Prologue

The sun set peacefully along the west, it's soft golden rays painting a blanket of fading color across the evening sky. It's reflection mirrored across a lake, shining light on the gentle waves.

A young teenage girl brushed a hair from her face, surveying the land below her. She stood calmly on the top of a large, looming mountain. She narrowed her eyes, bracing herself as a gentle breeze played through her long, silky dress. She fingered her staff, a tall, silvery pole with a golden jewel fastened to the top. She turned her head slightly to the east, glancing to the moon, which was beginning to glow in the dark of the coming night. She flinched, hearing a faint cracking branch in the distance.

Something was wrong.

She waved her hand. Instantly a small, bird-like creature appeared at her side, ruffling its feathers. They stood in silence for a while. Then the creature spoke.

"Is something the matter, majesty?"

Looking ahead, the girl replied. "I...I don't know. I'm sensing something..."

A worried look crossed the creature's face. "Shall I... go investigate?"

The girl closed her eyes gently and nodded. "But please, be quick and careful. It will happen...soon."

* * *

A dark figure loomed in the shadows of a crevice. He peered at the girl in silence. He nodded to two smaller figures beside him. They crept slowly out of the shadows, towards the girl...

* * *

A piercing scream rang out through the night. The searching bird-creature stopped abruptly, landed on a branch, and glanced towards the mountain.

Trouble had come.

* * *

The creature swiftly flew up to the mountain and landed gracefully atop a rock. She glanced down frightfully and mournfully at the clearing below, where amidst the loose gravel and sprigs of weeds lay a single silver staff belonging to the girl.

She was gone.