“Raven where are you?” shouted Luna as she ran through the woods.
“I am here” exclaimed the girl sitting by the river watching the mermaid children play though her liquid silver eye.
“Again you are by the river. Why do you spend so much time here when you cannot swim?” asked Luna as she sat down by her friend.
“Cause, my family used to live by the river, and I feel better. Now if you’re done criticizing me, what did you so urgently need that you couldn’t wait till diner to tell me?” exclaimed Raven laying down on her back.
“I came to wish you a Happy Birthday, and give you these.” said Luna as she placed some moon flowers in Raven’s Lap.
“Thank-you and I notice there’s fifteen.” said Raven sitting up and picking up the flowers to smell them.
“Yep, just as you are fifteen years old now.” said a grinning Luna. Raven picked up the smallest and yet the prettiest flower and carefully placed in her long brown hair.
“We should be going. The elders are going to be checking the list soon, and if they see you’re missing their going to think you ran away again.” said Raven sitting up
“You can stay here. It’s not like you’re on the list” said Luna getting tears in her red eyes.
“No but if you’re late, and I’m with you they’ll know you were with me, and not in the territories.” said Raven standing up and pulling Luna with her.” and besides I want a good seat for dinner.”
“Alright, are you going to sit near me or the fairies?” asked Luna taking off into a run with Raven.
“I only sat next to the fairies because blossom asked me to watch her kids, and by the time blossom came back the seat next to my best friend was taken by some other vampire.” said Raven easily.
“How come it’s so easy for you to run unlike the other elves I’ve met?” asked Luna breathlessly.
“When you’ve been running for your life your entire life it get easy. Do you need me to carry you?” asked Raven looking back to her tired friend.
“No I’m good, just shut up so I can concentrate on running.” said Luna staggering for a second.
They ran through the woods quickly but quietly. Some of the banished hated being here and took it out on all of the other residents.
“Boo” shouted a voice from a nearby bush. Only the piercing scream of Luna could be heard for a few moments.
“Tidas, and Nibbers; what a surprise.” said Luna moving the branches of the blueberry bush aside to reveal an elf and his goblin sidekick.
“Well Hello Raven” said Tidas between laughs. “What brings you past our blueberry bush?”
“We’re running back to town for dinner. Nibbers, you should make haste to make it to role call.” said Raven with irritation.
“She’s right Tidas. We should be going or we’re going to get stuck next to the dwarves again.” said Nibbers standing up.
“How dare you admit a girl is right” said Tidas standing but smiling.
“How can you stand?” asked Raven pushing Tidas back down. Tidas got back to his feet and lunged at Raven trying to tackle her. “You’re going to have to do better then that to catch Me.” said Raven laughing as she dodged and took off back into the woods.
“Raven, wait up” called Luna as she too was back into the race. Tidas followed wanting to best Raven in their game. Nibbers followed last not out of tardiness but he wanted to grab some blueberries too go. The group ran through the forest; Raven and Tidas in the lead, followed by Luna and Nibbers who were sharing the blueberries. Dusk began to fall and the village’s outline could be made out through the dense forest. They broke through the trees just as the elders came out to read role call and began the full moon feast.
“Luna?” called the elder Marlin.
“Present” called Luna breathlessly.
“Harris?” called the elder. Minutes passed with no response. “HARRIS?” called the elder again. “Send patrols out to find him” said Marlin with no emotion.
“Nibbers?” called the elder.
“Oh um, here” called Nibbers with a mouth full of blueberries. Role-Call continued but the group had moved off and to the large table that ran to the southern edge of the field.
“You cheated Raven.” said Tidas taking a seat next to her
“How so slow poke” said Raven taking her goblet of water to her lips.
“First you caught me off guard when you pushed me, and then you got a head start here.” said Tidas taking some plates from the center of the table.
“Are you ready now?” asked Raven turning slightly to face Tidas.
“Yeah” said Tidas also turning slightly. With one push Tidas moved from his position on the chair to the ground below with a thud. Laughter rang from the crowd around them. “That wasn’t funny” shouted Tidas over the bellows of laughter.
“Yes it was” said Luna and Raven together. Luna took the seat next to Raven and her fellow vampire while Nibbers took his faithful place next to Tidas and his fellow goblins. “Have you guys seen Lily and Tily?” asked Luna looking around her.
