It all started 10 years ago. She was small for her age, but the bright nine year old's personality more than made up for it. Being the baby sister of two protective brothers, she always found a way to get out of doing chores to go and play.

Everything was just right in Willow's world. Sometimes she would go explore the nearby woods with the family hunting dog. If they were lucky, they would catch a rabbit or two for dinner. Other times she would play tag with the village children, or go on an imaginary viking raid. But her favourite thing to do was to sit by the fire with he grandmother and listen to stories of when she was a little girl. These stories only fuelled Willow's imagination, and ignited a longing for adventure in her heart.

"Grannie," Willow whispered to her grandmother one day, "Can you tell me the story of when you were out at sea and the giant eels attacked your ship?"

"Certainly child, but first, I need some herbs from the woods to make a poultice for your aunt's bad knee. Go fetch me some rock blossom leaves for me, and when you get back I'll tell you the story."

Off Willow went. Armed with a small knife and carrying a wicker basket, she made the decent to the woods. It had been weeks since it had rained, and the dry, shrivelled grass crunched under every footstep. Willow sat down next to the slightly droopy rock blossom plant to pick out the best leaves. Her long brown braid drooped over one shoulder as she bent to pick the greenest leaves she could find.

"Ah, that should do it.." Willow thought to herself as she placed the last few leaves in her basket. Just then, a wave of heat swept over her, and a roar that that made the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. She turned and looked in the direction of her home. Her whole village was ablaze, fire leaping between the dry thatch roofs.

"NO!!" She screamed, too scared to get closer, but the thought of her family kept her from running away. After staring in disbelief, she ran through the woods, tears streaming down her face. She didn't stop until she came to the far side of the forrest. Rarely had she come this far before, it was not familiar to her, but it looked safe enough here. She would have to stop anyway.. the sun was setting.

After a sleepless night, Willow found her way to the next village where she stayed a while. This would be the first of many villages she would stay in. She never found out how the fire had stared, although some rumoured it was a silent raid from the Barbarous Bjorn tribe. But this didn't matter to Willow, her family were gone forever, she lost everything. There was no reason to stay, so she began to travel. For 10 years she travelled, spending a few weeks in each town trying to find somewhere where she could belong.