"Mother? Can you tell me about that constellation?" I ask as sweetly as I can, hoping that I get to stay up later. The stars had only started to show! How can she think of telling me to sleep, when the twinkle lights in the dark sky are just starting to say hi to me!

"Which one, Lei?" My mother asks me. I point out the dimmest stars in the sky, just managing to make out that there was a cluster.

"Oh? You wish to hear about Pantheon? The god of war?" She turns sharply to me, worried and wondering if I'm old enough.

"What's wrong, Mother? I'm six years old! I'm a big girl! I can handle it! Tell me!" I whine and plead with her. At some point, I start making tears in my eyes and wail like I'm going to die. That always gets my father to-

"Love? What's going on? Leilah are you ok? Did you get hurt, my sweet one?" My father's frantic hands check every inch of my pale skin to ensure that I was ok. I start to sniffle.

"Mother won't tell me about the dim constellation in the sky." I whine. Father freezes for a moment, before sighing and leaning to hug Mother to him.

"Leilah, the story of Pantheon is a sad one. Don't you want to hear about Myisha, sweet one? Or the great dragon of the starry sky? What about the starchild?" He tries to console me. I pout immediately.

"I've heard those stories a million times! I'm bored of those stories now! Myisha had so much pranking and mischief in her. I've heard almost every little trick she did. Aurelion Sol is a big dragon who follows the whims of man, Soraka the protector of the people, blah blah blah. I've never heard of Pantheon before! Tell me, pleeeeease!" I whine again.

"Leilah, I'm serious. You're not old enough to hear the story of Pantheon." I stare at him in a momentary mind collapse. Father, usually the one that can stop Mother from scolding me, teaching me the small fun stuff in life, my bestest most favorite person in the whole wide universe, just told me no? What? Mother is also staring at him in shock.

"Honey, I think that is the first time you didn't let Leilah get the story she wanted to hear." She whispered breathlessly. Father gently grabs her hand and kisses it.

"Love, the tales you tell her from those constellations or the stars, that's only tales. I understand that this one hits you closer to home. While I may spoil and dote on Leilah too much, I also know that Pantheon is a sad subject for you. I will stand by your side." They smile at each other, clearly happy. I, on the other hand, am clearly not.

"NO! I WANNA HEAR ABOUT PANTHEON! GIVE ME THE STORY!" I wail and cry, knowing Father will break and Mother will tell me.

"LEILAH!" Father booms. I immediately silence myself, afraid of him for the first time. He sighs, sweeps his tiny tufts back, and gently places a hand on my shoulder.

"Leilah, you have to understand this. This is your history. Your mother's Ancestors met him. What happened when they met is not a pretty tale. You have grown into such a big girl, but you are still a little one. One day I'll persuade your mother to tell you, but that day is not this day nor night. I believe that it is well past your bedtime. With all that ruckus, no stories. Goodnight, my only daughter. Sweet dreams." He murmurs softly to me, his deep voice making me feel safe and suddenly very sleepy.

"No fair, Father. You can't just *yawn* make me sleepy. Can I have a little story until I sleep? Please?" I mumble, the exhaustion of the day and my crying has made me very tired.

"Well, once there was a man who lived on a farm. He loved his farm very much, tending to the fields and caring for his cattle. One day, a very pretty lady came by, stumbling around-" I fell asleep to the calm, soothing voice of Father.

"Father, am I old enough to hear about Pantheon yet?" I ask Father again.

"Not yet, little star." He tells me as he tends the fields. I groan.

"I'm eight years old now, Father. Please?" I beg him, pleading for this incredible history that was still hidden from me. Every single year, on my birthday, without fail, I have asked my parents if I could hear this legendary story of Pantheon. All I ever got was, 'Not yet, my Little star. You shine too brightly for you to have a shadow.' This year, this year, I would hear the legendary story of Pantheon. For sure.

"Leilah, my darling daughter, you are still so bright and sweet. The story of Pantheon is about war. Are you sure you still want to hear about him? Aurelion Sol was the great Dragon who humbled himself to help us. Soraka, the great celestial that came to our world to help and heal. All the Aspects that constantly watch and protect us. Do you truly wish to hear about war?" I nod.

"You said that this story was our history. How can I learn from history if part of it is blocked from me?" I think I'm very persuasive at this point.

"You can learn history through their successes, not their failures." Father firmly told me.

"It's not fair! Why do I have to hear only the joys and helpful hands! Why can't I learn failures so that I can learn what not to do!" I burst out, angry and agitated.

"Because why would you wish to hear how a person failing over and over again?" Father attempts to placate me.

"What are you hiding? Why do you hate to tell me my own history? I hate you!" I scream at Father and run away. I can hear him call for me. I ignore it, preferring to run through the fields and get away from a family that won't tell me the story. I'm angered and hurt that this is something they still hide from me. I don't stop running. Not when I reach the edge of my farm, not when I enter the forest, not when I go farther than I ever have been.

"That's so unfair!" I scream into the sky. The birds fly away from the noise I made, and I finally collapse from running too much.

"Why can't I hear about my ancestors? Why is it only about the stars?" I whimper and sob out the rest of my emotions. Time passes so quickly. It was morning when I ran away, and now it is midday. My stomach growls and rumbles painfully, reminding me that I skipped lunch. I guess I better head home now.

