Eden

Everyone talked about that large house on the hill. Spectacular gardens, they said. Beautiful house, they said. Shame about the people, they said. The owners of Falkand House, Mr and Mrs Falkand weren't the best or nicest people around. Still, there was horror, not celebration in the town of Calumbrieay the day that Falkand House was found to be empty, except for the bodies of Mr and Mrs Falkand.

There daughter, Sotiu and their son, Zotiu, weren't dead but they weren't at the house either. All of their possessions except for Sotiu's weaponry and Zotiu's equipment were still in the house and the everything seemed normal enough. There was no sign of blood being spilt and there were no wounds on Mr and Mrs Falkand. They hadn't been poisoned either. In fact there was no sign that they had been harmed at all. They were in the best of health except for the fact that they were dead. One could say that their bodies had been wiped clean of there souls. Nobody believed this of course because there was no such thing possible. Some people whispered about magic in Calumbrieay but there views and opinions were shunted away. Few people believed that Sotiu or Zotiu had killed their parents. They may have been the children of Mr and Mrs Falkand but they were not cruel as their parents were.

There parents had ruled over Calumbrieay, taken all of the townspeople's money and had dictated what happened in Calumbrieay. They were tyrants and all were happy and relieved that Sotiu and her brother were nothing like that.Everyone in Calumbrieay loved tall, strong, proud, beautiful, black-haired Sotiu and her handsome, modest, dashing, black-haired, intelligent twin brother Zotiu. The boys of Calumbrieay loved the, way Sotiu's body curved and they would spend many hours staring at her as she rode on horseback or as she shot with her bow and arrows or even as she sat reading a book underneath a tree, her eyes darting along the page and her brow furrowing. The girls of Calumbrieay loved Zotiu for his intelligence and his sparkling eyes. They would spend hours watching him reading or working busily away on something or another and many of them fainted when he flicked his smooth, long black hair out of his eyes so that he could see properly. To be true, everyone in Calumbrieay was under the spell of Sotiu and Zotiu, the Falkand twins. This resulted in there flaws being over-looked.

They may have been wonderful in near every way but Sotiu had a vicious temper that had led to many deaths and was very arrogant. Zotiu however thought himself superior to all others and cared only for himself and his sister. Both Sotiu and Zotiu however had a cruel steak in them. Sotiu enjoyed tying up squirrel's and other such creatures and hurting them. Zotiu was a bully and let his sister do whatever she wished and do nothing to stop her. No one in Calumbrieay could see this however for they were blinded by the twins beauty. When news reached their ears that Mr and Mrs Falkand were dead and Sotiu and Zotiu were gone the whole of Calumbrieay mourned as if they had lost their own children or lost there own brother and sister. And so Calumbrieay became a place of such desolation and depression that a black cloud settled over her and that cloud has never left since Sotiu and Zotiu left Falkand House and Calumbrieay.



" ZOTIU! ARE YOU NEARLY FINISHED YET?" Called Sotiu the arrows in her quiver clanking, as she turned round to call to her twin brother her empty bow at her side.

"NEARLY!" Bellowed Zotiu. Sotiu flung herself onto the ground and leaned against a tree trunk and looked up at the tall trees of Dalentray forest a frown on her face. A bird twittered and then fell to the ground as Sotiu's arrow hit its target. She heaved herself up from the base of one of the forest's trees and walked over to where the small pink feather on her arrow could be seen poking up through the vegetation littering the forest floor. Sotiu bent down and lifted the arrow from the dead birds body and cleaned the blood covered tip with a cloth. Satisfied with her work she replaced the arrow in her quiver. Sotiu decided to lie down on the soft, bouncy cushion of star moss that she could see a few paces away.

She fell down onto the star moss and gazed up at the leaves of the forest trees, which were blocking out the sun's piercing rays. The forest was hot and Sotiu felt uncomfortable in her hunting gear. She took the quiver from her back and flung it to onto the star moss along with her bow. Unlacing her boots, she also took off her gloves and jacket. All her items were made of dragon leather. She sighed as she laid her head on the star moss again.

"SOTIU!" She sat up and put the boots back on again and carefully tied the lace around the boots. She put her jacket on and her gloves before placing the quiver on her back again and picking up her bow. She shot up from the bed of star moss and ran through the forest until she reached her brother. He took the glasses he was wearing off and polished the lenses as he spoke to her. There was no need for Zotiu to wear glasses. He wore them, purely because they made him seem intelligent.

