Windsong - Prologue

"Mother, tell us the story of the Tooth Fairy, again, please?"

"Linds, we've heard that tale a billion times."

"Nah-ah, it has to have bend at least a hundred times."

"Exactly what I mean, too many times to count. Mom, please tell us the story of North."

Two kids were getting ready for bed that night as their mother, whom was called Melody Icesparkle, smiled as she sat down next to her two adorable children.

"Zackary, I don't think Mom wants to talk about North, she likes the Sandman, don't you, Mom?"

Linds, or Lindsey Michelle, was Melody's only daughter and her shining light. She was the mirror image of her mother in a vision of silver and pink.

Melody giggled as she waved a hand through her daughter's black hair.

Zackary Mitchell was Melody's little rebel, and although he hated to admit it, he, like his sister, and his family were very strong believers in the guardians. His personal favorite was Nicholas North, although he grudgingly adored all of the Guardians' stories of how they came to be.

"How about this, guys, why don't each of you think of your favorite guardian story and I'll tell them both to you tomorrow night, alright? It's kind of late being so close to bedtime."

Laying back against her pink pillow, Lindsey said, "Mom, do you think that I could ever have wings like the Tooth Fairy?"

Zackary huffed as he covered his head with his blanket. "Fairies, fairies, fairies! That's all I hear from you, Linds," he muttered.

Smiling, she whispered in her daughter's ear, "Perhaps, Lindsey, if you believe hard enough."

As Melody turned off their light, Lindsey tossed a dime at her brother's shape under his cover as she said, "Hey, Zack, did you hear what Mom said? I might get wings."

Lifting the cover from his head, Zack replied, "Linds, if you had wings, they would be made from actual white feathers, and you wouldn't be called a Tooth Fairy. If I didn't know you, I would say that you would be a Cloud Angel."

Lindsey harrumphed back at him as she laid back down. "Zack, you aren't quite an angel yourself, you know. Do you want Mom to see your blue streak?"

"You better not tell Mom," he told her as he tried to pull down his hanging bangs, laying back down in his own bed.

"Oh, you know I won't, but if she catches you, I can't protect you from getting punished."

Melody Twilight Anderson, of which she was fully known, peered out of her window as she watched the night. Stars twinkled their moonlit song when she saw the first shimmering waves of the Dreamsand Cloud. Sandy, who was really the Sandman, swooped past their house as he blew two dream wisps towards the twins' bedside window. Turning his head, she noticed a familiar face peeking out at him from her own bedside window. Smiling a greeting, he made a dream mist ball in his hand as he hovered next to her window.

Grinning, she held her hands high in a surrender, as she said, "I know, Sandman, but I couldn't resist. Actually, I have a favor to ask, could you watch over my kids' dreams tonight? The reason I ask is that Lindsey has been waking up with nightmares lately."

Sandman's eyes grew serious for a moment when he heard this, but he smiled as he pointed to her bed. Obliging, she sat on the bed as he blew his sands over her, too.

Back in the sky, Sandy alerted his sands and sent messages of them swarming to the North Pole, but on the ground, a darkened shadow passed over the ground as an eerie laugh echoed across the night sky.

Feeling a shudder touch her cheek, Melody woke with a start. Sitting up, she gazed at her darkened surroundings. Listening for any movement, she got to her feet and peered into the hallway. A dark shadow had slid under her children's door. Pulling on her green shawl, she rushed down the hallway and opened the door and turned on the light.

"Mom, what's the matter?" Zackary asked her, not wanting her to see that he was shaking.

"Zack," she said, knowing something was wrong, "Zack, what is wrong?"

Shuddering, he clutched at her arm as he said, "I think I saw …"

"Zackary, what did you see?"

Closing his eyes, he muttered, "A dark shadow … then laughing … Lindsey." With that, they both turned to see Lindsey tossing and turning in her bed.

"Lindsey!" Melody cried as she tried to wake her daughter.

A darkened presence closed over the door as they turned toward it. As the shadows came closer, the window suddenly burst open as sparkling sands whisked the darkness away.

"Sandy," Melody whispered as she pulled Lindsey in her arms. Standing in the window, he saw the retreating trail of the shadow as he passed a sack of sparkling moondust to Melody.

"Wake her with this," Sandy said, taking after the shadow. "Now, go!"

Turning to her son, she shouted, "Climb out the window, Zack, I'll be right behind you."

"I thought the Sandman didn't talk."

"He doesn't."

Holding Lindsey tight in her arms, Melody and Zackary ran for the wagon, but nightmares were blocking their way.

"Mom?"

"Into the woods, Zackary, and don't look back."

"What about Lindsey?"

"I've got her, sweetheart. I promise, I'll meet up with you in a few minutes."

He shook his head as she laid Lindsey on the ground. "Mom!?"

"Zack, go! I don't want you hurt."

Opening the moondust sack, she sprinkled some over Lindsey's eyes.

