'The Mechanic' - Part One

Much time had passed and thing shad changed on Rukbat, the threat of the Kh’raal had quelled and now border raids were almost a non-existent thing of the past. Rukbat thrived and everywhere was just about linked up by the train system. Asurus became the centre, where everything came in, transferred on trains. Central station was the biggest station of them all and even housed the train maintenance section. All trains came in to Asurus to get fixed or repaired. There were smaller maintenance sheds at the other big stations but none had the level of sophistication that Asurus’ did.

From a young girl Claire had been raised around the trains, around the men that fixed the trains. Being and only child and raised by her father after her mother died in childbirth or so she was told, Claire didn’t have much choice in that regard. She loved it however and always quite happily would keep herself busy in the maintenance yard. Whether it was helping to direct the trains in or deal with the other outside people in something they labelled as being a woman’s job, Claire had been helping out ever since she was young.

She had never quite had the chance to see an Is’kyr in person, she had seen paintings of them and read stories even seen them fly overhead. She had never seen one real close up however; it was something however that fascinated her. As much as learning about the trains and how they worked. Now whilst her father did not quite approve of her learning his trade he couldn’t help it when the other guys who were quite besotted with her, each having known her since she was little and in some ways viewing her as theirs as well, one they had all had a part in raising, would show her little things and get her to help out on the easier tasks.

Today was a special day though, today was the day Claire was turning fifteen. Fifteen was a big age, it meant she was of marriageable age, able to be properly introduced to society and come out if her father wished her to. Finally getting up and out of bed, after they had all let her have a little sleep in on her special day, she pulled on her usual pants and shirt, suspenders over the top which did nothing to hide her blossoming body. Tying her hair up she shoved it under a cap and made her way down to the common room where she knew they’d all be waiting for her.

She was greeted with congratulations and one by one was hugged by all the men who despite their tough exterior were really just plain big softies as many of them began to cry. Their little girl was growing up too fast one them and it was a bit of a surprise that she was already fifteen. Time had passed so quickly, a little too quickly for some of them. Congratulations over the men all herded her to a table where two large packages lay. They were lovingly wrapped in brown paper with twine holding them together.

“We made one of them for you... The other we saved our money to get for you.”

It was one of the men who spoke, sliding the first of the packages across to her. Sitting her down at the end of the table Claire reached for the package in front of her. Slowly but surely she unwrapped it and had to gasp at what was revealed beneath the brown paper wrapping. There was a lovely set of welding leather pants, and a matching jacket for her to wear as well. She was really touched they had gone this far as to from what she could tell make this for her.

“We didn’t want you getting hurt missy when you helped us. You’re too pretty to have scars missy.”

Claire found the tears welling in her eyes and the men all gathered round her again to give her hugs as she thanked them for this very thoughtful gift. She knew her father wouldn’t approve very much but she had a feeling the men had his permission to make her the leathers just so that if she did help them she wouldn’t get hurt. Her father would not have been happy if she had gotten injured.

“Does this mean I get to learn to weld now?”

Her eyes lit up with hope and a lot of the men rubbed the back of their necks and smiled a little. “It will only be if your father approves.” Once again there it was, her father controlling what she was and was not allowed to do. She loved her old man, she loved him very, very much but sometimes she wished she could have a little more freedom to do that which she wanted to do. She wanted to become a mechanic just like her father; wanted to work on the trains with the other boys.

“This one we saved up real hard for, I hope you like it.”

Once again she was sat down and then passed the last parcel, this one felt much lighter than the last one did and it puzzled her. Slowly opening up the package she found herself greeted by a pale green fabric, lifting the garment from its wrapping she found it to be a dress. She never had a dress, so this was very odd. The odd look on her face must of said it all as one of the men spoke up.

“Well you didn’t have anything pretty to wear out, a pretty young thing like you miss should have a dress to wear out. We thought it would be nice for you to have something nice since your fifteen now.”

They did all that for her, she was never really interested in dresses but they found a colour she actually didn’t mine and quite liked in all honesty. She sat there staring at the dress for a very long moment not quite sure what to say but this time she really did break out into tears. At first the men were afraid that she didn’t like it but then it became very clear that indeed she liked it very much and was just very touched by the gesture they had made towards her.

She didn’t know what to say and finally her father came away from the wall and walked over towards her. Kneeling besides her he looked up at her and placed a gentle hand on her thigh.

“You mother wanted me to do this on your fifteenth birthday. The men worked real hard to get this for you and tonight I’m taking you out to one of the society balls. She wanted to take you herself, but she made me promise this.”

