For those of you who wonder what kind of music I listen to while writing the chapters of my books, with this series, I like to listen to instrumental music that seems to fit my mood for it. So, above you will find the video of the music that I was listening to for this chapter. I might suggest playing it while you read, with headphones for a better experience, and enjoy the story as it unfolds. It certainly helps mold the story as I am shaping it!
But, it can be enjoyed without the music. And a little note, I contemplated not uploading this chapter today. I wrote it twice! Twice people! And somehow it kept deleting. This was the third and final attempt. And, thank god, it didn't delete. Shows how much I love you all.
But anyway, with my anger and aggravation put aside, I hope you enjoy my loves!!!
And his name is pronounced [Muh-keti-ss]
_____
The mountains of Eenack were in the closing distance as Maketis and I walked forwards. Home, we were almost home. A smile grew on my face as I looked at the floating mountains that held the tribes of my people. In the distance, the sound of the rushing waterfalls were mixed with the slight sound of rustling leaves. At the top of the Mother mountain, I could see the tree that was home to many of us, with our huts in each branch and limb. A smile grew on my face as the distance started to close. The valley of vines came into view as we grew close to the cliff that went off to the sea. It was the glass sea that connected all the lands, flowing around the large body of earth that held all seven Kingdoms and the heart of the Underworld, Namaria.
Maketis and I had been summoned by his Majesty Alaric, a personal request from his top guard Tannakut, who had brought in new recruits for the start of the new year. With a heavy heart, I had followed my childhood mentor and partner to the far off land of Namaria. With a seven days journey on foot, we had grown close, getting to know the other on a personal level that I had never realized that I had craved before. And with the choosing of mates at the end of the week, I was starting to wonder if he had chosen his mate? Looking at him from the corner of my vision, I watched as his grey eyes darted around as we came close to the thick, green vines. A single vine could hold seven Male warriors, never giving way under the weight. He stood tall, a foot above my height, with chiseled features and pointed ears. His black hair was braided, draping down his back until it touched the earth below his feet, showing his strength and courage. Turning to look at me, his patterned scars shown in the late afternoon light, showing more of his strength.
"It is good to be home," he said before wrapping his arm around the vine, his legs wrapped in black leather trousers helping him pull himself up. I smiled, nodding in agreement as I gave one last look around us. The afternoon was bright, the light blue sky filled with puffy clouds that were scattered miles and miles apart. The two bright suns seemed to blend into one as it looked down on the earth, granting light to all the kingdoms except the Kingdom of Eternal night, where the glass sea held the secrets of the seventh Kingdom.
With mountains in the distance, blocking Namaria from the view on the ground, and trees that were scattered around, a few streams flowing to the sea or at the end of the cliffs, the world we lived in was breath taking. But, it still never compared to the beautiful of the floating mountains.
Wrapping my arm around a thick vine, I pulled myself up, following after Maketis, allowing me to quickly leave the ground and go into the air. I watched in wonder as we climbed, see the breeze move the mountains with unseen dragon's wings move like a leaf of a branch, or a small tree bending in the breeze. With the light breeze, I watched as the far off mountains seemed to come closer, reaching out to the mother mountain, the one that I had called home for so many years.
Above me, Maketis came into the mist of the waterfalls that dipped off the sides, the water during into the sparkling mist that would flow across all the Kingdoms, watering those that thirst, and would keep the balance in peace. Miles separated us from the Kingdoms below, and the land. Making quick work, I found myself climbing above Maketis, causing him to look at me with sparkling eyes. In the years that I had known him, I had grown to know that he was not one to show emotions with his face, but with his eyes. When he was happy, his eyes would sparkle light a crystal in the sunlight, seeming to practically glow. But, when he was angry, they would darken to the point that it seemed to cause the night sky to look like it was the morning sun. I feared when that anger was pointed towards me.
Yet, over the past seven new moons, he had never looked at me with dark eyes, but with eyes that had shown more sparkle and joy than I had seen in such a long time. Even in my years of teaching and beyond the coming of age, he had never seemed so joyous. I was grateful that I had been around that, even if it was for such a short period of time.
