A/N: A simple guide to a few new things: Writings within books, Thoughts,Music. Languages have remained the same. Please enjoy. :D
It's a new life, It's a new day,
It's alive with the beating of young hearts. :
Song from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron
The Darkest Night
Chapter One
21 Years And Still Alive
My name is Shade Dark Child. In the eight years since the end of the war Bloodheart and I have been joined and have had two children. Thier names are Rose and Leo. Rose is more like her father while Leo is more like me. They are each three years old and learning quickly how to fly.
Another very special union shocked the world of humans and Sangheili alike. Thel and Delia have also been joined and now have a two year old daughter. She looks more like Delia than anything, but with Thels eyes.
We have remained on Sangheilios ever since the day of the memorial upon Earth. This place is more beautiful than anywhere I have ever been. The night sky is filled with stars and illuminated by two small moons. At night is when most flora and fauna are active. The streams whisper and the trees talk with the wind.
The mountains where Vadam keep is located rise high above most anything else. It is there where Rose and Leo are practicing flight with Bloodheart.
I set the pen down and looked down the path and towards the treeline. Rose and Leo were running towards me. Leo has light purple wings and a bright smile. In attitude he is like a hyper puppy. I looked to Rose. She is taller than her twin brother and has a deep dark red colored wings. Her attitude is like mine. Right down to the fighter at heart. They were both smiling and laughing as they ran at me.
"Momma! We flew! We flew!" I smiled and opened my arms. They attacked me and I hugged them both.
"That's wonderful news." I laughed as Roses tail tickled my ear and as Leo attacked her tail.
"Alright you two. Why don't you let your mother up?" They both glanced at each other with an evil expresion before standing and attacking Bloodheart. I began to laugh as they knocked him to the ground. "Come on Shade. Help out a bit."
"Come on Bloodheart. It's good for them to learn how to attack." They giggled and laughed before leaping up and rolling around in the grass. I crouched down and stalked towards them, a playful growl in my throat. I leapt and grabbed them both, rolling a little and then sitting in the grass and laughing with them and bloodheart.
"Again! Again! Do it again!" They both stood and began to stalk each other threw the grass, not having much success at keeping quiet.
"Come on. Let's get back to the keep." They laughed and opened their wings, pushing down and lifting up off of the ground. Bloodheart and I did the same, keeping pace with them all to easily. We soon arrived and the keep and were welcomed by Thel.
{Hello Arbiter.} Bloodheart bowed to him. Rose and Leo ran up and bowed their heads as well. He smiled slightly and returned the gesture. I stepped up and bowed my head.
{How are Delia and Zerria?} He smiled a bit.
{They are well. And you all?}
{We are doing good. Rose and Leo have learned to fly on their own.} I smiled and they both grinned.
{I saw them. They're really good already.}
{Dads going to teach us some cool maneuvers tomorrow!} Leo was nearly jumping with exitement. Rose brushed a bit of her hair from her face and laughed at her brother.
{It's going to be fun. Will you join us tomorrow mom?} I smiled.
{I wouldn't miss it for the world. But it's getting late and time for you to get some rest.} Rose, Leo and Bloodheart all groaned. {I didn't mean you Bloodheart. But if you wish you may go to bed now.}
I laughed as the twins stuck their tounges out at their father. He laughed as well and hugged them both. {Come on. Let's get some rest. We have to get up early tomorrow.}
{When will we get to learn how to hunt from air?} Rose glanced to the bow and arrows on my back.
{Not until you are strong enough to pull the string on your bows.} They looked to each other and then back to me.
{We'll start trying right away!} They both ran inside and I shook my head, watching Bloodheart follow.
{Sometimes I swear Bloodheart is as much a child as them.} Thel chuckled slightly.
{Yes. He does act quite childish around them.} I shook my head and glared at a loose hair. I tucked it back again. My hair now reached my waist and doesn't like to stay in place.
{Has any word come from the council yet?} He shook his head and I sat on a boulder outside the doorway, pressing my wings close to my back and removing my mask. Now it was adorned with a black ribbOon on either side of it. I brushed a few loose strands of hair from my face and felt the scars.
The fear that coursed through me as the Brute's claws dug into the soft flesh of my face. The pain that followed and then for a heart stopping moment, releif that if I died right then that the gravemind would not be able feast on my flesh. But then worry and fear set in again. If I died then the Guardian race was as good as gone. I knew Bloodheart well enough that if I died he'd never again find love. He even told me those very words the day after our marriage.
I opened my eyes again as the memory burned through my mind. I suddenly realised that someone was trying to speak with me. "Shade? Are you alright?"
The first thing that registered was the fact that this person was speaking in english. The next thing was the familiar voice. I looked up to see Delia holding Zerria. "Yes. I am fine." I stood and noticed Zerria was asleep. I stepped away and offered Delia my seat. She smiled and walked to me. The hieght difference between us was quite interesting. Actually to be honest I was about an inch taller than Thel. She sat and accidentally woke Zerria up.
"Hi Shade." I smiled and knelt. Despite her age she was learning fast. She had even tried grabbing my Phantom of the Opera book once.
{Hello Zerria. How are you studies going?} She smiled brightly.
{They are going well. And Rose and Leos flight studies?} As I said. An extremely inteligent girl.
{It's going well. Tomorrow we will be taking them out and showing them more advanced manuevers.} I stood. "She is learning very fast."
"Yes. She is." Delia smiled and Zerria leapt down into the grass. "Where are you going Ze?" She turned back.
"I'm looking for a bug." I chuckled and knelt down, seeing the bugs with ease. I pointed to one.
"It this it?" She shook her head.
"It's blue and purple. And looks like a rock." I looked again and found a rather large bug that fit the discription she gave me and I pointed to it.
"It this it?" I didn't move so I carefully picked it up. "This is a rock." I looked at it closely. I had never seen any rock such as it.
"What is that?" I looked at Ze and then to Thel.
{Could you come here?} He nodded and walked over, looking at the rock. {What is this?} He grabbed it and looked it over. {I have never seen anything like this.}
{One moment.} I grabbed the rock again and pressed my thumb into a small near invisible crevasse in the side. It popped open and a small image appeared. An image of my mother and father appeared, a little four year old at their side.
"Whoever is seeing this find my daughter or any Guardian. Please. The fate of our homeworld is dependant upon it. They'll know what to do." I growled.
"No mom! I don't know what to do." The image flickered and I pressed my thumb against it. "Please. Help me." The image flickered and changed.
"Remember. The heart directs you to the city of old from which which we left. From there you shall find the next stone." The image vanished and I stood.
"I have to return to Earth." I tightened my fist around the rock and stood. "I have to save my homeworld."
{But what if someone else found the stone first?} I growled.
{I'll have to take that chance. When will the council next meet?}
{Tomorrow.} I turned to Thel.
{Then I need to be there.} I looked at the rock and replaced my mask. I turned and walked inside, the thoughts and feelings brewing within my head. I walked into my room and sat in a chair for a few minutes. I felt Bloodhearts hand on my shoulder and placed mine on his.
"Oh Bloodheart. What am I going to do?" I closed my eyes and uncurled my fist. I felt the rock being removed and heard the message again.
"I'll go with you my love. Do not worry. We'll find and save our home." He leaned down and kissed my cheek. I blinked and turned to him.
"I hope that the council will allow me to take a ship to search." He wrapped his arms around me.
"Come on. You'd best get some rest." I nodded and stood as he released me, walking over and laying on the bed. Within a few minutes we were both fast asleep and ready for the next day.