Claire was unable to say anything to that but nod, now that her presents were given they all sat down for a cake one of the wives had made for the occasion. After the celebrations were over everyone returned to work and Claire took her new things back upstairs to her room. She spent most of the day not quite sure what to think of everything that had gone on.

Then the evening came and she dressed herself in her brand new dress and went down stairs to meet her father who for the first time in her life was seeing him in a suit. She blushed a little at the looks she was being given as she walked down the stairs to greet everyone. She almost felt like she was parading herself in front of them in her brand new dress. She had to give them credit though, they had picked a perfect colour for it, whilst it did feel a little odd wearing the dress she found she really did quite like it, nice and simple but with the right amount of embellishment, just like her.

“The men picked the right colour for you if I must say so myself.” Her father remarked with a broad grin, holding out his arm to her he inclined his head slightly. “Ready to go sweetheart.” He asked.

Claire wasn’t sure if she was or wasn’t as she had never done this before in her life and suddenly she found herself very nervous, she didn’t really have much contact with people outside of the Train Maintenance yard, beyond those wives who took her out for shopping every once in a while, shopping for things her father couldn’t quite shop for. This however was something big, she was about to meet high society for the first time in her life, or rather go to a ball like she had never been to before. She hadn’t even attended the little country ones that happened in the smaller cities and towns when her father had taken her with him to work on a train out somewhere.

“As ready as I will ever be I guess.” Was Claire’s nervous reply, her father leant over her and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before leading her out to the carriage he had waiting for them. “You’ll do fine sweetheart. I know you will.” Came his reassuring words as he helped her into the carriage.

The ride was one like she had never been on before and she was in awe of the hall they pulled up at. This was where the ball was to be held that evening and for the first time in her life Claire found herself shaking as she let her father lead her off the carriage and up the long stairs that lead to the entrance of the hall.

The music was nothing she had ever heard before and the dancing. She had never seen dancing like that before in her life. Suddenly she felt very out of place, but a reassuring squeeze from her father’s arm settled her somewhat.

“Cameron, I’m so glad you could make it. I take this is the birthday girl, your little Claire?” The woman that came and met them was obviously very familiar with her father and she wondered exactly how. It appeared that she knew him quite well too, but she seemed to be very nice as she acknowledged Claire straight of the bat.

“Adela, I wouldn’t have missed showing of my little Claire for the world. Claire I’d like you to meet Adela, she was your mother’s best friend.” Her father turned to introduce her, still Claire felt quite nervous about being in such an extravagant place.

“It’s very nice to meet you.” Claire found herself stuttering nervously back, she was feeling terribly out of place and compared to everyone else her beautiful dress suddenly felt very plain.

“Oh Cameron, you should have brought her around before this. Come on dear, I’ll introduce you to a few of the girls and we can get something to eat in the mean while.” Coming around to her side Adela place a warm arm around Claire’s shoulder and suddenly Claire felt herself relaxing a little more. Her father nodded giving Adela permission, though he did admit to himself he perhaps should have prepared Claire a little more for this than just throwing her in the deep end just like he was doing now.

Lead away from her father Claire suddenly was very nervous again and found herself leaning into Adela’s side. There was a smile and a soft chuckle from the woman, “You’re very much like your mother Claire. She was absolutely terrified when she first came out.”Adela reminisced, almost as if it were like she was going through it all over again.

The evening progressed and slowly Claire felt like she was relaxing, however there was some gossip that had her little hurt though. She didn’t quite realise everyone could be so mean to everyone, the ones about her however hurt the most. Making cracks at her heritage and her class level, that all hurt and these people knew nothing about her. She watched the dancing never quite game enough to join in and soon found herself once again feeling out of place. Miss Adela was dancing with her father so all she could do was watch on.

“Care to dance miss?” The voice out of nowhere surprised her and she looked up to find a rather handsome gentle man looking down at her with his hand extended towards her. “I don’t know how to.” She admitted to him, it was the honest truth and it appeared the gentleman could tell that it was too. Many a time he had probably heard the same excuse given by the girls who didn’t really want to dance with him. With Claire however her honesty was plain simple and true, she also looked quite out of place from what he could tell.

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll teach you.”

Well if he was kind enough to offer and stick around after she had honestly told him that she didn’t know how to dance well then it couldn’t help. She had wanted to dance like them as well, they were so pretty but she didn’t think she could do it either. The man was still waiting for her and since it didn’t look like he was going to leave anytime soon she reached out and took his hand standing to meet him.

