The quiet forest looked peaceful as sunlight filtered through it's leaves onto a small party of sleeping people. The group was rather mismatched, and was completled by a large red and cream wolf.

The animal lay near a young red-haired girl, who had her head on it's belly. Her face was soft, but spoke of a hard life. The wolf growled in it's sleep and turned it's head, opening a pair of silver and blue eyes. The creature stared at the two men sleeping nearby.

The one closest, the oldest of the group, had long light brown hair. In sleep, he looked slightly frustated, as though he were mad that he had to sleep. A wooden staff lay near him, and his hand lay close to it, as though he had to prove ownership at all times.

The other, younger one, had a look of timidness in his face. Blakc and white hair, cut short, had small leaves in it, and he lay farthest from anyone. He was small for a boy his age, but obviously not weak, for he had muscles.

The girl laying on the wolf stirred and opened her eyes, identical in coloring to the animal's. She slowly stood up and smiled at the black and white haired boy. There was something protective and slightly possesive in her eyes, much like the look a mother has for her newborn baby. The girl was dressed in a torn golden coat that went to her knees, the sleeves past her hands. A small pair of black shorts and a grungy white shirt were underneath, and she wore no shoes, though two pairs of boots lay nearby.

"WAKE UP YOU SLEEPYHEADS! It's a beautiful day!"

He grunted to himself. As if being with strangers wasn't enough, now he was forced to woken up by them. He nuzzled his head a little deeper into the forest floor and clenched his fist tighter, trying with all his might to stay asleep.

He had no intentions of getting up and taking in this "Beautiful Day". In fact, it was a horrid day. It had been a horrid day yesterday, and even the day before that. Most of his daus were horrid days. He didn't like the others already. The girl was too friendly and nice, the boy she was with all the time scared him and the other boy was almost just as bad.

It wasn't as if he'd had enough of a choice though, no one else had lived, and these were the only people who could protect him. He grew suddenly afraid, almost shivering at the concept of being alone with complete strangers. He couldn't help but wonder if anyone else had survived...but he doubted it.

Ekron stirred. "Why are you being so loud? Do you not understand the concept of morning time? Fine, I'm up. Now leave me to my books. I must study."

He turned his back upon the group and opened a large brown book with a green binding. He rain his thin fingers along the lines, chanting words in the ancient language of magic. As he finished committing each spell to memory, a spark would flicker between the pages and his finger. After the first few pages, he closed the book, returning his attention to the group.

"There, I am ready for the day. Remember, every morning I must read my spell books, or I will not be able to use any spells for that day." He walked over to where a pile of wood was, and set some aside in the formation of a teepee. He huddled close to it and whispered "Ast lithas hurundi koru." A fire erupted that produced no smoke. "There. Somebody fix breakfast."

'Rude child' he thought to himself. He was no better. He was antisocial, afraid of the others around him. He didn't trust them, and he didn't want to.

He just lay there, looking completely unconcious on the forest floor.

Ekron looked at the peasant boy. Lazy man, he thought. He whispered "Opul hurundi gan", and a small stinging fire lit on the boys backside. "Are you awake now? We don't have all morning. Who knows how many more forces there are out there. And if they have a mage, we're done for."

Ekron stood up and slid his spellbook back into his pouch. "And I was serious. When is breakfast?"

"Never if you hurt Alexi again!" Trixie growled. But she relaxed and smiled. "I'll find something." She blurred and soon a wolf sat in her place. It dipped it's massive head and trotted off.

He did nothing. Pain was something he was rather used to now. It didn't bother him any more.

The fire subsided, and he rolled about in the soft rotted foliage beneath him. It was much better than the town, but he did miss his old life only slightly.

He stood up and yawned, completely forgetting about the others and moving off into the forest. The trees were thin and far apart, and a low mist hung in the air.

He was afraid, but he liked being alone.

Ekron looked as the wolf trotted away. He chuckled slightly to himself. She thinks she's powerful with that form...He was then sidetracked by his own desire and thirst for power. As he picked up his staff, he decided to try his hand at some enchanting. He researched a spell through his book. No, no, no, no, no...Ah! This will work. He mumbled a hushed "Roniyu Grage Un" and slid his finger along the top of the staff. He then waved his hand above it and gasped as his palm was sliced open and blood spilled over an invisible spear head. It worked! He felt as if he made a major bound in his magic, when he realized how simple that spell was. He also realized how short lived it's effect was, as the blood that was suspended in air fell to the ground as the blade dissappated.

Train watched Ekron with slight fascination, as he'd always been interested in magic. But it wasn't exactly something you practiced while running all over the world with a younger sister. He forced himself up and headed slowly t where Ekron sat, plopping down again and shifting quickly.
"That's actually pretty cool that you can do magic." He said.
***
Trixie trotted along, not bothering to walk quietly, considering she could outrun anything here. She sniffed the air, but didn’t smell anything, so decided to walk deeper.
She stepped down and suddenly there was searing pain.
Trixie yelped and fell on her side, looking down at her front leg. There was a silver ring around her leg, and blood was slowly dripping down. Trixie sagged and there was more pain, so he howled loudly, praying one of them would hear.

Ekron chuckled at himself. He turned to the one who spoke to him. "You're the first I've met that thinks so. Most people from that forsaken town shunned me. It should've burned long ago!" As the words left his mouth, he spat towards the charred, gutted, and looted remains of where he grew up. He was almost tempted to find his fathers bones, only so he could animate them and torture his father with no recourse.