Echoes of Thunder Part 2

The night passed and the sun rose early. Raylan was the first awake. He climbed up a tree on the cliffs and stared out to the distant kingdom with furrowed eyebrows. Though he despised the humans who lived in those villages, the sun rising over their lands was unlike anything he had ever seen back home. As he remembered home, he remembered Ethari, possibly observing his floating flower and Runaan's too.

"See you're up," Runaan's voice echoed below. He waved to him for the base.

Raylan leapt off the branch, flipping in the air before he landed elegantly on the grass. "Like to see an early sunrise,"

The assassins gathered in a circle. "Tonight, the moon will be full. Tonight, we strike. If we are to succeed, we must ensure no one knows we are coming and that nothing will stop us from infiltrating the castle," they descended the mountains and crossed a secret bridge right into the kingdom's forest. "Raylan, I want you to scout the forest. Let us know if anyone is near this border," Runaan said to his surrogate son.

"My pleasure," he obliged. The trained assassin pulled his hood over his head and leapt up into the trees. With his enhanced agility and acrobatics, he swung through the trees like a powerful ape-man. He saw nothing below the trees nor did he hear anything. It was clear for now. The sun rose higher. Humans would wake up. He had to get back quickly to the party before any soldiers would walk through the forest.

He turned his back and prepared to leap when he heard a distant melody. It was faint but audible. With his pointy ears, he traced it to the far outskirts of the woods. He pulled out one of his butterfly knives. He leapt quietly from tree to tree, hearing the voice grow louder and louder. He landed gracefully on a low oak branch tree and peered down.

He saw a young girl with a hood over her head and her braid dangling over her shoulder. The cute fox companion purred as she gently held it up, humming a melodic tune. Raylan narrowed his eyes. Was she pretending to care for it? Was she capturing it? He crouched down to leap but the fox's head starred and he watched it lick her cheek. Then she saw him reach into her satchel and feed her horse. The horse's face flicked up towards him. Quickly he hid behind the truck.

The horse brawled.

"It's okay," the girl said soothingly.

Raylan waited for a while. Then he heard the command of "Yip! Yip!" and a phrase of galloping left the scene. He peeked around the trunk and he saw the girl had disappeared. He wouldn't be able to catch her if she was on a horse. He pulled out a map they had managed to trace of the kingdom. She was following a pathway to a great canyon in front of the river – a good distance away. He felt the urge to kill her but decided it wasn't worth it. He made his way back to Runaan.

"Well?"

"Just a simple girl on a horseback,"

"Did you kill her?" one asked.

"I had to keep myself hidden and she galloped off before I could get a chance. But she's heading towards a canyon on the far side of the kingdom. I doubt we'll have any trouble with her,"

"Good," Runaan clasped his shoulder. "Well done son," Raylan smiled, proud to have a surrogate pair of fathers like Runaan and Ethari. "Let's go,"

Carol made her way on her horse on a separate path that wouldn't pass by the village. She had made a quick visit there last night and dropped a letter in front of Caldor's door. She was sad to have to leave her only kingdom friend but she just hoped he would be all right. To him, there was no other customer who loved books like her. Silent tears fell down her face and fell on Felix's furry head. He purred and looked up at her silently. She wondered if leaving this kingdom meant she would find somewhere where she would be truly accepted but out here by herself with only her favourite items, her borrowed horse, and her trusty fox companion; she felt lost, scared, and confused. They came to a section of the forest where there weren't so many trees towering over them. She looked up and saw Katolis standing tall overhead. She scrunched her eyes and yipped on the reins again. Her horse galloped off faster. They came out of the forest into a large canyon with towering walls. Within those closing walls were statues and monuments. One statue caught her attention. A woman whom she very much resembled. This would be the last stop she would make before leaving Katolis forever.

Harrow woke up and rubbed his eyes. He stared at the risen sun shining brightly through the window. He dressed up nicely and placed his crown on his head again. Today was going to be different. Today he was going whatever he could to make all his children, both biological and adopted, happy as ever. He opened the doors and when he turned the hallway he saw a frantic Ezran and Willow rushing up to him. Willow panted out in exhaustion.

"What's the rush?" he asked.

"Dad! Carol's gone!" panicked Ezran.

"What?"

"We can't find her anywhere!" Willow freaked out. "We searched the castle, the gardens…everything. But we can't find her!"

"She probably snuck off to visit Caldor at the bookshop. She often goes there very occasionally," he said. Harrow knew on a lot of occasions, Caroline liked to go to the kingdom's largest bookstore where she could be herself without anyone coming in to insult her for loving books and doing art. "Why don't we go there and greet her? Then we can all go out together and just be a normal family?"

"Dad, what's that?' Willow pointed to a scroll tucked behind a brazier nailed on the wall. Harrow walked over and picked up the scroll. He saw writing. Dad. It was etched in beautiful calligraphy. The moment he read that; he felt his heart drop. "Nothing. Just one of my scrolls I left out. I often leave it in the most unlikely of places," For some strange reason, Willow didn't believe him. "Why don't you two go down for breakfast? And I'll get this put away. Go along. I'll be right there,"

The suspicious Ezran pulled Willow's hand and guided her away carrying Bait with him. Harrow went back into his room and sat on the bed. He unravelled the scroll and silently read the words of swirls and heart-breaking spirits.

