Prologue

Elysia ran as hard as she could, but she had to acknowledge with dread that she would have to stop and fight sooner or later. She clutched the bundle she held in her arms a bit tighter. An unhappy squeak came from inside the bundle, making the female rat almost wish that she hadn't run away. No, she thought. No, I can't let her row up there. She would be forced to kill other creatures. Acting quickly, Elysia leapt into the underbrush, her momentum sending her sprawling through the thorns and leaves beside the path. I can hide her here. She thought. Then I can give myself up. It's the only way.

"I'm sorry, Amber. Just remember who you are. Remember me, and never give up to Marduk." Talking became harder with every word, so she left it at that.

Wait! Pleaded the voice inside her. You can join another clan! You can both get out of this! Elysia half believed it, but pushed the idea out of her mind. She knew that her tattoos showed for all to see that she was Juska.

Hiding the ratbabe carefully Under a nearby tree, Elysia stepped out of the protective darkness of the wood, and into the half-light of the path. Into full view of the very beasts she had been running from. The silence almost hurt, but she heard the voice over it.

"Nobeast escapes the clan of Juskabel. You are no exception, rat."

Elysia lifted her tattooed head and stared with hate-laden eyes into the dark, emotionless eyes of Marduk Ubel.