Only, I don't know where I am. I'm scared. Where am I? Was it down this path or not? What about that tree? Did I see it on my way here? I'm scared. Really scared. I don't think being mad over not hearing a story is worth dying.

"Mother? Father?" I call out, hoping they hear me. The woods remain silent. I don't know where I am. Where are they when I need them?

A growl suddenly appears behind me. I snap my head backwards to see what found me. A huge wolf stands right there. I'm scared stiff. I can't move, only watching this wolf come closer and closer. I can smell it's breath when it snarls in my face. Breathing suddenly becomes very hard.

I can see the moment when the wolf prepares to pounce. It's muscles coil and tighten, it's mouth drips with drool, and it's eyes narrow. I'm sorry, Mother, Father. Forgive me for running off and dying. I give one last whimper before closing my eyes, prepared to die.

Someone yells out a really loud sound. I squint through my lids, afraid that I would see the wolf's teeth coming at me. Instead, a warrior with a shield and a spear appear before me, standing between me and the now injured wolf. The wolf's eyes flash from hunting to fearful, before it flees. The man in front of me sighs and relaxes before turning to me and taking off his helmet.

I might have been young, but I've seen a few winters. I've seen some of the less fortunate farmers come in with an exhausted look in their eyes. I've seen them smile at their kids before pushing them to play. I've seen their faces drop and start to cry. The man in front of me, he might not have been as thin and weak as the others, but he has that exact same look in his eyes.

"What are you doing here, little one?" The man's deep baritone asks me.

"You aren't wearing a shirt." I blurt out, still shaking and unable to think properly. The man stares at me in concern from my comment over his lack of clothes instead of the wolf. He sighs.

"I see you are still shaken from that encounter. You are quite the lucky one to have been nearby while I was hunting, otherwise I'm afraid you would not be standing here. Where did you come from, little one?" He asks me again, all the while putting his hand on my shoulder to help steady me. I take a shaky breath and stare for a while, struggling to respond. His muscles

"I came from a farm. I'm not sure where. There's no stars to guide me back." I break out into tears. The man looks very uncomfortable at the sudden appearance of my tears, patting my shoulder awkwardly.

"It's all right. I can help you home. How long have you been gone?" I stare with tears and snot crawling down my face.

"The-the-the sun was *sniffle* was behind m-m-me when I got l-l-lost." I gasp out.

"Ah, I can get you back to your home. I know where it is." He says confidently. He stands up, pulling me with him. I'm struggling to stay on my feet.

"You *sniffle* you do?" I ask, feeling hopeful after thinking I was going to die.

"Yes, small one. Would you mind hanging onto me? I can get you there very quickly." I quickly grasp onto his leg. I wrap my legs around too. He gives a soft chuckle before easily breaking my grip and holding me against him.

"This is where you hang on, little one. It will not be pleasant or easy. I will try to land as carefully as possible." He cradles me firmly as the ground beneath his feet start to rattle. I tuck my head in, scared again. I felt the air suddenly flatten my hair, the pressure on my shoulders being really strong, before feeling like I was falling. I scream in fear, refusing to see where we were. The fall suddenly stopped. Everything was sore from all the pressure against my small body. I could feel the man holding me grunt and strain against whatever we landed on, and then we came to a stop.

"Open your eyes, little one." He mumbles to me. I shake my head. "It's alright now. You are safe. Look, there's your farm." I sneak a peek then widen my eyes with a gasp. He was telling the truth! There was my farm. I could see Mother and Father stare at us.

"Mother! Father!" I scream, scrambling down from the man's hold and running up to meet them. They hold me just as tightly as I hold them. Father thanks the aspects before turning to the stranger and paling.

"Thank you for bringing back my daughter. I apologize for any inconvenience she may have caused you." Father thanks the man

The man just grunts. "It was no problem. I found her in a scary spot and helped her out. I'm glad to see she is safe." He booms out before walking off. I wiggle out of Mother's grasp.

"Wait! Mister, can you tell me a story?" I call out. Mother gasps and Father shifts himself to catch me before I can run up to him. He turns and pauses for a rather long time before he responds.

"Interesting. Most people would rather run from me than meet me again. Why do you wish for a story from me?" He rumbles as he turns back to me. I take a shaky breath.

"You're an interesting person. You stand tall and proud, but you seem so unhappy. And I want to thank you for saving me." I yell back. He cocks his head.

"Most would say that a simple thank you is enough. Why do you wish for a story from me?"

"I want a story because I want to remember you better. Can I get a story of your life?" I call out. My parents are stunned at my boldness to meet a stranger again before they cut in.

"Sir, why don't you stay at the farm? We can give you a pleasant dinner and some company before you go." Mother offers. The helmeted man seems to pause before shaking his head.

"Your offer is greatly appreciated, but I am not someone you would want to be around. However, I will not deny the little one a story, especially with how brave she was regardless of her situation. I will come back to the farm in a week then to tell her my story, if you permit." The man speaks politely and directly at my parents. Their shoulders seem to collapse.

"That would be acceptable, thank you." Father calls out. The man enters the woods and disappears quickly before my eyes as Mother and Father smother me with care and worry. I can't help but just keep thinking about that man.

Why was he so sad?

Hello, beautiful people! I hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter! I am planning on having the next 2 chapters up fairly quickly. If you like, leave a comment or a constructive criticism. I'd be happy to take it into consideration. Also, for all the grammar Nazi's out there, feel free to go to town, just make your grammar corrections in a more polite format please.