Leading her onto the dance floor he started simply with her, he took her through each step, one by one, bit by bit. Soon enough she was twirling and dancing through the steps as if she had grown up doing them. Seeing his daughter on the dance floor Cameron was taken back to the time when he first met Claire’s mother. Their first dance together and he found himself smiling and yet kind of nervous.

“Don’t be Cameron, she’s doing fine. Just like her mother.”

Adela’s voice broke his thoughts and he found himself looking back at her again as he twirled her through another step. She was right, but he couldn’t help but feel saddened, his little girl was growing up and so quickly right before his eyes. Watching his daughter dancing with another man, in a dress for the first time in her life made him realise just how old she was, that she wasn’t a child anymore but a growing woman and that it wouldn’t be long until she would leave him and go on to live her own life.

Eventually though the evening came to an end and once again Claire and her father were on the carriage back home. Bidding his daughter a sweet good night, Cameron left to go to sleep, trying not to worry his mind so much over his rapidly growing daughter. Claire stayed up however for some moments longer reminiscing on the events of the evening past. The young man she had met, though she had never even managed to get his name, not him hers. It was a magical evening and soon enough she was upstairs in her bed, new dress lain carefully over the chair by her dresser. Curling up in her bed a big smile on her face Claire finally managed to go to sleep.

Claire was woken the next morning by her father who sat on the end of her bed and gently shook her awake. “Claire, Claire wake up... Adela is here she’s like to take you out for a bit if you would like to go?” Claire slowly opened her eyes to her father and listened to what he had to say. Not even a day had passed before Adela was asking for her to take her out somewhere. She hadn’t quite had the time to make a proper opinion of the woman but she supposed since she had come out all this way that she should at least make an effort, after all she had known her mother very well apparently.

After her father left she dressed herself as best as she could, she didn’t know what to quite expect. Walking down the stairs she was in awe at what Adela considered to be normal wear. It was closer to the dress she had worn the night before in terms of its simplicity and here was Claire herself dressed in pants and a shirt like she normally was. She stood still for a long moment wondering if she should go back up stairs and change into her dress which seemed a little more appropriate and matching for Adela’s style than what she currently wore.

“You are fine child, we’ll find you some nice things. Do not worry so much.” It was as if Adela read her mind and allayed some of her fears before she could dash back upstairs to change. Adela though wasn’t going to tell her that it wasn’t exactly socially acceptable to wear the same outfit twice in a row.

“Shall we go Claire?” Adela asked when Claire finally made it down to the bottom of the staircase. Claire nodded softly and followed Adela from what was her home waving goodbye to her father as she did leave. Entering the carriage they made a ride to a part of town Claire had never seen before.

Alighting from the carriage Claire was in awe at the shops that lined the street they had been dropped off at. Never before had she seen such extravagance except of course at the dinner that had happened last night. Adela lead her into the first shop, this one was full of undergarments she had only ever read about and sometimes herself had dreamed of having.

“Here is the best place to start I believe. We’ll need to get you some proper undergarments to suit the young woman you are.” Adela told her, they were apparently going to start at the bottom and work their way from there. Despite being fifteen, Claire still had no absolutely proper undergarments and at the moment only had the very basics given to her by some of the wives of the men who worked for her father.

“Come sweet, we’ll get you measured.” Adela said leading her towards the woman that was waiting for them. Soon enough Claire was in a small mirrored room being measured by this little woman who was most impressed by her young figure and over and over again praised her on it. It didn’t take long before all her measurements had been taken and the woman hurried off to find a few example undergarments from which Claire was allowed to pick three. For the moment three would be a good amount for her to start with, a nice basic amount which could be combined with the basics she already had from the mechanics wives.

Now that that was all done and chosen it was time for them to move onto the next shop, this one was full of gorgeous dressed and some amazing fabrics that Claire could have only dreamed of in her life. It took a while but finally Claire picked some fabric she liked and a few dress patterns. She was to pick three every day dresses and one dress for wearing to balls and other social events. Soon enough it was time to move on to the next store. First thing first before they left was for Claire to change into one of the premade dresses that Adela had bought as well. It was entirely proper after all for a young woman to parade around in pants.

The next place they ended up at was a little shoe store, after all she needed some proper shoes to match the new dresses she had just been bought. After finally selecting a few nice pairs they made their way back to the carriage to go to a friend of Adela’s for a bite of lunch. It was only then on the carriage rider over that Claire wondered where all the money was coming from. Who was paying for all her new stuff, was it her father after all it was all pretty expensive.

