The Tiamo Tribe once had a legend of a valley so remote not even the strongest warriors could find it. Hidden deep in the valley was a tribe of *hybrids* as the Tiamo called them. They we're half human\-half Animal.

The Tiamo feared them for their unique abilities. With great care, the chieftains called a treaty between the lands. Until a war broke out between the East and West Tiamo tribes.

The Valley Tribe refused to take sides within the battle. Soon hatred covered the lands in bloodshed. The Valley Tribe was massacred and, as years passed, the tribes found peace. They grew into civilizations that bordered one another from across a vast river, thier lands rich and fertal. Growing in population and wealth, they soon forgot the wars that had once plagued them.

All but one family. The Adira family passed down their stories to their children, for they knew of a prophecy yet to be foretold. A young warrior will find the hidden valley. And that young warrior will restore the village to its former glory.

This warrior was also just discovering the secrets hidden from view in his world. And... in his past.

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"Kyo Adira! Where do you think your going?"

I skidded to a stop as my mother, Mari Adira, shouted at me. I lifted my backpack full of food and water, hoping it was enough of an explanation. It wasn't. Mom glared at me and I breathed a heavy sigh. "I'm going to grandpa's with Nikki. She wants to hear the last of his story."

Mom growled but didn't say anything more. Her black hair swayed as she turned back to the kitchen. She hated Grandpa Sho. I still didn't understand why. And I probably never would.

I started out the door. I winced. If Ria seen me he would have something he needed me to do. Just like always. I rushed back upstairs and through open my window. A large White Willow stood just in jumping distance. I took a deep breath.

Bracing my shoe on the windowsill I leapt over to the tree. As I landed, Ria walked out of his house. I grinned. He'd never think to look for me here. I jumped from branch to branch, not stopping to allow myself to think, and jumped to the next roof.

We lived on the edge of town so I could jump to the wall and make it outside the borders. I glanced around and spotted Nikki waiting for me under a Weeping Willow about a hundred feet away. I jumped down to a dirt mound and slid to the ground.

I casually walked over to Nikki, who was gawking at me. "I knew you we're good but I didn't know you were that good." She said digging in my bag for an apple. I tossed her one I had stashed in my pocket.

"Yeah, well, you tend to pick stuff up when you live next door to Ria." I said as we walked towards the direction my grandpa lived.

"Do you know where we are supposed to meet Sho today?"

"Yeah." I said. "Blood Falls."

We walked past Grandpas house and up a narrow cliff. Why Grandpa Sho had wanted to meet and Blood Falls, I had no idea. But the path was quite beautiful this time of year. The sun was just starting to rise, and the bright rays painted the hills and mountains in an aray of color.

After about an hour of walking the sound of roaring water flooded the canyon. Nikki and I rushed towards it. A large waterfall lay between two cliffs, falling into a small pond. At the bank sat my grandfather, Sho Adira. He turned to us and smiled.

"Hi, Grandpa." I said giving him a hug and handing him a container of rice and chopsticks. He took them and said replied "Hello, children. Are you here to listen to the ending of my tale?" We nodded and sat down in the grass before him.

He began. "Many years ago as the war between the East and West tribes was beginning to ease, a medicine man came to our village. He was from the Valley Tribe. He told us that a day will come when the fighting will begin again, but before that, a child shall be born; very much a part of the Tiamo Tribes but also of the Valley Tribe. The child will bear a gift. The call of the wild. This child shall change forms as pleased and speak to the animals. They will also restore our lands to their former beauty."

Grandpa waved his hands to the waterfall and to the sky. Nikki was lying on her back, hazel eyes half closed. I nudged her and she pinched my arm. I rubbed it gingerly. Grandpa laughed and said, "Nikki chan, may I speak to my grandson for a moment?"

Nikki, looking confused, nodded and walked to a bolder. I turned to Grandpa Sho who was smiling broadly at me. I gulped.

"Kyo, do you know why I want to talk to you?"

"No, Grandpa."

"Its because you are the one the medicine man spoke of."

I looked st my grandpa, trying to figure out how not to hurt his feelings. "I can't be that warrior. There's no way. Sorry Grandpa Sho." Grandpa narrowed his eyes. "Come with me, Kyo. There is something you need to see."

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I left my bag with Nikki which I was starting to regret. My mouth and throat were dry and my stomach growled. "How much farther do we walk Grandfather?" I asked as I ran to catch up to him. His gray hair was tied back in a long braid and swayed slightly in the wind. He was at least eighty-seven but could walk faster and farther than most in our city.

