*walks into room with hands up* Firstly, I'm sorry ok! I was... being lazy. *sniffs* I know I was super duper late with this chapter but I proooommmiisss it won't happen again!

*rubs hands together and sucks in breath through teeth* Well then are we ready for this? Yes! Of course we are as always! *bows head and waves hand* Proceed at your own risk... I mean... Have fun! *exits through door*

Azlan held tightly to his wife's hand. She was eight months pregnant now and so much had happened within the time that they had left their demolished tribes lands to now. Azlan was currently in the back of a wagon, a strange contraption with four round branches of wood called "wheels". He and his wife were traveling to the neighboring city to the Tribe of Naut.

The name was " The Branches of Elise". They were a strange tribe according to their history, which seemingly they began from the root of a meeting ground of many people. Tribes from all over the country would come together here, in peace to talk about their problems and try and help each other. In that time it was called "The Guild of Elise" (Elise being the name of the land). Since that time, men and women of different relations settled together to live as one. In these days the tribes people were so integrated that it was hard to tell at all where one's family roots began and another intertwined. The people all had an exotic look and feel to them, with many being of surprising physical combinations. Some with black skin and blue eyes and white hair, some with white skin and black eyes, and blue (yes blue) hair. There were rumors of men with wings that lived there, women with horns protruding from their heads, humans of such shocking physical characteristics that the imagination did not serve enough to see them.

The wagon had been driving for nearly six days now, two oxen pulled the rickety, wooden contraption over hills and down river beds. Azlan looked at his wife as she slept in the sunlight. Her hair shone like golden straw in the sunlight of noon, a breeze blew by and tossed the maiden's hair around. Her hands rested gently on her swollen stomach. Azlan sighed in a moment of bliss, as he pushed the oxen onward on the well worn out trail.

It was a few hours later, Nalah woke up from the familiar rock of the wagon gone, "Are we stopping for the night?" She asked groggily. Her husband was jumping off and tieing the oxen to a pole near a large gate. The gate was made from polished steel, a fence of mud rose up fifteen feet high, touching the dark evening sky. Streaks of purple and orange danced in the heavens as the sun set on the western horizon. Azlan lifted his wife from the wagon as he said, "Yes, we have arrived. We will take our belongings and enter at the gate." He sounded tired, but hopeful. "We will be safe here." He said in a low whisper, caressing Nalah's face in his rough hand.

The two of them took their sacks from the back of the wagon and made their way to the clean path that led to the gate. The metal shone with a bright orange reflection of the sky, it rose higher than the fence itself, and was decorated with paints of varying color. All had a quality to them that was nearly magical, they seemed to shine and pop out from the metal prison. Designs of trees, flowers, vines and people of different colors graced the face of the Elise's Gateway. Azlan rose his hand and knocked on the gate. Almost instantly the gateway parted in the middle and slid to either way, revealing an entrance far grander than imaginable. Four guards stood in front of the way through, they wore heavy leather garments as armor and only some metal, they all had wings. Feathered, large, magnificent wings. One of them had dark brown skin, black hair, bright green eyes, and forest green wings, he came closer to Azlan and Nalah.

"What brings you to the Branches of Elise strangers?" He asked in a low voice that did not shake in the slightest. Azlan stood a little straighter and then spoke, "Me and my wife seek shelter and help from the people of Elise, our tribe has been wiped out by the tribe of Anex. We are desperate for a safe place to call home. And we seek help to unite surrounding tribes against the Anex. We plead with you to let us join you."

One of the guards, a woman with long purple hair, and blue eyes and white skin spoke then, " We are sorry to hear of your loss and will take you to the doyen of us. Follow us." Then addressing the smallest of the guards, he looked to be no more than sixteen, "Take the oxen and the wagon, we will give them feed and water at the barn shelter." The obedient guard nodded once and took the lead rope of the two animals. Then the dark man with the green wings, took the sacks off Nalah and Azlan. The last remaining man, with red hair and light brown skin walked to Nalah and asked, "Might I carry you so you do not do harm to your unborn?" Nalah looked at Azlan for agreement before allowing herself to be carried, bridal style, by the man. He flew a foot above the air. With as little effort as a lazy swish of his large wings. They were a bright orange in color. The doors shut behind them as they were led down a stone pathway. Hedges of green vines and roses made a tunnel down the path. The purpose was clear. No one could run away through the thorny barrier. They walked in silence to a large wooden door at the end of the tunnel.

The door was opened by a woman of strong structure. She was well muscled and had a ferocity in her eyes that could only be matched by the roaring cries of a wildfire. Her lips pulled into a small smile as she beckoned them in.

"Seat yourselves guests." She spoke in a low, mystical voice. Her hand waved to a few large cushions by a warm fire. The floor was not packed dirt. But wood. Azlan and Nalah admired in silence as their feet touched a polished surface that was not stone. They sat on what felt like skins of rabbits stuffed with goose feathers, a softness that was unmatched by anything ever experienced by the couple. Almost as soon as they sat down, a young girl who looked maybe thirteen came in with two cups of a warm liquide. They took it without question and drank deeply, it was sweet and held a slight but noticeable fruity flavor. The woman then sat before them in a large chair, she fixed her colorful skirts and said, "My name is Unibella, I am the doyen of the Branches of Elise. I would like to know who you are, where you come from and your story."

And so the talking began. Fruit and beverages were served throughout by the girl who's name turned out to be Kira. The story was sad, and Nalah shed tears as her husband's voice shook as he recounted the horrors that befell the Tribe of the Lions. By the end of the hour, the story had been recounted.

