Shadowed Cold by Rose Songweaver

History

Throughtout history there have been legendary creatures.

Some are well known through every creature, some are more centralized in one country.

Of course, now they are regarded as myth. Complete fiction, not even holding a grain of truth.

The people who think that are fools.

Unicorns, flying horses, dragons, phoenix, faeries, witches- all have more than a single grain of truth.

All these creatures have existed, at one time or another. But existed is perhaps not the best word- they exist.

Throughout history, power has been desired.

The innocent suffer for the greed of those that desire it. Lives are lost.

The more truthful reason these creatures are so well known is that they are powerful. People never forget something amazing, something unexplainable- they think of reasons, but never is there a true reson beyond the unbelievable.

Throughout history, there have been hunters.

First, they hunted to eat. Meat is a vital part of the eatting habits of humans, but even more so for youkai.

But gradually, hunters hunted for power. They killed to eliminate competition, killed to gain power. Killed in the most unjust and undignified ways, for the taste of the fear of others that results from the power.

Throughout history, the prey have hidden.

The rabbit hides from the wolf, the mouse from the hawk, the pig from the cat.

And so, these legendary creatures learned to hide. They locked themselves away, became a part of the environment or indestinguishable from the ones hunting them.

And so, they survived, in secret.

Througout history, mistakes have been made.

Hunters hunted a species to extinction, weapt later when they realized the finality of what they had done. Leaders burned opposing cities of innocents.

But perhaps the biggest mistakes were when hunters mistook legend for animal.

They wagered that the powerful creatures were little more than animals, stupid things controlled by instinct. And that was their downfall.

Throughout history, men have thought themselves gods.

They believe that their minds, able to think, to puzzle, set them apart from the others they hunted. They thought their sentient status set them apart.

Never did they consider the equal intelligence in others.

When does the hunter become the hunted?

Throughout history, the balance of power shifted.

When the legendary creaures were killed off, they hid away. The power shifted to the hunters- humans and youkai alike who acted before they thought.

But if ever they were to rise out of hiding, they would take the world for their own.

Throughout history, information has been lost.

Now, we do not know what Chirst looked like, why Stonehedge exists, if we are alone in the universe.

But perhaps worst is that they forgot many of the creatures that existed.

The more famous- or perhaps the more unwary- remained firmly entrenched in legend. They will forever remain in legend because of their unusual appearance, or their brazeneness, or their power.

But many of these creatures have been forgotten. Still they hide, but now, none search for them.

Throughout history, there have been shadows.

Always, the sun has cast shadows. They are easily explained- the absence of light, caused by something blocking the light rays.

But that is not all they are.

Sometimes, there are shadows that move. Shadows that have no cause. Glimpsed usually from the corner of the eyes, gone before a second glance.

Those shadows hold something more rare, or more sinister, than blocked light.

Throughout history, there have been fears of the unexplained.

Ancient people did not understand an eclipse, and mistook it for a god eatting the sun. Droughts or floods, the wrath of the gods.

Shadows that are different are frightening, if seen in the correct circumstances.

People misunderstand the unknown, and the only logical thing to do is fear.

Throughout history, there have been unexplained shadows.

What none know, is that they are living things. Things that were once understood, but that information has been lost.

But these shadows still exist, regardless of the ignorance of men and women alike.

Shadows. These different shadows are a complex race, different from human and youkai alike. Equally strong, intelligent, but in many ways, completely superior.

Better senses, better skills, better speed, better power.

Throughout history, things have had weakness.

For humans, it is our frailty. Our bodies are weaker than others. Only our intelligence allows us to survive.

For youkai, it is arrogance. They believe themselves invincible, and many test that theory on each other, or try to prove it to humans.

For normal shadows, light is a strength. Without light, there are no true shadows.

But that is not true for the different shadows.

Throughout history, there have been adaptations.

Technology improved, information improved. Solutions to weaknesses have been created.

But for the different shadows, an adaptation was needed. The sun was dangerous- it drained their strength, made them to visible.

So a solution was found.

Men can walk in the sun. They are not completely immune- sunburns are a painful nuisance- but they are mostly immune.

So, a different form was created.

Each shadow 'person' adopted a different form, one completely flesh and blood in appearance. This allowed them to blend in, to walk in the sun.

Throughout history, sacrifices have been made.

The shadows made sacrifices to walk in the sun. The flesh and blood forms changed them. Not anything drastic, but enough.

Their shadow forms, once flowing like water into whatever form was needed, now had a more defined shape. They could still melt away, but it required more energy.

Some of their strength ebbed. Not nough to make them weak, but enough.

Their dual forms, though rarely glimpsed, made them confused with youkai. This has only increased their ability to hide, though.

A good sacrifice.

Throughout history, answers have been sought.

The shadow people always wondered how the shapes of their shadow forms were chosen.

Some said it was based on the soul. Others, their fate. Still others believed it was what the indivdual really wanted it to be, deep in their heart.

But the answer was never discovered. And speculation remained.

Throughout history, there have been mysteries.

And there always will be.

This is a trial chapter, allowing TeenWriter to see if she likes my writing style. Maybe the story wil continue, but I need a go-ahead first....