It's a lot easier to say when something ended rather than when it began. Most of us can recognize the end from a mile away, but the beginning always slips up on us, lulling us into thinking what we're living through is yet another moment, in yet another day. ~ Steve Yarbrough (Safe from the Neighbors)

Solstice

Chapter 1: Beginning

A horrid sound similar to that of a chainsaw through metal rips from my throat. The sound draws the attention of two Black Moths to me.

I smile as the huge insects fly towards me, antennas buzzing angrily. Turning and running at the last second, I hear one crash into the sand where I was standing. "Too slow!" I jeer as I glance over my shoulder to find the other encroaching on me. I jump over a fallen Firlong. I hope I didn't know him, I think as I run harder, angry buzzing right behind me.

"You can't run forever!" the Black Moth yells at me.

I stop dead and turn with my fists poised.

The Black Moth slams headfirst into the claws protruding from my fists.

The momentum sends us hurling.

"And you can't be original," I growl in response.

We skid to a stop, sending sand flying.

I detach myself and wretch my hands from the corpse. Stepping back, I shake silvery-gray liquid from my hands. I analyze the four gashes in the Black Moth's head. "That's gonna' hurt," I mention sarcastically as I glance at the substance staining the sand gray.

A huge tail slams into my side, throwing me though the air again.

I tumble inelegantly across the sand and scrabble to my feet only to be crushed down again. I crane my neck to glare at my attacker and growl, "Sandstorm…! Don't you have someone better to pick a fight with?"

The dragon grins an evil, fanged, smile. "And who says I can't take out some fleas in my way?" Sandstorm laughs raspingly.

I smirk painfully. "Yes, because fleas are the only things you can kill," I jeer, but inwardly I'm fearing for my life. A guild leader is a powerful foe, too powerful for just one normal Kedamono to take on…

Sandstorm huffs, "we'll see about that." He twists his foot into the ground.

I grit my teeth as I feel my skin shredded by jagged rocks. My lungs scream for air.

Sandstorm laughs sadistically as a pitiful wail escapes my mouth. He clenches his claws around me and lifts my limp injured body from the ground. "I'll admit, Solstice, I've never seen any Kedamono like you before," he rasps triumphantly over my coughing, "to bad we're on different sides, I would enjoy having you. Maybe I'll just take you as a trophy for this victorious day."

"You will never… take anything!" I proclaim shakily, "me or this island!" I raise both my trembling fists and slam my dagger-like claws into his sandstone skin with all my strength in one final gambit.

The twin pairs of deadly claws plunge into Sandstorm's skin only to snap off at the base like icicles.

I gasp in surprise and agony.

Sandstorm cringes before beginning to laugh cruelly, "well, that was eventful."

I stare at the short stubs of metal protruding from my wrists, shock beginning to slowly paralyze me. I'm hardly aware that Sandstorm has begun to stork me with his other foot.

"Is that all?" the sandstone dragon laughs, "all that talk and look what happened. Don't worry; I'll keep you as a pet…!"

I'm forcibly brought back to reality as something collides into Sandstorm and sends him crashing to the ground.

Sandstorm releases his grip on me and someone immediately runs in and gathers me into their arms.

I blink dazedly up at Duna.

Duna smiles sympathetically and continues running. "I've got you," she points out soothingly, "Dynal will take care of Sandstorm."

I tilt my head to catch a glimpse of Sandstorm fighting a winged dinosaur-like Kedamono. I close my eyes and hold my arms to my bleeding chest, the trauma of losing my claws rapidly sapping my energy.

Duna runs swiftly over the battlefield.

Within moments I hear Dynal shout, "Luminous, fall back!" and wince.