As the mist turned into large droplets, I could feel my skin becoming very moist from the water that was slowly becoming a waterfall. Maketis was taking a rest for a moment, allowing us to wrap around the vines as we stayed there, suspended, looking at the Dragon's Mouth -a cave that was for the prayer during the Silver Moons- with a curious face. It was not forbidden to go inside, but Warriors did not enter unless it was to pray. The females of the tribe were common to enter the cave a moon before the Silver Moons would appear in the night sky, allowing them to carry the seed of their mate. This would be the year when I would be chosen... If I was chosen.
Maketis looked over at me, his eyes dancing in the dust light, the yellows, oranges, purples, and pinks littering the sky as the clouds turning different shades. I looked at him with a small smile before reaching above me and continuing to climb. The only taking five days to return home, we were looking forward to the celebration that was to come at our arrival. Several months it had been before my feet had stepped back onto home land. And, when I had pulled myself up over the edge of the mountain, my feet dipping into the soft soil and the rushing water of the waterfall beside me, I could not help but stand there and listen to the sounds that I had missed for so many moons. Maketis stood beside me, facing the edge of the mountain, looking out at the Kingdoms with grey eyes. I turned to look with him, completely lost in wonder at the sight before me.
In the dusk light, I could see the Kingdoms stretched far and wide. There was the Kingdom of night in the far left distance, with the glass sea sparkling in the eternal night given by the Seven Moons, and then the Kingdom of Namaria stood in the middle of it all. With the large mountains and caves behind the castle, Dragons flew around, guarding and protecting. I smiled at the memories of teaching the new comers how to keep their wings steady, showing them how to use their tail like that of a sword, and their fire as a bow. Tannakut had been helpful, teaching me different ways of stand during combat as I showed him how to shoot from a bow. Everything I knew was because of Maketis' guidance.
"The Silver Moons will be high in the sky in two days time," I heard from beside me. I nodded my head in agreement, feeling the soft breeze blow around us as the leaves rustled around us. "I will be having to choose a mate," he whispered.
"I have faith that you know which female will be the one for you," I responded, keeping the formalities in line. Even in our time alone, the boundaries had never been crossed. There were times when I wished that we had slipped, or even him coming to fix my stance when it was never needed. Something more than just the formal touches, like that of a lover or mate.
"Do you believe that you will be chosen, Vixas?" His body stayed forward, his gaze never facing me. I felt the wind move my robes slightly in the breeze, a gift from her Majesty Amira and her daughter Princess Naomie. Beautiful and kind, they had taken me into their arms, helping show me the ways of a lady. There would be times when the formalities would be dropped with my mate, and I would have to hold myself as that of a woman... not a warrior. Perhaps one of those times would be soon?
"I believe that if I am chosen, I will do all that I can to keep my mate happy. But, if I am not chosen, then my duty is to keep the Kingdoms and our people as my top priority. Either way, I will be happy." I said, feeling my bow dig into my back slightly as I bent my head back to look at the sky. About that time, the light changed from warm colors of pinks and oranges, to cool colors of blues and purples, deepening the sky as night started to fall.
"I have chosen," he said as we started to walk towards the tribe. Mother tree was before us, standing tall, her branches reaching out around to the near islands, allowing us to be connected to each other. I nodded, not knowing what to say. "Perhaps she will choose me as well," he whispered. I looked over to him, giving him a small smile.
"Any female would be more than joyous to be your mate," I said before turning back towards the tribe. As we continued to walk, I could feel the atmosphere change between us. Gone was that comfort of formalities, and in it's place... came that of the feeling of friendship. I had noticed that our relationship had changed over the course of the months, but never had I expected to be as comfortable with him as I was now. Perhaps my life mate would be Maketis? But, what if he still saw me as a student, a child under his hand and teachings? That is not a mate, that is someone who is still in need of growing and learning.