"And so we came here, hoping, praying that we could find a safe place to birth mine and Nalah's child. We are hoping that you will agree to stand with us and unite the tribes of the lands against the Anex."

The woman was silent, her eyes dark and wise behind her white hair. She looked no older than eighteen, and yet held wisdom far beyond that. Her lips were pulled into a tight line as she spoke again, "Your story brings me great sadness friends. I am truly sorry for you. My people welcome you and we will be gratified if you would join the Branches... as not only a member. But one of us. Become part of our family, we will give you the symbol of our people unto your skin. And you will become one of us. What do you say to this offer?"

"We accept it." Nalah said before Azlan could reply. He smiled and took her hand in his. " We do accept this, with many thanks." He spoke. Unibella smiled and stood up. Her clothing seemed to melt from her, and in its place a waterfall of silver silk, a gown so smooth, so perfect, not a seem to be seen, the fabric seemed to move like water itself, hovering an inch off the ground, in a pool of mystic beauty. Her arms were bare except for the golden arm bands that held the thin sleeves of sheer silk attached to the back of the dress. She then spoke, her voice higher somewhat and young. "It is then permitted for you to see the true colors of my village. I welcome you to the Branches of Elise!" As she said this her skin glowed with a pink aura and her eyes lit up, a horn of pure white gold rose from the center of her forehead, beautiful vines slithered across her arms in elaborate decorations of plants and small pink and white bloomings of flowers. Her skin shone milky white and she floated up into the air, her arms rose and suddenly the roof above them opened.

Heavenly streaks of light, flowing beams and rays threw themselves through the roof, the smell of flowers was strong and sweet, cherry blossoms, lavender and rose. Birds of paradise flew above head and called out in songs of bliss. The roof continued it's descent into the walls, until the entirety of the roof was gone, then in the middle of one far wall, it split. Unibella swayed her hand, a smooth gesture to the wall. And suddenly it parted. Magical wind blew in golden and red leaves, a warm gust carried the scent of earth and water to Azlan and Nalah. The golden light of the outside was so intense that the two lovers closed their eyes in the sheer power.

And finally they stepped out.

A path of stone lead down a hill made of green soft grass. Trees grew on either side of the path, cherry trees with cherries ripe for picking, fruit trees, oaks, aspen, and willow. The stone path lead to the village. Houses made of wood and stone were placed in symmetrical beauty. A regulated alignment of order and peace. A creek followed under the trail where a bridge met it, the creek filled a small pool, within it swam koi fish and goldfish of bright beautiful colors. Gardens of flowers grew in front of every house. The land was too vast for the eyes to reach but in the far south there was possible to see fields of golden wheat and crops of yellow corn, a well of stone and silver was placed at the center, with a polished steel bucket to haul the sweet water.

Unibella was watching the two looking in awe on her village and felt the familiar sense of pride that she got from seeing new members. It would not be long until her village would be strong enough to grow twice its size. Her crystal blue eyes scanned once more the faces of the couple before she lead them by the hand to the stone pathway. There were always houses. Always something to do. Always someone willing to help. Her system was simple, everyone over ten had a job, not full time for children of course, with this job they earned Shimmers. A Shimmer was a small, thin slice of silver. They were the form of currency here. The market was used for buying and selling goods, and of course they had the hospital free of charge in emergencies, but everyone had to pay on a monthly basis a few Shimmers. As far as Unibella knew, no one had her currency system, therefor when newcomers came in, she took their currency and gave them the exact amount in Shimmers. There was no mess, and no stress. She loved it that way, her village was tranquil, it had been since the beginning, since her father and her grandfather and those before.

The three of them came upon the cottage and she lead them in with her two guards remaining outside, Azlan looked at his wife, she was glowing, not just from the sun and from her pregnancy, but wither her true happiness and sense of hope. They could start again here. "You will find this to be an upgrade to your previous life I hope?" Unibella said softly, "In the morning come to the town square, it is by the well, it is there that we will have you join our village and there we will settle you with us. We have yet to teach you our ways of living. Do you accept?"

"Yes." Azlan and Nalah spoke together. They smiled sharing a moment before Unibella smiled at them and exited with a soft, "Good night friends."

It was an hour later, Azlan lay naked in bed, his wife, naked beside him, their door was locked, they were fed and watered. They were warm in their beds under blankets and beside a low, safe fire. Azlan was stroking his wife's stomach, it was evident that the child within her could now move. "This will be the best new start we could have." Nalah whispered. Azlan brought her as close as physically possible and held her in an embrace, " Yes my love, it is." He kissed her gently and moved her hair behind her, they slept until the dawn kissed the sky the next morning, until the birds sang their songs of waking, and until the leaves on the trees reflected the sun's rays of life.

*peeks behind door* Are you done... can I like... come in? *walks in regardless* So how did you enjoy that my cookies? *grins like a sheep* If you liked it.... grand... if you didn't *smiles with eyes more narrow* grand still.

ANYHOOTS! Let me know what ya'll think of this... if yer like it.. if yuh don't...I don't care just talk to me *Eye go wide* I'm lonely. And if you ever want a serious conversation or just have a horrible life and need to vent. PLEASE reach out to me... I have personal messaging for this reason. Let me at least listen to you... It may take me some time to respond but I guarantee you I will! I'm just a stranger who wants you to feel better and wants to help :)

*stretches and yawns* It is summer break for me thank the lord... so I have some time now... *winks* not that I'll do anything useful with that time right? *gives hugs* I love you all! Even if you don't read anything at all... but if you do then *sends a kiss* LOVE YOU BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!