Needless to say things went wrong almost immediately. As I charged towards the two bulking men, I tripped over my own feet and went sprawling to the ground. My flame went out with a puff of smoke and I stared in horror at my empty palm.

“Son of a-” I swore loudly, stumbling up onto my feet. I shook my palm in desperation, “C’mon c’mon c’mon!” I muttered, “Ignite!” I glanced up in fear as Malcolm and Alastor smiled cruelly at me in almost perfect unison.

Alastor crept closer to me, twirling a dagger between his fingers, “I do believe we now have the advantage, boy.”

Malcolm snickered, “What’s wrong boy? Ya scared?”

“Yes.” I squeaked, backing up. I coughed hard and tried to deepen my voice, “Er, no. I’m not scared of you at all. In fact, I was only messing with you.” I tried to focus on the feeling I had had when my hand had lit up, but still, nothing happened. Please, I prayed, if there is some kind of God out there, please help me. Then, the burning, aching feeling finally returned, and my hand was aflame once more. “Haha!” I laughed gleefully, “What’d’ya think of that!”

Of course, just when I was about to be super heroic and such, Kit leapt in from the trees, and in a whirlwind of blades, knocked both Alastor and Malcolm to the ground.

“Aw, c’mon Kit! I had them!” I complained, but I went unnoticed. “Kit?” I moved closer to her, then tripped and fell to the ground once more as I stared at Kit in horror. Her eyes were aglow once more, but this time, her eyes were a solid gold. No pupils, none of that white stuff around the eyes, just pure gold. Waves of power were radiating off of her in vibrant rainbow colors, and her hair was spinning around and around in the nonexistent wind.

“I warned you of the consequences, and still you disobeyed me. You have harmed this forest and those I placed under my protection. Now, you must face your punishment.” Kit spoke as if multiple entities were within her, some far more ancient than man could possibly know. She raised her hand and pointed at them. She then began speaking in a language I could neither understand, nor possibly write down. It was dark and scratchy, and the shadows around us deepened and began to envelope us in a cold I hoped I would never have to feel again.

Pressure was building, making my ears pop. I bent down in pain, covering my ears and squeezing my eyes closed. Everything was muffled, but I could still hear those screams, loud and shrill, as clear as can be. I will never forget those screams, and they continue to haunt me to this very day.

Finally, when the pressure subsided, I dared to open my eyes. Above, the sun was beginning to rise, and everything looked as normal as could be, save for two new additions to the forest greenery. Where once stood two men, now stood twin pines.

I turned, fearfully, to face Kit. Her hand was still outstretched, her eyes glowing. But slowly, oh ever so slowly, the glow faded, and her hand lowered. She was breathing hard, and as soon as she turned to face me, she collapsed upon the ground, no longer breathing.

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Far away, in another forest, a small Druid boy was running as quickly as his feet could carry him.

“Elder! Elder!” He cried, a far more ancient Druid, wrinkled with age, turned to him, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

“What is it my dear boy? What has you worried so?” He asked kindly.

The boys eyes flashed in terror, “Elder, the rune stone...it is lit.”

The old man’s smile fell, and he struggled to find breath. “Are you sure, Ithaeal? Quite sure? It wasn’t just a trick of the light?”

Ithaeal shook his head, “No sir, I saw it with my own two eyes.”

The Elder looked down, sorrowfully, he then whispered under his breath, so quietly, it was almost as if he had never said it. “So it begins again. The Druid and the Paladin. Let us hope our tale ends differently this time. For the sake of all those involved...No.”

He turned his head to look at a small carving in the tree next to him. It’s features were that of a beautiful girl, smiling as if she had not a care in the world. “Kitannia…” He mummbled, “Poor child, it is for your sake I hope this ends differently.”