“No why?” asked Raven turning her attention from a growling Tidas to her nervous friend.
“Umm, I kind of took the moon flowers I gave you from their garden.” said Luna giving the crowd another anxious glance before sinking into her chair.
“Oh boy… you are so dead.” said Nibbers glancing past Tidas and Raven. Tidas had just managed to get back into his chair when the elders took their place at the front of the table.
“Raven have you seen Luna?” asked a high pitch voice from behind. Luna sank lower, and Raven turned. Standing behind her were the fairy twins Lily and Tily.
“Why?” Raven asked appearing clueless.
“She stole some of our flowers.” said Lily while Tily scanned the crowed.
“Are you sure it was her?” asked Raven
“Yeah, we came out of our home and she was in out garden. We tried to catch her but she’s fast.” said Tily as Lily looked around.
“What did she take?” Raven asked
“Moon Flowers… like the one in your hair. Where did you get that?” Lily asked while Tily looked infuriated.
“Luna gave them to me for my birthday knowing they were my favorite.” said Raven standing. If anyone could look fierce at any point it was Raven. She could be dying but still make you cower in a corner.
“We didn’t know it was you birthday” said Tily as Lily took a step back.
“It is, so if the flowers are going to be a problem you can take it up with me and not her” Raven said not moving.
“Why would we do that? She’s the one who took them.” said Lily shakily.
“Because I’m the one with the flower in my hair.” said Raven still not showing any remorse or movement.
“Alright, well bye.” said Lily and Tily as they ran to the other end of the table to join the other fairies.
“Thank-you” said Luna as Raven took her seat again.
“Another month has come and past. No new arrivals to our little but humble village. The crops are well, and the drought has ended. Let this be a feast of celebration.” called the elder Marks quieting the crowd.
Banished folk emerged from the nearby huts to place the feast before their fellow villagers. Fruits and vegetables, suckling pig, Roasted chicken and turkey piled high with other goodies.
“So what were you doing out so far in the woods?” asked Tidas gathering some roasted chicken before other grabbing hands could reach it.
“I was by the river planning my next run through the territories.” said Raven taking a bite out of the apple she had.
“Oh and you were out there because?” Tidas asked looking to Luna.
“As I said before I was giving Raven flowers for her birthday.” said Luna taking a drink from her goblet.
“Oh yeah, it is your birthday. So how old are you now; 20, 50?” asked Tidas smiling.
“No, I am now 15.” said Raven glancing down the table to see of there were any more apples up for grabs. The feast continued with the occasional Happy Birthday to Raven from the other villagers. When the sky was dark and filled with millions of stars and the only other light was from the twinkling lanterns did people and creatures begin to leave the table and return to their waiting homes.
“I am off for the night. See you guys tomorrow called Raven as she stood from her spot, swayed a little from sitting for so long and carefully began to make her way back into the forest. Raven never being one for the crowded life style had a small tree house to her self not far from town. The little tree house stood twenty above the ground with the thick oak going through the center. The tree itself forked within the small home; a hammock called their home. A small chest sat by the side filled with small forest treasures and bottles of potions it did contain. Shelves pilled high with books, papers, and more bottles covered the walls. The windows looked out to the village, and the surrounding forest.
“Home sweet, home” muttered Raven as she removed her bracers, her quiver, and bow. Taking out her night robes before she removed any more, she heard a scream from the village. She slung her bow and strapped her quiver back onto her back as she jumped through a window and landed on a branch. Jumping from branch to branch she made it back to the village to see it being set ablaze by demon thieves.
Jumping from the trees Raven landed right behind the first thief. Before he could act, Raven did. She grabbed her dagger and plunged it through his back. He fell, and she moved on to the next. The village was in chaos; buildings were on fire while the villagers were under attack. Raven ran from villager to villager helping them fight off their attackers. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Tidas and Nibbers fighting a group, while Lily and Tily were using their poisonous plants to fight of some others. Luna was not to be seen. Raven ran around the village fighting anyone who got in her way. There she was; Luna was fighting a large demon thief. He knocked the knife from her hands, grabbed her around the waste and hefted her up onto his horse. A sounding call and the thieves were leaving after the large demon that had Luna. Raven took off after them, but to no avail. One of the other demon thieves struck her in the back of the head. The last thing she saw was Luna struggling to get away before everything the world went black.