Disclaimer! I dont own the characters! The rest is mine :)


It was a peaceful day as I rode my black Pegasus, Dark Shadow, across the sky. I was going back home after visiting an old mermaid friend for 3 weeks. I closed my eyes as we went through a cloud. I looked down on the ground and saw a little stream.

I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Let's go down for a little rest, okay girl?" she snorted in response.

When we reached the ground I led her to the stream. I stroked her long black mane as she drank. I sat down on the ground and waited to drink my fill. As I lay down I heard rustling in the bushes behind me. I stood up and placed my hand on the handle of my sword. I went closer to where the sound came from.

Then a monster jumped out in front of me. I smiled as I realized it was a Hell Hound. The Hell Hound stood 10 feet tall and was covered in smelly black fur. It snarled and showed its huge teeth. Its red eyes glowed with hunger. He jumped on top of Dark Shadow and I charged.

I ran and drove me sword deep into his belly. It howled and turned on me. Since my sword was stuck inside him I had to take out my bow and arrows. I jumped on a tree and shot down dozens of arrows at once. They all hit the Hell Hound's back and a few hit his head. It head butted the tree and I fell down.

I managed to land on my feet. I looked and saw that the Hound was a little dizzy. I got the dagger that was strapped to my thigh and ran towards him. It jumped and landed on me. It was too heavy to push off. It bit at my skin and ruined my clothes. I grasped my dagger tighter and stabbed it in the eye.

It got off of me and I ran and got the sword out of his stomach. I climbed on top of it and slit its throat. I then chopped of its ear and stabbed him in his chest. I climbed off of it and ran to Dark Shadow.

She was barely breathing I looked around and got a single water lily. I crumbled it and spread it across Dark Shadow. I whispered a few magic words and got water from the stream. I washed the cuts and got some bandages from my pack. After I made sure all the cuts were okay, I looked around.

No one else was here. I smelled my arm and gagged. The smell of the Hound was stuck on me. I took my clothes off, or what was left of them of them, and went in the stream. As I bathed I watched Dark Shadow. She was breathing more normal now. After I was sure the stench was off of me and Dark Shadow was okay, I got dressed.

I put on a black tank top, black shorts, and my black combat boots. I untangled my shoulder length, pink hair and swept it in a pony tail. I rearranged my bangs that stopped above my honey eyes. I looked at the dead Hell Hound and walked towards it. I got my weapons out of its body and pulled a tooth out. I washed my weapons and put them back. I put the tooth in a box and looked at the sky. It was twilight.

"Well it looks like we'll have to camp here. Get some rest and you'll be fine by morning."

I sat by Dark Shadow and watch the sky turn dark. By midnight she was asleep. I walked around and gathered some berries and fruit. I was walking back when I heard a twig break. I turned around and looked.

"Who's there? Unless you want to fight come out peacefully."

"Sorry to alarm you." a boyish voice said, "I was walking when I saw you fight the Hell Hound. Good job by the way." he stepped into the light and I saw he was a boy about my age.

He had sapphire eyes and messy blue hair. He was wearing a black short sleeved shirt, jeans, and boots. He had a sword strapped to his side. I saw that he had black cat ears and a skinny black cat tail like me. But his tail and ears had a blue tip while mine had a pink tip. He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. Then a thought came to me.

"Did you also see me take a bath, you perv?" I looked into his eyes as I blushed.

"No I didn't. I left and was thinking of coming back after you bathed and talk to you." he stepped closer and bowed. "It's not every day you see a wonderful warrior like yourself."

I turned around. "Fine. Come along if you want, just don't try anything weird." I led him back to my camp and sat down next to the stream. "Come sit. Whats your name?"

He sat down next to me and looked at the stars. "My name is Ikuto. I'm a traveler and I was heading to a main village of the kingdom Darklight. I'm also a warrior." he looked at me. "What about you? Why are you traveling alone?"

I laid down and looked at the full moon. I glanced at Ikuto and he was looking at me. I sighed and answered, "My name is Amu. I was going back home to that village, Wicker, and I'm the princess of the kingdom." I saw his eyes go wide. "I was visiting a mermaid friend when word came that said I had to go home right away."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Princess Amu."

