Danish's Story

They were observing art in the making. Wasn't that their job?

For centuries, they watched the world change and grow, while they remained the constant. The pair of them were both the lock and key to a world that they had sworn to keep untouched by the greed and corruption that the rest of the world faced.

The price of all their technology, their surrender of the simpler life, was the Earth. She had wept when she had seen her first glimpse of evil. He had growled. It was about the second year of humans inhabiting their planet that they had seen it: murder. From that day on, they had never been the same.

They had sectioned off their village, along with a few others around the world. Using the last bit of magic that was still pure, those who had sworn to protect certain parts of the world from corruption became immortal. They sealed their promise in blood.

She was only a girl, he was only a pup, but they had kept their realm safe from anyone who would ever think of destroying a place as wonderful as theirs, or any of the other secret cities around the world.

She sat under her willow tree, her dog at her feet, admiring the swans swimming across the lake. It was always peaceful at dawn, and always beautiful. Though a lonely existance, it was her existance. A pure one, filled with innocence and light. Something she would never give up, not for all the sunrises in the world.

One day, they will no longer need the Hunters. Then, we can rest. She shut her eyes, losing herself in the peace of the morning.

A young girl, no older than 19, approached the tree. She had bright green eyes and wavy blond hair. She had a look of kindness and strength. The girl had on a pink tank-top and short denim shorts.

She pulled all her hair to one shoulder and smiled down at the other girl under the tree and her dog. "Um...I don't mean to interrupt or wake you or anything, but where am I exactly?" She looked down hopeful. "Oh i should probably introduce myself while I'm at it. My name is Addison.

Charlie's eyes flew open. She was on the grounds of Kinder, was she not? Danish let out a low growl, and stood, facing the girl. Charlie quieted him, raising her hand up.

The willow's branches blew in the gentle breeze, and Charlie calmly spoke, "What do you need here, child?"

She could sense no evil, although that was never a defenite sign when it came to the corrupted. Danish remained silent, but he had already shifted into something the size of a wolf. Charlie was wearing her leather hunter's gear, and had a sword and two holstered guns near her waist. Her expression remained one of mild curiousity and gentle acceptance of the girl.

Addison didn't budge, even with the angry looking dog. "I don't know how I got here exactly. I was at a soccer tournament back home, then I suddenly woke up in that field over there." She pointed to where she had woken. "I may just be dreaming, but this all seems real, so I don't think I am."

She took a quick look at her surrounds then focused her gaze back on the girl under the tree. "So what is this place? And most importantly, do you know how I got here?"

Charlie pursed her lips, staring at the older-looking girl. She was wiser, but physically younger. I will have to ask Lillian about this child later.

"You are in Kinder. I believe that you stumbled upon this place through some sort of magical thread for reasons that will make themselves known in time. I do know that this is certainly not a dream, although it is unusual that you would stumble upon a place such as this. You are mortal, after all."

Danish huffed, "How could she have entered if she is corrupt?"

Charlie again motioned for silence.

There was a medieval looking village off in the distance, no cars, only things you would have seen in the times of kings and queens. Even the clothing looked like it belonged in a King Arthur story.

Even after hearing a dog speak, Addison was not startled. Corrupt? I'm not a bad person am I? WHO IS HE TO JUDGE ME?! "I still don't understand much about how I got here. It makes no since. It is like something I would read in a story book."

Charlie smelled the scent of lavander and misty mornings. It looked as though Lillian had sensed the girl's presence in their world as well. "It is not my place to explain." Charlie left it at that, arranging her expression into one of stony silence. The smell soon got stronger, smelling like an entire field of flowers on a misty morning.

This was a girl, young, with flawless skin and a walk that made her seem as if she were floating. At her neck was a dragon pendant, strange and old. The girl's eyes, though, were an unsettling shade of brown that seemed as if she had seen more than ever wanted. Her hair cascaded down her back, and was a vivid red color. She smiled a little bit, her pink lips seeming unused to such a motion. Her dress had a red skirt, a white shirt, and a brown corset. She also had a red cloak. Her entire appearance was strange and beautiful, altogether quite unnatural.

Her voice was a whisper, as slight as the wind moving through grass. "Hello." She glided over to the girl, looking at her with no expression at all. Her eyes were faraway, dreamy and vacant, as though looking past what was there. "Addison. Such a modern name. Gone are the days of many precious things, child, except for here."

Charlie and Danish seemed in awe of this girl who looked to be about the same age as Addison herself. She had an air of something timeless and elegant.

"Here, precious things, magic, innocence, all still exist. Not only that, they thrive."

There was another small smile, and the girl offered her hand to Addison. "You belong here. Come, Addison."

As if knowing this girl forever, Addison took her hand. "Hello. Just a question, how do you know my name? And another. How did I get here?" She stared at the girl's face, waiting for her answer. This seems so unnatural.

"All questions are answered with time. Addison, I know everyone's name. I know every single person in the world, I could name any one of them. I am weighted with their very existance." Lillian looked at Charlie and Danish. Charlie sighed, and Danish started sprinting off into the field. Charlie unsheathed her sword and took off after him, Lillian having sent them on some very important task.

"You see, I am the priestess of this section of purity. There are many, and those with unclean souls would destroy these places if given the chance. We used my, as well as a few others, magic to section off places in the world; freeze them in time, make all with purity immortal. You have been deemed pure, Addison, and so here you will reside." Lillian gently guided her towards the town. "You have nothing to fear. You will have to change clothes, though. And Addison-"

Lillian's expression did not change, although inside she felt a sadness. "You will never be able to see your family again."

The girl's long, slender fingers touched her necklace, and she frowned a little.

The huntress appeared in the cavern from the shadows. She placed one hand on her hip. Beside her was a man with red hair, brown eyes, and freckles. He spoke with a Welsh accent, the same that Danish had. "Hello, fair Addison."

Charlie spoke next, "Let's take a tour!" She smelled of the outdoors, pine and sweetgum trees and smoke.

Lillian was in the hallway. Of course she was depressed. He shouldn't remember. He had blown away, piece by piece, like he had been made of sand. How long ago?

The worst part for her was the fact that it had been a wasted effort on his part, that the evil had returned. She rested her hands in her lap, sinking to the cool wooden floor.

Footsteps belonging to him echoed throughout the hall.

Any composure she had was gone.