• Blood

    Tanya Lockheart

    Even at the age of six, Tanya loved to play with swords, though since she was so young, the swords she played with were wooden. Her brother Hexavior usually played with her, but this night, he was missing. Hopping onto a stump sticking out of the ground, she looked around the clearing the two of them had made so they could play their games. The tree’s surrounding her looked ominous, their branches hanging down like claws, as if they would snatch her up and eat her. Hearing a twig snap, Tanya spun around on the stump, her wooden sword up and at the ready, giggling and lowering it once she realized who it was. “What took you so long?” Tanya asked as she hopped down from her stump, running over and wrapping her arms around her brother, Hexavior. Pulling back and holding her sword at the ready, she blinked, “Where’s your sword?” Looking into his eyes, she started to get worried, usually his eyes were gentle and caring, but right now his eyes were blank, devoid of any emotion. Born only moments before her, the two of them had bonded and could read each other like a book, so she could tell something was wrong. Looking up into Tanya’s eyes, Hexavior smiled slightly, just a small turn of his lips, but still a smile. “I’m leaving,” he said. “Dad may worship Llanach, and Ma may worship Moria, but I wish to serve another.” Turning from her, Hex started to walk away, “Wait,” Tanya called after him, “What about me?” She whispered as her brother disappeared into the forest.