A Bloody end and burning Beginning

I can remember it like it was yesterday, the day I died. Well I'm obviously alive now or I wouldn't be able to tell you my story but this is how it started, the day I died. The screams and blood still haunt me in my sleep and I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in years. The day was July 7th x777 the day my entire village was slaughtered by the dark guild Bloody Scythe.

I was a little girl, only seven, I had black hair that reached my shoulders and emerald green eyes. At the time I was wearing a pale purple sundress and black ballet flats. My mother and I were hiding in the kitchen and my father was supposed to come get us when it was safe. "Mom, why are we hiding? Where's Papa?" She just smiled softly and rubbed my head, but even at my young age I could see the fear in her eyes as she reassured me.

All of a sudden the door opens and the screams get louder and my papa comes in. He's panicked and clearly exhausted. He see's me and mom and the relief is evident in his eyes. "I'm glad you two are alright, but we should leave now before they find us." Mom nods and looks at me then back at papa. "What's the situation out there?" My father gets this dark look in his eyes but it also looks sad and kind of angry. "Bloody Scythe has decided to slaughter the village." My mom's eye's widen and my father starts pushing us toward the door and out the back into the forest. All of a sudden blood comes out of my dad's chest and there's a sword sticking out of him. My eyes widen in fear and a man wearing bloodied clothes and a mad look in his eyes pulls the sword out and my father falls to the ground defeated.

My mother sees my shocked state and what I didn't notice is that someone else holding a scythe had snuck up behind me. The man who was probably the guild master stands there with blood lust in his eyes, "Oh so these two survived, well we have to fix that." The next thing I know is there's a stinging in my abdomen and my mother's head is on the ground next to me. I don't know how long I had been lying there but I could feel myself dying and yet it felt like I was burning. Then I hear a voice and it's oddly soothing.

I have finally found you my soul's partner...but it would seem we could have met under better circumstances...listen closely dear one, do you wish to die?

I crack my eyes open a little bit and see what looks like a fire. I then remember something my mom used to say to me all the time, you live for those you love. I muster my strength and shake my head no, I couldn't die there, not after my parents sacrificed themselves for me.

Very well. I will warn you now this is going to hurt, but when the process is complete you and I will be bound for eternity. Now my little hatchling brace yourself.

All of a sudden it feels like my body is on fire and I can feel something changing in me. Then paing erupts from my abdomen and I gasp, then just as quickly as it started it stopped and something feels different, then that voice is back.

Sleep my hatchling and I will explain everything when you wake.

Giving in to the exhaustion I sleep and that night was one of the first that I was plagued with nightmares. Blood everywhere and my mother's head just staring at me from the place it landed. I wake up screaming and then the reality of the situation hits me and I start crying over the loss of my parents.

I can feel something nudging my arm and I look up and see a beautiful bird that is just big enough to sit on my shoulder, and covered in lots of orange and red feather's that seem to change with the amount of light that is visible. I sniffle a little and wipe my eyes. "Who are you?...are you the one who saved me?" the bird nips my hand gently in affection and I can hear that voice again.

I do not have a name but I am the one who saved you...I promised you an explanation when you woke up so that is what you will get.

I nod my head and the voice sounds kind of like a guys. The more I look at the bird it reminds me of stories my mom told me about strange birds of light that live on the sun.

I am a phoenix and since I kept you from dying you are now a phoenix sage. You will have the ability to wield my magic and be able to protect those you care about.

I look at him in awe. "So I can use magic now! But what exactly is a phoenix sage?"

A phoenix sage keeps the balance of good and evil. You will be able to wield incredible power but at a cost...you won't be able to die until you fulfill your destiny and find someone worthy to pass your magic onto. Now young hatchling you still haven't told me your name young one.

I blink and realize he was right. "My name is Hana. My papa named me after the flowers…" I get softer and remember my parents are gone and I break into another round of tears. The phoenix just stands there comforting me and letting me cry out my sorrows. When I finally do stop it's well after dusk and the stars are out. Then I realize something. "You don't have a name do you. Why is that?"

All phoenix's are nameless and are only given a name when they find their souls partner. Meaning you get to pick my name.

I look at the stars and remember how papa taught me to use them to find my way like a guiding light and then it hits me. "Your name is stello. It means star and since papa used to say stars are a guiding light I think it fits."

Stello...I like it and a very fitting name indeed.

Little did I know in another forest miles away from my own a boy had just lost a father and how my life would change the moment I met him. I would find love and maybe for once get a good night sleep but only time would tell. This though was just the beginning.