Kas had brought the group dinner as the first sun began to sink into the trees, casting a familiar warm glow across the sky. Eboni had eaten everything, even finishing up the food the others left on their plates, enjoying the fresh and simply made food. Orlan was still sat by the door, his eyes constantly roaming the village and the people who passed, his mistrust of his surroundings evident by the sharp look that glimmered in his eyes.

Bren had taken to sitting with his back supported by Iasa's bed, unmoving from her side and yet unable to see what she could.

Eboni held no doubt that Bren had started to develop feelings for Iasa. The brief but constant looks of worry he sent her way were not those of just any traveling companion.

They had only known each other a week so she supposed it wasn't fair of her to call him out on him feelings just yet.

Orlan slumped in the doorway, his giant frame curling up to his bent knees, sleep finally catching up to him.

After wrapping a fur around her shoulders, Eboni crept out of the hut and into the village to explore a little.

Most of the people ignored her, some sent her looks of contempt or anger- she couldn't blame them, the last time a group of foreigners came to their land they ended up having a war. Everyone stepped out of her way, as though she carried a dangerous disease.

She caught sight of a friendly face, he was sat next to a large fire, his feet crossed under his body, eyes dancing to the flames in front of him. She watched him for a moment, admiring the power the irradiated from him. She watched as he turned, his back to hers, showing off the tattoos she had glimpsed earlier in the day.

They were stunning, intricate in their detail and yet bold. Five symbols surrounded a large symbol in the middle of his back. A horizontal line sat on his left shoulder blade, a vertical line on his right, down near his lower back was a diagonal line going from left to right, its mirror image on the other side. It was the circle that sat at the top of his spine that entrapped her the most, looking closer she realised the lines and dots of the smaller symbols all came together within a circle to create the large one. It was a work of art.

He turned around under her intense gaze and smiled broadly when he saw who was standing in front of him.

"Come." He said, gesturing for her to sit down next to him.

"Your home is beautiful." She said softly, trying not to show she had just been staring at him for goodness knows how long. She sat, copying his seated position.

"Thank you." He nodded, going back to staring at the fire.

A Man came forward to join Kas, but after seeing Eboni by his side he turned and backed away.

"Do not feel sad, they fear the unknown, not of you." His voice was comforting.

"Everyone is afraid of the unknown." She replied staring into the fire with him.

They sat in silence as the second sun disappeared from the sky and the moon began to rise.

"Even if my brother says no. I will go with you." He said, breaking the silence.

Eboni looked over to him, and saw he was now facing her, his eyes sad but determined.

"I do not wish to bring discord between brothers, but I am afraid for our world if your brother refuses." Eboni uncrossed her legs- they had become numb from sitting on them for so long.

"He knows what he must do, but he has an expecting wife and a small girl. Being away from them for so long will be hard." Kas too uncrossed his legs, laying down on the grass beside her.

"There will be no world for them to live in if The Dark Ones are not stopped." She laid down next to him. With the fire beginning dwindle she could clearly see the stars in the heavens.

"I know the logic, but reasoning with a man in love is another thing." He sighed, before smiling across at her. "Tell me about yourself." Kas asked.

"I am an orphan, so there is not much to say. The Brothers and Sisters of the temple raised me. Bren was the only other child there." She sighed trying hard to dispel the tears from her eyes as she thought of home.

"So, Bren is not your true brother?" Kas asked, turning to face her.

"Not by blood, but he is in every other sense of the world."

Kas nodded. "What about your home then. Tell me about that."

"The temple of Elementi is on top of a large mountain on the eastern side of God's Land. My favourite building was the library- a large room filed with words that have been written down to read." She said noticing the frown on his face.

"We have no such things here. Just stories passed down from mother to daughter, father to son."

"Stories sound wonderful." Eboni stifled a yawn, drawing the fur closer to her body.

"They are. My mother told me all the ones I know, I think she will be the one who convinces Atu to leave with us. She has a lot of common sense. You would like her." His voice grew sleepy as they laid together under the stars.

