Janice hugged her younger siblings, Jake and Stacy close to her chest as they all stared out the window. Outside, the rain was falling nonstop and the wind was blowing like it would during a hurricane. Not too long ago, lightning had struck a tree and sent it toppling into the wires. So, the kids sat at the window in the dark, waiting for their parents to return.

"When are mommy and daddy going to be home?" Stacy, the older of the twins, asked Janice after a while. "It's getting late."

Stacy stared at Janice with hopeful eyes. Janice, who was only 12, didn't know what to say. What was she supposed to say to her 6 year old brother and sister? She wanted to cry, but the twins cried before her. Realizing that if she cried as well, the little ones would feel insecure, she "fixed herself" and made herself "grow up."

"Don't cry." She said. "They'll be back soon. They're helping to save the town." She whispered the song their mother always sang when they were upset.

Would you close your eyes,

Think about happy times.

The stars above will be,

There with you all your life.

When the day is over,

The sky holds the silver,

Chains that lead,

To where you want to be.

When dawn comes,

Outside will be,

Flowers that let their

Blue petals fly in the air.

So close your eyes.

Memorize the smiles.

Cause the stars above,

Will forever follow you.

She sang with all her heart till the twins stopped crying. When they did, they all stared out the window in silence once again. However, she knew that the twins were still just as restless as she was. Since it was late and there might be classes tomorrow, Janice decided that they should all go to bed. She guided her siblings to the bed and wrapped the twins up with the worn out quilt. She, herself, climbed into the bed with her siblings.

"Tell us a story." Stacy said when she settled in.

Janice paused to think for a second. "Fine then." She said finally. She began to tell the story about a land far away in the south.

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In a faraway place called Nualia, there was a girl named Thalia. She was an orphan and helped the owner of the orphanage she stayed in; take care of the other children since she was the oldest. She was well loved by the others in the orphanage along with the locals in her town, Capstrail. She was a polite, responsible girl that was capable of almost everything.

Asides from being loved by those around her, she was very beautiful. Her hair was a dark shade of blue, like that of the night sky. Her skin was pearly white and flawless. Her lips the color of cherry blossoms and eyes that were a silvery blue. She resembled a goddess yet she was just a human. In addition, she was known to be graceful, fast and agile like a wolf, soft and delicate like flowers, strong and stubborn like a man.

Thalia was often called "The Moon Princess" because of her gentle yet sometimes cold nature. It was commonly known that she was kind to children, respectful to elders, and friendly to those that were of her age. Although she was kind to people and even plants and animals, she was also said to have beat a group of bandits that tried to raid the town mercilessly.

One day, Thalia was working in a local bread shop to relieve the injured bread maker from using his left arm which he had hurt the other day falling from the roof of his house. Thalia baked the bread and set everything up with the help of the baker's wife, Mrs. Sharal. When it was time to open the shop, she received the customers with a smile. The customers, who knew her well, often stayed to talk to her about how things were going.

"Two strawberry jam bread rolls please." Ordered a man in a green cloak as Thalia started to clean up.

"Coming right up." Thalia answered. "You're pretty lucky since there are exactly two strawberry jams left."

"Oh?" He replied, clearly unimpressed.

"Four copper coins please." Thalia said after she finished packing the bread into a bag. The man handed her the money and left with his order. "Good night sir! Come again next time!" She called after him, but the man was already gone.

Even after the man disappeared, Thalia still wondered who the man was. She didn't recognize him. Maybe it was the cloak that covered his face from sight. She closed the bakery and headed back to the orphanage. Upon arriving, the younger ones attacked her and had her join them in the battle between good and evil.

"Thalia! There's an evil group of zombie monsters that want to steal the Ball of Light!" Zoey, the third oldest of the girls, yelled when she caught me.

"Raw!" Three boys, Cedric, Cody, and Mike, came running.

"Oh no! Thalia! They are coming!" Cindy, the second youngest, yelled.

Thalia played along and confronted the three boys that were playing the zombie monsters. The boys stopped in front of her and there was a pause. Suddenly, they started wrestling playfully. Thalia rolled around on the ground play wrestling the three boys. After a while, the other kids also joined the fight against Cody, Cedric, and Mike. In the end, the boys decided to give in.

"Well then, we should all go inside now and have dinner." Thalia told them.

