Quartoth

Quartoth

Author: Tygerlily
Email: Angelusblood@yahoo.com
Summary: Buffy ‘dies’ as written in “The Codex” at The Masters’ hand. Instead of being revived or even passing on to “The Kingdom of The Chosen” she is thrown into a hellish dimension; Quartoth. Things then change for our Slayer and as time passes a young man who seems to be two years her senior stumbles upon her. What happens from there is anyone’s guess…
Spoilers: In the BtVS Universe everything up to “Prophecy Girl”. Now in the Ats Universe what really matters is everything from “Offspring” up to “Sleep Tight”. I know that all sounds really odd but I promise it will all make sense… eventually. ^_^
Rating: Hard R – Nc-17
Distribution: All the usual suspects, anyone else please ask me!

Author Note: Alright with the exception of what occurred in “Prophecy Girl” on BtVS and everything between “Offspring” up to “Sleep Tight” on Ats a lot of what happened, didn’t happen. A lot of this story will be AU [Alternate Universe] but I will be keeping portions of the Jossverse though whatever doesn’t work for me… well I’ll just throw it out and act like it never happened ^_^


Chapter One – Falling Into Quartoth


His long sickly cool fingers gently wrapped around the slender column of her throat. The icy touch of fear that slid down her spine and into her bones caused her to tremble in his grasp, frightened eyes flutter shut as parched lips parted and let out a hot breathe of air against the shell of her ear. The bruising fingertips of survival brushed her heart and in one swift move she easily knocked his hand away and began to run. Inhaling sharply his eyes hardened as he reached out one ghostly pale and gnarled hand instantly causing her to halt in her flight.

Wide and frightened eyes turned to look over her shoulder and that’s when she realized that her life will end in the next few moments. Approaching her slowly the disfigured creature weaved his hand back and forth as if conducting a song. Coming up behind her his long and seemingly fragile looking fingers wrapped around the jacket that adorned her shoulders. He slowly removed the coat and let it slip to the stoned floor without a thought.

“You tried. It was noble of you…You heard the prophecy that I was about to break free and you came to stop me. But prophecies are tricky creatures. They don’t tell you everything.” He said his already raspy voice dropping to a harsh whisper. Something akin to a smile curled around the creatures’ jagged fangs as he continued to speak.

“You’re the one that sets me free! If you hadn’t come, I couldn’t go…. Think about that”

Frozen with fear the young girl can only tremble violently in his grasp as his words filter in through the haze. Waiting a moment longer to savor the fear rolling off the poor thing in waves the creature then leaned down and bit into the base of the girl’s neck. A single tear slips from the young girl’s eye as he drinks deeply; he takes a few pulls of her intoxicating blood but not nearly enough to kill her.

Pulling back abruptly he inhales deeply as he feels a new and invigorating power flow through him and his long dead veins. Uncaring of the young woman she falls to her knees as she slips from his grip. Cold eyes look down at the fallen warrior with cruel humor.

“And by the way… I like your dress”

And with that he stepped up to the edge of what have been his confines for the past sixty-four years and pressed against the barrier that had kept him prisoner. Pressing against the barrier it soon broke in a burst of light and energy and for the first time in years The Master his way out of his lair and up to the surface.

He never once noticed the soft glow that surround the fallen warrior. He never saw the light begin to shimmer and slowly engulf the Slayer’s body. He never saw her fallen form fade from sight.


> ===== ::: ===== <


The air was thick and heavy; the acrid scent of rotting flesh, spilled blood and… sweet greenery filled her senses. The low roar of running water was all she could hear as her eyes slowly began to flutter open. Groaning softly Buffy weakly lifted her head off of the damp ground and looked up at the unusually bright sky. It was then she noticed that there seemed to be three different colored suns shining down on her.

Struggling up into sitting position mossy colored eyes widened as they continued to stare at the three suns above her. They seemed to blend into one another the rich hues of yellow and orange blending and fading in and out caused it to be a very beautiful but also surreal sight. Realizing immediately that the three suns alone were wrong she slipped into ‘Slayer Mode’ and began to take in her surroundings.

