"I wonder who they were…" Amanoi Kaysui pondered about her parents for the millionth time that day, she often wondered what they were like. Amanoi is, and has been, ever since she could remember, an orphan, and she never knew. Do I have any brothers or sisters, cousins? Aunts? Uncles? Will I ever have any? If I died would anyone care? Amanoi was not your usual girl; she had a large amount of 'wild magic' as the lanky man had put it when she met him 5 years ago, on the road. He explained what it was and that his female companion also had it, but with all animals, not just with birds as Amanoi did. In truth, Amanoi did have the largest amount of wild magic that the lanky fellow, or the pretty girl had ever seen, besides the girl herself. The strangest thing about Amanoi's ability was that it was only with birds, but it was large enough that she could shapechange, which was how she had met the two in the first place. The girl had mentioned a place called Tortall, and of late it seemed as thought Amanoi should go there.
For the last 2 moons, each night, Amanoi dreamt of a young woman, who was on the Great Road, from the Shang Institute to the palace and University in Tortall. The young woman kept falling, and many times, Amanoi was watching, helpless, because the young lady could not call to her for help. For reasons unknown, Amanoi could not help this lady unless it was asked of her. Desperate to get rid of the dreams, Amanoi set of for Tortall, ready to seek this young lady out. However, being on the road so long, ahas allowed Amanoi's otherwise disciplined mind to wander. However, Amanoi knew very little about herself, or what was once her family, she wasn't even sure that she had a family. Okay, she knew her birds and her bees, but she never knew them, and to her, that constituted her not having a family. She didn't even know where the knowledge of her name had come from; it was just always there.
Realizing the time, Amanoi began to make camp, soon she found it hard to keep her eyes open. Skip dinner or a fire, she thought with a sigh and soon she was drifting fast asleep. She dreamed of the young lady again, and as usual, she could not help her, but as Amanoi stood looking at her, a twig snapped behind Amanoi, back to reality, she thought with a sigh as she went to see who it was.
A man walked from behind the trees hands help in the air as Amanoi leveled her crossbow at him. "Who are you?" she demanded, in the most frightening voice that she could manage. "I am someone who can help you in your quest, to find the one you seek, the young Yamani, so much like yourself. She is known as Vivoi, or the Shang Owl, she has trained many years to earn her title, she is the only Shang master with the Gift of magic, now go, forget all that you have heard here, only the name, as if it appeared to you in a dream." With that he walked leaving a confused Amanoi wondering why she had a crossbow in her hands. When, Amanoi woke, she remembered only that she knew she must seek out Vivoi, Shang Owl.
Amanoi's adventure had begun; she now had a place to go, and a person to seek. Amanoi had always had no one. She dreamt many nights of a young lady, but now she knew her name, Vivoi. Amanoi must go to Tortall, to seek her out. She was a wandering orphan who only wished to have a family, and now she had a destiny.