Arcanum

Chapter 6: Aiyana

My sleep was full of nightmares. The first one involved me in the human's castle. You see, when I was ten I was captured by the humans. A little boy walked up to my jail cell,

"What's with her ears mom!? She's so ugly!" He said, laughing at my injured expression. Another child came up and started laughing and pointing. I remember feeling so ashamed, and like I didn't belong. Then, a small child with orange hair walked up and placed his hand on the cage bars,

"You're really pretty." He said, and I looked up feeling warmth rush through me. "Really?" I blinked, and he nodded. Then, the boy's mom came up,

"Son, get away from that disgusting creature." The mom pulled him back, and he sadly nodded and the two walked away. The dream ended, and I woke covered in sweat. I rose out of bed, and walked to the mirror, examining myself in the mirror. My eyes landed on my cat ears, and cat tail. I didn't feel ashamed anymore though. I am a Catori, and proud of it.

"You're up late." Anca entered my room and sat down on my bed,

"Couldn't sleep." I said, and he nodded,

"Me either." I let out a sigh, and sat down beside my brother,

"I wish the humans would leave us alone." I growled,

"Me too. They hate anything that's not human." He said. I walked back to the mirror, and examined the large scar down my leg. The one I got from being beaten by the humans. It was when I was twelve, and once again captured. This time, the King decided to put me into the main square, and let anyone beat me up. When I finally managed to escape, I was mentally and physically in so much pain. As I examined it closer, I found myself not able to control my emotions,

"Why won't they leave us alone!" I screamed, "just because we're different? Cause that's a great excuse! I hate them!" Anca said nothing as I let out my pent up emotions. I then ran to my brother, and buried my face in his shoulder. He wrapped me up in a hug, and I let the tears fall freely. All I wanted was for the humans to accept us. Was it to big to ask?

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I sat on the branch of my favourite tree, and let the wind blow back my hair. The Catori weren't horrible people, all we wanted to do was make peace, and to be accepted. I ran my hand through my blonde hair, and leaned against the tree trunk. This place always allowed me to think. A sudden branch snapping made me immediately look down to the bottom of the tree. I expected a human or something, but sighed when I realized it was just a deer. My hands reached for my machetes, and I quietly stalked down the tree, and walked toward the deer. It hadn't noticed me, and so I ran behind it and killed with with a swift slice across the throat. The deer fell dead, and I picked it up, throwing it over my shoulder. A red macaw flew down toward me, and I smiled as it landed on my other shoulder. My hand reached for it, and I gently stroked the bird's feathers. To the Catori, macaws were sacred animals. The macaw then took off, and I smiled as I flew up toward a tree branch. I giggle escaped my lips before I headed back to my village.

A little boy was playing the the village when I passed by, and I smiled and waved at him. He smiled back with a wide smile, and I chuckled, heading to the butcher shop. I dropped off the meat, and then headed to my house. When I got there, I entered my bedroom, and put my mom's necklace around my neck. I missed her so much.

"Princess! The humans are attacking!" A guard informed me, and I growled and put on my armour. Then, I grabbed my machetes, and headed outside with the guard.

"The boy!" I shrieked, and sprinted toward the main part of our village. When I got there, it was too late, a human had killed him,

"No!" I cried, and ran to the boy. I collapsed on my knees, and sobbed, ignoring everything around me. How could they kill a child? We never did so to the humans. I clutched the boy's hand, and kissed his forehead,

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, and didn't have time to react as a sword plunged toward me,

"Aiyana!" Someone screamed and ran in front of me. I gasped and fell backwards as I looked at the man who had saved me, with a sword right through his heart.

"Aah!" I screamed at the human holding the sword, and stabbed him with my machetes. The knight fell dead, and I turned to see many humans attacking our small village. Without the other villages, we were in great turmoil. We could easily lose our entire village. I darted around, killing every human in sight,

"You don't know how much pain you have caused us." I said aloud, as Charlene, Anca and a few other villagers came up beside me. We faced the few humans left, and I noticed the General standing within them. "You!" I screamed as I transformed into a lioness. I ran with a full force at the General, and pounced through the air toward him.

"General!" People were screaming as I tackled the guy to the ground with me. He looked up at me, as I threw my claws across his chest, ripping his armour. Lucas tackled me, and I hissed and snarled, trying to land a perfect attack that would kill him. He was growing weaker though. Tackling a three hundred pound lion would be tough. There was something about him though, and I found myself transforming back into my normal form. I stepped to my feet, and looked at the guy,

"Go." I said,

"What?" He sounded shocked,

"Go!" I snapped, and pushed him, "before I change my mind.". The General leapt onto a horse, and I watched him take off into the forest. I don't know why I saved him, but my instincts told me I shouldn't kill him.