The Sabretooth

Prologue The wooden hut was very old and very small, but she didn’t need much room. The island it was hidden away on was small also, half a mile long but less than a third of that wide. Sat in the Emerald sea a mile off the coast the isle could only be reached by foot twice a day when the tides flowed out, it had no name but was part of a group of similar islands known as the Stepping Stones. The place was largely barren but very green, while a few small trees were dotted about here and there, it was mostly heathers and other shrubs, with patches of wildflowers growing seasonally. Hers was the only dwelling here, but Starla had come to like her isolation. It was peaceful here, little stirred on the sandstone rocks, only the occasional bird chirping, and today the air hung close around her shack. She had to enjoy the solitude while she could as soon, she knew, the day would get a whole lot busier for her, it was a day she had anticipated for quite some time. She didn’t know exactly what to expect but none the less she knew to expect something. And she knew whatever was coming her way would be important, and would help shape the future of the land. The thought filled her with a nervous anticipation. She had been secluded in the wilderness for some time, most of that time spent waiting for this moment, but also because people didn’t like her for the most part, many were afraid of her. She accepted that. She was wise enough to know that many folk didn’t much like those who were different to the norm. And she was certainly different. A witch they called her, and that was one of the kinder names. But Starla preferred the name Greenseer. She had dabbled in a little sorcery to be sure, but not to any great success, the spells didn’t come easily to her, so she gave it up long ago. But the green sight was where her talent truly lay. She could see events in the future unfold long before they ever did. She had seen small events occur a day or so in the future which she then experienced happen. She had seen events in the years ahead that would shape the nation, and then she lived through those times, she had even seen further ahead than she would actually live long enough to see happen, things that would come to pass in centuries or more to come. Everything she saw she knew would transpire eventually; her visions had never been wrong. If she saw it in her sights, it would happen. She knew with certainty that in a hundred years a man called Leland would sit on the throne for a further ninety-nine. She knew that a truly powerful sorcerer was amassing a powerful army of goblyns faraway over the seas in the west. On a rare occasion she was even given a glimpse of events in the past, like a memory only much more powerful. The sight just came to her, she did nothing to make it happen and she had no choice over what she saw. Most of the time they came in her sleep, but she had daydreams from time to time. Sometimes she would recognise people or places in her sights, but just as often she had no idea who or what would appear. Often it might just be the faintest of glimpse of something, while other times the sight was crystal clear to her. Starla sat now staring intently at her cup with her brown eyes, fixed by the images she pretended appeared in it. She liked the idea of images being in her tea, but they were never there, only ever in her thoughts. She tucked some strands of her short russet brown wavy hair behind her ear. Every once in a while, a bubble would grow in the liquid inside and then pop loudly, which would bring a smile to her rosy face without fail. The visions were both blessing and a curse to Starla, the gift of the green sight had made people wary of her. For a short while some sought her out wanting to know their own futures, not understanding that her sight didn’t work that way. They would get angry or abusive when she couldn’t help them. Others simply didn’t believe, or want to believe, the things she could see, they called it witchcraft. For these reasons she had spent the last few years largely as a recluse, hiding away from all the doubters. But today was different, today she was going to Krulacre, a small town a few days walk south east. Starla had never met a great cat, like her they were very reclusive. Once they roamed the lands freely, able to come and go as they pleased, but not since the arrival of man. But she would finally meet one soon. For reasons unknown to her at the moment, all her visions of late had been of a sabretooth. She had no idea who this might be but soon she would. And she would lead a stranger to him, again someone she didn’t know, but it was important that she did so. It was exciting to have a purpose after so long of sitting around, but she was nervous too, the sabretooth was surrounded by turmoil in all her sights. She stood and wrapped a weather-beaten green travelling cloak around herself and gathered her things. It was time. With butterflies in her stomach, she stepped out into the sunlight to see a figure sat in the grass nearby seemingly waiting for her. The stranger was also wrapped up in a cloak with a hood pulled up high hiding any facial features. Her visions were never wrong she reminded herself, they were both going to find the sabretooth, she needn’t worry about this stranger. ‘Where are we going?’ It asked her softly. ‘Krulacre I think.’ She answered, wondering who this person might be. The figure seemed to ponder this for a while looking around nodding its head a little. ‘We best be going then then.’ It said.