I have always known I was different. Everybody says that about themselves, but I knew I was. Others didn't know, everybody had merely assumed that I was human, and by outwards appearances, it seemed so.
However, not everything is as it seems.
I'm not actually human… at least not completely.
I'm actually a hybrid.
Now one may be inclined to say, "But wait, now that Alagaesia is at peace, there have been some hybrids." Well yes, that is very true… but something must be said of a hybrid of the solitary Were-cats.
Yeah, I'm the daughter of a Were-cat and my mother was a human. Humans, I have learned, are very easy to trick and manipulate. Now while Were-cats are solitary, I am still unsure as to why my sire decided to bed a human.
As you may have guessed, I know not who my father is… but that works fine by me. My mother, however, I knew well. She died a few years ago from a disease that wrought forth a violent cough, so much so that she would cough blood at times. It was contagious for she passed it on to quite a few of our neighbors who also succumbed to the disease.
So at the young and tender age of 8, I had lost my mother and was claimed by none.
It was a miracle I survived this long. I was now 11 years old and it was that time of the year. The dragons were returning once more with more eggs in search of new riders.
I never attended these runs, I was certain that I would never be chosen due to being art Were-cat, which were not included in the new order.
This year, however, I felt something strange pulling me toward the center streets. This is where the run would happen. The riders would stroll down the streets of Dras-Leona, the ones wide enough at least, bearing the few eggs they had left, normally four or five.
As I arrived to the corner where they were landing, I caught sight of a rather small egg in the hands of a dwarf rider, the size of the egg was maybe twice the size of my fist. My eyes were locked onto it, the egg reflecting an odd arrangement of green and red.
I shook my head and sighed, wondering what had come over me. I myself knew it wouldn't pick me….
How would you know? A foreign voice asked
My head snapped up, looking for the person who somehow read my thoughts, before seeing that a pale green dragon further ahead, a young one but its golden brown eyes had shown much wisdom. Its, I mean, her rider paid little mind to the exchange… almost like they didn't hear.
…
The dragon seemed to blink in amusement when I merely blinked without an answer. Come to the choosing ceremony tomorrow… maybe one of these fledglings will hatch for you, young one.
With that, the suddenly known and large presence left, leaving me to reflect her words as well as argue against my indecisiveness. Long after the crowd had faded from the street, after the sunlight had made its decent behind the hills, and
At last, I lifted my dark head up, the tight black curls falling around my head bobbing as I did. My golden-green eyes flashed in determination. I shall go.
