Valerie and Ghost belong to me. Everyone else belongs to Archie and Saga.

Ghost the cat pov

Running, running, running. At age 7 that was all I knew to do when I was afraid. I looked straight ahead, so I couldn't see the damage being done to my city. I could hear screams and blood stained the sidewalks. I could hear the footsteps of soldiers chasing after me. I screamed when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was roughly spun around and pushed to the ground. I could see the sign of the acorn republic sown on to the soldier's jacket. I looked up at him through my tears. "Please." I had begged, "Don't kill me."

My eyes snapped open and I sat up in bed. I looked around my room. I looked for any sign of danger, any sign of reality. I looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. I sighed. I knew I would never get back to sleep. But I was back in reality and in my room.

I closed my eyes, I could feel tears coming. I opened them and began to cry into my hands. The problem was that dream had been reality too. That exact event had happened six years ago. I couldn't call that a dream, because it was actually a memory. I looked out the window. I had stayed at the iron fortress, where my sister was. It was dead and gloomy outside.

I threw on my clothes, (black boots and belt. Black top and purple vest.), pulled my hair up in a messy ponytail and made my way down the hall. I took one step out, and then instantly ran back into my room. The iron fortress was so creepy at night. Who knew what could be lurking in the shadows... waiting for me? I turned the lights on in my room and picked up my book.

It was a new book and I had only gotten about four chapters into it. That wasn't much for me. I never read the same book twice unless I had forgotten completely what happened in the book. And I couldn't stop half way through a chapter. I got about two more chapters when there was a loud bang. I sat there for a second, waiting to see if something else happened. Then I got up and looked out my window.

I could see, just in the distance... yagyu bats. I gasped, then gasped again just for good measures. I ran down the hall to see if my sister had heard. Allot of the ninja's where already up and about. I pushed my way through the crowded hallway and finally made it to the throne room. I could see my sister, Conquering Storm, talking to a panicked ninja.

I ran across the room. As I got closer I could see that the ninja Storm was talking to was Valerie. I called out to them, "Storm, I..." I was interrupted by another loud bang. The walls began to shake. I heard Val scream. Storm glared at her, "Valerie, Stop screaming, suck it up and get out there and defend your clan." Valeria nodded, looking a little ashamed of herself. "Yes ma'am." She said, as she ran out the door into battle.

I watched her go, then I yelled after her, "You make sure you come back in one piece okay?" there was a moment of silence, then I heard, "yes... okay..." I turned to Storm. "What's happening?" I asked. She looked a little worried, "It's nothing really." She said, "a few yagyu bats got in and set off a few bombs. That's all." I looked at her for a second, then sarcastically said, "oh yeah, that's nothing."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay, listen Ghost." She said, pushing me out into the hall, "I need you to go out there..."

"Yes?"

"... and get some of those bombs..."

"Yes?"

"And dispose of them."

I was now in the hall. She closed the huge doors behind me. I nodded and said, "Yes, okay... I'll do that and... Wait! What am I doing again?" I could hear Storm sigh from behind the huge doors. "Just go, Ghost. I'll be out there soon."

I stood there for a second, watching all the people running though the hall. Some in panic, others in a calm sort of manner. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and ran through the hall.

I tried to think of places a yagyu ninja would think of putting a bomb. It would be easiest to put it out in the open, but then they would have a better risk of getting caught. If they went down to the lowest floor and put an explosive there, the explosion would take out everything above it. Well, at least that's what I would do if I was planting a bomb. But would they think of that? I don't think so.

But they would think of going somewhere no one ever would look for them... I closed my eyes and thought about it for a second. They know that we know they're going to want whatever is left behind. The yagyu clan is smarter than most people give them credit for. If they where to take something from us, we would usually think they'd want our weapons.

So we would automatically think they'd try and keep the bombs away from the weapon room. And that would be the last place we would look. My eyes snapped opened and I headed down in that direction. They would have probably cleared out all the weapons first. I threw open the heavy door, and sure enough, the room was empty of all weapons.

