The Hollowed Place was one gigantic tree, big enough for two stories of living space. Serena's father and whoever he could find to help, had worked long and hard to empty the tree of it's innards so that it was almost completely hollow.

The first floor had a kitchen with a fireplace even. Of course the chimney was as close to the ground as they could get it so that the smoke would be out of sight and blend with fog. Then there was one long table and a set of cabinets. Then a small commons area with two chairs and a few pillows. And two beds one for Grandpa and one for Sammy. And this was very, very cramped.

Notches in the wall surved as a ladder up to the second floor that was sleeping area only. There was one double bed for Serena's parents, and then five small cot-like beds for the girls. There were natural holes through the bark so that the outside could be seen, faint glances of a world going through rapid changes.

As for the door of the Hollowed Place, it was wonderfully camouflouged. They'd put in hinges, and had carefully cut the outside bark so that it could be nailed to the actually door. So when it shut, the living and dead bark met each other beautifully, seamless without flaw.

Yes, the only drawback of this perfect hiding space was the fact they were in hiding. The girls, save Ami, were not content to stay inside. They all longed to be outside, to breathe the wind, to run among the trees like they were old friends. Their souls fought to stay calm, to stay inside and only peer outside through the knotholes. Serena was worst of all.

The first few days she was okay, very worried about the village, but calm as she laid upon her bed. The girls often stayed upstairs, out of sight, just playing with power or talking. Trying to keep themselves entertained, a challenge indeed. But then she became restless. Her eyes grew darker, and her skin itched to feel the untainted sun. Free spirit was an understatement.

"I can't stand it anymore," she said plainly one day. They all looked up at her as she stood and made her way down the ladder. She walked towards the door, and it wasn't until then that they realized she intended to travel outside. She turned the locks on the door, and they rushed forward. They yelled at her to stop, but the door creaked open and she stepped outside.

The sun spotted the forest floor in brilliant patterns, it was warm and clear. The leaves were green with the spring, flowers bloomed wildly along the forest floor. She looked around and sighed. She spun in wild circles, the wind twisting around her, happy to have her back. And with the wind came the voices, that had been quieter the past week or so she'd been stuck inside.

They whispered and she stopped to listen.

"Some made it safe, some did not,

Now they cherish all they have got,

They pray for strength and freedom too,

But most of all they pray for you,"

The wind quickened it's pace and new verses came.

"The Earth now has joined the fight,

And doesn't just shine only at night,

It protects the day, it searches for you,

It promises to start this Moon anew,

Now go back, child, inside your tree,

For they have caught sight of thee,

In the field they yell, they scream,

Go back, child, and join your team,"

Serena heard the yells then, of her fellow Lunarians, and she spun around. Her family and friends were standing in the doorway, faces frozen. She walked calmly forward, pushing them out of the way, and she swung the door shut. She paused before sliding the lock shut, and casting the freedom and sunlight away.

"Raye, stop the fire, but no smoke," Serena said. "They're coming."

Her mother fainted back into her father's arms, and he sat down on the floor holding his wife gently. Her brother sat down beside them, kneeling to pray and cry. Raye steadily wove the fire away from the chimney and slowly it disappeared. Her grandfather was praying, and soon only the five girls were left standing. Raye stood in front of the door, fire on her fingertips, while a faint rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance as Lita's hair raised in static. Mina and Ami ran up the stairs to peer out of a knothole, while Serena summoned silver orbs on all ten fingers.

They were ready for battle. Ready for war.

The inside of the tree fell into silence, and they listened to the voices surrounding the forest area.

"I saw a young woman! Search over there!"

"No sign of life anywhere, sir. No scraps, no burned out fire, nothing."

Through the knothole, Mina and Amy saw the commanding officer grind his teeth and curse. He called his troops off, and they started to leave after a few nerve wracking minutes. He paused before walking out of sight, and he glanced at their tree. He combed it over with his eyes, up to the knothole which they both scooted back from. But he turned and walked away, suspicions quieted.

For now.

============================

Prince Darien stood up as soon as his ship touched ground on the Moon. He walked out to watch his troops deploy from ten other ships, all filing out and lining up, awaiting orders. A scout came running towards his ship. He seemed panicked almost, but his eyes held a fearful anger. The scout ran up to Darien, bowed and then looked up frowning.

"What is it?" Darien asked, feeling the man's tension.

"Well, I've been here for a few weeks now, Your Highness, and I fear it's worse than we could have ever thought." The man paused and looked away. "It seems, there is a higher meaning to this war than we thought. It isn't just for power, it's... well it's to kill."

"What? What do you mean?" Darien asked with a growing sense of fear at the words that were about to be spoken.

"It seems there are camps. I found three, filled from fence to fence with people. And, well they're starved to the bone. I thought... I thought I'd stumbled upon hell and they were walking skeletons. I asked a man who he was, and what was going on."

"Well, what did he say?"

The scout's eyes grew damp and he stared down at his hands.

"He said they were there to die. Anyone who attended the Temple were wretched, cursed, and they were sent there to die."

Darien's stomach lurched. What other evils was this satellite hiding? And among that evil, what good?

"What about the troops? Where are they?"

"The ones on this planet know naught that we are here, yet. They're raiding homes, and guarding the camps, or fighting the Martians on the other side of the Moon. We've got an advantage, and I say we use it. We can fight from both sides."

Prince Darien nodded.

"Let's go to battle."

Author's Note: Short chappie, I know. But the next chapter is going to deal mainly with the senshi and their emotions so it will probably be looonnnnnggg. I bet you can kinda see where this is going, can't you? Ah well. There goes suspense... Review please!

Until the next time,

Ai No Senshi