“It’s all so expensive... Is father paying for it?’ Claire had to ask, she knew she wouldn’t know otherwise unless she did ask. There was a soft chuckle from Adela at Claire’s forwardness but it once again was another reminder to her of Claire’s mother herself.

“No sweetheart, it’s all on me.”

“But why?” Claire needed to know why, especially since she was feeling obliged to pay Miss Adela back for being so generous to her.

“Think of it as a belated birthday present.” It seemed that was all Adela had to say on the rest of it before finally she turned her attention to the carriage stopping. “Come on now, I’ve someone I’d like you to meet.” Stepping from the carriage Adela motioned for her to follow her, Claire did and alighting next to Adela unconsciously smoothed out her dress.

Once again she was feeling a little out of place but she followed Adela in anyway, she still was yet to really see the kind of woman she was. Claire was in awe as they entered the foyer of the house, she was not accustomed to such wealth or such extravagance. Soon enough they were lead down a hall and into a small room where an elderly woman sat waiting for them.

It appeared to be a tea room and lying before them on a silver platter was several rather ornate tea cups, each waiting to be filled with tea that still remained piping hot in an equally ornate tea pot. Leading her in Adela gave a little curtsey and in response Claire followed suit as well. Taking a seat Claire found herself seated besides Adela on a rather ornate two seater being poured a cup of tea to her taste.

“Oh my Adela, is that who I think it is.”

“Yes ma’am it is... Claire I’d like you to meet your grandmother and my Aunt.”

Grandmother... Claire didn’t know she had a grandmother, her father hadn’t even told her if she had a living grandmother. She knew her father’s mother had passed but as for her own mother, her father never mentioned anything. Then again the most she ever got out of her father was about how much she was like her mother at times, nothing more. There wasn’t much if anything about her life before she had Claire.

“Pardon me Ma’am, Father never told me I had a grandmother or anything about my mother really.”

Claire was honest, she didn’t really know what to say and this was all she could think of. There really wasn’t anything else she could think of to say to a woman she had just met and been told was her Grandmother. It also suddenly dawned on her that not only was Adela her mother’s best friend but she was also her cousin. In some ways that explained some more about the reason why she was so willing to spend so much money on her even though they had just met.

“That sounds just like your Father, Claire. The moment he lost Clarice; he was shattered. I never got to say goodbye before he disappeared with you into that Maintenance yard.”

It was the older woman who spoke, the woman who was her grandmother. Somehow she found herself believing what the woman was saying. It did make a lot of sense to her and there were so many blanks in her life she wished to fill, especially about her mother and just what had happened to her. Suspiciously she had a feeling that her mother had not died in childbirth as she had been told about all those many years ago by her father. Not only did some of the events since her turning fifteen yesterday make that belief rocky but also some of the hazy memories and dreams she had.

“What was she like?” Claire wanted to know more than anything about her mother and what she was like, even just a picture or something for her. Reaching down she gently took her tea like the other had and took a small sip of it, waiting for a response from either Adela or her Grandmother.

“Your mother, she was the sweetest thing. Your hair is darker than hers ways but you are very much your mother’s daughter. She was very head strong, always knew what she wanted in life and was never afraid to go after it no matter what.”

It was her grandmother that spoke, her voice fond of memories of her eldest daughter. With the first it was always something special, always something that made a mother prouder about the accomplishments they made.

“Did my mother die having me?” Claire’s next question nearly had her grandmother choking on her tea, much the same as Adela did. Well she certainly had her mother’s honestly that much was a certainty.

“Oh no child, whatever gave you that Idea.” Her grandmother was shocked to even think Claire thought such a thing, whatever had put that idea in the child’s mind.

“It’s what father always told me every time I asked what happened to her.” Claire admitted hanging her head as if she had done something wrong.

“Oh dear child, your mother loved you. She doted upon you; to her you were her world. No child she died when you were about four years old.” Her grandmother’s words were solemn and quiet; everything now made sense to Claire, the vague memories, her father’s slip ups. Without even knowing the tears began to slide down Claire’s cheeks and she wondered just what had caused her father to lie to her, to tell her those things when somewhere deep in her heart she knew they were not true.

“What happened to her?”

“She died, working on a train with your father. There was a big accident and she was crushed. There wasn’t anything they could do to save her.” Placing her tea down on the table it was her aunt that had spoken to her, her Grandmother was also too choked up to speak.

Hands shaking Claire found it to be a great effort to place her tea cup back down on the table without spilling any of the contents. It only took a moment before Adela’s arms were around her and Claire was bawling her eyes out into her arms. They sat there for some long moments before Claire finally settled enough that they could speak again. It was as if eleven long years of being lied and not having a chance to grieve had finally caught up with her.