He turned to me and smiled again. Using his walking stick he pushed away the vines of a weeping willow to reveal a dead White Willow tree. I walked towards it. Pain twisted in my stomach and chest. Slashes carved the trunk of the large tree. A tugging pulled at my gut. "Go ahead, boy. Just place your hand to the tree." Grandpa Sho whispered gently. I started to ask why, but as I opened my mouth all words escaped me.

I knelt before the tree. Why am I doing this? The tugging sensation gave a hard yank and I braced my hands agaimst the tree. Flames erupt in my vision and pain seared my body. A boy who looked about three stood before me crying as a man with a spear prepared to slaughter him in cold blood. The boy had rabbit ears and a tail.

As the man brought down his spear I lunged for the boy. I grabbed him and ran through the forest. I ran until a woman came into view. I handed her the child and told her something, though I don't know what. She nodded, sat the boy in a hollow tree, almost compleatly hidden from view, and wrapped me in a hug. "Be careful, Joshua." She whispered frantically.

Voices grew closer to us. She made sure the boy was hidden and melted into the tree he was hidden in.

I raced back in the direction of where I had come from. I moved branches and leaves to reveal a bow and arrows. I grabbed them and pulled an arrow back. My first arrow stuck a man in his throat. Four more flooded through the brush only to meet their comrades fate. As I took a step toward the direction they had come from a spear shot through the foliage and pierced my stomach.

I fell to the ground and my head turned to a tree. The same one I had grabbed the boy away from. My fingertips stretched out to it and I dissolved into the White Willow.

I jumped back from the tree and ran my hands along my stomach. No wounds. It was a vision. I turned around and looked at Grandpa. He looked grim but nodded to me.

I had been seeing the Valley Tribes massacre. Bile rose in my throat and I groaned. I had been seeing through someone's eyes. And they were wounded in this tree. I had to help him.

I pressed my palms to the bark and willed the visions to disperse. I focused my energy to the person on the other side of the bark. I could see him, his face distrot with pain and sorrow. I turned my attention on his wound. I willed it to close. His eyes jerked open and he gazed towards me. When his wound was healed my hand sunk into the bark. I grasped for his hand. He took it and pushed away from the tree. We landed on the ground in a sprawl.

I leaned up and gasped. The White Willow was in full bloom and before me stood a boy about my age. His black wavy hair was plastered to his forehead from sweat, his blue eyes shocked, and his clothes ripped.

He smiled down at me and offered his hand. I took it and he helped me up. I swayed on my feet and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders to steady me. We turned towards grandpa, who looked scared out of his wits.

"Its okay. I forgive you Sho Adira." Said the guy holding me up. "I'm so sorry, Joshua. I was aiming for... the one who you shot down last. I didn't mean to hit you." Grandpa said walking to us.

Joshua, I guess, hugged him and turned to me. Thats when I realized he had wolf ears and a tail. Joshua looked me over, then laughed. "There's no need to be afraid of me. I won't hurt you." He said. He was about my height maybe a little taller, we were almost eye to eye. I chuckled lightly. I had to admit, he was kinda cute. What am i thinking!?

Nikki chose then to run through the underbrush screaming. I caught her. "Nikki, whats wrong?" I asked shaking her shoulders. She poimted to the way she came. I scowled and openes my mouth to say something but was cute short by a sharp howl.

Joshua went pale. Grandpa Sho said frantically "Joshu. Kyo. Run. Your the ones they are after. Nikki and I will stay here and try to hold them back." I fave Sho and Nikki a hug and followed Joshua into the forest. We ran through the a creek and jumped over a thorn bush but we wernt fast enough.

Three of the largest wolves i had ever seen burst through a clearing in front of us. Their coats were stripped like a tigers. We came to an abrupt halt. A memory of a story Sho had told me as a child clawed its way to the top of my memory. They were the guardians of the Valley Tribe. Joshua glared at the Guardians.

Before i could regester what was happening dust began to swirl at his feet. The wolves backed away slowly. Joshua.'s form shifted and swirled. When it cleared, a large snarling wolf stood in the place Joshua had been.

The wolf turned to me, its blue eyes soft and gentle. He csme up to me and nuzzeled my chest. Joshua's voice ran in my head "climb on my back and hold on tight." I hesitated for a moment but did as he said.

Joshua leapt over the guardians and ran towards a tree. Panic flooded my viens. With one solid jump we were engulfed in darkness.