I could see the flames of the large fire starting to dance as the beating of drums came into our view. I smiled, feeling my steps quicken as I saw home at last. After all this time... I was finally home.
Maketis chuckled from behind me, causing me to smile at him over my shoulder.
"I'll race you," I challenged, giving him a playful smirk and glare. He shook his head as he continued to chuckle. "A wager then?" I offered, stopping my movement as he did the same.
He thought for a moment, then a small smirk formed on his lips.
"If I win, you owe me a dance tonight at the celebration." he whispered.
I nodded my head, weighing the options.
"And if you lose, you have to dance with Jaketa tonight," I said with a smile. Jaketa was the old widow, how had been known to be a flirt and tease to all the younger males. He shook his head as that rare smile covered his lips, causing the dimple on the inside of his right cheek to deepen. I felt my heart flutter at the sight of his ruggedly handsome face turning into that of a heartbreaking smile on a beautiful face. It always shocked me at how something so simple could change that of a simple face completely. After a few moments, he nodded and then took off. My eyes went wide as I noticed that I would lose.
Smiling, we ran the entire way back to the camp, only to have me lose by a few fleeting moments.
Yet, I didn't feel that I had lost.
______
My eyes scanned the room of my little hut, a place that I had called home for so many years now. I took a small breath, smelling the scent of the maple that had permanently embedded this room. My hand held onto the bowed wood as the makeshift door closed, allowing me to be left in the light of the glowing plants that gave off as much light as a candle's flame. To the right of the entrance, my canopy bed was beside the two openings in the wooden hut, allowing me to see out during my time that I spent in here. The tapestry blanket was neatly inside the netting that held it above the wooden floor, a wolves skin laying on top that. The tapestry pillow laid at the top, stuffed with feathers of the great phoenix. It had been the softest thing that my head ever laid upon. I smiled before turning my attention to the left.
Two small chests sat by the bowed wall, a shelf above that held a brush and a bowl of paint. My weapons would be placed in the larger of the chests, while my clothes would be in the smaller of the two. Walking down the few steps that had been carved from the large branch, I looked around, seeing that nothing had changed. Aside from the tall and slim mirror that was to the right wall of the chests, it was all as I had left it.
As I moved to sit in front of the chest, I placed my bow and sword down to the ground, opening the lid of the larger chest to move them inside safely. Moving to take out my dagger and it's leg strap, I smiled at the feel of the slightly worn leather under my finger tips. Closing the chest, I stood to disrobe. The black garments had been a gift, patterns of red and yellow flames mixed around a dragon that had danced in the fire. The leather trousers were like that of Maketis' but, mine had a tighter fit, allowing me to wrap any daggers around them. As the material slipped from my body, I sat down on my knees and feet to take out the dress that I had never worn before.
It was a gift that Jaketa had given me on the last day of my teachings. My smile grew slightly as I lifted the straps from the chest, the small straps holding the slightly braided with golden thread. The cream colored silk was covered in small designs of water and flames dancing together. It synched at the waist, allowing me to look like I had curves when my body was tall and slim, and the slits in the sides of legs made it easily glide around me. Standing before the mirror, I was finally able to look at the scars that I had been given so many years ago. Under my breasts, the lifted, silver scars made up beautiful designs of the seven moons and stars over the mountains, while my hips and ribs were marked in designs of fire and water, the mountains prominent from the lifted markings.
Memories filled me at the look of them, the hours of laying down as the blade was heated to give a clean cut that wouldn't bleed, the pain, and the hours of healing and restless nights. All for the markings of my success for becoming a protector and warrior of the Kingdoms.
Turning to the side in the mirror, I looked at my naked body, seeing a few scars from battle go over my shoulders and spine, along with the prominent blood vein that went from the top of my behind down to the bottom of the tanned mounds. Taking a breath, I dipped my fingers into the black and white paint, drawing the swirls and patterns on my arms and down the sides of my legs. As it dried, I sat on my knees before the mirror, slowly undoing the braid that I had been growing for so many years. It was a symbol of pride and strength in the tribe. If it was cut, it was from losing yourself in battle, or because your life mate had passed. Only in times of sorrow would it be cut and burned.
