A.N-- There is more and this is more of the “rough draft” please feel free to critique I just had to put it on to make friends happy…so enjoy! By the way, (--) is like just the story and in other chapters, flashbacks…the first part is a summary mostly of her life and family, the rest is the present day…(P.S. This is Alabrith, Anglwen’s daughter’s story in case you’re wondering for those who don’t know) Thanks!

Why, why do I have to be so hateful? I can’t believe it. Well, I’m going to be leaving soon so I better finish packing. Alabrith thought as she sat on her feathery bed staring at the map on her wall of the whole Angkora region.

Alabrith was a fiery red headed girl with yellow highlights with a tint of orange. As a typical teenager of age fourteen, she felt no one cared for her. According to Alabrith, her parents absolutely hated her. She didn’t know the truth.

Alabrith and her family lived in a fairly large home because her father, Dosic, was “one” with the king of the Vulcan castle. He had been a former protector of the kingdom along with the other Dragon Raiders. Alabrith had always hoped that someday she would be a Dragon Raider. She rode her father’s dragon, Romeric enough so she knew she could. It seemed as if the two had a connection of some sort.

Arna, Alabrith’s mother’s past; however, was not spoken of much in the Ironflame household, however. Not many people knew much of her former life. Cisca, Alabrith’s sister, was an interesting person. She was a five year old in a thirteen year olds’ body. She had been one of the smartest people in the Angkora region, in her former day. Alabrith of course hated the attention that Dosic and Arna gave to her. Later on, Cisca is not the same and Alabrith finds out that life without her smart sister isn’t really life at all.

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Alabrith studied a map that she held loosely in her hands. She stared at all of the regions until she grew stern and sat up and forcefully stuffed it and all of her belongings into a burlap sack. The sack consisted of a small blanket, provisions, extra clothes etc. Alabrith was somewhat assured that she was ready.

Finishing her packing, on the small bedside-table, she spotted a small portrait of her father, mother, and sister Cisca, before the terrible accident. Studying it for a while, she then crammed the beautifully embroidered picture into the bottom of the sack. After she had done this, a tear slowly made its way down the teenager’s cheek.

She trudged out of the room heading for the terribly tall door that encased her life. She looked at it in worry, wondering if what she was doing was right. The teenager decided to leave with one solemn goodbye. Alabrith started with her one and only sister. She entered he sister’s bedchambers and rubbed the blanket that lied gently over her. The girl had blond hair with a tint of red highlights and bore the proud name of Cisca Ironflame. Alabrith sighed and breathed in slowly as she started for the door. Alabrith stopped abruptly and then pulled out a small, brown package that she fumbled with as she placed it on her little sister’s bed. Alabrith smiled for a second or two before she headed to say goodbye to her parents.

Alabrith entered her parents’ dark room and spotted the black silhouettes of her parents. She said a goodbye so soft not even the mice could hear it. Thinking before she acted, she put a small note on her parent’s bedside table. Alabrith stared at her parents then scowled as she remembered her past.

Why should I care, I love them but they hate me. They just couldn’t put with me… Well, goodbye to them. May their life be happy without me. Alabrith thought to herself as she swiftly made her way out of the room.

The door swung open with a creak as she made her way out into the dark rainy night. Alabrith walked with no particular pace and not much on her mind. She then headed to the stable. With a slam the stable door came open and the inhabitants looked up in surprise. As she walked past the horses, they stuck their heads out asking for a carrot or two. Alabrith ignored their plea but stroked their heads as she made her way to the fifth stall on the right. Estro, the silky black stallion whinnied as his owner opened the stall. Alabrith grabbed a blanket off of the side railing and placed it on Estro’s back. The blanket was blue and had water droplets decorating it. Alabrith then secured her stuff to him. She shut the stall door and locked it tight. On their way out Alabrith gave the horses and her dad’s dragon, Romeric, a final pat before leading Estro outside.

“Goodbye.” Alabrith said under breath as the other horses and Romeric bowed their heads in great misery as the stable door was shut.

When the two companions arrived outside, Alabrith mounted Estro. Alabrith held her head up barely as she thought about her life. Her life had it’s good times and bad times, she especially remembered the good times with her sister.

Alabrith skimmed through her memories as though an out-dated book. They mattered no more as a rusty sword, old and dull.

After a few brief moments, Alabrith lifted her head. Alabrith felt lousy and cold-hearted. She then remembered a time where she promised Cisca countless times that she would do something as simple as giving a hug, to saving her from harm. Alabrith had done nothing but lied and scowled, making crude comments and making up excuses and never telling the truth even when it could have cost a life. Pain strewed through her veins along with selfishness and greed. The worst part was, that Cisca had to endure this pain too.

Estro stared into the girl’s eyes that were shining bright, the shine was nothing other than tears. Alabrith wiped the moisture from under her eye then looked at the moon. It shone brightly towards the direction of the forest edging the Vulcan village.

Where are we going? Estro thought to Alabrith. Alabrith looked at Estro who shook his mane as he pawed the ground. She then looked down the mucky road that was ahead of her. She thought a bit before answering.

Far, far away from here, where I can be free of doubts. I hate my parents and they hate me. That is why I’m leaving. Alabrith thought back as she lowered her head again looking at the marvelous steed that lay beneath her. Secretly, she loved her parents dearly, but it seemed that her parents despised her.

Alabrith, you know your parents love you. Estro thought back.

You think they “loved” me when they sent me to A.M.H.Q? I don’t think so; while I was gone they were enjoying the great time without me. No one at home cared that I was gone. No one! Alabrith yelled as she started to cry a bit. The forest stayed silent except for a few crickets singing in the brush.

Estro grunted with disagreement, Alabrith, your sister loved you. Why else would she come and get you? Also, all the other horses including me missed you! Romeric missed you! Don’t feel sorry for yourself.

I don’t care anymore. I am going to leave for good. They can have a lovely life without me.

Alabrith don’t….

Ride Estro, ride.

Estro groaned again in incongruity and then started to trot into the dark forest.

As Estro galloped down the muddy path, not taking a second glance back, Alabrith thought of how she was doing her family a favor. She thought no one cared, but someone did. The two persistently made their journey down the narrow, barren road. While this was happening, Alabrith sought to remember how it all started, one girl, Cisca.

Cisca was the cause of all this pain or was it me? Alabrith thought to herself as she flashed back to her past.

A.N.-- R & R please!