The Radiant Rangers

Chapter 1

There was a warm summer wind blowing this morning in New Zealand. The twilight had melted away and a majestic sunrise swept over the horizon through the trees as if the light itself was being poured from a golden molten sun. There was a pinkish glow that tinted the clouds as colors spread across the sky announcing the new day. Oranges and reds painted the clouds. Powerful rays flooded over the landscape lighting every blade of grass and shining from each leaf.

Cynthia awakened early each morning to watch the sunrise. After all, she could only see so many.

The icy blueness of her eyes, framed by long thick lashes, lay still like a frozen ocean. Long wavy red hair, so smooth and silky, looked as though it was tailored from golden fabric. She sat up from her bed and shut the curtains after the sun had finally risen to shade out the world. 

"Cynthia?" called a child's muffled voice from the other side of her bedroom door. "Can you make me breakfast?"

"Yes, of course." responded Cynthia to her younger sister.

Cynthia opened her bedroom door allowing the young girl to lead her downstairs into the kitchen. Her name was Haisley. She was Cynthia's younger sister. She had short strawberry blonde hair, very close to being red. It laid slightly above her shoulders like a waterfall flowing mildly and wavy. From under her side bangs shone eyes of a bright icy blue. No one could help but notice the similarities between her and Cynthia, even if they were five years apart.

Cynthia and Haisley lived alone in a large wooden mansion in New Zealand located deep in the forest. The house once belonged to their aunt before she fell ill and passed away. A stream of water ran over a rocky bay in front of the house and rugged mountains towered behind it. The house was old, but beautifully symmetric. Across from the stream, there was a high rocky hill in full view from the parlor window in the kitchen. The hills were covered with wild evergreens and thousands of trees and mosses ranging from bright greens to deep browns.

The house was surrounded by the wilderness but Cynthia enjoyed the modesty. Day after day when the day would grow old the sun would sink slowly down beneath the tops of the pines. But for now, the morning light streaked through the trees in both brilliant and shadowy beams. There were birds above, calling and pecking for grubs. Accompanied by the movement of mammals, mostly small, sometimes not. There were watery paths that flowed quietly until they meet sharp rocky slopes and form waterfalls. It was beautiful. It was peaceful.

Cynthia spread strawberry jam over her toast and sprinkled some powered sugar on top of it as if it were a cake. Haisley was in the living room watching television as Cynthia continued to make breakfast. If Haisley wanted anything, Cynthia would always do her best to get it for her.

Cynthia picked up a chopping knife and cut out strips of bacon to perfection in the time it took most people just to peel carrots. Every motion was precise from intense repetition. She was proud of her perfectionist skills and the methodical manner of her actions.

Cynthia was all about simplicity: making things easy, putting others first, helping those around her relax and being happy with what they had. Perhaps that was why her skin glowed so. It was her inner beauty that lit her icy eyes with flames and softened her features.

When Cynthia finished her savory masterpiece she called Haisley to come back into the kitchen.

Haisley came running into the kitchen as excited as any hungry eleven year old would be. Cynthia held a wooden platter toward her. There was a piece of warm strawberry toast on the side of her plate and white powder glazing the top of it. There were pancakes with a slab of melting yellow butter dripping down the sides and thick slices of hearty bacon. Haisley felt no need for pretentious manners and grabbed the bacon with her hands, devouring each piece in huge bites.