'The Picnic'

It had been some months since the birth of their daughter, Tolya had just dropped her off with Hinaea in hopes she and Zephyr could have the day together. Kissing her daughter goodbye she left and made her way to the conclave chamber where she knew Zephyr would be working on something. Swinging in her arms was a picnic basket she had prepared before dropping Myisha off with Hinaea. She knocked softly on the door before entering, greeting Zephyr with a wide smile she stood still as he closed the distance between them and pressed a gently kiss to her lips.

“So what’s this all about?” he asked, curious to know just exactly what it was she wanted. Since Myisha’s birth they had not had much time for each other and nearly all of it was taken up by taking care of their precious bundle.

“I was thinking you and I could go to Ehren’s Plains and have a little picnic together. It’s been so long since we just did something on our own together. Hinaea’s already got Myisha and is happy to watch her for the night.” It was almost as if she was teasing him with this idea and it didn’t take much for him to begin rolling up the plans he had been working on and return them to the locked box they had in the room for storing those important documents.

Pulling her close he took the basket from her with a smile, “well then we best get going if we want to get there safely.” He encouraged pulling her towards the courtyard where in anticipation Demyran and Escaia waited for them.

It took the better part of the day to get out there, an unexpected Kh’raal raiding party had detoured them slightly to avoid them but finally they arrived. Right near Ehren’s shack there was this little hill that Tolya had loved, even as a child. In fact on the lone tree that rested on this hill had a swing made of an old tyre looking thing hung from it. Something Ehren himself had done for the girls when they were younger.

Now that Zephyr had the basket Tolya was free to race ahead laughing loudly with joy looking over her shoulder at intervals to smile at him and encourage him on. Her black hair swirled about her face as she did and shone bright in the sunlight. The dress she wore, something in the past she would never have been caught dead in swirled about her and the light spring air about her made her feel so alive.

If it weren’t for the Kh’raal this very moment would be perfect, Rukbat would be perfect. However it was not to be, instead they sat down on the blanket they had rolled out and feasted upon the items within the basket. For the small moment and joy they had together it was as if everything was okay and as if the Kh’raal didn’t even exist. Together they were in their own happy little world, completely oblivious to everything about them. If only for that one day they were out there, for that one night they had spent together in the Shack, to the next morning and an early breakfast before finally making the trip home.

'Like Mother, Like Daughter'

It had been some many years since the Kh'raal had been exiled and Myisha was growing into a very bright young girl who was the spitting image of her mother. As she grew more and more of Tolya could be seen in her, from her raven black hair to the same striking eyes. She was her mother through and through. However it appeared she was only her mother in looks because she was very much her father in personality.

This day was an exciting day though as having been chosen today was the day she would be introduced to the mothers on the sands with the other chosen. Today was the day when they would see if they were suitable enough to be given an egg.

Even then though there was still a chance that the hatching within the egg would not find them suitable when the time for hatching came. That however was not something to think on just yet, first one had to actually be given an egg before one could worry about whether that egg would imprint to them. Today her father was also watching, there was a look in his eyes that said he was very proud of her. She knew then and there that no matter the outcome her father would be very proud of her.

Turning her attention back towards the mothers she followed the others in an orderly fashion, they would be greeted by Gold Lyaria first. She was one of the daughters born during the Great War on the now unused hatching ground once used at Hinaea Eyrie. Would it be in her fate that she would find her partner here from Lyaria’s small clutch? She waited; with baited breath as for the five eggs she had lain she chose five chosen from their large group.

There were always more chosen than there were eggs and even then sometimes a mother would choose to give an egg to someone who wasn’t a chosen, or the egg given to a chosen would imprint to someone else. Getting an egg was just the first step, it didn’t however guarantee that one was an Is’kyr rider. She let out a large breath from her lungs when Lyaria had passed her over. Obviously it was not to be for her from this clutch.

Looking back she watched as all the others walked from the sands with their eggs in their arms, guided by one of the other riders who would later help teach the young ones everything they needed to know. Next for them was Vyskia; she didn’t know Vyskia terribly well though as much as she knew was that her rider and her mother had once been very good friends and grown up together. What happened between them she didn’t know, but she did know that her mother never had the chance to speak to Vyskia’s rider one last time before she died.

Once again however she was passed over, Vyskia didn’t want her either apparently. Despite knowing how proud her father was for coming this far she still couldn’t help but feel a little put out and depressed because not only had she been passed over once but twice now, once by a Is’kyr whom her mother knew so well once upon a time. There was one last chance for her, at least for this time however.

