Sharp crystal blue green eyes look out to the scene before them; tears threatening to spill over from pain and anger. Lying on the ground at her feet is her little sister, Jasith, only twelve years old, not even considered an adolescent. A large gash is seen across her chest, showing viciously of how merciless the enemy is. Like a doll her small frail body looked like it was tossed haphazardly along the marble steps of the temple. Her clothes are shredded like ribbons, exposing the soft creamy flesh of her innocent body, stained with her blood and gore of her attacker. It was very clear what they had done to her before they destroyed her, defiling her innocence and purity.<br/><br/>Body shaking from shock and rage, Ayesha Eruanna Caladwen, the priestess of the Light clan, screams out her fury to the darkening skies.  Everything around her is in chaos, muffling even her own cry of pain. Her once peaceful home lies in ruins before her, exposing the ugliness of death and suffering. The people of the light clan were warned of the threat of another war, from whispers, and from her, but they did not believe, could not believe that their lovely world could be crushed. Their ignorance cost the lives of innocents and nothing would be saved or returned to before. Everything that they cherished and loved is lost to all.<br/>Gifted with visions and sight from the divine, Ayesha saw what may happen to her family and her tribe. The only people who listened to her were her family. Her father for being the High Priest understood the meaning of obtaining visions and their purpose. As for her siblings, they all were raised in the belief of the divinity, and grew to become servants and guardians of the temple. Ayesha was meant to be a guardian, until her older sister was unable to fulfill her duties and was positioned into learning the practices of a priestess. In the beginning she did not wish for such a position, but over time she grew to comprehended what it is meant to serve.<br/><br/>Despite her title as the priestess, Ayesha understood the means of war through battle and defense. If it came to the point of her need to fight, she will full heartedly do so. When her visions became more apparent of the doom her people were to face, the young Elven consoled to the high council to build up their ranks in the military to make preparations. Still with this they did not listen to her, making it seem she was still a novice of reading her visions. Agony came with the visions, despite them being incoherent in exposing the force that hunted for her people’s pain. It also was not only her people who would suffer, but all. One other obstacle that frustrated her was the fact that she did not know when, when this was all going to happen.<br/><br/>For the past few weeks, her family and she have been on guard, hoping for a sign to prepare themselves for battle and give warning to everyone. Nothing warned her or her family of this day, the day when everything fell to ruins. Caught within the temple, she saw the dark armored force take over the walls of the city. The creatures that swarmed over her people are very much like insects, yet similar to her kin, but not natural. Dark obsidian scales cover their forms, creating a biological armor that is difficult to pierce, and their skills in magic appeared to be far superior to the majority of the warriors in the city, clearly showing their skill in battle. Her city was falling, crumbling to the ground before her eyes, and she could not just sit there and pray for the gods to help, she had to do something.<br/><br/>Adorned in clothing fitted for battle along with her bow and blades, she joined the rest of her kin to defend and protect her people. It was believed that the women and children would be protected in the temple, but she was wrong. Many of her kin were destroyed before her very eyes, no slaughtered. Using the magic that she was gifted with by the gods, she formed shields about groups, sending families off to the hills with her protection. It is a gift that she gained as a priestess for protection, but she was growing weaker by the moment, deflecting strikes from her enemy. The rest of her siblings took quarters of the city and helped with their defenses. With her abilities, she could sense her family’s energy’s, but as soon as she felt two of them fade, she becomes overwhelmed with anxiety.<br/><br/>She does not give a second thought and rushes towards the center of the city, towards the temple. Worn out from the use of her life energy to protect as well as obtaining minor injuries, she feels sluggish in her haste. She was too late before she came upon her sister’s body on the steps of the temple, clearly dragged from its protection. The pain that Ayesha feels from the loss could not be explained, only through her cry of pain and rage. She could not leave her body their on the cold hard steps, she shrouds the small body with a piece of clean silk, sending off the spirit to peace. Numb in body and mind, Ayesha forgets herself and searches out for the last link of her family, her father.<br/><br/>“Father!” She calls out hoarsely through the empty halls. “Anyone in here??” she calls, feeling herself too drained to even search out for energy. She heads directly to the main hall of worship, only to be stalled by the sight before her. Bodies of children laid about the floor like discarded rags, used and abused. Unable to hold her stomach she loses all sense of control off to the side of the entry way.<em>How can anyone or anything do this to children?? How could they??