The sun had set several hours ago. In the midst of this thick forest, a tiny cottage lay in the darkness. Inside, A little girl pulled herself onto her bed and looked out the window to look up at the vast array of stars in the sky.
"Look, Papa! The moon didn't come out tonight so we can see the constellations easier!" She rested her elbows on the sill while leaning out.
Her father chuckled and sat beside, "We sure can. Do you recognize any?"
"Yeah. There's the Leopard; his tail points East. There's the Owl who always flies in the North. The Rooster roosts in the West, and- what's the one in the South?"
"That's the Lion," He smiled proudly as he pushed a stray hair from her face.
"Right, the Lion. Lemme see... where's the unicorn?"
The man looked up into the sky; dark clouds moved swiftly, covering the stars. His face fell, "It's time to leave."
"For good?"
"Yes, grab your cloak," he swiftly closed the tattered curtains, picked his daughter off the bed, and set her on the floor.
She quickly pattered her feet over to the hook where her black cloak was. The girl picked it up and let it rest on her shoulders, "I'm ready, Papa. Let's go."
Her father bent down to his knees, "No. You have to run. You have to run."
Her eyes widened and had the appearence of melting glass, "You have to come with me. I can't do it by myself..." She whispered as a tear dripped.
"I'll stay here and hold them off as long as I can."
"They covered the sky, so I won't be able to find my way," She whimpered.
"There are no excuses. You need to run for your life- and for the lives of hundreds of others. You can do this; you were meant to."
"Give me a hug first," she held her arms open as he pulled his daughter to him for their last farewell.
"I love you... Now RUN!"
The little girl walked backward a few steps, "I love you, too," she spun around and sprinted out the door, through the patch of weeds around the cottage, and into the woods. Everything turned darker and darker- an unearthly darkness. It as an inky blackness thicker than smoky fog. She ran on, through the trees and snaking branches Then she tripped over a root. She fell forward and her hands flailed to catch herself. Her hands scraped against the gritty dirt and her face smeared in the ground.
"Uugh," she spit out the the mud gathered in her mouth. Turning over, she looked back over the path she had blazed. She knew where the house lay, even though she couldn't see it. She took deep breaths. Suddenly, she really could see the house; balls of light were being thrown at and around the cottage. Her heart beat faster. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. Eyes wide with horror, she picked herself up, took one last look, turned around, and began her trek through the forest once more. I need to run; I have to be strong... I want to survive...
Abruptly, she felt something strike against her torso. Falling onto her back, the air was knocked out of her lungs.
"You can't leave," a voice appeared in the darkness, "You can't ever reclaim your throne, Tegan."
Her future, and destiny, flashed before her eyes. She remembered the prophecy:
'A forgotten kingdom dissappears
A few left with fears;
Reunited it will be again.
An heir comes forward when
Things that have been
Don't matter anymore.
Before the front door
Opens its identity,
Friends will be enemies
Enemies will be friends-
No matter what the heir defends.
The falling of the mountain
Will begin when a treasure is to be gained.
Two fights to the death
First battle lasts only a breath
The second is fatal.
The victor is able
To take the empire
Even if he is a liar.
If what is stolen is returned
Then rightful heir has returned.
The Star Slicer can only fulfill its purpose
When elven blood makes contact thus.
A kingdom forgotten
Will awaken and sleep be done.'
-That's when... she disappeared.