Dear Dad,

I'm sorry, but I can't stay somewhere I know I don't belong. I know I will never be whatever everyone expects of me. I know that me being myself will only embarrass you, Ezran, and Willow. And I'm afraid of ruining everything between you and your subjects because I'm not your birth daughter. This is why I've made this very difficult decision.

Carol lit a candle and placed it on her mother's shrine. She stared up at the mighty statue of her mother – the warrior queen Sarai. It had been nearly ten years since her tragic passing and not a moment went by that her beloved daughter didn't think of her. In times of loneliness, she would always cling to her mother's memory, hoping it would help her feel her mother's love that kept her safe and warm.

I'm not ashamed that you're my stepdad. I'm proud that you've always been there for me since mum died. But I'm ashamed that I can't be what I feel I should be to you and this kingdom. I can never be what I am without people mocking or tormenting me for it. This is why I feel like my place is not in Katolis. I'll let you, Ezran, Willow, Claudia, and Aunt Amaya know where I am as soon as I can but for now… I am leaving this kingdom to search for whatever it is that I have to find out there.

Harrow felt a great weight of guilt pressing down on his shoulders. He had always known how much his subjects disliked Caroline just because she wasn't his daughter by blood but he never thought she took it so much to heart that she felt like she was letting him down because she couldn't act or do things as a proper princess should.

Pulling out a small family portrait of the family of five from her satchel, Carol stared at it with tears. She had painted it herself. Harrow had a copy like it back home; he loved her paintings. She touched each face portraying the people she loved tenderly.

It's not that I want power like Ezran and Willow. I've always wanted to be accepted for who I am and make a difference or do something moral for others as you and mum did. And I know I cannot find that here. I'm sorry that this will hurt you all but I hope that…now I have gone things will calm down a bit. Please give Claudia and Aunt Amaya a hug for me.

I hope that what I have done; I have done out of love for you and our family.

Love Carol

The letter slipped from the heartbroken Harrow's feeble fingers.

"I'm sorry mum," lament. I tried to be a good princess to Katolis but nobody apart from our family will ever accept me for who I am. I tried to be myself like you always said but everyone hates me. As much as I love our family, I only bring them shame and I ruin everything between dad and his subjects. I wish you were here now more than ever. I feel so lost, so…" Carol sobbed and wiped a tear. "Alone," she held the charm of her necklace, her mother's in her hand in front of her heart. "When you came me this necklace and this bracelet, you said I would never feel alone. But I do. I just want you back," She mourned for what seemed like forever and as a final token of love and remembrance placed one of the red roses her siblings had brought her at the foot of her statue. They both loved red roses. She remembered the days when her mother would walk her around the gardens of red roses and they would spend all day lying down beside them as if they were friends of nature. She looked up at her mother's face. "Goodbye,". She wiped her eyes and gently led her horse away with Felix walking beside her. She took one last look at her mother's statue before closing them and facing forward.

"Caroline.." a voice rang.

She turned around to see Caldor approaching her worriedly. "Caldor…"

"My dear…you cannot leave. Think about your family," From the look on his emotional face, Carol knew he had woken up early and read the scroll she had left behind on his doorstep.

"I'm sorry. But I can't stay here. I don't belong here,"

"Yes, you do. You've always belonged here,"

"Caldor, you've seen what everyone's like when they see me. They hate me. They'll never see me as anything but a step princess who they can mock, or push in the mud to humiliate," Caldor could tell exactly what she had been through. "This is why I need to leave. I don't know where this journey will take me but I know that I need to discover for myself what I'm meant to me," with every word she said Caroline felt true regret, but her constant rejection of respect from the kingdom was too much for her to bear any longer.

Caldor sighed, knowing there was no changing her mind. "I will miss you a great deal, lass. Before you go, I have something to give you," he reached into his knapsack and pulled out a bright black crystal ball. A magical energy like it was a living thunderstorm.

She was bewitched. "What is it?"

"It's a Primal stone. Your mother found it many years ago and she insisted I'd keep it safe to give to you,"

She was breathless. "She did?"

Caldor nodded sadly. "I was saving this for your 16th birthday as she requested but…I wanted to give it to you now," He offered it to her.

Carol took the sphere of magical energy and gazed at it like it was putting it into some sort of trance. "Thank you Caldor," she smiled tearfully at her surrogate uncle who smiled back. She placed it inside her satchel and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back.

"Take care of yourself," he bid. Once they tearfully let go, she strapped her knapsack to her horse's saddle and mounted him. Caldor lifted Felix to sit in front of her. She took one last sad glance at him before her horse galloped off into the distance.

Soren was doing work in the stables when he suddenly felt something whack him behind the head. "Oww! What the…"

"Are you happy now Soren?!" a frustrated Claudia berated.

Soren turned around to see a furious Claudia glaring red-facing at him. "What is the purpose of your face colour?"

"Caroline is gone!"

He blinked. "What do you mean gone?"

"She ran away last night. And it's all because you made her feel like she didn't belong here," Claudia held up a goodbye-scroll

"Look I didn't…"

"Didn't what Soren?" huffed his sister. "Think that your actions wouldn't affect her so much? Her dad and siblings are probably crying now because they think she might not ever be coming back!" Soren tried to say something but she pulled him by the ear. "You caused her to run away. Now you are gonna help us find her and so help me if you ever treat her so awfully again I'll make I'm your worst nightmare for the rest of your life. Got it?" Soren fearfully nodded. She shoved him towards a patrol of reluctant-faced soldiers. "Don't go looking like that," she scoffed. "The king told us to find Caroline and that's what we're gonna do. And don't you all think of giving her the cold glare," she mounted her horse after forcing Soren to sit on his. She stared up at the king's tower.

