This is the first 3 chapters in the book that I have been writing... Let me know what you think of it!  Enjoy!

**Chapter 1**

Light snow glistened in thin sheets across the landscape of the Arisha Plains.  Tiny birds known as borki skimmed across the surface of the snow, looking for bugs to eat.  The winds blew softly through the trees and the grasses sighed a breath of relief at the rays of the suns, shining their warmth down onto the land through small fluffs of clouds swimming in the sky.  A small cloaked figure worked its way across the plains, kicking up small flurries of snow in its wake.

For the past two years Fasile had traveled across the southern continent.  She encountered many different Peoples and creatures.  As she walked across the Arisha Plains, Fasile realized that she had never been this far south before.  Letting her cloak hang from her body, Fasile hungrily took in the landscape.  A large mass of rocks to the south forming a tall cliff shrouded in a black mist, thin forest on her east and west, and her footprints in the grasses that lead toward the north.

A young borki, so intent on digging a tweedi bug out of the snow didn't notice Fasile's approach and was almost crushed beneath her steps.  "Silly little thing, you need to learn to keep an eye out for other creatures,"  she told the borki, picking it up gently, "You could have been hurt."  Nodding its little head in understanding, the borki gave a quick chirp and flew off into the trees.  "This is certainly a beautiful place.  The Arisha Plains I believe." She kept walking south.  "I need to find a stream or a spring.  There isn't much water left, but if all fails, I'll have to use the snow."

The wind shifted suddenly, carrying a faint whisper to her ears.  "That is  funny, I could have sworn I heard a persons voice," she though, looking around the snow, seeing no steps other than hers and the borki's.  The whisper on the wind came again and she called out, "Halloo?  Is anybody there?" Looking around she still saw nothing except a flock of borki perched on a tree.  "I don't see anything, it must be my imagination.  Fasile, you have been wandering too long."  She wiped her forehead and continued walking.  After only a few strides a large gust of wind came from the trees and hit her.  The borki chirped crazily and flew about their roost in a swirl of black feathers.  "Something is not right.  But what is it?" she asked herself out loud .  In reply to her question, the young borki that she spoke to earlier flew over to her and chirped in a crazy pattern.  "What?  There is a what where?" she asked it, struggling to understand its quick speech.  Suddenly the borki dove off of her hand and flew back to the tree with its comrades, chirping like mad.

Fasile followed it, running towards the tree.  It was then that she saw the blood upon the ground.  It was so thick in some places that it melted the snow letting the small grasses underneath look up through the watery crimson..  She would have turned and left right then for the aura surrounding the area by the large chobi tree but the borki screeched at her, forcing her onward.  Walking cautiously to the other side of the massive trunk, Fasile found the origin the blood soaking the ground. 

The creatures bat-like wings lay bent in an odd position, both of them torn and shredded, blood running off onto the snow, so hot that it made a hiss every time a drop touched the cold snow.  Fasile judged that it was female and she lacked of clothing of any sort.  Kneeling by the body Fasile removed her cloak and placed it over the creature, some of the blood touched her skin but it had no effect on the little eleven traveler.  The creature was still alive and needed serious medical attention.  She brushed back the crimson colored hair, revealing a beautiful face.  Suddenly the creatures eyes flew open and a horrible shriek escaped its lips, which parted to reveal perfect white teeth and pointed fangs. It was then that Fasile knew she was holding a demon.  It looked at Fasile with white eyes then slipped helplessly into unconsciousness.

**Chapter 2**

Soft light from the twin suns shone cheerily through the narrow windows, spilling onto the bed in which the demoness lay sleeping.  Fasile sat on a stool by the bedside wondering what was to happen next.

"Its a good thing you found her when you did.  Otherwise she would have died," said an old man as he mixed some herbs together in a rather putrid smelling potion, "I am not an expert in demon biology, but I would say that she was some sort of cross-breed."

Fasile looked at the old man, "I didn't think I would be back tracking so soon back to your house, Bari.  Sorry for interrupting you, but thank you for helping her out."

"Its no problem Fasile.  Anything to help a friend out."  he spread the vile concoction over the demoness tattered wings.  "Lend me a hand here."

"That stuff is foul,"  Fasile said holding one of the wings steady as she gingery applied the ointment.

"It may be foul, but it sure works!"  The two of them spread the potion over the torn wings and bandaged them carefully, trying not to further tear the delicate wing membranes..  "Nice to have something to do out here once in a while you know?"  Fasile nodded a reply.

Bari lived alone on the outskirts of the human settlement of South Pike.  He was regarded as the town medic and the townspeople would come to his house and have him tend to their ailments.  Generally loved by his townsman, he was always welcome in South Pike, but tend to stay in his house in the country.  Often times groups of children would come to talk to the old man, for he told great stories of the olden times when the lands were war-torn and knights had valor.  The children had never seen a dragon and they particularly loved his tales of the Kyne that lived in the DragonSpires and of the Aqui that lived in great cities beneath the sea. 