It turned out that her immediate surroundings seem to look very well… normal. Wherever she was she had ended up near a somewhat small but very beautiful looking waterfall. Lush greenery surrounded her and their sweet sent filled her senses. Looking up she found she was a bit below where the falls began as she saw the water rush over the smooth rocks before merging with a pool below. Her eyes continued to follow the waters path as it spilled over and out of the pool creating another even smaller waterfall until finally it just continued its way down stream.

Craning her neck to get a better look down stream caused the skin to stretch taught over the fresh wound that adorned her neck. Hissing softly she gently touched her finger tips to the jagged and exposed flesh. Sighing softly she realized that he didn’t take too much and that it would basically heal in a few hours. It probably wouldn’t even scar.

Eyeing the running water for moment she slowly began to crawl over to the pool and peered into the seemingly clear water with guarded curiosity. It was obvious that wherever she ended up wasn’t an overly hostile environment. Or at least it seemed that way. She soon realized that her hair had tumbled free from its perch atop her head. She then quickly ran her fingers though her long locks searching for the few pins she could save and hopefully find a use for later.

Smiling at her small triumph when she was able to salvage five out of the seven pins she had used she quickly went to pocket them when she remembered she was in that damned dress and of course it had no pockets. Of course right after that the startling realization that she no longer had her coat, stake or crossbow with her brought down the slight brightening of her mood.

Looking around to her complete dismay all she was able to find was some sod, grass and various types of plant life; none of which would be any use to her. Flopping back down to the ground she shrieked softly when she felt something dig harshly into the side of her calf. Frantically she pulled up her dress and nearly cried at the sight of the small knife strapped to her lower leg. It was then she remembered that was something she grabbed on impulse before exiting the library and meeting “The Anointed One”.

Sighing in relief that she wasn’t totally weaponless her eyes reverted back to the water. Realizing that she literally had nothing in the way of supplies she was really going to have to improvise. The sticky heat and humidity of the air caused her to finger the fabric of her dress longingly for a moment before she made the decision that there really was no need for such a dress in this type of climate.

Inhaling deeply Buffy raised herself up on to her knees and sat back on her thighs. Sitting up straight she flared out the dress as evenly as she could and began to slice the knife through the delicate fabric. As she slowly made her away around the dress she tried to keep her strokes steady and even. There was nothing around to hem the damn thing with when she was done… not that she knew how to sew anyway.

Letting out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding when her cuts finally met up again and more than half the length of the dress was gone. Shakily she rose to her feet and her eyes widen at just how short she had cut the dress. Trying to follow the original cut of the dress it hung a little longer in the back than it did in the front but the once floor length dress barely came to the middle of the Slayer’s thigh.

Grimacing at the length of the dress Buffy soon shrugged it off when so far she hadn’t seen another living soul. So who was really going to see her in her new barely there attire… no one that’s who!

Kneeling back down she then picked up the large piece of fabric and cut it in half. Setting one half to the side she then began to work with the half still in her hands. With the knife she was able to cut one very crude looking strip about an inch thick and she quickly set it to the side. Sighing as she continued her task she then cut two very jagged thin strips barely a half inch thick each. Setting those aside she took what was left of that half of the fabric and gently laid it out over her palm. Grabbing the ends with her other hand she was able to pull the fabric up into what looked likes a little pouch. She then grabbed the two thin strips and tied them fairly tightly around the top of the pouch in something akin to a slipknot.

It wasn’t an elastic band but it would have to do. She then went about sliding the knife high up on either side of the pouch. She then grabbed the thicker strip she cut earlier and looped each end through the slit and tied each end tightly with a double knot. Stretching her arm out before her she looked on with a bit of pride at her very crudely made pouch but it would work well enough to carry a few light things she might pick up along the way.

