Chapter one: Leaving home
A black dog lay in her bed. She was awake, her grey eyes staring at the ceiling. A single thought ran through her mind: Today. I leave today. She got out of her bed and walked to the window of her room, her grey, furless tail writhing like a snake behind her. She watched the sun rise over the mountains, realizing this might be the last time she sees this wonderful sight. She let her mind wander to that fateful day; the day that ultimately led up to today...
A knock on the door woke her from her daydream. "Yes?" She called. "Lady Chrissy, I am sorry to bother you, but your father asked my to check on you. Is everything alright?"
Chrissy smiled warmly. "Yes Collette, everything is fine. I'll be down in a few minutes." Collette nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
Chrissy gathered up a few belongings. She would be traveling light, so as to cover as much ground, in as little time as possible. She would take a month's rations, a diary, survival gear, and, most important of all, a picture of her family, all six of them, before Jeremy had been taken from her. She stared sadly at the photograph, knowing that the vision seen in the frame was now unattainable in reality. Chrissy closed her eyes tightly, attempting in vain to hold back the tears that were now flowing down her cheeks.
"I made a promise to you, Jeremy." Said the black dog aloud, her voice thick with emotion. "It's promise I intend to keep." With that, she place the photo on top of her belongings, and zipped up the suitcase.
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Moments later, Chrissy was saying her final goodbyes in town square. She walked from person to person bidding fond farewells and promising them she would see them all again soon. There wasn't a large turnout at the farewell ceremony, and most of those who attended were castle servants, Chrissy's military partners, and the rest of the royal family.
At last, Chrissy approached her two other living siblings. Venus, Chrissy's older sister and now heir to the throne, flicked her ears in what was apparent annoyance. She glared at Chrissy with deep brown eyes, and proceeded to stick her nose into the air.
Chrissy looked at her sister sadly. "Venus…" she said pleadingly, "Please don't be like this…"
Venus lowered her face to the ground. "Just go!" she said angrily, her voice cracked with emotion.
Chrissy put her arms around Venus, expecting the light brown dog to shove her away. But the princess merely put her arms around her sister, retuning the tight embrace.
After a moment, Chrissy pulled away. "This is something I have to do." She explained patiently.
Venus looked down ashamedly. "I know…" she said softly. "Just… Promise me you'll be careful, OK?" she pleaded.
Chrissy nodded, and placed a single finger on the white star that graced her forehead. Venus placed a finger in the same spot on her own forehead, and the pair smiled.
Chrissy then walked over to the second dog, her younger brother, Fearith. The 14 year old was the youngest of them, with an orange, yellow, and red pelt that had the appearance of dancing flames. He stared unblinkingly at the ground, as if he couldn't bare to look at his older sister. The black dog smiled.
"Fearith…" she said, placing a hand on his right shoulder. "I know you can be brave. You have to. For your sister and for your people." She told him pressingly. She place a gloved finger under his chin and tilted his head upward so that his green eyes, shimmering with tears, locked with her own. His bottom lip quivered, and he bit it to cause it to be still.
"I-I'll try…" the little prince managed to stammer out. He swallowed hard and said again, with more confidence, "I'll try."
Chrissy smiled. "That's my boy." She said proudly. "Stiff upper lip, now."
Fearith swallowed again, and straightened his back. He looked Chrissy straight in her eyes, and nodded solemnly.
Chrissy turned from her siblings and walked toward her plane. She turned back to everyone who had gathered; thrust her fist in the air, and said loud enough for all that had gathered to hear, "For the glory of Candmal!" She waited for a moment as the group gave a resounding answer to her cry: "For the Freedom of her people!"
Chrissy then turned her back on the crowed, jumped in the cockpit of her ship, gave them all one final nod, and took off without looking back. She knew in her heart that this was the beginning of an adventure that would end in a way no one could ever imagine...
