France, January 17th, 1414

The war between France and England raged on for years, longer than most wars ever lasted in history. Though this war was one that would dictate the survival and state of the continent of Europe. Even making the lands of France hard to thrive in, what with the civil war going on as well. With demons crawling and dwelling the streets an the wilds, my family used to always warn me and my elder sister about any creatures of the night, hellspawns even that come into your rooms while you sleep, not hesitating to drag you to hell, or just eat you and your kin on the spot.

The stories were mostly told from villages in far off places in France, but hardly anyone in the city believed them, but the Parliament knew better. That's why the organization existed.

The Parliament is an organization of mercenaries and hunters. To normal people, we send warriors to help fight wars or battles, or even carry out simple assassinations. Our organization is much more organized than any outsider would assume. We have a hierarchy and rules for each branch. My Great Grandfather came up with ranking each branch after a certain type of bird.

At the bottom, were those who were trained up from childhood. Since our Parliament work like a small village. The children who desire to be stronger, are given the rank of Dove. Since Doves are harmless and peaceful birds, like a child. Then when they grow, they can go into any rank they come to find suiting to their skills.

Eagles were renowned for being a sign of courage, so they always took jobs that involved fighting in wars or battles. These were our strongest warriors and have the heart for battle.

Falcons are seen as swift and agile birds. They fly fast and strike true. This is why these ones are seen as assassins. They take assassination contracts but are also known to fight in wars alongside eagles, just on a lighter scale. Not with as much ferocity, but they strike all the same.

Harriers protect the Parliament as guards or sentries, though both are also known to go for hunts, or aiding in battles from a distance, they have keen eyes, and are both excellent with a bow. Though Harriers have the best eye's out of any bird, which is why they primarily guard with bows, and can be occupied by either Men or Women alike.

Hawks are smart and offer strategies to win battles. They can be seen as scouts for the most part, since like Harriers, are known for their prime eyesight, but even keener observations.

Vultures are a title one would not want to receive. It's one given as punishment for any who break the laws of the Parliament. The only way to get this title removed is to reclaim one's honor by performing an act, or multiple acts that can outweigh the crime in the first place. Though if one commits too major of a crime, or repeat the offense on a grand scale, then the punishment then will be either banishment from the Parliament or death.

The rank of Owl is mostly held by a grand few. Since owls aren't known to fly in flocks, but when they do, it's referred to as a wisdom, or a parliament, hence the name of our organization. These three that bare this title are our leaders. Three of which are the smartest of us all, and the most powerful. Though out of the three, there must always be one that has the birth given name of our Founder, that name being Ashwood.

This organization is always meant to assist in France's endeavors, whenever she needs them. It's a group that Royalty is always aware of, hence how our organization has grown into its own way of life, similar to that of a school, and a family.

Of course, we don't just fight wars. With monsters existing in our realm, we have other branches as well. But only a few.

Crows, Ravens, and Nightingales. Each one hunt down these evils and destroying it completely. My family holds the faith of God close to our hearts, with the blessings of the Nightingales, who are basically the ones who offer the Crows with blessed weaponry, and research these beasts for any and all secrets they may be hiding.

But Ravens, is the one branch that may be worse than Vultures in some cases. Ravens are seen to only bring darkness and death wherever they walk. They hunt and research monsters all the same as Crows and Nightingales but appear to be the only branch forsaken by God. Ravens are a necessary evil in our world, taking that darkness we hide from and using it to serve the light. Our parliament only has one Raven, and she is the only one at the Parliament with skill that can take a monster down with ease, her sword play was the best, but they say her abilities and powers were achieved through darker means. Even rumors saying she isn't human in the first place.

I researched a lot, as an Ashwood myself, it is possible that I can be an owl someday. Either me, my elder sister, or baby brother. Or possibly, all three of us can be owls one day. Filling the court with Ashwoods.

My rank currently was Hawk. Since there were some reports of some kind of night creature roaming on the outskirts of the Parliament. I was scouting with my elder sister who was a Crow. She knew what she was doing, and anyone that saw her would feel immediately safer just by her aura. She was powerful in a fight since she told me about all the monsters she's faced. From ones of humans that twist their appearance to take the form of a humanoid wolf-man. Or those with seductive and charming appearances that drink humans dry of their blood. Even those that possess the bodies of the dead, and many others that may be swelling among the world of the living.

We were out scouting in the cold snowy forest, it was hard to really see anything, though I knew these woods like I knew the back of my hand.

"Anything yet Roxanne?"

"No Jenny, these. I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary thus far. Are you certain the ones who saw this weren't just a couple of drunks?" I respond.

My sister groans as I take the lead trying to look for any kind of tracks. We were out for some time, and the cold was getting to me as I feel it biting at my nose, and my cloak wasn't helping much longer. My vision began to feel blurry as I tried to press on through the snow.

