Introduction to Tera’s Story

This story is not named yet. However, I have begun to write it. I am releasing the introduction today for a couple of reasons.

First, I want to give you guys a teaser of the book I’m working on. Next, I am currently on a team raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I would love to use this fundraiser as a chance to give you guys more of this story. For every 100 dollars raised, I will release another chapter. That means if the chapter isn’t written yet, I need to get to work!

If you would like to donate, follow this link.

Without further ado, the intro to Tera’s story:

 Introduction

Years ago

Years ago, a war waged between the humans and the supernatural. Once, humans, fairies, witches, unicorns, giants, sasquatches, dragons, and all the other whimsical creatures of the world had resided peacefully alongside each other; this is no longer the case. Jealousy, greed, fear, and superstition gripped the hearts of mankind, sparking an ugly war in which there were no winners and some species were hunted to the brink of extinction. 

One man led the war, Sir Alexander. Sir Alexander was a vile man. While he was good at looking like a normal man, there was ugliness in his soul. The glint of evil in his eye struck fear into any that dared to cross him.

However, he was only human and had no powers or special abilities. While he had the capacity for greatness, his own insecurities, as they often are, were his downfall. To cover his insecurity, he would make up stories and do whatever he needed to be the center of attention. 

Money can do a lot of damage and, with the respect that was afforded him due to his position in society, he was able to breathe life into lies. Sir Alexander spread rumors that the giants would eat children in their beds; the witches would cast curses upon men and women for looking at them wrong. 

The sasquatches were dangerous beasts who would tear you limb to limb; dragons would breathe fire, wreaking havoc over the villages. Creatures such as fairies and unicorns were inferior.

His rumors quickly escalated and became known as truth; superstition and fear reigned and men would form hunting parties to take down the giants and sasquatches. Witches were locked away in prisons that bound their powers. Dragons were ensnared in chains while scientists used them for experimentation to create stronger weapons that would pierce their tough armor. 

Fairies and unicorns were cast to the side. Thought to be inferior, they would be dealt with last (and likely enslaved). The war raged on and on, with no end in sight. Lies breathed to life and the jealousy and greed of one man ravaged a whole world. However, one woman saw through Sir Alexander’s lies.

Lady Evanora had long been a friend of the supernatural and knew his lies for what they were. Together with the fairies and unicorns, she formed an alliance. In a small grove that would become known as Richardson grove, she recruited like-minded individuals. 

The trees became their homes and the mountains their shelter. There they waiting until the time was right to strike back, and slowly gathering support from those who saw the beauty in the differences and the need for a world at peace.

Lady Elanora trained under the dutiful eye of the warrior fairies while they waited. She would be a key component of the battle that would end the war. Together with the brightest fairies, they plotted their strategy. 

Over time, their army became bigger and bigger. eeing the war reaching devastating heights, they knew they could wait no more. The war must come to an end and their only hope was to take down the man that had begun it all. On the day of the battle that would end the war, Eva awoke early.

She prepared a simple dress with a split skirt that would allow her to move easily and a white cloak with a red interior to cover her clothes. In her boots, she hid her knives that had been crafted carefully by the fairies to endure the battle. She carried a basket in which she placed seasonal berries that were known to abound on the edge of the grove. 

Eva gathered with her warriors. With a prayer, they set off through the grove. Once they reached the bushes, the fairy folk, humans, and unicorns would take cover. There they would await her signal – the plan, of course, being to end the war with as little loss of life as possible. 

Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Eva took mud and smeared her clothes. She turned to her love, a Warrior Fairy that trained her, Zephyr. She handed him her knife, kissed his cheek, and let him know it was time. With a grimace, he swiped the knife across her cheek and bright red blood began to run down her face. 

Quickly, she cleaned her knife and stored it in her boot once more. Kissing Zephyr, she silently signaled the rest of the company to find their places to hide. The warriors moved swiftly and silently.

Soon, it was as if the forest had never been occupied. Eva found her basket and began her journey to the edges of the human camp. Taking care to take on the look of a woman that had been attacked, she stumbled across the misty field, spilling berries here and there. The berries left stains on the grass in the field and she knew this would mark her path back. 

As she got closer, soldiers began to notice her approach, and point and take arms. They would exercise caution until they saw the mark that showed her to be human. Eva got closer, moved her cloak, and extended her arm.

On the inside of her wrist, they could see the small crown that assigned her to “the superior race.” The guards visibly relaxed and ran to help her. Noting the blood dripping from her face and the disarray of her clothes, they quickly took her to a building with a private room to talk to her about what happened. 

A man was sent to fetch Lord Alexander. He quickly arrived and listened to Eva’s story of an innocent woman who had merely been out picking berries when she was attacked by an unknown entity.

The men exchanged nervous glances, knowing this story well. Attacks of the supernatural creatures had been on the rise with the war growing more and more dangerous daily. Knowing they needed to investigate, Lord Alexander implored Eva to show them where she had been. 

Taking on the look of one that was frightened, Eva chewed her hair and said she would. The men quickly gathered into a hunting party and, with men guarding Eva and Lord Alexander on all sides, they began the journey to the edge of the woods where Eva left her companions. As they got closer and closer, Eva prepared to signal those that supported the cause to end the war and allow peace in the land once again. 

As she pointed, the men in the berry bushes branched out and began to explore the woods. Eva, knowing Zephyr was watching for her signal, grasped her cloak and flashed the red on the interior.

As soon as she heard his high arching whistle, letting the rest of the warriors know that the time to strike was now, an army emerged from from the seemingly empty forest. Sir Alexander’s men quickly fell back to protect Alexander as he began to retreat, pulling Eva along with him. 

Eva’s men began to attack the soldiers that surrounded Eva and Alexander, trying to subdue them with as little loss to life as possible. However, Alexander’s men were also great in number and Alexander continued his retreat, pulling Eva by her hand.

Alexander and Eva reached the wall of the human encampment and Alexander, in a small display of bravery, placed Eva between himself and the wall.

Eva, seeing this as the perfect opportunity, slid one of her knives from its hiding place and crept up behind Sir Alexander. She quickly snaked her arm around him. Though tiny in size, she was strong due to her training. She was able to ensnare him with her knife at his throat. 

She demanded Sir Alexander to call his men off or lose his life. “Traitor,” he hissed at her. However, he yelled a command to his men to stand down. Zephyr and two other warrior fairies were quickly at her side with her unicorn mount, Pegasus.

Sir Alexander’s men fell to their knees and dropped their weapons with the sight of their leader in such peril. Zephyr quickly tied up Alexander and all the weapons were collected. They began a march to the center of town that was noticed by all with wide eyes. 

As they reached the center of town, Eva rang the bell calling the community to the town square. Once all the humans arrived, Eva launched into her speech with confidence and passion. 

For too long, we have been at war.

Our communities have been torn apart with lies that have been spread by this man. 

Fear and superstition have been allowed to reign supreme in our lives. 

Being different has become a crime,

Today, I say, “NO MORE.” This war ends here and ends today. 

Sir Alexander will be placed in the jails he designed for the witches. 

It is time to return to a world where, instead of war, we have peace.

A world where we embrace our differences and celebrate them.

It will not be easy, we have spent years fighting each other and killing each other.  

Living in Harmony again will take work, but we will be the better for it. 

Eva looked around at the people who surrounded her. Some nodded in agreement while others murmured expressions of outrage. The trust that had been so easy years ago would not return overnight. Eva had planned for this, knowing that would be the case. She would establish herself in the community with the warrior fairies to help prevent uprisings and restore peace.