"About time." He said. " You took ages!"

" Well. I thought that you would be quite a while finishing it off so I decided to lie down on some star moss and rest." Zotiu said ok and flung a bag at Sotiu.

" You can take this one and I'll take the other one and my equipment." Sotiu caught the flying bag and flung it at Zotiu that hard that it knocked him over. He jumped to his feet and picked up the three big bags.

"Oh no you don't Zotiu. I need to have my hands and back free. Remember." Sotiu pointed to her bow and the quiver containing her arrows.

"Ahhh. Are you sure that it's necessary?"

"Uhhh. Yes. I think it is." Retorted Sotiu sarcastically.

" No need to be like that. Well." Said Zotiu as he heaved two of the three heavy bags up onto his shoulders. "You could at least sling your weapons bag over one of your shoulders." Sotiu smiled slightly as Zotiu carefully handed over the lightest bag, which contained her weapons.

" Yeah. That'll do fine. It's not that I don't trust you or anything it's just, well. They're important to me. Just like all your equipment is important to you." Zotiu grinned and flicked his black hair back from his eyes. As he did so Sotiu pretended to faint.

"Sotiu." Said Zotiu in annoyance.

What?" Asked Sotiu. Her face was questioning but her eyes were sparkling with laughter. Zotiu hitched the two heavy bags up his shoulders and walked with Sotiu in the direction of Lambriney. As they emerged from the forest and the trees no longer shielded them from the sun there black hair shone and glowed. Sotiu and Zotiu walked steadily across meadows were the tall green grass swayed in time to the wind.

Zotiu spotted a farmhouse in the distance. The twins headed in its direction.

" Are you all right Zotiu?" Asked Sotiu concernedly. Her brother was sweating and looked like a tomato his face was that red.

" Zotiu. Sit down. Now!" Said Sotiu as she took the bags from Zotiu and flung them onto the short green grass for they had left the meadows far behind them and were now walking through fields. Zotiu didn't sit down and so Sotiu flung him onto the grass as she had done to the bags. He lay down and closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and sat up. Sotiu had plopped herself on the grass next to him and gave him a loaf of bread from there food bag. He silently nibbled away at the bread and Sotiu fell asleep in the heat of the day. Once Zotiu had finished his bread he went to wake Sotiu up but instead he just lifted her head onto his lap and hugged her quickly. When there was no response from her (she hated affection towards anyone and especially herself. She said showing affection and love was a sign of weakness and that she would knock someone senseless if they were affectionate or caring or loving towards her) Zotiu lay his head down on the grass and shut his eyes. His arms wrapped around Sotiu, protecting her.




CHAPTER 2 DRAMUS



Sotiu opened her eyes and screamed shrilly as she saw a shape in the darkness. The shape had its arms around her and was hugging her close to it. She punched the shape and jumped up.

"ZOTIU!" She cried.

" Down here." Whispered the shape, which was now hunched up. Sotiu clicked her fingers and a fire blossomed on her finger. She fed the fire into her hand and held it up to the shape.

"Zotiu!" Sotiu said in alarm as she saw her twin brother pinching his nose to stop it bleeding.

" I am so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" She whispered. " I thought. Well, I got a shock when I saw this shape, which was you, and..." She stopped and looked at Zotiu angrily.

" You had your arms around me. You were hugging me!" She hissed.

"Yep. And so what." Said Zotiu. His voice was rather nasally because he was holding his nose to stop it bleeding.

"Yep and so what? You know so what Zotiu. You know well enough so what. You might be my twin but that doesn't stop me from knocking you senseless."

"Well. You've already punched me so you might as well." Said Zotiu snidely. His voice still nasally.

"Look. I didn't mean to. All right! I didn't know it was you! GET IT!" Shouted Sotiu.

"Yes! I get it! There's no need to shout!" Zotiu said angrily. Sotiu had to stop herself from laughing because she found it difficult to take her brother seriously when he was talking the way he was. She found it hilarious because he didn't sound angry which is what he was trying to sound like.

" Sorry. Listen. Do you want me to mend it?" Asked Sotiu kindly. She knelt down beside her brother.

