The Shadows- *Started, but spots still open!*

Helen

Helen pursed her lips as she tramped through the forest, Anna’s cloak levitating behind her. She had meant to wash the girl’s cloak – after all, it was dusty and dirty from travel – but she needed to find a stream first. It was not only for that reason that she wanted to find water. She was worried about Lex's condition. He would probably need to be washed off several times over the course of a day, just to keep the itching at bay. The poor thing must be going mad, trying not to scratch, thought Helen, absentmindedly twirling the cloak through the air.

Suddenly she stopped. A small voice was crying out, and someone – was it Han? - seemed to be talking to it. Helen blinked in surprise. What in the world -? She made her way to the source of the sound as quietly as she could. She turned a corner, and there they were.

“…You’re safe now,” Han said, scooping a small child into his arms. Helen smiled – it was just so cute. The little boy seemed to be crying.

“Hiya, Han,” she said quietly, stepping forward. “Who’s your little friend?”

Scyth-Imperial Castle

Turning my head a knife zipped past my nose making me gasp. Turning quickly I watched one of my mother’s guards hurtled towards me, a practise staff in his bulky hands. Smiling I sunk into a protective stance. Fool! Did he really think he could best me?

Spinning my staff in my hands, I slid my palms across the bamboo lightening pulsed from my hands covering the bamboo with an electric status field. The guard began to slow his run, his features dropping. Laughing I surged forward swinging the bamboo across his meaty legs.

He screamed in pain, collapsing heavily to the ground. Spinning liquidly I brang my foot up, letting it drop like an axe towards his chest. It struck hard, a loud cracking sound echoed through the practise hall. The guard’s eyes bulged, blood beginning to frof at his mouth.

I felt the strings at my heart tighten. What had I done? “Good work, my son!” I turned automatically to see my mother step out from under the shade clock. Her scarlet skirts dragging litigiously across the sand. “Mother!” I said quickly stepping away from the guard and banishing any thought of mercy.

“You impress me everyday.” She smiled. Her angelic face was pursed happily; she looked down at the wounded guard with disgust. “Get him to the medics.” Two elderly men ran out form behind her. Grabbing at the guards shoulders they pulled him along the sand, their levels of breathing were panting in unison.

“Why have you come, Mother? Isn’t father ill?” I looked behind her half expecting father to work out, his pale face drawn. “That weak fool! Bah, he isn’t fit. I have come to speak of matters of the runaway bandits.” She stopped staring at me with moss green eyes.

“The runaways?” I asked simultaneously. She nodded, “The runaways.”

First person now!

Zanea
There was a new boy there. He was small and thin. I turned towards Helen, thinking about asking her, but I found the idea distastful and turned towards AnnaRose.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"That's what I'm going to find out," said AnnaRose, looking absentminded as she walked towards Han. I watched her, wondering what was going on. We seemed to be picking up other castaways like a dog picks up fleas.
I had a few thoughts on who was there, and my initial opinions. I traced them out on the dirt, not having any paper to write on.

AnnaRose: Nice. She's a sort of leader.
Han: Also nice, and he's like second in command.
Lex and His Sister: Ok, but I don't trust the older sister yet.
Helen:
I paused, and then left this one blank. To tell you the truth, I didn't want to have to say something bad.
Parker: Asleep. Dead. One of the two. Unconcious, probably.

At this moment I was interrupted by the sounds of the sobbing boy. AnnaRose walked back towards me, her brow furrowed.
"What's going on?" I asked.

Alright, I actually do want powers. What kind can we have?

Erika
I walked along the forest, I knew this place like the back of my hand so getting lost was out of the option. Or so I thought.

"Get her!" I heard voices shout behind me. I turned around to see soliders about twenty feet away from me. Oh, great.

I sprinted as tree branches brushed against my arms and face, making evident scratches.
Must not get caught. Must not get caught. Must not get caught.

I ran and ran for I'm not sure how long. Eventually I stopped, and looked back. I lost them. My heavy breathing I shut my eyes, dancing images of color bursting circles focusing into my vision. I really needed to find some food, I was getting weaker by the day. I trudged along after a quick minute of catching my breath.
That's when I heard the voices, and found myself smack dab middle in a group of people around my age.