Watching his sister stir, he bent down and helped her up to her feet. "No, Mom, we stay together. Nothing changes that."

Looking into her son's eyes, Melody smiled. Picking up Lindsey in her arms, Melody took her son's hand and rushed off into the forest.

"Mom, it's scary out here," Lindsey said, clutching her mother's neck.

"Shh, it's ok. I'm here."

Making their way into the forest, they came to an abandoned road.

Looking both ways, Melody started to cross the street but she stumbled when she felt the ground jerk beneath her. Seeing a shadowy figure take form, she shuddered as Pitch stepped out into the night. Shaking his head, he said, "It's pointless to run, you know."

"Zack, I need you and your sister to cross the street while you have the chance."

Pushing Lindsey into Zack's hands, she said, "Go!"

"No, Mom," Zack said, grabbing his mother's hand. "Whatever happens, we go through this together. Right, Linds?"

"Yeah," Lindsey said, joining her brother. "We can't get separated now."

Melody saw that she had no choice, so taking her daughter and son by the hands, she called out "Alright, let's try and lose them in the woods." So, fleeing the attacking night mares, they rushed into the forest. However, neither one of them was aware of the dusk dry air that fiercely blew against the speared bark of a rotten dead tree. As their steps became distant, a slight flame sparked from the decaying branches, as if lift up by lightning, illuminating the shadows of the forest like a wildfire.

"Hold tight to me, Lindsey. We're almost there," her mother said as they rushed through the forest past the burning flashes. Shadows over crossed the tops of the trees as they jumped from tree to tree in pursuit of the three figures. Lindsey gripped her mother's neck as she cried out in fright. Her brother, Zack, watched as the firelight chased the night mares away as they ventured deeper into the silent wood. Stopping in his tracks, he picked up a flaming branch and faced the night mares.

"Zack, no! What are you doing?" Lindsey said, looking over her mother's shoulder. Melody turned around as well at the sound of her daughter's voice.

"Zackary, you get back here right now, it's too dangerous," her mother said with an anxious cry.

Facing them, he called out, "I'll meet you two back around the other bend. Mother, they will catch up to you guys if I don't do this. Just go."

Zackary was too young to bark out orders, especially to their mother, but he was willing to protect them at whatever cost. And, Lindsey knew that. Ever since their father died, Zack was the first to assume responsibility in any situation. And, ever since then, he was always protective of his family.

Lindsey noticed tears in her brother's eyes as he watched them just stand there. "Go!"

"Zackary, please be careful," Melody said as she and Lindsey hurried off further into the shadowy woods.

Soon, they noticed that they weren't being chased anymore, but the fire had gotten worst on the far side of the forest. Smoke snaked past their feet as they struggled to breathe in the ever-lasting smog. Crouching below a tree, her mother brought Lindsey to her chest as she started to cry. Melody wanted to be strong for her daughter, but the smoke was dreadfully getting to her as she started to perspire. The ends of her skirts started to blaze in the heat, and she immediately threw sand on herself to distinguish it. Sniffling, Lindsey held on to her tighter as the fire formed a ring around them.

Struggling to keep her eyes open in the stinking smoke, Melody noticed a clear path that was not engulfed in smoke. Sitting up, she pulled Lindsey from her embrace and half-lifted and half-threw her over the firewall.

Landing hard on the ground, Lindsey cried out in fear as the flames grew higher around her. Hearing her mother's voice, she sat still as she heard, "Lindsey, take the sheltered path to safety. It's your only hope." Standing to her feet, she hesitated as she turned back to her mother. "But, what about you?"

Melody didn't answer back at first as the smoke engulfed her. Coughing, she called out, "Honey, just go, you'll be safe. There's no other way. I love you, my darling."

"Mom!" Lindsey called as she saw her mother's limp figure fall to the ground with a sigh. Looking around for anything, she grabbed up some sand and threw it alongside the firewall. Creating a small opening, she ran over to her mother's limp body and began to tug on her legs. "Nobody gets left behind," she muttered, struggling to pull her mother past the wall. Pulling her far enough away from the flames, she continued to throw sand over the flames until it was completely gone. However, between the effort and the exposure to the smoke, it wasn't long before Lindsey, too, collapsed right next to her mother's hands. Dust settled around her as the wind began to pick up around the two.

Limply opening her eyes, Melody gasped, straining to breath, but turning her eyes at the touch of one of Lindsey's hands, she couldn't see what Lindsey had done. Her vision blurred as the woods faded from her sight. Forcing her thoughts to race, she thought of her two precious children as she forced an inaudible stream of words pass her lips in memory, lowering her head to the sands.

Catching sight of the Moon coming out from behind the clouds, she failed to arise before her last breath passed her lips and her emerald eyes slipped shut.

I have been re-going over this story, so here is a new version of the opening chapter, or prelogue, of the story, which I hope you enjoy. :)
I will be continuing to fix this story, so more improved chapters may be fixed in the story. Other than that, enjoy.