• Chapter 1
    JAMES

    Deep in the forest, just beyond a small river, was a village, with no more the seven families. They were a small village, but they were happy and peaceful. The youngest in the village was a small boy of ten. His shaggy chestnut brown hair always hung over his baby blue eyes like a curtain. There weren’t many kids near his age so he always went to the river and watched the fish as the sparkled in the sun like diamonds and listened to the birds sing their love songs. The village and the river were the only part of the forest that wasn’t darkened by trees. Inside the forest the sounds of hungry creatures that dared people to enter. The forest was cursed and filled with creatures that ate whatever they get their claws on. Chris, the youngest in town, would always remember his mother’s story as he stared into the red and yellow eyes of the creatures in the forests, daring him to go in.

    “Long ago, when this village was founded by an even man, who tore down the forest and awoken the sleeping creatures who had grown angry. When the village was built and the people were happy is when they attacked on night when the moon was full and colored with red. After that night the king would take the most beautiful women in town and take them to the river the night of a full moon as a sacrifice to the creatures. But that didn’t last long. The creatures attacked when the moon was new and killed all the children in town. The king’s son was hurt as he watched the village weep at their losses and his father only tried to protect himself. So that night the prince left the castle and went to fight the creatures. ON his way he stopped at the river when he heard an enchanting sound. It was a beautiful woman with long silver hair that reminded him of the moon and bright yellow eyes that glared at him that reminded him of the stars in the sky. The woman was in fact a fairy, one of the creatures he swore to himself he would kill. But he could not harm such a beautiful being. She flew off and he stayed at the river everyday in hopes to catch her. She finally came back on the night of the full moon. The two stared into each other’s eyes and fell in love. The king and the creatures were furious at the thought of their kinds getting mixed together. The truth it the woman was carrying the princes son and no one knew. When she gave birth a creature came and stole the new born away and told them it would be raised as one of them. The woman died swearing that she would keep the village safe till her baby was found. Her spirit went into the river creating a barrier that the creatures could not cross. The prince searched for his son till the day he died. They say that the son grew up and raised a family or his own but they are creatures who have human’s hearts but the mind of a creature.”
    Every time James heard the story he would run up to the river and tell it he would find the son or his family. He dreamed that one day he would make it out of this town and would find a girl who made hi do anything to e with. But he was only ten so he knew he had plenty of time. “I wonder what is out there. Past the forest.” James looked over at the girl, Julie, who was sixteen. James has had a crush on her since he was 3 and she found it cute and would always keep him company. She was his only real friend here. “Me too. One day I’m going to go in there and see what is out there.” James said as he looked into the forest and heard the daring growls of the creatures and smirked a little. “You hear that you evil bastards! I’m going to take you all on one day!” James young squeaky voice echoed through the forest and the creatures growled and howled in response. Julie laughed a little and joined him, “Ya! And I’m going t join too!” She yelled as well. The two fell into the grass laughing and looking up at the clouds.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Today the sky was not filled with the songs of the birds and gray clouds covered the sky, threatening to rain. It was only a few months ago that James and Julie promised that when they were old enough they would go into the forest and try to get out alive. Well Julie couldn’t wait and her shoe was found on the other side of the river and a small trail of blood. James swore that day he would get back at them. Even though he was still ten, James mind had grown too quickly. He had spent three years studying everything he could find on the creatures. He was going to get revenge for his friend that was taken from him. He was now thirteen and his shaggy hair had been cut off and h began to train with a sword. His mother was sad and begged him to stop and to be her baby boy again but he always told her the same thing. “I’m not a baby anymore mom.” He would growl as he turned a page or swung a sword. “Yes you are. You’re still my baby. Now please stop this nonsense.” He ordered as she was place a hand on his shoulder or try to step closer only to be blocked by a sword, “This is not nonsense!” He yelled as he drove the sword into the ground and stomped up to her, “This is for Julie!” Tears rolled down his mothers smooth cheeks, “Julie would not want this! She would want you to live happily!” She retaliated. James looked away and pulled the sword out of the ground and went back to practicing. His mother sighed and went into the house. James remained outside for the rest of the day till the sun began to rise the following morning. His arms sore and his knees shaking he managed to shuffle his way into the small shack, that suddenly seemed smaller than he remembered, and fell onto his hay and feathered bed and was out before he could hit his pillow. That moment he dreamt that he was with Julie in the forest fighting the creatures and she was blowing him kisses as he kept her safe. He didn't want to wake up from this dream; he wished it wasn't a dream. But sadly the sounds of screaming woke him up. He quickly sat up and ran out the door to see a man with purple tinted eyes and long black hair. His arm was swinging at his side like a dead animal and his foot was twisted completely to the side as he dragged his foot. Everyone stood on the side of the street as the mysterious man dragged himself through the town straight to the medical shack. James, still being a curious child, ran up to the shack to take a peek at this man. The man's face looked aged and tired and his body looked young and wild. James guessed that the man was probably 20 years of age, if not more. The man caught James looking gin through the window and even though his face was bruised and swollen, his smile seemed to warm up the room. "Come on in boy." The mans voice sang as he motioned with his good arm for James to enter. Slowly, James walked into the shack and took a seat about 10 inches away from the man. It was quiet for some time and the sound of people stopping by the window to see the man became louder and louder as the time went by. The doctor Finished patching up the strange man and that’s when he cleared his throat, “So you don’t look like all the other boys in this town.” The man point out as he looked at the thirteen year old boys body and noticed that he was much taller and toned out than the other boys in town. “I’m training to get revenge on the creatures.” His voice cracked as his fists clenched on his lap. All that could be heard was the sound of the mans breathing and James could already image the lecture that was coming. “Well you’ll need much better training than just swinging a sword around.” The man’s sing song voice rang in James head with shock. ‘He is going to talk me out of it?!’ James thought as he looked into the man’s purple eyes, they seemed empty and yet at the same time there was a mysterious wonder hidden deep within them. “How would you like it if once I’m better I help you train?” He said as he gave him a weak smile and then coughed. “He needs rest.” The doctor said as he led the man to a small bed at the other side of the room. James left and headed home to return to his sleep, but his eyes would not stay closed as he thought about the mans offer. It would be more of a challenge to train with someone.

    For the next 6 years James and the mysterious man, whose name was Sam, practiced all day and studied half the night. The only times they slept were during lunch breaks and after studying. One day the man left, no one knew he had left; he just disappeared one evening and never came back. James thought that the man was taken away, but he found a good sword and some new clothes with a note attached to them.

    Dear James,
    You may have wondered where I have gone. But don’t worry I’m not dead and you will see me again. The sword is made from the tooth of a large creature who was killed by a dozen men and the clothes were made by fairies The next time we meet I’m sure you will be much
    Sincerely,
    Sam

    James was glad to hear that his friend was not taken away. He tried on his new clothes and loved how the fabric felt against his skin. And then swung the sword, it felt as light as a feather but cut sharp and straight. James was pleased with the gifts he had received.
    That night James back his leather bag with money he had saved up and some food and set out to the forest were he would get revenge for the death of his friend.