<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/9c/Anyuri_red_silks_cartel_grande.jpg)</div><em>The smell of smoke, such an harsh sent for such an sensitive nose. The young girl, no older than 12, awoke suddenly, heat, smoke, flames closing in around her. She screamed. Flinging her legs from the bed and upon the floor she ran for the door, but flames jumped into her path, blocking her. She was trapped. In panic the girl spun around, looking at all walls for an escape. "MOTHER!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. No answer. But she heard something, from outside, beyond the flames. Women screaming, men's voices. "HELP! HELP ME!" The girl called then broke down in an heavy wave of coughing. The smoke was going to kill her before the flames. But just then, somebody broke down the door. A man in armor. Her saviour. Weakly she held her arms out to him, not caring who he was, and the big strong man scooped her up, carrying her out. <br/><br/>Once out the girl did not need the blur to clear from her vision to know that her entire village was in chaos. Women screaming, running. Men killing, chasing. The girl saw something horrible. Her own mother, bloodied and unconscious, men standing over her, unbuckling their pants. She was going to scream again, but her savour placed his hand over her mouth. "Stay quiet young one, if you do not wish them to do the same to you." Weakly the girl nodded and closed her eyes, filled with tears, burying her face against his shoulder. Her savour ran, ran, far from the village.</em><br/><br/>With gasping breath, Kalina awoke. She was sweating, her heart was pounding. How much longer must these nightmares plague her? Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself, then looked down upon her elfin harem sister, sleeping soundly next to her. With gentle stroke of finger, Kalina pushed hair from the elf's forehead and placed a soft kiss where the hair had been. She smiled in the darkness as she looked down upon the sleeping beauty. Both she and Kalina, were lasts of their kinds. Or so they were told. No more elves, no more werepanthers. It was safer within the harem under the protection of a Prince who saw them as nothing more than prizes. Who would not even give them attention. Or so they were told.<br/><br/>With a deep sigh, Kalina stood. Bare feet stepped softly over blankets, careful not to awaken any others. She tiptoed over to the windows, and pushed a bit of one of the curtains back. The moon was almost full, big, beautiful. Oh how she longed to take panther form and run through meadows under that moon. How she longed to be free. Such delight that would bring her heart. But she couldn't, she was little more than a prisoner here. Trapped because she<em>'belonged'</em>to the Prince. One of his prize harem. A gem amongst stones. Or so he said. She wasn't sure she believed it. If he truly thought she and her elfin sister were such prizes, why did he take no notice of them other than to stare occasionally? Why were they pushed to a corner like objects? Why wouldn't he enjoy them? Was he afraid? Afraid of being with one that was different? Or perhaps he hated them for what they were. Didn't matter either way she suppose.<br/><br/>With another sign she backed away from the window and walked over to the fountain of water in the center of the large room. She sat upon the edge and ran her fingers softly through the water. Her sensitive eyesight could catch and watch the ripples, even in this low light.