With tearful eyes, Harrow saw Claudia and nodded. She nodded back. The party of twenty soldiers galloped through the gates and into the kingdom's forest. If they could just catch her trail, they could find her. A tear fell down Harrow's eye. He prayed that Caroline was all right and wasn't harmed. He prayed that Sarai's spirit was watching over him. To him, Caroline was the only reminder of his love, the complete doppelganger of her minus the eyes.

"Dad," he turned to see Ezran and Willow coming towards him. "You didn't come for breakfast," said his son. "What's going on?"

"I got side-tracked," Harrow lied. "He couldn't bear to tell them the awful news.

"Why have Claudia, Soren and all those soldiers left?" asked Willow.

"For a patrol of the kingdom's borders.

"And Caroline is probably at the bookstore. Let's let her have her time there,"

Ezran and Willow shared soft but suspicious glances.

Raylan and his party walked quietly through the forest. Runaan led them. Raylan was rather quiet. He didn't know whether it was because he felt homesick or because tonight was the night he would take his first kill. Killing someone in real life was nothing compared to killing someone for real. Then again it was a human. And humans to him were nothing but selfish arrogant people who sought to use dark magic by extracting the essence from magical creatures. To him, there was nothing viler in the world than humans.

"Wait," he suddenly hissed.

The assassins stopped.

"What is it?" Runaan asked.

Raylan narrowed his eyes and felt his pointy ears twitch. "I hear something,"

"He's right," the only female member said. "I hear something too,"

A chorus of clanging metal, hoof-trotting and bellowing complaints echoed through the leaves.

"Everyone one up," Runaan ordered.

Quickly they climbed up into the tallest trees to the tallest branches and peered down. They saw a squadron of thirty men led by a young female with long dark hair with magenta tips and a groaning former Crown guard.

"Why do I have to do this?" Soren complained on his horse.

"You made Caroline feel she wasn't good enough for her family. This is on you," Claudia berated. "So, you have to help us. And when she does, you're gonna owe her a big, big, big apology. Honestly, what would mum think of you? Treating people like that?"

As she rebuked him, Soren suddenly felt hurt.

Hearing the conversation from up above, Raylan felt his mind flash back to the girl whom he had seen in the forest. Was that the girl they were looking for? Had she run away because she was so hurt? What was it for humans to hurt each other? Wait. What am I thinking? He shook his head free of these ridiculous questions and watched as they disappeared. The party landed gracefully on the ground.

"I thought you said you didn't see anyone," Runaan softly criticised.

"I don't know how this happened," Raylan defended himself. "These soldiers are looking for someone and they're spreading all over the forest,"

"We can't be spotted," assassins said.

"We'll have to go to the forest area near the border. It's our best chance," Runaan instructed. "Then when the moon is highest, we do what it takes,"

Raylan nodded and the elves leapt through the trees like ninjas. He was angry at himself but Runaan assured him, he couldn't have known.

At the river at the border just below the cliff tops, Carol filled up her canteen whilst her horse and fox sipped from the stream. As they sucked up the lovely cool water, she looked at the primal stone her mother had left for her. Where did she get it? Did her adoptive father know about this? She pulled out her stained book of ancient history and magic from her knapsack. She sped through the pages to the pages on sky magic. She saw hundreds of ruins and symbols, magical spells that required the drawing of magical energy in the air. She loved the look of sky magic. She saw a spell: Aspiro – the spell of blowing a powerful gust of air.

She looked at her primal stone. "I wonder," she held up the stone, feeling the lightning crackle in the palm of her hand inside the glass. She stood up firm and strong and held out her finger. She tried to imagine drawing the spell symbol. She attempted to do itself but she felt nothing. She tried again. And again.

"Mmm. Why did you leave this mum?" Suddenly she heard loud booming and looked up and saw the clouds gathering again like the night before yesterday. "Oh great," she cursed. "Well, time to get moving guys. We need to leave now or never,"

She was about to pack her stone when she felt Felix's teeth pulling on her cloak. "What is it, Felix?"

Felix pulled on her cloak in the direction towards the canyon. "No," she shook her head. She turned her back but Felix pulled again on her cloak. "Hey! Cut it out!" she wrapped it free from his teeth. He barked, getting angry at her. "No! Felix! We're not going back!" she vented, shoving the primal stone in her bag. Felix barked. "They don't need me! They're better off without me!" Felix gave her a hard look.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Please. Don't make me regret it more than I am right now,"

Felix flopped his ears and accepted her wishes. She pulled the hood over her hair just as it began to rain. As she tightened the saddle, she noticed Felix's eyes and flicked up again. "What is it, boy?"

Suddenly Felix shot off, hearing for a pathway that led up the cliff from the river and into the forest.

"Felix! Come back!" Caroline mounted her horse and chased after him. Her horse chased after him back up into the forest, further away from the river border. "Come on! We're trying to leave Katolis," they chased him into a forest area free of trees. She huffed and dismounted him. "Felix, I don't know what your games are but this is not the time for them," she picked him up but noticed he was fidgeting. "What is it?"

