I Became Part of the Dragon's Hoard

Yehrmin grew up as the strongest of all his siblings. Ever since a young age, he'd showcased his strength and outshone all of his peers. When it came to throwing things, no one could match him. He had the strength in his body to uproot trees from the ground and pull them out of the dirt.

He had all of those qualities, yet he'd felt like something in his life was missing. On the day that Yehrmin set out for his trial, he cleared his mind. He'd become the chieftain and best his father in combat, taking the mantle for himself.

On that day, he walked through the enchanted forest confidently. And on that day, his life would be changed forever.

The young man found something he hadn't expected far away from his tribe's village. The most beautiful Kanai'n he'd ever seen sat next to a flowing river. The sunlight highlighted her looks well.

She sat there staring at the water's surface, her blue eyes reflecting in the water. Her long, gorgeous blue tail coiled playfully around her, and her blue ears wiggled.

"It's quite rude to stare at people...Especially when you are hiding."

Yehrmin's heart pounded in his chest. He thought he'd been completely silent. He thought that the tree had hidden him well, but that was not the case at all. She saw him clearly poking his head from behind the tree.

The woman giggled and ran up to his hiding place, grabbing him by the arm. "Don't just stand here like a fool. Come, I want to show you something."

Yehrmin's eyes widened. He hadn't expected her to do anything like this, and he hadn't expected her to smell so pleasant. Exactly like berries…

The woman pulled him to the water's edge, until they were both looking down at the flowing river.

"Look," she said, pointing at the water's surface. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Yehrmin looked down, but the only thing he found beautiful was the reflection of the woman next to him.

She sighed and latched onto his head, turning it slightly so he could see clearly. Inside of the water, there was a long pink fish with purple little spots swimming against the current. It traveled so slowly that it seemed stuck in place, only inching forwards at the same speed the water traveled against it.

The man looked at it in confusion. "It's just a fish, isn't it?"

For whatever reason, his words had set the woman off. She pouted and pointed at the fish. "It's not just any fish. How often do you see a fish like this one? In all of this world, I have never seen a fish like it."

Yehrmin looked at it again, eventually nodding. "You are right. I don't think I've seen a fish like this either."

"Exactly!" The woman cheered with a bright smile, more dazzling than the sun's reflection on the water.

She opened her hand and launched it at the water with a speed that Yehrmin didn't expect. The woman grabbed the fish with her hands, pulling it straight from the river.

The woman grabbed a nearby stick and killed the fish swiftly with its pointy end, holding it in the air with joy.

Yehrmin's eyes went even wider. He reached his hands out and caught her by the wrist. "Hey! What is the big deal! Why did you kill it!?"

"Oh, that...it's so pretty isn't it? I was thinking that there is no chance anyone has tasted a fish like it before! Don't you think it would be great if we could be the first ones?"

"We? And why would you kill something pretty?"

The woman giggled as they were the silliest questions she'd ever heard. "Of course, we both have to try it. Imagine if I was the only one to experience something so novel, but with the two of us, they will have to believe us! Oh, and as for your other question...it's only natural for us to feast on pretty things sometimes. That is the way of Kanai, and that is our life. Part of freedom also means the freedom to die from a hunter."

"Wait, wait, you are saying so much. Kanai would not want you to kill it! She is the goddess of the beautiful wilds. Why would she want beautiful things to die!?"

"So that other beautiful things could live?" The woman asked with a tilt of her head. "Anyway, I am Shau'na. What's your name?"

"I am Yehrmin."

"Yehrmin? That's a silly name."

"It's not!"

Shau'na giggled. It took her a while to be able to start a fire, but the fish ended up being better than Yehrmin ever expected it to be.

The young man finished his trial after that, and day after day, he would come back to that river. At first, he'd thought that the girl must've been some illusion, but sure enough, she would always be their at the river. No matter what, she'd always worn a smile when she saw him.

Each time, she would catch a different fish for the two of them to eat. Though, he was chieftain, he still made time for these special visits. The pink fish that they'd eaten on their first day never showed up again. Nonetheless, he still enjoyed every second he spent with her.

Over time he came to love her and cherish her more than his duties as a leader. She was so free spirited and had very little connection to their village. Yehrmin had no idea where she came from. To him, she was like a descended angel, yet he still steeled his heart.

He showed up one spring with a handful of delicate purple flowers. And on his side was a wreath made of blue leaves.

"Shau'na," he said, his voice shaking with nervousness. "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with your hand. I will even give up my duty…"

But the woman pressed her two delicate fingers against his lips and shook her head. "You don't need to give up your duty. I will come with you. It's true that Lady Kanai loves her creations and wants us to be free, but it's also true that we need to pass on that freedom."

Yehrmin had no idea what she meant, until she sealed his lips in a kiss. The man's heart pounded in his chest. His requited love was the greatest joy of his life. To spend the rest of his life with someone so beautiful was like a wish come true.

The chieftain took her home as his bride.

Shau'na bore many healthy children, and things were going smoothly. Most of them looked more like Yehrmin, and he could not be happier. And then she was born.

Yehrmin had never seen his wife this happy. She held the baby girl preciously to her chest, warm tears flowing out of her eyes. It was clear to the chieftain that something about this baby was different to her. Maybe it was the fact that she looked more like Shau'na?

Either way, Yehrmin felt like he would protect her.

But the happiness wouldn't last. Bery was a sick baby, and her mother had become even sicker after she'd had the kitten.

Each day, Yehrmin watched the light fade from Shau'na's eyes. He saw her breathing becoming more and more hoarse. He'd sought out healers. He'd even tried to kidnap humans who invaded their lands, asking if their was a healer among them. None of it made the woman better.

But she still smiled on her last day alive. She held Bery tightly to her chest, feeding the kitten with breast milk from a different healthier Kanai'n woman.

"Doesn't...she look happy?" Shau'na asked. "I just wish I could feed her...myself."

Yehrmin swallowed hard. "You can. I will make sure to…"

Shau'na grabbed his hand in hers. "I am not...gonna live long."

Yehrmin stared at his wife. He wanted to cover his ears and say it's not true. He wanted to take her away from this place into a human city. Yeah, if only I can bring her to a human city. They might have a healer.

"Shau'na I…"

"No, I will not...make it." She reached her shaky hand up to his face and rubbed his cheek. "Don't make that face...Listen to me."

Yehrmin nodded and swallowed his tears. A man should never cry in front of his wife. Not like this. I need to be strong.

"Good," she said with a smile. She took a deep breath, gathering her words. "Please take care of our youngest daughter. Bery is so small...she will need you…"

Yehrmin held onto his wife's hand, watching the light fade from her eyes. He looked towards the roof of his hut, wondering why life was so cruel. If anything, he wanted to be the one to die before her. He wanted her to live a long life and make everyone happier with her smile.

For the first time since he was a baby, the chieftain cried.