Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Kiesh'ra books sadly. tear, tear This is my first fanfic, so please R&R, and if I get anything wrong please tell me. I'm a really big airhead. Flames welcome!

Chapter One:

I crouched down and slowly pushed a rock over the edge with my toe. I peered over the edge of the cliff as it plummeted down into the black abyss of water tearing at the cliff. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the salty taste of the ocean. The sun had just begun to rise and its rays stretched across the waters surface like beacons of hope. Hoping was all that we could do now; hope that the Falcons didn't decide to destroy us all. More and more of the serpiente and the avians were marrying, despite the two civilizations differences, and having more cross-bred children - wyverns.

I was one of the first wyverns born after Oliza left, and like all other wyverns born at the time we were treated with hate and contempt. During my early childhood, when more and more wyverns were born, both sides began to finally accept us. What the Falcons had predicted only partially came true; our long-forgotten magic could only be rekindled with pure royal blood like Oliza's. There have only been a few cases of magical outbreaks in the past seventeen years and none of them were serious. I silently thanked the Gods for that. Luckily for me, I didn't possess any of the Falcon's magic and therefore wasn't a threat to them.

I sighed inwardly. Would there ever be a time when we didn't live in fear of the Falcons? When we could stand up for ourselves and not cower in the shadows? These were silly questions and I knew it. We would never be anywhere near powerful enough to take on the Falcons.

I closed my eyes, feeling the wind caress my skin. My skirt twisted and fluttered around my legs as I stood up. I looked down at the ocean one last time, then turned around and made my way home.

The grass was soft and dewy beneath my bare feet as I wound my way through the trees. I silently stroked their trunks as I passed each one, feeling the coarse texture of the bark beneath my fingers. I could hear tiny animals scurrying about and trying to hide from me, the unwelcome intruder. Gold finches called to each other in the treetops and squirrels chased each other about.

I continued on through the forest easily, the well-beaten trail clearly visible in the morning light. It took me roughly twenty minutes to reach the outskirts of town. The day had barely begun and yet the town was brimming with people. They were already up and about doing their work - which reminded me I had chores.

I hiked up my skirts and sprinted into town, apologizing all the way as I pushed against the heavy flow of living traffic. Step on a foot here; elbow someone there, and all the while people screamed curses at me. I was dodging a hefty woman when I tripped over a loose cobblestone. I yelped as I collided with the unlucky person that was in front of me.

"I am so sorry!" I exclaimed pushing myself off the ground. A boy about the same age as me with dark hair was lying on the ground rubbing his head. I rushed over and helped him up. "I'm so sorry! I'm so clumsy, I tripped," I said. My words tumbled from my mouth in a rush, all trying to get out at once.

"It's fine," he said, brushing himself off. "No blood, no foul," He looked up at me and our eyes met for the briefest of seconds.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'm going to be in such trouble!" I was already pushing my way through the crowd. "Sorry!" I called back once again. He was standing there with an amused look on his face before he turned around and disappeared into the masses.

I pushed harder, with more aggression, as I made my way down the street. I was almost there, if I could just get there faster!

"Excuse me! Pardon me!" I yelled, trying to give people the hint to get out of my way. My home finally came into view and I saw my younger sister sitting on the front steps, smiling evilly. The look on her face was rather reminiscent of a snake that has swallowed a small animal whole.

I glared at her as I rushed up the steps.

"You're gonna get in trou-ble," she sang.

"Be quiet, Sonya!" I growled as I opened the door slowly. I silently prayed that mother and father had already left and that they just assumed that I was asleep when they did so.

"Alise!"

I cringed; Mother was still here. Behind me, I heard Sonya giggling uncontrollably. I reached out to swat her, but she hopped up and ran down the alley that ran between the houses. I grumbled to myself and shut the door behind me. Mother was sitting at the table looking at me with her unnerving garnet eyes. Her long black hair was pinned neatly up in an avian style, much to my father's liking. He didn't like mother wearing her hair down like the dancers and believed that only the younger generation should wear their hair freely.

"Morning," I said cheerfully trying to ease my mother.

"You were supposed to watch your sister this morning and start getting ready for market," she said sternly, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm sorry, I got a bit distracted."

"Distracted?" she said, her eyebrows raised. "Distracted how?"

"Uhm, I was watching the sun rise and…I was just thinking, really," I said trying to be honest. She could always tell when I was lying.

Her face fell. She thought I was talking about a boy! I hoped she didn't start on the-

"When are you going to be in a relationship, Alise?"

She started it.

"Mother, I'm just not interested, alright? Could we please drop the subject?"

"No," she said bluntly. "But we will discuss it later; you have to get to market."

She rose out of her chair and smoothed out her dress before she walked out the door. I hated when she lectured me about not courting anybody, or turning down anybody who wanted to court me. Why couldn't she just accept the fact that I wasn't interested? I dashed up the stairs into my room and slammed the door shut.