One night, I was outside sitting on the steps of my house looking at the stars, trying to calm my heart down. These nights I can't help but wonder, why was I born an Ohmes-Raht?

In my village, only I look different. My parents said that it was because of the moons, but why was I the only one? Even though a lot of our neighbors treat me nicely, I can feel their eyes look at me, and even whisper behind my back about me.

Just because I look like differently…

When I thought about what happened at dinner, my eyes can't help but tear up. Slowly my vision was being filled with nothing but tears. When I couldn't take it anymore, I started sobbing my heart out.

Earlier this night I had a fight with mama. She was saying that I should go to the city to find work. She was saying that if I wanted to earn a living by myself, I should go to school to learn to be an ambassador. Even if I feel like I'm singled-out by the village, I still don't want to go. But to think even mama wants me to go away… I just couldn't take it.

While I was crying, someone put their hand on top of my head. I looked up to see who it was, but my eyes were still blurry from the tears.

A sweet, serene voice entered my ears. "Ma'ja, I'm sorry for saying those things."

When I realized it was mama, my eyes started to tear up more.

I tried replying properly, but only a shaky voice left my mouth. "Y-you w-wanted t-to send m-me away."

"No Ma'ja, that's not what I mean."

"B-but you said."

While I was trying to make my words, mama suddenly hugged me.

"I'm sorry." she said, her voice slightly cracking, "I just wanted the best for you."

With every word, her voice shifted from serene to shaky. "I don't know how you'll make a living in this small village. But with your looks, I thought you could be trained as an ambassador. I thought that maybe at least you could escape this poverty-filled lifestyle. I thought, maybe you would be able to lift us, our village, from this."

While she was talking, mama tightened her grasp on me. "I'm sorry that I didn't think about your feelings, I didn't mean to get mad at you. I'm sorry."

When she said all this, my mind went blank. How could I be so selfish and throw a tantrum? I didn't know that mama was thinking about me.

With my weak, skinny arms, I hugged her back. "Don't cry mama, it's not your fault. I was being selfish, I wasn't thinking about you or the other villagers."

With every word, I tightened my hug, trying to fill myself with determination. "I will go to the city and become an ambassador."

Mama opened her eyes wide in shock. She released herself from our hug and looked at me, "No Ma'ja, Mama was being selfish, you shouldn't force yourself to—"

"I'm not forcing myself mama."

I looked straight into her eyes. "I want to help this village. If by going to the city, I could help make all of your lives better, then I should go."

"B-but."

"Mama, I want to do this."

Mama looked me into my eyes; she hugged me once more and told me, "If you ever get scared, you can always come back to the village."

I stroke her hair while replying, "I'll visit as often as I could."

With both of us sniffing from crying, my mom chuckled while standing up. "Come, it's cold out, we'll get sick if we stay any longer."

"Yes, that's true. I'll head back after a while. I'd like to watch the stars for a little while longer."

Mama wiped her tears with a handkerchief then gave it to me. "Wipe your tears, and don't stay up too late."

I wiped my own tears with said handkerchief and smiled. "I won't."

After watching her walk away, I resumed my star gazing.

In the night sky, the main character of the beautiful painting was Jone, the lesser moon. Jode was currently a new moon, so only Jone was the visible moon in the sky. Now that I noticed, Jone was actually at its waxing phase.

"Meaning another Ohmes-Raht is born tonight… right?"

I closed my eyes and clasp my hands to pray. "Azurah, may the Khajiit born under the sky be blessed with good fortune."

After praying, I went back inside our house. I didn't feel like finishing my dinner, so I cleaned up the table and then went straight to my room to go to sleep. Since I didn't have fur like other Khajiit, I needed thicker blankets to cover myself during the cold nights of of the desert.

While thinking about the future, I blew the candle and went to bed. For some time I could only stare blankly at the ceiling, but after a while my eyelids became heavy. When I couldn't resist the temptation of sleep anymore, I entered the world of dreams.

While in a half-awake state, I saw that there was light in the room. When I thought it was already sunrise, I smelled smoke in the air. My eyes went wide open and I became fully awake. I jumped out of bed and surveyed the surroundings, only to see the house is on fire.

The first thing I did was look for my mother. In the midst of the burning smoke, I put mama's handkerchief to my mouth to avoid breathing int the smoke. While, I was trying to avoid the burning wood, I kept calling out to her, "Mama! Where are you? Mama!"

My eyes started tearing up, but not because of the smoke. Even though our house was small, it took me forever to get to another room with all the fire around. When I reached mama's room, I found her buried under her bookshelf. "Mama!"

