Destiny's Boon

She had fled. She had flown home with her new cloak covering her body, snuck into her home and its coffers, and raided them- just a thousand gold or so, barely a drop in her family's wealth, but enough to get her by until she could find some way of making her own money. She had fled to the wilds of Ivras with her stolen shackles in hand, putting them in a small bag she took from her belongings. She topped them and surrounded them with bits of clothing, a piece or two of family jewelry, a favorite book or two, and a small collection of stolen food. 

This was all she had- all she had left. Gone were the days of being the Heir to a noble family, with wealth and power to spare, something she had always perceived as her Destiny- no. Now she was just like any other person, her title stripped away, her family forsaking her, left alone in the world without any idea of how to care for herself. How could she know? Everything she had ever wanted had been handed to her on a silver platter. Now she had nothing left- not even her face, not even her name. 

Natalya began to panic as she fled away from her manor, peeking over her shoulder one last time as tears streamed down her face. She felt Senán's presence at her back, his warmth soothing and comforting, but she also felt her magic rise in response to her terror and dread. Although she wanted nothing more than to fall into Senán's side, to cry out her tears and wrap herself in his warmth, she couldn't risk it. She didn't deserve that comfort, not after what she had done. Fumbling with the contents of her bag, her teke grabbed out the shackles and slipped them on, and a sob slipped through her lips as she felt her magic wane away. It was still there- still enough to keep her bones warm, unlike the bounty shackles that had drained every piece of fire from her marrow, her veins, her soul, leaving her cold and bereft and utterly devoid of hope. 

Child of fire, he said, his roar audible only to her, his warmth fading away and his soft fur intangible, why have you trapped me away? Do you not need your magic now, in your darkest of moments? Do you not need me free, to harm your enemies?

It was too much for Natalya. A wail escaped her lips, and she ran through the woods, as fast as her four legs would take her. She felt Senán grow close, felt the slight pounding of the ground beneath her hooves as the bear-like creature that shared her soul and gave her her magic ran to catch up, close to feral with his rage at his host. "No!" she cried, running faster and ignoring the sting of the whips of tree branches, the sharp roots cutting into the sensitive parts of her hooves, the deep weariness within her bones. "I can't risk it- I'm out of control right now," she wheezed between panting breaths. "If I lose control of my magic, if I let others see you, then they will know where I am. They will know whose face I wear. I will be captured again and forced right back onto the pyre!" 

Senán fell silent, digesting her words, and said nothing more. As she ran for her life, tears running down her face and body aching from the exertion, she mourned what had been lost. Her name- her family- her wealth and glory, her power. She had long believed that her destiny had been set in stone. She would be Heir, then the Head- it was an honor, and her duty. Though many did not respect her in her own family, she would have had power beyond her wildest dreams, able to lead her family into a better day.

But then Mord's words came back to her. Yes, she would have had power, and wealth, and fame, but was it worth the terrible cost? Forced to marry someone she didn't love, to pump out heirs to her family's dynasty, trapped in a gilded cage for the rest of her days. As the tears dried, as her legs began to quiver and quake, as the cuts on her body and legs scabbed over, only for new ones to open up and drip their crimson gold down her legs, she turned away from that dream, that nightmare. She didn't need that- and now that she wasn't forced into that path, with it as her only option, she realized that she did not want it, either. It was a horrid, horrid thing, to be trapped in a way of living and have no say in the matter. 

She wanted... what did she want?

As her frantic run slowed to a canter, and then a slower lope, her mind spun. She didn't want to marry someone her family deemed appropriate- she wanted to marry for love, if she ever found it. She didn't want to go back to the Order, who would just kill her if they knew who she was. She wanted to serve Ivras as a Mage Protector, to fight off monsters as they appeared, but she didn't want to be a part of the Order to do that. She wanted freedom and stability, perhaps with tastes of adventure from time to time. She wanted to live out her life as long as she was meant to, and not a second more, to live it surrounded by love and laughter, joy and light. 

But to have that, she had to change her face, her very name. She would have to cast off Natalya Firebird forever, and become something- someone- new. As her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the ground, Senán curling himself around her, as if he could protect her in his intangible state, she gazed up into the face of her monster, her bear-like beast who had caused all of this, but who had also done his best to help her. 

What are you thinking, child of flames? he asked, his head tilting to one side. 

"I'm thinking," Natalya said, her voice soft from the exertion and her tired, aching lungs, "that we need to change your face. Sooner rather than later, my friend."

Friend, her beast- her friend, her protector- mumbled. That is the first time you've called me that. I quite like it. 

Natalya smiled, dropping her head on the now-tangible fur of Senán as her teke removed the shackles and she slipped into the deep sleep of the weary.