"Alright Lilly, Emporia is clearly posing a threat on us. We need to find a way to get them away from us," Zach said. "Yes Zach, I realize this but, I think our main threat is-" Lilly was interrupted by a firm knock on the door. Lilly got up cautiously. There were plenty of bandits who were known to knock on people's doors and attack them. Lilly opened the door and saw a straw woven basket. Inside was a tiny, sleeping baby, bundled snuggly in a little blanket. She brought the baby inside and set her down. "What is that?" Zach asked, peering into the basket. "It's a nwew bwasket to pway in!" Zach's child, Joey exclaimed. "Why would someone leave a baby like her out here?" Zach asked, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know but, I'm going to raise her. I feel like she holds a power inside," Lilly said. "Well, you need to name her, to start," Zach pointed out. "I already know what I'm going to name her. Cady," Lilly whispered, taking Cady out of the basket. "I'll take good care of you, Cady," Lilly said with a smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~15 Years Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cady took off after Joey, sword in hand. He was so fast and she was so... tired. She couldn't stop now. She had to corner him. She could hear Joey's pounding footsteps in front of her and bolted after him. She finally got close enough to Joey to strike him down. She collapsed down against a tree and Joey jumped up and grabbed Cady's sword. She winced. He used it to block her down. Her head was pounding now, the voice in her head telling her to get up and get it. "Cady?" Joey said, dropping the sword. The pounding cleared and she looked at Joey. "Did you out-run yourself? As a soon-to-be-lord, you should get a little faster," Joey said, mockingly. Cady swept her sword off the ground and immediately ran home, away from Joey. There was something about the way he held that sword. It caused an unbearable pain in her head. It hadn't happened with anyone else. "Good morning, Cady~Kun. Would you like some fresh baked cookies?" Deko~Sun asked. "Um, sure," Cady said, walking with Deko~Sun to her place. Cady stepped in a puddle and saw her reflection. Dull red hair, piercing blue eyes and gray chain armor. "We're here!" Deko yelped, rushing inside to get a cookie for Cady. "Oh, good morning, Cady," Kevin said as he walked past. "Just think, in three weeks, Cady~Kun, will be Lord over all of these people. Over all of Falcon Talon," Deko squealed, handing Cady a cookie. "Hm, I honestly don't know if I'm ready for it. I don't know anything about myself. How am I supposed to be a lord, caring about other people's feelings if I don't even know what I'm supposed to do? Not to mention, I'm supposed to be Yarrith, the Protector," Cady vented, taking a nibble out of her cookie. "Yeah, it's a lot of pressure. But I'm positive you can do it, Cady~Kun!" Deko assured. Cady thanked Deko for the cookie and set off for home. "Welcome home! How was training?" Lilly asked. "Fine," Cady replied. "Well, go change. Supper will be ready soon," Lilly said. Cady went upstairs and changed into a blavk and red plaid shirt, light brown gloves, hiking boots and a black tank top. Cady gently set the sword down and went back downstairs. As she walked downstairs, she noticed that Zach was here, talking to Lilly. She looked nervous. Cady hid in the steps to listen. "There's absolutely no doubt Emporia is going to attack any day now," Zach said. "We can't have this happen. Cady is supposed to be lord in three weeks. We have to hold them off until then," Lilly replied, her voice filled with worry. Cady gently crept downstairs and out the door. If a war was brewing, she had to be ready. I'll use one of the swords at the training academy, she thought. She rushed off to the training academy, sure she'd find Joey there. Cady burst through the doors and called for Joey. "Cady? What's wrong?" Joey asked. "I want to continue to train. I don't care if I push myself past my limit now," Cady ordered. "Sure but, where's your sword?" Joey pushed. "I'll use one of the academy's," Cady responded, walking to the weaponry. "Why the sudden change in behavior? You never use the academy's swords," Joey said. Cady picked up a long, light blue sword with a black handle. "It's perfect," Cady whispered. Joey grabbed his sword and they left for the forest. "It's dangerous out here with Empor- you knew," Joey said accusingly. "Of course I knew. My adoptive mother is the lord, after all," Cady muttered. She stopped in a small clearing of the forest. "We're here," she said. Cady took her stance, and so did Joey. He took the first swing and she dodged it. Cady took off running through the forest as fast as she could. He struck her down. Cady fell, dropping her sword. She sat up against a tree and Joey pulled his sword to her throat. She swept up her sword and kicked him down. "You're... really... good at... this," Joey huffed. Cady dropped the sword and fell down, grasping the grass tightly. "Are you okay?" Joey asked, walking over to Cady. She was laying face down on the ground, her breaths shallow. Joey noticed a large cut that ran from the end of her shoulder blade to the beginning of her hip. "I did that," Joey said. He picked Cady up, carrying her to Lilly. He burst open the door and set her on the table, back up. "Lilly!" he shouted. Lilly walked in and saw Cady with a cut on her back. "No problem," Lilly said. She walked over to Cady and put her hands on Cady's back. The cut healed. Cady took a heavier breath. "Leave her to rest for a little while. Check back on her tomorrow," Lilly said.
