Shaman

Prologue

Hi everyone, so this is my first story, Shaman. I hope you enjoy the first chapter. Please comment, I'll update as soon as I can. Tell me what you think

..................................................................................................................................................................

Prologue

Zahara awoke to the loud of screams and cries of her village people. Breathing heavily, she turned over on her cow-hide-made-bed to stare with, concerned green eyes, at her husband Tico who was soundlessly asleep. Lelou, her young wolf cub, was at her side in an instant, sensing his masters distress. He crawled, in frantic movements, up onto her lapand nuzzled her face. Zahara wiped the sweat off of her brow and looked at the Grey-White Pup. It was clear Lelou was unaware of the clamour that was going on outside the hut as well. Petting the cub gently and placing him back at her side, Zahara glanced at the entrance to their hut. There were no silhouettes of the villages emerging underneath the blanket covering the doorway. There were no signs of fire. No signs that anyone was even awake. Yet the voices grew louder, sending Zahara's senses into a state of urgency. Zahara knew exactly what was going on . Panic struck her heart.

"Tico" she whispered, turning over to her sleeping husband again. His long brown hair was matted over his face and occasionally wafted up with each snore. She lightly pushed against his arm.

"Tico" she whispered again, more urgent than before.

Lelou went over to Tico's side of the cow-hide and gently snapped at his ear Tico woke up with a start almost hitting Lelou in the snout as he jumped. The wolf growled in response.

Tico turned to look at his wife with a look of annoyance. His expression immediately altered when he noticed the terror on her face.

Zahara's breath increased in rate as the screams of her village people turned visions in her minds' eye. Images of fire, blood, slaughter and the swords of armoured combatants swam through her mind.

Zahara buried her face in her husbands chest with her sobs. She couldn't hold back the tears that were now sliding down her face, hitting against her husbands bare chest.

Tico held her close. Concern and exasperation audible in his voice when he spoke to her.

"Sun-flower, what's the matter?"

Zahara couldn't answer him.

She began to choke on her own words.

She was crying hysterically now.

The images and sounds became unbearable.

Lelou, completely unused to this kind of behaviour from the one human he found strength in, was now cowering behind Tico, unsure of what else to do.

Tico held his wife closer, rubbing his arm up and down her back soothingly. "What is it love?".

Zahara took a deep breath, and tried to push the voices and mental pictures aside long enough to answer his question.

"It's happening Tico" she hicupped, looking up into his eyes. "It's happening tonight".

Tico's eyes grew wide and he gasped, realising what she was talking about.

The dream that she had every night for the past week.

It was a premonition.

Tonight the village was to be raided by the armies of Dehlysia.

All the horrible sights that Zahara had envisaged were coming true.

Tico, panic stricken, jumped out of bed. Putting on a sweater made of wool and a pair of Breech-shorts, he turned to his wife.