Chapter One

The leaves rustled slightly on the branch under my feet, and I froze with my eyes locked on the figure nearby. But she clumsily tottered for the stone boxes, following the ropes back amid the gray rows of blocks.

As she disappeared among the shadows cast by the star-filled night, my breath escaped my lips in a sigh of relief. I slid down the trunk, silently cursing myself for the noise. I was supposed to be silent, so I wouldn’t draw their attention. But no matter how I tried or practiced, I could not gain the same stealth or lithe movements that graced everyone else.

Silent – that was our way. Silent, and invisible.

As I sneaked back home I thanked the stars above me for their protection once again. Even beyond the trees I could see them - a swirling, living mass of energy that lit up the sky brighter than the sun. Their light was purer, a soft white that made everything glow, not like the harsh yellow glare that the sun made, revealing everything beneath it. The stars watched out for us, guarded us, guided us, and made us invisible. It was thanks to them I was not caught already by blunt stupidity on my part. Theron often told me my desire to look at them was wrong, but I couldn’t help it.

I slipped through the bushes and brambles, coming upon the night’s kill. Others glanced my way momentarily, acknowledging my arrival with a simple flicker of eyes. I withdrew my knife and cut off a portion of the meat for myself, wary of Theron’s eyes that still lay upon me. He knew.

I slipped away before he could confront me in front of the whole tribe as they gathered for their meal. Trying to avoid his angry lecture altogether was impossible – as one of the best trackers, he often told me a blind child could follow my trail. So I crouched in a tree and miserably ate my meal, awaiting the verbal beating. I could only hope he felt like gorging himself tonight or would help clear away any traces of the kill to prolong my peace.

“Shatzi.”

At that, I knew my wish was too good to be true. I made no motion to escape as he approached me.

“Where were you?”

“Nowhere,” I defended myself, already knowing he saw through my lie.

“You know you are forbidden from there,” he stated. I turned to look at him. Everyone considered Theron tall, a good head and a half above me. In our current positions of him standing and me sitting, he appeared even taller. Sharp edges formed his face, with dark eyes that could pierce my soul.

“Theron, I-“

“Next time, I hope they catch you and kill you,” he declared, and with that he disappeared.

I buried my face into my hands, shame staining my cheeks. I stayed in my tree long after his departure, running my fingers through my midnight hair that brushed against my neck. Usually I had it held back, but lately I had been wearing it loose. I liked the feeling of the strands hanging in my face and straining to see through them. Then no one could see me looking at them.

I finally descended from my tree, and moved towards the night’s resting grounds. When I arrived, I caught the wind ripple to hide, and could hear Them approaching through the trees. I scrambled for a high limb, but couldn't get a good grasp before They walked through the resting ground, crashing through the tall grass as obvious as any woodland animal. I felt the branch slipping under my fingers. With a whimper, I clenched my eyes shut and tried with all my will to hang on.

My leg slipped, and the whole branch rustled. All of the young and dirty faces looked up, and I frantically clung to the branch praying they couldn't see my dangling leg.

A hand grabbed the back of my vest and hauled me up, setting me squarely on the branch without stirring a leaf. Below, the group just moved on, bags with metal clinking together. A hiss came in my ear, a demand at why I hadn't called on the stars. I didn't respond, feeling Theron's glare.

My tribesmate smoothly slipped away as everyone began to migrate for a new ground. We couldn't stay, as the party would march right back through. I felt Theron's eyes burning through my vest, and I lowered my head and followed the others, focusing on not making a sound.

We traveled for a short while, before settling again. Always like clockwork, They followed their usual patterns and wouldn't bother us even only a few lengths away. Sometimes They strayed, like tonight. Usually They would have passed on their roads that cut through the woods like scars.

As I finally stretched out for the night, I heard the whispers flowing along like a river in the trees. I ignored them, as they always spoke just for the elders. But something nagged at me, right along my spine. They sounded urgent and excited tonight.

"Shatzi."

For the second time that night, Theron had spoken my name in that cold tone. I sat up to face him.

"Theron," I addressed him, trying to press the reverent tone into my voice as he was my elder, "What are the leaves speaking of tonight?"

He slid to sit beside me, his leg propped up near him and rested his bow against it. "Many things," he replied, a hint of frost in his voice. "There are fewer kills, not enough food for all."

