Five Years of Darkness- Chapter 2

Chapter 2.
When Fates Collide

Does anyone care that I'm here, half dead and starving? These were the thoughts of Shi as she sat on the blanket she had brought out in case she passed out again.
"We're back!" Shi heard the sweet perky voice of Shona as she ran across the tall grass, with a duck and a rabbit in her hands. " I found plenty of wildlife once I left the reach of the carnage. It is quite surprising how the wildlife is flourishing while the humans are dying. . ." Her voice was sad when she said the last few words.
"Anyway," said Shonjo, his hands empty, "I just can't wait to get out of here. It's far to easy to hunt here! We could feast everyday for dinner, and 'ave enough leftover for three more meals!"
Shi stared at the small fire and the pot of boiling water while she thought over what he had said. After a minute, she said, "Isn't that a good thing? To have so much food?"
Shonjo scratched his chin. "I suppose it would be, but honestly, would it be good if it was like this everywhere? I mean, surly the wildlife would plummet because everyone would take so much and give nothing back. . ." He trailed off.
Since Shona had decided to do the cooking, Shi went on to gather more wood for the fire. It was then that when Shonjo looked at her in her ripped and torn shirt, that he saw through a hole a symbol there, but a birthmark. It was blue, and had three small stars connected by a line, then overlapped so it looked almost like a map of the stars. Dots were placed along the lines, making the constellations. It shimmered, and you could see a faint glow that looked like an orb. The sun.
Shonjo promptly stood, and began to pace, while muttering under his breath. "I thought I was the last… But no, it couldn't be… But she is alive, that means she is trainable… I guess it doesn't confound me as much though… But Shona is a Soul Stealer, and Shi is a Stargazer… Now, of all times? I should be grateful, I guess…" He stopped pacing, and sat back down.
"Dumplings are ready!" Shi exclaimed. She turned, and saw Shonjo's worried expression. "Are you alright Shonjo?"
He looked up at her. "When fates collide, a new star is born. For every star, there is a Stargazer. But they are still mortal, and that means that they can die."
Shi laughed. "Stop with the gibberish, Shonjo. I'm seriously NOT special. Don't worry about me. And Stargazers… Aren't those the old magicians that used to be in charge of stopping the demons from clawing their way back into our lives? Or was that the Mage Circle…"
"Well," said Shonjo, standing with a smile. " At least you know who you are. And Shi, you ARE special. You are a Stargazer. And I'm going to train you."
Shi nearly dropped the dumpling she was dishing out. "What?!" The nerve of this guy… Why, I'll even play along! As if I have the mark of the Mage's Circle…  Shi thought to herself.
"But you are. Shona can't lie. She'll tell you if you have the mark or not." Shonjo looked pointedly at Shona, who was stuffing her face with duck dumplings. Everyone got ten, since they were actually quite small.
Without barely glancing up, Shona seemed to reach a verdict. "Oh, you have the mark alright. Just like Shonjo. And me, I suppose… Although I'm no Stargazer. I'm just a lowly Soul Stealer…" As an afterthought, she added, "You are destined for great things you know. I would've peered deeper, just out of curiosity, but of course, putting that much pressure on you're brain would've killed you… And by the way, I can't lie, although I can build a fortress of misleading truths."
"See?" Said Shonjo with a smile.  "You aren't alone! Most of the survivors are the descendants of  mages from the Mages Circle. Although, I was the only Stargazer until now, and now of all times…"
As the night began to grow dark, Shi stared at the stars. There was one that she could always see other than the North Star, and it had never occurred to her until now just why. I'll call it Shi's Star… Shi decided, and then she drifted off to sleep.