The first thoughts I remember are of the streets of Britian. I remember going though other people's piles of unwanted items searching for something to eat or a scrap of cloth to help keep me warm at night as I lay sleeping. But mainly I remember the fear. The uncertainty of what was to happen to me. How was I going to survive? Then one day as I was rummaging through a discarded backpack a stranger on a great steed stopped and spoke to me. I looked up with fright in my eye as no one ever noticed me let alone spoke to me. In fear I grabbed up the backpack and ran as fast as my legs could carry me down an alley. I could hear the pounding of horse hoofs as he chased me down the alley. I noticed up ahead a pile of crates. I leaped into the closest one, cowering in fear with the wild beating of my heart ringing in my ears. Holding my breath I listened and heard the man stop his horse speaking softly to his mount to stay. I could hear him rummaging through the pile of crates searching. I remember thinking to myself, "Oh please, oh please, just go away."

After awhile, I know not how long. I stood up and just stared at him. Looking him straight in the eyes I told him, "Go away! Leave me alone!"

At these words he just smiled. "Little one, let me help you. I can show you how to sew beautiful clothes. Just think of all the ladies wearing the pretty dresses you could make. Would you like that?"

I looked at him with wonder, "Could you really show me how to?"

"Yes, little one I could. But first lets get you something to eat and cleaned up." Saying these words he reached out his hand to me. I remember still being a little scared of him and so did not take the offered hand but did crawl out of the crate. He didn't say anything but turned to his horse and told it to follow him. As he started to walk out of the alley he turned back around to face me and said, "Come with me and I'll get you something to eat. Oh, and what name should I call you by?"

Putting my hands on my hips and looking him straight in the eyes I replied, "My name is Shannara."

I could see a smile pass his lips as he continued back down the alley with his horse following. He didn't look back but kept going as if he knew that I would follow.

The next days were a blur of activities. All I remember is that for the first time in my life I was not hungry. I also remember hours of trying to sew and the sore fingers from pricking myself with the needle. But I was bound and determined that I was going to sew those pretty dresses for the beautiful ladies I saw in the streets of Britian.

It wasn't to long after I was finally able to start supporting myself by sewing that he stopped by the tailor shop to talk to me. I had found out by this time that his name was LavaWalker. I respected him and was in awe of him for what he had done for me.

Taking the sewing basket out of my hands he said, "Shannara, I have something I would like to talk to you about. Would you please come with me so we may talk in private?"

There is nothing in the world I would deny this man, considering everything he had done for me, so of course I followed him as he left the tailors shop. We stopped at a small inn just down the street and sat at the table to order a bit to eat. After being served LavaWalker said, "Shannara, I think it's time that you learned something besides sewing. A skill that will help you protect yourself though the rest of your life. What I am talking about is Magery. A skill that not only will protect you but one you can use to protect others. Would you like to learn such a skill?"

I had heard of magery and had seen some great magicians enter the tailor shop to purchase our wares. The idea both delighted me and also caused a sense of apprehension. Stammering, I replied, "If you think this is a good idea I shall do my best."

We finished our food and proceeded to the great Mage Tower. There he spoke to a master mage in long flowing robes of blue, to find out how much gold it would cost to teach me magic. LavaWalker paid him the fee and master mage turned to me saying, "Come with me and I shall teach thee all that I can."

I followed him up the stairs to a room and he laid his hands on my head. I remember a flash of bright blinding light and my head spinning. My mind was still in a state of confused and disoriented as the master mage took me by the hand and lead me back down the stairs to where LavaWalker waited.

"It is done." Said the master mage while he placed me back in the care of LavaWalker. "She will be disoriented for a time but all is well."

The rest of the day I really don't remember much, but I do remember LavaWalker presenting me with my first and only magic book. As I opened it and began to read the spells I began to understand what each spell did.