I quickly dashed to her and started lifting the bookshelf. Even though I had a weak body, I tried my best to lift the heavy bookshelf. "Don't worry Mama, I'll get you out!"

Even though she was coughing and wheezing horrendously, she still managed to get some words out. "Save… yourself Ma'ja."

I gritted my teeth while trying to lift it the best as I can. It seemingly won't budge even after I did my best. I looked around the room to see if there's anything I can use to lift it. At one corner of the room I found a chest and a sword. I pushed the chest near the bookshelf and used the sword as a lever. I pushed down on the sword using my whole weight. After pushing down, the bookshelf was lifted slightly. "Quick! Get out of there Mama!"

She wiggled her way out from under the bookshelf. When she was out, I release my strength from the sword and took it out, making the bookshelf fall once more. I quickly went to mama to check on her condition. Her eyes drifted to the sword I was holding. "I never thought your Papa's sword could save me again." She chuckled a bit, then started coughing violently.

"Mama! Don't speak, here." I gave her the handkerchief to cover her mouth with. I put her arm around my shoulder and helped her walk. At the door, I kicked it open and helped Mama get outside.

While we were catching our breath, we looked around and saw that our house wasn't the only thing burning. The fires of the village was reflected in our eyes. The whole village was burning down, without a single house to spare.

While we were looking around, we found some strangers clad in armor. They were Khajiit just like us, but what they were doing…

"What are you doing!?"

Before I could react, Mama shouted towards those men. When she did, those men looked back at us. Behind the men were Khajiit children tied up and gagged.

"We missed a house? Whatever, let's just get the job done."

They unsheathed their swords and started walking towards us. "You can drop the sword and come peacefully, or we can cut of a few limbs before taking you."

When I saw them slowly walking towards me, my hands started shaking profusely. I held Papa's sword with two hands, while pointing it towards the armored Khajiit. I couldn't help but think that I was scared.

When the men saw me put up a stance, they let out a disgusting laugh. "What the hell? You think a little girl like you can do against us?"

"Hey look, it's actually an Ohmes-Raht! Apparently we found a rare one, ha!"

While walked even closer towards me, I gripped the sword's handle even tighter. I was nervous; I never fought with a sword before. While a number of thoughts were quickly spinning inside my head, a hand was placed at my shoulder. I was surprised and looked at the person next to me.

"It's okay Ma'ja, I'm here too."

Mama tried to comfort me and gave me a smile. Inwardly that gave me a sense of security even though I know it's inevitable. I wanted to fight them. I don't want to be dragged off to somewhere without giving a fight.

While I was mentally preparing myself, the men stopped about ten steps away from me.

The one in the middle, a big Khajiit with a big sword and shield, spoke, "Put down the sword and quietly come with us, I assure you that it's the best option."

Ignoring him I shot him a stare full of determination.

He clicked his tongue and spat at the ground. "Suit yourself."

In an instant, he close the distance and hit my sword with a monstrous strength. My arms could take the force, making me release my grip on the sword. The sword was knocked to a far distance, a distance that wasn't close enough for me to reach.

I tried to run to the sword, but I was kicked on the stomach. I held my stomach and was writhing in pain at the ground. The man kicked me again once more, making me gag and cough. "Kill her."

My eyes went wide open. I looked at the other Khajiit nearing me; I closed my eyes while waiting for my impending death. But after a while, the steps went pass me. I opened my eyes in realization and look behind me.

"N-no!"

Before she could scream, she was hacked by the other Khajiit. They hacked and slashed at her, even though she was already dead. I looked on an horror; I screamed at the top of my lungs. "MAMA!"

I tried getting up, but was kicked down again by the big Khajiit. They tied me up and gagged me, just like the other children. They dragged me painfully towards their wagon, and loaded me like I was some sort of goods.

I stared blankly at my own village, smoke and fire rising into the sky. While looking on, my eyes began to tear up. I started crying so hard, that the armored people started kicking me to stop me from crying. I could only weep silently while I was mourning mama's death.

The wagon started moving away from the village. By the time the sun started to rise, only ashes remained of my village. I couldn't help but feel so utterly useless. I couldn't save mama, I couldn't save myself, I couldn't save anyone.

With me wallowing in regrets, the journey started, with us children Khajiit being carried as their goods. I didn't know if we were going to become slaves, but what I do know, is that our lives are no longer in our hands.

I deeply prayed inside my heart. "Azurah, please guide our souls."