Chapter 1

"Luna!" My mother called out to me. I was hiding in the deep part of the woods that surrounded our home. I don't know why my mother decided to live out here. There was no one else but us. Not that I really minded. I wouldn't know how to act if there were other people around us anyways.

"Luna, where are you?" My mother called out again. I just wanted to play hide and seek with her. I read in one of my books that most 10 years olds play hide and seek. Sure it said they play with their friends, not their mothers, but my mother was the only person I had right now. She says I am not allowed to ask about my father, and I do as I am told.

"There you are." My mother appeared in front of me. She had finally found where I was hiding.

"Are you mad, Mother?" I ask quietly.

"No, now come inside."

"You're done with your potion?" Yes, my mother is a 'witch'. Well that's what the people in my books would call her, I guess. The witches in my books are usually described as ugly mean women who do nothing but torture and eat children.

Mother is nothing like that. True she can be a little mean, but that is only when she scolds me for doing something I am not suppose to, which doesn't happen often. Mother has never tortured me or tried to eat me. Also she is very beautiful. Her fur color is black. She has these gorgeous blue eyes, and her hair flows way past her shoulders almost reaching her tail. I honestly think she is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen. Well the only cat I've seen beside myself.

I don't think I look anything like my mother. I mean besides the black at the end of my hair and tips of my ears and tail, I don't have a quality resembling her. The rest of my fur is purple, and I have gray eyes. Whenever I talk to Mother about my appearance she just frowns and says: "You look like your father." I think it upsets her that I do.

"Yes, I've finished my potion. Now please come inside. It's getting dark." Mother says as she pulls me towards our small home.

"But Mother I like the dark. It's so pretty. It reminds me of you. Can we play out here when the sun goes down?" I ask.

"No, Luna. Mother is very busy. I have to make dinner, and get your lesson ready for tomorrow." Mother says as we walk into our home.

It's nothing special, just a small home for the both of us. There are 4 rooms; my bedroom, Mother's bedroom, the bathing room, and the kitchen. The kitchen is the first room you walk into, and it's also where Mother does her work. There are then three doors. They lead to the rest of the rooms. The only special thing is the bathing room. You go in there, grab, a towel like thing and walk out the door within the room. You'll eventually find a lake. Like I said, it's nothing special but it's home.

"Luna, go take a bath and come back inside for dinner. No playing around. Understood?" Mother says.

"Yes, Mother." I say as I walk into my room.

All that is in here is my bed, a pile of books, my sewing kit, and a box full of my clothes. Mother says a girl must always know how to make and mend her own clothes. I enjoy it, almost as much as I enjoy reading and playing in the night. I quickly gathered up my nightclothes and went to the bathing room. I grabbed my towel and went for the lake.

I couldn't help but too smile. The sun was gone, and the beautiful moon was out. I loved when Mother told me to take a bath around the time night fell. Nothing is better than sitting in a relaxing lake staring up at the stars. I knew this is where I was meant to be. In this forest, in this lake, staring at the beautiful night sky that couldn't have existed anywhere else.

Six Years Later…

I stood at the top of the tree view all the surrounding forest in my sight. I absolutely loved it here. It was the middle of the night. The normal time I would usually come out. Mother knows of course. I would never do anything against her wishes. She didn't understand why I loved it so much though. She prefers me to be in the house studying my potions and spells, but it isn't as fun as this.

I always climb really tall trees at night. I feel closer to the sky that way. Mother always worries about me up her. She thinks I'll fall, or worst get stuck. I laugh at her silly thoughts, but then I stop. Mother hasn't been feeling well enough to warn me of the dangers of trees. This causes me to worry about her.

I don't like the idea of her lying in bed all night and DAY. That is the only thing that has changed in the last six years. She still forbids me to ask about my father, and she doesn't 'play' with me. Every now and then she'll teach me a couple new spells, but that's it. She can't even stay out of bed long enough to get our meals, so I have to. I'm not complaining though.

The last thing I want is for my ill mother to be wandering around the forest. I usually just get lots of fruits, vegetables, and some sort of beans. Mother has never fed me any meat before, and I'm not to keen on the idea of eating a dead animal.

I look at the horizon and see that it's almost sunrise. I smile up at the moon one more time before heading down the tree. I go straight home right away to see Mother open her eyes.

"Mother, I'm back." I call as I walk into the house. I hear a loud cough. I quickly dash to her room.

"MOTHER!" I yell as I see her body sprawled on the floor. I move down to her side.

"Luna….."

"What are you doing out of bed? You know you've been very ill lately." I say with a bit of anger. I've never raised my voice at mother before.

"Luna…..Leave the forest and perform this spell…." Mother whispers as she hands me a piece of paper.

"But Mother… I've never left the forest before…" I say quite shocked. Mother has always forbidden me from going anywhere near the outside of the forest. I didn't understand why, and I never really cared until now. Why was she telling me to leave, and what was this spell going to do?

"I'm leaving Luna… You must live with your father…. This spell will take you to him…."

"WHAT! NO! You're not leaving, and I'm not either. I'm staying here with you. How could you even mention that? I don't know anything about him. You said I'm not suppose to ask or talk about him, yet you want me to live with him?"

"Luna…Are you going to disobey your mother now? When she's near death?"

I don't say anything.

She's right. I've always listened to her. I never thought Mother didn't have a good reason for doing what she does. It makes sense to me if I think about it long enough. Why should I choose now to go against her wishes? Go against her final wish…. Who am I to deprive her of that?

"O-okay, M-m-mother. I'll go" Tears now rolling down my cheeks.

"Thank you, my daughter. I love you." She says with a smile as her eyes clothes. This is when I realize, I've never seen mother look so peaceful.

A/N: I don't know if I will ever finish Swapped. If I don't then I apologize to the people who really enjoy reading it. If I do then YAY!