Climbing to her feet once more she eyed the pouch and then slipped her head through the strap and let her new creation settle on her shoulder. She couldn’t help but smile at her accomplishment when she saw that the strap allowed the pouch to sit nice and close to her hip and didn’t really irritate her bare skin. Reaching down she quickly snatched up the other half of the cut fabric and folded it as neatly as possible and slipped it into the pouch. Followed quickly by the few pins she was able to salvage from earlier

Satisfied with a job well done Buffy began to make her way the short distance back over to the pool when suddenly one her heels began to sink into the soft and moist earth. Looking down she groaned softly when she saw that about two inches of her four inch heels were covered in wet earth. Sucking her teeth she grudgingly dropped back down to the ground and decided that the idea of breaking her neck wasn’t all that appealing. So she began to take off her shoes. Knowing that there was no way in hell she was walking around bare foot she took hold of the shoe and placed enough pressure on the heel that within moments it easily snapped off. Picking up the other shoe she repeated the action and inspected her work. Both breaks were clean so both soles of the shoes were smooth and needed no sanding out of any kind.

Sighing softly she then went about putting her shoes back on. Once finished she stood once more and though about four inches shorter she no longer sank down into the soft earth. Shrugging she then placed the two broken heels in the pouch deciding it best to keep them for the moment. She then secured the knife and its strap around her forearm. Stepping over to the pool she kneeled back down and cupped her hands. Bringing a few sips of water to her lips. After the initial taste she figured it was pretty safe to drink and had her fill.

Rubbing the back of her hand against her lips catching the stray droplets around her mouth the Slayer surveyed the area and decided it best to follow the water down stream. Remember vaguely from history class that where there was water there was some type of civilization she slowly followed the river down stream.

Buffy took in her surroundings with a careful and critical eye. In all honesty wherever she was at the moment looked like a modern day jungle but the three suns shinning down on her, the inhuman shrieks she was beginning to hear from god knows what and the awful smell of what could only be death proved otherwise. As she continued to make her way down stream she realized that it was a few shades darker than before and when she looked up she saw that only two of the three suns were visible. Sighing to herself she realized that the last thing she wanted was to be stuck out in the open when it was dark.

Picking up her pace she began to run along side the rushing water. She caught a gentle flickering of light out of the corner of her eye. Slowing her steps as she tried to peer across the river, it was then she noticed what looked to be some type of structure with light shinning from it. Sucking her lower lip into her mouth she looked around curiously for a way to cross the water without getting drenched.

Smiling happily when she spotted a few logs that stretched from either side, as she got closer she saw that it might’ve been a bridge that collapsed long ago. Some of the logs were half lying in the water, their ends splintered and covered in a thick layer of what looked like moss. Tentatively she stepped out on one of the larger logs and pressed down. When it seemed to hold she slowly began to make her way across. The rush of the water beneath her feet did nothing to relax the Slayer as she slowly made her way across the rickety make-shift bridge.

A loud cracking noise made its way up to the Slayer’s ears and when she looked down she knew that it would only be moments before the bridge would give way. Thinking quickly she let her instincts take over and she pushed off with her legs and jumped to the edge of the log. Wide eyes looked behind her as she saw more of the log slip into the water, quickly she turned back toward the bank and pushed off against the log propelling herself onto the bank causing the log to quickly slide off its precarious perch against the bank and into the rushing water below.

Looking back she watched with wide eyes as the log was swept away but the swift currents. Sighing softly she slowly climbed to her feet once more and began making her way towards the soft glow she saw in the distance. Looking up toward the sky she couldn’t help but shiver with worry when she saw that the second sun had already begun its descent behind the horizon. It was only a matter of time before darkness came and without any shelter she’d be extremely vulnerable… slayer or not.

Picking up the pace she broke out into an easy run. Soon a large shadow began to appear that soon took shape into what looked like an abandoned camp. Slowing her steps as more shadows gave way to shapes she knew now was the time to be cautious. The openness that she had near the river gave way to tall, thick and gnarled looking trees. Looking up she could see that most were fairly tall in height and were probably hundreds of years old. The little bit of sunlight that was left broke past the thick foliage of the trees which created a somewhat eerie glow over the forest floor.

As Buffy got closer she could see the dying embers of a recent fire. This instantly caused her to pause and extend her senses. Wherever she ended up, it was more than likely demonic in nature since the gentle hum that settled in her belly whenever a demon was near hadn’t ceased since her arrival. The only thing that let her breathe a bit easier was that it hadn’t begun to burn. Slowly entering the campsite she quickly put out the low glow in hopes that it didn’t lure anyone else here like it did her. Licking her lips nervously she began to quietly move about the camp.

