The autumn leaves crunched softly under the bare feet that wandered through the forest. The young girl traveled slowly through the trees; the soft, mid-summer's breeze blew through, gently blowing her long, sleek, black hair. She took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the old oak trees that surrounded her.
In the distance, she could hear her name being called. She ignored the calls as she continued her journey. A smile formed on her think, pink lips. She enjoyed playing this game.
She could hear the rapid footsteps of her follower. She knew he would catch up to her soon; she knew he would be angry.
She stopped at the sound of a snapping twig behind her. Her smile faded as she heard an angry voice in her ear.
"When are you going to listen?" it asked harshly.
She turned to face the owner of the voice. Her topaz blue eyes crahsed with the pale blue eyes of her brother, Landon.
"Why is it so wrong for me to walk at my own leisure?" the slender girl asked.
Landon growled. "Did you not listen to Mayor Icarius tonight? There is talk of a pixie in the surrounding area. We cannot risk being seen!"
"It still makes no sense! I am always careful." She took a deep breath, scanning Landon's face. "It has been over one hundred years since the last war. I doubt another one is going to occur," his sister replied.
Landon shook his head. "It is still too risky. If the pixie were to catch even the slightest glimpse of you, they would find our village. We simply cannot risk it. There is no way we can be sure they will not start another war for territory in Camore."
She sighed. "I will be fine, Landon. Stop worrying. I know how to protect myself."
She turned her back to him, preparing to continue on her journey.
"Adria!" Landon called.
She stopped but did not look back.
"Just be careful."
Adria took a deep breath, preparing herself. However, when she turned around, she saw Landon rushing off into the distance.
She sighed and continued on through the woods.
Though Adria would not admit it to Landon, or anyone else in her village, Adria wished to meet the pixie. Her body tingled as she thought of what the encounter would be like. She wondered if the pixie could really inflict as much danger as the Elders believed.
As a half-nymph, Adria had never had the opportunity to to encounter beings different from herself. For the 110 years of her existence, Adria had been permitted to interact only with the members of the village. Mayor Icarius, along with the Elders, believed everyone was better off that way.
Mayor Icarius often held meetings to inform the villagers of the dangerous beings that lurked outside their village walls. The Mayor showed pictures and told stories of horned beings with flaming red eyes, identifying them as humans. Most recently, the pictures and stories were of the war between the pixies and the nymphs-a war that had occured over one-hundred years ago. It was obvious by the way the Elders preached that they were worried another war would break out should the two races meet again.
As Adria continued through the woods, she thought about the meeting Mayor Icarius had held just that evening. He had preached about the war, encouraging the males to join the force if necessary. Landon had been eager to join, one of the first to enlist. Adria and her mother had tried to reason with him; but he, like his earthly father, craved adventure. He refused to pass up the opportunity to fight with the rest of his people.
Adria had angered Landon, along with many others at the meeting, by voicing her dislike of the war. She told them it was pointless for them to be concerned over a war that was unlikely to occur. She believed the pixies and nymphs should put aside their differences and share the land on which they both lived.
In the distance, she could hear her name being called. She ignored the calls as she continued her journey. A smile formed on her think, pink lips. She enjoyed playing this game.
She could hear the rapid footsteps of her follower. She knew he would catch up to her soon; she knew he would be angry.
She stopped at the sound of a snapping twig behind her. Her smile faded as she heard an angry voice in her ear.
"When are you going to listen?" it asked harshly.
She turned to face the owner of the voice. Her topaz blue eyes crahsed with the pale blue eyes of her brother, Landon.
"Why is it so wrong for me to walk at my own leisure?" the slender girl asked.
Landon growled. "Did you not listen to Mayor Icarius tonight? There is talk of a pixie in the surrounding area. We cannot risk being seen!"
"It still makes no sense! I am always careful." She took a deep breath, scanning Landon's face. "It has been over one hundred years since the last war. I doubt another one is going to occur," his sister replied.
Landon shook his head. "It is still too risky. If the pixie were to catch even the slightest glimpse of you, they would find our village. We simply cannot risk it. There is no way we can be sure they will not start another war for territory in Camore."
She sighed. "I will be fine, Landon. Stop worrying. I know how to protect myself."
She turned her back to him, preparing to continue on her journey.
"Adria!" Landon called.
She stopped but did not look back.
"Just be careful."
Adria took a deep breath, preparing herself. However, when she turned around, she saw Landon rushing off into the distance.
She sighed and continued on through the woods.
Though Adria would not admit it to Landon, or anyone else in her village, Adria wished to meet the pixie. Her body tingled as she thought of what the encounter would be like. She wondered if the pixie could really inflict as much danger as the Elders believed.
As a half-nymph, Adria had never had the opportunity to to encounter beings different from herself. For the 110 years of her existence, Adria had been permitted to interact only with the members of the village. Mayor Icarius, along with the Elders, believed everyone was better off that way.
Mayor Icarius often held meetings to inform the villagers of the dangerous beings that lurked outside their village walls. The Mayor showed pictures and told stories of horned beings with flaming red eyes, identifying them as humans. Most recently, the pictures and stories were of the war between the pixies and the nymphs-a war that had occured over one-hundred years ago. It was obvious by the way the Elders preached that they were worried another war would break out should the two races meet again.
As Adria continued through the woods, she thought about the meeting Mayor Icarius had held just that evening. He had preached about the war, encouraging the males to join the force if necessary. Landon had been eager to join, one of the first to enlist. Adria and her mother had tried to reason with him; but he, like his earthly father, craved adventure. He refused to pass up the opportunity to fight with the rest of his people.
Adria had angered Landon, along with many others at the meeting, by voicing her dislike of the war. She told them it was pointless for them to be concerned over a war that was unlikely to occur. She believed the pixies and nymphs should put aside their differences and share the land on which they both lived.