"I look forward to meeting her." Eboni sighed as sleep threatened to take her.

"Eboni?" Kas mumbled.

"Yes." She whispered, unsure as to whether he could have made out her reply.

"Nothing." His reply came minutes later as she drifted off to sleep.

The first sun peeping over the tree tops brought Eboni and Kas from their sleep. Stretching the aches from their muscles they stayed for a moment on the warm dewy grass floor before parting to find their respective parties.

Kas stumbled sleepily to a small hut a few meters away as Eboni made her way back to the large hut at the edge of the village, hugging the fur close to her chest to keep away the morning chill starting to roll through the tree's.

Silently she made her way inside. Looking around there was no sign of Orlan, just Bren and Iasa still sound asleep.

Sitting down in the doorway she wrapped a few more furs around her before settling against the wall, watching the village wake up.

Orlan trudged from a small hut by the stream holding a bowl, his eyes narrowing as he noticed her presence.

"I woke up in the dead of night to find you gone, a warning might have been nice. I thought you had been kidnapped until one of the night patrols said they saw you curled up asleep with that- boy." Orlan twisted the words boy on his tongue like saying it brought a bad taste to his mouth.

"Yes, we fell asleep under the stars." She said trying to hide the dreamy tone of her voice.

"Yes well, imagine if it was Bren and not I who had woken up, I imagine that man would have woken up missing a vital part of him body."

He handed her the bowl before sitting down next to her. Inside were some brightly coloured fruits and flat bread, she could smell the ash from the open fire they had been cooked on. Warily she took a bite before eagerly finishing off her share.

"I do not think Bren would mind when he is distracted elsewhere." Eboni teased, looking over as Bren stirred in his sleep.

"The boy need to be careful. She is a Princess." Orlans tone was wary and after finishing his helping of food he turned to face her. "We leave at sundown-that is the best time for the tide- do what you will before then." Orlan smirked as he took in Eboni's bright eyes while watching the people go by.

"I just hope Kas can persuade his brother to join us." She mumbled more to herself but Orlan nodded in agreement before disappearing into the hut to check on the sleeping Iasa.

Colour had begun to return to her pale cheeks, it would be a matter of hours before she had enough energy to wake up.

Eboni decided to wander through the village, enchanted by the people who seemed to live an even simpler life then her.

A small girl with raven black hair and bright blue eyes ran up to her and after looking her up and down attached her arms around one of her legs. Laughing Eboni stooped down and picked her up, the small girl's eyes innocently gazing up at her.

"You're really pretty." The small girl whispered timidly.

"You are very pretty too little one, what is your name?"

"Doli. I'm four." She announced very proudly.

"Doli is such a lovely name." Eboni carried her over to a large boulder and sat with her on her knee while Doli played with her hair.

"Look who it is." Sneered a voice from behind her, turning Eboni saw a young girl of around her age staring at her as though a single look would strike her down. Her muddy brown hair was braided down her back, escaped tendrils sticking out from her head giving her a crazed look.

"Can I help you?" Eboni asked clutching Doli tighter to her side.

"I don't know what your plan is foreigner, but don't you dare think you can take him away from me." The girls lip curled up in contempt as she clutched her fists at her side.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean." Slowly Eboni lowered Doli to the floor, not wanting her innocent ears to hear whatever poison was going to come out of the girl's mouth next.

Doli took the hint and ran down a small path heading for a large hut by the stream.

"You think you can just turn up and bat your pretty eyes and he will fall at your feet? I saw you both last night, asleep together under the stars. He. Is. Mine. We are to be married! I bet you didn't know that, did you?" She grew hysterical, stomping her foot and flailing her arms around. All Eboni could do was stare in disbelief and confusion.

"Isi!" Atu's voice called out from behind her, turning Eboni found Doli clutched to his legs, Atu's face a picture of annoyance.

"Chief!" Isi smiled, her face relaxing and her stance becoming friendly. "Kas!" She called out again as He joined his brothers side a look of confusion on his face.

