“’Father’s Feathers’. Go.” The sun gracefully touched the young lad’s face. He had a sly grin as he lay down on the warm summer grass. The girl besides him bit her lip, nodding a few times. 

“Once below the sky, 
a child did wonder why, 
he saw the birds up high, 
waving their wings in the sky. 

He begged his father ‘let me defy,
the laws that binds our lives’”

She stopped for a second, narrowing her eyes before continuing. The boy opened his eyes up wide, but was stopped by his friend, who calmly continued her reciting.

“His father did then reply
With a simply spark in his eye
He handed his son a woollen cloth
And told him he could fly.”

The blonde youngster jumped up, letting her skirt flail in the wind, bowing down with a smile on her face. He sat up, clapping his hands with an impressed smile.

“Is there any song or story you –don’t- remember?” he grinned at her.

The girl shook her head.

“No. Any story I ever heard-“ she tapped her head confidently “I remember.” She turned around, staring into the distance, at the castle.

“What about… Faces? Places?” he looked up at her. He couldn’t be more than in the fourteenth year of his life, and neither could the girl be. They were undisturbed in the wild, close to the lonely tree. The Western Kingdoms were always so beautiful this time of the year. The grass in the west was filled with life, nourishing the animals that roamed the lively plains.

“Anything.” She nodded.

“And yet you can’t read.” He smirked.

“Shush. It isn’t my fault. I told you, the letters just… They don’t stay in place!”  She burst out, folding her arms angrily.

 “Easy. I was joking.” The boy got up, brushing his pants off.

“Hilarious.” She muttered, still staring at the town down the hills.

“You told her?” he had lowered his voice, eyeing Eliana, who simply moved her head from side to side, in a calm motion.

“She wouldn’t understand. You know her.” The girl rolled her shoulder.

“You’ll be back right? Someday?” the boy asked, now stepping up besides his friend. She turned to him, smiling slightly.

“It’s not like I’ll forget you:”

“You better not. I’ll call horseshite on your memory then.” He smirked. “Go save us all then, Ghost.” 

The girl giggled, once again shaking her head at the boy. They met in a hug, before the boy stepped back and looked down, filled with a melancholic feeling. Eliana picked up her satchel, swinging it over her shoulder and sighing deeply. The two had been friends for so many years, yet this was the first that Ellie actually had to leave. She had been able to be taught for a long time in the West, and only now was required to leave it. Duty, Jonius had told her. Apparently it wasn’t everyone who could do what she, and a few others could. There wasn’t much of a choice, or rather, much of an appealing other option.

“Someday.” He said, trying to force a kind smile on his lips.

“Someday, Jack.” She replied.

[i]Present day[/i]

The darkness had consumed her. Wrapped itself around her body and mind, keeping it locked in place. She wasn’t sure if she was awake, or even alive. Her body reacted to something, but it wasn’t her decision. Something else was doing it. Something was in control. Unsure whether or not she had gone completely insane, Eliana thought she could sense the sound of a voice echoing in her head. A series of pictures flashed before her, and it was all too confusing to make sense. 

Suddenly it all stopped. She felt some of her power returning to her, as she stood somewhere isolated, yet open. There was nothing but darkness all around her, but she was still able to see, there just wasn’t anything else. Not until a smoky cloud emerged from the darkened ground. It didn’t end up as an actual figure, more just an… outline of a figure. It seemed to be grinning at her, the voice still echoing in her mind. It approached her, and waved it’s hand in a slow motion towards her, and then away, simultaneously Ellie felt her energy coming back to her, and then being drawn from her.

“You must understand… I now control both you… “ Some other cloud formed up next to Eliana, but simply stood stiff and starred into nothingness. “And … parts of your friend.” The figure channelled some strange dark strings around himself and laughed from the power rush again. “But you walkers, you’re so much easier to control…” 

Ellie felt her power drawn again, and collapsed to the ground, as her vision became blurry.

“You, I and a few other people will change the world, dear. I’m looking forward to it.”

Her eyes opened up.