Chapter One (part 1)

"Dymetri! Don't you dare walk ou--" His mother yelled, standing two feet from the large wooden front doors, hand raised as if to strike him. But it was too late, the young elvin man slammed the door in her face.

"Damnit!" He half whispered as he strode angrily down the stone steps. His pace was quick and agile, fluid like flowing water. His anger only made him faster. His spead at a normal human's sprint, but he was still walking.

The elf was dark haired and dark skinned, tanned by the hot summer sun. His gold eyes glittered with the sparks that were flying behind the lash-rimmed orbs. His black hair glinted slightly with sweat as he broke into a run, now at the bottom of the stairs.

He was glad that his clothes were comfortable enough for running in. He had a green silk shirt and brown leather pants. They would provide adequite cover in the forest. His black leather boots were faded and worn, but comfortable. The only thing that would possibly give him away was the sun reflecting off of the two gold daggers he had in his belt, and his long silver sword. The sword had emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and saphires embedded into it's hilt that would cause many colorful rainbows as the sun bounced off of them.

Some of his anger seeped away once he was within the trees. He loved this forest, the trees abruptly started and stopped like a wall that you could walk through. However, the farther you got into the trees, the more of them were there. In the heart of the forest, you could barely move half a foot before you hit another tree. It was nearly impossible to walk through edge of the heart. Very steep slopes surrounded the center of the heart. But anyone who could make it through to the center, would come upon a very beautiful meadow that was Spring everyday and a small brook tore a path through it.

That's where Dymetri was headed. To the heart of the forest. He loved how in that center meadow, it was green all year round. Flowers bloomed and never withered or died. The brook never ran dry. It was a truly magical place, and anyone who came upon it was instantly put at peace. There, there was nothing to run from, nothing to be angry at, just happiness and peace.

It didn't take Dymetri long to reach the deadly slope, and didn't take him long to climb it either. He had come here so many times, he could see the start to a trail from where his feet pounded into the dirt. He slowed now, not wanting to run anymore. He walked the last hundred feet or so until he got to the wall of ferns that was the blockade to the meadow.

These ferns were not hard to pass through like some might think. There is always a weak link in every chain.

Dymetri walked through and into his peaceful sea of green. He started for the waterside where the sand was warm and the water cool.

He stopped. He was 20 yards from the brook when his attention was finally pulled to a mound only a few feet from the water. Worry filled him. -How did that person get here? Why are they here? Why is she covered in blood?-

He jogged lightly over to the fallen woman. When he got a closer look, he saw that beneith the drying blood was a delecate white skin. Her black hair was filthy and even darker from the blood. There were gashes in her skin, all along her sides, stomach, arms and legs. Her hands and feet had cuts deep enough that he could see the white bones. Her face was dirty like the rest of her and seemed to have less damage than the rest of her. Her clothes were nothing but ribbons now, and hardly covering her at all.

"What the--" He started to say, but he realized his voice had startled her.

She had jumped slightly, then whimpered as her muscles protested to the movement. She was still out cold however. It was just her subconscious mind no doubt, triggering her instincts that would cause her to fight or run, whichever one she normally chose.

He crouched by her side, lightly lifting one of her eyelids. She gave a gasp as light flooded into her open eye, causing her to jerk again. This time she stayed awake though, blue eyes full of anger, hurt, and fear.

Quickly with a blinding speed, she lept away from him and stood in a defensive stance. "Who are you." Her growl was hoars but non the less effective. He could here the malace and authority in her voice. She eyed his daggers and sword, becoming even more tense.

"I'm Dymetri. I am an Elvin Prince. And you..?" He trailed off, hoping for an answer.

"It is not important." She said, standing strait. The use of her sore muscles caused her to collapse, but she let out no cry of pain. He could see it in her face however. The pain ran deeper than just her physical wounds.

"Some of those cuts look really nasty. We should take care of them before they have a chance to fester." He started walking cautiously, like aproaching a terrified animal.

"Dont..care.." She panted, trying to keep back a yelp of pain.

"Please. Let me help you." He begged. He didn't know why he was even doing this.

"No." She said, her voice thick with exaustion, and before he could say anything else, she was out again.

"Like blowing out a candle.." He muttered as he shook his head. He took off his shirt, draping it around her shoulders, and buttoned it up, covering her nearly exposed chest.

Gently he lifted her delecate form into his arms and cradled her against his bare chest. She was extremely warm, and light.

He took off at a sprint. He wouldnt be running this fast if it werent for what happend when their skin made contact.

When he had picked her up, when her skin came in contact with his hands and arms, fire spread the length of his body. A desperate urge to get her help had flooded his mind, but he had no idea why this had effected him like this. All he knew is that she would only need to hang on for a couple minutes before she was helped.

He looked down into her face. Unlike most people he'd seen sleeping, it wasnt one of peace. Silent tears flowed from her closed eyes. Her face was drawn into a mask of agony. Beneith the pain, dirt, blood, and scrapes; he could see the face of an angel. Dymetri urged himself faster as she whimpered in her sleep.

"Almost there." He whispered. But he knew it was pointless. She wouldn't have heard him.