-=Chapter One: That which stalks the Shadows=-

"All day, staring at the ceiling,

Making friends with shadows on my wall.

All night hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep

because tomorrow might be good for something." - Matchbox Twenty = Unwell.

Near colorless eyes framed by long, thick lashes stared over a vast expanse of greenery from a standpoint high above the ground. The sharp, sweet smell of roses intoxicated the air; which blew lazily by in the form of a tender breeze.

Thin, frail looking hands gripped tightly to a tree trunk, holding it merely for support. A white wrist band with black X's crossing it's surface dangled a chain which followed to the inside of the it, covering a thin arm.

It was no coincidence that the person gripping the tree could not see the vibrant colors around her, but she was used to it, the black and white of her small world. She knew all too well the world wasn't quite the same, she wished it were, it would make her work a heck of a lot easier, or so she thought.

The night sky above her was illuminated only by starlight, her world had no moon. To her, it was light pinpricks of gray in a sea of black, just like everything else in her surroundings.

She wore a dress that went only to her mid-calf, and offered only enough protection to keep the rain off her, not that it was raining, she wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

Short strawberry blond hair moved with the wind, occasionally moving into her eyes. She ignored it, her attention focused on other things, things that held more importance than her hair getting in her eyes. If anything, it amused her, as if the world were trying to keep her from seeing the fields in the distance.

For a girl who could only see things in black and white, she had extraordinarily sharp vision, being able to spot things at least twenty meters away. It oft annoyed her peers, who prided themselves on being better than her, they who could see in more than black and white.

Her attention was not focused on her annoyance towards her idiotic peers, or the hair in her face; no, it was focused on the shadow moving in the fields like a predator, stalking the various creatures hidden away in the brush. It moved gracefully, and with purpose.

The girl sighed, there was no point in trying to figure out exactly why the shadow moved as it did without going to investigate further. She looked down from her perch on a high branch of the tree she so delicately balanced on.

"That's going to be a long way down," She mumbled mostly to herself, "Should I jump?" Another useless question, she knew full well what could happen if she did so, as her mother often nagged her about her climbing habits.

So she climbed down, moving quickly, feet barely looking for a place to latch onto before locating another point. The girl was down in a matter of moments, smiling to herself, it was an accomplishment to her.

"Five seconds, that's a new record," She noted duly, marching off in the direction of the fields. She was incredibly curious about the shadows there, perhaps more than anyone else. It was natural to her, no-one else bothered to spend time with her, she was considered eccentric, and most likely cursed.

The girl didn't care, her parents accepted her for who she was, and that was all that mattered. Her small feet pitter-pattered on the ground, slightly kicking up the dark gray earth around her. She crossed the plain wheat fields to the patches of ground that were the harvest fields.

It was the place the shadow often rushed through while the animals grazed peacefully, though she had to admit it wasn't very peaceful once the poor creatures caught on.

She smiled again, it was curious how the animals could tell something was amiss, especially since the farmer who owned these lands prided himself on being able to tell about just such a thing. Of course, she knew he wouldn't believe her if she told him what was going on.

Something moved in her peripherals, she quickly turned toward it, then turning back, it had been nothing but a jack rabbit. She glanced around, looking for signs of the shadow she'd seen so clearly from a distance.

Sitting down, she noted that the earth had been trodden on not to long before, by someone with a fondness for boots, the farmer perhaps. The girl sighed, "I suppose the shadow won't pass by now, with someone like me here..." She trailed off, she wasn't hoping to draw the shadow out, she was smarter than that, no, she merely wanted to say that she'd seen the shadow, "Oh well, I guess I'll go home then."

She hopped up, nearly falling over herself from the abruptness of her own actions. She giggled and used her hands to keep from toppling over.

In the distance, someone chuckled lightly, as if amused, "Silly girl," The voice was like a whisper on the wind, not quite there but audible all the same.

The girl glanced around wildly, looking for the source, "Good evening Mr. Shadow," She whispered softly, composing herself.

"Oh?" The wind whispered again, "And how would you know I'm a Mr. little lady?" It's tone was mocking, teasing the young girl.

She shrugged, "Most woman ask if a girl is all right when they almost fall, guys think it's funny, especially when I fall. Though if you are a woman, then I apologize for mistaking you for a man," She sounded awfully intelligent for someone who looked like an eight year old.

"No, you were correct," He whispered, "I thought I would confuse you; it is amusing to watch people trip over themselves to make sure they are correct as possible."

The girl blinked, she wasn't sure she understood this shadow, "Oh, okay."

He chuckled, her confusion was clear on her face, "Might I ask your name young lady? You seem rather out of place here on this farm. I don't believe I've seen you around here before."

"I've seen you dozens of times," She bounced, "I don't usually come down here though, normally I just observe from a giant tree about five minutes from here. I'm Zephyr, Zephyr Crosswinds."

The wind picked up, sending leaves all over the place, "Well then," His voice was louder this time, "I suggest Miss Zephyr, that you leave now. The owner is coming outside soon, and it is getting quite late, I'd hate for you to catch a cold."

Zephyr bobbed her head, "Okay, though I don't really see the difference between here or the tree, it's gonna get freezing either way," She darted off in the direction she came from, toward the tree she'd been standing on earlier.

"I meant for you to go home Miss."

She giggled aloud, moving quickly across the ground, "The tree is my home. Mom and Dad went somewhere a long time ago, and they aren't ever coming back..." Her cheerful look faltered slightly, then she smiled again, "At least, that's what the man in the black and white robes with the cross said. I don't really believe him though, 'cause they left signs for 'em both, in this really creepy place with cobwebs an' spiders. One of the village people leaves flowers there every year too, I think it's awful nice of 'em," A grin covered her face with joy, "I know I'll see 'em again someday, I jus' gotta be patient."

This bewildered the shadow, how could they have not properly explained the concept of death to this girl? It seemed cruel to do otherwise, she wouldn't ever see her parents again, ever, "Don't you get cold?" He asked curiously.

"Sure do," She shivered dramatically, crossing her arms, "But it's nothing I can't handle, 'cause I'm used to it!" When she got the the large leafy tree, she tottered up it like a monkey, swinging up the branches like a gymnast.

He was impressed, but also feeling empathy for this strange and eccentric girl, she obviously didn't like to let on to her suffering, "Sure you're not just bragging?" He questioned.

"Yup!" She giggled, "I'll be fine!"

He sighed, she seemed stubborn too, "I suppose I can keep you warm tonight kid, until you find a blanket."

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, "You mean, until I find someone willing to sell someone like me a blanket? 'Cause nobody in town wants nothin' to do with a girl like me..."

"And why is that?"

"Cause they think I'm cursed."