Prologue
Lyra had always been different. From as far back as she could remember she had felt like she was on the outside. She didn't fit. It often felt as if everyone else had some kind of understanding. That they were in on something that she never understood. Because of this she was alone.
Growing up hadn't been easy for her. Her parents had split when she was just a filly. It had been a divorce where both parents took what they could from each other. Everything, except the small, confused filly. Neither parent wanted responsibility. Neither wanted her as a day to day reminded of how poorly they had done in life, a reflection of their mistakes and their shambles of a marriage. Lyra was unloved and when the final moving boxes had been taken and the last court hearings had been concluded Lyra ended up in an Orphanage. She was left with nothing, nothing but painful questions, nightmares and uncertain fear of what could be next. She was soon to find out her fear was justified.