They gawked at me, probably from my sudden apperance.

Soldiers. They could be. Or spies.
I brought my hands behind my back, ready to use my powers.

ANNAROSE

What the heck? I stared at the girl. She looked worried. Where were all of these people coming from?

"Don't move," I ordered. She didn't move. "You a soldier? A spy perhaps?" She blinked at me.

"No, running from soldiers," she muttered.

It was my turn to blink. Everybody had their eyes on me, waiting for a reaction. I rolled my eyes. "Welcome to the family," I muttered.

She raised an eyebrow, but smiled nonetheless. "You have powers?" I asked absently.

Zanea

I looked at the new girl, gaping. Well this was happening fast.
I watched as she walked towards us. She had powers? Or at least, that was what AnnaRose was asking.

[this has to be the shortest post EVER. I had nothing else to say ]

Erika
I stared at the girl. Best to act naive and innocent.

"No, running from soliders." I replied.

"Welcome to the family." She said in a sigh.

"Got any powers?" She asked.

I smirked, "I think it's my turn to ask questions."

Her face dropped when she realized I wasn't one to push around.

"Okay, what would you like to know?" She said, a challenege in her voice.
I was going to like this chick.

"Who are you? All of you?" I asked eyeing everyone.

I dusted my leather glove across the ground lifting it up to inspect the clumps. They have been this way. Closing my eyes I took in a deep breath. The sun's rays shot down on my neck warming up my body.

I small smile covered my face, my fringe falling in my eyes. Just where I wanted those fools. "Move out!" I shouted to the soldiers standing to attentio behind me. The birds in the tree tops took the air, their feather glistening in the sun.

They began to march in front of me inspecting the area. What baboons. Don't they know that marching like that woul just scare away the prey. Pouting my lips I let the last of the tall bulky soldiers push past the brambles. Placing my hand on the hilts of the blades at my hips I began to walk in a different direction.

I could smell a waft of smoke coming non to far from where I was. I stepped over a twig trodging noiselessly across the foliage. My mind flickered towards my mother and father. The Emporer wasn't as blood thirsty as the emperess, he didn't like fighting nor useless shedding of limbs. He wasn't a man of brains, as my mother like to call him. And in fact neither was she.

I stopped, what was I thinking, I would be culled if my mother heard that. Targeted as a traitor. I shook my head. I was as foolish as my father.

Here I am. After a very long and draining vacation with mum and my little sister. (Three days to me with "THEM" is a very very long vacation.)

Lex & Atashi

Lex looked up at the new girl frowning deeply. They were all popping out of nowhere. It was amazing how many people suffered the same problem he and Atashi did. Lex looked down at his one arm and gulped. He hated looking at the stump that use to be...use to be...use to be his arm.

Atashi looked at her brother in the corner of her eye. Her heart sunk drammatically. She hated it when he looked at it. Tears began to prickle at the corner of her eyes as memories of how Lex had lost his arm came into mind.

"I'm Lex!" Lex said loudly. All eyes turned to him and her in result. Atashi sighed, "I'm Atashi." Atashi stopped and listened intently. She could hear heavy foot falls coming from behind me. Turning Lex screamed in her ear.

A gaurd loomed above her head, his eyes slanted and full of power and anger. Bunching her fists she jumped smashing her nuckles in to his chin. Lex grabbed on to his sister and forced her back. She shouted suddenly towards the bushes her eyes colour changing to a deep red. A creature dashed from behind the brambles, ferns and leaves. A jackal. It launched itself at the gaurd digging it's nails into his face.

The gaud stumbled back revealing more heavily armoured me. "Run!" Someone behind Lex yelped fearfully.

ANNAROSE

I sighed. I hated not being in charge... "We're all outcasts." I pointed to each individualy. "Han, Helen, Atashi, Lex, Zenea, Parker and I do believe that's....." I didn't know the boy's name. "I have no clue who that little guy is, Han just found him crying."

She blinked, but nodded. I strolled back to Helen, she had just returned with my cloak. "I actually managed to find a stream. Here, it's washed now." She handed it to me and I took it.

"Thanks," I muttered. I still couldn't figure out why I didn't like her. She was really nice...I glanced at Han who put the boy down carefully.

"I want my mommy!" He shouted and began to cry.