After a few minutes of searching it was clear that pickings were slim at best. All she was able to find were a few pieces of what looked to be scraps of leather and a few bits of raw hide. Scanning the area carefully she soon realized that she found all she could here and it was time to move on. Whatever had been here before her cleaned and packed up just about everything. All that was left were the trees and the dirt. Raising her eyes back up toward the sky she could see through the trees that it had already gotten much darker.

Sighing heavily she quickly pocketed her findings. Looking down she saw to her dismay that the pouch’s edges were already beginning to fray. It would only be a matter of time before they gave way and with the way things were looking it would be sooner rather than later. At that moment she cursed herself for not finding away to keep her leather jacket close. Shrugging it off knowing there was no use dwelling on it she began to make her way back towards the river. The campsite offered no cover from… well whatever this place had. She was more than surprised that she hadn’t already been attacked by something though she wasn’t complaining about her good fortune so far.

Once again near the river bank she looked longingly at the space where she crossed and sighed softly to herself. It seemed that she would be sticking to this side of the river until she could find another area in which it was safe to cross. As she walked along she was pleased to see a few pieces of wood that were thick enough that could be whittled into something akin to stakes. She was surprised at how light they were but again shrugged it off. She wasn’t exactly at home anymore. That was another thing that concerned her. She had yet to see anyone and she still had no idea as to where she was.

Looking up towards the sky the third and final sun was making its descent behind the horizon and this caused the Slayer to shiver with anticipation and fear. Darkness would be coming soon and since she knew nothing about this land she couldn’t be sure if there was a moon or any type of starlight to go by. There was also the lovely factor of not knowing how long the night would last. She was pretty sure she ended up in this place about mid-day and since it didn’t seem much longer or shorter than a normal day she was used to she could only hope that the night was the same.

Buffy stopped dead in her tracks when she felt a slight tingling at the back of her neck. A low viscous growl made its way up to her ears and it was then she knew then that she was no longer alone. Turning around as slowly as possible emerald colored eyes widened when they caught sight of the very large and snarling beast before her, inhaling shakily Buffy knew at this point there was only one thing she could do.

And that was run.

Briefly looking over her shoulder she could see that the wolf like creature was in hot pursuit. Picking up the pace she soon began to slip and slide realizing that the shoes on her feet provided no traction whatsoever. Looking ahead she saw a low but thick branch jutting out from one of the trees. As she quickly approached the branch she stretched out her arms. Soon her fingers brushed against its coarse bark she pulled herself up. Propelling her body upward she was able to bring herself into a hand stand reminiscent of her first meeting with Angel.

As the dog past underneath her, she let her body fall as she pushed out with her legs. Her feet connected with the dog’s hind legs propelling the beast forward. Dropping back down to the soft earth she then took off into the wood hoping that the shadows and darkness might throw the beast off. Dried leaves and twigs cracked and crumbled beneath her feet. Each echoed loudly in the Slayer’s ears, panting heavily she continued to run deeper into the darkened wood. She could still hear the enraged howls of the beast far behind her.

Eyes wide with fear she looked around and realized that she had was now much further from the river and that she had to get into some type of shelter fro the night. Sniffling softly just a few yards off she saw a tree that looked much larger than the rest. Stepping up to it she could see that it had many branches most fairly high up but there seemed to be a few lower ones. Stepping back she crouched down low before pushing up with her legs and jumped up.

The tips of her fingers just caught the edge of a branch. Grunting softly she maneuvered her fingers best she could until her hand was gripping the branch tightly. Gently she began to swing her body back and forth until she could get her other hand to wrap tightly around the branch. Inhaling deeply she then began to pull her body upwards; the strain on her muscles caused her arms to shake and a light sheen to break out on her brow.

Finally hoisting her body up she was able to stand on the branch, though her position was a precarious one she was finally up off the ground. Moving slowly she tried to get in closer to the trunk. A frightened whimper escaped her throat as her foot slipped and she nearly went tumbling down to the ground. Raising her eyes skyward she prayed to whatever deity would listen that she wouldn’t fall.

