~Serana⚜

"Serana!" I here someone call loudly from behind me. Turning I see Satir approaching me at a jog. Ignoring his presence I turn and keep walking towards my house. "You never came to see me last night." He states like a spoiled brat that didn't get his way. 'What happened to being respectful?' I ask myself sarcastically as I continue to ignore him.

He keeps following me in silence until we near the center of the village. Opening his mouth to speak he gets cut off when someone by the pool shouts, "Guards!"

Everyone looks up to see a group of seven armored guards flying around a nearby rock in formation towards the village.

Satir and I start moving towards the central clearing, stopping at the corner of a building on its edge. As the seven guards swoop down and land by the pool I become keenly aware of the weight of the bow and arrows in my hand.

"W-what do you want?" Kiret, Satir's vavi, ask the lead guard.

"We're here to collect ties to the queen." The man answers with a disgusting snark.

"But we aren't do to pay our ties for another two days." Kiret protest.

"Well we're here to collect early." The man says taking a step forward, towering over the quivering avocet.

"B-but we don't have it. That's not enough time, we still need more to make the quota." Kiret tries to explain.

"So you're saying you can't pay your ties?" The guard sneers. "Well then I guess we'll have to take payment in another way." Turning to his group he shouts, "Remember your orders!" And with that the seven of them start to pillage the shops and houses nearby.

One of the hunters, a man in his late fourteenth century, picks up his spear and moves to stab one of the nearby guards, that had grabbed a woman by her hair and yanked her out of the way. The guards chest-plate easily deflects the spear. Turning his attention away from the woman, he's now going after the hunter who had tried to stab him. Unsheathing his double edged short sword from his belt he quickly thrust the blade through the hunters chest. This seems to start a frenzy as the other guards turn their weapons against the villagers. The other hunters join in the attack as well.

Not wanting to get involved in a sword-fight with my bow and arrows, I set my weapon down and slink around the front edge of the building I was standing against. People were scattering left and right. In the chaos many of the children that had been playing in the clearing were separated from their parents and stumbling around trying to understand what they were supposed to do.

Making my way through the people I start to gather the frightened children and send them with other fleeing adults. Satir tries to flee as well but I grab him by the base of his wing and yank him back. "No you don't. This is your village, you're going to help me get these children to safety." I harshly whisper to him. He nods his head rapidly in agreement not knowing what else to do.

Turning back to the bloodbath, I have to go farther into the clearing to get the kids that were at the pool. Leaping over the dead body of one of the hunters I quickly dodge around another hunters spear as it slides past a guards side.

Reaching two small children, a girl and boy, I quickly pull them closer to me and half shield them with my wings. Turning around to talk to Satir I see him trying to flee again. But before he makes it out of the clearing the lead guard is on him stabbing him through with his sword. The man starts to turn my way and on instinct I pull the two children, too young to fly, and wrap my arms around them securely and quickly lift into the air jumping with all my strength to flap my wings enough to get me and the two children airborne.

Looking down I see the man move to take off after me. Trying to get away I move towards the buildings. Before I can reach them I feel a taloned hand sink into the flesh of my ankle and start to pull. Closing my eyes I beat my wings with all my strength.

I can feel myself being pulled down. There was one last massive tug from the man before I feel myself shoot upwards as my foot is released with a searing pain from the cuts left behind. Opening my eyes I look down to see the guard that had been pulling my leg was now on the ground with an armored woman.

Her armor was different though. The guards armor was silver but hers was a dull gray and seemed of a lesser quality, but it was still armor and it was effective enough to allow her to kill the man with a hatchet to the neck. Taking off towards the buildings again I haphazardly land on the nearest one and unceremoniously drop the children onto the roof.

Doing a quick check to make sure they were alright I turn to see more men and women, like the one who pulled the man off me, on the ground fighting the guards. As the battle continued a man carrying three more children landed on the roof beside me and dropped the children much like I had. Giving me a quick glance to make sure I'd protect them. Nodding my confirmation, he turned and jumped off the roof, down into the dissipating fight.

By the time I checked to make sure all the children were unharmed and got them to the ground to run and find their parents all the guards were either dead or fleeing.

Looking into the clearing I saw many dead body's littering the ground. The men and women in the strange armor were helping the wounded and checking the dead for any signs of life.

