The Power of Griffin

Prologue

Prologue: Melody 3 years old

   A little girl was catching snowflakes on her tongue while her parents watched, glee evident on their faces. She was dressed in a cherry red trench style coat with little frilled edges. She had a mass of red curls falling to her waist, with pale skin, flaming cheeks, and deep sea green eyes. She giggled merrily causing her parents grins to widen. Then suddenly, a noise sounded in the woods, the crack of a twig being stepped on. Her parents froze while the girl didn't seem to notice as she was only three.

    "No," screamed the mother as a dozen lynx and snow leopards exploded from the woods. She swept the little girl into her arms and turned with a furious expression gracing her features.
  
   "You can't have her, anyone but her," she spoke in a distressed but firm tone. A women dressed in blue and white stepped out from the woods.

   "We do not decide her path, we only guide her down it," spoke the women in a gentle tone her voice smooth like honey.

   "I am sorry Lillian, but I won't let my daughter take on that kind of pain."
  
   "It is not my choice, her fate is already decided," spoke the woman again trying to convince her.

   "Lacie, what is she talking about, and who is she," spoke her husband beside her, his voice quivering in fear.

   "I am so sorry John for bringing you into this, I should have never thought Melody would be safe from the dangers of my world," she replied without answering his question, tears in her eyes.

   "You knew the consequences and marrying an outsider made it even more set in stone," the other women spoke angrily.

   "I fell in love and should be allowed happiness," she shot back now also angry.

   "But at what cost to the people around you," the other women spoke sadly. "Please give her to us without any trouble, I don't want to hurt you sister," she spoke again.

   "Not without a fight," she shot back even angrier than before.

   "Then I am sorry for this. Get the child, use any force necessary," she called out to the creatures with a hardened expression.

   "John take Melody and run, don't ever stop," she whispered to him while handing over the trembling child.

   "Lacie I..." Do it, you must," she urged him. "Alright, I will, for you, and for her," he spoke bravely.

   Then the women turned. "Now," she screamed and John shot off into the night.

   "Follow him," hissed the women to the animals. "I will deal with her."

   As he was running, John heard the beating of paws behind him, and realized he could never outrun them, but he could trick them long enough to keep Melody safe and fulfill his promise to Lacie. He covered Melody in pine needles and snow to mask her scent and hid her in a rabbit burrow.

   "Be quiet my dear sweet Melody, and stay safe," he spoke in a whisper then kissed her head, covered his scent, and ran off deeper into the woods.

   She sat there quiet and still for a while, when an explosion of light and lots of growling echoed through the air. A cry of frustration sliced through the night. Back at the scene, Lillian looked up at the moon and sighed quietly.

   "She can't stay hidden from our world forever Lacie, one day she will figure out that she is different, and one day she will start on her path, just not today." By then though, the little girl was fast a asleep and dreaming not a care in the world.