Under the smog filled sky, a young girl slept, surrounded by the protection of thick foliage. Blooming buds entangled with ivy watched over her as she rested peacefully. How she dreamt of a garden more lavish than hers. Sprawling trees and exotic flora exhumed from the earth’s crust, dressing the grove in vibrant palettes the world had long forgotten about. Gone were the days of brown and grey. But this haven only existed in her dreams, or so she thought. 

She awoke in a cold sweat, frightened by her own imagination. Her dream had been interrupted by blurry images of men dressed in business suits. Their faces were contorted and twisted and their limbs were disproportionately long. Images of the outside world flashed before her, showcasing the incessant mining and mountains of waste that rested behind the city walls. Then, the haven flashed before her one last time. [i]Natures Haven.[/i] It beckoned to her, much like this greenhouse had so many years ago that she now calls home. She dressed, gathered her possessions, and was out the door before the sun had even risen.

Though she tried to mask it, she could shake the feeling of uneasiness her dream had brought upon her. Thema was a strong girl who was never phased easily, but certain situations had the ability to bring out the worst in her. Her head would twitch at times and her eyes constantly scanned her surroundings. Bystanders probably thought of her as a tweaker looking for her next fix, but Themas conviction was stronger than any drug in the world.

It wasn’t easy sneaking across the border, but Thema had distracted the guards by growing a patch of wildflowers away from their station. She knew they were ordered to kill any wildlife—flora or fauna—that managed to sneak into town and used that to her advantage. But as she walked out towards the desert, she couldn’t help but think, [i]What now[/i]? She hadn’t had the slightest clue where this “Natures Haven” was. Sighing, she flared out her cowl and continued on into the valley of trash.

Mounds of garbage offered solace from the rising sun, but she couldn’t stay in one place for too long. The heat beat at her dark flesh and the stench of her surroundings was beginning to get to her. She cursed at herself for being foolish enough to believe in a dream. But she had gone so far already; to turn back now would be futile. As she stepped forth, she lost her footing and tripped a bit. It was then that the ground began to shift beneath her feet. [i]Quicksand? Or some sort of trap?[/i] It was as though the Earth was swallowing her. She let out a cry for help as the sand dragged her deeper and deeper. She screamed out of desperation as she sunk into an abyss, certain this would be her last breath.

Rubbing her eyes, it felt as though she had blacked out for days. She ran her fingers through the dewy grass she rested upon and—[i]Wait… grass?[/i] She looked around in awe, captivated by the lush grove that breathed life. “I made it!” she exclaimed. A wide smile laid across her face. She wasn’t sure why she was told to come here, but she was glad nonetheless. Unfortunately, her glee dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared. It was then she realized she wasn’t alone. There were others with her, gathered around a fire listening to an older man speak. Thema listened from the shadows as he informed the group about things such as The Void, Kyra, and Vygrons, all things that she had never heard of before. It was like she had been transported into some alien world from a fiction novel. [i]Could it be true?[/i]

Most of the group began to bicker upon each other. Some questioned the validity of the entire situation while others blindly followed the old mans words. Thema was unsure of what she should do. As if the situation couldn’t get any more bizarre, the others began to summon unearthly creatures to their side. [i]The old man had said something about guardians…[/i] she recalled. But now was not the time for that. 

It was then that an older man emerged from the shadows. He fiddled with a small knife while gazing into the fire. How his green eyes contrasted with the red flames. [i]"If we do this in earnest, we must remember that it will be bloody, old powers falling to new powers always are. That means in the end we will only truly have each-other, against all of the odds. We must choose to do this and stay true to that conviction."[/i] His speech made the most sense out of all the others, but his next line struck a chord within Thema. [i] "Gone are the days of being alone, it appears we have lost that luxury.”[/i] Though her interactions with other humans were kept at a minimum, Thema was far from being alone. Her plants played with her, slept with her, and kept her company when no other person chose to. But how much longer could she guarantee the government would turn a blind eye to her quaint shed. She needed to fight for not only herself, but for the sake of mother nature.

Thema rose from the ground, deciding it was finally time to make her decision. Taking a deep breath, she kept a stern face as she began to speak, “I shall align with you as well…‘for necessity’s sake’.”