Erin

Chapter 1

She ran and ran, even though exhaustion threatened to take over she couldn't stop. The whole worlds fate lied in the message that was tightly scrunched up in the sweaty palm of her left hand. The slayers where behind her and until it was light she had no advantage. Their clawed feet crushed the ground at a fast pass, their snarls and roars filled the air, but she wouldn't stop. Nothing could stop her from giving the message to her father.

Erin had just spent three months in the jungle with the native Islainory people learning the art of the sword. At the end of her training the Islainory chef gave her the message with one clear instruction, you must give this message to your father.

The dim sunlight slowly coming over the distant hills gave Erin renewed strength and hope. She knew she could make it now. The slayer's would soon have to stop or face the consequence of turning into dust from the sun. With her extra strength Erin pushed herself harder. Sweat poured over her body but she wouldn't stop now; she had come too close.

Just as the sun was casting its first rays of light over the hills the slayers finally did it; they backed off. Within no time the sun had completely risen over the hill and Erin knew she was safe from the slayers.

Exhausted now Erin stopped to catch her breath as a wave of success washed over her. She knew that her destination was just over the hill and that she would get there within two hours of walking.

The walk seemed short as Erin's happiness pushed her further up the hill and thought the long, wild, yellowing grass that caught and pulled at her hair. Erin pulled, pushed and fought with the grass to catch a view of her home village. Eventually Erin won.

Stonefall was a small village where the men worked hard on the land and the women worked hard indoors. Erin's farther however was one of the few men under 50 who worked in doors. He was in many ways an uncertified village leader. But this wasn't the only authority he possessed. Erin's father, Jared, was in league with an organization so secret not even Erin was trusted with its name or goal.

"But that is why it is so important", the Islainory chef had said. "The message is about the, um, organization".

In her excitement of seeing her home, Erin had failed to notice anything strange or different. It wasn't until she was inline with the small, shabby, clay houses that she saw any reason for concern.

Not one child was playing on the street. All the homes had locked doors and paneled windows; and no smoke was emerging form the many chimneys; it was as if no one was there anymore. Everything felt empty, deserted.

Erin tried not to think about the strange atmosphere around her, but couldn't help but worry. She knew something was wrong.

As Erin was nearing the last corner on her walk home, she heard something odd. If it hadn't been so quiet she wouldn't have heard anything but in the silence the noise was unmistakeable; it was a pained groan, coming from her fathers house.

Worried and Fearful Erin ran into the house to find her father lying beside the empty fireplace. Blood stained his cloths and matted his hair.

Quickly Erin ran over to crouch down beside him, tears in her eyes. Jared groaned again as he turned to face his daughter. He looked Erin in the eye, his eyes being bloodshot, Erin's eyes full to the brim with tears, and said three words.

"Erin, the parchment".

With thick fingers, Erin handed over the parchment not even worried how her father knew about it, and remained silent while he read.

When Jared had finished he hastily re-rolled the parchment and forced it into his daughters hands. Than in a voice stronger than he was, he said "You must give this message to all of the people in my organization, immediately! Leave now and all will be fine."

"No father" was Erin's immediate response "I'm staying ..." but Jared cut her off.

"Now listen Erin, I will be fine but you have to do this. You do not understand the importance of this message.
"I love you".

And with that Erin helped her father into a chair and left with her sword, food and the parchment, that had already cost her so much.