"...Then she comes in through the window and takes them, after that they are never seen again because she gobbles them up. They say her teeth are made of iron and-"

"Enough Kira, I don't want you scaring your brother."

" 'm not scared Mama. I know It's only a story." Bartok smiled weakly up at his mother from his bed. Anaya placed her hand on the young bat's head and frowned.

"Your fever's getting worse love, I think It's time we had Alyx take a look at you."

"But Mama..." Anaya wrapped her large tan wings around her son, holding him to her chest. Bartok felt safe wrapped up tight in his mother's arms as he listened to the soft, steady beat of her heart.

"Precious son, you and Kira are very important to me, it hurts me when either of my young ones aren't well. I know it isn't easy for you but please try to understand. You've been sick for a while now and I just want you to feel okay. Alyx does too."Bartok looked up into her loving emerald colored eyes. For as long as Bartok could recall, this illness would reoccur frequently, he despised it. The pain he felt as a result was nothing compaired to the pain in his heart when his mother would cry when she thought he couldn't hear her.

He knew it was his fault, he was the one that caused those tears, he would often wish he hadn't been born so that she would never have been burdened with a nearly constantly sick child. Kira didn't help matters, she resented him for everything he had taken from her. She never realized that her brother didn't want all the extra attention his illness brought. His only true friend was a bear cub named Zozi. The two of them often played quietly while the small bat rested in bed. Once in a while they would have the opportunity to go out.

"Please just be a little more patient little one, for me?" She requested softly stroking his head.

"For you Mama, I'll try."

"Thank you baby. He'll be here this evening anyway, you know how he likes to check up on us." She gave him a gentle kiss on his head and released him.

"Rest, I'll bring him in when he gets here, depending on what he says, maybe I'll have Zozi come visit, that always seems to brighten your mood." She pulled the cover closer to his body and with an encouraging smile left the room.

Bartok sighed wearily and turned his attention to the window. Bartok loved the way the branches of the trees swayed gracefully in the wind, he wanted so much to feel the cool breeze, he'd almost forgotten what it was like to play outdoors. Some many wonderful things waited for him out there, so many adventures. As much as the young bat loved the forest around him, his favorite sight was the blue rose bush that bloomed magnificently.

He had never seen such a thing. He could recall the day he planted it.

He had found the strange seed in the forest, after picking it up, he turned it over in his hand examining it closely. The seed was light blue and oddly shaped. He allowed his curiousity to get the best of him and rushed home to plant it. As he covered it with soil, a smile crept into his face.

"I wonder what you'll be" He murmured. He was amazed at his plant and quickly concluded that his roses were the most beautiful flowers anywhere. He yawned feeling his eyes begin to close.

A harsh cough sent a sharp pain through his body causing his to gasp.

"Alyx better get here soon, maybe he can give me more medicine so it doesn't hurt any more." He whispered. Just as he was finally about to sleep a voice called to him from the doorway.

"Mama wants you to know Alyx is downstairs, she said I should make sure you were resting." There was a pause as if she expected a reply but didn't receive one.

"I think the real reason she sent me is to see if you were still here, in case the witch came for you." She said cruelly.

"You'd like that wouldn't you Kira, I'm just a problem. Isn't that what you said the other day?"

"Yep. It would be good for everyone if you weren't here. Do you know how hard it is on Mama, having to tend to you constantly, worry about you day and night, how much we have to spend on medicine for you?"

"Yeah, I know. I-I didn't ask for this you know."

The sadness in his tone only caused more anger. She stormed away.

Bartok closed his eyes and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

A/n: Thanks for stopping by to read the first chapter of my new project. I hope you'll enjoy it. I don't own Bartok the magnificent or its characters. Just Kira, Anaya and Alyx along with any future,characters I may come up with