This is the first part of a two-part story. It's basically the introduction and almost a prologue, but it was too long, so I made it into a dichotomous serious.

Read and review,

Raven's secret-keeper

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Srentha!!!

Chapter 1: Departure

A young boy, about age 13 or 14, peered around the golden buildings. His wild, cerulean hair stood out amazingly against the golden streets of Azarath. He nearly tripped on his snow-white robe as he focused his crystal-blue eyes upon her.

She was walking down the deserted street with her head bowed. Because she had pulled up her hood, he couldn't tell if she was ashamed, depressed ,or embarrassed. But he knew something was wrong; no one, or at least almost no one, went down this street.

"She knows where it leads to, right?"he asked himself quietly as he stealthily followed her, being careful to not let her see him.

He wanted to call to, but she had told him many times that Raven shouldn't be startled, and they were so similar…

Just as I thought. Surely she can't be heading – okay, so she is. She turned left into the temple and pulled down her hood.

He moved around a few statues to be able to see her face. She was almost in tears.

What's getting into her?! he wondered desperately as she headed deeper into the temple. She knows the rule… There's no going back.. Well, more appropriately coming back… He desperately wanted to comfort her, to ask her what's wrong. But he wasn't even supposed to be here; he was supposed to be in the temple, yes, but with all the rest of Azarath where the eternal flame once burned two or three years ago, not following her in the halls, and if he made any noise, they might be discovered.

Who would be here? Who could know? He ridiculed himself, realizing that the guards and priests weren't even there. Wait… okay, that's not normal… Then again, what today is?

His thoughts reverted back to the girl. Oh, come on! What in Azar's name do you think you're doing?! You told me just yesterday that nothing would make you want to leave!

He was really, desperately hoping that she wasn't serious. She wasn't going to do this, she was going somewhere else.

But this hall led to nowhere else.

Come on! Be sensible! Remember how Juris- He sighed to himself. There were about a million differences in the situations.

His small spark of hope was extinguished when she came to the Forbidden Door.

No, no, no! How could you? Come on, no!

Then she muttered something that caused his anger and frustration to melt away.

"Good-bye, Azarath."

He put his hand on the corner of the wall. He had to follow her. And he couldn't understand why she was leaving.

She pulled open the door revealing an infinite space. She chanted a few inaudible words, then stepped through the doorway and in a flash of white, she vanished, the door still hanging itself open.

And he held his breath, his last chance of hope that she would change her mind... But she didn't.

Had she been banished? No, she couldn't've been. No one even knew her! But why else?

He pondered for about ten minutes before he resolved to follow her. He stepped out of his hiding place, summoned all of his knowledge, and stepped through the door.

A tunnel of swirling energies surrounded him. It seemed like he was being carried through water. Glowing, swirling, rapidly-running, periwinkle water.

It fascinated him. He had never traveled the dimensions before. He was trained to know how, but he completely lacked experience.

He tried to focus on his destination – follow her. His best and only childhood friend. But then he realized that he had just betrayed everything he had ever known. But he had to follow her – today's events didn't matter. Without her, he'd feel so… well, just so. So everything.

His heart was torn in that instant: her or his home?

Oh, I'm so stupid! I can't go back. Oh Azar… Guess that narrows down the options…

Within a few moments of time, he felt the strange and indescribable sensation that he knew was being torn between time and space. An almost inhuman sound was heard as he pierced the dimensional barrier and a flash of white light flared up.

He ended up in a crouching position and looked around as his vision cleared.

And he stood up on Earth.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Review please- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

-Raven's secret-keeper