Faris enquiries about the foreign fabric with tailors of the stone city to no avail. With all mainstream revenues checked off, Faris follows the laughter and duff drums that emanate from the Nakhflay camp for leads. Tall dome tents, colourful rugs, exotic spices and outdoor cooking contrast gothic churches and white Baroque streets of the rest of Vatala.Faris joins the shushing crowd by the fire right on time to hear Veryth sing. Holding everyone's gaze, dressed in traditional blue with Ottoman trim, gracefully stood before her people calm and relaxed. An audience of sincere smiles, warm families, close partners, tamed birds and high seated elders. Tankers of fruit juice and tea cups are flowing, no one's wooden bowls are less than half full of rabbit and lentil stew. *Slow melodious humming from the crowd * "It began under a moon, Hundreds of years ago, For the love of one woman two warriors tried to woo. She had died young in life, But a spell trapped her soul, And the master

Chasing the sounds of danger and distress Faris and Axil race deep into the northern black forest. Closing into the commotion, hounds of the night are circling, furious and hungry for flesh. "Wait, do you see them? I make out seven." Axil says, halting to a crouching position, staring into the dark. "And somebody on top. Looks like a boy.." "Any ideas?" "Just one." "Hello there!!" Axil calls. "Hello? Please help!" A woman's voice replies from atop the prison. "We are working on it, just don't move!" Axil and Faris feel the ground for dead branches and twigs. Tying them together with travel bandages they light the two torches. Holding the swords and torches above their heads, the two stand side by side, creating the appearance of a large creature and begin moving towards the rock. Replicating the sounds of a bear, slowly they walk forward. "If this does not work..." "Relax, it'll work." Faris assures his very nervous friend. The wolves are barking and snarling, trying to

By the campfire the three silhouettes gather; Axil cooking rabbit, Miya draped in Faris's coat while Faris secures the makeshift tent, binding the final knot. Crickets chirp loud, owls hoot and fireflies glow in distant fog. The comforting light and warmth of the fire works magic as Axil cast its delicious spell upon fresh rabbit rubbed in clove, aniseed and garlic infused oil. "Food's ready!" Axil announces over the tense atmosphere with a smile. Unanimously moving in a little closer to eat, Axil offers Miya first pickings to a stoic decline. "Don't be shy, I'm an excellent cook." Axil says in a most friendly manner. "He's alright." Jokes Faris, smiling as such to make Miya feel welcome. "It's not that." She says, on the verge of tears. "You're hurt?" Faris says, noticing the blood on her long red sleeping dress. "I'm not hurt." Miya sobs. "You managed to kill one of the wolves?" Asks Axil, still in wonder about why they were after her. "It's my sister's blood!" She c

"Dear Diary. Today is the day! Samuel and I are finally going to run off together and leave my ludicrous father once and for all. I'm so sick of all the talk, I can barely wait to be free. Father will probably not even notice I'm gone, too busy with Mayor folly to mind. Truthfully between me and you; I am rather scared but Sam has assured me that together we will be fine and that he will protect me. He is a fisherman at least, so I guess fish will be on the menu...a lot. I am hopeful that through this that Sam and I will become more than just friends, is that wrong? I know he sees me more of a little sister than a woman, ... Not that he likes women anyway which is so frustrating. He's the only guy around here with any sort of manners or courtesy that is not full of himself or old enough to be my uncle. It makes me happy to know once we are out there nobody will judge us or treat us like freaks. Although I have spent my whole life here, I am going to miss Innigo the most, despite our

The Forest of Vatala had never looked so claustrophobic through the darting watch of Faris, sporadically searching for signs of Axil. No tracks, no traces, no time to lose, no direction, just running as fast as a racing heart. Bird ballads impossible to hear through, trees barricade every view and amidst the unseen lies daunting possibilities. "Axiiilll?" Faris calls over and over through the trees. Miya watches from the camp, rising to keep her companion in need in sight. "We should check the river." Miya suggest. "Do you know the way?" Agrees Faris in despondency. "Of course." Miya calmingly smiles. The beautiful pallet of Vatala forest hums bleak across the browns, greys and rich greens. White fog of each breath, hard ground and the silent echo accentuate the atmosphere of despair in the hope, and hope, in the despair. Trees as old as the Earth stand against the winds of time, cold rocks watch another body cross what was never a path. Birds invariably chirp from the most