He was standing over her like a monster, wild and frightening with his blood stained armor and sword. Alleyla screamed and held her shield above her head in one last feeble attempt to save herself from the bloodthirsty berserker. With one downward slash of his sword the screaming stopped, and my cousin lay on the ground, lifeless and bloody. It took him two seconds to recover and he looked up directly into my eyes. They were sapphire blue and catlike, staring at me with a vicious rage I could only describe as war.

In a heartbeat I was up off my knees and dashing out of my hiding place, bursting through the back door and to the woods behind our house. I heard the door slam behind me and knew he was chasing me. My heart beat quicker and my mind fogged with fear. I didn't want to die; not yet, not now. My long dark brown hair trailed behind me as I ran, whipping me face as I ran for my life.

I cut in between the trees, trying to lose him in the thick brush, but I could still hear him behind me, getting closer and closer with each breath I took. My lungs began to burn and my throat felt impossibly dry. I couldn't go on for much longer, not without stopping. With one final burst of speed I burst through the trees and onto the rocky cliffs. The sea air coursed through my lungs, giving me extra speed, and I skillfully jumped from rock to rock, trying to pull out all the stops to lose this warrior.

With the sea air rushing past me I could not longer hear his footfalls behind me but I dared not look in fear that I would fall, or his remaining presence would frighten me into that muddled state of unclear fear. I ran and ran until finally with one great spasm of my chest my body protested and I fell to the ground in agony. My eyesight grew dark and I took in deep painful breaths, willing myself not to fall into unconsciousness. Then suddenly I could hear him, barely breathing hard with footsteps light as rain he stopped beside me. I hear the unsheathing of a sword and in my blind panic ripped the dagger I had tied to my belt from its sheath and slashed wildly around me. I got in one lucky shot as my sight cleared and brightened before I saw a leg come down and pin my wild hand down painfully. With my other hand still clutching my spasming chest I saw death ahead of me, and did not struggle. I looked straight up into the setting sky above me, attempting to show one last act of defiance before I joined my family in the afterlife.

"Why do you no longer struggle, little one?"

My eyes chanced a look to my right and I found myself staring up at a blood covered, blond hair, blue-eyed man with sun tanned skin that gave off a strange glow. I felt my eyes grow wide at the sight of him. He couldn't have seen anymore than twenty summers but had the body structure of a warrior seasoned well beyond his years. A scar ran from his temple to his bicep and in his hands he held a long silver sword pointed at my neck. He had a smirk across his face and his eyes shone with an inquisitive malice.

Once I had regained my voice I spoke up to him defiantly. "You have taken my family and my village. I should not be afraid to die if it means I will be with them once again."

He looked me square in the eyes and 'hmm-ed', rolling his foot on my sore wrist. "Then why did you run from me back in the village instead of letting me cut you down where you stood?"

"A sore moment of impulse." I replied curtly, looking from his sword to his face and back again.

He moved his sword away from my neck and batted at the dagger I still gripped in my hand with it. "A strange one you are…" He lifted his foot from my arm and instantly I pulled it back to me, leaving the dagger where it lay. There was already an angry blue mark settling on my tan skin and I cursed the pain. "You don't seem a warrior like the rest of your people."

When I didn't reply his eyebrows furrowed and he batted me twice on the shoulder with the blunt edge of his sword. "Is it that you are no good?"

This moment of strange compassion confused me and I wondered why he hadn't slit my throat yet and gone off to pillage. "Why haven't you killed me?"

Seemingly unfazed by my question he took a few steps backwards and sheathed his sword. "Surprisingly you seem… Unworthy of death by my sword. I kill warriors and thieves, not house makers and children." With that he turned his back to me and began walking away.

I pulled myself up into a sitting position and looked at me back, thoroughly stunned. "You're just going to leave me here?"

The warrior lifted up a hand as he walked, no longer interested in my death. "Seems like you're going to have to wait a while longer to see your family."

A sudden wave of fury surged over me and I stood, picking my dagger in my unbruised hand as I rose. "I will see my family yet." I whispered to myself.

I took off after the warrior, who had disappeared back into the woods by now. I ignored the fierce pain in my chest and followed the footsteps in the dirt. Seconds later I saw his back as he nonchalantly drifted through the trees on his way back to the village. I took two long strides and then was upon him, yelling and swiping towards his neck. In a moment he turned and sidestepped my attack. In one long stride his arms swung out and knocked the dagger from my hand. In that second of clear headedness I saw his other arm come up towards my head, and felt the bruising blow as he backhanded me across the face.

All I knew after that was darkness.