Sumarry: Two young children living every day lives. All with painful pasts. But is there something more? Something mystical maybe?

Rated: T

Authors note: The family is based off of my sisters. But, with a twist.

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Chapter 1: Setting + Life in the Woods

Once upon a time there were two little boys. Brothers to be exact. The oldest had just turned 5 and the other was 3. From outer appearances they both seemed normal, playing with the children in day care and asking the usual things younger children always do. But what does the exterior tell of such youth. Behind their florescent blue eyes lie an unfortunate past that was as hidden as the their mother's shear insanity.

Allegiance had been a women of men since as long as her family could remember. Her sons, Chriise and Xzeander, were both of different men. Neither of the one she was with at the time of this story. Chriise, the eldest, had developed his personality around the age of two when his mother had been with Xzeander's father John. He was a boy of great strength. He bore the ability to, with one punch, give his uncle a black eye or a bloody nose. He was adventurous and brave which lead to many scraped knees and a few broken bones. The younger, Xzeander, was much quieter. Never causing too much a fuss, the boy proffered playing in the sand box rather than playing tag with Chrisse, Aaron and Layla (who were their current 'fathers' children). He had not talked much, and when he did it was simply baby ramblings that no one would understand. But he had an adult demeanor making a few relatives wonder about the power of his future. John (Xzeander's father) and Mac (Chriise's father) both seemed to forget about their sons and disappear into the back country of the Minnesota wilderness.

Chriise believed that John was his true father. His biological father had left Allegiance when he was only two, and the boy quickly forgot him. But, he was heart-broken when John left. He did not know that John and his mother had gone to a party, and gotten drunk. John had a violent past and put many holes in the walls, and broke quite a few belongings. That night at the party, he had beaten Allegiance unconscious, and even killed his own dog.

Both boys had gotten used to moving from place to place, seeing many unfamiliar, and familiar faces. Allegiance's father had previously been quite the partier and the genes had moved to her. She lived a life of drinking and drugs, plus many a man (and maybe a woman or two when she was too far gone to care). 'Pumpa' (which is what Chriise called his grandfather) lived far up in the Minnesota back country, in an abandoned 3 level school which he had to pay for. He held concerts and other various entertainment, to make the large payments.

During our story, though, is when Allegiance had moved in with a man named Chem. Chem was a well made man, his family owned most of the auto repair shops and junk yards in the state, along with a few auto-paint shops. When Allegiance first met Chem he was married to Sarah, and she was engaged to John. John had worked for Chem and Chem's family for about a year and a half before he had beaten her up. Alle had immediately gone to Chem for financial support. In a matter of only 2 days they had already slept together, a feat she was quite pleased with. And within the year Chem had a divorce. Only a few months after that Allegiance and Chem had bought a large country house with a few acres to call their own. Thus was her power of seduction. One could almost forgive her of the self accommodating skill 'seduction'. It roamed through her genes, through the generations. It was as natural to her as her blond hair, brilliant blue eyes and that ever soft giggle. A boy becomes a man under her gaze, and a man becomes a boy under the skill of her attention. She was used to it all, during her child hood she received no punishment and her daring had grown to pure spoiled determination.

Chem had one girl, a year older than Chriise, and a son, a year younger than Chriise. With a large back yard, and four rooms, the children became a family alone. But Layla and Aaron were only there 'every other weekend”.

Our story begins on such a weekend, (a year upon moving in) with the warm summer air creating a need, even a strong desire for the outdoors. They all headed out into the forest behind the house with the young great Dane 'King' and the tiny mutt 'Winder'. Almost immediately little Xzeander fell behind the other children, following a small rabbit that he had seen out of the corner of his eye. The others continued on and didn't stop until they reached a tree that split down the center. This created the perfect place to jump, hide, giggle, and run, such as children do.

They started to play 'Power Rangers' and Chriise wrestled Aaron to the ground, Layla struggling to free her self of a barrier that she had just told Chriise he created. Aaron managed to wriggle out from under neath Chriise, and cast a spell that set Layla free. Chriise started to complain that no one was on his side and Layla decided they would all be on one side. They began to fight the tree itself, as if it's leaves became tentacles and the split trunk was the monster's clamping jaws. Meanwhile, Xzeander had given up chasing the rabbit and walked in the direction he thought the others headed. As he continued, he forgot about his siblings and just took in the scenery around him. He thought the thoughts that a child thinks in such an obscene place as this. Soon Winder was following him, panting and pushing at his side as she tried to get him to play with her. He still refused and walked along, his hand wide open, ruffling her fur. With his sun-bleached hair and his chubby figure, he seemed like a cherub searching for his wings and halo amongst the perfect looking trees. He squinted as he looked up through a clearing, the white light shining in his eyes. Then his childish hands reached up as far as they could, and he cooed softly.

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Chem looked out the kitchen window, and his brow furrowed. “What are they up to?” he asked his fiancée.

She gazed out the window at the three children beating a tree, and quickly hiding behind other large plants and repeating the process. “Playing. Hey, where's Pudgy?” She had suddenly realized Xzeander's absence. Chem shrugged and continued to wash the piled ceiling high dishes. Alle kissed his bare shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tried to shrug her off, and she frowned. “Why ahr you so cwabby tuhday?” She baby talked him as she so often did. It was almost as if she was talking to one of her young children.

“Because it's hot and I don't need you hanging on me.” She pulled away and crossed her arms. He sighed and glanced out the window again. Now the kids were dancing around the tree, seemingly in victory. Xzeander appeared on the opposite side of the woods, running and playing along with Winder. “You should call them in for lunch.”

“Give them a few more minutes,” Allegiance said, “They aren't always this occupied.”

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R+R