For Katie. <3

[Dedicated to NinjaKatieST & Tough_Times_Smile who requested this book]

A soft late summer breeze flitted over the garden, warm and welcoming. I leaned into it, my eyes closed as I hummed a soft tune Mother had always sang when I was a child. My hands returned to their work as the breeze ran off across the hills.

My fingernails were stained brown from all the dirt and tea I worked with daily, but you wouldn't find me complaining. The sun shone bright above, tanning my skin and warming me both inside and out. The little plant before me swayed in the wind, beautiful soft purple leaves shining in the light. I ran a finger over the leaves before placing it and it's roots in the ground where I had prepared a hole moments before.

Using my wrist, I pushed my hair back from my face, brushing my hands free from the earth that clung to them. My eyes snapped to the right as my mother came out of the shop and waved to me. I returned the gesture, gathering my small shovel and placed my straw hat back on my head before running to join her. With a hand, she fixed my hat and pushed me inside with a smile.

I grabbed an apron off the hooks on the walls, Mother moving to tie the straps behind my back. Mumbling a thank you, I pushed the rim of the hat further up so I could see. The store was peaceful, jars of differing colors of teas lining the walls in a mural, beautiful in a way. With my elbows on the cold counter, I leaned against it, chin resting on my arms as I watched out the large windows encasing the shop.

"Did you plant that new tea like I asked of you?"

I sat up, meeting Mothers eyes. "Of course. I planted it next to the one you brought last week." She nodded in response and made her way to the back store room. I returned to my position to watch out the windows, humming to myself.

The door opened with the chime of the bells and in entered a usual customer, an old man who was a Sensei now, from what mother had told me. I stood and cast him a smile. "Good morning, Sensei. Are you coming to retrieve the usual?" My head tilted to the side in question as he nodded.

I told him it would only be one moment and danced back to the store room and smiled to my mother as I pulled a jar from the shelf. Dumping the contents into a brown paper bag, I spun quickly before my head went dizzy.

I dropped the bag and held onto the wall and felt my eyes light from the inside. "Mother, it is happening again." My voice was even and calm as she slid down from the ladder and helped me sit on the floor.

"Breathe, my child." She instructed me and I did as told before my vision faded to black.

The midnight moon glared from the sky, full and bright. All around was silent, not a sound to be heard. Stars danced around as six warriors, each adorned in their own colors, stood before a woman. Her arms glittered with silver and her hair a long black. All were unable to see her face as she wore the mask of a wolf, it's mouth pulled back into a snarl. She was clad in clothes of purple, stained with blood and fragments of bone. The mask showed her eyes which danced with rage and revenge, striking fear into those who saw.

I watched as she raised both arms to the sky, an army of mechanical canines roaring behind her. A sea of silver swarmed the warriors clad in robes of color. They were unable to fight the beasts off, each more powerful than the next and bringing the warriors to their knees. After the sea parted, I saw the bodies of the warriors, crushed and torn by the woman's army. I knew not from where or how, but I felt hope as I looked at the one who wore green.

Above me, the sky turned to ash and day to night as the vision left me.

I gasped for air and sat up, Mother's eyes finding mine. She smiled and helped me stand and retrieve the bag I had dropped before.

I made my way back to the man with his tea and dipped my head in apology. "I am very sorry for your wait, Sensei. Please pardon my fainting spell." Pushing the bag across the counter, he met my eyes and frowned.

"You have had a vision." He said, more of a statement than a question. I only nodded in response. He continued, "May I ask, what did you see?"

Mother snarled and returned to the back room, leaving me to make my own choices. I avoided the mans eyes and tilted my head. "I saw a vision of six warriors, clad in all differing colors, standing to face a woman with mechanical arms." I closed my eyes and rubbed my face with a hand. "I am afraid the rest is a bit fuzzy, but I remember that it did not end well. I am sorry I can tell you nothing more."

The mans expression shifted and changed into one of confusion and shock. His eyebrows scrunched as his hand stroked his long beard. My hands intertwined together before me, unsure of what he would say. "Sir?"

He snapped out of his trance and met my eyes again. "Ah, yes. How often do you have these visions? Do they mean anything?"

"Yes, I have them every now and then. They often occur in the coming times, but can sometimes be prevented. Some are warnings of what may be, which I believe might be what this one was. Why do you ask?"

"Because the warriors you saw are my students and I feel we may be in very grave danger." He turned to look at my mother and sighed. "I believe she will be of use to us. May I take her to meet my students, Mystake?"