KioNish

Kyra lifted her head up, the wall towered over her, she moved her fingers along the rocks but could find no where to grab with her sweaty palms. She placed her forehead against the wall, the cold stone stung a bit at first, only after it felt refreshing.
"Now what would a young girl like you be doing here at a time like this?" A ruff voice came from behind her, she spun quickly around to face her leader, KioNish. Though the small, but noticeable wrinkles on his face showed that he was older, he still fought well like a warrior.
"Why should you care what I do, I'm just one girl." Kyra whispered, she did not care to show respect anymore.
"It is true, you are not a child anymore, and as much as I care about each person under my leadership I would still let one of them cross the wall, if that is what they wish, I would allow them to take their life into their own hands, but you are different." There was silence after KioNish spoke, not even the chirping of morning birds could be heard. Kyra did not move she only stared into the soft blue of eyes of the man who lived to lead and protect his people.
"Why am I different?" She whispered, mainly to herself. The old leaders ruff hand now rested firmly and protectively on her shoulder.
"By your crossing over the wall you not only take with you the fate of yourself, but the fate of all those whom I am accountable to protect, you must understand this is why you could not become a warrior, I could never allow you to cross this wall." Kyra nodded at his words, but remained frozen still, KioNish turned and walked away, though she knew he would be watching her still. Why would her leader, strong and great, try so hard to convince her she was special enough that she need not kill herself? No, he didn't care about her, he only wanted to protect his people. Maybe, Kyra thought If I were to cross the wall, I would be held hostage and he would have to send out warriors to fight when they should be training. Kyra satisified herself with this conclusion, she would think no more about it. She turned than to the bright, blinding light of the sun rising above the dark mountains. Kyra closed her eyes and felt the bathing warmth on her face. After a moment she opened them again, squinting into the light and there she saw the strip of green making its way down the wall. She may not climb it today, but that vine would always be there, an escape. Slowly now Kyra turned and started back toward home.

Hearts travel on

Kyra's run slowly became a walk as she began to fully realize what she was about to do. There were forces protecting the other side special beings hired from Lome where it's said they still have magic, why would she dare to cross it unless she wanted to die? Is that what she wanted, would she rather choose death than a life of servitude to some warrior husband whom she would not even be able to pick, to never have respect by anyone besides her own mother? Death didn't seem like such a bad option, but was Kyra brave enough to face it? She didn't know the answer to any of these questions only that her legs kept moving forward and she allowed them too. Fright filled her as she could see the rock wall in the distance, her heart beat madly in her chest and the wind, the wind was still as a rock, not even the slightest breeze blew, everysound her feet made echoed all through the valley around her and secretly she wished someone would hear and come to stop her. They wouldn't though, why should it matter if a young girl foolishly crossed the wall and never returned, it didn't matter to them and that just made it much less exciting, to know that they wouldn't even care. Kyra kept her hands firmly at her side, her hands balling into fist than quickly releasing again, the cold still air could have given her goosebumps but she was hot, with anger, fear and confusion. Unconscouisly she began to sing a song, one she always sang when she was alone it was not a song from her village and she did not know where she'd heard it, but she had heard it some where and it played on her mind and her lips now.
"Never to roam afar and wide,
Never to see the sun setting
Never to hear my mother call,
Never to know where I'm getting
Always to wander on my own,
always so far, always alone
Life means nothing, a break in the dawn
one star in the million up high
but hearts travel on, and I'll travel on!
Never to come home again..."
The song finished quickly and Kyra found herself at the foot of the great rock wall her hands pressing against the large, cold stone.

A dangerous challenge

A frightening wind blew in through the window rustling the covers of the bed Kyra should have been on, instead she lay curled up on the wooden floor, at first she lay there never wanting to move than she remembered the night before and fear came back to her quickly, she jumped up with a start immediatly feeling dizzy from jumping out of slumber so quickly. Outside was light but the sun was not up yet, she guessed there was probably about five minutes till sunrise, Kyra didn't even bother to change her clothes as she slipped her dark cloth brown boots on under her simple brown quarter sleeve dress, rushing out than into the still cold air, over at camp she could hear the noises of the morning, warriors in training would have to be up by sunrise everyday, oh how she wished she was there now. Kyra looked back at the small house with disgust, vowing to always do terrible at cooking and cleaning so terrible that her mother and other woman would give up on her. She hadn't gotten what she wanted and yet she wasn't about to give in to what they wanted of her, she was going to be her own person and at that moment she had decided it. Kyra would do something dangerous, she would prove her bravery to all of them, she would cross over the wall.

