Starlight : Dawn of Peace

THE MARK OF A SHADE

Outside, I could see my two friends waving for me. They were Niall and Alice, two of my very close friends.

"Come on out Tracey!" Niall yelled from across the yard. "I'm coming," I say as I flung the door open, running to them with open arms.

"So what do you want to play?" Alice asked as she twirled around a stick in her hand. "Maybe we can build something," I say, as the stick distracts me. "Ooh, we can be an exclusive club. We'll be the leaders forever!" Niall yelled as he snatched the stick away. 

"We could use the stones along the river for the foundation. But only the light ones," Alice suggested. With that, Niall began to whine before he smirked. "Why do you two always have to be girly?" Then he raised his voice. "Because you're both females!" Both of them began to rumble with each other until Alice managed to get a direct hit in the shins.

"Let's go," I managed to say as I started to run toward the riverside. Slowly, Alice and Niall began to follow. For a moment I seemed to forget my footing as I fell into the river.

The current was too strong for me to resist as Niall and Alice began to yell. "I'm going to get help. Try to stay above water," Niall says as he runs back to the village. Having only that to go on, it seemed like the best advice as I managed to keep my head above water.

Sometime later, I plunged into a damn and some person was there ready to fish me out. "I suppose you needed a hand," the person said as I wiped my eyes to view the person. The man had short hair and a number of battle scars that made me think of him as a soldier.

"Thanks sir," I said as I wrung my clothes as dry as I possibly could. He just stood there, unwavering with curiosity. "It's a pleasure to be of service," he said and bowed. "Do you care for a walk to your home?"

As I looked around, the area seemed to be very unfamiliar to me as I nodded my thanks. Maybe he could help, but who is he?

"It's need to meet you, young lady. I've been waiting for someone like you for years," he says as he glances over me again. Feeling my stomach clench unpleasantly, I knew I was in for more than I bargained for. "My name is Falter Breech. What about yours?"

"Unknown," I say as I manage to flee from him. After a few hours of running, I think I have lost him. It also looked like I was close to home as the surroundings seemed more familiar.  Good, I thought. Then that man managed to jump down from a tree and I screamed.

"You didn't answer my question. What's your name?" Falter said as he got closer to my face. "I don't feel comfortable with the question," I say through gritted teeth.

"I know you feel uncomfortable, because I am a stranger to you. I'll go away if you listen and answer my questions," Falter answers.

"Fine, it's Tracey Lisle," I say, hating the fact that I gave out my personal information. It was against the law to me, and most definitely my parents. Every one in the village were considered fugitives and we found it better to keep to ourselves. The less people knew, the better.

"Ah, so you are the person I'm looking for. Here you may have many problems but I have chosen you to lead the way," Falter said.

Personally confused and angry, I yelled at him. "I don't know what you or what you're talking about but I am not about to become your servant!"

"You are the new dragon keeper. If you don't know anything about it, that's fine. But you'll have to deal with it soon, " Falter said as he began to walk away. "By the way, this was a peaceful offer. I wasn't hoping to crush you with your purpose. Dragon keeper."