Daughter of Redmoon

Ch1: FALLEN

Mother Redmoon, give me strength.

If feels as though the entire Kingdom of Fanmill has come to honor the passing of the woman that gave her life to stop the scourge of the 'Cursed' – men and woman whose will was no longer their own, forced to turn into savage wolf-people each night. Natasha Stormgate had stopped their tyrannical leader, General Tiberius Thorgar, and earned the ire of the wolf-god, Tyrantus. Shortly after her victory, however, her past had caught up to her in the form of an un-named female black dragon. Her final act was placing herself between me and the dragon woman's blade.

Celeste Sunray, a friend to my beloved Natasha and a member of the royal cast of Fanmill, stands over Natasha's grave and speaks kind words about her. She mentions adventuring alongside Natasha's half-sister, Alexis, who is buried beside her. It seems the Stormgate women we destined to burn bright for the short period that they spent in this plane of existence. I hope my beloved Natasha is now befriending my former beloved, Amber, whom I lost only a few months earlier. Mother Readmoon, bless them both with peace and happiness in the life to come.

The traitor, Grayson Mudbottom, whom I was briefly enamored with when we first met, stands at Celeste's side and holds her hand. Ancestors forgive me, even though it was shown that his mind was not his own when he betrayed us, I still can't find the strength to fully forgive him. Celeste seems to have no qualms about it, though. Perhaps I could learn from her example.

A children's choir begins to sing as all those who feel moved to do so, begin coming forward to pay their final respects.

I take my turn when it's appropriate. I kiss the tips of my new sapphire dragon gauntlets and gently press them to Natasha's grave marker. Goodbye, my beloved battle companion. I miss your smile, your valorous heart, and your warmth at night. Mother Readmoon bless and keep you safe in whatever realm comes next.

There is a small, sober gathering held at Celeste's aunt and uncle's estate afterward. Like Celeste, they are warm and welcoming people. I'm glad to make their acquaintance.

"So, what's next for you, Claudia?" Celeste asks as she joins me in the family sitting room. She fusses with her long, curly dark hair as I try to come up with an answer.

I smooth my own straight black hair and give a little sniff.

"I'm not sure, if I'm being entirely honest," I say in reply.

"Did Natasha ever mention her nephew?" Celeste asks.

I nod my head. "Yes, several times, actually. I believe she was looking for him before our adventures together began."

I turn and study the lithe brown woman for a moment. Her firm arms look as though she's been using exercise to cope with the tragedy of Natasha's death. I should adopt a similar tactic.

"Alexander," Celeste says with a nod. "Alexis's half-man, half-dragon child. She told me he was taken to the realm of dragons shortly after she birthed him to keep him from falling under Asmodeus's influence."

"Asmodeus?" I murmur. "The dragon woman spoke his name shortly before Natasha sacrificed her life to save me."

Celeste's face clouds over. "A fallen dragon god," she mutters and turns her head. "He took so much from so many. We tried to stop him – Alexis, Natasha, and me along with some of our other friends, but... in the end, we failed."

The room falls silent as I struggle to think of what I can say in reply to a statement like that.

The slender woman turns back to me and forces a smile.

"So, how's your new sapphire dragon armor?"

I hold out my arms and examine the deep blue dragon scales stiched into the ornate armor covering me from head to toe. The magical hide catches the reflection of the sunlight streaming through the window directly behind me and casts a deep blue reflection on my face.