The children all hurried into the building. However, Thalia only stood and watched them as they tumbled into the large red bricked building. She was the oldest and still not adopted. She was fine with not being adopted. Looking back onto the street, she took in the familiar silhouettes of the houses, the familiar smells from others gardens and dinners, the familiar touch of the stone paths and the grass at the side. It felt so much like home to her that she couldn't think of any place that can replace the town and orphanage.

"Thalia," It was the orphanage caretaker, who Thalia thought of as a mother. "It's dinnertime."

Thalia looked toward her and smiled. "Mrs. Hansal. I'm coming." She said and ran into the house and hugged the old woman before going into the dining room to eat dinner with everyone else. "I love you." Thalia whispered.

"Yes. I do too. I do too Thalia." Mrs. Hansal said, hugging back.

Mrs. Hansal was a small woman in her late 30s. She was a widow since her early 20s. Since she never had children, she decided to open the house left behind by her husband for orphans. 12 years ago, when she was returning to the orphanage, which had been opened for 3 years at that time, she saw a basket at the foot of the door. Inside, she saw a baby and a note on the side that read: Thalia. After, Mrs. Hansal, whose heart is kind, took in the child and cared for the child as if she were her own.

The two walked into the dining room and found the kids eating as lively as they usually do. Thalia smiled, thinking that she really did love this place. If only she could stay there forever. But, like those before her, she had to leave everything behind as well. Even if she did not want to, she had no other choice because she was just another orphan that has reached the age of fourteen. She looked over at Mrs. Hansal who had a sad smile on. Thalia knew that the motherly woman was reluctant to have any of the orphans go. However, even she had no say in this event. And soon, it would be Thalia's turn as an orphan that was never adopted even now, at the age of fourteen.

"We're having a visitor tonight," said Mrs. Hansal grimly when they had so time alone washing dishes. "It'll be after the younger ones have gone to sleep."

"I see." Thalia replied. "I've got my bags packed."

"I wish this day would never come." Mrs. Hansal sighed.

Not knowing what to say, Thalia nodded. She placed the last plate in the cabinet. Suddenly, Mrs. Hansal started to sob nonstop. Thalia wrapped her arms around the shaking shoulder and rubbed the old back. Mrs. Hansal pulled away and pulled a silver- blue ball the size of a fist from her pocket. It seemed to glow even in the bright lights of the lanterns and candles.

"This, I give to you." She said and placed it in Thalia's hands.

"This? But I can't!" Thalia exclaimed and then lowered her voice. "It looks very special."

"It's fine. Besides, I've given things to those before you as well." She said and gave a small all-knowing smile. "You saw didn't you?"

Thalia blushed, ashamed that she was caught spying. "Yes. But you usually gave them weapons. Why do I get a ball?" Thalia asked.

"It's important for where you are going. The others were heading to the Nualia Army. You, however, are going to the Rebels." Mrs. Hansal explained. "The Nualia Army fights using weapons. The Rebels do too, but they usually go on dangerous missions and such to get information for invading. So, you need this more than anything else. It was originally a dragon's egg. But it's never hatched so it is just another ball. Even so, it still contains some magic in it."

Thalia nodded and looked into the ball and saw herself in it. Like a mirror. She wanted to ask about what it did but she couldn't say anything. Instead, they headed to the living room and sat down, listening to the children call each other to go to bed. They said good night to each other and then quieted down. Mrs. Hansal signaled Thalia to go get her bags. Quietly, Thalia slipped upstairs through the halls and into her room. She picked up the one bag of belongings that rested next to the door. With a final look at her room which seemed much bigger than it did, she closed the door. She walked by the other rooms and peeked into the rooms. Some of the kids were asleep and others were telling each other stories about prince and princesses. She smiled and walked back down the stairs without looking back because of the fear of crying.

"Have you said your goodbyes?" Mrs. Hansal asked.

She nodded. "Yes. I have." Thalia answered.

Tear streaked once again, Mrs. Hansal walked over to Thalia and pulled her head down and kissed Thalia's forehead. A single tear rolled down Thalia's cheek and disappeared. They sat and silently stared into the raging fire in the fireplace. The only sound was the crackling of the wood as it burned and the tick-tocking of the clock that sat above the entrance.

"How do they choose where I go?" Thalia asked, breaking the silence.

"They fight. On the year where an orphan turns fourteen, both sides meet at a secret arena to fight. The one that wins takes the orphan into their side. There is a fight for each orphan. Orphans from other orphanages in other towns. The Rebels have lost 5 years straight till now. This year, they won the whole batch of orphans." Mrs. Hansal explained.

