This is the story of one girls journey starting when she was merely tens years old, living in a small tribe in the forest…
Calli sits upon her pony high up on the hill as the wind makes her hair dance wildly and the beautiful sunsets. She sits with her back straight and chin up high like her father taught her.
With the forest behind her and the open land in front of her she imagines she is a great warrior like the ones her mother tells her before she goes to sleep.
Her sister Annalee sits beside her on her own slightly taller and stronger pony. Calli knows there are no thoughts of childish adventures running through her mind. No, she is thinking of the young boys that follow her around all day drooling over her beauty.
Calli doesn't like to admit it but sometimes she does feel jealous of her sister's pretty looks and magnificent figure. Annalee has gorgeous, long, curls of blonde hair and beautiful, enticing curves. Her eyes are enough to draw any man she wanted into her tent at night and her breasts are large and perfectly rounded.
But Calli pushes all of these thoughts away and looks out to the horizon where she can see riders approaching. She and Annalee merely think they are the men from their tribe back early from their hunting trip.
But as the riders get closer, Calli's pony becomes restless and fidgety. Her sister gives her a stern look and Calli bends low over the pony's neck and begins to whisper in it's ear. This works a little, until suddenly Annalee gasps in fright. Calli sits back upright and looks at her sister questioningly.
Annalee stares out at the riders frozen with fear. Calli looks from the riders to her sister confusedly. She cannot understand what is so frightening.
"We must return to the camp Calli, quickly!" Annalee says in terror, almost screaming.
Calli watches her sister turn her pony and race back towards the forest. Calli has no desire to return to the forest. It is very rare that they get to leave it.
She turns back to the riders, wondering what was so terrible about the men returning home from their hunt early. But then Calli catches a glimpse of a sword bouncing fiercely on one rider's hip. She wonders where the men would of found that as she gallops after her sister.
They ride fast and swift, Calli still not understanding her sister's strange behavior. Annalee flinches a little as a twig marks her pretty face but carries on.
Soon they arrive at their camp and Annalee springs from her pony's back and runs to the arms of her mother. The whole camp is alarmed at their sudden arrival.
Calli merely pulls her pony up and sat there watching her sister.
"What is wrong dear child?" asks their mother concernedly.
Annalee looks ready to burst into to tears of terror.
"Soldiers are coming mother! Roman soldiers are headed this way and will be here within minutes!"
As soon as Annalee has yelled out her message nearly the whole camp begins to gasp and scream.
Calli sits upon her pony and realizes the mistake she had made in thinking the riders were the men.
They could not protect themselves against soldiers with weapons when all who were left at the camp were the women, children and two young boys just able to use sticks to fight. Calli wonders weather they would even be able to protect themselves even with the men there.
Calli's father had warned them of Roman soldiers and now they came.
Calli leaps from her pony and runs into the tent that her family shares. Her mother and sister are there already, and so is her younger brother.
"Calli, thank goodness".
Her mother seems extremely glad that Calli is there. Her mother hugs her little brother Farad tightly and protectively as she also packs small bags for them. Annalee stands near them crying her heart out in fear.
"Now children, the soldiers will come for slaves. They will take you and Calli and treat you both cruelly Annalee and take your brother as a slave and make him fight, and that will not do for you know how sick he is".
Calli often wonders at this. Ever since Farad was born he has been ill and it seems he has been burdened with it for his whole life. It makes him ill at night and when he uses too much energy he goes into a fatal condition.
Their mother's words scare them as she hands them each a bag and pushes them out of tent. Her face is full of fear.
But unlucky as they are, the Roman soldiers ride into the camp. The women scream and cover their children with their own bodies.
Some of the soldiers jump down from their great big steeds and begin grabbing at the women. Calli watches with horror as they grab children and bound their hands to the saddles of the tall horses.
She screams as she is forced to the ground and a great big soldier lies upon her. She squeals and squirms but she is no match for this man He grasps at her cheeks and forces her jaw towards her. But instead of a kiss, he receives a bite.
Calli just manages to squeeze herself from under him as he grasps his bleeding nose but she doesn't get far before she is caught again.
It's not long before the soldiers are ready to leave. It is night now and nearly all is quiet except for the quiet sobs of Calli's people.
The smaller children are placed high up on the soldier's horses and they are too scared to jump down for the height. Others are bound to their own ponies that are tied to the saddles.
The women sit in the middle of the camp breathless and beaten. They are to left to die or wait until their men arrive back from hunting. Most of them have blood rushing down their faces and dresses.
Calli gasps a little as a tall soldier picks her up and places him in the saddle in front of him. He is tall and stern but doesn't wear the same look as the others. He doesn't look proud or pleased; he merely looks as though he is carrying out orders.
As the party begins to move on with the crying children and laughing men, Calli looks back at her mother. Her mother leans into the body of another woman. Blood gushes out from her nose and she looks just about dead.
Calli feels as though her heart has been wrenched from her stomach as she leaves her weak and injured mother there to die.
Her little brother farad sits in front of Annalee on Calli's pony. Annalee sits up straight as though she is trying to be strong and doesn't look back. Instead she merely cuddles Farad for comfort. She doesn't want to see her mother dieing.
Calli sheds a tear as her mother just manages to wave a hand and blow her a fable kiss. Calli returns it quickly and watches as her mother smiles bravely. But Calli cannot manage a smile. She is being torn away from her home.
'Its best to forget them".
Calli looks up at the soldier sitting behind her. He doesn't look at her for he just looks ahead.
Calli supposes he must be the commander for he is leading the other soldiers.
"You must forget the past and move on with the future. Forget what happened and make what will happen worthwhile".
Calli thinks about his words as she studies his scarred face. Why is he comforting her?
But with one last look at her mother she takes in his words and gets ready for the future although nothing could really prepare her.