It was a dark and moonless night. A small village sat silent as the night went on. No one seemed to be out. It was quiet. This town was too quiet.

"Help! Thief! Stop that thief!" Suddenly, a shout went up from a nearby house.

A figure dashed out of a building with a small sack around their waist. Another figure followed behind them with a weapon. The thief was far ahead. It seemed like they were going to get away. A new figure appeared out of nowhere and jumped the thief. They brought a dull weapon over their head, knocking them out.

The person who had been stolen from caught up, "Thank you. This is the third time she's stolen from me this month."

The other person shrugged, "It's nothing. She's stolen from me as well."

"Shall we go take her to the jail? I think it's about time she meets the end the rest of her family did." The first person grabbed the unconscious thief.

"Yeah. Let's go. I wonder how much they'll praise us, brother." The other person replied.

The two of them walked away toward the jail with the thief slung over one of their shoulders. The thief was caught.

…

A few hours later, the thief woke up. She groaned as she felt her head where she had been hit. She brushed her blue hair out of her face and took a look around. She gulped as she realized where she was. She was in the jail. She was done for now. They'd not hesitate to kill her just like they did to the rest of her family.

"Well, well, well. Looks like the might Kanan has fallen. I knew this day would come. I'll enjoy killing you just like your mother." A guard outside the thief's cell mocked.

Kanan was probably the only thief in the village. She had evaded getting caught for many years. To be caught now was bad. Her reputation as a very elusive thief was damaged drastically. She had gotten caught in such a simple way as well. She didn't go down with a fight.

Kanan's eyes widened as she realized who the guard was. He was the one who killed her mother. He killed her in the most gruesome way he could. Kanan was forced to watch her death. She stood up on shaky legs and walked toward the door.

"You…" Kanan growled.

The guard laughed as he watched Kanan glare at him. She was stuck behind the reinforced steel bars, unable to do anything but glare and speak. Kanan gripped the bars as her legs started giving out. She held herself up as she examined her body. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with her. Nothing noticeable was off.

"Feeling the numbness yet? We made sure you couldn't escape like before. Soon your legs will fail to work." The guard taunted as he watched Kanan struggle to stay standing, "You'll get feeling again in a few hours. But you'll be dead by then. It'll only be an hour until your end. I bet you'll love to know you don't need to predict what'll happen. I'll do what I did to you mother."

Kanan let out a growl, before she collapsed onto her butt. She yelped in pain. Kanan tried to no avail to stand up again. Her legs were numb and unresponsive. She felt pathetic. To be taken down so easily was hard to come to terms with.

The guard opened his mouth to taunt her again, when the door leading to the outside opened up. Another guard walked in followed by a man.

"He paid her bail. Let her go." The new guard requested as he handed over a paper.

The first guard glared at the man, "You are going to let her go? After all the stuff she's done? Are you insane?"

The man just nodded with a hard, cold gaze. The guard sighed as he unlocked the door to Kanan's cell. The man walked over and helped Kanan up. He let her ride on his back as he walked out of the room, a triumphant smirk on his face.

"Why are you helping me?" Kanan asked him after they were away from the jail, "Once word gets out, everyone will hate you for this.

"I find you to be of use. You're a very impressive thief. You're in my debt now. I have something I need of you." He replied.

"What is it?" Kanan asked. She knew whatever it was was not going to be something she would enjoy.

"I assume you are aware of the Ohara family. You know how awful they treat their citizens. Well, I want the princess. Kidnap her for me or I'll have your head." The man said with a sly smile.

"What do you want the princess for? Ransom? Making a deal?" Kanan was confused by his intentions.

"I want to sell her. She'd fetch a high price on the slave market." The man laughed darkly, "Her family can suffer for all they've done that way. The Queen is no longer able to bear children. She is their only one. Taking her away will destroy them."

Kanan gulped as she nodded, "Alright. I'll do as you want."

"Good. Tomorrow night, you leave." The man stated, "Who knows how long she'll remain in the palace for."

