Always by my Side

Young Beginnings

Deep in the forest of Chult, is a temple full of snake like people known as the Yuan-ti. Normally a very cold and methodical people, they held their warriors at the highest standard. A warrior was supposed to be strong, collected, and focused. No matter what the circumstance he was never to show emotion, only steel himself and carry on for the temple. All the Yuan-ti cared about was to gain enough power to eventually become gods, the more power they gained the more snake like they became. Most of them were just regular pure-bloods though, humanoids with scaly patches, snake eyes and small hollow fangs: some with venomous toxins. Several things determined how powerful one was destined to become, those being the color of ones scales, magical abilities or hunting prowess. The typical day was just the women working on the temple work and the men out hunting, any time an outsider was brought back all activities would be stopped and that outsider would be sacrificed to the gods who the temple was built for. Such a rule made sacrifices a common sight at a Yuan-ti temple, however today was a little more special than that, because one of the powerful warrior's mate was about to give birth.

A temple midwife and her young son, Sadi had been given the honor by the warrior of  helping with the birth. All the tribe knew that this particular warrior, Kyrissian was hoping for a strong son. His desire was for a boy who could follow in his footsteps and become a powerful heir. The midwife was prepping a warm pool of water drawn from a hot spring for the mother, Elura. As a mere four year old himself, Sadi's only task was to fetch what his mother or the new parents asked for. They watch as the father paces, not talking to his mate at all. Sadi's mother, Marissa, knew something was wrong. The mother was having an extremely hard time. Marissa can only hold her tongue as Kyrissian begins to berate the laboring mother

"Your weakness dishonors me" He says with a heat in his words, she takes it with no objection. Only continuing through the pain as best she can. Soon Marissa realizing what is going on, the baby isn't in the right position. It's coming feet first. She shouts for one of the shamans to come down, and sure enough one comes running. After all, no less then the best was afforded to Kyrissian. The shaman begins to work a small spell to easy the pain and help Elura proceed. At this point Marissa's concern was more in helping both mother and child survive. She knew what would befall the tribe if Kyrissian was displeased with his child, or if his mate succumbed in such a way. After the spell finishes, Elura breaths much better, and is able to deliever a little girl within a few hours, the infant is much too small, and she looks weak. Her breath is shallow and pained. Sadi's mother looks distressed at her size and breath, which makes the young boy very curious.

"What's wrong with her Mama?" He asks softly, trying not to anger the warrior, but at the same time reaching out for the infants little fingers. She looks weak, and isn't making hardly any noise. Her scales are a dark mud color, similar to Sadi's own tan ones, but when they became of age their colors would come in. Kyrissian looks down at his new daughter in disgust, and anger. 

"Throw her in the river! She won't survive the night." He orders, but as if answering him herself, the small brown scaled infant begins to cry with a strong tone. They watch as some of the magic from the shaman's spell curls at the ends of her tiny hand. The shaman and midwife look over in shock. It was almost unheard of for a Yuan-ti this young to show a magical ability. The shaman turns to Kyrissian, 

"She is still strong, and has strong will. Give her a fighting chance, I beg you"

His dark gaze doesn't change at all, the only look in his eyes is that of disappointment. Magic to him was the weaker power. No magician would ever please the gods in the way a proud warrior could, at least not in his eyes. A glare back at his mate shows how he feels. It's her fault for bearing such a weak child to one with his level of respect and potential. 

"Even if she has magic in her blood, I will not raise such a disgrace, this burden is yours" He says, again in a militaristic tone, directed at his mate. Without another word, he walks out. The young mother looks sad for a brief moment before asking for the little one. The midwife passes over the tiny infant, and mother and daughter bond. Sadi is ushered out by his mother, much to his disappointment. Something about the little girl intrigued him, drawing him back to her. Perhaps it was the glimmer of magic in her eyes... 

A few weeks later.

Elura was forced by her mate to leave. He wanted nothing to do with such a weak daughter,  even one with magic so young. Perhaps one day if she proved herself, he would accept her and she would honor him and the temple. To him though the only way the girl would prove her worth would be to become a wife.  As a result Elura had moved in with the midwide for now. Sadi was excited as could be to finally see the new baby. As was typical of young Yuan-ti her scales were a dark brown color, just a little darker than his own. He turns up to Elura with a curious expression. The mother had her laid out on a blanket in the floor and Sadi was watching in awe as golden light sparked from her hands as they played. He would gently coo at her and wiggle his fingers. Despite being only three, he looked like that of an almost six year old, as Yuan-ti matured much faster because of the harsh jungle life. It would be only a small matter of time before she was growing quickly too. As he leaned in to straighten her wispy black hair out of her face, he realizes that this whole time he's just been calling her the baby... They all had. Without a second thought he blurts out, 

"Are you gonna name her?" It's an innocent question, with Sadi not understanding that the child still might not make it to maturity. Elura looks at her little girl for a moment, before finally turning and answering Sadi in a low voice.

"Itzelliss, that is what we will call her" 

"Can I hold her? Please?" He begs, with a slight chuckle Elura shows him how to hold her with out hurting. Her eyes flicker gold for a brief moment with the magic, as she looks up at him. He gasps in awe. 

"Zell..." 

"I'll always protect you little, Zell."