Prolouge

The sky was dark, Darker than usual. Clouds covered the moonlight, making the land hard to see, to move through. From somewhere a short gasp sounded out and faded as a loud wail started.

"My child!" A woman called out, "I need to hold my child!" She held her hands out to the darkness, reaching for the thing she could hear but could not see, "Give me my child!"

"I am sorry my lady but your child….She is a monster." A man's voice, the doctor, handed the child to the woman and she screamed.

"What is this?! This is not my child! Where is my child?!" She shoved the baby back into the man's hands and groped around in the dark. The girl continued to wail in the man's arms, "Take that monstrosity and leave it for the animals! She is no child of mine!" The woman screamed breaking into loud sobs. "Take the monster away!!"

Chapter One

Years later…

The sun shone brightly as it broke through the tree's hooded cover, lighting the dark forest and giving it a serene feeling. Small animals we're bustling about, chatting with each other or collecting food to store. Katelle took a deep breath, inhaling the rich scent of the pine green and smooth earthy smell. She kneeled to the ground, her short white skirt barely brushing the ground as her brown sleeveless top shifted with her. Her green plaid scarf dusted the earth, catching a little dirt in it. On top of her head was a matching green bow that was situated in the middle of her large cattle like horns. Her ears, also like cattle's twitched every time she heard a sound in the peaceful forest. Her hair was a tawny brown color that framed her face as her bangs we're long and covered her eye's which we're a light gray color. She poked around the earth, drawing a symbol with hand which was covered by fingerless brown gloves with matching gold bracelets on each wrist. After completing the symbol she stood up to and kicked it away with her foot and continued down the path, until she reached the creek that ended the path. It was big and deep enough for swimming but Katelle only liked to relax there, as she pulled off her knee high leather boots and pinstripe stockings to splash her feet in the water. It was so tranquil as she closed her eyes.

"Another dream last night." Katelle sighed, eye's still closed.

"YAHAAAAA." A loud battle cry broke the silence, Katelle opened her eyes to see her two spirit friends, King Mt. Oni, a small oni demon and Raine, The rain charm came rushing towards her. More like Raine was being by chase by King who was waving his small little club at it. "I am the King! And what I say, you do!!!" He yelled as they headed to her. She held her hand out so that the Raine could land on it. As it was a charm spirit it couldn't speak but it made all the expressions it needed for Katelle to understand, and this one said that it was scared.

"King! You need to stop teasing Raine" Katelle lifted the Charm to her head where it floated to rest between her bow and horn. King instantly made a face of disgust.

"You always take her side!" He pouted, "I am King Mt. Oni!!! She has to listen to what I say!" He lifted his small club and pointed to Katelle, "As your king I demand her back as payment for you to…uh…Continue what you're doing!!" Katelle sobered her face so that she wouldn't laugh. He was a small oni demon, not even taller than mid shin height and yet he held the title of King. Katelle knew that laughing would only undermine him so she played along with him every time they we're together. She knew all too well what it was like to be undermined and it wasn't a happy feeling.

"King Oni! I do not wish to give my spirit to you! Can I offer something else?" She said seriously, knowing that he would go along with it.

"If you become my Bride I will forgive you for the spirit!" King said as regally as possible. His face was aloof but Katelle could see his eye's hopeful.

"Oh my King! Why what would you want with me! A commoner as your bride!" She said with an obvious fake shock, "Why there must be someone more beautiful than I!"

"Nu huh Katelle! You're the prettiest one around!" He said, flapping his arms in the air, "It can't be anyone else!!" He went to her and hugged her arm. Katelle smiled at him and patted his head, "How about instead of being your bride, I can give you a kiss?" She laughed as he nodded his head eagerly; picking him up in her palm she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before setting him down. He giggled before jumping away and looked at her.

"Katelle Its Late, We should go home and eat!! The King demands to eat!" He pounded his chest which had Katelle rolling her eyes. She pulled her feet out of the water and put her stockings and boots back on. Together they left the forest and headed towards the path back to the mountain where her herd was settled for the season. They took a rocky climb up the mountain for an hour with King and Raine situated on Katelle so they could get there as well. As she reached where her herd's temporary village started, people turned to her and disgust showed clearly on their face.