And standing in the center, placing a bomb on the floor, was a yagyu bat. He looked up and saw me. He hissed, I growled. We charged at each other. I rubbed the gem on my neclas in-between my fingers. I concentrated hard on the bat. I looked at the space around him. There was nothing but air left in the room. I raised a hand and pushed all the air against him. He went flying into the wall.

He hit it with a loud bang that made me flinch. I ran at him and kicked out at him. I held him in place with my foot and swung a fist at his face. He ducked. My knuckles scrapped against the wall. It didn't hurt all that much, so I didn't worry about it. He grabbed my leg and threw me to the side. I tumbled then stood up. I got ready to hit him again, but then I got a good look at my hand.

I was bleeding. It was only a little, but I still felt dizzy. 'the only place blood belongs is in your body...' a part of me said. Another part said, 'a little blood isn't going to hurt you.' I was starting to see double, everything started to go fuzzy. I could feel myself falling. The bat ran at me. All I could see was a purple light as I teleported us somewhere else. I passed out before I could see where we ended up.

Elias acorn pov

"The winters coming." Joss said, as he took a seat across from me. "We're going to need more wood." I nodded in understanding. "I can run out right after breakfast and get that." I said. Alexis made a sound. I looked down at her. She sat on my lap happily. "Do you remember how?" joss asked me, "it has been a while since you'd cut anything."

I looked back up to him and smiled, "don't worry." I said, "I remember." Just then, Megan came in with breakfast. "I expect this to all be eaten." She said, smiling. She sat down next to me. I held on to her hand gratefully. She looked to me and smiled. After breakfast, joss ran up stairs to get me something.

I waited at the door with Meg. I held my axe in one hand, and her in the other. "Be careful." She said, hugging me. I pulled her close and gave her a kiss. "I will." I said, "I promise." I looked her strait in her green eyes and said, "I'll make sure I get us lots of fire wood this winter." She smiled.

I peered behind us, through the open door. I could see Alexis in the living room, in her small crib that we had there just in case. I sighed. I was determined to keep this family safe. I couldn't keep the kingdom, and I couldn't protect my parents and my sister was already gone. But I wouldn't fail Meg, who had already been through so much.

Joss returned with a small brown bag. "These are pine tree seeds." He said, handing them to me, "make sure you plant them after you cut down the trees." I nodded, taking the bag. I said goodbye and headed out into the woods.

I walked for a while, looking for a good tree. I saw one. It looked old. It was leaning slightly to the side. I looked up at it. It was short, but it would do. I placed the axe, and then I got ready to swing. Then I saw a bright purple light. I peered around the tree. I saw a young girl on the ground and a bat. The bat looked confused. I approached. It didn't seem to notice me right away. Then it kneeled next to the girl... and pulled out a dagger.

I held back a gasp and he held it to her throat. He was about to cut when I ran at him. I pushed him out of the way. He tumbled, then rolled, then stood up. He hissed at me. "What do you think you're doing?" I yelled at him. He glared, "stay out of this stranger." He said, approaching the girl again. I held out my axe. "Hey, why don't you just leave her be and move along." I said. He laughed a bit, "She is my enemy." He said, "I must kill her."

I glared at him, "no, you don't just walk away and don't worry about It." he smirked, "fine. I will do as you wish." I started to walk away. I continued to stand next to the girl. Then, he turned and jumped at me. I had expected that though. I swung the axe. The blade hit his arm and he fell. It had barely hit him, just enough to make him bleed a bit. "You have made your point." He said, looking down at his arm. "I promise I will now leave her."

I raised an eyebrow, "how can I trust you after that?" he sighed, "I promise on my honour." He said. I didn't know exactly what that was supposed to mean, but it sounded sincere. "Fine." I said. He walked away. And this time he didn't return. I kneeled next to the girl. I was surprised when I recognized her.

"Ghost?"

So how do you like my newest story so far? Please review! Tell me what you think! Thanks for reading!