In this group there were not that many left, some had already chosen to leave after being passed over twice by the other mothers some, however chose to stay just that little longer to see if their luck also held with the last mother. Without even realising it Myisha’s head had dropped and she wasn’t feeling particularly confident. Though she hadn’t really looked around to see that all that was left of the group was the exact same as the number of eggs left on the sands.

Following the others to the last mother she didn’t even look up to see that it was Zyliria herself, the one Is’kyr besides her mother’s Escaia whom she knew so well, had grown up around and in fact after her mother’s death spent a fair amount of time with her mother’s best friend Hinaea, who was Zyliria’s rider and her children.

One by one Zyliria accepted each of those remaining, if anything everyone knew Zyliria had no preference for her children and gave everyone an equal chance regardless of what the other mothers may have said about the particular chosen they had rejected. She was kind and fair and never ever seemed to let any rumours about anyone dictate how she chose someone. Eventually there was just one egg left and Hinaea went to move towards Myisha. However a hand on each of her shoulders stopped her, looking to either side of her she found both Bercik and Zephyr stopping her.

Hinaea had come to view Myisha as one of her own after Tolya’s death and now seeing her in such a position all she wanted to do was rush forwards and tell her that everything would be okay and that they were still proud of her. Zephyr and Bercik knew she needed to experience it all herself and soon enough Hinaea came to realise it too, no matter how much she had wanted to run for her.

She hadn’t been this worried with her other children, both of whom had been chosen before they had reached Zyliria. They were her children though, they still had both her and Bercik. In some way Myisha was deprived of this, her mother would never be here to see her find a partner. Watch her grow old, give her siblings, or even live to see grandchildren if Myisha ever had any. Hinaea in some ways felt responsible as if she had to be the one to look after her now that Tolya was gone.

Looking towards her father, who stood with Hinaea and Bercik; Myisha suddenly felt as if not finding a partner today would mean she had failed in their eyes. Regardless of the truth of that statement it was how she felt.

‘Do not worry my child, you are far too much like your mother to ever fail anyone. Come here my child.’

The soothing voice that suddenly entered made Myisha finally look up and towards the mother of this last clutch. It was Zyliria and suddenly she didn’t feel quite as fearful or upset anymore. Moving closer to where the copper lay she found herself sitting on one of Zyliria’s forearms that lay across the sands. Leaning into the copper, the one she had always been able to bring secrets to no matter what. That comforting presence that made her feel safe and warm, who told her stories of her mother, of her bravery. Myisha looked up once again at the copper.

“I’m just so afraid I’ll fail them. I don’t want to let them down, especially mum. I know dad will say how proud he is of me and how much like mum I am. I just feel like I’m letting her down you know, after all she did for us if I can’t get this one thing right. I just feel like I’d be letting her down then.”

Myisha voiced her fears towards Zyliria who gently dropped her head to nuzzle the young girl comfortingly well those were always perfectly normal fears of course although Zyliria knew Myisha didn’t quite think of them like that.

‘Sweet child, your mother would be proud of you no matter what. Each in their own time she’d always say and if you didn’t get it the first time she would still be just as proud as if you did. Myisha so long as you just try and give it your very best, no one cannot be proud of you or whatever you do or do not achieve.”

Zyliria’s words were of wisdom and great insight, though she had not mentioned yet about the last egg waiting. No she would wait on that one some more before she did, she wanted Myisha to believe in herself, that no matter the outcome everything would just be fine. Myisha however sighed, Zyliria was right she supposed; after all she had heard of her mother and how often she was compared to her she guessed she should have more faith. Everyone had always been so supportive of her no matter the choices she made and no one had ever said they weren’t proud of her.

“I guess you’re right. Well I guess I better go tell them I gave it my best.” Myisha in her lack of attention earlier had missed that there was one egg left and believed that instead Zyliria’s words were also words of comfort as well for not making it. Pushing herself off from Zyliria’s paws she decided she would go to her father and well she didn’t know what she would say when she got there but she started walking towards them when a voice suddenly stopped her.

‘And where are you going missy. I still have something yet for you.’

Turning around Myisha was stunned as suddenly there was Zyliria standing there besides her holding out an egg to her in her paw. It was the very last egg of her clutch, slightly smaller than the others but still an egg from her clutch. Myisha was stunned and for a moment didn’t move until finally her joy broke through and with a squeal she gathered the egg up in her arms and held it close, whispering thank you over and over again to Zyliria for it.

