Fear. It's a word that I thought I knew the meaning of. The howls of the vicious creatures that besiege us everyday haunt us even during the night. The cafeteria has been converted into a make-do medical ward. The floor has been stained red, the smell of iron fills the air. The pain filled moans of the wounded hang in the air. What little water we have left has been distributed based on need. I haven't had a sip in a day. My hands are sticky, no matter how I rub them, no matter how hard I scrub them. I can still feel it. The blood. I'm scared. If I stay another second in this camp, I'm sure I'll go insane. I start edging towards the outskirts of the camp. My heart is beating so loud. It feels as though everyone can hear it. Even though I make this trip everyday, Its still nervewracking. I know its foolish. Not my nervousness, but trying to catch a breath of fresh air. Even though I've done my best, even though everyone has done their best. People still die everyday. When I look at the palms of my hands, I start to feel how useless I am. How trifling I am. Can I really make a change? Can I really help all these people who look towards me with their shining eyes still filled with hope?

Just as I've made it to the outskirts, I lay down in a clean patch of grass. At the end of the day, I like looking at the stars. I had never noticed them before. There are so many, I reach my hand out towards them as if I could pluck one from the sky and use its light to guide me. Alas, I am only mortal. A let out a deep breath as tears start to fall down my face. I can picture their faces. The ones that didn't make it. They were all different, but all the same. I don't really know how to explain it. You could always see it in their faces. The moment they knew they were going to die.

rustle I hear a sound in the grass

My heart rate spikes, its beating louder than it ever has before. I've seen what these monsters can do, but I've never fought them. I jump up and look around, but its too dark. Better safe than sorry, I start making my way back towards the camp. Just when I'm starting to relax, I catch a glimpse of it. It pounces.

A disgusting beast. No lips, but huge incisors. Its wrinkled skin makes one nautious just by the sight of it. Not that the beast would know seeing as it had no eyes. The thing has long back legs and shorter front legs. Its paws are huge, bigger than my head. Its five retractable claws shimmered in the starlight as they shot towards my throat.

I run backwards and scream a chant. Two dresses shoot out of my pockets. They fill out their forms and stand as if someone was wearing them. My sister... She always said I had a talent in puppetry. Although terror seized my heart, these two dresses which had been with me my whole life stood like stoic sentinels guarding me from any danger.

Fabric, though, is weaker than claws. The beast shred them both to ribbons. Its vicious snarl sent chills up my spine. I was dead.

At that moment, despite everything. My last thought was,

'How does my face look?'

I shut my eyes and waited. Then I felt an unbearable heat. A wretched scream burst out. I opened my eyes out of reflex only to see the creatures flesh was red-hot like molten steel. My nose twitched at the horrid smell of burning flesh.

"Lizzy! Are you ok?" [Liam] Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't help it. All of my life I loved fairy tales, and here,

Was my knight in shining armor.

***

Neidr adjusted his color as he made his way to the ball. He was wearing a plain white dress shirt, an orange tie, and a grey vest. It wasn't the fanciest thing out there, but for something he found in Cito's items, it would do well enough. Neidr couldn't help adjusting his collar again as he looked up at the huge palace that sat delicately upon a cloud. Neidr shook his head and decided he wasn't even going to begin to ponder what sort of spell formation that required. A stairwell descended from it straight to the main tower. After walking through the twists and turns of this all wood maze, the large opening leading to the heavens gave a sort of floating feeling. Neidr unsteadily started ascending the steps. His fidgety nature wasn't only due to his healthy fear of heights. Although, that was a strong factor. Neidr really hated social gatherings.

At the top of the marble steps, two huge dark wooden doors towered above him. He lifted one of the bronze door knockers, but instead of being able to use it, the door just opened. As the door slowly turned inwards, it revealed a magnificently large ballroom. An enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling filled with a myriad of multicolored mana crystals. There were tow sweeping stairwells at the end of the room which led to the second floor that overlooked the first. Aligned on either side of the building were rows of seats and tables filled with mediums and artifacts locked away in glass exhibits. The main floor was filled with couples dancing as a stoic older gentleman gently played the piano nestled quietly under the second floor overhang.

As soon as he entered, a young voice called out:

"Neidr Hyll! Heir of the Hyll Barony! Vassels of house Cerns! Entering!" [Palder] Hearing the familiar voice Neidr looked over at the young guard in shock.

'Wasn't he supposed to be guarding the walls of Rotham?' Looking at how smartly he was dressed, adorned with a red velvet buttoned vest and a black under coat, Neidr ignored the ceremonial welcoming of his peers and decided to get to the bottom of this immediately. A small smile grew on Neidr's face.

Ok, he just wanted to annoy Palder.