I started this National Novel Writing Month. Please tell me what you think. It's not done, but almost. It's getting pretty long, and I'm still editing parts. I'll post things as soon as they get edited to my liking for the moment. I'm my own worst critic.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A young man of a mere twenty-one years old held the hand of his laboring lover as her contractions of birthing became closer together. His auburn hair unkempt with worry and his vivid green eyes were intent on taking care of this woman he loved so much. "I can go get help, I know of someone who won't say anything."

His lover shook her head, long blonde hair matted down to her head with sweat, her pale blue eyes showing nothing but love. "No, Xavier, there's no time. It's going to happen here and now, and no matter what happens we will raise this child the best we can."

He nodded his head and rubbed her hand. "No matter what happens, Kamilla."

"No regrets, Xavier. Are we agreed on that?" She looked at him, breathing deeply. "This child will be loved and protected, and we will regret none of what we have done."

"I regret nothing now, and I'll regret nothing in the future with this child, or with you. I love you both, and always will." They smiled at each other and Xavier held her hands tightly.

As a baby she was the most adorable being he had ever seen, but looking at her now, almost the age of nineteen, he knew that her beauty could surpass that of her mothers'. Xavier Kayna watched as his daughter grabbed her basket and waved goodbye, practically skipping out of their home. Smiling slightly to himself, Xavier grabbed the books sitting on his desk and his officials robes and also left. The Consul had much work to do in recent times; the Jesselle and the Ural tribes were at war and they were threatening to bring that war into the territories of the Nacti.

The five tribes of the Colasa lands were not unfamiliar with war. The Urals were usually at the center of it all, attacking neighboring tribes, attempting to overtake the land for themselves. Every other tribe knew of the Urals; known as fierce and never to turn back, characterized by their dark skin, black hair and dark eyes, other tribes knew to keep their distance. The Jesselle tribe were rational going people; called the Fair of Looks, the light skin and pale hair was mistaken for weakness. The brightly colored eyes of the people showed their true power making them honorable adversaries. Although the Ural tribe did not have any allies the Jesselle tribe did; the Ronall tribe. Called amicable, they were known for inventing amazing attack plans in battles, nearly always resulting in a victory. They had a feel of the lands, being adventurous and always exploring, their whole beings seemed connected to the earth. Light colored hair, and the eyes the colors of the earth; brown, hazel, and black. Though plans were good, they were nothing without weapons to fight with. The Trecht tribe was infamous for their fantastical weapons and creations, known as the craftsmen of the Colasa. Their eyes were only shades of hazel and green, but they're hair was as wild as the inventions they created, shades of bright red and lightened brown that seemed to glow in the sun. Allies of the Nacti people, Xavier's tribe. The Nacti were known as the bravest among the five tribes, never turning down a threat to their people, always defending the lands. Tanned skin from working their fields and eyes of bright colors that complimented the many shades of brown hair, they were respected by the other tribes. It was forbidden to befriend, or even fall in love with another person of a different tribe. The penalty for this action was death.

Sandy blonde hair fell over her shoulder and in front of her face. Crescent Kayna pushed it back almost dropping the sage plants she had collected. She smiled as a butterfly landed on the plant in her hand. Crescent was the only person in her tribe to have blonde hair. No one ever questioned why, but she herself was just a little curious. When asked, her father would just brush it off, saying it was unimportant and that it just made her more unique and beautiful. He would kiss her cheek and smile at her, then go back to his work. She was always happy as a child, she was even happy now, at eighteen. Her father was the best any child could ask for, he truly loved his daughter and Crescent was happy for it, knowing he would never keep anything from her. She didn't mind that he worked so much, his job was important and someone had to do it. When Xavier was home at was always happy in their home, they never truly fought and she took care of the house. Which was why she was out now, collecting herbs for cooking, and for medicine.

She put the sage in her basket gently as to not disturb the butterfly and reached for some lavender. The butterfly flew past her a few moments later and she blinked, knowing someone was coming.

"Aren't you kind of far from the village?" came a soft male voice from behind her. Crescent smiled and continued to pick the lavender, knowing exactly who it was.

"I always come out here, it's where the best herbs grow. But you knew that Blake." She turned around to look at the tall man only two years older than herself. His hair was neatly pulled back into a ponytail bound with a strip of leather, complimenting the color of his light brown hair, and allowing his bright blue eyes to be more observed.

"You know I like to give you a hard time," he chuckled walked over to her and helping her up. Blake Feeran was her soon to be husband. His mother and her father had both decided when the children were very young that they would be wed together; better than suffering the fate of their parents, who both lost one of them when but only infants. But after 16 years together the only thing the two felt between each other was a deep friendship, not the joyous sparks of romance. The two lifetime friends would never tell their parents though for it was their wish that the two be wed, and happy.