Stepping into the open area I quickly make my way to where the doctor's house was while being sure to keep an eye on all of the armored strangers.

Slipping into a building one of the men, I mustn't have noticed, slipped in behind me. "What are you doing?"

Jumping slightly I turn from the shelf I had been riffling through and hold up a bottle of medicine for the man to see.

Visibly relaxing, "Are you one of the villagers?" He ask in a kinder voice.

"Yes." I answer in a much steadier voice than I thought I would.

"What happened?" He ask moving to another shelf looking for medicine while still keeping me in his line of sight.

"The guards were demanding for ties early and we couldn't pay, so they decided to take other things as payment." I answer.

Setting a green bottle back on the shelf, "I see." He states as if he's heard this before. He probably has. "You were protecting the children." He states more than ask.

"I was." I answer anyways grabbing more bottles and jars from the shelves. "There's wraps and salves in the cupboard over there." I tell the man indicating the proper place with my wing.

Walking over to the place indicted he opens the cabinet and pulls out several wrappings and jars of varying salves. Turning back to me he motions for me to go first out the door.

Not having a good reason to distrust him I move to the door and walk out.

Stepping outside I lift a wing slightly to shield my eyes from the bright sunlight. As my eyes adjust I see the other villagers making their way back to the clearing and helping these strangers pickup the damage and move the bodies of the dead hunters and others who had been unfortunate enough to get caught by the guards.

"Horrible isn't it?" The man behind me says.

My only answer is a solemn nod as I look at the bloodied ground. "It's not fair to fight someone who can't defend themselves." I say more to myself than the man.

"No it's not." He agrees.

With that we make our way to where the injured are being taken and give the village doctor the supplies.

As we walk away the man stops and turns to me, "What would you think about fighting for them?" He ask crossing his large arms in front of his chiseled chest.

"What do you mean?" I ask turning to face the man.

"I mean are you willing to fight for these people, and not just them," he motions to the villagers around us, "but everyone in the kingdom. To protect them from the queen and her men." He clarifies.

"Go against the queen?" I ask in confusion and disbelief that someone would be that insane to challenge the queen.

"I can understand your hesitance." He says, "But I assure you, the rebellion is growing. We get stronger everyday and our numbers continue to multiply." He reasons.

Frowning slightly I glance around the clearing at the families and friends grieving over their lost loved ones and the crying children clinging to their parents as they look at the blood soaked ground. 'Could I really do that? Actually leave and make a difference. That's what you wanted isn't it?' I question myself. Finally my gaze rest on my mother as she scowls at the dead body of Satir and that makes my choice.

"I understand if you need some ti..." The man begins.

"Yes." I interrupt him.

Looking at me with slightly wide eyes, "Are you sure?" He ask.

"Yes." I repeat nodding my head firmly as I turn back to look at him, "I'm sure."

"Well alright then. Go pack anything you'd like to bring with you. Within reason." He orders giving me a nod in return before walking off towards another group of villagers.

"Hey, what was that about?" Treale ask approaching me, "What were you two talking about?" He questions using a wing and slight hand motion to indicate the man I had been talking with.

"A recruiter for the rebellion." I answer turning in the direction of my house.

"The rebellion? Against the queen?" He ask shocked.

I give a curt nod as I make my way to the house.

"You're not going are you?!" He questions, quickly following behind me.

"I am. And most likely anyone else willing to go." I answer partially glancing at him.

"But-but that's suicide!" He exclaims coming up beside me and grabbing my arm.

"And staying here isn't?!" I stop abruptly, whipping around to face him as I indicate the village around us.

Looking around at the state of destruction and confusion around us, a solemn look washes over his face. "You're right." He mumbles looking at the ground beneath his feet.

"What?" I ask a bit shocked he didn't put up more of a fight.

"You're right." He repeats looking up at me, "There's no getting out of this war." He sighs before continuing, "If I can't hide from it I might as well fight in it right?" He has a weak lopsided smile barely holding up, trying to make light of the situation.

"Does that mean you're coming with me?" I ask trying not to get my hopes up.

"I can't let my hunting partner go off without me now can I?" He teases lightly smacking the back of my wing with his.

"No you can't." I answer just as teasingly, "Go pack. I'll meet you in the clearing." I say taking off towards my house before he can respond.

