When worlds crumble

I was young when I met my first love, Desh. I knew she was the most beautiful creature in the world when I first met her, sparring during training sessions in the Oasis. I wouldn't admit it yet, of course. I was young, brazen and brash like the rest of them trying to prove their worth and loyalty. It was actually Desh that spoke to me first, curious about the extra anatomy the other cubs teased me for. I told her it was a blessing and a curse, flexing my extra set of legs with an understanding smile. I was the only living member of the Oasis with them at the time, it was understandable that I would be questioned and teased by my peers. We grew close after this encounter, slowly though. We talked and joked, sparred and practiced together despite our seperate career paths. Desh wanted to be a wanderer, I a knight. We took our aging journey together, and that's when I knew that I wanted Desh to be my wife. We never put a lable on our relationship prior to returning to the Oasis as adults, we had explored and learned together for what felt like eons with nothing but the company of the other. It was there, infront of the grand chamber and all of the celebrating lions that I proposed. She of course said yes, tears in those beautiful eyes of hers. Our ceremony wasn't long after, and a beautiful thing it was. I remember it clearly even to this day, Desh adorned in the finest silks I could find and her eyes twinkling like the many stars that dot the night sky. Seeing her like this, all happiness and love, it took the breath from my lungs. All that mattered in the world at that moment was her smile, even the cheers and whistles from the rest of the Oasis seemed to dim and fade while we whispered sweet nothings to each other and exchanged our gifts. Desh gave me something simple, a bracelet made of a few of her shed scales. I gave her a special necklace, one made of Soul Steel and blessed glass containing a bit of my blazing mane from the spot over my heart. Before I knew it out tail blades were locked and the festivities began, music and cheering, a bountiful feast. The party lasted well into the next day, though Desh and I never seemed to tire and never spent much time apart. Oh how I wish my family could have met her, could have seen the love of my life on the happiest day I'd had so far. Our lives overtook us almost immediately, pulling Desh away to wander the outside and me away to help guard the inside and keep my muscles fit and ready incase of an attack. Mitus do I wish she had choose a different path. I wish she hadn't come home one faithful day and spread the word of a war on the outside. She still went back out, of course. Right until the end she went out. We weren't called to battle until after Mitus official involved the Oasis, Kore opening a black hole and the might of the fleet he commanded stepping through and into the pride lands for the first time. I met up with her again there, happy as I could ever be to see her safe. We came home to each other every night as we battled in our own ways, me bloody and bruised and her pacing and searching for answers. Until... She didn't come home. I waited until I couldn't anymore, falling into a fitful slumber while promising that I would search for her the entire day if I needed to. And I did, I scoured the planet with the help of a tracker from the pride, desperate to find her okay. Only... I didn't. Coming through the first line of blood wood trees I saw the unmistakable green glow my flames offered in the distance. My steps quickened, building to a quick run until I found myself skidding to a halt next to the... Lifeless and cold corpse of my love. I couldn't cry for a long moment, my gaze fixed on her beautiful form. She was stunning even in death, and as that thought crossed my mind the sounds of my anguished roars finally hit my ears. Momus said I had been screaming from the moment I saw her, and that it took us hours to take her back to the Oasis and bury her near our den. I vowed that I would avenge her as the last scoop of sand was laid over her grave, and I did. I tracked down every scent on her body and tortured the rebels that killed her. They died cold and alone just as she had, left as nothing but ash on the surface of Lochren just as they should have been. Kore put me on a mandatory leave after he caught word of what I did, and I suppose it was necessary. I was a complete, reckless wreck when they dragged me out of the forest and away from where I found her. If he hadn't maybe I wouldn't have met Grippa, maybe I would still be a miserable heap. But, as fate would have it I did meet her. By chance, but that's a story for another time, I'm afraid.