Finding Hearts (Nanowrimo Entry)

Finding Hearts Nanowrimo Entry 2015

*AN: This is my entry for Nanowrimo 2015. I'm aiming for 50,000 words, a tremendous goal for someone who has only written maybe 10k of a continuing story before dropping it. I'm putting all I have into this, of course because im struggling with the wordcount I'm not focusing on the editing or anything. I'm sure I'll have a lot to fix after November xD But I'm going full throttle! I'm semi-confident I can do this...maybe -.- So anyway, this is the synopsis, every part under this will be a chapter. (Or at least some sort of moderately coherent break up). Oh, and I'm pretty sure this synopsis sucks, I've always been bad at writing them, but hopefully it gets the jist across in a decently interesting way ;) I've also included a pretty lengthy explanation of the first demon race introduced (Kappa) to avoid confusion as the first few chapters haven't gotten to the explanation point yet.

Explanation of a Kappa:

a water demon from Japanese folklore (more or less, I've put my own twist on the species). In folklore they reside in medium to small bodies of water and drown, rape, or eat anyone stupid enough to enter the water. *In this story Kappas are much less violent and are actually creatures specially made by the goddess of the sands. They still retain their connection to water, very powerful swimmers who like to be near lakes and ponds and take shelter in them when faced with an enemy, but actually display more earth/sand-like demon qualities. They don't look like lizards, but they act more like them, as they enjoy basking in the sun on rocks, eat small animals and bugs, actually requiring sunlight to maintain their energy, cover themselves and sleep in sand, as well as being attracted to shiny objects. Kappas are widely known as the prospectors of demon-kind, spending their time digging for gemstones beneath the desert sands and rock. Kappas are very human looking, except that their skin is usually covered in a thin coat of sand and rocks are actually apart of their body, small stones protruding from the heels of their feet, knees, elbows, and knuckles (places where humans might have calluses or dry skin basically). Kappas have tanned skin and darker features. Their eyes however are usually extremely light/bright and may be weird colors such as yellow or purple. Their life span is 20-25 years and they are considered adults at age 13. Kappas are not birthed by a mother, instead they literally form from the sand at random which means they have no family and are normally loners because of this, almost never seen together. Kappas are looked over by a designated demi-god until they become adults. Kappas do not have hearts, instead they have a live gemstone in the middle of their chest. To them this stone is a private area and has to be covered. If it is removed the Kappa will slowly waste away until the hole where the gem was completely consumes them. Humans often hunt Kappa for the gems they are known to hord and especially their life gem which is extremely valuable because Kappa are incredibly elusive demons.

Synopsis:

The year is 210 A.W. and the 32nd of King Mahjin's rule. Though the wars have ended, the destruction was vast and the region known as Vilo which was once a rain forest that covered nearly a fourth of the world, has been reduced to an almost lifeless desert.The ties between humans and Yokai (demons) were also reduced to ashes and even after so many years the resentment of both sides remains strong. Many humans make a living hunting down Yokai while the more violent of the Yokai View humans as little more than a food source. An uneasy truce between the two race's gods holds, but tensions are high, especially when a struggle for kingship over Vilo begins.

Enter A young Kappa named Fan growing up in the sands. Who, having just reached adulthood and abandoned by her guardian, has found herself thrown into a new and dangerous world where she is the prey for humans and Yokai alike.

Trying to survive on her own after years of being taken care of and with no knowledge of the outside world is hard enough, but when she's chased out of her territory and then besieged by wandering samurai, things get desperate.

When Fan's life jewel, akin to a human heart, is stolen by her pursuers, it's almost over for her. Without her Jewel she can't survive, the hole where her "heart" was wrenched from will continue to grow until it completely swallows her. Beaten and left to die in a remote part of the desert, Fan believes it truly is the end of her short life. But when another young samurai by the name of Lirin comes along and saves her, Fan begs him to help her find her life gem. Lirin agrees and together, with Fan's life on the line and the clock ticking, the two young outcasts begin a journey across the kingdom to find Fan's "heart".

However the world is full of hearts, and both the people that they meet and their own will be forever altered along the way.