After what seemed like an eternity her fingers brushed against the coarse bark of the trunk. Nearly crying out in relief she shakily collapsed against the trunk and let her eyes flutter shut for a moment. Though the branch had held her weight so far she didn’t want to risk it. It was obviously a younger branch being so close to the ground so it was more than likely a lot weaker than the thicker branches that were above it.

Inhaling sharply she realized now was not the time to stop, she had to get up higher before she could rest for the night. Looking up around she was thrilled to find a few more branches near one another and where there wasn’t a branch there was something like a knot in the tree, perfect for something to grab onto or a spot to place her foot.

Slowly she began to scale the large tree. After a few slips and scares she reached a point where the tree split and really branched out creating somewhat of cradle almost. The space itself wasn’t all that large but if she was lying down she could almost stretch out completely. Deciding that this was as good as it was going to get for the night she shakily sank down on to the somewhat smooth and cool wood.

Crossing her legs she bent over inhaled sharply as the tears began to fall. She was physically and emotionally drained. Running a shaky hand through her tangled locks she looked up at the now darkened sky though the thick leaves. It was then she remembered the pouch sitting on her hip. Frantic finger gripped the flimsy fabric as she looked inside the crude carrying case. It seemed that all five of the hair pins she had placed in there earlier were still present. It looked as though they got caught in the gauze-like fabric which held them in place. Upon further inspection she saw that she still had the other half of her dress she tucked in there and surprisingly the few bits of raw hide she found at the campsite earlier. Though much to her dismay two of the three scraps of what looked like leather were lost along with one of the heels from her shoes.

All in all she didn’t loose too much but with the way the pouch looked now it wouldn’t hold up another day. Especially if she was going to have to fight, wherever she had ended up the Slayer knew that the beast she encountered just a few minutes before was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Buffy went to remove the pouch from her shoulders but the thought better against it. The tree didn’t look as though it was inhabited by anything else but incase she had to move quickly she didn’t want to loose the few possessions she had. Sniffling softly she shifted her body and quietly laid down on the hard surface. Pillowing her head on her hands she stared sightlessly out into the night knowing that sleep would probably never come.

It was then that Buffy Summers… the normal teenage girl finally let the tears fall. Scalding hot tears streamed down her face, staining her cheeks. Only a few hours before she was getting ready to go to a school dance with some friends. Until she realized that she was more than likely going to die when she walked into the cavern to face The Master. Then it her like a ton of bricks…

She did die….

… And this was hell …


About Five Years Later


Tortured dark eyes stared sightlessly out into the night. Only a few moments before stood his son and a life long enemy he didn’t even know that he had. Shakily he climbed to his feet as the rain began to fall although he really couldn’t bring himself to care. His son was gone and he really had no idea as to how he was going to get him back. Dark eyes faded away to a brilliant saffron color before an anguished inhuman roar escaped his lips and his human visage melted away.

He’d already walked the earth for more than two-hundred and fifty years and in that time he’d only felt the mysterious emotion called love a handful of times. And with the birth of his son it was at its most pure. He knew then that he’d stop at nothing to get his child back. Raising his inhuman eyes heavenward he made a promise that he’d have his son in his arms again one day… and he’d kill anything that got in his way…


> ===== ::: ===== <


Staggering slightly he looked around with wild eyes as he clutched his precious cargo to his chest. He knew that he couldn’t let any harm come to this child in anyway. Looking around he could see that wherever he had ended up it seemed to be somewhat of a rural area. From his studies of demonology and demonic dimensions Quartoth was indeed the worst of the worst but it also had some very highly developed cities.

Just to his left the trees seemed less dense and there were large amounts of light coming breaking their way past the thick foliage. Deciding that was his best bet he headed towards the light. Within a few yards he stepped out past the trees and was greeted with the high stone walls of a city. Instantly he was on guard though each city had a diverse group of… demons for the lack of a better word each had a majority and in turn were the rulers. Just like in his home dimension some demons were more hostile than others.

Slowly making his way towards the large ornate gates he stopped short in surprise when the slowly began to open. He knew that it was too late to run so he brought himself up to his full height and did his best to shield the child now in his care. At first all he could see were shadows but they soon gave shape to a large looming form. Slowly the large shadow made its way over to him and all Daniel Holtz could do is watch with wide eyes. As the form got closer he could see that it was a male and that with a few exceptions it looked fairly human.