Felix pointed his snout up. She stared up as well and saw only trees. "Nothing. There's nothing but trees," Suddenly she heard something snap above her. Her heart jumped. She looked up again. Was it a squirrel? A bird? Or something very large.

She narrowed her eyes and peered around again.

Raylan stayed close to Runaan on the tree. His guardian pointed down and nodded. He looked at the other elves and signalled 'yes'. They drew their blades. Raylan suddenly felt a tight feeling in his chest. Ignoring it, he looked down and saw the girl turn her back, her fox's head rested over her shoulder, eyes closed. Now was the time to strike.

One of the other assassins peeked out but when he grabbed a branch, it suddenly snapped.

Carol turned around and to her shock saw the intruders high in the trees. They leapt down but she mounted her horse and he sped off.

"After her!" Runaan ordered. They sped after her, Raylan leading the way as the fastest.

She looked back and saw them pursuing her. "How are they so fast?" he commanded her horse to go faster.

Raylan as he was running saw Runaan pull out an arrow. He shot it.

She looked back again and saw the arrow coming. Quickly she ducked.

Runaan growled. He fired another one. Missed.

Raylan looked at the two assassins on his left. "Give me a swing!"

Two assassins leapt ahead onto a branch and stabbed the wood before reaching their free arms down. Raylan leapt and grabbing his hands, their allies threw him several feet ahead in the air. He was flying over the human runaway. As he did, he threw his swords and one of them just crazed the horse's neck. The startled horse jumped off in fright and Caroline fell off the saddle with her fox, landing on her back with a thud. The horse sped off. The elves surrounded her, bearing blades, Raylan included. She turned scared. Felix hid behind her ankles in fright. "Easy," was all she could say. "Easy. Please. We don't have to fight. We can handle this peacefully,"

Runaan scoffed. "'Peacefully? Quite low coming from a human,"

"Look please just let me go. You can leave Katolis and no one will ever know you were here,"

"You humans are even dumber than you think. We came here to bring justice and we will not return to Xadia until it is done,"

She paused. "Wait? Justice? What are you talking about?"

"We are here to bring King Harrow to justice,"

"No! He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"He murdered the king of the Dragons!"

Fearing for the only dad she had ever had, Carol defined his words. "King Harrow didn't kill the king of the dragons. And he had nothing to do with the dragon prince getting killed either. You're after the wrong man,"

"You would say that" Runaan pointed his blade directly at her face. "We will take him down. Tonight. And then we will kill his only children,"

"No! You can't do that!"

"Who are you to give us orders, puny human?"

"Whatever it is that you think you can gain from committing cold-blooded murder, it won't give you anything. All you will succeed in doing is killing an innocent king. And innocent children who have done nothing wrong to your people," Carol's words pitifully would unswayed Runaan. "If you wish to take a life to sooth your anger, take me instead," The way she spoke, something inside Raylan twitched. What she was expressing was proof of everything elves believed. What he was seeing right now was a quality that his mother believed about humans.

"We will take your life right now," Runaan declared. The blades of the elves drew closer to Caroline. Felix tried to be brave and shrieked at them but they weren't appeased.

Getting scared every second, Carol struggled to think of a way out. "Before you kill me, let me show you something," she reached slowly into her satchel.

"Freeze," one of the assassins ordered. But that outburst only pushed her to act slower. "I said freeze,"

"I just want to give you all something of great value," she pulled out the primal stone and held it towards Runaan and Raylan who glared at her tensely.

"If you think this will save your life…"

Quickly she drew an insignia in the air. "Aspiro!" she blew out a powerful gust of wind into Runaan and Raylan. Then she spun around blowing all the other assassins back. They bashed against trees and branches. Quickly Caroline grabbed Felix and made a run for it, stashing her primal stone again in her bag. She escaped a dense section of trees. Raylan stood up quicker than the other assassins. He saw Runaan still stunned from the impact of his back against the hardwood. "Runaan?"

"Stop her!" he ordered. "If she alerts the kingdom, we're all doomed,"

Raylan nodded and sped off at once. He climbed up into the trees and leapt from branch to branch, scouting the forest floor below for the human who had cast that powerful sky spell. He had to act fast. As the fastest and most lethal of the band, Runaan trusted him more than any of them. He would not let him down. Still, he couldn't find the girl. Whomever she was and however she had cast that spell, it was quite powerful.

The pounding rain made him pull his hood further over his head again but through the falling drops of freezing water, Raylan could barely make any sign of movement going on below. He growled, unable to tolerate any failure. He leapt to another tree and when his face looked down, his purple eyes caught glimpse of something fuzzy and red far below. He looked down and saw the human girl sprinting through the forest, carrying her fox. He pulled out his blades and pursued her. He caught up to her from above and when he saw her stop at the top of a slope, he leapt from the trees.

Carol, with her hood over her hair again and the folds of her cape wrapped around Felix turned around and he saw a pair of curved blades about to slash at her and Felix. She fell backwards and she went rolling down the hill and into a patch of mud. She tried to run but the elf landed right in front of her. She cradled Felix protectively. Raylan pointed his blade at her. "You made a big mistake using that spell. I don't know how you stole that Primal Stone but you will regret it dearly,"

"I didn't steal that stone. My mother left it for me,"

"Then your mother is a thief,"

"How dare you say that!" retorted the heated human girl. "My mother was a wonderful woman. And your king of dragons took her from me!" a tear escaped her eye.

