“We will attack Canton tomorrow,” a man says.

“But sir, why? Canton is only a small human town. There is nothing of importance there,” a girl replies.

“Canton has many powerful humans and a few elves that have chosen to hide themselves from me. We will attack them before they attack us.”

The next day, as they reach Canton, the girl says, “I can’t do this.”

“You can and you will.”

“This is wrong. You’re not just killing elves, you’re killing innocent people,” she says.

“They deserve what they are getting for hiding those that could harm us.”

“So you’re saying that they are guilty for living in Canton?” the girl asks. The man does not answer.

Once they reach Canton, the man dismounts from his horse. The girl does not get off. “Get down,” the man orders.

“No,” the girl answers. “I won’t help you kill innocent people.”

“Nobody is innocent. If they were, everyone would be at peace. Instead, there are wars and murders. I’ll even say that there are murderers in this town,” the man replies.

The girl looks down, then back at the man, silently debating. Slowly, she dismounts. ‘No!’ she thinks, ‘I don’t want to get down.’ By late afternoon, the man is digging through the rubble of Canton. The girl sees her chance, mounts her horse, and rides off.

‘Never again,’ she thinks. ‘I will get him for making me do this.’

5 years later…

In the middle of the forest, a girl with auburn hair runs down a path. Horses can be heard thundering not far behind. Then all of a sudden, the girl runs into another girl, with black hair, who had just stepped onto the path. “What are you doing? Get out of my way,” the first girl almost yells.

“Patience Gabrielle.”

“I have to get out of here. Move! And how do you know my name?” Gabrielle asks. Before the girl can answer, a group of men ride up. Gabrielle turns to hide her face.

“We’re looking for a girl who may have come this way,” one says. He looks down. “Have you seen her?”

“She ran past a few minutes ago. I think she was heading towards Shiera,” the girl answers. Gabrielle continues looking at the ground.

“Thank you,” the man replies and they ride off.

“Why did you do that?” Gabrielle asks.

“Do I need a reason?” the girl replies.

“I guess not,” Gabrielle answers. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get out of here.”

“Why do you have to go? Those men won’t find you now,” she says.

“They have been on my trail for three days. If I were still running, they would have caught me by now. In fact, they are coming back already,” Gabrielle responds.

“Then what are we waiting for? They won’t follow you in here,” the girl answers, pointing into the forest.

“Are you kidding me?” Gabrielle asks. “They have chased me across the river, through the swamp and into the forest. Of course they will follow me.”

“Why are they chasing you anyway?” the girl asks as they walk off the path.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to say anything more. I don’t even know you,” Gabrielle says.

“Anaiya.”

“What?”

“My name is Anaiya.”

Gabrielle stops and turns. “What is it?” Anaiya asks.

“They’re coming. Hide in that bush,” Gabrielle answers. Anaiya dives into the bush and watches Gabrielle.

“Gabrielle, what are you doing? Hide.” Gabrielle nods but stands still a few minutes longer. Then, when she sees the men, Gabrielle jumps up and grabs the lowest branch of the tree above her. Gabrielle expertly climbs up until she is no longer visible.

Anaiya watches, amazed. The jump Gabrielle just made must have been at least 20 ft. The men ride up and one stops by the bush. Anaiya shrinks back.

“They couldn’t have gone far. Search everywhere,” one man orders. Suddenly Anaiya feels someone grab her from behind. She tries to yell but the person covers her mouth.

“Anaiya, stay quiet. Follow me,” Gabrielle whispers. Anaiya nods and they slowly creep away from the men. “Come on, we need to run.”

“Why?” Anaiya asks. “How are they able to follow you?”

“We just need to get as far away as possible. They’re a new breed of hunters. They can be trained to follow a certain person like a cat to a rat.”

“So why are they after you?”

“That’s a good question,” Gabrielle replies.

“You mean, you don’t know?”

“They have been following me for a few days now. I don’t know why. All I know is that I think it might be connected to what happened in Canton,” Gabrielle responds.

“What do you mean?” Anaiya asks.

“Five years ago, Canton was attacked by someone. I’m the only survivor.”

“I didn’t know there were survivors. I’m so sorry Gabrielle.”

“For what? It’s not like you did it.”