Elements of Life
Chapter 1
"Birthday Gift"
Whitestone. A simple and unremarkable name, even by most standards. Few people had ever heard of them and smaller still was the number that knew of their hidden importance. The Whitestone clan was only one of several smaller branches that belonged to a larger family tree, one that had spread its root into every nation across the globe.
Throughout history, this great family strove to survive in a constantly hostile world. In order to preserve their existence, they needed to make themselves necessary to the continuing way of life of those surrounding them. The easiest way was to find a service and/or sets of talents that others needed. They proceeded to identify them, learn then, and perfect them. It was by this method alone that they survived and prospered, up to the point that several of the clans were sought out specially for their progeny's talents.
One clan had specialized in producing great military leaders and solider of war, many of which participated in famous battles throughout the ages. Another was desired for their scholars and scientists, who had helped shape the world into what it was today. Yet a third became famous for it's works of art and written word.
The Whitestone clan was different in many aspects. While most of the other clans within the great family chose a single set of talents to focus on, the Whitestone wished to remain adaptable. They wanted to remain flexible in order to tackle any situation that arose. So, in order to stay multitalented, they became jacks of all trades: soldiers, artists, scholars, and more. But that small move wasn't the only thing that set their clan apart.
The Whitestone clan prided themselves on the fact that they would remain neutral in all matters, they refused to join sides on any conflict brought up before them. This in turn, provided to be advantageous, for as mediators, they could offer their services to any that wished to have an impartial audience. In this manner they created a name for themselves and brought a certain type of attention to their family. Because of the great pains they took to remain true to their convictions, they finally earned their greatest recognition.
By that time, the Whitestone clan had produced several generations of their famous mediators, they had started a school to teach others of their methods. This last step confirmed their involvement with the Garden Project, for they were searching for instructors for their newly set up program, the SeeD's. The Whitestone clan matriarch accepted their invitation to instruct at the Gardens. The recently assembled schools were shifted, sending both instructors and students to the different Gardens. The very next generation born were sent to the Gardens, and in due time, they became the first of a new tradition within the family. From that point on, every Whitestone child at age five, was sent to a Garden. Within a few years, almost every Garden had a Whitestone within it, either as instructor, student, or SeeD agent.
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Samma held up the toy Chocobo up to the sun and squinted around it, a childish smile plastered across her small face. The wind blew sharply, rustling the leaves of the tree overhead, causing their shadows to pattern across her, blocking out her view of the warm summer sun. The smile fades into a frown, but before she can gather her toys and move, something clenches around her ankle.
She looks down at her foot and see the bright orange and white tailed wrapped tightly around her leg. The tail belonged to the Mombas sleeping within the shade of the tree. He opens one eye, sleep glazed, and stares at her. The smile returns and she reaches over with her small hand and pats the tail. The grip loosens and Manibas closes his eye, snuggling his face back within his furry arms. Oh well, I can play in the shade, she thinks to herself, picking up the discarded toys surrounding her. She had to be a good girl for one more day.