"People are supposed to fear the unknown, but ignorance is bliss when knowledge is so damn frightening."

- Laurell K. Hamilton

All That Remains

Prologue: Have You Heard the Rumors

Their squadron felt alien.

The place bustled with unusual activity, in such a way that it both confused and excited her. Yet, somehow, it made the hair on her arms rise uneasily.

"Melanie!"

She blinked, meeting the eyes of a cute, blushing blond. Her best friend, "What's going on Hannah?" She smirked, almost evilly, as the other girl looked down at her armoured feet and rubbed her arms. The morning air was a bit chilly.

"I heard that Kagome-" Her delight only heightened as the name left her friend's lips. Kagome had become a good friend of both of them over the months they had been together. She had disappeared almost two weeks before, leaving them to worry over her endlessly. Rumor had it that King Galbatorix had sent her on a mission personally.

"Uh, Mel?" Hannah sounded uncomfortable, and she snapped from her reverie to meet her dark green eyes. "Are you listening?"

She stayed quiet or only a moment, then, a deep grin appeared on her face, "You said Kagome's coming home, right?" She felt oddly proud of her stupendous deduction skills, even when the expression on Hannah's face clearly showed that she was wrong.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some. She considered wistfully, the smile on her face never faltered.

"No, she… s-she's gone!" She was sure Hannah would have continued had a tall shadow not fallen over her form. She eyes locked with the deep blue, feline eyes of an elf. Not just any elf though; Kagome's terrifying boyfriend. Melanie had never gotten on with him, -he was too quiet for her liking- but she had caught Kagome sneaking out passed curfew many times to meet up with him.

Of course, she liked him no more when his hand closed around Hannah's arm like a steel clasp and he dragged her friend into the nearest building – the changing quarters. Had she not been so flustered, she would have marveled and questioned his ability to open the heavy doors while Hannah struggled and bit at him.

She stared as the door closed for a full second, before she flung the door open after him, and stormed inside. Three soldiers from their squad stood stock still inside, looking between Dewain's furious expression to hers and inching toward the doors.

In the end, they ran for the exit, and Hannah shoved Dewain away. This time, he didn't try to stop her.

"What's your problem asshole?!" There were tears in her friend's eyes and her hands balled into tight fists.

In answer, Dewain raised a hand and touched his finger to the right side of his chest; then the left. After, he kissed his fingers and laid them, open, atop his other hand.

Melanie relaxed, forgetting her anger and settling into curious neutrality. His gesture was used around their camp as a universal way of saying that no harm would come from the one who used it.

She was satisfied when, despite it, Hannah walked backwards until they stood side-by-side. "So then, what do you want?"

"You shouldn't be talking about her," He softly replied, "it's dangerous." His head shook, and he slowly added, "If the captain heard you…"

While Melanie didn't know what he spoke of, Hannah tensed at her side. She looked at her curiously, "What's going on?"

"…Kagome betrayed his majesty. She… she's working with the Varden."

She didn't have time to absorb the statement; nor the time to decide how she felt about it.

For, as she finished her sentence, screams began to rip through the air.

-Niki