morgan; beginning

CHAPTER 1 The moon hung low tonight with dark clouds dancing across the midnight sky casting shadows across the fields that spread out before me. At what seemed like the edge of the world were the black outlines of mountains that seemed to stretch on forever. I couldn't remember the moon being that close before, it felt as though even if I managed to hike all the way to the mountains the moon would be there sitting snugly on top of one of the mountains peaks, waiting for me just to reach up and touch it. I heard it then, just the slightest hint of a whisper on the breeze that fluttered around me.'Morgan?' I turned round expecting to find someone behind me, but there was nothing. The darkness just seemed to stretch on forever.'Morgan!' A sudden bout of nausea swept through my body, the chill of the night forgotten as my eyes started to feel funny, little white spots erupting everywhere. I tried to rub them but it just seemed to make them worse, falling to my knees as the next wave hit me like a tsunami. I vomited onto the grass as beads of sweat formed on my forehead. 'We have to keep moving, we need to get under cover before dawn. 'My brother Arans, voice urged. Strong hands pulled me up from where I'd slumped to the floor.'Its not much further, half an hour and we should reach the base of those peaks.' His body was a silhouette shrouded in shadows but I knew his face would show lines of worry and fatigue. We had been travelling for three days ever since we had been forced to flee from our home. Our home. Where we had seen our parents lives ripped away in front of us and our sisters soul destroyed before her life was also taken. I could only hope to a better place, away from this nightmare we seemed to have become trapped in.I forced myself to get up, my brothers arm around me supporting my shaking body and we staggered forward towards the looming mountains as quickly as our limbs would allow us. Stumbling over rabbit holes and clumps of grass as we made our way forward. We covered the distance a lot quicker than I thought we would, the darkness must be playing tricks on my senses. Once we finally reached the base a barricade of trees seemed to be holding back the grassy plain from spreading up over the mountain tops. We didn't hesitate about what could lie beyond the trees, we just knew that they would provide the cover we needed when daylight came. We didn't stop moving at the edge of the forest. We carried on, stumbling blindly this time, tripping over roots and fallen trees until flecks of light penetrated the green canopy above us.'We should climb this tree. We will be safer off the floor in its branches under the cover of its leaves.' Aran said, leaning on probably the widest oak tree I had ever laid eyes on. It must have been hundreds of years old. The trees bark was a weathered greyish brown its lowest branches started at three times the height of my brother who was not exactly the shortest person I knew. If we could climb up this ancient tree we might stand more of a chance of being out of sight. I was looking at Aran with the obvious 'how' written across my face when he started rummaging in the pack he'd managed to stuff a few items into as we'd fled. I hadn't thought to grab things. Honestly, I hadn't managed to think of anything but to keep moving. He fished out a piece of old rope and after a few failed attempts, threw it up over one of the branches.'Ill hold onto one side and you climb up. Once you're on the branch, tie it off and then I'll climb up. Then we can move a few more branches up so we can't be seen from the floor 'he looked at me as he was explaining what we should do, anticipating any questions I may have had.I grabbed the rope and pulled my self up, winding the rope around one of my feet and pressing my other foot onto it to form a foothold. I reached higher up the rope, my body screaming with exhaustion as I repeatedly moved my hands then feet. It must have taken me fifteen minutes to reach the branch the rope was on and I was sweating so much it was as if I'd just stepped out of the bath. I quickly tied the rope off for my brother, Aran scaled the rope in what seemed like seconds. Damn him, how and why is he not tired and achy like me?At least we were off the ground now. Fortunately the branches were closer together making it easier to move up higher. Another few minutes and we settled on a couple of branches, their intertwining limbs gave enough room for both of us to at least sit and catch our breath. Aran handed me the rope, instructing me to tie it around my wait and the branch in a way that made sure I couldn't fall which was extremely wise considering how clumsy I could be at times. We had hardly spoken since we had started on our panic fuelled journey, only offering words of encouragement if I stumbled or if we needed to change direction. I hadn't argued with him I was too tired and he was only worrying about our safety. Neither of us uttered a word now, both of us trying to steady our heart rates. He kept his eyes fixed on the branches below us.I leant my head against the tree wondering if this old giant knew we were seeking refuge in its arms. The effort to keep my eyes open zapped the last of my strength and I let them close, listening to the sounds of the forest around me as I drifted into sleep.