The Guardians

Chapter I: Zeliana

"Six shillings for a piece of bread!?" I yell at the stand manager.

"Hey boy! So many people have gotten caught up in the army, so that His Majesty, can take over the Fire clan and Ice clan. I can't help it! If you aren't payin' then get the hell out of my stall!" the old fart demanded. I grumble and fork over my money. I grab my bread, and head out into the streets. I look for a spot to sit down, but I notice a twinkle in the corner of my eye.

I turn around and I find myself staring at a blacksmith's stand. I shove my bread in my handy knapsack and head over. My hair flickers behind me like fire in the wind.

"Hellu there young lassie, ye looking for anythin' in particular?" The black smith's musty breath fills my nose and I cough.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you had any daggers?" The blacksmith points to the edge of the table.

"Them daggers are old, but I just worked on em yesterday. It's a pair, with em' fire symbols. You ain't want them Fire folks to see you have it." I study the pair. Silver bladed, with a symbol engraved on the hilt. I reach into my pocket and pull out my money bag and pull out a silver.

"This should be enough right?" He holds out his hand for more.

"Bullshit."

"Fine, I need to get rid of em' anyways." I flip the coin to him, and and take the daggers.

"Pleasure doing buisness with ye." The blacksmith grins, and I see his black teeth shine. I cringe, and step back. I bump into a boy with a messy pony tail trailing behind him.

"Sorry mate!" I run-walk back home to show Elis my findings. Elis is my foster brother. My real parents? I never knew them. I'm the girl with the forgotten past. Elis is the only family figure that I remember, even if we aren't blood.

"El! El! I found something amazing!" I burst into the room. My brother rolls over on the couch and falls off.

"I got off the couch so it better be important," he grumbled sarcastically.
I grin proudly, and hold out the knife. Its blade glimmers under the flickering light bulb. His eyes widen and a foxy grin slips on his face. And then I slowly reveal the bread in my bag. His eyes drool and our stomachs talk.

Our laughter echoes in our underground hideout.

"Ze, what time is it?"

"Time for you to start making dinner."

"Soup sounds good, now that we have this lovely baby here," he stokes the loaf in a romantic manner.

"Sounds great!" I chuckle and head over to my room and lounge on my bed as Elis makes supper.

......

The full moon strikes a light through the cracks of the curtains. I slip on trousers and a tank top. My suspenders snap in place and I slip on my boots.

Knock. Knock.

I spin around and find Elis glaring at me.

"Zeliana. Rockwell. Where do you think you're going at this hour?" His stare pierces my skin, leaving chills.

"Um, erm, well you see, I um-" My voice is mustered and the words barely form on my lips out of nervousness.

"You were going to the burrow right?"

"Yeah, but I was just-"

"Just going to see some friends? Poppycock! I can tell when you're lying, and you know I wouldn't have minded us going to the arena. A bit of sport isn't bad now and then, but you didn't, did you?"