Winter - Part one: Night Warden.

Six

Winter Snapped Who is dead?! What happened?!, clearly irate at the immediate lack of information from the stranger, initially ignoring the fact that this stranger was just a child, a scared and exhausted child at that. The young girl couldnt have been a day past ten years.

Vampires they started attacking everyone. Without warning. They were killing witches, men, women and children. They just kept killing people. They killed everyone! They are all gone. My family, my friends gone. replied the young girl who was clearly still startled from what she claimed to have endured and very upset. Her emotions were still expectedly raw and she was clearly playing the events over and over again in her head, possibly out of disbelief, grief or fear.

Winter was a little more than startled given her recent encounter with a vampire who tried to kill her without reason and now to find out that elsewhere vampires were attacking and killing their own friends. Winter was too smart to believe in coincidence - especially one as insane as this one appeared. Sense and logic told her that there was something else playing a bigger part here. But masking this feeling of unease she approached the girl with a calm tone and began probing for more information.

Ok, you are safe now. Can you tell me your name? asked Winter, this time in a soft and approachable tone.

Clara My name is Clara replied the young girl.

My name is Winter, and this is Raige Winter gestured over to her friend. Raige nodded and smiled in acknowledgement. We want to help you, but to do that, we need to ask you a few questions to find out a little more. Is that ok Clara?

The young girl nodded in agreement towards Winter.

Ok, good. Are you the only one who escaped Clara?

I I think so. I dont know if anyone else is ok. There were explosions. Lots of loud explosions. The ground kept shaking and everyone was running and screaming. The girl was still frightened.

Youre ok, you are safe here. We can protect you., Winter tried to reassure her. Explosions? How did you escape? You must be a very clever young lady to have escaped all that. And a very brave girl to get here.

My friends and I use a secret tunnel to get in and out of the city when looking for interesting stuff in the ruins to the West. Once I heard the explosions I got scared and went into the tunnels to hide. Then the ground was shaking really hard and the roof of the tunnel started to fall down so I ran as fast as I could to the end. When I got outside, I heard a really loud noise above me and when I looked up, I seen a big ship with a white sword on it flying over the city. But then there were more explosions, so I just kept running. I knew that this was the closest place to go to as this used to be my home and I have made the journey a few times with my mother. She delivers goods from our market. Hand made goods and trinkets that are too delicate to transport by vehicle. Mother used to say that slow and steady often outpaces the fast and reckless.

Templars said Winter out loud. She concluded that the young girl had been through enough and gestured to one of the guards Take our guest to the medical bay and have her wounds tended to. Then take her for some refreshments. She is to be given the same protection we would afford to an Elder. Winter looked down at Clara We will keep you safe. I will personally find out what has happened and then we can talk again under better circumstances. Winter stood up and nodded towards the door guard.

Yes captain! replied the guard. Clara reluctantly went with him and offered Winter a saddened smile as they made their way outside.

Send a transmission to Gloomina, now! ordered Winter. I need to think.

The communications engineer began furiously hitting buttons on the console in front of him, Lieutenant Hek, this is Max from Warden HQ, come in. There was no response. Captain, this line is completely dead. My transmission isnt getting through. The communication outbound is fine but Gloomina is not receiving any of it!