The Dawn of a New Time

Chapter One ~ Where it started

Kinoko is a member of an ancient race. A uncommon and relatively unknown race for a number of reasons. One is that they are extremely feared by others. They're half mermaid, half elf. They're deadly silent in every terrain and their assassin's will never be detected. They're agile and beautiful. Mysterious and dangerous. Stereotyped to be easily offended and quick to respond to it. Another reason is because no one can find them, they find you. If they don't want to be found they won't be. For years people have looked for their villages and yet to no avail. Many say they don't even have villages and rather just live alone, only to come together to reproduce. This fact is false. They do live in small colonies and villages and they do have a government. A monarchy like every other race. Though many of them do not wish to live in the villages and move to live alone.

Kinoko Moon is a high member of her race, the merelfaids. She is a princess. In appearance many of her people share obvious traits of both mermaid and elf. Kinoko is different as she shows a more elven look to her as her father married an elf. Her younger sister is of her father's current marriage and she looks very similar to the rest.

Kinoko stands beside her step mother and looks out onto her people from the stand in which her family stand. Her father's deep and dominant voice booms over the worried crowd, silencing them. “ Hello, I've come to the decision to enlarge the army. Many threats have Come across us as a rogue one kills the other peoples, recklessly. They have endangered our way of life, as I say every time, I encourage the rogue to come clean now before I loose my temper and have you beheaded for this… be prepared to be evacuated from the village at any time of emergency. Take only what is necessary if you need to be evacuated. Be on guard and alert to any odd behavior or outsiders. This is a time where we all need to stick together..” Kinoko stands straight, not enjoying the dress she is made to wear for these types of things. She looks over the people with one may describe as a blank stare. Ignoring the rest of her father's speach she assumed it was only for scare to keep the people in check because she surely hadn't heard any threats.

As soon as she heard her father finally finish she gracefully yet quickly rushed back inside, long white blonde hair, elegantly braided, flowed behind her. She quickly got undressed from her gown and into what she said was more reasonable choice of clothing. These were originally, male clothing but altered to fit her unusually shorter build. The clothing was made for a scout so the clothes weren't flowing like the gown she wore. A forest green tunic, with a muddy brown pair of pants accompanied by a medium grey cloak and dark brown almost black leather boots. She had strapped on her sheath and collected her weapons before staring into the mirror. Her mother walked in and looks at her with a slight smile. “You were born a free soul.. no desire to stay home and learn how to take care of your people..” Kinoko looks at her mother thoughtfully “Mother, you know I love you, as much as I love the people and knowing that Ill have to rule them one day. But sitting around and reading or being told about how to rule a kingdom won't make me a better ruler.. if I want to be great, I have to go out there and see what happens.. if I sit here and wait for what comes next, surely the people will perish..” she hugs her mother as her mother smiles wider. “ I know darling, I just wish you would just stay and be safe, it is my job to worry about you until I pass on.. I took that job when I married your father.. no matter your age I will worry for your well being.. I don't want to lose you..but anyways, you should get to Samlis, she may need help with the baby, she's still new to this, and practice will be valuable to her..” she lets her go and watches and the cloaked form of her step daughter run down the hallway. “I swear that girl is really a male..” she smiles slightly and heads off in her own direction.

Kinoko stops in front of a elegantly decorated door and enters. There she sees her step sister trying to calm her screaming child. Samlis looks up with a look of desperation “Oh thank goodness you came, Kino.. I don't know what is going on with him..” she pleas as Kinoko just smiles and takes her nephew. “It's okay, he's probably just lonely, did you check his diaper?” She rocks the young hybrid gently. “Yes! Everything!” Kinoko looks at the screaming boy, thinking. “ Have you tried breastfeeding?” Kinoko looks at the now scared looking mother. “Of course not.. why?” Kinoko sits Samlis down and sits beside her. “ It worked with you when mother couldn't get you to calm down..” kinoko situated the boy to suckle the milk from his mother's breast and helped her feed him. “You see, sometimes, only a real mother can calm a baby.. your milk is precious to the baby, makes him stronger than without your milk.” Kinoko stepped back to let his mother take care of it. She smiles at the two. “Shame, prince Hartio ran off when he found out that you were baring his child.. he's such a little sapling.. to grow up into a giant immovable tree..” Kinoko said as she straightens out some blankets the new prince messed in his slumber. “Quite.. but now I know he is not worthy of me or little Tresio..” Samlis smiles at her son. “Kinoko… with all the threats coming around.. promise me if I fall, take Tresio and run.. take care of him as your own if you wish, but love him unconditionally.. for me..” that made Kinoko stop in her tracks, back facing Samlis as she looked over her shoulder slightly. “Never say that again… I am not his mother, you are, and you will forever be his mother.. these threats are merely scare tactics which I thought you were above… we are a strong race, strong people, if there's a threat, we will pull through… never tell me to do what you are doing, you are a mother.. we will protect you from any harm..” Kinoko looks at Samlis. “Please Kinoko.. If this comes, I want my baby boy to be safe..” Samlis looks dead serious as she protectively grabs baby Tresio. “...it won't come.. now drop it..” Kinoko stands her grounds growing frustrated. “Kinoko..-” “no! Samlis, no harm will come to you or Tresio! Don't ask me to take him in! I'm not a mother! I'll only endanger him! My life isn't as pretty as yours and I don't want it to be!” With that Kinoko storms out of the room.

An angry Kinoko storms out of the room and down the hallway, a dark and dangerous aura surrounding her making servants part to give her room. She stomps off into the one place she loved. The forest. The barbed forest was her go to spot. She could unleash anger and one of her friends lived in here. This forest was small and abandoned, locals called it cursed but it was really just a little spooky and easy to get lost in. As Kinoko reached the forest she walked straight to a river she had known since just a young child. “These threats have been around for decades yet no one ever did anything so why ask now to take care of him!? Does she think I won't protect her and her baby!? Hah! Ridiculous! I'm the one out in the training hall! I'm always the one there when he falls or needs help with Tresio! Argh!” She takes her weapons off before climbing into the river. She sits there quietly for about an hour when a friendly voice rings through the night. “ What happened this time Kinoko? Got caught sneaking out again?” A small Hobbit walks up to Kinoko and sits on the ground by the water. “ Hello, Jolbo, no haha, just sibling squabble.. how's your night so far? Keeping safe I hope..” Kinoko smiles up at the Hobbit. “Ah I see, what about? If I'm not passing any boundaries asking..” the jolly male says. “ She's paranoid about the threats and the merelfaid hunt.. she wants me to take my nephew in as my own..” Jolbo listens intently before responding. “ So, let me guess that you don't want to think of her dead and don't want the responsibility so you said no..?” Kinoko laughs. “Yeah.. you know me too well Jolbo..” the Hobbit smiles. “That's my job! But back to the subject, you do know by asking that's, she's being a good mother.. she's looking out for Tresio’s best interest and since you are the strongest most trust worthy person she knows ,it does make sense she asked you and should be an honor..” Kinoko frowns slightly. “Yeah, I realize.. I just think I get into too much trouble to care for an infant..”

Jolbo helps Kinoko out of river and hands her a towel. “Now now, I think you're making yourself out to be way less mature then you actually are. You're actually the most caring person I know. I believe that you are capable of doing it.” He smiles up at Kinoko. “I guess you're right.. thanks Hobbit.” Kinoko playfully ruffles his red hair. “Watch the hair!” As he fusses over his hair they both walk to Jolbo's cabin to have some coffee. Soon Kinoko leaves and heads back to the castle.