The Five Tribes Chronicles - The Gatherer

Prologue

               The dark starry night hovered above a girl standing on a grassy plain. This girl, Brooke was waiting. Waiting for her death. At twenty-three years of age she looked as young as a teenager. Her brown hair flowed down her back. It was a foggy night. Nothing and no one could be heard for miles. And yet there she was, alone staring at a hill. She awaited the arrival of her husband, within minutes he should be coming over the hill. Over the hill to kill her. Her eyes narrowed in at the top point of the hill. "Any second now." Any attempt at defeating her husband would be futile. Especially when he had his tribes power on his shoulder.

               A man's head could now be seen above the large hill. Slowly it got bigger and bigger as he approached the girl. Now he stood on the peak of the hill staring at his prey. Brooke approached with caution. Hundreds of feet away at the top of the hill, the man stood solemnly staring. His brown hair waved with the wind atop his head and his red robe quivered. Brooke kept on. With every step she took the night seemed to grow darker. her blue robes swept along her back as she kept on walking. The man, Alaster started towards his approaching wife.

               So long ago it seemed they loved one another but now it has all changed. Brooke had to protect her son. She had to. Alaster had turned, no longer using his powers for good but now, for evil. They used to protect their tribes. But things change, and change isn't always good. The night closed in on Brooke. Lonely, she would from now on, be forever lonely. The one person she trusted with her life had turned against her. Utter betrayal filled the air as the two stared at one another ten feet away.

               "I guess this is it." Brooke said to Alaster.

               "Yes." He replied without showing emotion on his face.

               Sigh, "Sadly it is time." Brooke replied still looking strong as ever. Her powers would not fail her now. They could not fail her now, not when she needed them most. Alaster poised into a formal battle position. No weapon in hand they dueled. A small fire ignited in Alaster's right hand. Brooke felt the mist in the air thin out as she commanded a wall of water in front of her. Alaster threw the fire that was previously in his palm. The wall of water crashed as Alaster's fire ball hit it. The threat had been terminated.

               "My turn." Brooke muttered to Alaster. The mist was once again sucked out of the air and formed a ball of water in Brooke's hands. She threw the sphere at Alaster who was to slow and was launched five feet backwards. In a rage Alaster stood up and stared intimidatingly at Brooke who was still unscathed. Fire exploded before Brookes eyes in the position of were he husband previously stood. Alaster's face could barely be seen underneath his cloak of fire. The fire emitted a bright orange glow that blinded Brooke from seeing properly. She shielded her eyes as Alaster threw a flaming ball into the air. There was a loud screech and heat surrounded Brooke. She managed to steal a glance at the area where Alaster had thrown the ball. A sudden wave of realization washed over Brooke. Wing beats could be heard above Alaster. He had not thrown a ball but an egg. A fire pheonix hovered above Alaster it's fiery eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

               The night was no longer dark but brighter than day. The pheonix radiated heat, fire and light. Yellow and orange light was all that could be seen to Brooke. The pheonix cawed. With every wing beat waves of heat were sent bounding to the ground. Brooke's knees buckled; her strength left her more and more every time the pheonix beat it's wings. Alaster laughed at Brooke's futile attempts to stop him. The pheonix looked between Brook and Alaster. Alaster shouted something that Brooke couldn't make out. The pheonix's gaze shifted to the girl half collapsed on the ground. In a final attempt Brooke hefted her self off the ground defiantly.

               Nothing could be seen for miles around. Just the grassy plains. Other than the current duel, the land was silent and empty. Undisturbed and human blood had never touched the ground. The pheonix dived at Brooke, to tired to move she let the talons rake across her chest. Drops of blood spattered on the ground. Brooke let out a scream then fell to the ground. She was dead.