2 Shops Down

Prologue : The Beginning

 How exactly did the war begin?

Well, it's simple if you think about it. It started back in 1730 when the first creatures began to scurry out from their hiding holes and invisible villages, wanting to actually be part of civilization.

The trees rustled from the wind as the sound of clopping hooves could have been heard in the distance of the forest.

"Quick! Get the girls!" A hushed voice quickly rushed out in the darkness as shadows darted behind the large and thick trees. A young man carried two little girls in his arms while he walked over the leaves and soft dirt of the forest. He was a fairly young man who seemed to have flowers sprouting from his locks of vine inspired hair. Or, that's just what it was. Vines. His skin was a pale green with a soft peach tint to it, thick vines wrapping around his forearms and calves.

His name was Abiah Leonard, a dryad who was just born in the wrong time period! His locks of floral hair were tied behind him in a low ponytail, held together by a simple red ribbon. Abiah's brown leather boots were quiet against the soft ground of dirt, the twins in his arms sniffling and hiding their faces in his caramel brown overcoat.

"Hush, children...they'll leave soon enough. I promise you all that.." Abiah spoke softly with hope in his icy blue eyes, hurrying after the woman who guided them.

Valentine Sawyer was the leader of the current rebellion, being a fairy who resembled a human fairly well! Minus the fact her ears were pointed and her moth like wings that were planted on her back and folded. Valentine was barefoot as she hurried through the forest with Abiah and the two girls, wearing brown trousers and a white button up shirt that was rolled at the sleeves and tucked into her trousers.

"We're almost there.." Valentine spoke out and came to a stop behind a heavy oak tree, leaning her back against the rough bark. Abiah skid across the dirt a bit as he stopped, puffs of dirt clouding around his feet.

"What's going on?" Abiah's voice was deep and soft like feathers, soothing in its own way as well. Abiah's blue eyes darted from Valentine to the nearby shadows of the king's men. Hugging the two girls closer, Abiah took in a sharp breath and narrowed his eyes.

'Do it' The fairy female mouthed to Abiah with a curt nod to her head. And so he did. A slight blue glow highlighted his icy eyes, the earthy ground rumbling with shocked and confused words coming from the king's men.

"What is this sorcery?"

"Oh dear god please save us..." Soft murmurs and prayers left some of the men as they unmounted their horses who neighed and began to freak out upon the massive vibrations coming from the ground. The ground began to crack and rumble again, a large vine sprouted from the ground with thorns adorning the rough green vine. It was at least fifteen feet tall, twisted and rough looking before others began to sprout from the ground as a distraction.

"Go! now! here. Take them." Abiah spoke out in a hushed manner before handing the younger girls to Valentine. The twins were around the younger ages of six, both dressed in loose dresses and stockings.

"I got them..You know your way back to camp?" Valentine commented with a concerned look, her wings unfolding out and spread, ready to take flight with the two girls.

"I promise. I'll come back to you I swear. Remember?" A chuckle left his lips, yet it was filled with sorrow. Taking a few steps towards Valentine, Abiah's eyes teary eyed as he placed a hand on her cheek and gently leaned down to press a sweet kiss to her lips. Her eyes widened as the twins in her arms giggled at the kiss, Valentine letting her eyes droop down to the floor.

"You better come back, Abiah...You have a family to come back to..Your mother would be missing you each second you're gone..." Valentine murmured out with a tired and sorrowful smile. She absolutely adored this man, yet she couldn't just say it! It would ruing the friendship they brewed over the years of late nights and early mornings of market runs.

"I Promise, Valentine. I will come back for you and everyone else ..but right now I have to do what's right for not just us right now, but for our people. We're fighting for a cause, Val.." Placing a hand on her shoulder, Abiah then let out a soft sigh.

"We already have wasted enough time. Go! Before they find you before they find me." His eyes narrowed with panic and worry before placing a kiss on her cheek. Moving back away he gave Valentine a smile before sending her off on the path. Her wings spread out wide and large before flapping, tears pricking her eyes as she took off in the darkening sky with the twins in her arms. The moonlight gave them a path through the night, the trees blowing against the wind.

Abiah pushed passed the bushes and trees and entered the clearing where the empty and panicked horses ran around, away, and through the large plants the rose up from the torn up ground. The very few knights that were left were bloodied from being trampled on by the horses and the lashes from the thorns.

"Surrender you beast! god has no room in heaven for monsters like you.." A knight who laid on the ground raised himself up by lifting himself up on his elbows. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth, his yellowed teeth stained a deep red. The knight was bruised and bloodied, thorns stuck in the open parts of his skin where his armor was missing. Coughing up blood, it dribbled down his chin.

"Says the man who claims to be holy, yet terminating us all because we are different. Destroying us cause we do not follow your king, even though we have tried to make peace and talk. Why are you so scared? Even though we try to help....your kind discards us like trash among the streets with the rats.." Abiah stated with a stern voice and narrowed eyes, his leather boot pressing against the chest of the knight.

It felt as though time has stopped for this exact moment, letting Abiah speak out his opinions towards this man who insulted him. He felt..powerful. Yet he just wanted peace and the life of one without hiding in the woods with a makeshift camp. But it was home. It was where his family was. His love.

And hell would he let anyone of the likes of this so called holy man take it away from him.