She was going to run away

She was going to run away. To Tortall, where she could start over and be somebody. Maybe they'd let her train at the palace!

So that night, on the full moon, she quietly packed her things. When she was done, she tiptoed to the door-suddenly, a hand caught her around the waist and covered her mouth so she couldn't scream. She twisted, catching who ever it was, obviously a man, in the groin.

"Shadow, stop it! It's me, Jimmy." He groand, bending over in pain.

"I'm sorry!" Shadow whispered tenderly. "I didn't know it was you." He nodded.

"Where are you going? You know, if ma catches you sneaking out, you're only giving her an excuse to hit ye some more." Shadow sighed.

"I'm not sneaking out, I'm runnin' away."

"Runnin' away! You, you can't! It-" He broke off, thinking. " Maybe you should, it's no good fer you here, ma'll just hurt ye some more." She smiled at him, thankful he understood.

"Ye won't wake the others?"

"No lass, though, Sarah will be offly upset she couldn't see ye off." He smiled at her and brushed back a stray piece of hair from her face.

"What's this?" A sweet melodic voice sounded from the doorway to their left. They looked over and found Sarah in her white linen night-gown and starched cap with a look of curiousity.

"Shadows leavin', runnin' away." Jimmy replied.

"Running away? But Shadow, you're my only sister!" Tears filled Sarah's eyes.

"Oh Sarah! Please don't. It's no good fer me here, you know that." She reached a hand up and brushed the tears from her sister's face. Sarah nodded.

"I know, but-" she ran back into her room and brought out an empty little pouch and an expensive magiced box where she kept her allowence. She opened the box and poured all the coins into the pouch with it making a sound and the pouch growing no larger. It was a bag you could put anything in and never feel the weight or see a difference. It was called a cacher, which meant "hidden". Sarah handed her the pouch.

"Oh no, Sarah! I couldn't! I-"

"Oh yes you can, Shadow. I don't need it anyways, ma buys everything I need. And I won't take no for an answer, so it's no good tryin'." Shadow sighed and took the bag and put it around her neck.

"Wait just a moment." Jimmy went back into his room and brought out his magiced box of money.

"No no no, Jimmy. I won't-"

"Yes yes yes, Shadow. I don't need it and you will, consider it an early birthday present." Shadow rolled her eyes and Jimmy poured the money into the cacher. She kissed her brother and sister on each cheek, picked up her small bag, and left.

She stopped at the training yards to pick up a few things; her sword, staff, lance and shield. The sword, lance and staff didn't exactly belong to her, but she had made them and boughten the lead for them. She had won her shield that summer after she had taken the Ordeal. The Ordeal was spending one night in the East Forest, where strange things happened, and survive. Shadow had made it, though she had nightmares for weeks afterward. Shadow picked up her shield, it had a pitch black background with a singal with dove in the middle, signafying that behind her life living in shadows, there was a light that shone through it all. The last thing she did was go to the stables. She had a horse there, it wasn't hers but she used it for training. His name was Prince. He was spirited and beautiful thourogh bred that was black with white stockings, mane and tail with a white star on his forehead.

"Hey boy." She murmmered softly to him. "Do you want to come with me?" The horse snickered softly and nudged her. Shadow smiled and opened his stall. After she had him all sadled up and her gear in place, she left a few coins in the stable for him. She didn't think that it would really matter that she took him because she was the only person that could go near him. If you came within a foot of him, he would probably bite your head off. She quietly clicked to him and they trotted out. They went by her house, where Sarah and Jimmy stood outside, watching. She turned and looked back at them and raised a hand in farewell. She turned rode off, a silvery light in the black of night.