How fortunate, a storm is coming forth just on the eve of the dreaded day in Sprikania history. I hope the grand king is holding up everyone knows this day is horrible for him. Ahh guests please please come in. Make yourself at home. Did I hear you ask about the horrifying day I spoke of? Ahh you must be new here. First of all allow me to welcome you to the land of Sprikania; it’s an honor for an ancient being such as myself to greet someone as spirited as you. Well as you know our king is... what’s that? You never heard of our king? Ha ha well then lets start at the beginning then. Back when all of this first started and Sprikania was near destruction.

It was pure beauty the horrid morning. The mist started to rise into the sky and the pinks danced with the purples and orange and yellow painted the clouds leaving little room for the calming blue as the sun rose. It was truly a sight to remember. The great queen Abica carried her newborn child; young master Cinka, over to the balcony of her bedroom and sighed as she looked out at the village below. The suns light teased the sands below and tapped the silken tops of the shops. A gentle breeze came galloping through the mountains and the good queen smiled as the village began to come to life.

Sighing Abica jumped from the window and flew down to the village. She smiled at each face she saw and spoke with the shop owners from time to time. All was going well in the village until a group of Sprikens ran or flew to the queen speaking of a crisis that had broken loose. Abica smiled to each and told them that she would resolve it. Abica took Cinka with her to the city square. Cinka was a special child. He had a very strong memory. He couldn’t remember names or clothing very well but he could remember faces and places as clear as day.

Abica walked over to an old hag and greeted her warmly. The old woman wore solid black clothing and her skin was crackly and pale. And her eyes were glossed over. Her voice didn’t help the image either. It was frail and chewed up in places but sweet, a little too sweet. The old crone turned and faced our beloved queen. The woman smiled a devilish smile and her arm, which seemed to have snapped as soon as she moved it, tossed the black shawl she wore over her head and she revealed her true self. The Dastardly queen of Deleterious Mountain.

Abica was shocked to see her here in the fire nation and was even more shocked when the queen flew closer to her and stabbed the queen in the heart with a poison tipped dagger. The evil queen let go of the dagger leaving it in our poor Abica. She laughed as Abica fell to the ground and flew off with the sound of Cinka's tears bringing the villagers towards their fallen queen. Jessica, a young nymph that worked as special caretaker of Cinka saw the fallen queen and through blurred eyes took Cinka from his dead mothers arms and ran back to the palace to tell the news to the king.

They buried the queen under her favorite flower tree in the fire nation, the fire blossom tree. Seventeen years have passed and young Cinka has gone out on another of his hunting trips and the king is kneeling at Abica's grave a bunch of lavalillies from the royal garden. The king began to talk to his wife his eyes tearing naturally. He told our queen that even though she wished for Cinka to possess this white box, with a gold embrioderment and lock on it, he had seen no signs of Kannon and thought it best to simply keep the box away from Cinka a few more years. Just as he told her that the trumpets sounded letting everyone know the prince had returned from hunting. The king got up and said goodbye to his wife before running off to see his son.

The prince came running up to his mothers grave a smile on his face and lavalillies in his hand. He bent down onto one knee and began to talk to her. He laid the lilies down his fiery eyes hiding the tears he wanted to shed. He smirked abit before telling his mother of his hunt.

Mom you would have loved it. I caught this huge 17-point fireleg with only one shot of the fire arrows I had been practicing. I got him right in the neck he went straight down. Course we had some weird hunters today one of them must have been blind cause I was hit by one of their arrows. He must have put a pretty strong spell on it cause as soon as it hit me I felt a sharp sting and then I fell unconscious. When I came to it had probably been at least three hours. I picked up my fireleg and came back home. Some people need to learn how to hunt. Oh mom before I forget you know those phoenix eye roses you love so much? Well me and dad bought some recently and we are going to put them in your garden. With those roses in your garden it will be the best garden in Sprikania. I bet even the earth nation would agree with that. Well mom I got to go I love you and Ill talk to you soon seeya.

The fire prince kissed his fingers then placed them on the gravestone of his mother. He than stood up and turned to go when Jessica came walking up. Cinka smiled at Jessica and walked over to her. This is how there conversation went out.

Cinka welcome home from your hunt I hope everything went as planned.

Yeah everything was cool till a hunter shot me. He must have put some strong stuff on his arrow cause I went down immediately.

Can I see the mark that was left Cinka? It is my job to make sure your safe and healthy.

Heh yes Jess here.

Cinka raised his right arm and showed Jessica the mark that was on his wrist. Its design was that of a vertical dragons fang standing over the eye of a phoenix. Such markings couldn’t have been caused by a huntsman’s arrow.

OMG! Cinka tell me everything you felt upon getting hit with such a thing.

Well it didn’t hit me hit me just kind of grazed me but I felt a sharp sting and then it was lights out. Oh don’t worry so much Jess, Ill be fine before you know it.

No... you wont Cinka. That mark could very well kill you. Cinka your cursed with the Dragons fang poison.

What me cursed with something like that just by hunting? Please Jess its just a hunters arrow Ill be fine.

Jessica closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. Tears came to her eyes as she pointed Cinka at one of the shooting targets used for his arrows.

Cinka do me the favor and shoot at that target with your fire whip.

Umm ok...

Cinka blasted a fire whip at the target and as soon as the whip left his hand the mark began to tighten around him and burn just as much as his whip would burn his opponent. Cinka grabbed a hold of his wrist and nearly fell to the ground in pain.

Jessica.... what happened?

It’s the curse Cinka. That mark has killed many men in the fire nation. No one knows how to cure it well one did but no one as seen her in a long time. Oh Cinka Im so sorry, but the use of your fire is now strictly restricted. You can only use it for emergencies and that emergency better be life threatening.

Jessica helped Cinka up and looked at him through tear-streaked eyes. She then hugged him and cried softly in his ear telling him how sorry she was of what had happened to him. Cinka just looked at his wrist and studied the design upon it. The design was glowing a dark red glow slowly dying down along with the pain he felt.

Then Im just going to have to find this girl then aren’t I. No way am I keeping this curse. Tell me how to find her. Where was she last seen?

Cinka you have other matters. It is the day after your seventeenth birthday and as such you’re entitled to something your mother wanted you to have. Come on lets go to the castle and get it from your father.