Taja opened he eyes. It was lighter in the cave so she knew it was morning. She looked around. She was the only one in the cave, besides Gracie who was curled beside her. Smiling at her sleeping body, Taja carefully got up and left the cave, undisturbing her. Taja spied Isabel rummaging through her pack. "How come you didn't wake me up?" she complained, plopping down on a log next to her. Isabel avoided her eyes. "Isabel?" she asked, tentatively. "What's wrong?" Isabel stopped looking through the sack and sighed. "Taja, do you really think that we can be elves?" Taja shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "When Aries first said it, I didn't believe him. But before I fell asleep, I couldn't help thinking that it could be possible," Isabel continued. "And last night...I had a weird dream," she said. Taja smiled. "A weird dream? It's normal to have strange dreams. I mean, last night I had a dream about chasing a bird and it turning into a woman." Taja was looking through her bag as she said this. She pulled out a loaf of bread. "Want some?" she asked Isabel. When she didn't answer, Taja looked up. Isabel's eyes were wide and shocked. "Uh..." Taja started, staring back at Isabel. "What's up?"

"Your dream was chasing a bird and turning into a woman?" Taja shrugged. "It's nothing." She was started to get scared of Isabel's expression. "Oh come one Izz, it was a dream. Nothing to get worked up over." Taja pulled out two slices of bread and handed one to Gracie. Then, Taja folded her slice and bit it. Isabel still looked strange. "No, it's just that I had the exact same dream." Taja coughed. "What?" she said, after catching her breath. "I had the same dream. The woman said she was my great grandmother. And her name was Serena." Taja began to look scared too. "But, that's not possible," she started. "We can't have the same dreams." Isabel nodded. "But we did." Taja tried to remember what happened in her dream. "She said that we are sisters," Taja remembered. "And I said that it couldn't be true," Isabel said. "I asked he if we were sisters, how come we didn't know about each other until the battle." Taja nodded. "I asked something similar too and she said to ask the man we have met and to trust him. That would mean Aries right?" Isabel nodded. "Of course, that would mean Aries, unless he's not a man at all—."

"Who's not a man at all?" Aries asked, emerging from some trees with Raine following. Taja coughed again and turned red. "Nothing, no one," she said quickly. Isabel laughed. Raine blinked a few times and looked at them strangely. "Raine? Are you alright?" Taja ask. Raine started walking towards her. "Raine? What are you doing?" Raine had sat down beside her and started rolling up one of her sleeves. Then, she showed her right arm to Isabel and Taja. Taja gasped. She had a birthmark similar to her's but still different. Taja looked at Raine's arm and then up at her face. "Where...?" but she didn't finish the words.

Isabel stared at Raine's arm. There was a symbol on her arm, almost like her's, but different still. Isabel looked at Taja, who was staring at it too. What did this mean? She turned to Aries, who was standing off to the side, with a knowing look on his face. "How come Raine has a mark on her arm like me?" she demanded. Taja gasped again and looked around at her. "Like you?" she asked. Isabel nodded and pulled up her sleeve to show her arm. "I have a symbol too."

"That's impossible," she said, her voice faint. "We all have the same markings?" Isabel stared at her. "What?" Taja repeated what she said while rolling up her sleeve to show Isabel her symbol too. Isabel looked at Raine who pointed at Aries. Aries sat down next to Gracie, who had been calmly eating her bread all this time. "I have a lot of explaining to do," he said. "We're sisters," Raine said first. "I don't know how we got separated and all, but Aries seemed to know. He said that everyone in Crescent Realm knows." Raine looked at him expectantly. "Well? You said you would explain it once we found Taja and Isabel." Aries sighed. "I did." He looked at them. "Mind you, it might be shocking." "Hmm... I wonder how does it feel like to hear something shocking?" Taja joked weakly. No one laughed. Aries started talking.

"You three are the daughters of Lady Celine and Lord Garreth. You were born a year apart exactly. Your father was the ruler of the Crescent Realm. It was said that you three would be powerful, because the line of women in your family have great powers and senses. One of the most powerful in magic in your family was your great grandmother, Lady Serena. She was the raven goddess. After she passed, elves said that he spirit never died and became a Raven.

"Isabel was the oldest, and then Raine, and lastly Taja. A month after Taja was born, another unexpected battle flamed. The kingdom where you have grown up in had hated Elves and other magical beings for many centuries. They hope to kill us all. The mortals from the kingdom always attacked the Crescent Realm unexpectedly and killing many. When this attack happened, your parents left you in the care of some loyal servants and went out to protect the people. Elfish women fight side by side with men now. It's different from the old days. We aren't sure how exactly they got into the house, but when they had driven out all the soldiers, your parents went back to their home and found all the servants slain and your beds empty. One dying servant told them that a few soldiers had taken you three back to their kingdom. But the servant died before she can tell them why.