Raylan kept his pose but his ears absorbed the words that she had just said. He saw the grief in her eyes, her tears that were not drops of rainfall.

"Go ahead," she dared. "Kill me. And you'll be just what you think humans are,"

Raylan raised his blade to end her life. But as he did, he didn't see her shut her green eyes. In those enchanted eyes, he saw courageousness, selflessness, and graciousness. And most importantly innocence. How could he take the life of a pure-hearted human girl who had done him no harm? He lowered his blade. Caroline was quite shocked. "I won't kill you. Instead, you will be my prisoner,"

"So, you choose to spare me but not my family?"

"The royals must pay for their crimes,"

"That's never gonna happen," Quickly Carol kicked Raylan between the legs and he dropped the swords in pain. She grabbed Felix again and dashed. She sprinted through the forests but she suddenly stopped when she came to the edge of a cliff edge. She looked down and saw the fast-moving river. She heard the bushes twitching. She turned around and saw him, his swords still active.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the ground right behind Carol. She felt the ground crumble beneath her. Raylan, to his own self-surprise, tried to reach for her hand. But he accidentally grabbed her necklace and as she and Felix fell into the river far below, it snapped off clean and Raylan could do nothing but stand still and watched as they plummeted into the murky water below with a splash.

He stared down and waited patiently for their heads to bob up. Nothing. He climbed down the cliff walls to the riverbank below. Still, he saw no sign of the girl and her fox. Had they drowned? Or had they swum away?

"Raylan!" Runaan's voice echoed. "Raylan!"

Raylan felt his heart jump. What could he say? He couldn't tell Runaan he had spared the girl. And he didn't know for sure that she had survived either. He saw a nearby patch of berries and got an idea.

Runaan rushed to the cliffs with the assassins still behind him. "Raylan!" he called. Thunder struck the clouds above him. "Raylan!"

"I'm here Runaan,"

Runaan turned his head and he saw Raylan climbing up on the cliff edge with his butterfly knives that could turn into hooks. They were covered in red. Runaan approached him. "Is it done?"

"Yes. Her body fell into the river,"

"Well done," Runaan clapped his shoulder again. "Now come. We don't have long left till night,"

As he and the other assassins walked ahead, Raylan turned his head down at the river again. He felt a little worried. Had that human girl survived the fall? He looked at the ruby pendant in his hands. He clenched it. He slipped it into his pocket and walked away, praying that somehow that innocent girl had survived. For the first time since he left Xadia, he felt something, he thought he would never feel. Guilt. A sense of perception. Why was he feeling this way?

Harrow stared out through the pounding rain, worried for his daughter. He was more worried about how he was gonna tell his biological kids that their sister had run away. He couldn't bear to hurt them like that. It would be just like when they lost their mother when Ezran was two and Willow was only a few months old. It would be like losing her all over again.

"King Harrow…" Viren approached his staff.

"Not now Viren,"

"We must discuss some important matters. And…perhaps you should take a needful rest.

"No Viren. I cannot rest until my daughter is safe,"

"But your majesty, she's not…"

"She's as every bit as my child as Ezran and Willow are. And I…should have tried to be a better dad to her," Harrow shut her eyes in remorse. "I know she left because she felt like she wasn't good enough for me. But she was. I should have tried harder to make her feel more appreciated. I will not let her down again,"

Before Viren could speak again, they heard the noisy sounds of a horse neighing. Harrow peered down and he saw a horse riding into the courtyard, scaring the soldiers and servants. Quickly he dashed out of the room, his irritated high mage chasing him.

Willow and Ezran rushed out to see the horse. The soldiers tried to calm it but it was scared. Willow approached it carefully.

"Willow. What are you doing?" asked Ezran.

"Hush," Willow stepped forward carefully. "Easy," When the horse noticed her, it got more and more nervous. "Easy. It's okay. You're all right," she pulled out an apple from her belt pouch and held it up to its snout. It smelled and it ate it. It calmed down and Willow gently stroked. "There. You see. You're safe and sound,"

"That was great," Ezran praised. He stroked its snout. "Where did you come from?"

"Ezran! Willow!" The kids turned to see their dad, petrified. "Are you both all right?"

"We're fine," Ezran assured. "Willow calmed it down,"

"Something Caroline taught me," she said. "Dad, we know that you're keeping something from us. What's happened to our sister?"

Harrow tried to answer but he noticed a knapsack attached to the saddle. He opened it and inside he saw Caroline's sketchbook, her dirty history book, and supplies. He pulled it out and looked at the gold and purple covers of the book he gave her when she was a kid. "Oh no,"

"Dad, what's happened to Carol?" asked Ezran desperately.

Harrow looked at him worriedly. "That scroll from earlier was her writing. She ran away last night,"

The brother and sister were shocked. "Why would she do that?" asked Willow in tears. "Doesn't she love us anymore?"

"She does love us all. But she feels she's a burden to us all because of what everyone says about her,"

"But we do love her," said Ez.

"It's that no good Soren's fault," Willow cursed. "Wait a minute. If that's her horse, then that means…"

"Your sister is in trouble and we need to find her. I need to find her. This is my fault as well as Soren's. I should have tried harder to make sure she was happy," said Harrow in guilt. "You both need to stay here until I return,"

"Please bring Carol back," Ez implored.