" Mend what?" He asked.
" Your nose."

"You can try if you want." Zotiu stopped pinching his nose as Sotiu took a cloth from her jacket and mopped up the blood coming from his nose. She placed her finger on his nose and whispered, "mend" quietly. Zotiu's nose stopped bleeding and he felt it to see if there was any swelling. There wasn't. His nose was back to normal.

"Sotiu." He said sternly as he helped her to stand up. He lifted the bags and flung them onto his shoulders. Sotiu took her weapons bag and they continued walking to the farmhouse.

"Yes?" She answered.

"I thought we agreed that we were never going to use it. After, what happened." Zotiu fell silent at the look Sotiu gave him. They walked on in silence and had nearly reached the farmhouse when she spoke.

" We can't change what we are. We didn't belong in Calumbrieay. We don't belong here either. We must reach Eden. That is where we belong Zotiu." There was a small lantern hanging on the red farmhouse door and when they were standing in the farm's yard Sotiu dragged Zotiu over to the door with her and tapped gently on the door's surface. They stood waiting for a while but the door eventually opened and they were greeted by a plump woman.

"Halo." She said kindly. She went to hug Sotiu but before she could blink Sotiu had an arrow in her bow and the bow was pointed directly at the woman's heart.

"Halo." Sotiu spoke in a bored voice. She dropped her bow, arrow still held in the bow and stepped aside to allow Zotiu to greet the woman in the proper fashion.

"Halo." He said happily and hugged her. She hugged him and then invited both Zotiu and Sotiu in. She looked at Sotiu with a wary expression on her face. Sotiu spun round too fast for the woman to change the wariness to happiness and a smile. Sotiu looked at her closely, her eyes daring her to say something. Zotiu dropped the bags onto the floor of the farmhouse's hall. On the hall's walls pictures of a young, curled blond boy smiled down at them with the woman and another man, obviously the boys parents, a cow, holding a newborn calf, shearing the sheep, sowing the seeds and, most curiously of all, holding a seed in his hands which was growing. His eyes were shut tightly and this picture interested Sotiu the most. She glanced over at her brother who was speaking in Gavvelodres. He didn't really have that good a command over the language as she did and the woman only knew one word the same as her and her brother spoke and that was the greeting which everyone knew in every language. Sotiu walked over to stand behind her brother who was straining to speak and understand what the woman was saying. She was gabbling away to him but when she saw Sotiu standing behind him she immediately stopped speaking. Sotiu placed a hand on her brother's shoulder and gently squeezed it. He turned to look at her and stepped aside. The woman looked positively terrified until Sotiu opened her mouth.

"Desinie conco redoit callivar edwes mortaimer?" She asked quickly. The pitch of her voice rose slightly at the end of the word mortaimer. Zotiu looked at his sister. She pointed to the picture of the boy and the seed. Zotiu walked over to look at the picture and when he came back immediately understood what his sister had asked.

" Coolash edwes?" Spoke the woman.

" Sey."

" Yhw?"

" Conco libeive piep rouey edwes si blachene. Nehs conco peep mih?" The woman looked delighted and disappeared through a door and moments later came back with the blond boy. He looked positively alarmed when he saw Sotiu. She bent down and spoke to him.

"Can you understand me?" She asked him. His alarm turned to amazement as soon as she spoke.

" Yes. I can. Are you my real family?" Asked the boy. Sotiu stood up immediately and her eyes met Zotiu's. He walked over to stand beside his sister.

" We aren't your family, no. We can just help you. I saw what you were doing with that seed in your hand. I was just talking to your mother. I was telling her that you were special and that myself and my brother wanted to help you."

" Are you twins?" He asked suddenly.

" Yes. Why?" Sotiu had a rather annoyed look plastered on her face.
"It's just twins are very, very, very special. Twins just don't happen." Sotiu looked at her brother and he could see in her eyes that she was fighting against everything she stood for and her love for Zotiu. The way the boy had spoken had chilled her deeply. Zotiu resolved the fight going within her by hugging her. Her foot was poised to kick him but she relaxed her body suddenly and hugged him back. Holding onto him tightly. The boy's mother coughed impatiently and Sotiu let go of her brother immediately and threw the woman a look of cold fury. She immediately scuttled away and ran through the door she had gone through to fetch her son.

