• There was a yelp; Teruko covered her mouth with her hands. The Power from Nereza’s command had them poised as they were, unable to stop the bullet or move the Princess.
    The air seemed to still, and her hand was glowing a white light. When the bullet was halfway to her, the light shot out of her palm. It met up with the bullet.
    And then it fell to ashes to the ground.
    “Now,” she said nonchalantly, “Want to try that again?” She examined her slender fingers, a sly smile tugging on her lips.
    Teruko’s “master” had his eyes into small slits. He put the gun back on his belt, and he started to examine the Princess up and down. Her brother twitched in an automatic response to those gestures.
    “Peace, brother. You must stay calm.” She told him. He nodded with a sigh, his hands into fists. His eyes never left the man.
    He suddenly got an evil glint in his eyes, and the master bent towards the ground.
    The Princess rolled her eyes. “I’m tired of this charade.”
    With a movement of her pale hand, the man in front of her disappeared. She brushed off her skirts.
    “Teruko, there is too much danger for you here. The Queen has asked that you go to the Palace. She asks me to give you this.”
    She took something from the box that her brother had been holding, and held out the deep green amulet towards her. She took it cautiously from her hands and put it around her neck.
    “Princess, I have a request.”
    “Yes?” Kilunar walked to stand beside his sister, while Mosoma took Teruko from behind him with a small smile. The two boys looked at one another, and grinned.
    “May we venture with you and follow you back there? I wish to help you find every one you need.” She toyed with the amulet.
    The Princess looked from her brother to Teruko to Mosoma.
    “You need a horse.”


    “What was that language you were speaking?” Teruko asked her, while Nereza tied the horses’ reins to a tree. They had gotten this beautiful mare named Icefire. She had a white coat and a black nose, her mane a dark gold.
    “Wasn’t it English?” She asked, coming to sit between Teruko and Kilunar. Mosoma was on Teruko’s left.
    “No. It was a language none of us actually got.” They looked to one another in agreement.
    “It sounded ancient. Like… like the one they used in the days before the Renegade.” Kilunar told them all. The fire was lit in front of them, glowing a light orange. The logs burned slowly. Behind them they had tents to sleep in. Two in one, and the two others in the other one.
    “That makes sense why we couldn’t understand it…” Nereza sighed, her chin in her hands. Her pale face was lit up by the fire. She was the only one to be able to be so close to the fire and stand the heat. The others were about thirty centimeters away. She was about five.
    The Princess stood up, brushing off her skirts again. “I’m going for a walk; I won’t be far.” She put both hands on her chest and bowed once, leaving them to walk alongside the river.
    “She’s something special, isn’t she?” Teruko asked Kilunar when she was out of sight.
    “She is, actually. She never does what you expect her to do.” Which was the truth, he knew.
    “What’s your relationship with her?” Mosoma asked, playing with a blade of grass. “Not that you have a need to tell.”
    “No, it’s all right.” He sighed. “She’s my twin sister.”
    “The two Royal Children.” Teruko smiled. “You are both very popular in my village.”
    “Yeah…” Kilunar sighed. “Because it’s coming.”

    Nereza walked along the side of the river, her hand trailing against the rough bark of the trees surrounding her. The sky was star-filled, the moon a pale crescent. She smiled and lifted her face up to the sky, letting the moonlight soak her skin and markings. The night was still and peaceful, the gentle murmur from the camp site already behind her. The night animals went about their routes, scrounging up supper, or singing one last song before they slept.
    The night was filled with magic, with happiness.
    Maybe everything will be alright… The Princess thought to herself, her braided hair blowing out behind her with the soft wind. But I guess one Sona – I think the wind Sona – is a little upset. The wind had a small sadness to it. She sat beside the river, her fingers passing through the blades of grass.
    She trailed her slender fingers in the water, aware of the oncoming animal, silent as a fox, walking up to her.
    “Hello.” She greeted the snow fox. “You’re a bit far from home.”
    I felt the presence of a magical creature, and came to investigate. The fox told her, sitting, licking her paw. Her bushy black tipped tail swished behind her in circular motions. Would you like to join me for the night hunt?
    “I wish I could.” The Princess sighed, leaning with her hands out behind her. She watched the sky with awe, her pale eyes glinting in the night. “But I cannot become one of your kind.”
    You have not realized what you can do? She sounded shocked, astounded. Then I will teach you.
    “Teach me what?” Nereza leaned towards the fox, interest taking over rational thinking.
    How to Shape-Shift, of course. There are no Shape-Shifters left, but I believe you have enough magic.
    Her eyes sparkled with ancient magic as she leaned towards the foxette. Her chin on her hands, she looked the foxette straight in the eyes.
    “Teach me.”