The Whisper of the Nightingale

Prologue

The Dark Forest. A place that everybody feared. The trees in this forest were so tall and so dense that the forest floor had since long been cast into a stage of perpetual darkness. Many camp-fire stories have been told about this unfriendly place, and the numerous people that have entered, supposedly, never to return. Most people see these myths as just that, myths, but despite the world being in an age of technology, were every inch of the globe was meticulously studied, explorers had never quite been able to navigate through the entire Dark Forest. . . .

Deep in this otherwise silent place the quiet night was interrupted by the light sound of someone running. A young woman was rushing through the dense woods. Normally this person's running wouldn't make a sound, no matter how hard the young woman pushed herself to run, but today was different. If one were to look closely, one would notice that the sleek, black, leathery suit she was wearing was drenched in blood. This in itself was not unusual for her, but this time, most of the blood was hers.

On her back sat a small child whose long, silvery hair whipped wildly behind them as they made their way deeper and deeper into the forest. The child was a young teenager, at most, but had a very androgynous appearance making it hard to tell if it was a girl or a boy. The child's originally white clothes were now dyed red from tightly hugging the running woman.

"Just a bit further, Miss Night!" the child urged.

"Quiet!" hissed the woman; she was afraid that someone might pin-point their location through their voices.

Unfortunately, her fears were not without reason, because a couple hundred meters behind, her dozens of people in black cloaks were rushing to catch up to them. They were being hunted and the distance between the hunters and the hunted was slowly shrinking.

The chase continued and before long the pursuers had all but caught up, only tens of meters remained. Just as 'Miss Night' was about to curse that the situation had become hopeless she noticed a clearing up ahead, and on the other side of that clearing was a very narrow passage between two mountain sides.

'This must be the Rift! If the kid can get through to the other side he will be safe!' The sight made her lip twitch into a slight smile as she forced her legs to make a last spurt towards the Rift. One meter away she stopped and practically threw the child off her back and into the narrow passage.

"Run! Don't look back!" As the young 'Miss Night' shouted she turned around to face the oncoming assault of their pursuers. To herself she thought bitterly 'This is why I never took any protection missions - running away on your own is one thing, but standing ground. . . .'

The child only paused for a second before he too turned and, with tears running down his cheeks, dashed deeper into the Rift. Behind him the clearing had already been filled with nearly thirty angry looking men in black cloaks who all aimed their firearms at 'Miss Night', his savior.

For a moment the silence returned once more to the forest. The pursuers suddenly seemed hesitant to continue, as if their numbers and numerous firearms no longer would be enough to take care of the woman in front of them. After what seemed like ages, an older gentleman stepped out from the crowd.

"Raven Night! By the order of the Union I demand that you let us pass!"

The man's shouts echoed against the mounting walls but Raven's only reply was to, with a flip of her wrists, activate the two sword-units she was carrying along her arms and readying her stance for battle.

"You have already killed nearly a hundred of your comrades! If that child doesn't die, being the Night Songstress won't be enough to spare your life!"