"Would you like to come with us? We're travalling. To a place we know we need to be."

" Do I need to go there?"

"Possibly." Answered Zotiu. He had said nothing since Sotiu had started speaking to the boy's mother.

"Well, I want to go."

" I'll need to talk to your mother first."

"AKETIE MIH!" All in the hall heard the woman's shrieking voice coming through the door.

" Well. That'll be that one settled." Sotiu lifted her bow up and walked towards the door.

"Don't." Said Zotiu quietly. " Just let it go." Sotiu spun round and stomped past Zotiu and hissed to him before opening the farmhouse's door and stomping out into the farmyard.

"You owe me!" A bird cawed and was stopped halfway through its caw by the arrow from Sotiu's bow. The boy looked worriedly at Zotiu as Sotiu shoot the bird.

" She was going to shoot your mother with the arrow that was in her bow. So, she went outside and shot the first thing that made a noise. In this case, a bird." The boy looked very worried.

" Don't worry." Laughed Zotiu. " She's a lovely person when you get to know her. She's just very protective and has a bit of a bad temper. Once you earn her respect she'll protect you until every last breath has left her body. See what I mean by protective?" The boy laughed uncertainly. He snatched Zotiu's hand and gripped it nervously as they walked out of the farmhouse and into the farmyard where Sotiu stood cleaning the arrow that she had shot the bird with. She replaced the arrow in her quiver and looked round her.

" Horses. Have you got any horses?" She spoke to the boy. He pointed to a large stable next to the farmhouse.

More will be posted later on if anyone wants to read more.

“ How many?” She asked as she trooped over to the stable. Zotiu and the boy followed.

“Three.” The boy said quietly.

“ Well I don’t think that Backash of a mother of yours will mind us taking them. I’ll leave three arrows on the stable door for her. One for each horse.” Zotiu glared at his sister’s back and the boy giggled. Sotiu flung open the stable doors and walked over to the first box she came too. The horse inside was a small grey haired pony.

“ You can take that one.” She spoke to the boy and pointed to the box where the grey haired pony was. She went to the next box and smiled slightly at the chestnut mare inside it. She jerked her thumb at the mare’s box and looked at her brother. She came to the last box and peered inside. The dark black horse gazed at her with a stern eye. Sotiu immediately noticed the tender mouth and the white streak running from the top of the horses forehead to the end of it’s mane. The legs were long and sturdy. The horse’s eyes sparkled as Sotiu reached a hand out. The horse bowed its head as Sotiu ran her fingers down the horse’s mane. Sotiu opened the box’s door and led the horse out. The horse trotted smartly and Sotiu undid the rope around its neck. They stood there for a moment, looking at each other, woman and beast then suddenly Sotiu back flipped onto the horses back. The horse immediately shot out of the stables and into the farmyard. Zotiu and the boy came running out pulling the horses they were going to ride behind them. Zotiu and the boy stopped short when they saw Sotiu sitting proudly on the horse holding her bow in hand, 3 arrows in the bow.

*Close the door Zotiu. Zotiu walked over to the door and the boy looked at both Sotiu and Zotiu with puzzlement. As soon as Zotiu had shut the stable door, Sotiu let the arrows fly. They narrowly missed Zotiu and he turned to look at the 3 arrows sticking on the door next to him. He then looked at Sotiu with a bemused look about him.

Cut it a bit neat didn’t you? Asked Zotiu.

* Zotiu and Sotiu are speaking to each other in Serdol. Telepathy. Very rare language, not many people can speak it. Only people who can speak it can understand it.
So what? They didn’t hit you. Don’t you trust my aim?

You did that on purpose didn’t you Sotiu? Sotiu smiled secretively at Zotiu.

“ Come on.” She said. “ On the horse …. What’s your name?” She looked at the boy.

“ Dramus. Dramus Beckley.” Zotiu’s eyes flashed as he turned to look at Dramus. He didn’t know why but the name Beckley brought something from the darkest and deepest depths of his consciousness to the front of his mind for a moment. It was that quick that Zotiu didn’t know what it was but the hate and anger from it lingered.

“Ok then. On the horse Dramus.” Dramus clambered onto the grey haired pony immediately and when all were seated on there horses Sotiu galloped out of the farmyard and out into the darkness. Zotiu and Dramus followed.

