A large herd of deer stood silently eating, in the middle of a large clearing, oblivious of the deadly huntress stocking them from the trees. She silently knocked an arrow on her long dark brown bow and released it into the herd, perfect aim. The herd bounded off, with one less. The huntress walked into the clearing, the moonlight lighting her hair in a deadly glow. She knelt down my the dying animal and slit it's throat, before preceding to skin and cut the meat. She suddenly stopped moving, and moved her left hand to the hilt of the long blade attached to her hip. The air filled with the sharp sent of electricity as lightening cracked above her head.
"It always rains when I do this." She mumbled to herself, wiping the warm blood off her hands and pushed herself up. Her dark eyes scanned the tree line before she tossed the many pieces of meat into a brown leather bag and slung it across her shoulders. She cleaned off her blades in the grass and sheathed them. Just as she began to walk, the sky opened up and let a steady down pour of warm water fall around her. A gentle smile broken across her face as she started walking.
If it doesn't lighten up, the path home is going to be flooded and Mamá is going to be left without food. She thought, letting her clouded mind slip to her caretaker Mamá was an elderly woman with no children of her own, and was forced with the job of raising the violent and troublesome outsider, I hope Papá is home. Then there will be a fire at least. Lightening cracked again, this one, sending shivers down her back. A bright blinding light erupted over the tree tops, causing her to stop. The same herd of deer came bounding at her, while she stared into the sky. She jumped out of the way and watched them run away. She continued her way, following the careful game trail back to her village. It was nearly dawn when she broke through the tree line to the back door of the small hut that served as her house.
"Mamá! Papá! I'm back! I have food!" She yelled, placing the bag next to the small fire that warmed the house, "Mamá! Papá!" She walked into the main room and found it a mess. She looked around and saw blood splattered across 2 of the 4 walls. She walked to the small bedroom and saw it torn apart and ripped to shreds. A deep panic and sense of lost filled her senses, confusing her even further. She ran to what used to be a bed and tipped it over, then started digging until she found what she was looking for, a large smooth dark purple stone and quickly hid it in her quiver. She stood up and ran to the kitchen, grabbing the bag of meat before running into the town. The 4 elders stood in the middle, staring at a large pyre saying prayers. She walked into the surrounding crowd and tapped one on their shoulder, "What happened here?" The man jumped and cried out, causing the elders and rest of the crowd to turn and look at her.
"You are charged with betraying the Empire to the Elves and Varden, and harboring exiles of the village, and not following orders. You will die." The eldest one said.
"Treason, Maya. Do you understand us. You hid exiles, people who are not aloud in the village, and did not tell us of your guardian's job of supplying the Varden."
"Do not talk down to me." She snapped, "I know what Treason means, and I know what you are saying. If you want me dead, you will have to find me." She turned and ran from the village, grabbing a friend's black mare on the way. She swung herself up and urged the animal forward. Angry shout and curses followed her as she raced to the woods. The horse did as she asked, disappearing into the shadowy forbidden Spine.