‘No need to thank me child, this one has been waiting a long time for you... Like mother like daughter.’

Myisha was puzzled by the last bit of Zyliria’s words which to her sounded oddly cryptic as if the copper knew something already that she did not. She gave the copper a questioning look but all she got back was a cryptic look which she thought was odd, instead however she brushed it off and with another squeal she near ran to her father were it not that was for everyone’s warning to be careful with her precious cargo.

It was a little over a month that passed before the eggs all decided to hatch, some hatched a little early and others right on time. There were a few however that were a tad late and Myisha’s was one of them. It was late in the evening and Myisha was sitting on her chair backwards, both her arms were resting on the back rest of the chair as she watched her egg for any sign of movements. She was beginning to doze off however and her eyes were dropping shut when there was a little peep.

At first she thought it was nothing and despite her brief moment of awareness she found herself drifting off again. This time she managed to sustain some sleep before finally a chirping noise awoke her and she found herself roused from her sleep.

She was greeted with the blurry image of a grey fuzz ball, but no that couldn’t be right her egg was still showing no signs of hatching when she dozed off. Rubbing her eyes for a moment she blinked a couple of times before looking down again. No the grey fluff ball was still there apparently, she was stunned and there was several long moments of staring at the grey fluff ball before it all sunk in. Her egg had hatched, oh how had she missed that and then and there she was cursing herself for not paying better attention to her egg. Nothing could be done about it now though and she found herself sighing, leaning down she reached out a hand to the little one.

“Hey there little one, I’m sorry I missed your hatching. I hope you aren’t mad with me.”

The grey fluff ball looked at her for several long moments before chirping a few times as if conversing with her before finally rubbing its head up against her hand. Myisha was stunned at the softness of the little ones fur and softly continued to pat her gently. Eventually she leant down to pick her up into her arms and felt this overwhelming feeling come over her as the little one nuzzled into her chest.

‘Shiaria is hungry.. feed Shiaria’

The voice was like nothing she had ever heard before and struck up an old memory, one that reminded her of being a little girl and of a blurry woman with long black hair standing above her singing her lullabies as she drifted off to sleep. It was enough to bring the tears to her eyes and eventually well over into tears that streamed down her face without stopping. Burying her face into the grey fur of Shiaria, Myisha stayed there for several long moments before she finally was able to stop crying.

“I’m sorry Shiaria... I should feed you.”

Myisha apologised to her new partner softly, for the moment it still had not sunk in yet that she was now an Is’kyr rider, though of what colour. That was to yet to be seen. Wandering down the halls trying to find somewhere she could get food for Shiaria, Myisha suddenly found herself surprised by her father, Hinaea and Bercik. They were waiting in the common room for her with a large bottle of mixed fruit just for Shiaria.

“Congratulations sweetheart.” It was her father to give the first congratulations walking over to pull both her and Shiaria into his arms in a warm hug. He couldn’t have been prouder as a father, well it didn’t matter that she had imprinted, she had now but even if she hadn’t he still would of been proud. That much he was adamant about.

It was soon followed by a big hug and much congratulation from Hinaea and then an awkward but kind hug from Bercik. Sitting down in the common area with them she was passed the bottle by Hinaea, it was of her own special mix. Ever since she had imprinted to Zyliria she had quite the talent for blending baby food for the little Is’kyr and had since added the recipes into the handbook which was now widely available to all the new Is’kyr riders and their teachers to help them through their journey.

“It’s odd isn’t it... the feeling.”

At first Myisha didn’t know what Hinaea was getting at when she asked the question, then she realised that she meant about the first contact, the overwhelming bond that they felt. Well it was odd, she had never felt anything like that before ever in her life. It was also nice though, because it was suddenly as if she was complete in every way now, that void of her mother and everything felt as if it had just been filled up by the miracle that lay in her arms. Was this what her mother had felt like when she had held Escaia in her arms and later on in life Myisha herself. It was a vague memory but she could never forget her mother always telling her how much she loved her and how having her was just as good as having Escaia in her life and how she couldn’t live without either of them.

“I guess it is... What did I feel like for you?”

“Well for me, it was so overwhelming I cried my eyes out. Bercik found me and well there he was with his own little one in his arms.” It was Hinaea who offered that insight first, a look coming over her face that amazed Myisha. It was almost as if in some ways Hinaea was reliving that feeling of the first meeting she had with her Zyliria.

“It was overwhelming, mostly it felt as though everything was just right. Like all the pieces to the puzzle had finally just come together, not a piece missing.” Bercik offered his own simple insight as they sat in the common room near the fire that kept the room warm during the cold desert nights.

