Middle of the Edge

Chapter One

  I watch as Lily and Cade splash in the river laughing loudly. Next to me is Samuel, Lily's older brother, and my best friend. The rest of our group consists of two others, Narc and Lyson, brothers who were warriors in our cove. It's been four moon cycles since we left the cove. I had intended to leave alone, but Sam had caught me packing. And his parents begged him to take Lily with us. Cade is ten and an orphan, and caught us as we were leaving. I had always had a soft spot for him.

  As for Narc and Lyson, they happened to be leaving themselves. They hadn't accounted for the coves animal traps though, and we found them in netting not half a mile north of the cove. And when I freed them, they decided to stick with us, despite my insisting that they were more than welcome to go their own way. Something about not being able to leave the "nes el marrow" to the cruelty of above ground. They're older than me, two hundred and something, and were kids when the world fell. I always thought they were strange. But they are very helpful. We take turns hunting, and they insist on keeping watch while the rest of us sleep.

  And they've started teaching me combat, which was never aloud in the cove. Women cooked and cleaned and taught the kids. And I never had a problem with it because that was our way of life. But now, above ground, things have to change for us. For me. While we new we weren't the only survives, we never crossed them, so we weren't worried. But now we will meet them, I will meet them, and I must be prepaired for anything. After all, it was people coming together that drove the world to the wars that ended. You can never trusts others intentions.

  Right now Narc and Lyson are out hunting. We just woke up, the sun lowering from the sky. When I was younger my father used to take me above ground to hunt, but our cove is nocturnal, so I had never seen the sun before. Our first day, it was so strange and beautiful to me. The open sky the prettiest of light blues. The white clouds. It was amazing.

  Samuel nudges my shoulder with his, and I bring my gaze to him. He has a small smile on his face, brown eyes bright. "What's going on in your head?" I give him a small smile of my own, looking back to the kids. "Just how beautiful it is up here. I wonder why the Elders chose to go below ground." I see him nod from the corner of my eye. "It really is beautiful. But you know why. To hide from the war, they had to go below ground." I sigh, letting my head fall back and closing my eyes. The war. How could people destroy this beautiful planet? Just for power over eachother? I just can't understand it. But I wasn't there. I wonder if there will be more wars, now that those of us keft have been called together. Will we fight for dominance? Will we turn to our savage blood and create weapons that will pollute the land? Not we, them. I could never do that.

  But what will be meeting these others be like? Will we all hate eachother? Will we be peaceful? Why are we coming together? What do the Old Ones have planned? Why now? I shake my head, clearing my thoughts, then tilt my head as I hear someone quickly approaching through the trees. Opening my eyes I lift my head. Lily and Cade stop playing, shifting closer to Samuel and I, who stand. But then Narc and Lyson break out of the tree line, and we relax. I study their faces, looking for any traces of worry, but only see excitement. "We've seen it! We've seen the castle!" Narc yells, and I laugh at their joy. Cade and Lily rush to meet them, and each brother picks up a child. Samuel moves closer as well, but I start to take down the camp instead of listening.

  I can't really say I'm excited to reach the castle. I left the cove because I did not want to die, not because I was looking for adventure. I was quite comfortable in my home. I lived alone in my housing area, my parents long gone and no siblings to speak of. And I was a mid wife, as my mother was before me. There is nothing more amazing than helping bring a new life into this world. Not even the sky or sun. When there were no children being born, I assisted the Elders in whatever needed done. Writing logs, doing inventory and such. Which wasn't normal for a female, but I was different.

  But now that we're almost there...there is something in me that wants to turn back. To return to the only home I've ever known. The safety of my routine and the known. What would my parents think of me abandoning the cove to save my own life? Would they have wanted me to stay if they were alive? I sigh, pausing my tasks to tilt my head back, looking at the sky. No. They would have been right here with me. Sharing their before war stories and telling me to be brave.

  "Lets go. We'll gather food on the way, seeing as you two completely forgot your goal." I say, finally joining the group. My tone slightly dims the light in the brothers eyes, so I give them a light smile. "Tell me about the castle. I didn't really hear." The men light up again, and we head out of the clearing, with them leading. Lily and Cade on each of their backs. I keep my senses open as Sam falls in step next to me, alert for any danger. Again, I manage to tune out Narc and Lysons voices, though not on purpose.

  I cannot dispel my nerves.All of my life I was taught what happens when people gather. When we are given the chance to be free, and choose our own lives. Distruction. War. Death. We tear apart the beauty of the world, defile nature with our greed, and stain our hands with the blood of our brethren. One thing is for sure, two things for certain; I do not trust what I am walking into. There is a part of me that does not trust these Old Gods. They abondoned my ancestors after all. What if they abondon us as well?

  But then there is my mother's daughter. The girl in me always looking for the best in people. And my fathers little warrior. The girl who could not turn away from a challenge, even if it were to damn me. The two together, with my will to live, is what compelled me to slink away from my home in secret. I have to know what else life holds. I must be a part of the Gods plans. I will not die a coward.

  The others eat berries as we walk, talking loudly and joyfully, but I don't eat or talk. The others leave me to my mind, feeling my energy I suppose. We are so close to our new future, and with every step forward, the need to turn tail and flee becomes stronger. I only straighten my spine, lift my chin, and lengthen my strides. Soon I leave my spot at the back of the group, unconsiously finding my way a few paces in front of them. It is not long until the edge of the tree line is seen, and all to soon I am stepping into open space, and stopping in my tracks. My heart stuttering, the breath leaving my lungs. We have, indeed, reached the castle.