Chapter 1 - The Child

Mora sat in her mother, Luna's, lap overlooking the vast plain. The hills rolled for as far as they could see. Hazy fog was creeping in, making it difficult to see the entire field. It was nearly time for Mora's father, Stefan to arrive home from work. Stefan was gone most of the time, working far from home.

Luna stood up, setting young Mora down. She would need to prepare dinner for Stefan. She would prepare a feast for him as it has been at least a year since they had seen him.

They lived in a small older home. It was once a nice wood cabin but since has been painted white. Now the paint is flaking off in chunks. The back porch was screened in at one point but now has holes spread throughout the screen. The home has two small bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a small bathroom. They inherited the house and the 532 acres of land it sits on from Stefan's mother.

Luna walked inside while young Mora stumbled in behind her. Luna began cooking a large ham, fresh corn from their garden, peas, and fresh baked bread. For dessert, earlier in the day, she had baked a chocolate cake, Stefan's favorite.

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Stefan turned down the long drive to his house. He was excited to see his family for the first time in a year. When he had left, Mora was only a few months old. He wondered how big she was now, how much hair she had, and if she resembled him.

As he neared the house a coldness drifted over his body and he began the shiver. He began to wonder if he was feverish.

Luna and Mora were on the front porch as Stefan stepped from his truck. Luna ran to him, Mora quickly following her mother.

Luna enveloped Stefan in a tight embrace. "You're so cold!" Luna exclaimed. "And you're shivering. Let me run and get a fire started."

Stefan watched as his wife ran toward the house, grabbing three or four logs of firewood on the way in. Then his attention went to the little girl in front of him. She looked just like him. She had soft and thin brown hair, piecing blue eyes, and fair skin. She even had a few freckles spread across her nose and cheeks.

He saw that she seemed wary of him but she didn't follow her mother this time. He knelt down to her level and reached out his hand for her to take. She looked at it then slowly reached out to him. When their fingers touch a cold shooting pain pierced Stefan's hand. He retracted quickly, looking at his daughter with fear. But the shivers stopped and his body warmed. Mora giggled at her fathers reaction.

Luna appeared from the front door. "Dinner is ready, bring Mora in and let's eat."

Stefan heard Luna but didn't take his eyes off Mora. He thought, what was that? He watched at Mora smiled at him then swiftly took off toward the house. He paused, then grabbed his luggage and went inside to the best smelling dinner.

After dinner, Stefan couldn't stop thinking of Mora. She would end up just like Stefan, a guardian. How did he pass this burden on to her?

"What's the matter?" Luna asked, analyzing Stefan's troubled face.

"Nothing, I'm just tired. It's been a long day." Stefan gave Luna a quick kiss then turned over, pretending to go to sleep.

Stefan would leave in the morning and try to fix this. Even if it was the last thing he did.