Chapter II
Runaway
Ran quickly darted up the street to her small rock house. She really didn't have to worry about her parents realizing where and what she was doing. Then again, she doesn't have any parents. The only person she can truly call a father is Elwood. Elwood was once the commander in the king's protection, and he found Ran as a baby washed up on shore. Since he took care of her, but when Alicia killed the king Elwood gave Ran to Elder Gus for protection. Elwood was then summoned to the castle and was never seen or heard from again. That was Elder Gus's chance to tell everyone to hide from their new snake queen underground.
Papa, Ran thought while looking at an old painting of Elwood,what happened to kingdom? Why snake lady here? Where go Sakura? She gently placed her fingers on the painting asking him even more questions. Ran knew she wouldn't receive answers from a piece of paper and yawned from her being tired. She walked over to a hole in the wall and pulled out a thick blanket then a thin blanket. Ran then laid the thick blanket over the dirt floor, sat down, and then covered herself with the thin blanket. Night, night Papa. she thought while looking at the painting one last time before closing her eyes to the doors of dreamland.
***************
Ran then woke up to someone shaking her shoulder, "Little Ran, wake up child." she opened her eyes to see Elder Gus. Before she could speak he covered her mouth, "A knight found an entrance to our home and they are already capturing people. I must take you and the other children away from here, these are the parents orders. Now, now come, come." Ran knew Gus was telling the truth because he stuttered. She quickly stood and grabbed another rat fur bag; she then placed her picture of her papa inside.
Ran followed Gus outside to see the group of her friends, then turned to the left to see a burning glow of light colored in shades of red, orange and yellow. Ran then found Ben in the crowd as they walked away from Ran's home, "What that Ben?" she asked while pointing back to the light. "That fire." Ben answered as they walked away. Ran and the other children were lead by Gus to a cavern entrance, "Everyone listen. I can't go with you any farther, but if you continue through this tunnel you will reach Sepol." Gus stated while at the entrance once all the children were inside. "You, all of you, are the only hope for our people. Go to the king of Sepol, Thomas, and tell him of us. This is your new mission children, don't let us down." He then backed away from the children to out of the cave, Gus then waved his hands and the entrance shut.
Many of the children then started to cry, worrying for their homes and families. "Come off it!" Ran climbed up to the top of a bolder, "Gramps said its up to us right? That means no crying! If we see Thomas then we help save all of kingdom. Lets go!" she then jumped off the bolder and ran down the tunnel. Ran heard cheers behind her and everyone followed.
But then an explosion came from behind and knights appeared. Ran and the children all ran in different directions to confuse the knights. "Ran!!" Ran turned to see Ben being taking by a knight, "Ben! Me come-!" "No! Go!" Ben yelled back as he was taken. Ran then hid in a small hole in the wall and waited for the screams to die down. Once they did, she peeked out to see that everyone was gone. No cry! Must go to Sepol! Ran yelled to herself and ran down the tunnel towards a hidden door.
She opened it and went in to see a study room. Random books and papers on the floor and selfs, for a minute she thought she was back at Gus' home. "The blue book." Ran heard as she walked passed a bookshelf, she then saw the blue book and picked it up. It opened another tunnel, but this time Ran could see the light at the end. She quickly put the book in her bag and ran up the tunnel to the exit of the cave.
