Darkside

Chapter one ||

Chapter One: In which a stone shines..

Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she skidded along the dirt floor. A crooked grin plastered on the mud cached face that belonged to a ring dweller. If the Arlith didn't want someone then this is where they went, the home for rejects.

Just barely dodging her opponent as she attempted to slide underneath their legs, leaving them confused, which bought her just enough time to swing her leg out and. Bang. Quickly bring them down.

No, Tawny was never a natural born fighter, never has been and never will be. She uses her speed, a major factor in every day life.

"Well done, Passion. See you next sun cycle." Higgins slurred as he tossed her a single wooden coin. "Thanks." she mumbled graciously,  giving him a curt nod before ducking out of the door and into the bustling square.

In a corner there was the usual, someone pinned up against the wall. Which she narrowly avoided by blending into a group of people. It was just, a normal thing there. It just goes unsaid, you stay out of everyone else's business in order to live.

Nobody there hated each other as such. They just want to survive in the wasteland known as the ring. Yes Miss Tawny Passion would have much preferred to be back with the children. The young ones that weren't wanted by their parents, the mistakes, the outcasts or simply the ones that where sent to the ring.. To die. 

"Miss Tawny.. Can you please tell me the story about the Arlith again?" a small voice questioned, grabbing her leg in his small grubby hands in order to stop Tawny from moving. Platinum blonde hair adorned his head, almost like a shock of pure white amongst the grime and dirt. Icy blue eyes blinked up at the mother-like figure, hoping and pleading. 

Ever since Tawny Passion arrived at the ring she had made it her duty to priovide for the children in any way possible. Even if she was ill, which was a common thing in the ring, she would try her best to at least attempt to leave the dirt hut that she and many others called 'home.'

"Of course sweetheart." she said, ruffling the little one's hair as she guided him towards her hut where they both plonked their butts down on the floor. The male, who was given the name Cecil by Madame Dubouse, looked up at the older female as she ceared her throat and began reciting the tale of the Arlith. 

"This story takes takes place well before we where segregated and the Ring wasn't even thought of yet." She paused, waiting for a little gasp, but instead there wasn't one. Cecil was simply watching her, his wide eyes glittering happily. So she continued. "On a dark and stormy night one lone man ventured out into the Forgotten Woods. Now the Forgotten Woods weren't anything like the name implies. Instead of being forgotten it was a place no one dared to enter. Simply because of this man"

The small child looked up from the dirt floor, his head cocked to the side in confusion. "But why?" Cecil questioned innocently, causing a soft smile to grace Tawny's face. "Listen to the story and you shall find out." she booped his nose, earning a small giggle before continuing with the story. "Legend says that once the man stepped inside of the forest he heard.. voices. He sent almost a year inside of the forest. Once he finally reemerged the man began preaching.. About talking rocks. Bringing a glowing blue stone with him as evidence.. However, as soon as he was close enough to civilisation the stone let out a white beam of light before shattering into eight different pieces. Each of these pieces where given to someone high up in the hierarchy, and from those eight bloodlines became the Arlith. Thinking that they had some sort of magic running through their veins." 

Tawny stopped for a breath, studying Cecil to make sure that he was still paying attention to her. "It has been documented that ever since the beam of light shot up into the sky ad the stone split into eight, the moon turned red. Inflicting some kind of poison upon whoever stepped into its direct light. The Arlith are known to be protected individuals simply because of their bloodline.. And because no Arlith has ever been poisoned by the moon's crimson haze..." She trailed off, moving the sleeping form of Cecil over slightly so she would be able to lay next to him in order to warm him up and. Slowly but surely.. she fell asleep, cradling the boy in her arms as if he where her own. 

A/N

Ok, so I have been having a lot of trouble with being able to actually publish this chapter. It keeps publishing my old version of this cater instead of my new version. If this problem is hapening with you then lease let me know. I have npiblished this chapter, republished it, saved it. But whenever I look back on a different device the product is still my earlier version.