Prologue

The flash began.

The Five gathered quietly, looking carefully in each other’s eyes.

“The time is closing in,” Spirit said.

“We have to be cautious,” spoke Earth.

“They will soon appear,” Air whispered.

“When Earth and Moon are joined,” Water murmured.

“Then Sun will bring destruction,” Fire uttered.

0

The carriage rocked side to side as eight-year-old Hina stared out the grimy window. Her mother and father were sitting across from her.

“What was that papa?” Hina asked suddenly.

“What was what?” he father asked looking up from the paper he was reading.

“Out there, in the clearing of that forest,” Hina replied.

“What did it look like dear?” he mother asked.

“Well, it was large and had five stones in the point of a star in the middle,” Hina replied.

“Well that must be the five stone warriors,” her mother said with a smile, she was a fair woman with light red hair and wicked green eyes, she was wearing a purple and green dress.

“The five stone warriors?” Hina asked.

“Yes, many of the old tribes believe in the Knights of the Elements, strong warrior women that protect another world from harm. They think that these women connect this world to another one, where they fight freely,” her mother said.

“Women fight? Like in battles?” Hina asked.

“Yes, they fight with their element, so the Knight of Fire will fight with Fire, Earth with Earth and so on and so forth.”

Hina smiled and looked out the smudged window again.

“That is awesome, I would love to meet one of the Knights one day,” Hina said.

Her mother smiled, “I’m sure you will, there are many Knights.”

“Yes but not in this world,” her father interrupted, he was a very practical man, “and besides what happens in this world has nothing to do with any other world, I doubt you will ever meet any of those Knights.”

Her mother chuckled, “don’t halt the dreams of little ones,” she said with a small stroke to his cheek.

Hina stared back where the clearing had been; it was just out of range now.

Suddenly a bright flash appeared for a fraction of a second where the clearing had been.

“What was that?” Hina said jumping up this time.

“Please sit down in the carriage, Hina,” her mother said.

“And don’t pay attention to things that happen outside your window,” her father said gruffly and turned the page.

Hina bit her lip, then sat back down, smoothing out the dress that she was wearing.

0

The carriage rattled to a stop and her mother shook Hina awake, it was dark outside.

“Come on dear,” her mother whispered picking her up from the carriage and setting her on her feet outside.

“Are we there already?” Hina asked quietly still half-asleep.

“Not yet, sweetheart. We are staying here over night,” her mother replied taking her to an inn on the side of the road.

“Oh, what about the war?” Hina asked.

“The war will not bother us here.”

Hina was ushered into the inn and was soon asleep in a soft bed.

0

She was awakened once again early morning; the sun had not risen yet, by a loud bang from outside.

Her mother rushed into the room and pulled her forcibly from the bed.

“Hina, you must run to the river on the far side of the city and stay there until I come get you alright?” she said urgently.

“But why?”

“Because,” she replied roughly pulling a simple dress over Hina’s head.

“What’s going on!”

“Hina, you must be brave and go to the river, I will see you there I promise!”

“You said the war wasn’t here,” Hina cried recognizing the noises outside.

“GO!”

There were breaking and crashing noises coming from the lobby.

Hina pelted out the servants’ quarters in the old inn and opening the door a crack to see out the back she had to hold back tears.

The tall soldiers rampaged through the little town, killing all in their path. Hina looked for an opening to escape through and after a moment she found one.

She took it running as fast as ther small legs could take her. Fires were cropping up everywhere, dodging flames and people she made it to the edge of the town.

She looked around no one was watching her; all to busy with the raid and destruction.

By the time she reached the river the flames of the town were fifty feet high and the grass was beginning to burn.

The raging wildfire grew to encompass the town, forest beside and was rapidly eating up the soft prairie grass towards the river.

Animas began to appear badgers, rodents, deer, moose, bears, foxes, wolves, all running to the safety of the river.

Hina was among them.

Standing soaked and shivering in the waist deep water, she watched the world on all sides burn, surrounded by the animals.

The world was utterly silent other than the roar of the fire.