With it being nearly nightfall, I felt as though I should return with Jennifer for the night before we are the ones who get killed out here.

"Jenny, let's just go back. There's no point in dying out here so we should-" I turned to my sister, only to see that she was no longer with me. I must have wondered off too far without her, but there was no way that I lost my way so quickly. I'm supposed to know my way around here, but right now wasn't a time for me to panic. I need to find my sister and get back to the Parliament.

The thought of calling out to her rang in my head, but then I may attract something else that may be out here. While I was in my thoughts, the cries of a bird rang out to me.

Looking to the trees a see a bird, it looks like an owl, but I haven't heard an owl screech like this before. Its screeches made my skin crawl as it sounded like the cries of a woman being murdered, or something of the sorts. It was unsettling, but it just stared at me. This was probably what the others may have described, but I can see why it would be creepy.

The owl just stared at me. It tilted its head as I felt a shiver run through me, not like physically, this felt like a supernatural chill. Though my chills stopped as the owl flew in a certain direction deeper into the woods. Something was compelling me to follow it, but I remember a saying from my mother's brother. "Only fools follow the Raven." Luckily, this wasn't a raven.

I kept a dagger out as I followed the screeching night owl deeper into the woods. It took me down a questionable path. But as I went down the path, I noticed black birds in the leafless trees. The deeper I treaded into the woods, the more birds that filled the trees. It lightly looked as if it was turned into a black forest. I have never seen so many birds in one place, but the only thing that made this worse, was how I began to realize what kind of birds filled the trees.

All the black birds I was surrounded by all of them were ravens. I have never seen an unkindness of this scale before. As the supernatural feeling returned, I noticed the owl circling a tree. This tree looked a little spooky without its leaves, but as it landed at the foot, I noticed some cloth at the foot. It was all balled up, but it appeared that something was wrapped inside of it. I was cautious to approach it, but I made my way to the tree, my dagger close at hand and ready to strike at anything that I may have to face. I refuse to die in a place like this, especially with so much of my life left to live.

Approaching the foot of the tree, I knelt to examine the cloth. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I picked up the cloth and held it close to examine what it was containing. Inside the blanket was a baby.

A baby with dark skin, and curly black hair. He must be from the lands south, across the Mediterranean Sea. Though it was hard to tell if he was even alive. I lightly shake him in my arms and examine him closer.

"Who leaves a baby abandoned in the woods? And why did that owl lead me here? A baby in a forest of Ravens, protected by a screeching owl. So strange indeed, if he's alive then that would be even more odd."

As I say this, the babies' eyes open and land on me. His eyes made me feel a sense as if he was staring at my soul. His eyes looked heavenly, they were bright and yellow, like gold. They pierced through the veil of snow, like they were glowing with an otherworldly hue. I have never seen a baby like him before, and this child, something felt odd about him.

He wasn't crying at all and didn't seem alarmed about being lost in the cold woods on his own. I held him close to my chest, keeping him under my cloak to shield him from the snow. Though as I turned to leave the forest of Ravens, all the birds in the trees were gone. Then I was left with that same cryptic feeling as before. Holding this child close, and my dagger close at hand as well.

The forest was still heavy with snow as I was unable to even follow my previous tracks due to the heavy snowfall. It was maddening at the idea that I may die, no. No matter what I had faith that God would lead me to my sister, and we'd get out of this maddening snow fall that was as thick as milk. My senses were failing as I felt the inside of my nose inhaling the frozen air, even though my mouth like it was filling up with ice. Even my eyes began to feel as if they were freezing over.

"Father, I ask that you deliver me and this child out of the snowfall. Allow us to reach the Parliament, guide us and guide Jennifer as well. I beg you to shine your love over us as the moon shines through the very night sky, or as the sun radiates in the day. Grant us you're blessing and guide us back home. In your holy son I pray."

I mouthed the same prayer over and over as I held the child close to me. It truly was a wonder that even now, this child never uttered a single cry, his eyes giving off a mysterious aura. Though he strangely wasn't bothered by the cold, let alone bothered by being out in the woods for God knows how long.

As many thoughts cross my mind in this endless blizzard, I fell me steps becoming slower, and lighter, but most of all, just weaker. This was really how I would meet my end, in a forest of unkindness.

As my vision fades, I feel myself fall to my knees, clutching this child. I clutch him close to my breast to keep him warm. He reminded me of my younger brother Robin. Both such beautiful boys, I doubt this child even has a name. My vision gives out as I finally feel myself slip into unconsciousness. Then, nothing.

"God. Please. Save us from this biting winter."