"Leave us Isi." Kas said, his voice devoid of any of the emotions Eboni had expected him to show towards his future wife.

The girl pouted and after glaring at Eboni walked off in a sulk.

"She seems lovely." Eboni said, sarcasm dripping from her words.

"Her father is one of our best hunters. We like him, we tolerate her." Kas scooped Doli up off the ground ending that conversation. "Come, you must meet the rest of our family." Atu said, smiling brightly at Doli's hysterical giggling as Kas threw her up and down in the air.

They entered the second largest hut and Eboni couldn't help but smile at the family scene that laid before her.

Atu sat down next to his wife, a very beautiful and very pregnant lady. Beside her was an older woman, she was sat with open arms as Doli bounded across the floor and flew into her lap. Kas steered her down onto the ground next to him and the older lady, who immediately sought out one of her hands.

"You, my dear, are one very special young lady." Her voice held power and wisdom of a life filled with love and knowledge and Eboni couldn't help but be in awe.

"Thank you, Ma'am." She replied, unsure of what to say after such a beautiful comment.

"Call me mother. I feel like you are one of my daughters already."

Eboni smiled sadly words threatening to fail her. "It would be an honour." She replied her voice cracking from emotion. She felt Kas's hand press against her back, bringing her comfort and strength.

Doli scrambled from her grandmothers lap and onto hers, picking up her hair to play with again.

"Have you decided brother?" Kas asked, his hand still hovering against her back.

Atu sighed as his wife held in a sob. Looking closer she noticed the black rings beginning to form under their eyes from a sleepless night.

"I am sorry. I still do not know what to do. My wife- our unborn child. Doli. Mother. My people. I cannot leave them and yet I know what could happen if I do not."

"You must go son. Do not worry about us. I am more than capable of leading our people for a while." His mother chuckled her eyes flashing with a memory.

"I know you are capable mother- I couldn't leave the people in better hands."

"Then it is settled. I will hear no more about it. Go out into the forest and catch me a bore. We will have a family leaving party and prey to Elementi before you go." His mother wave her hand dismissively and both Kas and Atu smiled wryly.

"As you wish mother." Atu stood and after kissing his wife mother and daughter on the cheek he picked up a bow and arrow and left the hut. A deep frown on now on his face.

"Come Eboni, this is a good chance for you to see the forest." Kas helped her up and too took a bow and arrow from a small pile.

He stayed by her side as he led her into the forest after Atu.

"My mother likes you. She has never asked anyone else to call her 'Mother' apart from myself, my brother and his wife."

"She seems like a wonderful woman." Eboni said looking into her surroundings.

"She is." They fell into a comfortable silence as they followed Atu's path through the forest.

They walked until the suns were high in the sky. Kas pointing out animals and flowers, describing what they did for the ecosystem of the forest and what medicinal benefits they could provide.

Eboni was enthralled by the world around her eagerly talking in everything he had to say. They had yet to come across Atu again- Kas said it was normal for his brother to take off into the forest to think, he was a master hunter so could stay hidden for as long as he wanted to be alone.

A familiar chill fell across the forest, settling on her shoulders like a heavy and uneasy weight.

Pulling Kas to a stop she indicated for him to be quiet. Slowly she looked around the forest, dread settling in her stomach. Seeing the fear in her eyes Atu followed suit.

They crept back through the path they had followed, silently traversing the forest floor.

Not now. Not now. Please not now. Eboni chanted in her head. Bren was too far away to help.

The cold wisped around their ankles. Grabbing Kas's hand she looked into his eyes.

"They are here. Do not use your powers, we are going to be blind soon." She whispered. Knowing that the Dark Ones would be close by.

He gripped her hand tighter as they fell into darkness.

Their heavy breathing filled their ears as their other senses took over. Their ears straining to hear beyond the unnatural silence of the forest.

"Eboni!" Kas cried out as strong arms ripped their hands apart. Kicking out at their attackers Eboni's hand were locked behind her back as another pair of hands grabbed her ankles.

"Get off!" Eboni shouted, trying to get a response from whoever had surrounded them.