I also understood that I would need to either gather reagents for the spells or buy them. As I had gold saved up from sewing, the next day I ventured to the bank to retrieve some of my gold to purchase some of the reagents. I remember the excitement of getting my small sack of gold coins out of the bank and running to the nearest mage shop to purchase some reagents. And my shock after asking a mage how much the reagents cost. I know I would have to go back to the tailor shop and continue sewing to be able to purchase them or find a different way to make gold. I purchased a small amount of each reagent and left the shop.

Outside of the mage shop I noticed strange and wildy dressed people standing. As I watched, people in the street came up to them asking them if they could inscribe spells and placing gold in their hands. I decided that I to would like to be a scribe.

In my excitement I went looking for LavaWalker to tell him what I would like to do. I found him on his great steed northeast of Britian at his tent with his vendors that he had hired to sell his wares. He turned to me as I ran up to him. As I started to talk to him he said, "Slow down Shannara and start over. You want to do what?"

I told him of the wildly dressed mages outside of the shop and how they inscribed scrolls for people and got gold for it. "I want to be just like them."

To this day I remember the look on his face as he knelt down and looked me straight in the eye. His face was one of deep concern and caring. "Do you really want to be like them?"

"I had hoped a better life for you. I would not like to see you standing on the street dressed in gaudy clothes selling. It would not safe, for there are many thieves that will steal from you. If you wish to scribe then tell you what we can do."

"I shall give you enough gold for lessons in this skill, and to buy blank scrolls and reagents. You can give me your inscribed scrolls and I can sell them for you." Then smiling he added with a wink, "We can split the profits, okay?"

As I though of what he had said I could not see anything wrong with his idea. I looked at him and nodded in agreement. He then reached into the saddlebags upon his great steed and gave me a bag of gold. "Go now Shannara and get your training. Meet me back here when you have finished your learning and I shall give your some blank scrolls and reagents."

Clutching the bag of gold I ran off south, heading toward the scribes build in hopes of finding the master scribe. I slowed down as I approached the house and entered quietly. First thing I noticed was the scribes at the table hard at work writing upon parchment. I slowly approached the closest one to the door and asked him where his master was. Not lifting his head from his work he nodded toward a grey haired man wearing a dark brown robe in the far corner.

I quietly approached the master scribe and waited patiently for him to notice me. I was very nervous as I had never done anything like this before and was not sure exactly what to do. After a short time he looked up from his scribe and said, "Yes, may I help thee?"

Nervously shifting from foot to foot I replied, "I would like to learn scribing could you teach me, please?"

Four days later and 140 gold pieces light I made my way back to LavaWalker. He was not there, but I did not have to wait very long before he arrived to tend his vendors. He seemed glad to see me as he smiled and greeted me. "I see that you have returned Shannara with your new knowledge and as promised here are some blank scrolls and reagents."

Smiling up at him I took the offered scrolls and reagents then set to work inscribing. It was a good working arrangement as I inscribed for him and he in return made sure I did not want for anything.

The years flew by and one day LavaWalker approached me. Looking down from his great steed he said, "Shannara I would like to show you something would you please come with me?"

Of course I readily agreed. I watched as he made arcade movements, speaking words of power, creating a shimmering blue portal. Stepping into the portal, I found myself in a courtyard surrounded by three buildings and one large mage tower. "Come, let me show you what the inside of a mage tower looks like." He said excitedly.

I followed him inside the tower and after looking around asked him who it belonged to. He got down off of his horse and turned to talk to me. "Shannara, I think today is the day to let you know exactly who I am and why I do what I do.

"I belong to the greatest guild in all the lands of Britannia. We are a peaceful, honor bound guild that not only helps those within the guild, but also those we think worthy as I saw in you that day you were going through that discarded backpack.

"This is but the beginning of my dreams for MoltenLava, as I have great plans for it." Stepping back outside and spreading his arms wide he added, "I can envision an entire MoltenLava Village here. With individual homes, merchant shops, large forges and all that it would take to make this a thriving community. This will be a place where all those that are pure of heart would be welcome to come, rest and get to know us."

And so concludes the early years of my life. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed remembering and writing it. Please be sure and check back from time to time as I continue to write my life story.