As the white waves came forward around me, covering my naked body, I grabbed the brush to remove any of the tangles. Before me, looking at me from the mirror, sat a girl with large green eyes, a pixie nose, high cheeks bones, and an oval face, she was drowned in thick and long white hair that went down to her knees, covering her body except for the small indention of her belly button and the scars that were under her breasts. In that moment, I decided against pulling back my hair into a braid.. for I wanted it to be down tonight. It had been many moons since I had only worn my hair down besides when I would wash myself.
Standing up, my long legs rippled slightly from the muscles, and my hair fell over my breasts down past my hip bones. Moving some of the hair to part to the left more than the middle, I brought the silk fabric of the dress above my head to allow it to pool over my naked body. The feel of the luxurious fabric caused me to smile at my reflection as I fixed my hair. The woman in front of me had aged different than those around me. With a youthful face, I looked younger than my age, a sense of innocence constantly wrapped around me. Pinching my cheeks and biting my full lips, I was happy to have some color added to my tanned skin. Grabbing the golden hoops that would go through my ear lobs and the golden hoops that would go around my wrists and upper arms, I slid everything one.
As I opened the door to the hut, I made sure the leather strap on my right leg was in place, holding the dagger. Moving the silk over it, I was happy to see that it was hidden from sight.
Taking a breath, I looked up at the night sky, seeing the moons high as the stars littered the navy and purple night sky. I smiled as the sight of a comet over head slowly started to trail by, it's red and pink tail flowing behind it.
Below me, I could hear the pounding of the drums and chanting as children laughed. I hurried to the branches that twisted around the truck of Mother tree, allowing me to walk down a makeshift set of stairs before I could go to the ground. The wind started to blow as I felt my bare feet pad against the soft grass as the wood left. The tents were open, children running in and out after they received their painting, some holding sticks that were alight with fire as they danced around the flames, smiling and chanting along with those around it.
Maketis stepped forward from beside me, but he did not see me as I leaned against the truck of mother tree. My eyes went wide at the sight of his braid neatly done with a thick golden threat woven into it. His markings on his shoulder blades were prominent, shining silver over his tanned skin, complementing the depth of black of his hair. Reaching out to those he passed, I watched as our leader greeted all, bending down to receive a flower from a passed child, giving them a kind eyed look. The elders of the pack sat to the left of the fire, a large bowl of red paint before them as they smiled at him, making light conversation. The beasts were laid over the small pit fire to the right, the smell of cooking meat and freshly cut fruit filled the air with the burning ash.
As Maketis bent down to hug an awaiting child, he lifted him up as the music started to change. My eyes went wide at the memory of dancing to this for this first time when I was very young. The drums slowed to a soft beat, followed by the shaking of a rattle made of the wood of mother tree, causing the chatter to stop.
Maketis sat the child down, moving to stand in front of the fire. I watched in amazement as some of the tribe moved to dance with him, his arms stretched out to the side like those around him, dancing to the beat of the drums. I found myself smiling and moving forward as he danced with a young female who was going through her teachings, following his lead as they moved around the fire with the others, a chant leaving his throat as the beat quickened, the drums being pounded against harder. I now realized that I stood at the edge of the tribe, others standing by my side as I watched him dance, the wind causing the flames to lick and dance with them. As he came around a third time, his grey eyes locked with mine.
And he stopped, watching me as the wind blew slightly, causing my hair to move around my face. I gave him a shy smile as the music stopped. He placed up his hands as cheering and howls were let out.
"My friends!" he motioned for me to stand beside him. "After many moons of being gone, and able to teach our ways to the Dragons of old, it is good to be back home!" I smiled as he reached for me, cheers and howls filling the night once again. "Let the night be filled with joy and celebration of our return!" he called out. I smiled as I let out a cheer, lifting my arm in the air as he did the same. The rare smile covering his lips as he pulled me into his side. The air filled with the drumming and chanting, bodies covered in markings and beautiful patterned scars started to dance around the fire. "You have let your hair down," he said into my ear.
