Sasha belongs to moi. Everybody/thing/place/language belongs to someone else…

Sasha POV

Zane left shortly after he had told me that the future Tuli Thea, the leader of our enemy, had sung our former brother to his untimely sleep.

I couldn't believe it. It was as simple as that.

Maybe if we all had that drive for peace, this war would be over, but at this rate…nope, not a hope.

I sighed to myself over my musings and stared out the window of my bedroom which overlooked the vast serpiente market of vivid colors and playful nature.

I blinked when I saw Zane running through the crowd, looking excited and hopeful, an expression his face hadn't held for real in a very long time. I smiled at him and waved, knowing he could see.

He grinned at me from below, and gestured to come down to the first floor of the palace to talk with him. I obliged; after all, he was my brother.

I scampered down the staircase, and in my haste I shifted, to be faster, to hear the news first. My leopard form bounded down the stairs like water down a waterfall, and I soon reached the bottom in seconds.

I had to admit, there were some definite perks of being a leopard rather than a serpent.

I dashed across the room and stopped inches away from Zane, grinning at my speed. He smiled at me, and rolled his eyes once again, as he had when telling me the somber news this morning.

I shifted back to human form, disappointed as ever to leave my sleek, spotted body.

"Well..," I said impatiently, "This had better be good."

He responded with a bright smile, "I have done the impossible." He grinned again, evasively dodging my questions.

I scowled at him playfully and lightly punched him, "No, really, what'd you do, Zany? Tell the people that you're going vegetarian like the avians? Well…I think that'd be controversial and just plain…wrong. I mean, a snake eating its veggies? As if…"

He interrupted me and said, "No, idiot, I'm not going vegetarian. Besides, that'd be a total waste of time. This, on the other hand, is a total use of time, one I happen to take pride in."

He paused for effect. I waited for the punch line. On three… One…Two…Thr-

"I did it!" He exclaimed, "I arranged a peace talk with the Mistari for us and the avians! I did it; to solve war, just like you said would be impossible this morning!"

He was grinning ear from ear. I mean, wow, a guy can't be happier than this.

"Wait," I said, "Have you told the avians anything about these arrangements? Because I don't think they'll appreaciate being forced into a peace talk if you get my drift."

He looked at little uneasy. He said, "Well, that's next. I was going to go over to their palace to arrange for the peace talk on their terms."

"Absolutely not!" a voice chimed in. It was Charis, our mother, who was glaring pretty fiercely at Zane who looked a little aghast.

"Why not?" was my brother's reply.

"Because it's too dangerous, idiot," Irene burst in from the entrance and into the conversation, "Do you think sending in the future leader of the serpiente to the enemy we have been warring with for hundreds of years is a really smart choice? Do you really think they would hesitate before stabbing you in the back to end it all? You need someone to take your place."

I piped up, "I'll go."

All three looked at me; Zane confusedly, Charis curiously, and Irene sympathetically.

"Sorry, Sasha, but in order for the avians to truly believe that we want peace, we need a serpiente representative. Not that you're not serpiente enough, it's just, we need a real snake," Irene said a little bashfully.

She then said after a little contemplating pause, "I guess I'll go then."

Charis, Zane, and I all burst in, complaining about this crazy idea. Irene? Going as a representative to the avians? Pregnant Irene? Little sis? It was all too hard to understand.

"Look," she said, overriding our complaints, "It makes sense. Zane can't go, because he's too important. Sasha can't go, because the avians wouldn't take her seriously, and mother, you can't go because you have bigger things to worry about than transporting a message for peace. And lastly, no ordinary serpiente can go, because, like Sasha, the avians wouldn't take them seriously. Don't you see? I'm the only one who can do it?"

We all stared at her, our arguments torn from our throats, and had to admit that it looked like the right solution. We all then sighed and then muttered things like 'It's too dangerous' or 'But think of the baby and Galen' or 'Really Irene? Really?'

She just smiled at our mumblings, and practically skipped away, going to find something appropriate to wear after saying, "I'm leaving at dusk!"

All three of us stared at each worriedly and then went our separate ways. We would meet at dusk for Irene's departure.

Hours later, I strode out of the market to the palace where we would say our farewells to Irene. A few guards, Zane, and Charis were there, but no more. Our people didn't know about the deal yet. We had just told our army to hold off for now.

After giving her several hugs and many 'good lucks', my little sister was off to bargain with the avians. I mentally said a final goodbye if this would be the last time I would see her alive. I truly hoped that would not be the case; I wanted peace as Zane did. Peace. It's all we would live for.