A/N: Ok I came up with this idea when I was sleeping...Don't ask how I just did...anyway I told my friend and she thought it was a good idea so here's a small chapter tell me what you think...
Disclaimer: I own everything you don't recognize...everything else belongs to the amazing Tamora Pierce.
The Shang Eagle stood, in a plain cotton shirt and breeches, aboard the ship Summer Days, taking in the smells of the ocean and the sweet summer air. It was a small ship, barely big enough for a small crew, a few passengers, and of course the passengers' horses. The small crew consisted of; a captain, a cook, a healer, and three other necessary people. The ship was traveling from the Yamani Islands, with two passengers, both bound for Tortall. The Shang Eagle was one, and the other was an elderly widow, searching for a fresh start. The Eagle didn't talk much, and when she did it was never about anything personal. Not even her name was ever mentioned. A few days into the voyage, everyone stopped asking her questions. They realized that she wouldn't tell them anything about herself, and they quit trying. The teenage Shang sighed. She led a very lonely life. She had spent years training at Shang. When she was five years old, her parents had given her permission to go to the Shang temple to train. So she had uprooted her life, left her friends and family, and moved to a new place with new faces. She had trained hard and long, with hopes of someday returning home. Now that she had received the rank of master and the name Eagle, she'd finally gotten the chance. She had returned home to the Islands, only to find that her sister and her friends had left, as she had. She stayed for a while, visiting with her parents. She did things with them that she had never done before. Such as, bake with her mother, and laugh and tell jokes with her father. She then learned that everyone else that she had held dear, were now in Tortall. She had left at once, promising to return home someday soon. And now, here she was on a ship, setting out to see where others dreams had taken them. She tore her eyes away from the horizon, and went down below deck to visit her mare, Destiny.
"Hey Girl," she cooed. Her voice was tender and sweet, unusual for a Shang. Destiny whinnied in reply. "We'll be docking soon I imagine." she told the pony. Destiny nuzzled the girl's cheek affectionately. She giggled softly. "You always know when something's wrong, don't you?" She sighed. "I'm scared Dest." she said quietly. "I'm afraid they won't remember me. It's been so long..." Destiny gave her mistress a look that said, 'Of course they'll remember you! Stop worrying!' The teen looked into her mare's eyes and said, "I hope so Dest, I hope so." She gave Destiny one last pat, before turning down the hallway and entering her room. She quickly checked that she had all of her meager belongings, and that they were all secured in her saddle bags. She made sure that her coin purse was still wrapped in a spare shirt, and in the very bottom of one of the bags. She left the room and went up to watch as they neared the harbor.
It was two hours before the boat had finally docked at Port Caynn, and the passengers were once more on dry land. The horses were unloaded and the two ladies went their separate ways. The Shang Eagle and her beloved horse, began the long journey up to Corus.
When she reached the Lower City, the girl held close to her belongings. She took a quick moment to look around. Everywhere people were bustling about carrying everything from babies to packages. It must be market day. She mused. She looked up the hill to the Palace. Here goes nothing. She told herself. She urged Destiny up the hill towards the Palace, the Monarchs, and her friends.
A/N: So? what do you think? Good? Bad? Let me know! And I know it's short but this was just to see if I should keep going...Oh and I purposely didn't mention her name in this chapter...you'll find out what it is soon enough though...