The creature stood to be about seven feet tall as it pulled itself up to its full height. Long, thick dark hair fell around the male’s shoulders as it had just as dark eyes to match. Its skin was a smooth dark olive color that seemed to glisten in the sunlight. The creature stood proud dressed in a pair of what looked to be a pair of black leather slacks and a dark vest to top it. Though all of this was just noticed in passing what really called ones attention were the beautiful large angel like wings that sprouted from its strong back.

Holtz’s eyes traveled up from the creatures’ strong muscled feet and legs up to its lean yet defined torso. His eyes lingered on its thick and sinewy arms noticing the beautiful and ornate tattoos there. Finally his eyes met the creatures and after a few tense moments it spoke:

“Detsu ginssapssert a orejaiv… Euq oicogen detsu eneit noc al daduic ed sol sotreum” the creature rumbled. To anyone else it would’ve sounded like a melodic series of grunts and growls but to Holtz it was a demonic language. A demonic language he knew very well.

Quartoth though one of the most savage and beastly of demonic dimensions, its also one of the most magically and technologically advanced. Many of the demonic sects have formed alliances and trade of some kind over the centuries and so a common language had to be formed. And so standard Quartothian slowly formed; Holtz silently thanked The Powers that he had spent many of his years researching demonology. Another prized factor was that only men and women of a high station knew the language. Lower nobles, merchants and most peasants had no use for the language and so they kept their native tongue of whatever demonic race they were.

Relieved that more than likely once he stated his business and in the standard language he’d be immediately taken to whoever was the leader of this city and its people. Though he wasn’t thrilled that this place was basically called “The City of The Dead” he was not about to venture back out into Quartoth wilderness.

“Im erbmon se Daniel Holtz y yos yum odasnac ed sim sodirrocer. El ocifingis nugnin onad y oesed otsuj arap euq nu ragul aczenamrep” He stated calmly his name and his purpose for being there. The tongue in which he spoke his response caused the creature to pause. He then silently indicated to the tiny thing in his arms and stated simply that it was his son. Eyeing the two cautiously for a moment the creature eventually nodded silently in response and with a jerk of its head it began to head back up toward the gates. Holtz took this as his cue and quickly scurried after the being.

Stepping in past the gates Holtz’s eyes widen at the sight before him. All one could see were large trees that looked a lot like weeping willows. They towered over the trio as a soft breeze blew past rustling the thick greenery before them. Huge lush bushes that looked to be covered in an assortment of flowers drew you in and led to a stoned path.

“Come this way, as soon as Princess Legna knows of your presence here she will want to seek an audience with you. It is best to meet with her now rather than later” the creature rumbled softly

Holtz paused in his steps and looked up at the creature in surprise and curiosity. For ANY type of demon to know standard human whether in this dimension or the next was surprising. Humans in every since were considered the most inferior of races in the demonic and supernatural community. All they were truly known for were their very strong and vibrant emotions.

“You know standard human?” Holtz asked softly while looking down to check on the still amazingly asleep child

“I do” the creature answered simply

“… Why did you not just speak to me in that language outside of the gates? It’s obvious that by my appearance that I’m human… why ask in Quartothian? And… well what should I call you?” Holtz asked hesitantly and the request for his name was merely an after thought.

His questions caused the creature to pause.

“Do you reveal all aspects of yourself to complete strangers? Also remember that everything isn’t as it appears to be” the creature said reasonably with a quiet rumble.

Holtz had the grace to flush slightly and in response he gave the creature a slight nod.

“And you may call me Ehcon… come quickly now. We’ve kept her highness waiting long enough” the creature rumbled quietly. And with that a heavy silence settled over the trio.


> ===== ::: ===== <


Brilliant emerald colored eyes glowed softly for a moment before they faded back to their normal hue. Raising her eyes toward the bright skies she could see that the trios of suns were all high in the sky. She again was making her way around the perimeter of Al daduic ed sol sotreum. For the past two cycles a pack of hellhounds had been ravaging the lands just outside of the city. Most of the time such animals kept to the depths of the Quartothian forests but for some reason they were pushed out.