"It is a special celebration. A braid is not needed to show my victory tonight," I replied. A smirk and something crossed his mind as his lips turned up in a smile that was just for me. I smiled back before moving myself from his warmth, walking to stand by the fire and watch the bodies move around in dance.
Minutes passed before he returning to the elders. I found myself starting to feel the beat of the drums, my hips starting to move slightly. My eyes closed as the feeling of the drums pounded in my chest causing a smile to cross my face. As my feet started to carry me, I found my arms moving around my head, my hands twirling, mimicking that of the dancing flames. Time passed as the music continued, the wine was drunk, and beast devoured, and stories told.
I smiled as I curled up on a blanket, my belly full, and the left over wine filling my goblet as I lifted it to one of the elders that smiled at me before joining the dance.
A small figure sat down beside me, the long hair covering her face. Looking over, I noticed that it was Nikat, her brown hair and eyes complemented by beautiful dark skin. She looked at me as she brought her knees up to her chest.
"Why are you not dancing, little one?" I asked, moving one of the curls behind her ear. She held a lily in her hand, looking down at the violet petals.
"I'm not special enough to dance." She whispered, watching the figures dance and move, awe covering her sweet face. I smiled, moving to shift into my lap. She looked down at the flower before she looked at me, a confused face. "What have I done in my life to be proud of? I haven't gone through the teachings yet, and my work is little. I have nothing to give." She whispered.
I thought for a moment before smiling at her words. So young, and so full of life. "Well, look at a tapestry." I said before moving the end of the blanket up to be seen. I could feel eyes watching me, causing me to look and see Maketis looking at me from the other side of the tapestry. She gave me a confused look as I was about to speak again. "A single thread, though full of color, has no idea of what it's purpose will be in the grand design. But, each threat is important in making a beautiful piece that can be cherished for years to come. You may not see it now, but the little things that you can do, are more important than you will ever know. It's just a small thread in your life of a tapestry. It will take time, patience for you to see the end product, but even than you won't see it as clearly as someone else."
She looked down at the lily then the blanket. "What do you mean I won't be able to see it? Will I become blind?" she asked. I chuckled, shaking my head as I brought her closer to me.
"You must look through the eyes of the gods to see your beauty. That means you have to see past yourself and what you believe to be your flaws to see the beauty that you are. No one is like you, and you are loved beyond measure. So you still say you have nothing to give?" I asked with a smile.
She nodded.
"Then there is a lot to go around to give," I said before tickling her tummy. She giggled before placing the flower in my hair while kissing my cheek. "Remember that the stone on the top of the mountain has no more importance than the stones that form the base. Now, go dance." I said. She stood up, hugging me before running off. Maketis walked over to me before sitting down. I smiled as I watched her small frame jump around as she found a small ground to jump around with in a circle.
"You are wise beyond your years, Vixas." he whispered before turning my head. I looked at him in the glow of the fire, feeling that warmth in my cheeks start to grow. Never had this feeling been so strong before. Perhaps it was because of how close we were in this moment, sharing the small blanket.
"I had a wonderful instructor," I replied as he fixed the flower in my hair. "Thank you." I whispered as his hand stayed there for a moment more. He looked around for a moment, then look back at me before he gave a full blown smile. My heart stopped at the sight. Then, I noticed that his hand moved to my neck and his thumb covering the small bit of my cheek. But, what truly caught my attention was the coolness and the wetness of it. He had placed the promise marking of paint on me. "Maketis..." I whispered in shock.
"And any male would be joyous to have you as their life mate. I just wish that it is me," he said before leaning forward, placing his forehead on mine. I smiled, closing my eyes as I felt the paint dry, his hand staying where he placed it, causing a feeling of happiness to grow. He had chosen me.