"I will," Harrow hugged his children tightly before they were escorted inside with Carol's items. He dressed in armour and a cape and he galloped off with a few soldiers and Viren in tow.

Carol had washed ashore on the riverbank, a long way upstream, her body still half in the water. Her eyes were closed. Her hair was in wet waves. A sore red streak marked the right side of her jawline, a bleeding scar. The rain poured down on her but she wouldn't wake up. Felix woke up and stretched his legs, shaking the water off his fur. When he saw his person, he whined and bounded over to her, licking her face, hoping she'd wake up. She didn't. He whined and nuzzled her cheek. She needed help. He peered up and saw the distant castle. He could find help. A few hours passed and the rain turned over.

Harrow rode his horse patiently with some soldiers. He was armoured and he wore a long red cape. Viren had insisted he'd accompany him; he accepted. "I'll look over there," he pointed to the west towards the river. He rode his horse. He galloped through the forest, hearing the rushing waters of the fast-flowing river. He dismounted his steed and walked over to a tree overlooking the riverbank. He peered down and saw the unconscious Caroline and her fox trying to wake her up. He turned away and rode back towards his king.

"Well…?" he asked.

Viren pretended to sound sad. "I'm sorry my king. But I could not find her at the riverbank. Might I insist we…"

Before he could finish, they heard the bushes shuffle. He pointed his magic staff forward. "Come out!"

A furry head poked out. Harrow sighed. "It's only Felix," he dismounted his horse. He knelt before the fox, stroking its head. "There. There. It's okay," Felix purred feeling his warm hands touch his face. "Now, where's Caroline?"

Felix led the way and king Harrow followed him to the shoreline. When he saw Caroline's unresponsive body, he furrowed his eyes and glared at Viren. "You said you didn't see her here,"

Viren clenched his fist. "Your majesty, I swear to you that I didn't see her and her pet wash ashore. I must have just missed her when I left this spot,"

Felix growled, hating being a pet. He bounded over to her again. He nudged his head against her, trying desperately to wake her up. The relieved but shocked Harrow fell to his knees and pulled her into her arms. "Come on Carol. Wake up. Please wake up. Your family needs you," There was no response. HE held her tighter, not caring that he was being watched by Viren or the soldiers. "Please wake up,' he repeated. "Your family needs you,"

Nothing happened much to his heartbreak. But his heartbeat hastened with joy as he saw her eyelids flicker and her beautiful green eyes open up again. The first thing she saw was the eyes of a tearful Harrow breathing in joy. "Da…what…"

"You're safe now. Just hang on," he pulled off his cape and wrapped it around her. He then lifted her into his warm arms and carried her away from the riverbank through the trees to his horse. With Viren's reluctant help, he placed his daughter in front of him and he yipped on the reins. His horse carried them back into the castle whilst Viren reluctantly followed behind, carrying an irritated Felix.

Ezran and Willow sat in the courtyard with Claudia who did what she could to comfort them. "Don't worry you two. Caroline will be back with us,"

"What if she's hurt?!" freaked out Willow. "What if she…"

Ezran roughly grabbed her shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself," his outburst made her gasp. He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm so worried for her too. But she'll be fine,"

"How do you know that?"

"Because she's strong and daring. And she's smart and thoughtful," Ezran had never had more faith in anyone than her. "She's going to make it wherever she is and be back with us soon,"

"Look!" Claudia squealed out. She pointed towards the gates and they saw the king and his squadron enter the courtyard. Caroline was held in Harrow's arms, wrapped in his cape but pale as snow, eyes closed tight.

Ezran and Willow shared frantic looks and rushed over. "Dad, is she…?" the sister couldn't finish.

"She's fine," Harrow assured. "But she had a rough day. We need to get her warmed up.

"Is she gonna be an okay dad?" Ezran asked worriedly.

Harrow held her close. "She'll be fine,"

"What should we do when she wakes up?" Ezran asked. "Do we just ask her not to run away again?"

"From now on, we do whatever we can to make people realise how important she is to us. Claudia, could you mix a broth please?"

"Of course," Claudia bowed and walked away.

Observing the king holding his adopted daughter, Viren noticed her satchel still clung to his horse's saddle; he saw the primal stone zapping behind the folds of the bag; he frowned. He watched the royal family enter the castle, and then looked again at Caroline's bag and opened it.

Raylan and the assassins gathered in a circle in the forest. Runaan faced them with vengeance painted on his face. "Four full moons passed on the eve of the Winter's Turn, the humans crossed into Xadia and murdered the King of the Dragons. Then they destroyed his only egg, the Dragon Prince," He wrapped a binding around his arm. "Tonight, we bind our lives to justice!"

"My breath for freedom!" the first one Callisto extended his arm.

Then the only female elf assassin Andromeda. "My eyes for truth!" she copied his actions.

Then the one next to her: Skor. "My strength for the honour!"

Then the one between him and Raylan, Ran. "My blood for justice!"

And finally, Raylan. "My heart for Xadia!"

Runaan smiled proudly at him and then walked in front of each of them, wrapping the extending binding around each of their wrists and right forearms. "Life is precious. Life is valuable. We take it, but we do not take it lightly,"

"Moon reflects sun, as death reflects life!" declared Raylan boldly.

