The Black Crystal

Chapter 1

Copyright 2012 ©

All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

It was clear and sunny, but was still really cold. The mountains towered over the little isolated village of Tanohow, shading it from the bright light of the midday sun. The clouds had disappeared , and Fate Holland was exploring the mountains once again. She liked to be in the mountains, and away from the village. It was the only place where she could be free. Fate was out and about whenever possible, climbing mountains, or chasing any small and easy prey. Fate was a girl of 15, with long, black hair that came down to her waist. She had paper-white skin, and emerald green wolf-like eyes.

Tanohow was a legendary village, home to the sacred Black Crystal, that has lain there for 9 millennia. It is a mystery how it got there, but there are stories of it falling from the heavens, or being a gift from hell. But no one knows for sure. Everybody born in the village had a job: to protect the Black Crystal with their lives, and at all costs. It is said to house brilliant power, and could destroy the earth in the blink of an eye. It is hid deep in a cave at the base of one of the mountains to the north. The magic inside this crystal is so powerful it even effected the villagers. Most children are born with a power, but few aren't lucky, and are just normal, powerless humans. Fate, however, did have a power. Like most other villagers, she had the power to transform into an animal. Her chosen animal was the wolf.

Fate was climbing up the tallest mountain, to the east of Tanohow, known as Mount. Karasuju, to get to her favourite spot. Half way there. She was bored with this struggle. Fate willed her self to transform, in seconds she was a grey wolf with penetrating green eyes, bounding up the mountain's rocky face.

When she at last reached the top, the glorious mountain water spring awaited her. Eyeing the crystal clear water, her mouth began to feel as though there was no moisture left at all. It was all most as though climbing up the mountain had taken months. The view from here was amazing. The sky stretched over-head. Tanohow lay at the mountain's foot, like a cat curled up in front of a toasty fire (only it was freezing). Every time she came up here, she wanted to go and explore the vast world outside of her small village. Her head was filled with dreams of all the different achievements she could possibly make possible, and didn't notice the time fly by. Before she knew it, she had to go back, before her mother went crazy.

By the time she reached the foot of the mountain, it was already dark. As she wandered down the shadowed streets, Fate noticed the sound of footsteps behind her. She stopped, turned, and that girl was stood there. Mallia was 17. She had blonde hair, and olive skin. Her eyes were a stunning shade of blue, but she was one of the unlucky villagers. She had no power. She was just a normal human. It was obvious. She was jealous of all of the villagers, but for some reason, she hated Fate more than any of the others.

"Well, well. Look who's out at this time of night. Is the little werewolf lost?" Mallia smirked.

"I'm not a werewolf. And I'm not lost, either," said Fate, casually.

"Sure, sure. Whatever. Run along to your little cottage, wolfy. Enjoy the rest of the week," and without any further explanation, Mallia disappeared into the gloom.

Wondering what Mallia had meant by that, Fate raced home. Her mother greeted her at the door with an annoyed expression on her face.

She was called Jewel. Her mother and herself were almost the same. The same hair. The same eyes. Almost the same hight, but the biggest difference was their powers. Fate could change into wolf, but her mother was a brown bear, and was in charge of the fishing in the village.

"Where have you been? It's almost midnight! How many times have I told you to be back by nine?" Jewel always panicked when Fate wasn't home by nine, which was almost every night. She was one of those mothers who panicked over everything.

"Sorry. I forgot about the time, then Mallia stared to bother me again," Fate sat on the couch in front of the fireplace whilst her mother shut the door, and closed the floral curtains.

"Oh. And what did Mallia want?" Jewel inquired.

"Not much," Fate drawled, "it was just the usual insults and smirks. I've had a long day, I'm going to go to bed now. See you tomorrow Mother," then she ran up the stairs and into her room.

After getting changed into her silk nightie, Fate clambered into bed, curled up in her quilt to shut off the night's cold air and within minutes, she was asleep.