My life flashed before my very eyes. All of my 15 years of life in an instance. I remember my mother, my father, my sister, my brother. Others at the Parliament who I call friends, companions, or even family. In the grand scheme of things, I never imagined my end would feel this tranquil.

I feel enveloped in warmth, a warmth that I wouldn't imagine I would feel on earth. It was heavenly. Then the cries of a child echoed as I finally came to my senses. As my eyes finally were able to adjust. The stone walls, the bookshelves, the candlelight at the edge of a wooden table, the soft wool blankets over me that made me feel so warm. It was clear that I was alive, back in my room, in my bed. My golden hair spread throughout the pillow. I stared up at the ceiling, thanking God that I was alright. Sure, I felt a little sore in certain places, but I could feel everything in my body just fine, though the crying still lingered. The door to my room suddenly opened to reveal Jennifer holding a baby in her arms.

The baby didn't sound like our baby brother, it sounded different. Her blue eyes met mine as relief washed over her.

"Oh, thank the heavenly father you're alright. I found you clutching to this child here, nearly frozen. Luckily, you didn't lose anything, and you seem to be fine. You just need to rest a bit longer." She says while still trying to calm down the baby in her arms.

I never remember him crying when he was with me, so why now of all times. His crying rang out, and Jennifer had no idea what to even do with him. I sat up in the bed and held my arms out to receive him. She got the hint and set him in my arms, I hold him close and rock him a bit. Suddenly, his cries dwindled as he calmed down in my arms. His little hands reaching up to me and lightly holding and grasping my hair. He seemed bewildered by the golden color.

"You found him out in the forest? How was he there in the first place?" Jennifer asked.

"A screeching night owl led me to him. In a forest full of unkindness, Ravens everywhere. The owl perched over him at the foot of the tree. So, I took him, and he never cried, not once has he cried up until now."

My sister smiles a bit.

"Well, he must really love you. And you found him in a forest of ravens. His appearance isn't one I've seen. He looks very exotic. I assume he doesn't have a name?"

"Well no."

Giving him a name was never something I decided what to do with him.

"Well, he's your responsibility now. He's basically your son, so you must name him."

I pondered over the idea; I didn't have any names I could give him. I wanted something uncommon, something no one else would expect, yet something powerful. I needed a better look at his features, so I removed the cloth from his head, as his black hair flowed. It was messy and thick, black as the night sky, and as coarse as sheep's wool. But his face was so soft, such warm bright eyes, and even light freckles across his cheeks.

Jenny examined his face as well as she scooped him in her arms and held him close.

"Oh, he is such a cute baby, very exotic indeed!"

Just as she took him, he started crying again, making her jump at the sudden burst of tears. She quickly handed him back to me as his crying stopped again, once in my arms.

"Hmm, guess he really is yours officially now Roxane. You rest up, I'll get some food for you, and some milk for him." Jennifer exits the room, leaving me with the baby.

He looked very beautiful. Hard to believe he was a boy after all. But his name shouldn't be beautiful. His eyes give off warmth, yet I feel power in them. Like a sentry guardian.

"Hmmm. Sentry. That's more of a title, but until I think of a better name, it'll have to do."

My gaze turned towards the baby as I smiled and planted a kiss on his cheek, holding him close, gazing into his curious looking eyes.

"I am Roxane Ashwood, second child of House Ashwood, The title of Hawk in the Parliament. And you from this point on, will be an Ashwood as well. Welcome to the Parliament."

I held onto the boy as I recovered from nearly freezing. After about a few more days of rest, I was all fine in the end. Continuing my duties wasn't that bad, especially studying, since I had Sentry, I would just read what I was studying to him, about France's history, the English, other events in time, even read him passages from the bible. I wanted him to be a sweet boy, even if he'd be trained to fight at an early age, I knew he would soon be trained to be among our ranks, but it only made me wonder, what he would grow up to become.

It continued like this for years; I would read to both him and Robin as well. Once the two were at the age of five, that's when they started training for combat. Robin was able to train with anyone at the Parliament that could offer anything to teach. From Eagles, Hawks, and so on, though for poor Sentry, he wasn't able to have the same luck with a lot of people. It was to be expected though, normally people in the Parliament hail from regions we have never ventured too before. From places like Whales, The Roman Empire, Ireland, even places as far as Denmark or Norway. Though the founder of the Parliament was from Whales, I don't think an ounce of French runs through my family's blood. But with Sentry, some people have different opinions with him.

A lot of people thought for his people to be slaves, so were confused as to why I adopted him, while others said he was such a rare case, it would be a waste to train him up just to die in battle. Though at the end of the day, it was what he truly wanted, though I couldn't train him because I honestly wasn't a good teacher and Jennifer couldn't because she was busy handling her hunts and was never at the Parliament. So, we were left with little options for the most part.