For five days the demoness slept, and through it all, South Pike was alive with merriment.  It was rare that travelers made it that far south and Fasile's presence there made for much entertainment.  The people of Pike thrived on stories.  There was a certain magic to hearing the tales of a traveler that linked them to the world beyond.  By the end of the fifth night Fasile couldn’t remember ever talking so much, or an audience so dedicated to listening. 

Despite the good nature of the Pikefolk, there was some underlying tone of  suspicion though, because of the demoness presence so close to Pike.  The towns people knew not to go too far past the Arisha Plains.  There one would enter the DarkLands, where the demons dwelled, and your soul was said to be devoured and you would be made into one of them.  As far as any of the townspeople knew, this was the truth.  However, a traveler like Fasile was not scared of such a thing and was making her way to pass through the DarkLands when she found the demoness in the plains.  

"Bari, I suppose you have heard the rumors?"  Fasile asked one night after a long period of story-telling.

He looked at her through the smoke coming from his pipe.  "Yes, and I have no answer for them.  The demons have never bothered South Pike, they generally keep to themselves.  But it is a strange issue to find one of them in such a condition outside of the DarkLands."

"Judging from the lacerations all over her body, not to mention her wings being shredded in such a way, do you think she was trying to escape from something?"

Like I said before, the demons don't leave the DarkLands, unless there is a reason.  They are virtually unknown as a species.  In fact, as you know, many northerners regard them as a tale, and don't believe they exist.  Which is quite silly to me because I have talked to them before."  he drew from his pipe and sat quietly for a moment while Fasile looked at him strangely.  "I know, sounds strange, but they have their own way of life, and its none of my business.  But like all others, there are good ones, there are bad ones.  And when there was a particularly evil leader, most all of them went bad."

"In the last great war we had right?  There were demons fighting on both sides, or thats how I heard it.."

"Regarded as a myth no doubt, but that was 1,000 years ago.  There needs to be a way for everyone to understand the history of Arviz, as vast and expansive as it is,"  he drew another breath through the pipe and let the smoke curl lazily into the air.

Fasile chuckled, "Not even the Kyne or the Aqui know the entire history of Arviz and they are supposed to be the oldest breed on the planet!"

"That is true.  Knowledge is precious.  And so is sleep.  Im going to bed.  Good-night."  Bari stood from his chair and went into the next room.

Fasile looked after him and smiled a little.  She knew he would be writing in his book of history, the events of these past days.  Getting to her feet, she walked over to the bed in which the demoness lay.  It was hard to believe such a thing had been done to the poor creature, and Fasile tenderly brushed back the Crimson locks of hair.  They were soft, and silky, much like her own.  In fact even their faces were almost alike.  Fasile sat on the stool by the bed, and as the last stars began to fade from the moonless sky, she fell asleep holding the demoness pale hand. 

**Chapter 3**

Fasile found herself in the dark.  It was cold and she was running as fast as she could to get away from something.  There were about six of them behind her, she couldn't see them, but she knew they were after her.  They hated her because. . .she was not one of them.  She tripped over a rock in the inky blackness and fell to the ground.  Instantly they were upon her hitting and slashing at her body.  She unfurled her wings and beat them off of her.  Free for an instant, she lunged forward and ran as hard as she could, the voices of the six yelling at her.  Using her hands she tore the chain from around her neck and cast it aside, there would be no more need for them, the chains that had held her captive for so long.  The suns were rising, and she could see the snow on the plains beyond her.  Freedom! she thought, it was such a lovely word. Freedom. And it would be hers in only a few moments.  Spreading her wings, she dove off a large cliff and emerged from a dark swirl of mist into the bright light of the two suns.  A breeze carried her higher into the air.  As she saw the world, a searing pain flashed across her body, the membranes of her wings tore into tiny bloodied pieces and she spiraled toward the white earth.  A dark shape loomed in front of her and she felt the impact.  It shot through her body and she passed out from the pain.  During the confusion and torment, she opened her eyes and saw her own face looking down at her and she screamed an unearthly howl that tore through the air.  As she did, the world went as black as the night from which she came.

Fasile woke with a start from her dream and shook her head.  The memory still alive and she shuddered with recollection.  It was awful. . . such an awful nightmare. . . but could it be. . .? She turned and looked at the bed, and at the demoness quietly sitting up, looking at her through pearl-colored eyes. 

You know what happened. It said to her, filling her mind with the words. You know what happened.  Thank you for saving me and bringing me here, away from the darkness.  Please don’t send me back.

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These chapters are my own work.  Any similarities between this work, and any other, is purely coincidental.  I have worked hard on this story, so please do not use any of it without my permission.