***A Wild Hunt Trilogy story, based on naught but the first book. As this is the only book published at this time, I think any incorrect facts given within this story are allowed to exist, don't you? Anyway, try to enjoy, please ***

Chapter 1: Kyra

Kyra tapped the window-sill impatiently. The white marble cracked due to her agitation. She fixed it; drawing upon the slow, patient song of earth. The melody lingered in her ears, the dulcet tones making her smile.

The sound of hooves made her look up. A bay stallion cantered in through the gates, tossing his mane and rearing up onto his hind legs. His passenger leapt from the saddle and surveyed his home contentedly.

"Gair!" Kyra called, waving form her window.

Her brother look up, scanning the balconies until he found her. He grinned, and beckoned her down.

Feeling the song of the bluebird bubbling up inside of her, Kyra flapped her new wings and jumped into the sky, tweeting her joy and looping through the air. Letting go of the song, her feet pounded the gravel until she found herself safe in her brother's arms.

"Kyra!" he exclaimed, as she slammed into him.

"I've missed you!" she explained, burying her head in his warm chest.

Gair began to laugh. He couldn't be angry at her for long, anyway. Kyra heard some quiet footsteps behind her, and recognised them as Tanith's, a Master Healer who had been watching over her in Gair's absence.

Her long red hair was tied back in a tight bun, in contrast to Kyra's golden locks that hung loose to her thighs. Gair greeted Tanith with a quick embrace, before walking with Kyra, who was chattering about her friends and education in The Song.

"But why did you have to go to the Holy City?" Kyra frowned, stroking the witch-brand on Gair's palm. "Surely they'd have sympathised with you about going. What was so important?"

Gair smiled. "We were recruiting more gaeden. As we speak, a cart full of seven orphans with magical abilities are on their way now."

Kyra couldn't help but look impressed at such a large number.

"Is the Holy City really so full of talents?" she asked. "I mean, for a place that burns us a witches, their policies obviously aren't that successful."

Gair gave her a look that signified the moment for her to stop talking. Kyra rolled her eyes.

"Well, I have a history essay to do," she smiled, and kissed Gair's cheek. "Will you help me, after our talk with Alderan?"

Gair looked puzzled, and Kyra skipped away in the direction of the dorms.

Gair continued on his way to the Master's block, hoping to find Tanith and ask if she could make him a salve to help cure an odd scab that sat under his thumb.

"Ah! Gair!" he bumped into alderan, who greeted him with a hug. "Just who I wanted to see. Have a good journey?"

The bearded, cheerful man led Gair across the courtyard and into the Master's block, and Gair found himself being steered into the large office that Alderan inhabited.

"Is she still having those visions?" Gair asked, concerned for his sister.

Alderan sighed. "I'm afraid so. This nightmares cause the whole left wing to shake. But apart from that, she can predict little things like what we'll have from breakfast tomorrow, or the weather at sea... Quite handy, really."

Gair nodded seriously. Though Alderan's tone was light and carefree, Gair could tell it was forced. Alderan's aged face creased with the concern he was trying to hide. Gair nodded once again; his sister was a constant source of worry for him. She seemed to attract trouble and bad luck wherever she went.

Gair relayed the contents of his journey to Alderan, before wandering off to do some sword practise.

Lifting his large sword, he smiled as he remembered the feeling of it in his hands. He saw the usual culprits practising in pairs, save one, who was too talented to be bested in an even match.

Arlin couldn't help but grin when he saw his old sparring partner. In ten years, he hadn't bested Gair once, and his tarnished reputation had been dragged through the mud long enough. He balanced the flat of his sword on his shoulder, sweat glistened off his bare chest as he turned to face Gair. Grinning, Gair shrugged off his mantle and pulled his tunic over his head.

Blades clashed and sparks flew with the ferocity of their duel. Gair's grey eyes remained calm and calculating throughout, whereas Arlin's dark irises glittered fiercely.

"Gair!" a voice sliced through the match with infuriating ease.

A flick of the wrist led to Arlin's sword in the dust, and him seated on the tiles. Furious, Arlin jumped up, only to see a blonde-haired girl rush across the courtyard.

"Gair!" she was complaining and poking his chest. "You promised to help me with my essay!"

Gair frowned and they began to talk in hushed voices. The girl blushed, and her shape flickered into that of a bluebird, and she flew off into an open window. Gair turned to Arlin, who had picked up his blade and was polishing it grumpily. Gair shrugged.

"I'd better help her," he apologised.

"Next time," Arlin warned, as Gair slung his sword over his back.

Furious at himself and the girl who'd interrupted them, Arlin began to practise his forms with increased vigour. The other pairs soon dwindled as it got darker, and Arlin finally stopped as the last boy began to tidy up the practise swords and shields.

"Who was that, Arlin?" he asked, being a new member of the class.

"His name's Gair," Arlin grumbled.

Tam nodded, still stacking swords. "I suppose Kyra's his sister, then?"

Arlin paused, he hadn't noticed her before, but he faintly remembered a little blonde girl who arrived with him ten years ago. Shrugging, arlina mopped the sweat off his face with his tunic.

"G'night, Arlin!" Tam called.

Arlin waved over his shoulder, trying to remember the move Gair had used earlier.

Steam rose into the night air from the baths. Arlin casually looked up at the stained-glass windows, his eyes straying from picture to picture. He paused in mid-step, a single silhouette caught him eye.

The girls' baths were a honey-trap from many a young man on his way to the dorms. Many had been caught appreciating the female form at a much closer range, and Arlin knew it was foolish for him to stay there.

The girl turned, leaning back to wash the bubbles from her hair. His eyes glued to her, Arlin appreciated the arch of her back, her breasts, and her slim legs. He watched her until she finally turned off the shower and pulled on a robe. Arlin froze as the silhouette changed into a small bird, and the little creature flew out of the window and into the dark. Arlin gulped. There were a few shapeshifters in the school, there was still a change it wasn't Gair's sister. He cursed, knowing guilt would prevent him from challenging the Leahn again. He had to figure out who the mysterious girl was.

*** Just a romance I was writing on holiday, based on Elspeth Cooper's The Wild Hunt Trilogy. I don't own any of it, bla bla bla. ***