The Chase : Volume One

Truth

               Semmy took shape on the hill and looked back at the palace. She felt in her heart that someone in that place was responsible for her suffering. Someone in Zhagoizie had made her father into a traitor, and turned her into a pest. Turned her into a mongrel that dragons everywhere hated.

"Auster... ." Semmy sighed. She wanted to cry, she wanted to run away. Yet, she would never disgrace her family like that. Her problems, her pain was not her own. Her tribe suffered in poverty and servitude while she complained about not being liked. She had to overcome this, even so, she was an agon. Auster was the one who should be here at times like this. If he was there he could attend the ball and campaign to reestablish their kingdom. All Fum'Oto were banned from living on the territory, and the border was guarded fiercely. They were an entire civilization made homeless.

"What's this?" Halya Eryda  called as she walked up with her her sister Nephele Eryn Daer'Kiran. They were Noalmon and Vasumani's cubs. "There is a black spot on the ground that seems to make the whole day darker." She smiled holding her hand over her head. She was in half-form, maintaining her human size with her wings and and horns out. Halya  was a Daer'Ishaan  through and through. Her father Noalmon's  Yzhen (royal) background made its mark on her  well. 

With auburn hair and caramel skin, her markings went from a deep red to a brighter red dancing up her skin. She wore a long silk skirt with bright gold flower embroidery. Her top started just above her bellybutton and perfectly cupped her small breasts with a heart-shaped bodice and open shoulders. The sleeves flared out and identical embroidery to the skirt was on the hem. The scales on her wings neck and forehead were a mauve color that turn to a red at the tip of her wings just as her horns were mauve at the base slowly blending into a red as the curved outward to each side.

"Isn't bad luck to use your Djartte (dragon form) before the celebration, Eryda? " Semmy asked smiling wide.

"How dare you call Halya that way. Know your place, Mav'amea (cursed princess)" Nephele Eryn her younger sister immediate spat stepping in front of Eryda  as if to protect her from harm. Nephele was actually nice when Eryda wasn't around, she was three years younger,  however and fiercely sought Halya's approval. She would never back down when her sister was with her. "This is Djekar, half-form. It usually takes a few days to master this, Halya did it and she just got her Djartte today." she continued swinging her braid around from in front to the back.  All Daer'Ishaan girls kept their hair in this braid until their fifteenth birthday. They would cut their hair in five more years, to signify a new period of growth, and would grow it out until cutting 10 inches when they reach 100 years. Semmy didn't dare practice such customs. Fum'Oto only cut their hair to signify deep pain or loss. Like losing a child. They say all Fum'Oto had cut their hair after the Dark Winter.

"If I am powerful enough to make the entire sky black - I imagine I am not only at her place, but far above it." Semmy smirked stepping around Nephele to look Eryda up and down as she spoke. Before Semmy could continue to walk away the two agons pushed her down and Eryda sat on top of her.

"Listen to me you pile of ash and dirt." Eryda bent over, pinned down her arms, and whispered in her ear. "Tonight.  I want you to imagine for one second that anyone could care much less be happy for you. Because I want to see your face when reality comes back down to bite you. I want to see your tears... Remember, Sasibellona your father - is a murderer, and a traitor, and your O'zheni (royal line) no longer exists. Your brother is probably already dead so no one would look at you if you cried a river" She  seethed, and Nephele kicked Semmy's side. Looking at Eryda up close Semmy could see the nostrils on her near flat nose flare. Her thin eyes so bright orange in color it was as if they were piercing.

Semmy held her composure and smiled. "Remember Eryda, you - will never see my tears." Semmy laughed as she twisted her body, grabbed Eryda's arm and slammed her flat onto the ground. As she  got up and walked away Eryda looked up yelled, "You better not ruin my Tae'Sora Zai or no one will miss a traitor's daughter when you are dead!" 

This was definitely not over. Halya Eryda was vindictive and petty as she was beautiful. Beauty which made her popular and well known in Daer'Ishaan and Yzhen circles. Which is  most days  Semmy let her get away with pushing her around. Made no sense to make enemies out of such a well liked person if she was to fight for her gyn's honor. No telling how this moment would come back to haunt her. Still, Semmy couldn't let her talk about her father or her kin that way.  Semmy vowed to herself then, as she had a thousand times before, she would show the world that she was more than a traitor's daughter.

She traced her hands along the wall of castle and when she was out of view she let herself rest against the cool stone of the wall and cry.  The weight of everything seeming to fall in on her all at once.

She started to wipe the tears and move on when she ran into a tall gon so hard he had to grab her arm to stop her from falling. At first with her locks covering her face, she couldn't see who she had collided with. Nonetheless, as she looked up and recognized him as Soteramose Zi'Venam, the son of Andraemon Hayd'Enox Draenugahar she reflexively jerked her arm back and lowered her head and walked around him.  She didn't dare look up again, even at a glance she could tell he was trouble.

 He was considered one of the most handsome Asantegons in Zhagozie much less his home of Daer'Ishaan.  Only in Zeneth for the Tae'Sora Zai, it was well known that his own predicament was precarious at best. Though on the surface he was accepted by Andraemon the Key of Daer'Ishaan, everyone knew his mother had been raped before their marriage and was already pregnant with Soteramose.  His life was a constant struggle between him and his younger brother who carried Andraemon's blood. Especially, with it said by some that he looked more Yzhen than both his brother and Andraemon. Though she felt bad for being rude, he was not someone it was safe for her to have any dealings with, not for what she needed...