Sotiu. Dramus can’t follow you the way I can. Slow down a bit and come back to us.

Do I have to? Can’t you just lead him?

He can just about see me and I don’t like you going too far away.

You sound like father.

No, No, No, No, No. I just love you. A lot.

Ughhhh! Zotiu. Stop it with the whole I love you a lot thing. You know it creeps me out like hell. There was silence for a long while and Zotiu continued keeping pace with Dramus. Then.

Get prepared for one really pissed person.

Out of the darkness a small light glowed, moving ever closer. Soon the light was close enough to be recognized as Sotiu. When she reached Zotiu and Dramus she passed the light to Zotiu and then to Dramus. Soon all three of them were glowing with pearly white light. Sotiu shot Zotiu a withering look before galloping off into the distance. Zotiu didn’t take her seriously though because he knew Sotiu and he could read her like a book. Zotiu grinned happily as she galloped away because he had seen the love hidden deep within her eyes.

“ Where’s she going?” Asked Dramus. For a moment Zotiu looked at him as if he’d just seen him then he remembered.

“ Where she needs to be. Where I need to be too. We are taking you with us because she believes you need to be where we do and she doesn’t like the idea of someone so small as you galloping off on your own. You might get lost or worse.” Zotiu began to cry although he didn’t know why and then it hit him.

“Dramus. Are you going to be all right just following my sister and my lights?” Dramus nodded his head and Zotiu shot off after his sister.

SOTIU! INCOMING! He shouted joyfully as he came up next to her. They smiled at each other and spurred their horses onwards.

Little short all right?

I told him to follow us. If he needs u our help we’ll know. Or more so you will.

Why? Why am I so special?

Because. You are so much more advanced than me. Remember the danger in the air-feeling thing?

Yeah. So? Oh. I get you now. Don’t’ you dare laugh or I’ll punch your lights out! Zotiu laughed and Sotiu punched him gently on the arm. Well, her version of gently. To Zotiu it was his version of being thumped.








CHAPTER 3
SERDOL


Sotiu sat on the ground, her legs crossed, staring at the dying embers of the fire in front of her. She picked up a stick and prodded the embers with the stick. She sighed heavily and looked around her. Zotiu was sleeping soundlessly near her and the little boy Dramus was sleeping fitfully. He was twisting and turning. Thrashing out every so often. Sotiu stood up and walked over to where Dramus lay. She bent down so she was bouncing on her heels. Dramus had a pained expression on his face and his eyes were screwed up tightly. A tear rolled down his cheek and Sotiu smiled sadly at him. She wiped the tear away with her finger as gently as she could. Dramus stopped thrashing and tossing and turning. He lay still and the pained expression on his face seemed to relax and his eyes weren’t screwed up as tight as they had been before. A sudden urge came over Sotiu; it was like a tsunami of motherly instinct drowning her. She smoothed his blond hair back and, as she noticed him shivering, took off her jacket and wrapped the top part of his body in it tightly. She took a cloth and some water from the three bags they had strapped to the horses backs. She poured some of the water over the cloth and squeezed the water out until the cloth was damp and cooling then she dabbed and wiped his face until it was cool. He didn’t stir and the pained expression left his face completely. His lips were dry and Sotiu lifted his head up gently so she could pour tiny trickles of water down his throat. He murmured softly and as Sotiu put the water down hugged her. Sotiu was startled and although she didn’t know why she hugged him back. She stood up and as the boys arms were still holding tightly onto her she gently hitched him up and draped his arms over her shoulders. She held him tightly and walked over to Zotiu. She very gently shoved him in the back with her foot. He turned over and stared at the stars for a moment or two then looked over at Sotiu.

Shussssh! Don’t say or do anything. Do you hear me Zotiu! Save whatever you want to talk about until later. Got it? Zotiu nodded and got to his feet.

Have you slept at all?

No. But that’s not relevant right now. This is what I want you to do. I want you to tie a cord around the grey pony’s neck and I want you to strap the other piece of the cord to your waist. Make it a long cord so that the pony has plenty of space. I want you to put two of the bags onto the pony’s back and then take my weapons bag, BE CAREFUL WITH IT! And strap it to your mare. Got it?

Yes. But why?