"Gone to the Forest again Cattle?" A Woman spat, She small black Ram horns. Her and many of the herd gathered around Katelle and spat rude comments at her.

"Why do we let that beast in our herd?" A man whispered to another man, both had larger brown ram horns. They continued to whisper to each other. Katelle tried to stay focused on the ground, without making eye contact. Her Hair covering her eye's so no one would see the pain in her eyes. She almost made it back to her home before a little ram boy and girl ran into her. Both of them fell back onto the ground and burst out in tears.

"What have you done to my children cattle?" The mother of the Children came running forward, "You pushed them to the ground didn't you!" She screamed drawing more attention from the entire herd. Katelle continued to look at the ground.

"I d-d-d-didn't do anything!" She stuttered, "They R-r-ran into me!" She flinched as the mother came closer to her, pushing her. Katelle stumbled onto another woman who shrieked and pushed her away.

"She touched me! Quick I need new clothes! Burn the ones she touched!" The woman said as she ran to her house, the mother looked at Katelle, "Get away from this herd Cattle!" Katelle swallowed the tears and ran to her home.

She slammed the small hut door closed and wiped the tears she was on the brink of away. Swallowing she entered the living area where her grandfather Belief and brother Raize sat, both had large brown ram horns.

"My Fawn!" Her grandfather smiled at her, holding his arms. Katelle walked into them and hugged her grandfather tightly, "Ah you have brought home the King! And of course Raine!" Both of the small spirits ran jumped off Katelle and snuggled her grandfather, "The lot of you stay out of trouble in the forest?" He smiled, "What did you do?" He wiggled his eyebrows. As King related his day, which Katelle knew was going to take forever, Raize pulled her away. He's eyes we're closed as usual. Katelle knew he did it to keep in tune with everything around him. His sense's we're always heightened and he told her once that it was better just not to see as much. He spoke low so that their grandfather could not hear him.

"You are in turmoil sister! What has the Herd done again?" His brow furrowed. Katelle looked away ashamed.

"They did nothing Brother! It was just me and not paying attention! I accidently knocked over two children." Katelle whispered as well, "Do not worry so much over me." She pulled away.

"Little Sister! Remember that we are always here for you. Those Rams out there, they do not understand that you are more than just cattle! You are taught our ways, brought in by our leader. They have not the right to bring such shame and sadness to your heart!" He hugged her, "Our words are the ones that matter! Do not be affected by their small brain thinking." Katelle actually smiled before pulling away. Her grandfather and brother we're the only ones who truly cared for her. When they had found her as a young girl wandering the foot of the mountains, they had instantly reached out and adopted her into the herd. Her grandfather was the leader of the Herd, The Aequitas, the justice of the Herd. Raize was next in line to inherit since he's parents we're killed. And she was known as the Veritas, The truth, which meant she was a Advisor, the most trusted person of the Aequitas and inheritor of the herd should something happen to the leader. Her grandfather appointed her the title so the herd would accept her but instead it cause jealously and created a internal conflict in which they lost ¼ of their herd members to other herds. But her grandfather presited and it came to be where she was accepted but largely disliked in the her. He was nearing the age of Passing, he's memory had begun to falter and his bones have become small and brittle. Katelle knew that it would only be little while before Her grandfather passed. And the more the time dwindled, the more she realized how lost she was without him. Her only protection and her really only close friend.

"Katelle! I have wonderful news, I have invited the Hawthorne Herd to our area! You will finally be able to meet the young Herd leader!" Grandfather Turned towards her, smiling gently, "You guys will get along very well, I'm sure of!" Katelle wanted to believe her grandfather but in her heart she prepared for the Hawthorne Herd's reaction. The one much like her herd and her heart grew heavy. She pushed it away for now and joined her grandfather and her spirits as they joked around. Raize on the other hand had left and made his way towards the village where the other rams greeted him with respect and courtesy. He headed out onto the mountain path and walked for an hour or so until he saw another Ram, This one had black spiky hair and large brown ram horns as well. He sat on small rock with three other rams and nodded to Raize.

"Hawthorne, We welcome you to the Running Crook Herd." Raize said.