The sky was turning. Slowly but surely the cool spring day was giving into night. Streaks of red were drawn across the golden hemisphere. The indigo night sky was already pushing through and the sun was throwing its last golden rays across the Sanchon forest. A faint silver moon shone up above, waiting for the sun to disappear. Then it would be in its full glory. Deep in the forest, a girl stood silently. She was watching a deer and her fawn pick their way delicately across the dense undergrowth. The mother came slowly. The animals here were not unintelligent. The mother was wary  and with good reason. The fawn was unaware of everything and was happily ambling along beside his mother. Slowly, the girl unhooked a leather sling from her belt and fitted it with a stone from her pocket. As usual this one had the familiar elfin words flowing across it. Her grandfather had given a very powerful stone this time. It struck with the force and speed of the wind, and never missed when aimed appropriately. There was a slight breeze blowing in from the east. This was the reason that the deer had not already bolted, as the girl was standing down wind of them. It gave her a great advantage. However, the girl was not without fear. When provoked, deer could give a powerful, sometimes fatal, kick that even her magic couldnt heal. Standing upright she slowly started to swing the sling. Before she could let the stone loose the mother deer suddenly looked away in the opposite direction and started to flee, the fawn followed suite. The girl swore under her breath. She had promised her grandfather that she would bring him something to eat. She slipped the stone back into her pocket and wondered whether to follow the deer or not. She decided against it, but before she could turn away a huge shape dashed out of the trees ahead of her. The girl only just stopped herself from crying out in fear or running away for the commotion would have alerted the creature. It raced towards the deer but strangely was not catching up. The deer had already disappeared and the creature was still in the clearing. With a howl that brought shivers up the girls spine the creature lay down on the ferns in defeat. Though the girl was too scared to move, she could not help but feel a little interest. She could now see that the creature was a wolf, but it had no pack. Though it was uncommon, it was not unheard of for a wolf to be living alone and it was not this that the girl wondered about. Normally wolves would have hunted and captured deer with expert skill, but why had it not been able to? Why had it been standing upwind of the deer? It would have normally crept up downwind, same as she. Only a starving wolf would have been so quick to charge the animals. The girl looked at the wolf. The head had not turned towards her and she did not think that it had seen her. It certainly looked starved. The shape of its ribs was clearly outlined, and the fur was matted and dirty. The animal was big, however and if it had been in better condition it would have been magnificent. With a lift of its head the wolf and the girls eyes met. The girl was stunned. The wolfs eyes were green! Wolves eyes in Canada were normally amber or brown  never had she heard of a wolfs eyes being green. Now she noticed, the wolf had foreign markings, though the shape and breed of wolf in it was unmistakeable. Someone had obviously tempered with this wolf with magic, though she hadnt heard of it. This was probably why the wolf was an outsider. It was desperately weak, the girl could see that, but could she dare to run now? Her magic could only protect her so much; she still had lots to learn from her grandfather. Slowly she muttered the incantation and a ball of blue fire materialized in her hand. Her question was suddenly answered for her as the wolf/dog gave a yelp, rose unsteadily to its feet and ran into the forest.
The girl gave a low whistle and turned away. It wasnt a miracle that she was alive as most animals were frightened of fire, but still, this was a magical animal! What a story she could tell to the others in her camp now! She suddenly noticed that the sky was turning black and the moon was hidden in cloud and quickened her pace. It was not a good situation to be in if you didnt know the way back to the camp blindfolded, and wouldnt have been able to hold the fire much longer.
