My new story. I hope you like!

Chapter one

Protect the Courage and Strength

"Keep running!" Rose whispered to herself as she was chased by three men with torches.

She turned her head for a moment and stumbled before hitting the ground.

"Oof" she panted before jumping back up and running towards the safe house.

Rose's blue eyes widened as she saw the safe house. She wanted to yell out to warn them but she knew she couldn't, she couldn't risk the children. She turned left, her blonde hair whipping behind her as she weaved in and out of the trees. Suddenly she tripped over a fallen log, a searing pain radiating in her lower right leg.

Rose looked down at her leg and noticed that an arrow stuck out of it. She grunted while pulling it out. She glared at it before throwing it away from her. She sat against the log for a moment and listened for movement. She sighed as she heard none, a small smile gracing her lips. Rose got back up and started heading towards the safe house. She looked up with a smile before entering the small log home that had only two windows and was one room.

"Hello everyone" Rose smiled as she looked at the eight children that were there.

They smiled and hugged her before hearing another sound outside. She snapped her head towards the window while instructing the oldest boy, Robert, to put out the fire that they had to keep them warm. It was cold due to the winter snow and winter winds outside. Rose grabbed her rifle and waited by the window. The children were crowded in a corner scared, it could be seen in their eyes. Rose looked at each of their eyes before turning her gaze back towards the window.

There was a bang against the door. They heard laughing from the men and it wasn't truly until then did Rose really realized they were getting closer with their torches.

Oh God no! Rose thought to herself as she glared out the window with narrowed eyes.

Suddenly their was the smell of smoke and glass breaking. The children started to cough as the laughter started to leave. Rose coughed but urged everyone out of the back of the house. The last, the smallest girl who was only four, ran out with Rose behind her. Rose stumbled before falling, the pain in her leg so painful it was blinding.

"Rose!" the youngest boy, Andrew, yelled out as he went back to her.

"I'm fine Andrew. Robert, get everyone to the next safe house! I'll be behind you."

"But Rose-" Robert started but was cut off.

"Robert! Just go!" Rose yelled as she tried to get up.

The children took one last look before running towards the next safe house.

Rose sighed before stumbling up and headed towards the safe house, only about ten minutes behind the children. She stopped after ten minutes though because of her leg. She kept moving, for the children's sake and to make sure they were okay.

It would take a long time before she arrived at the next house. She looked up to see no fire light inside and knew then that no one was inside, they had moved on.

Thank God they're okay! At least I hope so, Rose thought to herself as she sat down on the step.

Rose looked up at the moon before closing her eyes, her back against the door.

"Protect the children God or what ever deity is out there. Give them the courage and strength to move on and realize their lives aren't always dark, that the sun has to shine sometime." Rose smiled before her heart finally gave out and her last breath left her lungs.

Rose didn't realized that there was two people watching her, the Man in the Moon and the last Pooka in existence.