Prt 2: Summoning

Act 1: Resting

It was a warm afternoon. Selene was stretched out on a branch, dozing lightly in the sun. Of the many trees that dotted Haven's courtyard, this one was her favorite perch. She yawned, thoroughly exhausted from patrolling the night before. She ended up getting recruited for almost every patrol due to her rather specialized abilities, and was starting to show signs of fatigue. But for now, she could rest. Nothing could disturb her…

"Selene! Selene!"

She sighed, and cracked open a single grey eye at the voice.

"Selene!"

She twisted around in her seat to see who was calling her name. As if on cue, a girl in red ran past her tree, dark braid streaming behind her.

"Come on Selene! There's been another summoning!" Nanashi yelled up at her friend, forming a sword in one hand as she did so. The pale-haired girl nodded and reluctantly leapt down from her perch, landing catlike on the grass. She straightened up, brushing herself off. Selene paused and looked back longingly at her resting spot for a moment, then streaked after Nanashi.

Act 2: Searching

They were far from Haven now, rushing across a small meadow, a dark tree line quickly approaching.

"They're somewhere in the valley! I'll take the left side, you take the right. Watch for Mandragoras!" Nanashi yelled, the sleeves of her robe billowing in the wind.

"Got it! Selene called back, already swerving towards the trees.

The tall girl panted, her silvery white hair falling in her face. She scanned the trees with grey eyes, looking for any sign of life. The brush was thick in this area, as high as her waist in some spots. This put her on guard; it was opportunities like these that the Mandragoras loved. They could lie in wait here, and those they ambushed had no warning and were often outnumbered. Selene shuddered. A child who had been patrolling in one of these places, had never returned to Haven. Earthsong felt his death early in the evening. Selene was a relatively experienced fighter, and so was at an advantage compared to the unfortunate scout. But still she was cautious. A stream trickled by, leading into the darkest part of the wood. Selene followed it.

Nanashi stood at the crest of the grassy hill, resting for a moment. No sign of anyone. This was unusual; most new children were found almost immediately, but then again, most were found closer to Haven. Out here the terrain was rougher, marked by hills and gullies. Farther out, it was unfamiliar altogether. The Badlands. Nanashi pressed two fingers to her lips and let out a shrill whistle, hoping that Selene was not too far away to hear.

Selene's head shot up at Nanashi's signal. She must have not found anything, the girl concluded. Selene whistled back once, to show where she was, then continued her search.

Nanashi grinned as Selene's answer was carried back by the wind. Taking a deep breath, she ran down the hill to join her friend. She hated to admit defeat, but by this point it seemed likely that the new arrival had been taken by the Mandragoras. Nanashi's face set in a determined scowl as she raced through the grass.

Selene grew uneasy as she neared the place where she, herself, had arrived at Earthsong. She grimaced, not wanting to be reminded of that. The experience had been less than pleasant to say the least.

Selene's spine tingled for a moment, then she froze. Her ears picked up the lightest crunch of leaves behind her, and she knew she was not alone.

Act 3: Gathering

Not moving a muscle, she sent an invisible vein of energy through the ground, racing along the path Nanashi had taken. Eyes glowing fiercely with a silver light, she whirled around…and found herself looking into two terrified green eyes.

Selene let the light of her power fade, and the looked over the new arrival. She was young, auburn haired, with long pointed ears.

Stuttering out of surprise, Selene spoke nervously.

"Um, hello there…um…I'm sorry I scared you, I thought you were someone else…"

The new arrival stared at her oddly.

Of courseSelene thought, there's probably no one who looks like me on her planet.

"Listen, I know that this seems really strange, you probably don't know how you got here. I can't really explain, but if you come with me, I can take you to someone who can."

The arrival stiffened suddenly, and looked around her. Selene was puzzled.

"Did you hear something?" She asked the young woman, but before she could receive an answer, the sound of someone crashing through the brush reached her own ears. But Selene didn't react this time. She waited for a moment, before Nanashi broke into the clearing. The new arrival looked startled at the appearance of another stranger. Selene stepped back, and let Nanashi speak to the arrival for a moment. The young elven woman seemed to agree to whatever Nanashi had suggested. The samurai girl turned to Selene,

"It's too far to teleport, we're going to have to walk back part of the way."

Selene nodded, and with her power, found the path from which they had come.

Fin.