This is an original work written by me! Please don't steal it from me.
Prologue
A small child, barely four years of age, stared around, fright filling her large green eyes. She stood silently, one arm clinging to the giant pillar beside her.
Do not move, the whispers told her. Not a sound, help comes.
She nodded, shakily. The whispers had only been with her for a week, but everyone told her it was normal, and they hadn't harmed her yet. Still, she clung harder to the pillar, squeezing her eyes shut as another scream shot through the air. A tremor shook her small body and she hid her head against the cold, unrelenting, stone.
She didn't want to see the blood, or the people falling, and not getting back up.
"Raiter!"
The little girl pulled from the pillar and turned to face the voice. "Mama," she whimpered upon seeing the older woman. Her eyes welled up with tears and she made to run towards her.
Stop
"But-"
It is not safe. She will come to you."
Bottom lip trembling, she obediently stayed where she was, eyes locked on the approaching figure of her mother, longing to race towards the woman.
Her mother held a green cloak tightly aroung herself as she made her way around the fighting. Adults Raiter recognized, pushed back the strangers as her mother approached, leaving a clear path for her.
"Raiter!" her mother breathed when she was finally by there. The woman knelt down for a moment, her own blue eyes shining with worry.
"Mama," the girl, Raiter, choked, flinging herself into the woman's arms.
"Shh, it's alright, darling," the woman replied, her arms wrapping around the child.
"M'scared, Mama."
"I know sweetheart, I know."
Raiter sniffled, burrowing her head into her mother's shoulder. She did not even glance up when the woman stood, keeping her in her arms. A moment later, she felt the cloak being wrapped around her small frame, and her mother was moving once more.
Sounds invaded her ears, but Raiter just squeezed her eyes shurt once more and clung to her mother. Meanwhile, the whispers whispered encouragingly. They told her that all would be fine, that she was safe, that she need no longer worry. They told her they would protect her.
Her tremors had just managed to stop when her mother finally unwrapped her from the cloak. She glanced up at her, then at the room around them.
"Mama?"
"Hush, Raiter."
Raiter nodded, laying her head against the warm shoulder, sniffling once more.
"Areah?" A voice whispered, causing Raiter to glance up once more.
"Over here," her mother whispered back.
A relieved sigh sounded through the room. "Thank goodness," the voice repleid, entering the room. "I was worried that you wouldn't make it."
The new woman carried a small child in her arms. She knew that child, it was one of the ones her mother liked her to play with. Not that she ever saw why; it wasn't like the baby could do much. It just sat there and watched her and the others. Even now, she just looked around with her big blue eyes. They held a saddened looked to them, but Raiter couldn't understand the reason; they were safe now. She never cried though, which made her more likable, and Raiter had always liked her hair. It reminded her of snow.
"Did you see the others?" her mother asked.
Lady Kauer shook her head. "Not a single glimpse."
Laset, the baby turned her head and gazed at Raiter. The girl gazed back a moment before tugging her mother's cloak.
"Not now, Raiter," her mother said, pulling her hand from the cloak.
"But Mama, Las is sad."
Both woman froze before turning their attention to the smaller child.
"Do you think . . ." Areah, asked.
"I hope not," Lady Kauer breathed.
"But, if they are?"
"I don't know."
Both of them jumped when the footsteps sounded through the room. They didn't make a sound as they grew louder. The footsteps stopped right outside the room.
"Please tell me I am not the only one here."
"You're not, Aina."
Another young woman entered the room, her hair falling away from to reveal her furry ears. She looked younger than both the other two, though Raiter often wondered if ithat was because of the furry ears on top of her head.
Her daughter had the same black cat ears poking from her head. They were real too, she knew, she'd checked. Of course, Mama hadn't been very happy about it.
In fact, that daughter sat on Lady Aina's hip, arms around her neck. There were tear marks down her face, and, upon seeing all of them, she started to cry again, though she didn't make a sound. Lady Aina tightened her hold around the child.
"What about Teera?" Lady Kauer asked.
"I saw her for a moment. She had to come a different way."
Areah nodded. Raiter frowned, not understanding.
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Raiter blinked, towards the door as Lady Teera glided into the room. In her arms, she held her own child, who was currently sleeping.
"The time has come," she told them, her voice smooth and without hesitation.
"Yes," Kauer replied with a nod. "They must be seperated."
"Hidden," Lady Ainah added.
"It is time," Areah agreed. "Raiter."
"Mama?"
Her mother set her down. "Say goodbye to the others."
"Bye? Why, Mama?"
"We're going for a trip and you wont be able to see them for awhile."
"Oh."
Obediently, Raiter walked over to Lady Kauer, who knelt down, her dress the only padding under her knees. Raiter leaned over Laset, and gently kissed her cheek.
"Bye-bye, Las," she whispered. "I see you 'gain soon."
Laset just looked at her without a word, her eyes sad. Raiter frowned. Laset's eyes were never like that. It made her worry.
Her next stop was Keisra, who Aina sat down. Raiter wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and gave her a kiss. Afterward, Keisra glanced up at Lady Aina questioningly. Lady Aina smiled back then gave her a small push towards Laset.
Raiter moved on to the sleeping Zaren. "Bye-bye, Zar," she whispered, not wanting to waken the rather loud baby.
Her goodbyes done, she returned to her mother. The four women exchanged farewells and silently went in different directions. Raiter fell asleep in her mother's arms long after they had left the city. She never knew that it would be the last time she ever saw the other three, but Laset's sudden screams would remain with her for several years to come.
Anyway, this is the prologue to an original story I'm writing. Tell me what you think; what needs work, and what you liked. :)