I smiled, letting us sit there in the moment, enjoying the warmth that was shared from him and fire. The bowl was placed in front of me as we sat there, his eyes closed. I bit my lip before dipping my hand into it, feeling the cool paint cover my right hand. Moving back, I gave him a smile as I watched the firelight dance across his sharp feature. I looked at the long point of his ears, the smile still dancing in his eyes. Without another thought, I brought my hand up to his neck, letting my thumb capture the end of his cheek as he had with me. His eyes went wide as the feeling of the paint grazed his skin.
Pulling back my hand, I let him see the paint.
"Then I am yours, Maketis." I whispered, causing him to pull me to him. I wrapped my arms around him, tucking my head up under his chin, feeling the happiness spread. His arms wrapped around me before the drums stopped and changed to something different, the chanting changing to something of deeper celebration. I looked up, watching as he stood up, bringing me with him.
"I believe you owe me my dance," he whispered. I smiled, following behind as my hair was placed to the clean side of my neck.
_______
The celebration had died down, the elders and children going to their huts for the night in mother tree. I had snuck away, heading down the side of the mountain to the waterfall's base, wishing for nothing more than to clean my body.
As I broke through the brush and found the deep pound at the base of the waterfall, I smiled. Slipping off the straps of the dress, I let it pool at my feet before removing the leather strap of my dager to the forest floor. I smiled as my feet brought me into the slightly warm water, my hair covering me as I walked towards the waterfall. As the water deepened, I found that it had grown deeper in my time spent away, allowing it to come up to just below my breasts. I stepped under the soft pulsing water, allowing it to soak my hair as I removed all the dirt away from me. As I stood there, using the little bit of soap that I had left from Queen Amira, I washed my hair, allowing the scent of honey to fill my senses. She seemed quite found of that, as did her daughter.
I felt the water ripple, causing me to stop and turn, alert to rush to the shore to grab my dagger. But, when I turned, I only saw Maketis stepping into the water, his body naked as his hair cascaded around him, being removed from the braid, my mark still placed on his neck. He carried a rag and what looked to be another bar of soap. I turned away, moving my hair forward to cover my breasts as I sat the bar down on the ledge behind the waterfall. There was a little cave behind it, allowing you to sit there while washing your legs and body. But, when I moved back, Maketis stood before me as he passed under the waterfall, placing the soap and cloth down on the ledge. His barrel chest was bare as the water droplets started to roll down the indentions of his abdominal muscles before rolling back into the water. I was completely speechless looking into the dark grey pools of his eyes.
I watched as he started to close the gap between us, making my back come into contact with the stone wall of the cave. As he moved the hair that covered my breasts back, my arms came up to hide them, but he only gave me a small smile before pulling them away and pinning them above me to the wall. He stepped against me, the paint slightly chipped and went from the waterfall.
"Maketis... why are you doing this? It's not... it's not the silver moon." I whispered as he dipped his head down to capture a nipple into his mouth. Heat washed over me as the sensation grew.
"We have chosen each other, and those the seed cannot be taken yet... that does not prevent me from making your body mine, and mine will be yours." The words wrapped around me as he looked at with passion and an emotion I had never noticed before. I swallowed the lump in my throat, completely vulnerable under his gaze.
But as he brought his lips down to mine, a sensation that I had never known before, I realized that the waiting had been worth it all this time. As I felt us move from under the water, my body was lifted to wrap around him. I smiled as we laid on the ground on a blanket, the moons giving us a soft glow as he showed me how to make love under the stars.
I was now his... and he was mine.
_____
I woke to the sound of wings flapping and the burning of wood, mixed with the scent of burning flesh. Maketis sat up with me, our hair down, tangled together as our naked limbs. He stood up quickly, rushing to place on his trousers as I placed on my dress. Grabbing my dagger, we took off towards Mother tree as the smoke started to fill the night sky. Jumping over the brush and climbing up a nearby tree, Maketis took the ground while I went to the air to see if I could get a better view. I made quick work to climb the branches, finding the clearing come into view.