</em><br/><br/>A soft hoarse voice calls out to her, bringing her from her thoughts. There he is slumped up against the wall, arrows pinning him there. “ FATHER!” she cries out and skids beside him. Looking over his wounds she lets out a shuddering breath of hopelessness. The arrows are poisoned, not giving her enough time to heal him. “ I-I..forgive me father…I could not save them..could not save Jasith…”tears now run down her cheeks as she looks down to him, only silenced by a quivering hand to her cheek. “ Go…save the rest…everyone must leave this place..seek refuge in the hills….You must go and warn the others…get help…” he rasps to her breathlessly, having his hand slide down her cheek, staining it with his blood.<br/><br/>Eyes hardening from the need of restraint, she stands up and strengthens her will for her duty. Swiftly she heads to the altar,and grabs a quill and several strips of parchment.  Jotting down notes of retreat, she quickly ties them off to arrows for sending. Sounds of the enemy  coming to the temple once again reaches her ears; she hastily removes herself from the premises armed with more arrows than she would ever need. Running up the lean steps towards the tower, she keeps her step light and unnoticeable. Finally at the top she arms herself with her bow, and searches out for the main troops of soldiers. With much skill of the bow she aims and shoots, letting the arrows scream through the air and hit their targets, just near the heads of command. Making sure they receive the messages and start retreating she goes onto the next group. She could only do so much as she finishes off with her messages, and makes haste to seek help.<br/><br/>With her knowledge of the city, Ayesha is able to get out of its walls and into the woods unnoticed. Smoke from fires consuming the city surrounds her, giving her coverage. Knowing there is the chance of never seeing her family again she rushes through the woods, avoiding any contact with the enemy. Heart hammering, breath racing, she pushes herself more with need for help, not stopping for anything. She knows where to go; the Storm clan can help, and they are the ones who are known for their abilities of war and command. They will be able to help her reach the others and warn them of this unknown threat.<em>Let’s hope they will</em>is all she thought about as she runs towards the walls of the Storm clan settlement.<br/><br/>Energy depleted after three days of purely running and traveling through the wilderness, she finally came to the settlement of the Storm clan. Still adorned in her battle gear with weapons and war paint along her face, she forgets herself as she slides in behind their walls, avoiding the front gates. Her body still is stained by blood from the battle along her own wounds festering from not tending to them. From exhaustion, she only focuses on the need to seek the high council, and the need to avoid any real public display of the events, she had decided on sneaking in.<br/><br/>She knows of the risks of coming into the Storm territory without announcing oneself, but she is prepared for the risk to do whatever is necessary. Stepping cautiously through the alley ways between the wooden buildings, she keeps silent and stealthy. Aware of the inhabitants just settled within their dwellings and walking the streets, she keeps close to the shadows, watching things closely as if expecting any sort of confrontation. Just as her thoughts came upon such a predicament, a young man came into her line of sight. Both of them alarmed, the only one to give a shout was the man. Eyes wide by the ferocity of his disposition towards her, she quickly backs down, showing out her hands for him to see.<br/><br/>“I am not here to harm!” she shouts out, only to have her voice interrupted by other shouts surrounding her. Looking around  quickly, she realizes the majority of the men surrounding her are armed and eyeing her with threat.  “ I need to get to the high council! Please! I do not plan on harming anyone…” she tries to explain only to be cut off.” Don’t even think you are going to be getting closer to the city…you snuck in here! You are merely trying to be clever and disarm us!” an older man shouts, holding up a bow. A lot of them agreed with him, seeing her now as an enemy. She  could not blame them for  suspecting her, she was armed to the hilt and covered in blood. “ please listen I-“ she is cut off with a grunt and hitch of breath as an arrow pierces through her shoulder. Landing on a knee, she bows her head down, grasping onto the arrow along her flesh. “ Get up you weakling…we know you are only hiding your true intent…tell us!” One other moves  closer to her, holding his blade at her. Head still bowed she takes in a heavy breath to tug out the arrow. Wincing slightly she tosses it to the side.” You tell me…” she growls out in pain.<br/><br/>Before the man knew it, she was sliding up to do a round bout kick, knocking him off of his feet and back to the ground.” Well come on! If you want a fight I will give you one, but you will not delay me from getting to the council!” she shouts out, only having the men move in with enthusiasm, searching out blood. Not withdrawing her weapons, because she did not intend on harming them she goes into a fighting stance. Not wanting to use up the last of her energy on a shield, she takes any of the strikes they give her, receiving slashes along her skin as well as bruising, but it doesn’t stop or slow her down. Kicking and slashing out with deft punches, she lithely  moves about the men, confusing them with her quick movements, but weak from her wounds, she draws onto her energy to give more power to her kicks and punches. “ Get away from me! I need to seek the high council!” she shouts out raucously, feeling herself become even more drained than before with the use of her energy for strength. As one of the men fumbles over from a low kick at the groin, she grabs onto his rod, using it as a sort of shield and weapon against the rest of them as they corner her.<br/>