"Oh hush. You scared away a butterfly you know?" She grabbed a lock of lavender that was about to fall and Blake chuckled lightly.

"You always were a nature fanatic. We should get back, you know the Consul and Elders are nervous about the war coming too close."

"Yes, I know." Crescent looped her fingers around the handle of the basket and played with a flower that she had picked earlier. "My father tells me every night when he comes back. He's been working later than usual."

"The whole village is becoming more nervous by the day." Blake walked beside her, both avoiding the well trodden path to the side and walking through the herbal meadow that Crescent loved so much.

Crescent opened her mouth to speak and had swung her arm up in the air with the basket when the air in front of her was suddenly disturbed and the basket ripped from her hand. She shrieked and stumbled backward when she saw an arrow stuck in the baskets handle, pinned to a tree. Blake had quickly moved and wrapped an arm around her, catching her and pulling her back. He looked around in the direction that the arrow had appeared but turned his attention back to Crescent when he realized that she was shaking slightly from shock.

"Crescent, we have to go. Crescent." He shook her arm slightly and she blinked and looked at him then nodded very slightly, giving him a sign that she was paying attention and understood him. Blake held her arms to guide her and moved her, quickly to avoid any more incidents. He noted that as they moved her heard the whirring of the air behind him, and shifting his eyes saw another arrow in the tree, next to the baskets handle. Blake decided not to tell Crescent about that arrow.

Down the path and through the shortcut in the woods Blake and Crescent quickly passed through the walls of the village perimeter and Blake took his friend back to her home. "Stay here, I'm going to get your father," he placed a glass with water in her hand but her other hand quickly grabbed his arm.

"They won't let you inside on your own. I'll go with you, they'll let me in," Crescent put the glass down on the table and pushed herself back up from the chair.

"Are you sure? I mean, I think you should stay here and sit, rest and regain your wits about you." Blake wasn't sure if she was back to her normal self again.

"Those weren't our arrows, Blake, and you know it," she gave him a look that he knew only too well. She was determined and it was best not to stop her, because you couldn't stop her. "We should have brought one back with us."

"Yes and your hand would have been attached to one if we had waited too long," he took her arm as they left the house again. Crescent sent him a smart aleck look and closed his mouth, a smirk dancing on his lips at her obvious annoyance.

As they neared the house of the Consul and Elders Blake had always remarked the size of the building. It was the largest building in the village, but understandably known why. It was one of the most important buildings in the village. The members of the Consul and Elders governed the village next to the Chief of the Nacti people. They held meetings with him and kept him informed of everything happening, and recently the ever nearing threat of war was priority on their minds. Guards were posted at every entrance to the building, and even more were on the inside, having been doubled in the recent months. Xavier was in his office when Crescent and Blake knocked on his open door.

"Mr. Kayna," Blake bowed his head a little when they were permitted to enter.

"Please, Xavier will do fine Blake. What brings about this visit?" He walked over and kissed her daughters cheek in greeting. "I sense unease from both of you."

"We were attacked, sir," Blake said promptly. Xavier looked at the young man and forgot all about scolding him for using the formality once again.

"By who? I pray that both of you are alright," he closed the door then directed them to sit on the divan against the wall while he pulled a chair over to sit in front of them and receive the whole story.

"We're not sure father," Crescent sat up and started to talk. "I was collecting herbs in the field and as Blake and I were coming back to the village we were shot at by an arrow. It wasn't ours because the wood of the arrow's shaft was a deep red, not of our trees."

"It was a Jesselle arrow then," Xavier leaned back in his chair and looked at the wall behind the two, deep in thought. "You were in the field you say?" Crescent nodded and he frowned a little. "It seems that outside of the village is no longer safe. The war is too close now. I am actually surprised that the warriors would come onto our lands."

"Are you going to be here late again tonight, then?" Crescent asked and Xavier looked back at her, and then nodded.

"I'm afraid I must. I must inform the Consul and Elders immediately of this. I will be here rather late," he stood up and went back to her desk, gathering some papers and a folder. "Blake, please escort her back to our home and then return directly to yours. I'm not sure what all this means but I want both of you to be cautious until we know more."

Blake nodded curtly and stood up with Crescent. "What do you think is going to happen?" Crescent asked her father in a quiet voice, almost fearing the answer.

Xavier looked at his daughter not sure how to answer her question. "I'm not sure darling. All I ask is that you are careful, I will be able to explain more tonight." He walked over and kissed her forehead and smiled slightly to comfort her. She nodded then left following behind Blake.

He watched them clear the building then left swiftly and informed the Speaker of Message to gather the Consul Members and Elders immediately. With an emergency meeting called it was sure to be that the Chief of the Nacti would appear too. What Xavier feared was that this was a declaration of war against their land, one of which they could not ignore.