Kit Bakarn

The warm breeze lifted my hair as I stared at the blood dripping from the blade of my sword.
Dear spirits, I thought in horror as my numb fingers slipped on the hilt, soaked in sweat and tears. The sword spilled from my hand to the ground, and it seemed my heart fell with it.
What have I done? I've killed someone!
Bile rose in my throat as I looked around the battlefield, a plain rich with vibrant green grass lit by the ruddy glow of the evening sun. Bodies lay everywhere, some wearing red and white, some wearing black and green. But all were dead.
Or almost all of them. As I stumbled forward, my senses trying to grip the massive overload of pain and death, a hand lifted weakly up to me, and a soft voice said,
"Please, wait."
I froze, and looked down at a warrior garbed in black and green.
The warrior smiled.
"You're no NWO tyrant," the warrior whispered, "I can see it in your eyes."
Now that I could hear the voice speak more, I realized with a shock the warrior was a woman.
"Hold on," I said, kneeling. "I'll get you some help, my lady."
She laughed weakly, and grimaced in pain at the gesture.
"Don't worry yourself about me," she breathed. "You have to go to them. My legion. They'll keep you safe. Look for their star. Find Tiberius. Tell him...tell him an old friend sent you. Ask him to train you. And don't mourn the dead. Not yet, not now when the NWO won't hesitate to strike through your tears. Respect the fallen, and move on. It's the way of war."
I stood, crying out, "But what if I don't want war? I help people, I seek the truth in matters brought to me. I don't fight!"
The woman smiled.
"Yes, you do. And you know it. You never hesitated to pick up that sword when your life was in danger. Wouldn't you want to prevent something like this from ever happening again, Seeker of Truth?"
My eyes grew wide.
"What did you call me?" I whispered. "There's a prophecy....that the Seeker of Truth will have to be the champion of light, but..."
The woman caught my hand.
"Then fight for the light of the star," she gasped, fading. "Fight to save the light of life the NWO steals from women and children. Fight for the light of honor, of peace, of love, Seeker. Fight for Alterra."
Before I could respond, her hand dropped. With my eyes misting with new tears, I looked at the banner she held. At the star, black and green and somehow wonderfully noble.
My eyes turned to the east. The armies of Alterra had pushed back the NWO that way, into the Hafer woods. As I bent, picking up the sword once more and weighing it in my hands, I knew that was where I had to go.

Now I am a Knight of Alterra, loyal to the Star. I am the Seeker of Truth, and will fight for the right to live life freely as long as that same life coursed through my veins and heart. There was no surrender. There was war. And in that war, there was peace.[/i]