"I see." Thalia said.

There was a soft knock on the door. Mrs. Hansal looked at Thalia, trembling. Thalia nodded and they headed to the door and opened to see a hooded man. He nodded a greeting and wiped his boots on the rug outside before entering. He took off his hood and it turned out that he was not that old. In fact, he looked like her was in his early 20s. Maybe even younger.

His hair was a dark brown, with eyes that were hazel, and the body of a hunter rather than a warrior.

"Good evening Mrs. Robella Hansal and Ms. Thalia." The man said. "I am Nash, a Hunter from the Rebel's side."

"Good evening. Please come in." Mrs. Hansal said. "But please be as quiet as possible so as to not wake the other children."

"Of course. Ms. Thalia, the rolls I bought today were very delicious." He said.

"Thank you." Thalia replied.

"Oh? You've met?" Mrs. Hansal asked as they headed to the living room and sat down.

"He came to Sharal's bread shop." Thalia explained.

"I see," Mrs. Hansal said. "Thalia, can you go get tea and cookies?"

"Sure." She left the room and went into the kitchen to make some tea and get some cookies. She poured a few cookies from the cookie jar onto a plate and placed it on a tray for serving. She made Mrs. Hansal's favorite tea and a cup of tea that was good for relaxing after a trip. Thalia placed the cups of tea on the tray with the cookies and looked around the kitchen. "It was always a great kitchen. Guess this might be my last time in here." Thalia whispered to herself and returned to the living room.

"Thank you." Mrs. Hansal said with a small smile.

"Thank you Miss." Nash said as he took his cup after Thalia set it in front of him.

"Please drop the formalities." Thalia said. "You are my elder. In addition, once we reach the Rebel bases, I would be of lower status."

"As you wish." He said. "Your tea is extremely refreshing and delicious." He added.

"Oh yes!" Mrs. Hansal exclaimed. "Thalia is our best tea maker."

"I can taste it." Nash said with a smile.

Suddenly, Mrs. Hansal made a sad smile. "I will certainly miss her tea." Mrs. Hansal said and top a sip from her cup.

"I'm sorry for causing this pain. But we are in need of people." Nash told her. "I understand how you feel since I was also an orphan."

"My! Really?" Mrs. Hansal asked, surprised.

"Yes, I was part of the last batch." He told them.

"I see." Mrs. Hansal said sadly.

"Well, I think it's time we get going." Nash said.

"Okay then." Mrs. Hansal said. She handed Thalia a pouch of coins and a basket of food from beside her seat. "Live life well. Someday, I hope we'll see each other again."

"Thank you for caring for me all these years." Thalia said.

"Then Mrs. Hansal, we'll be going now." Nash said.

"Yes." She said sadly.

"Bye." Thalia said taking her stuff and following Nash onto the street.

She looked back at Mrs. Hansal who was standing in the door way with the warm lights shining behind her in the house. She blew a kiss with twinkling eyes. Suddenly, a bunch of kids scrambled out of the house in a hurry. Mrs. Hansal pulled them back into the house. They all looked at Thalia desperately.

"No!" They yelled. "Why are you taking Thalia away?"

"Stop." Mrs. Hansal said. The pain in her voice was clearly heard.

"I suggest we depart." Nash whispered.

"Yes." Thalia replied and they headed down the street.

"Thalia!" Looking back at the house, she saw all the kids at the gate screaming. Mrs. Hansal was still at the house door. Thalia didn't say anything. She knew that if she did, she would just end up crying and troubling everyone. So she smiled and turned away. "Thalia! Don't go!" She pulled up her hood and followed Nash through the streets of the town.

"Are we heading to the Southern Gate?" Thalia asked after a while.

"Yeah." He replied.

"The way we are going right now would take really long." Thalia said. "I know a shorter way to the gate."

"You do?" He asked.

"Yes. It's shorter for those who have good balance." She added.

"Show the way." Nash said after a while.

"Will do." Thalia replied and led his to the wall of a building. "We'll be running on the top of buildings."

"Not that hard." Nash smirked.

"Please do not get lost or hurt." She told him and climbed up onto the roof of the building by using the window ledges.

"Sure." He replied and climbed up after her. "Well then, lead the way."

"Let's go." Thalia said and sprinted off without looking back at any of the things she was leaving behind.