Because. We are leaving. Now. We care going to cover as much ground as we possibly can.

What about Dramus?

He shall be riding with me. I shall make sure that he remains sleeping as long as he can. Nothing more until I say so Zotiu. Go and deal with the horses. Now. Zotiu walked away from Sotiu and began to do what she had asked him to do. Sotiu walked over to her horse, still clutching Dramus tightly. She was about to mount her horse when she realised that she would need assistance.

Zotiu?

Yeah.

Could you help me mount please? Zotiu came over to stand beside Sotiu.

How?

Lift me up. Zotiu did as Sotiu had asked and when she was safely seated on the horses back he went over to deal with the bags.

Could you get me my black cloak with the silver snake fastenings and my long coat please? Zotiu came back a moment later with a long black coat made of shiny black leather and a black, flowing silk cloak with silver fastenings in the shape of snakes. Sotiu put the black long coat on so it covered both her and Dramus. She put the black cloak on next and fastened it with the silver snake with the star shaped patterns tongue clicking into the other silver snakes mouth. When she had finished doing this Zotiu came up next to her on the chestnut mare with the grey pony nearby looking very gay with the load it was carrying.

Follow my pace Zotiu. Thank you for helping me.

Yes. And, hey. I am your twin, and brother. Sotiu set her horse off on a smart trot; she managed to make the rhythm of the horse moving pleasant and slight so that Dramus kept sleeping. Zotiu matched her pace and they set off into the dark morning.

So. Sotiu. What are you doing with Dramus?

What do you mean? Asked Sotiu sharply.

I mean. Well, your not exactly the affectionate type yet here you are caring after him although he were your son. Which he isn’t. Remember that.

I’m as good as! Snapped Sotiu. That woman who said that she was Dramus’s mother. No. She isn’t his mother. She doesn’t love him. A mother loves their child. There is nothing there. She is a woman that is raising him. That is it. She is nothing more. She cannot be his mother. They look nothing like each other for starters and.. Well. Would you like the list of why they can’t be mother and son? They may be relatives but they are not mother and son.

Yes. I know. I’m not as stupid as I seem Sotiu. Any idea’s who the mother is then?

No. But, I can see two people within him, his parents and I recognize both of them but I can’t place the names with the faces. You have any ideas?

He looks a bit like you. Zotiu cocked his head to try and get a better look at Dramus.

Me? What are you trying to say here?

Nothing. I’m just saying he looks a bit like you and when I was talking to him and I looked into his eyes I seen you staring back at me.

So? What does it mean? Nothing! That’s what it means?

All right! No need to jump down the throat. They continued on in silence. The sky grew lighter and the stars disappeared. As the sky turned orange, then pink Zotiu spoke.

What’s wrong with you Sotiu? You haven’t been yourself since you met Dramus. And, in the past few hours you’ve become all motherly and maternal towards him. What’s wrong? You can tell me.

I can’t because there is nothing to tell! There is nothing wrong! She snapped. Zotiu shook his head and rode on ahead, just slightly ahead. Sotiu continued to ride but looked down at Dramus’s head to make sure that he was all right. He seemed fine yet Sotiu could not help but worry. Zotiu meanwhile was trying to calm down and understand his buzzing mind. He was having no success. The sun rose very, very slowly from the sky. Zotiu flung his hair back so the sunlight hit his face. He closed his eyes and breathed out happily the sunlight dancing in front of his closed eyes. He slowed down so Sotiu could catch him up. When he couldn’t hear the hooves of Sotiu’s horse he opened his eyes and turned to look behind him. She wasn’t there. There was no sign that Sotiu had been there. Except for a small black something lying on the ground. Zotiu rode over to the small black something, which became ever clearer as he drew ever closer to it. He jumped down from his horse and knelt down beside the black shape and lifted it up carefully. It was Dramus.

“Dramus! Dramus! Open your eyes! Dramus!” Dramus’s eyes opened and he inhaled sharply as he saw Zotiu bending over him.

“ It’s ok. Here. Let me help you up.” Zotiu grabbed hold of Dramus’s hand and lifted him up onto his feet. The long black coat the Dramus had been wearing fell to the ground. It was Sotiu’s long coat that she had wrapped round him to keep him warm.

“ Where are we?” Asked Dramus as he yawned.

