Free *Editing*

Chapter 1

Birdy and Barn didn't think they would make it to Celedora alive.

That radiant neon-blue light shining in the distance, through the dark green and oak trees seemed merely like an illusion. The closer the two of them got, the more they felt their crazy dreams of freedom may become a reality.

The siblings have been travelling for two weeks, on foot, through the fabled Yellow Knife Mountains. The surroundings consist of thick trees with large underbrush and short viridescent grass lining the dirt man-made path they tread. A few days ago, the path split in four as they exited the bulk of Outkirter villages. North, East, South and West, all eventually took travellers straight to Celedora's front gates. Birdy and Barn are careful folks, so they dared to take the path not many did, far away from civilization and roads. Closer to the dens of Dragons.

Birdy, much like her elder brother, has a thin frame and tanned skin. She has short, light brown wavy hair that drapes gently around her ears and frames her round face. Her large, green eyes stalk every shadow that moves against the yellow light of the hanging sun. She fixes her shoulder strap. Her bag is fitted with a small sleeping bag and a change of clothes amongst other miscellaneous living necessities. She also carries her only means of self-defence. A hand-carved oak bow and five wooden arrows with red feather ends. As their commute has dragged on, the weight has begun to drag her down and she plays with the straps of her bag insistently. Birdy's clothes are ragged. A simple white t-shirt stained with dirt and muck does little to keep out the evening cold and her baggy black pants tighten around the ankles leaving the skin above her grey sneakers exposed. She thinks to herself that her attire needs to quickly be replaced. Summer is coming to an end, and the September air has begun to take it's shift from unbearably hot to crisp and chilly.

She turns towards her brother. He is wearing a large, auburn shirt with baggy black shorts and similar grey sneakers. His messy dark brown hair sprays wildly around his ears and neck. He carries a single dagger in a black holster around his right hip. Barn's dark brown keen eyes stay fixated on the ground, he watches his feet trudge onward. One agonizing step at a time. He sighs and looks over at his little sister with a taste of disdain.

"Almost Bird-" He mumbles between his lips. Birdy gives a soft smile and steps over a large fallen branch blocking the path. "Depends if we can get inside or not." Birdy's eyes fall soft. She doesn't want to bring more depression to an already tough journey, so she continues. "But I am sure we will be fine, sweet-talking is our specialty." Barn retorts with a small grin. "More like yours."

They continue on for another minute. Birdy takes a deep breath in allowing fresh air to tickle her congested lungs. Barn can't relax. His face tenses and he blinks several times, feeling the stress of the day getting to him.

"Mind if we sit for a moment?" Barn asks, and the two of them look around the forest eyeing up a place to sit. As they do, Birdy spots an anomaly. Tire tracks. Splitting the ferns and bushes in two. In the darkness, they continue.

"Car's usually come down this way?" Birdy asked already knowing the answer.
"Not in particular." Barn growls. He lets his tension turn into anger and he stalks into the trees before Birdy has a moment to pretest. She eagerly follows behind, letting her enthusiasm get the better of her.

A red car. The front completely demolished, lies crashed head-on in a gigantic oak tree. The sight sets Birdy on edge and she taps her left foot impatiently. Barn is already looking around for people, none in sight. Birdy is not so certain, her imagination gets the better of her and she assumes the ruffle of every leaf is an enemy.

"See anybody in the car? Dead? Alive?" Birdy asks Barn as he does his 'elderly brother' duty of going first. He crouches down and peaks his head through each of the tinted windows. He examines the interior with a blank look.