The spy

There was the sound of a knife being drawn, slowly out of a sheeth. Kyra's breath came out in hard, slow breaths, her heart beat quickened with each second his cold gloved hand remained on the back of her neck. Sweat beaded up on her forehead, the cool air of night helped a bit, but not much. She found her eyes slowly closing, bracing herself for the blow, then there was a loud humph! Kyra wondered if that was her that had made the noise, she felt no pain, it was rather peaceful for dying, then she found her eyes were still in her power and she opened them, turning slowly around, afraid of what she would see. A scream escaped her lips as she saw the dark figure huddled in a ball on the cold ground, blood dripping down his face, there was another figure there standing above him, he was tall, but slender, young, she could tell by the way his hair was cropped short, but he was strong still and he had saved her, was it because he only wanted to do the kill himself? Or could someone actually care that much, he reached his hand out slowly as if he wished to touch her, then he turned and ran off, as he ran Kyra caught a glimpse of emerald green, the color of his long cloak, it was the enemy's color. She stood frozen there in the cold air, shivering in the nights chill, she looked on the other stranger, the one dressed in the dark blue of Tren, the encampment on the far end of their lands, he was a spy, spies were not warriors, not meant to kill, this one had a motive, he would not have dared try to kill her unless he knew he had to, unless there was no one else to do the deed, unless he knew a secret, a secret about her so terrible that she deserved to die for it, though she knew not what it was, Kyra shuddered once more than ran quickly into the warmth of her house.

The night sky

The stale air inside the house smelled more musty than usual, her father and mother discussed adult affairs in the other room, Kyra sat on her bed staring at the floor, this would be the place she would be doomed to the rest of her life, doomed to smell only the musty stale air of the indoors and be trapped in the endless smoke from cooking fires. She supposed one day she could marry a warrior only to clean his shoes and cook his meals, never to be respected in the way she would be, if only they'd chosen her. Slowly she stood up, the wooden planks that made up the floor felt hard beneath her bare feet. She walked slowly, with that somber attitude that many have when so completely disappointed and depressed you feel as if life holds no purpose, as if you need not live any longer. Kyra halted at the small mirror set on the dusty desk in the corner, she moved over to it taking the brush up in her unwilling hand and running it painfully through her tangled hair. She grimaced at herself in the mirror, she finished by tying it back out of her face, a few pieces escaped, the downside to having shorter hair. Kyra brushed them back behind her ears, staring at reflection for a few moments before turning out the door. She slipped easily past her distracted parents as they discussed urgent matters, her father was no warrior, he was not honored, in fact the opposite, for when he was Kyra's age he disgraced the warriors by stealing their food, they were not rich never were, but they could survive in their small three room home. Outside the cool air brushed across her face filling her with life, she suddenly did not feel so depressed as long as she kept the terrible thoughts from entering in. Kyra relized to late she had forgotten shoes as she stepped onto the frozen ground, the cold shocked her for a moment yet she did not wish to go back for shoes, her feet would numb after a few minutes. A rustle in the bushes beside her caused Kyra to turn, but there was nothing there, nothing she could see int he moons dim light. Kyra stared at the stars through bewitched eyes, they were amazing how they twinkled and shined, she wished only to reach up and grasp one. Another rustle snapped her attention back towards the bushes, when she felt a cold gloved hand creeping along her neck.

The Ceremony

The ceromony began with the beating of drums and when they stopped the leader walked forward. His wrinkles not only shows signs of age but signs of wisdom, four young warriors lined up beside the leader, two on each side, four chances to become a warrior four of Kyra's last chance. The first name was called, it was Aaron the cutest boy in all the land at least in Kyra's view, he introduced himself proudly to his teacher and master then was led back into the leaders tent where he would be given a briefing after the ceremony. Fey's name was called, she had the most beautiful eyes Kyra had ever seen, and yet she would never see the world through them. Fey was blind yet fierce, she could see the world in a way no one else could, she could see her enemies in a way they could never see her, she would be a great warrior. Another name was called and it wasn't her, Kyra began to lose hope only one more name, that was all, only one more chance left. The leaders voice rang out, loud and clear deciding the fate of Kyra, deciding everything she cared about, all she ever wanted, a boy named Athro walked forward grinning mischievously as always. The wind played about her hair as she slowly backed away, tears welled up in her eyes as she turned and ran.

Fear

Children cried out as parents dragged them unwillingly into the cool chill of the large river running alongside the camp. Kyra had already bathed in the chill of the morning, it had been almost unbearable, but worth avoiding the bustles and cries of children that came with sunrise. The men left their weapons at home, the people would go without breakfast this morning. The elders were dressed in beautiful clothing which had taken years to weave and those Kyra's age gathered in groups speaking eagerly about what apprenticeship they hope to have, boys fought fake fights with sticks which at the end had been carved down to a point. And yet with all of the bustle Kyra's eyes stared only longingly at the tent situated at the far end of camp. Inside the warriors of six leaf falls would be discussing with the leader of who they would apprentice and he would either approve or reassign, that was were Kyra's fate lie, inside that tent where the voices were hushed and low, the only place Kyra longed to be. Their leader was the oldest of all the elders on both sides. Many say he should have died years ago, most of the warriors could not wait for his son to take over his place, they say he was too kind, he had made a truce when the enemy that as long as he lived, war would not strike. The people were ready for battle again, and Kyra was afraid that the old leader would not last another leaf fall, if she was taken on as apprentice now she would be a full fledged warrior in the midst of chaos. The old warriors knew this, that is why this time around they would choose very carefully. Kyra only wished that they never had to fight, but it was the way of their people, they say fear governs the land and the people must fight it with all their strength, fear kept the people going, fear kept the children hiding, fear is what makes your heart beat pounding against your chest, fear is what keeps you hiding in the shadows instead of facing your enemy head on and fear is what kept Kyra rooted in place, fear for the ceremony, fear for her fate.