She arrived back at the camp and gave a call to the watchman. The camp had recently devised a series of calls and codenames as they had felt that they had been watched during the past couple of days. There was no answer. The girl called again. No answer. She was only slightly worried as the town watch often finished early. She walked into the village. The village consisted of only thirty or so wood cabins, and a village hall. A fair arrived every two years or so, and the villagers often bought meat or other goods there. The girl had been born there, but as her mother had died giving birth, she had lived with her grandfather. Her father was on the far side of Uron helping the king with the upbringing of the empire. The girl or any others in the village knew not what her father did; many believed him dead. After that, a few other people had arrived. The Kaylan was a good hiding place, whatever you wished to hide from. Apart from the legendary Laylon, Kayla was the last surviving hidden village. Seasons ago, there had been plentiful meat, vegetables and game, but recently the animals and birds had simply left. Now the villagers survived on vegetables and only a few animals kept on farms. Winter was the hardest time, when all vegetation froze in the ground. The wind and snow could howl for days on end and then suddenly stop, revealing a white wonderland. Some villagers had been pushed to venture into the forest. They had returned empty handed, wounded or not come back at all. The girl carried on through the camp. It was unusually quiet. A knot of fear was twisting her stomach now. Where was everyone? Her pace quickened and her heart started beating loudly. A stench filled the air and everything was silent. She turned the corner into the centre of the camp and just stood, stunned and shocked. Then she screamed, a long, howling scream that racked the night and carried on the wind. It was one filled with agony and pain, of anger and of fear. Animals in the forest curled up in their sleep, animals out hunting crouched low to the ground or howled to block out the terrible sound. The scene before the girl was one from a nightmare. Bodies littered the ground, some covered in arrows, others in slashes from a knife. Many were not marked at all, killed by the work of magic. It was a bloody and terrible scene. Suddenly, she remembered. The girl ran through the clearing, only one thing on her mind Grandfather! she screamed frantically, Grandfatherrrr! she raced towards their log cabin. The door was open. Inside, pots and pans were scattered, curtains torn and worktops and cupboards slashed. His grandfather was lying on the floor, an arrow in his gut. It was an evil thing. Black magic was spiked across its black shaft. It was one made for killing without mercy, for inflicting pain before death. Her grandfather was dying, slowly but surely. Grandfather sobbed the girl dont leave me. Please, please& She sobbed the last words and put her head in her hands. Slowly, and with a grimace of pain his Grandfather turned his head up towards the girl. Ferrin, he groaned, his face consorted with effort, Ferrin you must go& find your&get the book and go& to the elves&much I havent told you& nothing you can do& leave, there is danger here, they will come back&I am so sorry&
Grandfather please! Dont go, I need you. I forgive you Grandfather, I love you, oh please& please. Ferrin put her arms around the old mans neck. I can heal you, please let me heal you She held her hand over the wound and muttered the words though her sobs. However the words were to no avail. She didnt have the strength to heal a magic wound. The old man, who had lived for so long drew a last, shuddering breath, then no more came. Grandfather! Grandfather! You cant, you just cant! Come back& please, please. Where are the elves! Who will guide me! I cant do this alone Grandfather! With tears rolling down her face, Ferrin gently let go of her grandfathers hand and stood up. Her tears were coming in steady rivers, but she was now infused with anger as well as sadness and her fists were clenched. Whoever did this she muttered with vehemence whoever did this, they will pay.
Ferrin first found a white, unmarked cloth and placed it gently over the old mans body. As was custom she said the words which released the soul from the body and let it fly free. She could not do it with all the villagers, so she just said the general incantation for all of them, and hoped that their spirits would not be angry with her. Then she returned swiftly to her cabin and gathered some food, a water bag, clothes, rugs and beloved knife. She also picked up her bow and arrows, her grandfathers warnings still ringing in her ears. Finally, she entered her grandfathers room and lifted the mattress of his bed. Silently she let out a breath that she hadnt known she had been holding in. Ser For, the elfin book of magic, was still lying untouched under the wooden frame of the bed. The book itself was small and compact, easily small enough to fit inside a fold of her tunic if the need arose. It was the teacher of all magic, only a few had been given to men from the elves. Her grandfather had been one of the men, and had never shown the book to anyone, not even Ferrins mother, until Ferrin had conjured a fireball by mistake by speaking the ancient words in a game with her grandfather. From that day on she had been sworn to secrecy and in return her grandfather had taught her nearly all of the elfin language. She had not actually learnt any more spells yet, only the fireball, but she had been taught some basic words for healing. The death words and life words were also magic, but everyone knew and used these. Ferrin smiled at the times when she had been learning with her grandfather. The book belonged to her now, and she must now also carry the responsibility of it. She placed it in her pack in between two sheets of cloth, so as not to damage it. She was wearing her hunting clothes: a short but warm tunic, soft trousers, cow skin boots and her belt and knife holder. The knife had been her grandfathers, but he had given it to her when she had reached ten. It was a beautiful piece of work, one of her grandfathers finest. Elfin inscriptions swirled across the blade, catching the light and shimmering. The hilt was made out of pure silver inscribed with beautiful markings and pictures. It was probably the most expensive thing she had ever owned. Finally equipped, she left the cabin, and with a soft farewell to the place she had lived all her life, she left the village.
Ferrin wondered which way to go. On her right was the hidden entrance to Kaylan, which led to Uron, which was presumably where her father was. However, he might not recognise her, as he had left when she was only a baby. Also, her grandfather had told her to find the elves, and they were rumoured to live somewhere in Alamas, which was through the Sanchon forest and over the Medmas plains. Finally she made up her mind. She had to go to the elves.