I swallowed hard. "Theron..."

“I’ve hunted many kinds of game,” Theron spoke easily, running his fingers along his bow. “The council tells me what to hunt, and I obey their orders. Why, do you suppose?”

My chest felt tight and my mouth was dry as I replied the answer that we knew entering the world. “A single drop raises the ocean. Life is born with magic.” His eyes settled on me as the words came from my lips. “And to destroy life…is to unbalance…magic…”

“Yet we kill to continue our existence,” he continued. “We kill to survive. So I hunt many, many kinds of game, all with little magic. Can’t upset the balance to the point it is unstable. I love deer, they provide the best chase. Well, next to another game. Oma gave a much better chase.”

I was frozen in place on the tree as he smiled, his eyes narrowing. Suddenly, everything seemed so vague except for his face. “Oh yes, Shatzi, your father was a much better chase.”

The forest flew about me. The speed and agility that had for so long been denied me came in a rush, as I became the prey. I could sense him, trailing me with amusement. Just another hunt – just another game. I meant nothing to him, not even a rabbit, as I would give him no nourishment and could not upset the balance of magic.

I was bleeding, I recognized that vaguely somewhere in my mind, and leaving a red and smelly trail any yearling could track. It didn’t matter anymore, it didn’t matter. I couldn’t hide, or hope to endure this chase longer than he. I would be dead before the sun awoke, merely because he would become bored with this hunt and move onto valuable game.

I knew of only one place I could run, and be safe. A rope settled around me, yanking me towards them. For the moment I did not despise the rope, as it hastened my journey to a haven I knew Theron would not follow into.

The trees were thinning, and I could spot the gray blocks with pointed tops beyond them. Almost there.

An arrow struck my back, propelling me forward to the ground. I cried in pain, no longer minding my mouth. Blood, my blood, trickled to the ground as pain made my body spasm. More than an arrow imbedded deeper into me with each move. I dragged myself up and clumsily moved for the safety of the buildings, reaching where they covered the dirt with stones. I dropped to my knees and gasped in air, the rush of safety overcoming me as blood continued to flow.

I glanced back at the trees, and could barely see Theron beyond them. His eyes were narrowed in anger, the bow still in his hand. He would not fire again as long as I stood on unsacred ground. I looked down at the stone, dirty and grime-encrusted. I had abandoned my people, and could not return. My eyes returned to Theron, as a smile sliced across his moon-smooth face.

Then he disappeared.

I staggered to my feet, the blood flowing down my back and staining my tunic, but something much worse moving inside. I could feel the arrow still sticking out of me, so I ripped it out. The pain that followed made me bite back a cry. I couldn’t risk waking them, they would come out of their blocks and seize me. Tie me down with their ropes.

The stones beneath my feet moved, almost like tall grass in the wind. I was gasping for air, and looked up at the stars, pleading them to watch over me. They blurred together, like looking at their image in a moving river. I could smell the red trail I left on their dirty stones, barely discernable about the stench of waste and rotting amid their blocks.

I paused to focus on the stones in front of me, willing them to stop moving. I noticed someone behind me, and realized I had nowhere to run and hide. If I returned to the trees, Theron would kill me instantly. Surely a death at his hand couldn’t be worse than whatever was awaiting me from them!

They were coming closer. Terror gripped my chest despite the reddening haze, and I screamed to the stars to hide me. I felt their pull, but I instantly knew something was wrong. Heat seared my body, and a cry of pain released into the night as I plummeted back to the ground.

Someone shook me, their fingers hot and bruising against my skin. I moaned, and my eyes slid open slightly. An ugly, piggish face peered down at me, dark and dirty. The cracked lips were moving, speaking to me in the boorish and brunt language to ask if I was hurt. I only shut my eyes, knowing I could do nothing.

Their voice raised, calling for help. Footsteps echoed on the stones, sounding so far away and suddenly close. Firm, rough hands lifted me against a hot body. They burned with heat, even through their ridiculously numerous layers. Grubby fingers touched my face and burned into my skin, words of surprise floated through the air to blend with the sound of the nights. I could hear the crickets in the trees, they had to be in the trees, crickets wouldn’t come near the blocks.

I hear words about hiding, and blood. Then the sounds and feelings faded into a dreamless darkness.