"I'm not sure why they took you, maybe it was luck that they didn't kill you three straight off, and I'm not sure how you three ended up separated. But you got picked up by several families and raised, not knowing that you were elves."

A startled silence followed this story. Raine was looking at the ground, her face expressionless, Taja was gaping at Aries, her mouth wide open, and Isabel sat there, confused. "You've got to be joking," Taja finally said, her voice sounding dazed. "You've got it all wrong." Aries shook his head. "But me, an elf?" Taja stammered. Isabel shook her head too. "It's just too hard to believe, Aries." She turned to look at Raine, who was the most stubborn of them all. Raine raised her eyes. "I believe him," she said simply. Isabel shut her mouth and looked at Taja. Taja smiled, but it turned out as a grimace.

"I'm sorry. I know this is shocking. But after Raine told me about her dream, I realized that Lady Gem would want to know about you being found."

"Lady Gem?" Taja questioned. "Your cousin from your mother's side, and a bit like Isabel. She took over ruling in Crescent Realm."

Suddenly, something that had been bothering Raine ever since Aries had told them the tale was remembered. "Wait," she said, looking at Aries and then at Isabel. "Since our father was the ruler of Crescent Realm, does that mean..." Aries nodded and then looked at Isabel. "Isabel, you would be ruler once you get there."

Isabel was stunned. Her? Rule? She never was the ruler of anything. "I can't," she said. "I can't rule a kingdom!" "Lady Gem would be your advisor. She'll aid you." Isabel shook her head. "I can't. She can be the ruler. She's a great ruler, you said so yourself remember?"

"But you would be too. It's not right for the cousin to be the Lady and the true heir not." Taja nodded. Raine sighed. "Why are we worrying about things that haven't happened yet? Don't we have to get there first?"

Taja was embarrassed to admit it, but the thought of actually going to Crescent Realm never occurred to her. But she and her, she still can't believe it, sisters were going to set off to find elves in the first place. It's still the same right? 'You're not fooling yourself,' Taja thought as she begins to pack. 'You life had changed entirely in less three days.'

After packing up, the four elves left their campsite, striking out for Crescent Realm, using the maps as guides.

It was a long trip. It was nearly nightfall by the time they stopped. Aries had wanted to go on because he was not yet tired. But he was used to traveling and walking on for long hours, but the three girls were not. They found a place under some trees and started a fire, careful not to let any of the flames near the roots.

"We didn't walk as fast as we could've," Aries noted, looking at Raine's map in the flicker and glow of the fire. "We should be here," he said, pointing to a place closer to Crescent Realm. "But we're a little farther."

"Hey, you might be accustomed to walk many miles for endless hours, but we aren't," Raine said, beginning to regain her attitude. That morning, she had been less snappish towards Aries, but the long day had begun to take effect on her.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I forgot." Isabel fed a few more branches to the fire and watched as the flames danced. The light reflected in her eyes as she pondered. Taja looked at Gracie. She was already asleep, her hand curled around the strap of Taja's pack. Taja smiled, before opening the bag, careful not to disturb the sleeping girl. She pulled out a small blanket and covered the girl's small body with it. It was a warm night, different from the last night and the last thing Taja saw before she nodded to sleep was Isabel asleep, her head in her arms and Raine staring into the fire.

Isabel woke up to the sounds of birds chirping. She sat up and a blanket fell off of her. She looked around. Raine was asleep, her back facing her and Taja was dozing next to Gracie. A rustle of leaves behind her made her turn and she saw Aries. He was smiling as usual.

"Good morning. I was going to wake you up," he said. Isabel yawned and folded up the blanket. She set it down beside her pack. Aries nodded towards Taja and Raine. "Can you wake them up? We have to get going if we want to get Crescent Realm in time. It's only a few miles west of here."

Isabel felt excitement and nervousness bubble up inside her. But she felt like part of this emotion wasn't hers. It was just like before, when she had "felt" something right before she found Raine. "Are you... nervous?" she asked.

Aries looked at her strangely. "I'm fine, maybe a little. I'm worried about Gracie." Isabel looked at the little girl. "What about her."

"Well, you see, you and your sisters are Elves and practically royalty, of course we would welcome you back, but Gracie..."

"Gracie is human," Isabel said. Aries shook his head. "Not only that, but she also came from the kingdom we hate most."

"She's a child," Isabel said. "It's not fair. She doesn't even know the difference."

"I know that Isabel, but they don't. And some people wouldn't want her in Crescent Realm." Higara.