“ I don’t know. We aren’t anywhere near your home though.”

“ But. We left the farmhouse…”

“ Yes. Sotiu. My sister, woke me up and told me to get the horses ready.”

“ How did I get here though? Did I ride on your horse with you?”

“ No. Sotiu wrapped you up in her jacket and then held onto you as she rode on her horse. She made sure that you were all right and gave you something to drink too.”

“ Where is she? I want to say thank you?” Zotiu’s look changed almost at once. Every single part of his face had worry etched all over it and his eyes scanned all around him. Desperately searching. Hoping that Sotiu was just playing games, or her horse had run away and she had just managed to get off it. Zotiu could feel the emptiness inside him, however, and new instantly that she wasn’t there. That she was very, very far away.

“ Can you remember anything?”

“ Yeah. I thought I was dreaming but then I seen your sister, Sotiu is it?” Zotiu nodded.

“ Well, I seen lots of people in black robes and then I hit the ground. It was really sore. I saw a black horse rearing up and waving its hooves at the robed men. Sotiu was on the horse and she was shooting with her bow and arrows then she flung some fire onto a patch of ground near where some of the men were standing. One of the men flung a blue sparkly ball type thing at her and she fell off the horse and the men walked over to her, bringing the horse with them and the one who had flung the sparkly blue ball thing at her and then they all disappeared. Then you woke me up.” Zotiu’s heart froze and he felt as if a ton weight had just landed in his stomach.

“ Jameck.” He whispered in quiet horror.






CHAPTER 4
JAMECK



“ What are the Jameck?” Asked Dramus. He had quickly banished his sleepiness and in light of recent events it was very easily done. Zotiu sighed. It’s going to be very difficult to explain to him Sotiu.

“ The Jameck are people who hunt. They are hunters.”

“ But aren’t you and Sotiu hunters?” Asked Dramus “ Why would they take Sotiu away? Why would they try and hurt her?” Zoitu sighed again.

“ This is going to take a long time to explain Dramus. And I shall explain this to you by using a story. So, you MUST listen carefully to this story for the Jameck will eventually be a threat to you. Your sheltered existence from them will not last long. You are growing and as you grow older they will be able to locate you until you reach an age where there is only one place safe from the Jameck and the rest of the world. That place is Eden. After the story I shall tell you all about Eden but for now you must cast your mind away from Eden and from recent events. I cannot stress enough, how important it is that you listen carefully to the story. Do not think this story is a tale such as that of Jennifer and the Radish stalk, Puppy in heels, Rain Grey and the eleven elves, The Ugly Calf, The Kings New Hair, The Wind Queen and The little Starfish. This story is one of truth. There is truth in every word that I shall speak. So listen. And you may learn and thus your life may be saved without having to reach Eden.” Dramus was captivated by what Zoitu had just said and so was silent and alert. Zoitu took a deep breath and then started the story.

“ An age ago our world was a very different one. It wasn’t just the landscape that was different, it was the people. Magic was the one thing that held life together. Everyone knew and used magic wisely. It was a prefect world. It was Eden. Peace, sanctuary. There was no such thing as war and disease. People died. But everyone accepted death. It wasn’t a big thing; if someone died it meant that they had achieved the purpose they had been born into the world to achieve. When someone died there body decayed and eventually disappeared and nourished the Earth and ground and helped to keep life. No one aged so it was impossible to tell how old someone was. You would have to ask them. Injuries were instantly healed and everyone was equal. There was no greed and no evil. Darkness did not completely fall. The sky was a bright green and the suns rays weren’t a harsh glare, it was a loving gaze. The colour from the sky grew until it reached the brightest green and then the colour drained until it transformed to a dark red and subdued purple. Clouds whirled around the sky and everyone was happy. An age ago our world truly was an Eden. But, alas, such a scheme of things could not last. There were hunters in the world and they were praised and loved by all. These hunters did not use magic and so thought that they did not need magic. They had there own methods to hunt. Which is why everyone praised them so. For it was a very difficult task back then to do anything without magic. These hunters were simply called Hunters. It does not take much intelligence to think of that name but, they did not have time to give themselves a more sophisticated and less simple and obvious name.

Hey vix! Sorry, I can't give you a crit just now, but I will later. I haven't gotten the chance to read much, but it looks good so far.