Well it's been a long time coming, but I have finally made it through re-writing this story. Not a lot of the plot has changed, more or less grammatical errors and character fixes. I will start by posting a chunk of revised chapters, and then from there I will be posting a chapter a week, and I hope this reads better than it did before.
Enjoy!
Druna, a world full of creatures that have been lost to earth for centuries, and only are told in stories. A land that is harsh and its people, even more so in order to survive. Among these people lives Hayden Gwentry.
"Come on Liam! You're taking forever!" Hayden whined to her twin who lazily made his way down the trail. The two were currently making their way down a forest path towards the small town of Lumy. "I'm dying for a real bed, could you pick up the pace!" she moaned, crossing her arms.
"Calm down, we'll get there when we get there, yeah?" was his smooth reply. Liam's looks mirrored Hayden's, dark ebony hair that fell into bronze eyes, high cheek bones that belonged to a strong facial structure. He stood about 6', towering 6 inches over his sister. The only difference between the two was that her face still held traces of childhood and her chest was quite well developed. As well as the fact that her hair fell past her shoulders; while his stuck out around his ears.
As Liam caught up to Hayden she began a mock round of applause. "Congratulations, I am now 100 moons old." She sneered, earning a playful jab from Liam in return.
Entering the town the duo stopped dead at the sight awaiting them. The Entire village was ransacked and in ruin. They looked over the scene searching for any sign of life or trace of what had occurred.
A rustle in the bushes and the blades strapped to Hayden's wrist as well as Liams sword were drawn, and poised for action. With a burst of speed a giant shadow catapulted at the two travelers, quickly they jumped out of the way spinning around to face their attacker.
Red eyes stared back at the pair with matted black hair on end. Angry snarls tore through its bared fangs and, its snake like tongue flicked across its gaping mouth. All for legs were hunched close to the ground with talons digging into the soft earth, tail erect and flicking back and forth aggressively.
Again it lunged, this time at Hayden alone and she quickly moved her blade across its biting range, metal clashed against tooth and he quickly pounced again this time she maneuvered out of its way and brought her other blade towards its chest. A miss.
The animal backed up and with a final snarl disappeared back into the underbrush.
Sighing Hayden stood up and wiped the blade coated in saliva across her pant legs before retracting the weapons back into their sheaths, which rested along her fore arms. Liam did the same and returned to his sister's side, checking for any unseen damage.
"Well that was interesting. A fury all the way out here." Liam nodded also noting the strange appearance of the beast that usually stayed deep within the southern forests.
"Let's keep moving" He suggested.
"Who treads upon this land!" Their heads swiveled towards the voice that called from their right. There stood an older woman, bent over a stick that seemed to carry her weight. Thick lines covered her face and grey hair cascaded down her back.
"We are Liam and Hayden Gweneth! We have traveled from the east searching for a place of rest. What has happened to this place?" Liam called. The woman surveyed the two.
"A great storm is coming. Powers from the south have slowly been building up their armies. They come late in the night and murder entire villages before burning them to the ground. This village has met that fate." The two took in her words on edge. "You would do well to keep moving, and keep your guard up." The siblings looked to each other with a nod and when they turned back to once again speak with the woman only a breeze remained where she once stood.
"A spirit?" Hayden questioned, hair standing on edge.
"Or a witch" Liam replied, grabbing his sisters wrist he began to drag her through the village. "Come, we must hurry from this place." She nodded and quickened her pace to match the strides of her kin.
"It doesn't make sense though! No one town has power enough to take out a village like Lumy! And the south is notorious for not getting along with each other so there is no way they could forge an alliance." Hayden thought aloud, as they entered the nearby forest.
"True, but maybe it's not the towns making the alliance. Perhaps they are singular followers., followers of one person, perhaps a mage or even a sheik." Hayden shivered at the thought of the dark arts master leading such an army.
"We need to hurry on and warn other villages before it's too late!" Hayden exclaimed turning to her brother. He nodded but then stopped in his tracks. Fear gripped her heart as she watched his eyes widen and stare hard at something behind her.
Whipping out her blades and turning around she was too late to react as a burst of dark energy flew through the trees hitting her dead on, sending her tumbling across the path. With a groan she picked herself up and readied her stance as they were surrounded by what looked like bandits, but their sheer numbers proved that was not the case.
"So, it seems we have two escapees from one of the pillages." A cold voice spoke and the group parted as a tall man walked through. He was older, black hair sat upon his head, wisps of bang upon his forehead, and one eye was hidden beneath a patch. A thick black moustache sat over his lip and a cold green eye stared back at the two. "I apologize but we cannot let you two leave here alive."
And with that the men charged forward. Metal clashed against metal as the siblings attempted to defend themselves from their attackers. There were too many, it didn't matter how skilled they were, as exhaustion set in their moves became sloppy. A scream as a missed blade cut across Hayden's back, A grunt as a hilt thrust into Liam's abdomen. A few moments later and the two lay kneeling, panting, blood dripping from different gashes across their bodies.
The man who spoke before looked down on the two with a smile as he drew his sword from its sheath. Liam screamed out as its metal cut through his sister's chest. Tears welled in his eyes as a new wave of adrenaline coursed through his veins and he lunged at the man swinging his weapon, but not seeing where it landed.
Hayden fell over with a grunt, reaching a hand to the throbbing wound in her chest. As she pulled her hand away she saw it was drenched in blood.
I'm going to die her heart fluttered hard against her chest, as tears gently slid from her eyes. With a grunt, she rolled onto her stomach and dug her fingers into her wound, cringing at the stinging sensation. She then began to draw upon the ground. Her mind searched her memories and landed on the scrolls her mother used to show her. A powerful enchantress, she used to teach Hayden simple spells when she was younger. After her mother's death she had searched her archives in a hope to bring her back. She stumbled across one that she thought was the answer, but now it made sense why It didn't work, her mother was already dead, this spell didn't bring back the dead, it brought one back close to death. She was sure of it.
Light began to appear from Hayden and Liam's eyes widened as she seemed to break away into specks of light. He broke off his dual and ran towards his sisters disappearing form. But he was too late, as he crashed to the ground the last of her went up in smoke.
Where am I? A large Gate loomed over her, intricate designs laced up its doors and she stared awe struck at the sight.
Welcome to the gate she was startled when a shadowy form appeared in front of her.
Who are you?
I am you, I am the world, I am the truth, I am everything and nothing
I am sorry I don't understand. She startled as the gates behind the figure clicked and slowly began to open.
That is all I can say for you have not paid for such knowledge. You have only paid to enter the world once again. She smiled at the thought of returning home, having a second chance, that was until she found hands reaching out and latching onto her.
What's going on? She screamed as her entire body began to break apart and fall away under the grasp of the hands and she was pulled into the doors. I thought you said I could live! The cruel chuckle sent her screaming again.
That life comes with a price you know. And for that price, this body will suffice. Better luck in the next life! And then, darkness surrounded her.