Kanan gulped as the man placed her into a small horse-drawn carriage. He got up front and started driving. Kanan sighed as she realized what she was about to do. She was about to commit one of the worst acts anyone ever could.

She was going to kidnap a princess.

…

"I know you'll need more information on the princess. Ask away. I have a spy who has given me a lot of information on her." The man said as he and Kanan sat at a table.

"What's her schedule?" Kanan asked.

"She spends most of her time in her room. Only when she is summoned to eat or attend court, does she leave."

"Guards?"

"None in her room. There's occasionally one outside, but not all the time."

"What way do you think would be the best to take her down?" Kanan asked. She wasn't coming up with any good ideas of her own.

"Well, you can do quite a few things. I'm sure slipping something into her food wouldn't be that hard for someone as sneaky as you. Or you could do a simple whack over the head. Maybe drug her? Cloth over her face? It's your choice." The man replied in a thoughtful manner, "Just don't get caught and don't permanently harm her."

"Alright. Where is her room at?" Kanan debates about what way would be best.

"Far left window on the east side. The one with the ledge."

"Who do you think will aid them the fastest once they discover her gone?" Kanan worried about that one.

"Most likely the Diamond kingdom. The Shining kingdom and them have a very big deal going on about who that girl will marry. Soon they'd be one kingdom if things went to plan." The man smirked.

"I see. I'll set out tomorrow night then." Kanan replied, "I don't know how long I'll be getting her back."

"Send messages as you can." The man stated.

…

Once Kanan got feeling back in her legs, she decided to go and sit outside of the house. She was enjoying the warm sun on her skin. She was startled by rustling nearby. Kanan looked around and noticed a bush shaking.

"Kanan! There you are!"

A wolf and a cat burst out of the bush and tackled Kanan. They licked her face and nuzzled her. Kanan laughed as she tried to push them off.

"Hey, hey, chill. I'm okay." Kanan managed to get them off of her.

"What happened to you? We were so worried! Even Maru and Yohane had no clue what happened to you!" The wolf nuzzled her muzzle into Kanan's hair.

"I got caught stealing some bread. This man that lives here paid my bail. But, as repayment, he wants me to kidnap the Ohara princess." Kanan sighed as she scratched the wolf's neck.

"That's a deathwish. You should just run away." The cat stated as she rubbed her body against one of Kanan's legs.

"I can't, Chika. Where will I go that he won't find me?" Kanan replied, "He's going to have my head if I don't do this."

"I'll kill him for you." The wolf offered.

"No, Yō, that's something I won't approve of. The townsfolk around know you're the only wolf here. The wound will be so easy to distinguish as yours. Then even more people will be after my head." Kanan quickly shot down that idea.

Yō and Chika were Kanan's friends. They might not be human, but that didn't mean anything. Yō had saved Kanan from a wild bear. She had suffered severe injuries during that and Kanan brought her to be healed. Hanamaru did so, but ended up transferring a small bit of magic into Yō. Yō could suddenly talk after that. She vowed to keep Kanan safe from any animal that wanted to harm her as a thanks.

Chika was a different story. She had been abandoned by her family. Some kids had started to pick on her. Chika was nearly killed by them when Kanan stepped in. She chased the kids away and brought Chika back to be healed as well. This time, Yohane was the one who did so. Chika also got some magic and was able to talk. Because of them getting magic, they now have telepathic connections with who they share the magic with.

"What if you asked Yohane to cast a spell on him so he'd forget you." Chika offered as her idea.

"You know she doesn't do stuff like that. She only does spells on willing people." Kanan reminded her.

Chika huffed, "Maybe she'd do it for you. After all, she kinda owes you her life."

…

*2 years ago*

A distressed girl walked through the streets of a village. She was wearing torn and dirty clothing. A hood covered her face. She walked around, going from person to person and asking them for food. No one wanted to help her. No one trusted her at all. She was cursed at constantly.