"Ugh. I hate it when people call me that. Just call me Amu. Anyways do you want to ride with me tomorrow on my Pegasus?" I asked

"It looks like he's hurt."

"He is a she and I used magic and she'll better by morning. So how about it or do you want to walk?"

"Yeah sure. Are you also a Child Of the Shadows like me or are those tails and ears fake?" a Child Of the Shadows are a rare race. They are human but with ears, tails, and qualities of a cat.

"Yes and why are you asking something so obvious?"

"I was just wondering what your full name was."

Child Of the Shadows names are made up of a God or Goddess's name and a feeling. They also have a human name. "My full name is Nyx Fury but since I'm a girl the y in Fury is replaced by a a. And you already know my human name." he chuckled "What is so funny?"

"Well my full name is Erebus Rage and Erebus and Nyx were lovers." I looked at him and saw that he was blushing bright red.

"What a coincidence."

"Life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents, or coincidences. But rather a tapestry of events that culminate in a exquisite plan. A quote from somewhere. Good night Nyfura."

"Night Ikuto." I scooted a little further away.


"Land on that hill please." I told Dark Shadow. She swooped down and landed perfectly on the grass.

"Why did we land? The village is just down there." Ikuto asked jumping off.

"Because I have to tell you somethings. First, you can't call me princess or tell anyone I'm the princess. Second, if anyone asks you why your with me tell them your a old friend from one of my adventures. Don't tell them I have Dark Shadow or I'll kill you. Any questions?"

"Why can't I tell anyone?"

"Because 10 years ago the my mother and father were murdered. I survived because I was visiting my aunt. But no one knew so they think I was killed too. So when I came back they decided to keep me a secret until I was old and strong enough to kill the assassins." I felt tears coming coming. I willed them back.

"Why can't we take Dark Shadow?" he glanced at her. She was eating some grass. "I like walking and all, but it's early."

I stroked Dark Shadow's long black mane. "Only royalty can have a Pegasus or any mythical animal. How old are you?" I thought he was 13 like me, but I might be wrong...

"13 why?"

"Well I thought a 13 year old that's also a warrior wouldn't mind walking a mile, but I guess your not a warrior after all." I turned around and started walk away.

"I'm so a warrior! I challenge you to a duel to prove it!" he walked next to me.

"Fine, but how about we make this more interesting." I smiled at him.

"Interesting how?"

"I win you have to...clean the whole village."

"And if I win?"

"I'll do what you say for a day." I stopped in front of him and held out my hand. "Deal?"

"Deal!" he shook my hand. I grinned at him and took off running to my village.

"WHAT?" I was in the village's royal building. It was really just a mansion. I was sitting at the dinning room table. Ikuto was next to me silently eating his scrambled eggs and the stand-in king, my uncle Nikaidou, (My dad was a Child Of the Shadows and Nikaidou was my moms brother) across from me.

"Don't yell. Since your 13 you have to go to middle school. You start tomorrow." Nikaidou said. "There is also a uniform. You'll find it in your closet with a map of the way to school in the pocket." he looked at Ikuto curiously. "and who is this young fellow?"

I glanced at Ikuto as he answered, "I'm Erebus Rage or Ikuto, your highness. I'm a Child Of the Shadows like Nyfura, a traveler, and a warrior."

"I met him in while I was visiting Yaya. He was going to come here so I gave him a left." I shrugged.

"Hmm...how old are you?"

"13 sir."

"Your going to go with Amu to school. I'll have your uniform ready before nightfall." he snapped his fingers and told a servant to make a boys uniform while I looked at Ikuto. He was pushing the eggs around his plate. He looked up and saw me staring. I looked into his eyes and couldn't look away.

His eyes weren't only one shade of blue. Near the pupil it became a darker blue. I didn't move as my gaze stayed fixed on his. He smiled gently and I felt my face slowly turn red. I smiled back and tried to look away. When I finally did I saw my uncle was watching us. He seemed to be mad and amazed at the same time.

"Thanks for breakfast. See you later, maybe." I got up and walked out. Ikuto was behind me.