Aries sighed. "We'll see when we get there." Isabel opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. Turning, she shook Taja's body and then Raine's.

Raine opened her eyes and stared up into Isabel's forest green eyes. "Wake up," Isabel said. She left her side to rouse Taja and Gracie. Raine sat up and looked around. Aries was sitting not far off, packing and their eyes met. Raine broke the eye contact first. Something in the gaze made her feel uncomfortable. Trying to cover her moment of confusion, she stood up and began to help pack.

Taja rolled over, yawning, while Gracie blinked a couple times before sitting up, rubbing her eyes. Taja opened her eyes but closed them almost right away, groaning. The sunlight was bright that morning. Taja sat up after a while and looked around her for a while, like Raine had. Then, she got up to help pack. There wasn't a lot of work left for her to do by that time, but she helped fold up the blankets.

Raine tore off a piece of the bread and offered it to the girl. Taja accepted it gratefully and ate it. Raine gave another piece to Gracie. Isabel looked at Aries, who was staring at the blue sky.

"The weather is unpredictable," he said finally, looking back down and at Isabel, as if he had sensed her watching him. "Rain, and now there isn't a cloud in the sky." Taja stood up.

"Then be grateful it's clear today," she said, grabbing her pack and slinging it over her shoulders. Gracie was eating another slice of bread. Aries shrugged and looked at the sky again before turning his attention to the map he had in his hands.

"We should get there in a few hours, maybe 4 if we walk fast enough," he said, looking at the weathered parchment. Taja went around him to peer at it too. "Where are we right now?" she asked. Aries pointed to a region not far off. "Here." He traced his finger to the moon shaped forest. "We need to get here." Taja turned away and went to pick up Gracie. "Let's get started then, shall we?" she said, trying to disguise the worry in her voice. What was it going to be like in Crescent Realm? She still could not believe that she was an... elf.

One hour, two hours, some time passed, and Raine lost track. She was deep in thought. She looked over at Taja. Her younger sister expression was normal, but Raine can tell from her eyes that she felt a little nervous. 'Well, aren't we all?' she thought, looking back to Aries who was, of course, leading. 'Our whole entire lives changed in just a few days.' She turned to look at Isabel. Her sister was occupied too, and occasionally, she shot worried glances at Taja and Gracie. Raine frowned. Something was bothering her older sibling, but she didn't ask what was wrong. Something made her feel like she shouldn't disturb the silence. All of them had important matters on their minds.

Isabel looked at Gracie again. What if they wouldn't let Gracie stay with them? But they had to, she argued with herself. They have to. If they don't, the elves would a big problem... with her. Suddenly, she was startled out of her reverie with a huge sigh from Aries. He had stopped walking and was staring straight ahead. Isabel looked ahead and saw that they were on a ledge. Looking down, she saw that it wasn't steep and they could slide down easily. She looked at Aries confused. Why had he stopped?

Raine looked at where Aries was looking at. They were on a small edge, and beneath that, sloping ever so slightly, was a green valley. And right in the middle of the valley... was a forest. "That's it, isn't it?" Raine said, uncomfortable for breaking the silence. Aries nodded, his face unreadable. A few moments of silence passed again. "Well, what are standing here for?" Taja said, her voice sounding a little more than nervous. "Let's go." Aries nodded, and climbed down the rock ridge until his feet touched the grassy slope. He looked up and reached out his arms. Taja lowered Gracie down into Aries's out-stretched arms. Aries set Gracie on the ground and then reached up to help Taja. After Taja reached the ground, he gave Isabel his hand and helped her jump down. Isabel fell, and staggered a little, but regained her steadiness. Aries reached up a hand to help Raine, but she ignored him. Raine jumped down by herself, landing perfectly, without falling. Aries shrugged and turned. Isabel was already starting towards the dark green forest, with Taja and Gracie close behind. Aries overtake them with a few long strides. He didn't want to make it obvious, but he felt like they shouldn't enter the Realm without him in the lead. Not because he wanted to be the first, but for safety reasons.

He was right. They had walked under the branches of the first trees, when suddenly, they were surrounded.

Raine looked at the looming trees ahead. Right before she stepped under the first tree, she felt it again. Like something was closing on her. Raine's heart pounded loudly as all sounds faded away and she sensed something ahead of her, in the shadow. Before she could warn the others, they were surrounded. They were Elves. Their bows and arrows were ready to kill. Aries raised up his hands.