It was barely mid-morning and she’d barely covered her normal hunting grounds. For some reason though she was drawn to a small clearing just near the edge of the trees only a few yards from the city’s main gates. After spending numerous years within Quartoth’s wilderness and within one of its main cities there weren’t a lot of things that surprised her or even caught her attention. This however was an instance where she was more than intrigued and decided to get a better look.

Quickly she jumped from branch to branch and silently settled nearby the glowing bright light that had begun to appear in the clearing. It was then it began to crackle and ripple as if a pool of water when suddenly an older looking man stumbled through and nearly fell to the ground. Swinging down to get a closer look she was more than surprised to see that he was carrying something and that something seemed to be a small child.

To her knowledge there hadn’t been any human children in Quartoth in over twenty-five hundred years. This was truly news indeed. Curiously she watched as the man cooed softly to the baby while looking around cautiously. It was clear he was agitated and just this side of afraid. Deciding it was best not to approach him she’d just follow them and make sure they stayed out of trouble.

When the man and child headed toward the light and out of the clearing to say she was relieved was an understatement. It had been a long time since she had to look after anyone but herself. Moving quickly above them in the tree tops she settled herself on a large branch but was covered in thick lush leaves thus shielding her from view. Parting the leaves slightly she looked on with curious eyes as Ehcon came down and met the human.

She couldn’t help but chuckle softly when he initiated a brief conversation in Quartothian. From experience she could tell that he did this every time he met someone new. Whether they were an unknown traveler or a royal guest, as he led the two human into the city she quickly dropped down to the ground barely making a sound as she did so. Without a moments hesitation she broke out into a run. Quickly she weaved in and out of the trees follow the paths she’d run countless times already up until she came along side the city walls.

Slowing her steps she finally came to a stop, stepping up to the wall she extended her arm and bowed her head and with a few whispered words the wall opened up just enough to grant her entrance. Smiling in thanks she slipped past the stone quickly as it began to close in on itself once more.

As soon she passed through the opening torches on either side flared with life and a gentle blue glow surrounded the flames casting various shadows on the stoned walls and floor. Silently she moved through the tunnels the soft click of her boots against the stone as she walked and the gentle his of the flames was all that could be heard as she made her way down the darkened corridors.

Coming up on a pair of large ornate stone doors she gently pressed on an unmarked brick in the wall and they slowly began to part. Not waiting for the doors to completely open she entered what one would consider the throne room of the great palace that sat in the middle of the city.

She let her eyes flutter shut and inhaled deeply. Here was one of the few places in Quartoth she could fool herself into believing that she was back in her own dimension and in her own time. It was truly a beautiful sight. On either side of her were beautiful water falls what were surrounded by huge smooth boulders and thick foliage. The crystal clear water spilled over into beautiful pools filled with even more beautiful fish.

Slowly she made her way down the marble path that led out into what was more like a utopian garden than a throne room. She was soon surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers that seemed to bow and bend as she passed. All making way for her as she made her way toward the princess who was raised high above it all.

Silently she made her way toward the stoned steps that led up to her sovereigns’ throne. She looked up with quiet and emotionless eyes before bowing her head and gracefully sinking down on one knee.

Shrouded in shadow, totally hidden from view the princess looked on with curious eyes. Many cycles ago this mere slip of a girl had ended up on her lands looking lost and broken. And now she was this strong young warrior who was kneeling before her. Shaking off her thoughts, she then greeted the commander of her armies and greatest warrior:

“Onisesa… Slayer …“

End of Chapter One

*sighs* Okay well that was chapter one, I hope you enjoyed it and if you did please leave a review and if you didn't well... still leave a review just be constructive about it. This was a new story idea/style for me so I tried it out on a "test group" first and it went over really well. I will be honest this is a bit different than anything I've ever written before and this chapter alone took me about a two weeks to get out. So you can figure thats about how long it will take me to get a chapter done on average. I'm already half way through the second chapter but I'd also like to post it with chapter three and when you read them you'll see why ^_^ But please leave some feedback, it really does help get the idea flowin'

Tyger ^_~