༄ ⍴һ᥆ᥱᥒі᥊ ᥕᥲrrі᥆r sһ᥆r𝗍 s𝗍᥆rіᥱs ༄

A Phoenix's Fate

Summary: The warning Shedoth and Reza were given about Ana, finally comes to pass.

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~Part 3 of Ana's Backstory~

As the years passed and the child grew, both Shedoth and Reza taught Ana everything they thought she would need. They knew from Aslan that Ana would outlive many of the Narnians, including themselves. Knowing that they couldn't always protect her, they taught their daughter how to hunt and track from a young age. From the time she was five years old, Shedoth had started taking her out on hunts. She was taught to learn the difference between Talking and Dumb Beasts. Although Reza disliked her learning such gruesome things at a young age, both knew they needed to teach her while they could. There was always a threat lingering around her and she needed to survive.

While Shedoth taught Ana basic survival skills, Reza taught her how to cook and make clothes from nearly anything. While the faun herself did not need most of the clothes, she had to learn how to make them in order to provide for Ana. So they had learned together. Ana was able to cook on her own and make clothes for herself by the time she was eight. Most children her age didn't even begin to learn until they were ten.

The one thing Ana had never done was actually kill. Shedoth allowed her to track the animals and lay traps or snare, for Dumb Beasts only, but she never handled a weapon. She was taught how to handle a blade to not cut herself, but she didn't know how to properly handle a weapon in defense or to maim an animal. The couple had agreed to wait until she was older on those things. It was bad enough that she had to learn the gruesome details of life so young. She didn't need to be dealing with those things quite yet.

During her ninth year, they started to notice a change in Ana. Her face was more flushed and she often mentioned being too warm, even in the winter. They were concerned at first but everyone soon realized it was the return of the phoenix. Reza had told her about her gift during one of their lessons, refusing to hide it from her. Now they all knew it would soon be time for her to learn to control the transformation. That, however, was easier said than done.

After just a few weeks, Phoenix started making her first appearances. The transformations were random at first, seeming to happen without provocation. When they didn't know what caused it, Ana often got more upset and she had to flee the house to prevent burning it down. Soon they noticed a pattern starting to develop. Phoenix's appearance became more common when Ana was stressed, scared, or angry. As long as Ana was able to calm herself down, they didn't amount to anything.

In the year 895, Ana's tenth year, she started to disappear for hours at a time. When she returned, she was happier and almost glowed. Reza or Shedoth would question her on where she went and she always responded with the same thing: Practicing. They never thought she was lying and as the weeks turned into months, they saw improvements that proved she had been telling the truth. Ana had much more control when she got angry or stressed. She seemed less afraid too, but whether that was because Ana now understood what was happening or if she was no longer scared neither faun could say.

But in that same year, tragedy also struck the young family. Rumors had reached their ears of humans disappearing near the border. Her parents had forbidden Ana from leaving without someone present. She obeyed, understanding her parents' worries. But it didn't matter. While they were trying to avoid trouble, it found them. And it wanted Ana.

᯽ 𝐀𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 ᯽

"Quickly Ana," Reza said, bursting into Ana's room. "You must hide!" Pounding and growling could be heard outside their home. Shedoth was in another room, gathering his weapons.
"Hide where?" Ana asked.
"Here..." the faun gestured under the bed. "Don't come out no matter what happens."
"But—"
"Promise me, Ana. You won't come out no matter what you see! Or hear."
"I promise," Ana answered. Her voice shook, betraying how scared she was.
"My dear sweet girl," Reza said with a sad smile, caressing her face. Then she shoved Ana towards the bed.