As I walked outside I took a deep breath. Wicker always smelled like vanilla, peaches, rain, and a hint of sea salt. As I exhaled I walked to the village center.

Wicker is a pretty big village. Its has a lot of stores in the center and a water fountain. Most of the houses were near the edge of Wicker, but not too on the edge. On the out skirts there is a lake which is home to many creatures and one the left side is a forest. If you located Wicker in a map it would look like a huge oval.

"Where are we going?" Ikuto was walking next to me while looking around.

"Since we have school we need to get notebooks, pens, pencils, and I need to get some food and stuff for my house." I said through clenched teeth.

He stepped in front of me, blocking my way. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I murmured while trying to walking around him. As I took a step left, he did so too.

"Tell me. I can keep a secret." he smiled and showed a row of white teeth. Then a thought hit me.

"Why were you coming to Wicker?"

"What?" he looked confused for a second.

"Why were you coming to my village." I said emphasizing every word.

"I'll tell you if you tell me what's bothering you."

"After we get the school supplies." he nodded and we continued into the center.

When we reached the center we split up. I took the stores on the left and he took the ones on the right. As I looked at the stores I heard a soft meow. I looked around and heard it again. It was coming from the fountain.

I ran to the fountain and saw a little black kitten drowning in the water. People had gathered by and were doing nothing. Either because the kitten was to far to reach, they didn't want to get wet, or both.

I looked at the kitten and felt my heart swell up. It was a little runt and too small to stand in the water while keeping its head out. I tried to think how to save it. As it went under I just jumped in the water.

The water went up to my waist and I wadded to reach the kitten. I finally got to where it was and tried to grab it. I had to go on my knees to scoop it up. The water was at my neck and I had to put my head under to grab the black kitten. When I reached it I was soaking wet. People and creatures moved out of my was as I got out.

I went to a bench and laid the cat down. It was shivering, but thankfully still breathing. I looked around and saw a lady selling scarfs, bags, and jackets. I ran up to her and bought a purple scarf and a black jacket that was a little too big for me. I put the jacket on and went back to the kitten.

People gathered as I dried the kitten and wrapped it in the scarf. It opens it eyes and I saw that they were neon green. It mewed as to say thanks. I checked and found out it was a girl. As it purred I looked around all the creatures and normal people who gathered around.

"Who is the owner of this kitten!" I asked the crowed outraged.

People said no, but one walked up to me. "That little kitten is mine." the person was a cyclops, but a child. He stood in front of me looking bored. "Can I have it back now?"

This made me more mad. "You cannot have her back! You almost killed her and I won't give her back just so you can do it again!" I didn't care if he was several feet taller than me, I could still take him down.

"It ran away from me and jumped into the fountain. It wasn't my fault." he reached out to take her from me.

"She must of have a reason to run away, cats are loyal to those who love them. And I didn't see you go into the water to save her." I started to walk away with the little black kitten, but he grabbed my arm.

"Unless you want me to break your arm give it back." he squeezed my arm and I involuntary screamed. I couldn't fight with the kitten!

"Let go of her." Ikuto walked next to the cyclops glaring.

"Shes kinda cute. Might take her along with the cat." he smiled evilly at him. If looks could kill the cyclops would be dead.

Then in a flash I was pushed on the ground. My arm was free and the kitten safe. I watched in awe as Ikuto flipped the cyclops over like it was nothing, even thought it probably weighed like 19 tons. He ran to me and helped me up.

"You okay?" I asked him as I looked him over.

"I should be asking you." he was looking at my arm that the cyclops held. "Lets go before he gets up!" he grabbed my good hand and led me away from the crowd.


Ever: I hoped you like it! Please tell me what you think! I know the character are OOC but I just changed the names and descriptions because I'm too lazy to re write everything. :P

Ikuto: Lazy bum

Ever: Shut up! I dont have much time with my big brother coming in my room to bother me, having to stay with my mom at K-Mart as my brothers go to judo because Im too young to stay home alone (13 isn't that young!), getting ready for school, and typing some other stories. So I have plenty of reasons!

Amu: O.O you got her mad...

Ikuto: So?

Ever: I can get you killed :)

Ikuto: ….Please R&R * whispers* and help me

Ever: What did you say?