a black stone knife, drawing a line of red across her face. Had we not been turning to flee he'd have likely killed her before we could even respond.

“I'm sorry girls,” the strangely dressed man said. “Can't have any witnesses.”

He'd misjudged, and I screamed. Those like me had few attacks that we could use, but I'd been taught this one. I could scream loudly enough to disorient, to harm. For a second it registered that this was the same attack that had been loosed on the village, but that wasn't important. What was important was the result.

Our attacker fell, dropping his weapon. Without missing a beat Atie scooped it up and plunged it handle deep into his chest, causing him to gasp and thrash, breath sounding wet as he did.

“Your face,” I said to her.

“No, run,” she answered, retaking my hand and pulling me away into the forest.

We ran as the dark fell, taking the world into shadows. On we ran, using the stars as a guide, eastward, ever eastward and towards the coast, away from whoever these men where, whatever they wanted. After a time we stopped for a break, giving me a chance to patch up Atie's face and for us to plan.

There wasn't much to plan though, the village was gone. The other villages we knew of were too close to it, too near to be spared if those monsters in the guise of elves wished to take them. Only one place might be safe. Elian had fled to the city of Atal, and its ruler was said to be mighty. If his parents survived, certainly they'd go there too to collect their son. That might be the only way to reconnect with whatever family and friends were left.