The Moonlight Warrior

Chapter 1

Sorry I took so long in posting this but I had writer's block to power through ugh! Well I hope you like this chapter!!!!!!

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1 year later

The morning was bright and clear. The air was crisp, but the sun's rays were rapidly warming up the earth. Some of those rays were fallng upon a figure in a clearing surrounded by a dense forest. The figure was a young women; crouching behind a large boulder. A sword was strapped to her side and a quiver full of arrows hung on her back. Her long, dark hair fell over her shoulders and down her to the small of her back and it half concealed her face. Her dark, piercing eyes surveyed the herd of deer looking for the weakest one.

She spotted an old buck whose tan coat was speckled with white. It carried its weight on three legs. The other one was bent at a sickening angle. It had clearly snagged it on log and snapped the bone in half. Its walk was slow and painful. If I didn't kill it now, it would suffer a slow, painful death by something else.

I raised my bow and notched an arrow. I pulled back and aimed with care. Once I was steady, I released it sendind it hurtling towards the buck. It pierced its flesh just behind the left shoulder dropping it instantly. It thrashed its legs around for a few seconds then it moved no more.The rest of the herd scattered into the forest. I lept from my hiding place and jogged toward my prey.

I knelt beside it surveying its wounded hind leg. It had been broken for a long time. There was a bulge on the inside of the leg a clear sign of the bone not healing right. From the knee down, the leg was bent out. I winced at the sight and unsheathed my knife.

The blade was as long as my forearm and wicked sharp. The handle was lack with a black leather grip. It used to be my mother's but while lay dying when I was 11, she gave it to me. She told me to use it well. I had treasured it dearly since then.

I cleared my mind and proceeded with the task of diggng out my arrow and skining the animal. When the skin was off, I started cutting the meat off in long strips and placing them on the inside if the skin. Then I cut pieces of fat to tan the hide with. When I was finished there was nothing left to the poor creature other than bones.and the back leg which I dared not touch. I rolled everything into the hide and tied it together with a small piece of leather. Then I tied it to my back with yet another piece. Then I rose and jogged off towards the trees. When I reached them, I slowed to a walk, picking my way through the thick undergrowth.

As I trudged on, my thoughts wandered to my father. He used to be the blacksmith in the village where I used to live. Even though it was forbidden, he had taught me the ways of the sword and even made the one at my side, Lafvain (meaning 'moon spirit'). I had learned and practiced in the privacy of the forest. Then one day I was discovered by my only rival in the village, Arcone. We made a deal: that he would not breathe a word to anyone if I told him how I learned and who trained me. Then he challenged me to a duel to see who was the better of the both of us. I won and he left without a word. Then when I had gotten back to the village, my father and I were taken before Chief Takoma. Arcone had betrayed our oath and betrayed me and my father. I was exiled while my father sentenced to death. That very day I had made an oath to kill Arcone to avenge my father's death. But he has escaped every time I have tried. I will still not rest until he is dead though.

I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't notice the enormous furry body sitting in my path until i rammed into it yanking me away from the memories.

"Hey watch where you're going, Kiena!" it growled.

"Damien! You scared me!" I snapped at the big grey wolf. But I couldn;t help smiling to myself.

A week after my banishment, Damien had found me one night cornered by a bear that had stumbled upon me while I was sleeping. He ran the bear off and has decided that he was my personal guardian ever since.

"Well it's not my fault you ran into me. I was just sitting here peacfully enjoying the morning when you just come ramming into me disturbing me. What is this world coming to?" Damien shouted dramatically.

"Look I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going and I accidentally ran into you. Satisfied?" I replied sarcastically.

"Well that's not like you at all. What were you thinking about so deeply that it just causes you to run into other people?" Damien asked.

I was just thinking. Is that a crime?" I retorted.

"You were thinking of your father weren't you?" He replied unfazed.

I looked away from him. Why did he always know what I'm thinking about? It annoyed me to no end.

"I thought so. Don't worry you will get your chance someday. all you can do now is be patient and wait." Damien said softly.

I whirled on him. "I'm tired of waiting! I want this over with! I want this hole in my heart to be healed so I can rest in peace. He's escaped me four times already! I want him dead for what he did! There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him and hgow he betrayed me and got my father killed. I cannot just wait here in the forest waiting for him to show his face." I snapped.

"Kiena..." Damien warned. "No...you can't honestly think.."

"Oh yes I can. I'm not going to wait for him to bring the fight to me. I'm taking it to him instead. I'm going to spend every waking hour looking for him and I won't rest until I have succeeded. From this day forward, I am a hunter of revenge." i finished my chest heaving.

Damien hung his head. "Are you absolutely sure about this?" what if he kills you first?" he asked looking at me.

"I have been sure if this since the day I was cast out and I made my oath. And to that I am bound. I couldn't turn back if I wanted to. If he ills me, Then I will die with the honor and glory of trying. But I won't die. I beat him once, I can do it again." I replied determined.

"Well then i shall make this vow: I will stand by you and protect with ecerything I have until you succeed. I cannot help in the duel between you, but I can keep everything else from hurting you. I will protect you with my life." Damien said solomnly. I looked at him in surprise.

"Well, Damien. I don't know what to say.' I stammered.

"You don't have to say anything. I understand." He replied. He didn't have a chance to say more because I ran up to him and threw my arms around his furry neck.

"thank you, Damien. This means a lot to me." I said letting go. "I'm prud to have you as my friend."

"Well are we just gonna stand here all day talking? Or are we going to get this thing over with?" Damien said turning away.

I smiled and nodded. I followed beside him and together we started towards my old village. My heart was fluttering with excitement. I was finally going to get the revenge I had been craving for so long. I took a deep breath. of the morning air. It was rich with the scent of pine trees and flowers. It soothed my heart in a way. I took another breath and quickened my pace.

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Well this is the 1st chapter!!!!!! What do you think? I can't tell what your thinking so you gotta write it down!!!!! So vote?.....comment?.....fan? All would be appreciated!!!!