Cloth bounds were tied around their mouths silencing them as their captors began to march through the forest.

After what seemed like forever they were dropped to the floor.

"Kas?!" Eboni cried out as the cloth bound was removed from her mouth.

"I am here." He said, his voice harsh and calculated.

"Brother?" Atu's voice cried out in relief.

"Atu!?" Eboni and Kas said simultaneously.

"What is happening? It is them, isn't it?" Atu growled.

"Yes. Don't do anything. They will tell us what they want soon, if they wanted to kill us we would be dead." Eboni shouted out, hoping that their captors were still within earshot.

Raised voices and shrieking could be heard in the distance, Eboni prayed that Bren would be among their latest captors, Elementi knows they couldn't do anything without him right now.

"Un hand me you brute- Ow!" Iasa's voice screamed as she too was dropped to the forest floor.

"Iasa? Bren?" Eboni called out into the darkness.

"I am here Eboni." Bren's calming voice filled her ears as she sighed in relief. Gentle hands skimmed the skin of her hand, still bound behind her.

Suppressing a gasp, she hid her eyes under her hair as her sight returned.

Bren had crawled to her, his eyes focusing on one area as he pretended he too couldn't see anything. Glancing round she saw fifteen figures all dressed in black, their faces obscured by the hood of a cloak.

Iasa was curled up on the floor, her eyes red and puffy as she cried silently. Kas was sat, his back rigid and straight while Atu had his knees drawn up against his chest his eyes darting across the forest at the smallest of sounds, ready to react to the smallest touch.

"When my master told, me we would be going to war, I had hoped for far better opponents, I truly did." Eboni glared through the curtain of her hair as one of the figures lowered his hood and began to circle the group.

"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about." Bren said lightly, knowing they had underestimated their powers.

"No? I see you shuffling about on the forest floor, blind as bats. If I chose to I could squish you all under my boots like the animals you are." The man walked back to the circle of men.

Taking the chance, Eboni thrust up a shield of energy, encasing them all under the sheer protective layer. Bren unbound the ties on from her wrist and they both jumped up, Eboni going blind as she ran to Kas, gripping his hand tightly.

"My, my. That was impressive. Such a waste of power though. My men will break through- we will kill off each of you until we find who it belongs to.

"Shh." Eboni whispered as her other hand met Atu's.

Bren's hand found her shoulder, Atu and Kas gasping as their sight was returned.

"Do not let go of my hand, touching Bren allows us to see." Eboni whispered again as they all looked around.

"How?" The man who was speaking to them stuttered. "Impossible!" he cried out, his face concentrating as he tried to make them blind once more.

Shaking her hair from her eyes, she took in the speaker- His skin was pale and sickly, his hair a matted mop of brown, eyes were dark and dead as he glowered through the shimmering dome of energy that separated them.

He looked at each of them, taking his time as his eyes searched them. His gaze landed on Eboni, and after a moment he gazed at Bren, taking in his pale skin, brown hair and arm protectively clutching Iasa's waist.

"Brother." The man said finally, his face breaking out into an evil smile. "I never thought the tales were true. But here I am, looking at you." He cackled, walking forward until his nose touched the golden shield.

Bren stiffened his eyes narrowing before sending a confused glance towards Eboni.

"You do not know? Brother? Where you truly come from?" The man's eyes shone with glee.

Bren stiffly shook his head grasping Eboni's shoulder tighter and hugging Iasa closer to his body.

"There is a tale from many years ago, about a traveller who came and stole a young woman away never to be seen again. She is the only person to have ever left our lands- her power runs through your veins. I can sense it. You are one of us." The man backed away before turning to the people who still surrounded them.

"We have found our long-lost brother!" He shouted out raising his arms in celebration cheers filled the air.

"Who are you? And what do you want?" Bren asked, his face showing no emotion, his grip loosening on Eboni's shoulder.

"I am Drar. Leader of the Dark Ones and the chosen one of our master The Darkness." He walked forward again until his breath fanned out against the shield, "I am here to kill you."