I'm obsessed

No one batted an eye to the traveller in the red cloak, a large hat tilted over her face, casting a shadow over her features. Not to say she was unnoticed among the white clothes the natives wore. It was simply that it wasn’t odd to them in the market. Trade, though heavily inhibited by the Drunns, still happened. In Fact many Talon merchants and even a few Spine were also in the busy market place by the docks. Tail had stopped communication awhile ago, and it was rumored that they succumbed to the Drunn given their desert land.

Raya can’t say she missed the Tail Cheif. She was brash and selfish when they met before. A distinct memory of the tanned skin women shoving her aside in her greed to grab the Dragon Gem during the chaos that ensued after everyone poured into the temple. It seemed from the stories she heard that the chief's paranoia only grew when she got a piece of the gem shard. Though Raya thought she got what she deserved for her hand in breaking the world, an old buried part of her Heart panged at the thought of innocent Tail citizens perishing along with her.

Quickly she shoved that soft part of her back down. Through her experience as basically a rogue she had learned that there was no room to be soft. It pained her to kill her own innocence but the many experiences of betrayal over her travels made it clear it was a necessity. 

Speaking of betrayal. Raya pondered how she’d make it into the Fang palace where she was sure the scroll was. Her plan to pass as a random trader worked just as she thought. Of Course no one heard anything about the Heart princess after the night the Drunn had been released back into the world, so it was easy for her from the start to pretend to be someone else. Just another refugee from many of the destroyed villages of the land.

Passing by a few stalls set up, she considered her options. Her disguise would not pass in the well guarded palace. She would stick out like a sore thumb. She’d have to sneak in at night Raya realized as she glanced at the large stone buildings on the other side of the Fang island. “Oh toi” She mumbled under her breath taking in the smooth white walls. She was confident in her ability, confident in her years of hard living and her original training as a Gem guardian, but this was still gonna be a hard task to tackle. 

As she studied the palace, leaning in the shade of an alleyway something caught her eye. A familiar undercut. 

“No way” Raya was dumbstruck for a second. No way it was that easy to find Namaari. Furthermore, she had kept the same hair style for 4 years?! The thought of the Fang princess cutting her hair to match her Mother was amusing as a child but it was even more funny now. Raya couldn’t help but smile at that thought. “What a mommy’s girl” she snorted, following the figure discreetly. Of course she knew she was just as much of a daddy’s girl herself but that was before, Raya thought bitterly. Her mind quickly growing sour again.

Yep that was definitely Namaari. Wow. 

When Raya finally caught up to the other princess, though still far enough to not be noticed in the crowd, she had to physically stop her jaw from dropping open. What the hell?? She was taller than her! 

That was not the thought she should be having but her child-like pettiness flared. Namaari wasn’t the same thin girl she met and beat in the Dragon Temple 4 years ago. No, that Binturi was now taller and, Raya noticed reluctantly, buffer. 

Raya’s eyes followed the girl, no warrior, before her. Taking in her broad shoulders bared for the world to see in her sleeveless top. The strength in her smooth steps and air of power as she moved forward nearly parting the crowd as she went. Raya was gawking really, a slight blush on her face before she could stop herself. 

As if sensing the eyes on her, Namaari looked back over her shoulder and Raya barely ducked behind a barrel in time. Seeing Namaari’s body was one thing, her face was another. Peeking from behind her hiding spot she just caught the Fang’s sharp jaw and intimidating eyes set in an impassive face. Gone was the bright eyes or cute face she remembered. Something struck her heart at that, it was a mirror of her own loss.

‘Okay so she grew up, no biggie’. Raya tried to convince herself moving from the barrel as Namaari turned back and continued her walk. ‘She grew up hot’, a small voice echoed her previous thought in her head.

Wait a second hot?

Well sure attractive, anyone in their right mind would be able to see but that was besides the point, Raya had seen plenty of attractive people. She was attractive too if she did say so herself. Unlucky for her Namaari just so happened to be hot. Whatever, didn’t change a thing. But the muscles, that might make a fight harder if it came to it. Yes, it was perfectly natural to be staring at the Fang like this, she was just sizing the other up. Nothing else. Raya continued to trail Namaari, though from a far greater distance now as she revised her plan. Maybe she can ambush the Fang princess? Get her to take her to the scroll. That was far easier than scaling the high walls of the palace and searching randomly in a dangerous place.

As she was lost in thought on how to get Namaari alone she spotted another Fang warrior, she guessed by their dress, walking up rather quickly to the princess. 

“Shouldn’t be- market. -ought to get back” Were the only words she caught over the chatter of the market. Oh no, she’ll lose Namaari if she decides to head back right now. Lucky for her, Namaari looked just as annoyed to be told to leave. Raya moved closer to catch what they were saying.