"It's me, Aries," he said, his arms still raised. One of them, the leader, replied. "I know you are, Aries son of Kirane, we have spied you and your... companions when you were on that ledge." Aries smiled. "Then, if you knew it was me, why do you greet me like this?" "We aren't attacking you, we are on guard for theses trespassers. Tell me why you have bought strangers in our Realm." Aries looked at the girls behind him and then back at the speaking elves. "Who? These young ladies? Oh, they aren't trespassers. They're elves." The elves shifted slightly. The leading elf raised an eyebrow. "Elves? What are they doing out of the woods if they are of our kin?" Aries looked at him for a long time, thinking carefully of what he should say. "This is an important matter. I have to speak to the Lady."

"Oh, to Lady Gem you must talk to?" an unpleasant voice said suddenly. Higara stepped from the Elves. His tone was nonchalant, but his eyes showed his fury and confusion and his hand was at the hilt of his sword. "And why would a lowly soldier like you want to speak to the Lady?"

"It is none of your business," Aries shot back. Raine noticed that his hand was at his sword too. Higara stepped up to him and glared at the elf. "I wouldn't be so rude if I were you," he started, but another voice cut him off. "Higara," Tauros said warningly, he placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and Higara quieted, but his eyes still were filled with menace. Tauros looked at Aries. "Where have you been?" Aries looked at Higara before answering. "I got... separated," he finally answered. Tauros surveyed him silently, as if he knew that he was lying. Finally he said," Come. The Lady is expecting you."

Tauros turned and led the way into the forest, and the soldiers behind him parted to let him pass. Aries followed, with the three sisters close behind. They walked through the dark trees for a few minutes. Raine looked up and nearly gasped. There were houses built on the trees. They didn't seem built, almost as if it the houses were part of the trees. The buildings were elegant and natural looking. They looked as if they were made of bark, but even so, they seemed like crystal. Finally, Aries stopped walking and Raine stopped too, a little surprised. She stepped to the side to see a towering tree, the largest tree she had ever laid eyes on. The branches stretched on, it's branches spreading almost for an eternity, and the roots winding around their feet gracefully. There was an ancient, yet enchanting air around the tree. There was a structure built on this tree too, but it was more like a palace. There was a winding staircase of golden leaves, vines, and crystal leading to the wide entrance on top. And standing in that entrance, was a beautiful elfin lady.

Her skin was pale, but had a glow as if moonlight were lighting up her features. Her midnight black hair was tied back in a long braid that reached her waist. Her eyes were emerald green and had a mysterious gleam in them. She looked graceful and serene but also powerful. Higara, Taurus, and Aries nodded their heads. She smiled "Hello. I have been expecting you," she said calmly. Isabel was surprised at the way she talked so casually. She had thought that she would speak like a royal. Lady Gem beckoned the three girls up the stairs. She looked at Aries and then motioned for him to follow her too. Lady Gem turned and walked back into the entrance of the palace.

Isabel put her hands on the railing and looked around. They were on a large balcony, which had a view of other elfin houses and the Mystic River. She quietly watched as some children played by a tree. "Let's sit down," Lady Gem said. She sat down in a chair by a small table made of polished wood. There were six other chairs around the table. Isabel took the one closest to her and sat down. She glanced at Raine and Taja.

Taja saw Isabel looking at her and gave her a reassuring smile, though she was scared herself. Gracie was sitting in the chair next to her.

Lady Gem sat back and leaned against the chair. It was a while before she spoke. "I saw you coming," she finally said, opening her eyes and looking at Aries. He nodded, understanding. Lady Gem's gift was seeing things that were happening in other places. "Then, you know..." The Lady smiled. "Yes I know," she said for him. She turned to the girls.

"I'm Lady Gem, call me Gem. After all, we're cousins," Gem said. Isabel smiled, Taja nodded, and Raine shrugged. Gem smiled back but it slowly faded. She sighed.

"It's going to be some time before we can sort this out," she said. Gem looked at Isabel. "But one thing is very important, you are now the Ruler, Isabel."

"But—," she protested. Gem looked at her. "I know you don't want to be," she continued, "But, it's right, and I know you'll do great." Isabel shut her mouth and looked around. "The people would want you to rule," Gem added softly. Isabel looked around, hoping for someone to back her up. "I don't know how," she finally said lamely. "That's what I'm here for," Gem said, standing up. "I'll help you." She looked at Raine, Taja, and Aries. "I'll show you to your rooms," she said, looking directly at Aries. "You're staying for the night," she said directly at Aries. Aries looked surprised. "No, I mean," he got up and nodded his head deeply, "I can't Lady Gem. I have some business to attend to." When he said the last words, a frown filled his face.

"Alright, if you must, but you'll always be welcome here." Aries nodded again and then departed from the room. Gem turned to the girls and smiled. She motioned to the door. "Well," she started, making a sweeping motion, "may I show you to your rooms?"