Pulling myself up to the top branch, I looked out to Mother tree, seeing the leafs, wood, huts... everything was in flames as smoke rolled. Anger and fear washed over me as the screams filled the night, above head black and red dragons flew, letting their glowing chests cast the flames down to Mother tree again and again. These were not the dragon's that I had seen before... for they had a different marking to them. They weren't Namarian. No, they were something different entirely.
From the metal like scales, to the different tales, the branding on their necks were not born, but burned into them. Who did they belong to?
My feet carried me into camp as I watched my world burn before me. Maketis was fighting with men dressed in black, completely disfigured, the only thing giving them away about their Dragon's blood were the red rimmed eyes. Anger bubbled in me as I rushed to grab a bow and sword. I noticed the dead bodies around me, causing the tears to prick in my eyes, anger simmering down to mourning. These were my people... my family.
As I ran forward, cutting my dress with the end of the blade to allow me to move easily, I found another masked face get ready to throw a dagger at Maketis. Rushing forward, I yelled as I tackled him, causing us to roll down the hill as I wrapped my hands around his throat, cutting off the air. As we came to a stop, he laid on top of me, causing his eyes to grow in lust. I growled as I kicked him off of me, only to allow me to take the bow and pull back the light string, making an arrow appear. I didn't have to aim, only released my fingers to let it fly through the air, going into his eye socket before the blood rushed. Screams filled the night as I ran back towards Mother tree, only to see that there were very few able to fight.
Maketis pulled a blade from a fallen masked chest, walking towards me when his eyes landed off of me. He looked relieved, only to grow wide eyed with curiosity as I pulled the bow back, landing an arrow into the jugular vein of the man that was behind him. As he ran towards me, I started moving towards him, only to feel something stab into the space of my shoulder blade. Crying out, I turned to fight back, but was unable to as I was lifted from the ground. Arms wrapped around me as the weapons were taken from me, and dropped to the mountain top.
Struggling in the grip, I cried out as the blade dug in further, the feeling of warm blood dripping down my back as I was placed on top of the dragon's back.
"VIXAS!" I heard from down below. I struggled in the hold, not letting me turn towards the direction of the voice, but I knew who it belong to.
Moving my head forwards, then slamming it back, I felt a crunch as I broke his nose.
"MAKETIS!!" I called out before I saw the islands disappear in the distance, night starting to consume the large clouds of smoke making my home and mate disappear from view.
_____
I was brought into the small room as I felt the cool bite against my skin. The wound was throbbing, unable to allow me to move my attention off of it. But, as the woman came in with a large blade, I knew that the pain of my wounded shoulder would be nothing compared to the shame and sorrow as my hair was cut off.
Forced onto the ground, my face against the cool stone floor, I let the tears flow from my eyes as I felt the hair being cut from me. The urge to fight was momentarily paralyzed as I watched the long, white strands fall to the ground.
"You'll be presented to the dealer before taken to the pleasure house to see how much you're worth. Your disgusting locks would have given me a low price for your fucking behind. Sleep well, dear warrior. You'll need it," I heard her say above me before walking out of the room. No windows, no lights, only a single door. The pleasure house...? Lifting up slightly, I looked at the locks that surrounded me, my hand coming up to my hair. Tears of anger spilled down my cheeks as I felt the short length that was just above my shoulders.
Crying out, I ran to the door, ramming into it as I screamed, pounding my fists against it, wanting out. I felt the wood bow slightly under the pressure, but was brought back towards the wall as the door opened, a large man stepped inside. I hissed, allowing the larger canines to show to him. They usually ran, but this one laughed as he walked over, placing his hand on my wounded shoulder, causing me to cry out as his hand wrapped in my hair.
"You pathetic whore," he spoke, bringing his fist back, and bringing it to my nose. I felt the air leave me as my vision blurred, the world swaying as the stars started to shine from behind my eyes. And, then I went slack as I passed out.
There was nowhere to run, and no reason to fight.