“I won’t be long Atitaya, it will be fine” Namaari assured in a commanding tone, though it was undercut as she rolled her eyes like a child. The other warrior, Atitaya apparently, just huffed.

“Whatever you say princess” Atitaya bowed, making the younger girl frown, ears getting red. 

“Stop, oh dragons, I told you that wasn’t necessary” Namaari whispered to the warrior in front of her hushed and hurriedly. 

“I know, I know” The formality broken, Atitaya slung an arm over Namaari’s shoulder laughing quietly. Well that was a little shocking, Raya’s eyebrows shot up as she watched the interaction. From what she knew about Fang, they were militaristic and strict in their formalities to a fault. Cold, she remembered hearing from the villagers of Heart back when they were still alive. She had actually seen it herself throughout the day as she watched guards in the marketplace. This outward show of affection was weird. Especially weird as it included Namaari who Raya had chalked up to being the representation of every bad Fang stereotype. 

“You always tease me” Namaari grumbled. As the pair continued on the way. “I told you it’s embarrassing and unneeded out of formal settings” That just made the older woman smirk. 

“Well you never know who could be watching” a mischievous smile on her face “like maybe your mother” Namaari stiffened noticeably at that. Noticing the sudden rigid posture the general slowed her pace removing her arm from the clearly uncomfortable girl's shoulders “Hey hey, it’s okay she’s busy in a council meeting right now” Atitaya back tracked. 

Atitaya, though not actually family, may as well be. Orphaned by the famine that plagued Fang when she was 17 she was taken into the royal palace and given a second chance. She will always be grateful to Chief Virana for that, but she couldn’t say she entirely agreed with how she treated Namaari. Forcing her to grow up faster then maybe need be.

After the death of her husband, the Chief in her grief had shuttered away all her emotions, throwing herself into her work and people. No one could say she didn’t love anything, she loved her people. She was of course admired greatly by all of Fang for her steadiness in the face of starvation and all other forms of destruction. No she was an amazing Chief.

But Namaari.

She loved Namaari, but since the loss she could never really allow herself to fully show it. Now her tenderness only showed through a strong squeeze on the shoulder or a compliment given in an emotionless voice. It was sad, Atitaya thought.

She remembered the day she found the Fang princess, still only 10 at the time, in the serlots pen weeping silently among the large cats. She had felt odd at the time, not knowing what to do as a young soldier finding her princess in such a state. But she still sat with the child, not being able to just leave her, letting her cry it out. When she finally asked what was wrong, Namaari had only replied in a soft whimper that she felt she was all alone. 

The General, then a soldier, knew Namaari loved her dad and was hurting since he died. But as the young Fang continued to speak. It dawned on Atitaya that Namaari has been cut deeper than anyone thought previously of the often quite child. With the other children either too scared or resentful to hang out with her, and her own mother to preoccupied in work she was left to deal with her heavy emotions alone.

Years passed, and Atitaya rose through the ranks. As she did she also  became sort of an older sister figure to Namaari. Someone to lean on, though they didn’t show their friendship too much publicly. She watched with a sad heart as the princess took on more than she should have, striving and surpassing the high standards of even her mother. But in the process hiding her pain away to battle alone in order to not seem weak. 

They didn’t speak about Namaari problems as much as she grew older, but Atitaya still knew the other was struggling with a host of emotions despite her strong facade. Just like back in that serlot pen, except Namaari wouldn’t let her in this time. Atitaya was there since the beginning and so she knew why the younger Fang tensed at just the mention of her mother. 

“Hey lets just find those flowers, then we can head back before the Chief even notices” she quickly said trying to cheer up the Fang princess, who took a second to relax again. 

“Yeah” Namaari finally replied and began walking again, this time with Atitaya following a little behind. An invisible rift between them that only grew it seemed. 

(4 years after the drunn’s return)

‘Of Course Fang would think up a way to save themselves’ Raya thought ruefully as she observed the shining white city surrounded by water. A canal that kept the drunn away. Though it was late at night, she could see the flickering glow of lantern lights in windows and streets from her vantage point on a cliff side just outside the city limits. She didn’t know what she was expecting when she finally set foot into the land of binturis, of one specific backstabbing binturi. But this was not it, though she wasn’t that surprised.

Raya had spent the last few years of living on her own traveling. At first, she was to scared and too despondent to leave Heart. The memories of that time right after the dragon gem was broken filled her mind. Wandering the ruins of her destroyed home after the Drunn had turned most of her people to stone and moved on to wreak havoc somewhere else. She was so scared and lost back then, filled with grief as she spent her days wallowing among the stone faces. Those who survived had fled, not daring to stay in the cursed land, and it seemed she was totally alone. It was as Heart wrenching, but she couldn’t blame them.

