You might say that only nine of the Garde that escaped from Lorien. But you are wrong, so very wrong. I am Number Ten, the final elder of Lorien. I would prefer Christina. It's the name I've always preferred. It's the only real solid part of my life. The rest is just fiction, even my true Loric identity and my parentage. At first, I didn't know that, it was one of the many lies that kept me in the dark and out of harm's way for the longest time. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The best place to start is at the beginning. I was barely five years old when the invasion of my planet began. I don't remember much before that, I just remember clinging to my baby sister, Anali, as the things that I thought were fireworks went off around me. I remember my grandmother watching the chaos from the kitchen window, perfectly still in her apron, that always smelled like applesauce. I saw no trace of fear or agony. She remained still as if in a trance and it was my grandfather, who grabbed Anali and I and bolted for the door. I remember what he smelled like pine needles and soap, and his frantic pale blue eyes behind thick glasses over a slightly crooked nose. It made me slightly calmer until he handed me to my panicked Cepan. Next, I remember screaming and having to be pried away from my baby sister as my Cepan, Annie, took me from a place I knew as home. She carried me to an awaiting ship and I had to watch in horror as my house was bombed in the distance. All I could do was scream out and cry for my sister whom I would never see again.

I barely remember what happened after that in the flurry and confusion. I was frightened and grief stricken. Annie could barely speak to console me as she was crying too and petrified with fear. I can't remember receiving my pendent, which would have done little to comfort me. I cannot even recall the charm being cast, if it ever was cast on me. Annie carried me aboard the ship and I ran and hid, putting hands over my ears to stop the sounds of my people dying around me and the terrified screams of the other Garde.

The first few days on board are engrained in my memory. I remember crying and starving myself out of grief for my family. I was too frightened to really talk or communicate with anyone except Annie. She eventually managed to convince me to eat something because that would be what my grandparents and Anali would want. I felt I was the only one who was severely impacted by the destruction of our world but I knew that wasn't true. The rest of the ship ride was long and very boring. I can only recall so much of our trip to Earth, which would become my new home. I became a social butterfly when my grief subsided and eventually made friends with everyone on board. I came to love playing and organizing group games with the others. I did, at times suddenly change moods and become quiet when memories came flooding back. Fortunately, the phases only lasted so long. I felt by the end I had a special connection with each passenger, especially with a boy with brown hair. We were friends before we left Lorien and it distracted me from my grief to see him among those who were saved. Even now, I can recall his face so distinctly; I remembered that he had a birthmark shaped like an ear by his chin. He and I stayed together for the majority of the trip. I believed we found comfort in each other's company but I do recall a few fights with him over whose turn it was to play with a windup toy that would fly around the room.
We reached Earth after my sixth birthday, though no one, including myself, cared any more. I really wanted to have Anali there to help me blow out the candles and taste my grandmother's homemade icing, while my grandfather would throw me in the air as many times as my age. I was distressed when we touched down on earth that Annie agreed to carry me out, despite my age.

It was the first time I had felt the elements in a year; I was scared as the rain fell around me, giving me thick goose bumps. Annie put me down for a moment and spoke with the other Cepan for a moment. I continued to stare around at my new planet in fear and curiosity. I let the tears flow down as I picked up the first thing I could find. It was a pinecone. I felt its rough exterior and I thought it was one less thing to be scared of. I heard Annie arguing for a moment and then she grabbed me and began dragging me away from the ship. I was too surprised to cry and I dropped the pinecone. Annie wouldn't speak to me and I had to watch our ship and the other Garde vanish forever, I thought. Once we were on our way, I found the courage to ask what we were doing. She said nothing and just kept staring straight ahead. I began asking questions about the others and why we didn't get to say good bye. She kept dragging me and told me I'd see the others someday. It was then I cried until Annie took me off the trail and faced me. I asked about the little boy with brown hair and she stared at me for a long moment before she smiled. She assured me that I would see this boy again. She then told me that the boy would not be killed and he would be safe for a long while. She told me a bit about how the Charm cast on us worked. It was something disturbing for a six year old to hear but it was the truth and it kept me assured for a long while.

We reached the first city within an hour. I was stunned and scared at what I say but Annie said that we would be safe. She went to the first clothing store she could find and had me hide in the back room while she picked an outfit for me. I felt quite scared and I simply rolled up into a ball and cried silently for a few moments. Annie helped me into my clothes and told me that this is what the citizens wore. They were not as comfortable as our Loric out fits but she told me these clothes had magic powers and would protect me. I asked if these clothes could protect the others too. She simply nodded and tried on an outfit on herself.

Once we were fitted with essentials, Annie tried to walk out but the store clerk told us we had to pay for the clothes. Annie paid the woman with one of the gems we had from the ship and she stared at us in confusion. She thought we were trying to cheat them from the clothes by giving us cheap jewelry but Annie swore it was genuine. She didn't believe it and it took a few a hours to get everything straightened out including a visit from the cops and a jewel inspector. Eventually Annie and I were allowed to leave and the officers told us how to open up an account in the bank for real money. I didn't understand why the officers were so understanding toward us. Instead of seeing two young, lost aliens, I've always assumed they saw a mother and child from an immigrant country and didn't understand our customs or currency. I have always been grateful to the officers, taking sympathy on a mother with a frightened child without creating a big show.

Annie managed to get us into a motel for the night and she cradled me like a baby all night. She told me to think of it like an adventure, there would be plenty more to come and that's why we would have to keep moving. She assured me that the others would be safe and they would have as many adventures as we did. I drifted off as she talked and she called me by my real name but I never heard it.

This was my new home.