I walked towards him and picked him up, snuggling him. "Where is she?" I cooed.

"I don't know! I don't know! I want my mommy and I want Paul!" he kept crying.

"Who's Paul?" I asked him, stroking his hair. I ignored the new girl completely.

"My brother! I think he's dead back in the forest!" He began to cry harder.

My eyes widened and I looked at Han. Somebody had to go find Paul.

Zanea likes Han. Great.
Zanea
"I'll go look. Han, want to come?" I liked Han. He was nice. I would have asked AnnaRose, but I could tell she had her hands full. Han nodded.
We walked into the forest. I could see darkness nearing- we would have to find this Paul fast.
"So, you were put in jail for trying to kill the prince, who is also your half brother, right?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"Yeah," he said. "But he's not my half brother, not anymore."
"You disowned him," I said, grinning. "Very well done."
He looked at me, a bit confused, but we heard a moaning. I rushed forward. A boy was lying on the ground. He was bleeding from the neck. I searched for something to stop the bleeding, but I finally said, "Han, give me your frigging shirt!" he looked at me like I was crazy, but gave it to me. I pressed it on the bleeding boy who I assumed was Paul. But the wounds were to bad... I tried but slowly the boy faded away, and his eyes glazed over. "I couldn't save him," I whispered, my eyes filling up with tears. Han looked at me sadly.
"What will the little boy say?" he asked, more speaking to himself than anyone else. I didn't answer and trooped sadly towards camp, blood on my hands.

ANNAROSE

I watched in horror as the jackal mauled the soldier. At least we were safe from him... Han and Helen came strolling back, looking upset.

"Get your butts in gear and RUN!" I shouted.

They both looked past me to the jackal, turned and ran. Well, Zenea did. Han waited for me before starting. I held the boy tightly, who was screaming at the top of his lungs. "Did you find Paul?" I asked Han between breaths.

He nodded. "He's gone..." I blinked. The poor boy...

The others caught up, Atashi was holding Lex, trying to make it over the undergrowth. I stopped short. "Put Lex on my back," I barked. She obeyed and thanked me with her eyes. I nodded at her. The two boys were heavy, but nothing I couldn't handle.

We ran blindly into the woods. I hoped the prince wasn't along...

Woah! This took off over night

Jacob

I didn't know what was happening. The man who had found me had said he was going to look for Paul. But he hadn't brought Paul back with him. I knew what that meant, but I couldn't find the tears to cry.

What happened next was all a blur. The nice girl who had hugged me slung me onto her back and we were running away. I guessed that the people who were chasing us were the men who had killed Paul. We stopped briefly and I heard the nice girl say,

"Put Lex on my back."

Another boy was slung onto her back beside me. He looked a little older than me.

"H...Hello," I said as we bounced along, clinging to the nice girls' back.

"H...Hi," he said smiling. "I...I...am...L...Lex," he said as we went over a particularly rough bit of ground.

"I am called...Ja..Jacob," I said. I noticed that the nice girl was smiling as she listened in on our talking.

"And I am Rose," she said, the wind whipping her voice back in our direction. I took one hand off her back to wave and flailed my arms as I nearly fell off.

"Whoops!" I said laughing. Rose looked back at me and smiled, but the smile didn't touch her eyes. I could tell that she was worried.

Wow, how this exploded! Yikes, and Han would be feeling danger, you know. Best to check everyone's profiles.

Han Fang-Liu:

As we ran, I was hit with a sudden sense of danger and stumbled, almost doubling over. Ana paused, looking my way.

"No," I whispered and waited a second longer. "We go this way," I said and dragged her off to the left.

The others quickly followed and we all started running again. Faster and faster. The boy was still half-sobbing and talking to Lex. when we stopped after a few hours.

Helen

Helen ran, bow in hand, looking back over her shoulder for the soldiers. They seemed to have lost them, but Helen wasn’t so sure. The soldiers themselves might be dumb muscle, but she could be sure that their commander was not.
After a few hours of frantic running, the small group stopped.

“Okay,” said Helen, panting, “I can’t run anymore.”

“Me neither,” said Atashi, sinking to the ground, where Helen joined her a moment later.

“So, what next?” she asked Anna after catching her breath. The girl did seem to be in charge, after all.