Raya, herself had thought of fleeing too, she thought of a lot of things. At some point she even considered seeking out the Druun and ending her misery herself. It didn’t seem so bad at the time. She’d be with her Ba at least, though she had no idea what exactly happened when one was turned to stone. But it was basically a death sentence wasn’t it? In those low times, She’d make her way to the entrance bridge to visit her father, Tuk Tuk following beside her. The only friend she had left. Sitting with them and talking about everything and nothing. It was of course a one sided conversation but it still brought her comfort back then. And it would remind her of her Ba’s last words to her. She couldn’t give up, she was the Dragon Gem guardian, even if said gem was currently shattered and split across dragons knows where. No, she had to keep going or else her Ba’s sacrifice would mean nothing.

But eventually, she found she couldn’t stay in the only place she’d ever felt safe. Heart’s food reserve storage had lasted a long while but it was finally starting to run dry. And with Tuk Tuk’s recent huge growth spurt, Raya had estimated they'd be out of food in a few weeks. What’s more is that it seemed the Drunn had returned. This time in greater numbers, probably having grown by feeding on the unrest they themselves had caused. No, it had become too dangerous to stay, and though it pained her she knew it was time to leave. It did her no good to live among ghosts.

Raya continued to think back on that fateful day, melancholy creeping into her mind.

For the first time in a year, in her whole life really, Raya stepped out of the lands of Heart. She had no plan, a handful of jade, and a satchel of necessities. The night she made her decision to regain control of her life and do something, she had gone to the armory to retrieve her Ba’s sword. It was an internal battle on if she should take it, but she couldn’t bear to leave without a reminder of him. ‘And I’ll probably need it more than ever’ gulping at what hidden dangers lay ahead of her. What was waiting out there? Was there even anyone left but her and Tuk Tuk? Pushing the thought out of her head she had squared her shoulders and grabbed the sword. At the last second she decided to visit one more place, her old bedroom. She had abandoned it the first week after everyone turned to stone. The memories of happier times were too much for her to bear. When she walked into the dusty room, the waves of sadness crashed into her again and she quickly made to leave, regretting her choice to visit. But something caught her eye. A shining gold necklace covered in dust in the shape of a dragon, one bright blue gem lodge in the center. Raya had almost forgotten about it, she had flung it against that wall the same night she received it, the same night the world broke, where it landed on the floor unceremoniously and was left to be buried among other things in her regrets. 

Gingerly, Raya picked it up and warmth filled her. An angry heat. Raya welcomed it as she remembered the person that gave it to her, the one she trusted and who had thrown that trust right back at her face. Namaari. Rage filled her, all consuming. It wasn’t a pleasant emotion but it was better than the sorrow that had been all she felt until that moment so she leaned into it. It was freeing as she turned her guilt and self demeaning thoughts against the Fang princess instead. This was all her fault! Not Raya’s. And just like that a spark of purpose lit in her chest and that night she stormed out of Heart with a new mission. Find a way to save her Ba, bring her people back, and get revenge on Namaari.

And here she was. Finally so close. 

“We’ll get that scroll Tuk Tuk” she muttered to the pillbug who was watching her with a mix of worry and apprehension. Knowing she was thinking back on their journey to get to Fang. He knew Raya better than she knew herself sometimes, being her only constant companion through the years. It pained him to see her when she grieved, only a child back then. At first he was glad as they left Heart. Leaving was sad but it was good to see her more alive. But as they traveled through Spine, Talon, and even Tail for a clue on how to banish the Drunn he started to pick up on darker emotions from his best friend. 

Sensing his apprehension, Raya finally turned from the cliff side and patted Tuk Tuk’s hard shell. Shooting him a comforting smile.

“Hey don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I bet they won’t even recognize me” Raya mused “They must think I was turned to stone after all this time” Scoffing at that cynical thought. Tuk Tuk wasn’t fully at ease but he leaned into her touch and accepted that Raya wouldn’t be talked out of this.

They had finally gotten a clue, a month ago in the Talon markets. As far as clues go it wasn’t as mindblowing as you might think, in fact it was right there all along. Raya had overheard an old woman telling a group of children a story of Sisu. Even after all this time, Raya was still a dragon nerd and had stopped her shopping for supplies to listen to the full tale. Something about it was familiar and it was half way through when she remembered where she had heard this story before. Her sworn enemy herself had told her years ago  the story of the mighty Sisudatu who all thought had perished in her last stand, making the Dragon Gem to save everyone, but was actually alive swept away to the end of one of the many rivers in the land. A fairy tale but it was the best lead she had and it was then she decided it was finally time to make a visit to her old friend turned rival.

The plan? Sneak into Fang and steal the dragon scroll. Then follow it to all the rivers of the five lands to find Sisudatu. And if she met Namaari along the way, she wouldn’t be against finally taking out her anger on the binturi.