Half sprinting, half gliding the rest of the way home I burst through the sagging door nearly taking it off its hinges. Going over to my corner of the house, I didn't have a room, I slept on a thick hide next to the washing basin. This made it hard to hide any belongings from my nani.

Going over to the thick worn hide I lift it up to pull out another set of leathers to wear and a few medical supplies I kept hidden there. Stuffing them in my bag I roll the hide up and taking a thick strip of leather from the table I tied it shut. Leaving the roll there I glance around out of habit before going to the loose board in my corner. Prying up the old wooden board I look to see an old cloth, that at one point had been white, folded protectively around an object.

Pulling out the small worn cloth I unfold it to see the only thing I had left of my vavi. A small red sphere caged in spirals of gold on a golden chain. My vavi had been a thief but he was still a good man. This was the last thing he had given me when I was twelve. He said to keep it hidden from Nani and to never let anyone see it. That it was the necklace of a ruler and one day I would wear it for all to see.

That was the last time I had ever seen my vavi. He was captured the next morning by a patrol of guards searching for him, and publicly humiliated and executed by way of dewinging and decapitation.

Running my fingers over the smooth gold fondly I hear the door creak open behind me. Quickly rewrapping the necklace, I stuff it beneath my breast before the intruder can see it.

"Where do you think you're going?" I hear the ruff voice of my nani. "You're not going with those mongrels." She states firmly.

"Yes Nani, I am." I correct standing with my bedroll.

"Let me see that." She hisses snatching my bag from around my hips.

Yelling in protest she moves away before I can take the bag back and dumps its contents on the table.

"Taking medicine are we?" She snarls picking up the vials I had put in my bag.

"They're mine." I tell her snatching the bottles from her hands and putting them back into the bag. "Trust me, I don't want anything from you. It's not like you've ever given a damn before!" I shout stuffing my things back in my bag.

I feel a sharp pain spread across my cheek as her hand connects to the side of my face. Stumbling back I drop my bedroll and hold my cheek, glare at her. "Listen you ungrateful little child." She spits at me grabbing my face, "I have done more for you than you could possibly imagine." She hisses at me, inches from my face.

Before I know what I'm doing I have her shoved against the wall. "No you listen to me." I say in a dangerously low voice tightening my grip on her shoulders. I was beyond fed up, I had a chance to leave and I was going to take it. "I've had enough of listening to you. All you care about is yourself, you've never cared about me." I hiss sharply, "I'm not too inclined to care much about you either, so I will be going with them and you can't do a thing about it." I practically spit in her face. I don't know where this was coming from, it was like the moment she hit me something in me snapped and now there was no going back.

Shoving away from her I quickly stuff the rest of my things into my bag and sling it around my hips before scooping up my bedroll. Walking to the door I glance back at my nani still leaned against the wall with an exasperated expression on her face.

Not thinking about it I pull out the cloth with the necklace. Setting the bedroll agains the wall, I unfold the white cloth to reveal the bright red ruby and gold metal. I hear Nani gasp as she sees the golden necklace. Carefully lifting the jewelry, I let the cloth slip from my hands as I put the necklace on around my neck. The red sphere comes to rest on my collarbone still trapped in its spiral cage.

"Where did you get that?" Nani questions in a frightened whisper.

"It was a gift." Is all I say picking up my roll, I walk out of the house never wanting to step foot in that place again.

As I walk my insides seemed to churn unsteadily before settling down the farther I got from my nani. By the time I got to the clearing I felt almost liberated to know I was finally free of that woman and soon this village entirely.

"Serana?" I hear my name called. Looking up I see Treale with my bow in hand and the man from earlier approaching me. "When'd you get that?" He ask pointing at the necklace now around my neck.

Reaching up to run my fingers along the smooth metal, "It was a gift from Vavi before..." I trail off letting him finish the rest in his mind.

Nodding his head in understanding he drops the subject as he hands me my bow.

"It's very beautiful. Matches your wings." The other man said looking at the gold now easily visible in my wings as I stand in a pool of sunlight.

"Huh." I grunt in agreement just realizing this fact as I look at my wings as well.

"We should get moving if we wish to make it back with the others before nightfall." The older man says giving me another glance before turning towards the rest of his group.

Taking one last look around the small village I had spent my whole life in I turn away and take off after the group falling into place a little above and ahead of Treale as we followed our new alias.