Summery: And then there was five… Caleb and Blank stumble upon a confused girl in the Meridian swamp. Soon they found out she has powers just like the Guardians of the Veil. Could she be a Guardian too? ...Or something more?
Chapter one: LostPain. Pain enriched my entire self. My hearing was muffled and appeared as whispers, but the longer that I waited, the outside world became clearer. Below where I layed I felt rubble, hard stones was jabbing me all down my arms, legs and back. My weak eyes flickered open, adjusting to the little light. I tried to move my arm that was resting uncomfortably on the rubble ground. Pain struck up it as it fliched to the left. I winced, but again attemptted to move. Flinch, wince, flinch, wince…Each movement my arm took, the pain loosened more and more, till I could move it easily. I sat upright, looking around the deserted swamp. Irregular shaped trees stuck out from either a large gloopy greeny-brown lake or the rubble ground covered in long dirty green grass. I was resting in a small clearing, underneath a dark leafless tree towering into the dark purple cloud covered sky. Gasping at the supernatural sky, I stumbled backwards to the tree. It's all just a dream. It has to be a dream.
As if on cue, the tall grass beside me russled. I huddled my tiny body under the tree, afraid too see the creature coming out from the grass. Squat warty green legs emerged into my small clearing. My breathe caught in my throat as I looked up from the stubby legs, seeing an aweful beast with a flat blemished face, pointy green ears and stuck up nose. However maybe it was a good thing my breath was caught in my throat, as the stench wafting off the ugly creature was putrid.
I squealed. I squealed as loud as I could, scaring the odd crow-like birds from their resting-place. I squealed, startling the beast before me so that it fell back, rolling into the lake with a splash. And I continued to squeal, pressing myself against the tree as to get away from it.
The grass russled again, this time a boy in a long brown coat bursts into the clearing. This shuts me up. Oh my gosh! He spun around a few times, shouting 'Blunk!' till his eyes caught mine. His long brown hair was spiked out around his pale face and mezmerising eyes. Behind him the foul creature returned to the lake surface, spewing out thick green water.
"Er" the dreamy eyed boy began. "Who are you?" I crawled further away when I notice the ugly creature stomping out of the lake towards me.
"What is..that?" I asked, pointing at the green creature. The boy and the creature exchange looks and then stare back at me.
"I am Blunk," it said, stepping closer. I recoiled and stuffled even further away. The boy pushed Blunk away harshly.
"Blunk, go did up worms or something. Can't you see your scaring her?" he whispered grimly to the creature. Blunk obeyed his command and ran off into the thick grass. The boy kneeled down, drawing closer to me, but held out his hands toward me.
"It's okay" he coaxed. "I'm Caleb, I won't hurt you." Caleb starred thoughtfully into my eyes and I stopped moving. My gosh, is it even possible to look that gorgeous? I was lost in thought when he reached me, taking my hands and helping me from the dirt. His hands had stone-hard calluses around the top of his palms yet they were warm and soft. Once on my feet, the blood throughout my body began to flow properly. I smiled to myself, pleased that I had managed to stand without tripping on my own feet in front of a boy.
"Thanks" I said, finally letting go of Caleb's hands. He said nothing, but peered curiously at me like some toddler that only just learnt how to walk. Walk. Could I walk? I raised one foot from under my long dress and then gently –oh so gently- placed it back down a few centimetres from where it last was. I continued this with the other foot then the other, left then right, right then left. Faster and faster each time. I grinned with glee as I sped around the clearing, acting like a complete fool in front of Caleb who might have started backing off any moment then. Suddenly I lost concentration and my feet got tangled in the hem of my dark magenta dress. I squealed as I tumbled back towards the lake. Luckily my face broke the fall before I fell into the green water. Caleb raced over to me and tried to help me up but I shooed him away.
"I can get up myself" I boasted. I sat up, peering at my reflection in the toxic lake. Locks of pure white dangling in front of my face and sapphire eyes stared inquisitivly back at me. The dark magenta dress was low cut and hugged me tightly around my petite figure. Around my pale neck a silver chain hung with a cresent moon on the end, it bobbed as I moved side to side. It was beautiful, precious and secret.
Then I noticed my right arm. I squinted trying to make out what was drawn on it.
"What's your name?" Caleb inquired, desperatly trying to get answers. I swung my head to him, remembering that he was even there, and stood before him. "Where are you from -"
"-My name is Zatarlia."