Zutara

 The wind howled like a lost wolf through the night as a man trudged on through the steep mountain pass, making deep footprints in the knee high snow. The cold was sharp and his feet were frost bitten and blistered but the lone traveller clutched the bundle that he carried tighter to himself he had to keep it warm, it had to reach Gesa safe and sound or all was lost, he has journeyed through the desert of Bukarat and into the forest of Nibigan to get it.  Ninety days of little food and even less water, fighting off men and creatures that sought to destroy this ray of hope but even if it cost him his last breath he would bring the egg into Gesa, the new dragon lord lived there. In a sleepy town three hundred leagues from where the traveller stood a boy hurriedly packed up his belongings, he wanted to be gone before his mother woke up. The past year had seen a lot of misfortunes befall his family and he knew his leaving would break his

Sven looked up at the breaking dawn, by now his mother would just be stirring would she rush about worriedly calling his name in panic or would she go about her business thinking that he was simply away on one of his long walks until she realized too late that she had lost her only remaining child ? he shook his head to clear the thoughts out of his head, she would be much safer if he was gone far far away. He dreaded walking past the clearing by the stream where he used to play with his brothers Raz and Nenjii while his twin sister Xen would line up her dolls with their dresses, hats and dainty cups of tea and have a make believe tea party,  he could still feel the warmth of the sun on his face and Xen's humming in his ears,  when life was still easy and carefree, then war broke out and Raz who was nineteen had to go off to war, for seven months he was gone, he wrote only twice and then the next letter that arrived was news of his death, their family had snappe

It was a cool evening and a gentle breeze was blowing when Sven finally walked into Alagaesea, it was four days since he left home and thoughts of wat he would do now and what was I thinking had already begun to creep into his mind.  Still wrapped up in these thoughts, loud voices drifted to him from a distance and he approached cautiously one hand braced on the hilt of the short sword strapped to his side. There was a boy about his age and height surrounded by seven men dressed in armour of red and ash - the colors of The  Conqueror." Stop now and come with us quietly and you will be rewarded handsomely" a bulky man, who was as stout as a barrel said and the boy spat at him looking around for a way of escape."I will rather eat dust""You will come with us either way, by your own will or by force" the boy took a deep breath and somersaulted into a cartwheel that sent the wind billowing around him, the soldiers slid back shielding their faces he right

 Zutara blinked her eyes surprised to see the sun already up and herself still in bed, normally Riz would have yanked her right out of her dreams and into a nightmare of waves and drops and sprinkles and showers. Zutara shook her head and wrapped her hair into what she hoped was a semblance of tidy and stepped out into the yard, Riz and Sikorra both turned to look at her from what was the makeshift cooking fire. Sikorra had refused to train her in the palace which to her was a huge relief, the pressure of being in the spotlight was already too much to have to add training and being trained in the presence of the King and his court and every other noble man or woman who may suddenly think that her life was their business.Instead here they were in her tiny, shabby little hut."Good morning Zutara''Sikorra greeted and waved her over to sit with them."Hey'' Riz nudged her lightly ''Hey'' she said back"Did you have a good rest?

 Zutara clawed her way back to consciousness, she was resting on something deliciously warm, she looked around taking in her surroundings. They were in a cave, that was certain because of the dark dampness and poor greenish light filtering in from somewhere she could not see, a fire was burning nearby with something cooking over it. Riz was kneeling in a corner wrapping bandages around Sikorra's side. The nasty boy who she had bitten, scratched and head butted she remembered in mild embarrassment was kneeling beside Riz and they were both smiling - the beast.  Of course he would be taken in by Riz's beauty and charms. Zutara tried to get up and gasped in pain, the pair turned sharply towards her, she felt like she had been chewed up by some wild animal and the spat out. ''Hey, you're awake'' the beast said smiling gaily and she simply grunted in reply not trusting herself not to spit in his face if she opened her mouth.