"The demon within."

Her heart raced. Scared, alone, running through the night too terrified to look back at the horror behind her. Samara ran for her very life. They killed her mother farther and two brothers. Burning their bodies as they chanted and smiled. The poor farmers daughter wanted to understand why they had done this. What could a small farmer family had ever done to justify the death of her family? Samara remembered it all.

They lived just inside the edge of the forest away from the village and most people. A small plot of land to farm and a few animals to help make other necessities. They never traded or sought help from the outside. As half elves they were shunned by both sides. Never really accepted by anyone. 

Then this night they came. The three heavy horses they rode to their home were white and massive to help carry the riders adorn in full armor. One of the knights even wore a white and gold tunic over the steel plate. A symbol of the sun in the center closer to the top of the chest. Her father came out of the house. "Children inside! Quickly!!" She ran inside at first. To the arms of her mother. The two brothers waited inside looking out the window towards father. 

Father raise his hand speaking a strange language at them. They had spears and swords tied to their belts. They pointed their spears at father as he talked. The main person with the tunic struck first. Stabbing father in the waist as his horse moved forward driving father to the ground. The other two stabbed him as well. One pierced her fathers chest and the other went through his neck. He died there on the ground in a small pool of blood. Samara felt the tears fall from her mother onto the top of her head. 

Even before she could begin to cry her brothers ran out the front door . Even as their mother screamed at them from inside. All Samara did was watch and try to understand why. Why was this happening? Both brothers grabbed a tool from the field and rushed at the knights. They were no match. The horses were well trained and the stood their ground trusting their riders would keep them safe. The kights moved with experiance as they struck down the youths two thrusts one from each and it was over. Some of the blood sprayed onto the white horses coat. 

The men spoke their strange language to each other. One pointed to the house. The tunic clad knight dismounted and the others became silent. Bold as he shouted a few words in Samara's language. "Come out. We will save you. Come into the light or burn in that house."

"My love, You must run! Run far away I will stop them from chasing you but you must hurry! I love you! Now, RUN!" Samara's mother pushed her toward the back door, her eyes filled with tears as she watched Samara open the front door. Her mother walked into the light. 

She ran out of fear. Samara didn't look back but heard the yelling and her mother cry out. She ran into the darker part of the forest. Parts normally where her father bade her not to go.

The forest was ancient her father would say. "It held secretes and loss. The trees demanded respect and therefore they should never be harmed. If you ever wonder too far into the woods do not fear the trees they are your allies as long as you continue to respect them." Her father never took an ax to them or used the woods for anything. The further into the forest Samamra ran the darker it became. 

It wasn't long though she was being chased by the sound of heavy horse. The forest would make it difficult to follow the roots hitting their hooves. The narrow spaces and she was running still until her legs felt like lead. Samara slipped behind a larger tree. She made herself small by squatting down and hugged her knees. In that moment the tears came. A hand over her mouth to muffle the sobs. She heard the metal of their armor getting closer and closer. She closed her eyes hoping they wouldn't see her. "You. It's time for your justice." 

"Why I've done nothing you killed my family and..." The sword struck her in the chest. The blade was cold and sharp. Her chest felt heavy with the metal inside her. Samara's body felt cold, her stomach tightened and she felt like she was falling. 

When she awoke she was covered in blood. Barely able to stand like a new foal she trembled at the site. The knights were torn apart and blood spattered all over the area. The horses were even mutilated. Giving the area the smell of a butcher shop. The gods had answered her. They had given her justice.