-Prologue-

Delicate hands were caked with dirt, as long fingers worked their way through the ground. These hands pulled weeds, and crimson flowers, and dandelions away from the soil. For a moment, he paused and stared at the small hole he had dug away. He was of a pale face, with locks of black tresses hanging over his dark eyes. A small smile claimed his thin lips. He wiped his hands on the knee of his navy trousers.

Reaching over to the side, he cupped his hands around a small form and placed it into the hole. He smirked. It was a small, brown bird. Its neck had clearly been snapped and all of the feathers had been plucked out of its tail. Covering the bird with dirt and creating a small mound, he drew back to inspect the job he had done.

He rose off of his haunches and slowly walked out of the clearing. Behind him, dozens of little dirt mounds were perched upon the ground like wormy stones.