Untitled - Chapter One

Once again, Artemis was on the move. After scaring off the army attacking the forest side village, she felt she needed to collect herself under the familiarity of the Weeping willow.

She sprinted through the masses of birch and maple trees until once again, she stood underneath the gentle swaying of hanging branches. She walked to the edge of its protection where the stream of fresh spring water ran through. This water was the life force for the entire forest.

Still under the soft swaying limbs, Artemis kneeled to the side of the stream and cupped her hands, filling them with water. Bringing the cool liquid to her face, she sighed contently, as the rest fell down her snow white arms.

After a few more douses of the cleansing water, Artemis sat back to let the sun dry her. The broken rays ran through small partings between intricate groupings of branches.

Almost subconsciously, the young drifter began humming. It wasn't for a few moments until she noticed the tune she hummed was being played softly on a panflute that resounded in the distance.

Furrowing her brow, Artemis stood and began to walk toward where she heard the music. Despite the warm sun, she shivered. It was the same melody she has heard the night she awoke under the tree she now called home. It sounded almost like a sad lullaby. She felt that she had always known it, as if from birth it was given to her.

It grew slightly clearer as she drew nearer, and she stayed behind the thick trunk of the tree nearest to her. As she dared to glance from behind the bark, she saw a man sitting on a boulder in the middle of the forest. Upon closer inspection, Artemis concluded he was an elf, and was transfixed by his music.

As she gazed upon the elf, something moved in her peripheral vision. Something at the male's feet. A flower, young and pale, was poking its head from the rich earth, as if enchanted by the tune.

As if hearing Artemis, the elf stood to his full six foot height, jade eyes trained on the girl. Putting away the wooden instrument instrument he has been playing, he addressed the girl who had gone back behind the tree. "Did I disturb you, Artemis?"

The young woman gasped. How did he know her name? She swallowed any fear that might have started to creep into her heart and walked from behind the tree, gaze locked on his. "This forest has been almost completely desolate since the war of the Maaz people and the pixies. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." The elf wore a questioning look.

"Nevermind me. Who are you?" Artemis put a hand on her waist; the other had a thumb hooked on the strap of her quiver.

Tilting his head as if amused, the man sat back down, seeing the flower he has charmed slowly wilt. "A friend, I assure you."

"I tend to know the people I befriend." He tone was beginning to betray her hard exterior as it was masked by confusion. "What's your name, at least?"

"I go by Keiran."

Artemis ventured closer to the rock he sat on, ever alert. Her feline-like senses continually scanned the area around them. "Would you mind telling me how you know my name, Keiran?"

Smiling just faintly, Keiran looked into the distance. "You could say I've known you for a while." His eyes left the scenery he seemed to be transfixed by and he enigmatically smiled at her.