The moons shone through each cloud every day. The bright sun hadn't been seen in months, nothing had changed. It had all been blown to pieces, years ago. The young girl stared up at the pale sky. It was almost hard to remember what the skies colors had looked like; it had been so long since anyone had seen them. Sadly, that the least of anyone's problems. If it hadn't been for The Great Reform, she would still be where she rightfully belonged. The forest kept her well hidden from the rest of civilization and safe as well.
She saw the Sky Reapers come forth from the kingdom and search the rest of the world for one person. The young girl pulled her hood up over her head a little tighter so she was out of sight by the Reapers. She waited for them to pass before she slipped back into the deep woods for protection. The girl only had a small group of trustworthy people around now. The group she had retained is dwindling down to practically nothing, before it will only be her. She knew where they were all going; they were captured and thrown to the enemies. She was worried about the men who have sworn their loyalty to her, knowing that when they were found out, their lives were at the mercy of the enemy. She had wished to do this alone, but not one of them would back down, even after knowing the risk. The young girl was grateful and horrified but more than anything, she was at peace knowing that she was not alone in this.
It was easy to see the pain written on her face. Even without a mirror to gaze into, the girl could feel the fatigue, the stress, and the anxiety flowing through her body. She was unable to sleep, eating was a challenge, and staying hidden would end eventually. She knew there was only one hiding place where no one would be able to find her, but finding that place has been lost through her childhood. It was unlikely that she would ever find it without the help of her elders, whom were deceased now because of The Great Reform. The girl shook her head, no use in thinking about the past and the lost secrets of her family. She knew there was strength in numbers, but right now they had to be great in knowledge. Always one step ahead of the enemies and two steps ahead of her group. If they ever decided to turn against her, she had to be ready for the worst scenario.
"My Lady," a man's voice said behind her. The young girl turned around to face a much older man, who bowed as she turned to him. She forced a smile onto her face to allow him to continue. "We have paved a way through the forest to escape the treachery. It's time to move, we can wait no longer." The girl nodded and lifted her gown to continue north. She knew they were anything but safe this close to her beloved kingdom. She walked behind her men as they led the way to safety. She could help but turn around to stare at her home. It was gleaming still, even with all of the treachery going on inside the walls of her kingdom. The screams of her people couldn't be heard this far away, but they lived on in her heart and soul and it broke for them every day, knowing there was nothing she could do to help them at this time.
She turned her back on her people, like she had always hoped not to do. But it was not without a promise to be fulfilled. The young girl, at the start of all of this conflict had promised her people that she would return more powerful and great that she would overthrown The Great Reformist, even in their territory. She wouldn't let these people take over her world and everything she has worked to gain. She wouldn't let her family's name be slandered but the enemy. She wouldn't let their deaths be worth nothing during these terrible times. Everything she had worked for was all but destroyed. It wasn't without a promise of return. She knew she had to return. Her kingdom would not last another moons year without her presence. She was almost proud that it had lasted this long.
It pained her to think about everything she had lost. The threats her family had been through to gain the power they had, all seemed for nothing now. But even through all this, the girl wouldn't let a tear fall down her cheek. She had to be strong for the men around her because they were being strong for her. Most of them she had been around her whole life, and they had never seen her fail; until now. This was her failing moment; the moment that she shamed her family. Her mother and father had come to gain their power through a struggle.
It took the refugees another day and night to reach their newest destination. The older men of her group set up the tents while the younger men went out in search of food. This part of the forest didn't look any different than where they had been. The only difference, the crucial difference, was the distance between them and the kingdom. The light was going out of the sky as the moons began to rise. The light of the moon was secure. It kept them in the dark and away from the enemies. They would never think to look this far into the forest. Would they?