“I remember the day you were born. The look on your mothers face was the same as when she met Escaia. She turned to me then and there and said, ‘It’s as if my life is complete all over again, like I had a missing puzzle piece but with Escaia I just never noticed it, but now. Now I feel as if it’s truly complete...’ I felt the same and now seeing you with Shiaria it feels complete all over again.”

Her father spoke last, speaking about her mother still choked him up and he still found it hard to talk about her but he knew it had to be shared. He wanted her to know how much her mother loved her and just how proud she was of her little girl. It was Shiaria’s voice that struck him the most, gosh she sounded just like Tolya. Myisha did to an extent and sometimes it was only when she came out saying something that she sounded exactly like her at times.

“How do you know her name?” Myisha was a tad confused there; she knew sometimes it took days for the Is’kyr to willing give its name but to talk to others so soon. That was something she had not heard of happening before. Somehow her father did not look shocked at all, nor did Hinaea or Bercik. They were acting like it was completely normal and that it had happened many times before this.

“Well sweetheart, she called us while you were sleeping. She was hungry and didn’t know when you were going to wake up, so we thought we might bring something down for you to save you the trouble.”

Hinaea answered that question from Myisha, by the gist of it Myisha rationalised that it had happened before, and not just once before. She somehow now wasn’t surprised as she had much trouble staying awake for long periods of time when they days of hatching began to draw near. Often enough she found herself falling asleep on the chair she and sat near the manger that was full of sands she had changed more times than she cared to remember over the course of that month.

At least now she never had to worry about changing the sands ever again but now she suddenly for saw a whole lot of new things that she would have to do beyond just feeding and basic care.

“Gosh she sounds like your mother though.” It was her father that added that comment, which only confirmed the memory she had was exactly what she had felt it to be. Shiaria sounded just like her mother, more so than she ever did. The confirming nods from the others as they all agreed with Zephyr’s remark. Well she supposed that was quite comforting, almost as if her mother had done that so she knew that she’d always be there, and never leave her.

It was another long six months to Myisha before finally Shiaria could learn to hunt for herself. The teething phase she had gone through had driven Myisha to near distraction and had caused her to replace her own bed twice after a leg or two was chewed through by the rampant teether.  Today though she had just come back from first hunting trip and absolutely filthy she was, so much so Myisha immediately sent her up to the oasis where Myisha herself would join her soon as she picked up the cleaning gear she needed.

Shiaria had always been an odd shade of grey, she always had dark what looked to be sooty boots and then her fur itself was like a mixture of all different kinds of grey one could never quite work that one out, as to what shade of grey she was. Finally after Shiaria got herself well and truly wet did Myisha finally make it up to the Oasis to wash her.

Pulling out the mixture that was like a thick shampoo she proceeded to rub it into Shiaria’s fur. It took some time before she finally got through it all but eventually she finished and sent Shiaria off to wash off the shampoo she had put in her fur. Eventually she came back out again having washed it all off of her fur. Reaching over to pull the brush from her bag Myisha began to brush the long fur of her partner.

What she wasn’t expecting was the massive wads of fluffy grey down to come out as she brushed her, well it was to be expected since they were already meant to be gaining their true colours, it appeared that once again it was something that Shiaria was going to be last at. Brushing her fur some more Myisha found more and more great big clumps were coming out. In stunned awe she just kept brushing and finally some time later she was finished and bundling all the fur into the bag that she had brought up with her she was left to stand there and look in awe at her partner. There in large patches all over her body were long iridescent white patches of fur.

She was a white, just like her mother’s Escaia was a white; the first white born since her mother’s Escaia died. Suddenly she flashed back to the day she had been given the egg by Zyliria, the cryptic message she had given her. Now of course it all made perfect sense to her, what she had meant.

Everything was coming full circle to her and as she marvelled at her partner and her stunning coat which was slowly but surely coming through. Suddenly she felt as if everything was okay and just right, just as it was. Even that in some way her mother was still there with her, something that to her meant a lot.

So it begins...

So this is the first post. I decided to open this up as a place to put the stories for the people of Rukbat. Something for everyone to read, that isn't always about the Is'kyr riders, though there are a few in there about them. I've never been one much to share my writing much and as Rukbat is being opened as a role playing game whilst I'm writing along with it, I wanted to be able to draw people into the world, let them get to know it and experience it the same way that I do. Learn about it and hopefully come to love it like I do.

Also as a way for me to explore my own world and learn about it much more, hopefully you'll all grow along with me as I write more and more tales.

Love Always

~Iskiea