The girl sat in a dark alleyway to get away from the curses. She was so tired. She knew if she fell asleep, it would be the end. She was scared. No longer would she have to live in this world, but she didn't think that was that enticing. She would never get to be the person she wanted to be. All because she was abandoned by her foster family. They left her to die.

Just as the girl was going to let sleep win, she felt someone gently tap her shoulder, "Are you alright?"

"F-food…" The girl whispered back weakly, "Please…"

She was picked up off the ground by the stranger. She was carried away from the alley and into the woods. She was afraid. Who was this person? Did they plan to kill her? Or wait till she died and then sell her organs for money?

"Stay with me. Don't fall asleep. I have someone who can help you." The person urged.

The girl weakly nodded and did her best to fight the sleepiness away. The person kept walking and talking to her. It wasn't long before they came to a little house. Her savior knocked on the door. A tan-haired girl answered it.

"I found this girl in an alley. Can you help her?"

"Of course. Please bring her inside, zura."

The girl tried her best to look around as she was laid on a bed. She was too tired to move much. She managed to get a look at her savior.

"Hi. My name's Kanan. That's Hanamaru. I promise we're going to help you." Her savior said.

"Y-Yohane…" The girl weakly mumbled.

"I'm gonna sit you up, alright?" Kanan eased Yohane into a sitting position.

Hanamaru came back with a small bottle of water, "Drink."

She held it to Yohane's lips and aided her in drinking it. Yohane was grateful that these two actually were helping her. She had assumed the worst.

"I don't have any food. I don't need it, after all. But, I cannot leave until night to get anything. I'm a pure born witch, if you're wondering. If the town finds me, I will be burned." Hanamaru said.

"I have a little bit of food. I stole from a farmer's field earlier." Kanan stated as she opened her satchel and pulled out a peach, "This is all I have, though."

Yohane perked up at the sight. She hadn't eaten in so long. Kanan seemed to notice. She gave Yohane a warm smile as she left the room.

"What're you doing?" Hanamaru asked.

"Cutting it up. She's too weak to eat it whole." Kanan replied from a different room.

Hanamaru started examining Yohane for any wounds while they waited. The few she found weren't enough to worry about. She saw nothing that needed attention. But, Yohane did need new clothes.

"I'll get you some clothes to wear." Hanamaru stated as she dug through a chest in the room.

Kanan came back with the peach cut up on a plate. She set it on Yohane's lap. Yohane looked at Kanan with a shy, but begging look. Kanan understood the message and picked up the slices one by one and fed them to Yohane. Once she was done, Hanamaru took over and dressed Yohane into some better clothing.

"Get some rest. We'll be here when you wake up. Well, Kanan might not. She might be out stealing stuff again." Hanamaru told Yohane.

…

"Even if I saved her life, do you think she would owe me? I've already done a lot for her. I've been the test subject of her potions and spells." Kanan said.

"She cares about you. You know how much she's done for you to keep you safe. I think she'd do anything that would ensure you wouldn't die." Yō stated.

"I'll do this job. I would love to make her suffer for all the pain she lets go on in the cities." Kanan replied.

"Alright. You know where to find us. We need to go now." Chika nodded.

"Telepathy working yet?" Kanan asked.

"Barely. You might manage to contact Maru or Yohane, but not us." Chika replied, "They haven't found a charm that gives us enough magic to spread it to you."

"Okay. Well, see you guys. I got a job to do." Kanan bid them farewell.

She was still in shock over what had occurred. She was going to be kidnapping a princess. A crime that would result in her being killed on the spot if she was found. Kanan didn't want to die. She promised her family she'd live on for them all. She couldn't let herself die now.

Kanan stood up and decided it was time to head back inside. She had a lot of work to do if this was going to succeed. Kanan did not want her end to be by the Queen. She wanted to die in a more honorable way. She couldn't let this fail.

Failing wasn't something Kanan did and she sure wasn't about to start now.