Runaan pulled the two halves of his bow apart and with his blades cut the bindings and the wrist and forearm bands glowed a powerful moon-like blue. He held up a red arrow with a hawk head at the end. "When it is done. I will send a shadow hawk with a blood ribbon message to the Queen of the Dragons," he placed it in his quiver. "We strike the moon is highest!"

The Moonshadow Assassins nodded and walked away. Rather than walk with them, Raylan felt a little conflicted. His hand slipped into his pocket, touching the pendant he had found in the river.

"Uh, Runaan?" he asked.

"What is it Raylan?"

"I was wondering…what if they know we're coming?"

"We have the advantage of surprise. If we act fast, we will accomplish our goals without sacrifice," he walked away but Raylan became worried. What if the girl had survived? What if she had alerted Katolis?

In the castle of the kingdom, Carol was placed on her bed, wrapped up warmly. Her fever passed but she remained motionless as ever. Ezran and Willow would not leave her side for one moment. Felix licked her hands hoping she'd respond this time but she wouldn't wake. Bait sat next to Felix to comfort him. Harrow asked Claudia to make sure she was all right and she said she would be. All she needed was rest and she would wake up soon.

"I'm going to get some jelly tarts," said Willow. "Maybe that would wake her up,"

"Good idea," said Ezran. Willow slipped off the bed and jogged out of the room. "Don't forget dad!" he called out.

Claudia was inside her room brewing up something nice for Caroline once she woke up. She heard footsteps and turned to see her dad approaching. "Oh, dad. I'm just finishing the broth for Carol. How can I help you?"

"I'd like you to look at this," Viren tossed her Carol's satchel.

"Dad, how did you?"

"I borrowed it from the king. He said he wanted me to look at the stone inside it,"

Claudia pulled out the massive primal stone with the lightning brewing inside.

"What I like to know is how Carol came into possession of it,"

"Maybe we should just ask her once she wakes up," Claudia suggested. As she spoke, she noticed a dark look in Viren's eyes. "Dad, what's up?"

"There is something very strange about her, Claudia. And we need to be cautious,"

"Dad, why would we need to be cautious? Something happened to her today," Before Claudia's argument could continue, she heard her broth bubbling and got back to work. "I need to get this up to her," she carried the tray and then took the bag too.

Ezran held Caroline's hands tenderly. "Please wake up," he prayed. "Please. We need you,"

The moment he spoke, Carol's eyes flickered and he slowly turned his head. Ezran felt his heart lift for joy. Bait felt like jumping around for joy. Felix in a fit of joy licked her cheek and she sat up slowly. She saw Ez. "Ez…"

"You're okay," Ezran gave her a big bear hug.

"Where am I?"

"You're home," Ezran smiled.

She shook her head. "No. This isn't my home Ez. I can't stay here," She tried to move off the bed but Ez grabbed her hand.

"Please don't go," he begged. "You have no idea how worried we all were when you left. Dad was so scared. I was scared. Willow wouldn't stop crying for hours. I couldn't comfort her, the way you could,"

"Ez, I don't belong here. I'm nothing but an embarrassment to all of you, to Katolis. Everyone is right to reject me. I'm not good enough and I never will be. Nobody needs me,"

"I do," Ezran held both of her hands. "And so does Willow. And Felix. And Bait. And Claudia. And Aunt Amaya. And dad too. He left the castle just to find you. And he feels so guilty that you left,"

Hearing him say that made his elder sister feel so guilty too. Before she could speak, they heard the door open. They saw Willow with a plate of jelly tarts and Claudia with a broth. Claudia gasped in surprise. "Carol! You're awake!"

Willow placed the table of jelly tarts on the table and rushed over pin Carol to the bed with a big bear hug. Carol hugged her back before Ez join in. "I was so scared. Please don't leave us again,"

Carol sighed. "I'm so sorry I ran away,"

"Oh, it doesn't matter. The important thing is you're alive," said Claudia approaching them with her tray. "You were so cold when your dad found you. Here," she settled the tray on her lap. "Have some broth,"

"Thanks, Clauds…" she said. She took a sip. "Can you call for our dad, please? I need to talk to him," Ezran and Willow's smiles brightened as she called her stepdad that name.

"Of course. I'm so happy you're back," Claudia smiled before she walked out of the room. Carol swallowed the broth, feeling better with every sip. As she did, Willow hummed their mother's lullaby and she felt very relaxed. Ezran offered her a jelly tart and she happily munched on one. He nervously eyed the mark on her jawline.

"What happened to you?" he asked. Carol wanted to tell him and Willow the story but she was scared of frightening them. But what scared her more was the fact that elves were coming to kill them.

"Carol? What's wrong?" asked Willow.

She bit her lip. She was saved by the opening of her door. Harrow entered inside and was relieved to see her better than ever with Ezran and Willow sitting next to her. He sat on the bed. "I'm so glad you're safe,"

"I'm so glad to be here. With all of you," she said.

"Claudia said you wanted to see me if it's something…that I'm doing,"

"No. You're not doing anything. Can I talk to him alone guys please?" she requested her siblings.

Respecting her wishes, they nodded and left the room. Ezran secretly napped the plate of extra tarts. But Caroline saw him and gave him a cheeky grin.

"Carol…" Harrow began.

