1 1. Bonds

An deadly war is raging. Families are in hiding and the most feared bonded is at large once again. In the small village of Krakerton, the parents of a small child are wondering if she will grow up in the safe environment that they had envisioned for their little girl. This where our story begins.

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"Good morning, Tom!" I call out to my friendly neighbor

"Good morning, Winter. And how are you this fine morning?" Tom replies

"I'm fine thank you. How might you be?"

"Still looking,"

"Not for the Fountain Of Youth still! You of all people should surely know that is a myth,"

"No, my glasses, I seem to have misplaced them."

"Ha Ha, no silly they are on your head!"

"Oh, well thank you! I don't know what this town would do without you,"

"Tom, quit flattering me! Well I'd better go, my mom would kill me if I wasn't dressed the way she wanted me to be for the bonding ceremony,"

"Well it is an important advancement in life,"

"I know, well see ya!"

"See you later Winter,"

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"I'm sorry Winter but the bonds ceremony has to be postponed" My mom says clearly troubled not by the ceremony being postponed but by why.

"Oh okay," I say