"I can't believe you came out there to find me,"

"Of course, I did. And I meant everything I said. We do need you," he held her hand tenderly and she held it back. "What happened to you? How did you end up in the river?"

"I was attacked by Moonshadow elves,"

Harrow was shocked. "What?"

"They said they were coming here to kill you, Ez and Willow. They said you killed the Dragon King and destroyed his only heir so they want revenge," To Caroline, talking about her emotions and recent actions didn't matter, her family's lives were more important.

Harrow turned pale as white. "Then we must prepare. It's most likely they'll be attacking tomorrow when the moon is full,"

"Dad, you didn't kill the dragon king. Did you?"

Harrow sighed. Behind his facial expression, she detected rage and vengeance. The Dragon King had taken away someone they both loved so much. "No. I didn't,"

"But then who did?"

Harrow scrunched his fist. "I know exactly who. Carol, I need you to get ready,"

"For what?" she asked.

"It is not safe here for you and your siblings anymore. You need to leave here as soon as possible,"

"But what about you?"

"It is my job to keep you all safe,"

Caroline was silent for a second, taking his facial colours. "Even me?"

Harrow clasped her shoulders. "Of course, you. When I read your letter, I was so ashamed of myself for not trying better to make you feel like you were one of my own. And I'm sorry. If I had realised your insecurities much sooner, I could have done something to stop you from feeling like you had to leave. I don't want you to leave,"

"I'm so sorry for all the pain I caused you, Ez and Willow. I thought if I left things would be better for all of you, that you wouldn't have to deal with an embarrassment like me," As she apologised, she sobbed, not caring if it was humiliating or not.

"No Caroline," he wiped her tears away. "You are not an embarrassment to any of us. You don't have to be like me or anyone else. What I love about is that you're not like other people. You're creative. You're caring. And above all you're selfless. You might not have the blood of the Katolis dynasty. But you have the spirit of one. You are the heart of this family,'

He pulled her into his arms and he hugged her tightly back, shedding tears of joy. He vowed he would never let her go. Through the gap between her chamber's doors, Viren observed them darkly. He walked away but then he heard the doors opening. "Viren.."

"Yes your majesty," he turned around.

"I need you to track down some Moonshadow Elves in the forest,"

Raylan and his party had managed to find a safe place to make camp for a while. He sharpened his blades whilst his guardian drenched his arrows in a poisonous fluid from a jar. Raylan could see the castle high atop the great cliff. He felt shrouded under a dark veil. He looked at his guardian and pursed his lips. What if lying to him was a bad idea? He sighed and cursed him for doing that. HE decided to tell Runaan the truth. He stood up. "Runaan?"

Runaan turned to him. "What is it?"

"There's something I need to tell you,"

Runaan saw something different on his face. "Raylan, what is it?"

Raylan tried to speak but he suddenly felt the words glue themselves to his tongue.

Runaan frowned. "Raylan…"

Raylan tried to speak again but a small moth light creature of green landed on his head. Runaan examined it. He suddenly gasped. "They know we're here,"

Just after he said that they heard horses whining in the distance. Soldiers. He pulled his moon opal necklace from his neck, crushed it to purple dust and scattered it over himself and the assassins, whispering the spell: "Mystica-Arbora," A see-through barrier covered the party. Raylan felt his heart jump. Past some trees, he saw the same whining human from before and the girl with long hair. They walked towards them. He held his breath. They glanced over right at their campsite.

Soren scoffed. He allowed the small moon moth to sit on his palm. "Surprising no one, a magic moth is just as worthless as a regular moth,"

"It isn't a regular moth, Soren," criticised Claudia.

"This is a waste of time," Soren allowed it to fly away. "Let's just wait for the elves to come to us,"

"Soren, those elves nearly killed Caroline," Claudia said. "And they're coming to kill her family,"

Behind the veil, Raylan breathed heavily but quietly. He saw Runaan glaring at him. He tried to speak but he bit his tongue.

"I don't see why I have to get pulled out here again after another useless search,"

"Soren, dad says if you wanna get back to be a crown guard. You need to earn your way up again. And you need to start treating Caroline nicely. Now come on, we have a job to do,"

"Claudia, there's no point walking around the forest. We'll just have to wait for the elves to come for us," Soren mounted his horse again and Claudia sighed begrudgingly following after him. They mounted their horses and disappeared.

The spell wore off and the assassin's angry faces glued to Raylan's petrified face. "You lied to me!" cursed Runaan. "You let that human girl go"

The apologetic Raylan sighed. "I know. I lied and I'm sorry. But I didn't lie about her falling into the river. I checked the river and I didn't see her. I was certain she was dead,"

"But still you spared her life,"

"How could l kill a human who hadn't done us wrong?"

"She blew us with Aspiro," Skor reminded scornfully.

"Only to escape and defend herself. She could have killed us all but instead, she just ran. I had a chance to kill her but I saw she was innocent,"

"You had a job to do!" Runaan bellowed. "And you've killed us all,"

Raylan sighed and rubbed his forearms in shame; he had ruined everything.

That's the first episode. I've made some changes that contrast the tv series. Harrow didn't kill the Dragon King with Viren. Caroline was given a primal stone left for her by her mother. She was the human Raylan spared instead of Marcus the soldier. I hope you all have enjoyed this. Thank you very much for your support. Please send reviews and ideas if you have any. See you all soon.