Draria’s Origin Story

Trees moving, sun falling, ground jumping, he runs as far as he can, as fast as he can, as much away as he can, but, he won’t. He couldn’t. He couldn’t do what he always wanted to do, not after what happened. As much as he wanted it, he had responsibilities and he had to do the right thing. He couldn’t let anyone else get hurt, hurt the way he was, ripped from your happiness with no way to get back.

He could see his village clearly, on flames. He saw his mother holding his sister in her arms. His father was trying to find a way to break down the walls. The walls that were supposed to protect the people of Shema, were keeping them in to be consumed by the flames. He was in the distance. He watched his parents as they burned to death. His feet were stuck to the ground. He was in so much shock and couldn’t move. He stood still the same way he did before, when it happened. He could have done something but he didn’t. He could have saved his family but his shock and cowardliness took over. He lived with that guilt for seven years. He had promised he would never let it happen again and it did. His fire wasn’t the first or the last. Last night, the rebuilt houses of another village of Shema Kingdom was destroyed. He wasn’t just a coward, he was a liar. So many people died, again. The fires over the past couple decades were not accidents, they were someone else’s doings. They would kill hundreds of people just to show power. If a fire struck then the people of Shema would work harder and listen to the higher classes, the ones in control. They were the ones who killed.

This time, Haylen knew who was to blame. He knew whose fault it was, and who caused the misery. It wasn’t the people in control. It wasn’t the Shema king, who ordered a village burnt, the blame still went to someone else. Someone who promised to save the kingdom. Someone who lied. It was him, himself. He could have done something. Even though he knew who set the fire he only had himself to blame.

“Haylen!”

“Hi, Draria.”

She linked her fingers with his. She knew that Haylen didn’t need someone to tell him it wasn’t his fault. What he needed was someone to gaze at the sky and think about their faults.

“Draria,” he turned towards her.

She nodded.

“It is all my fault, I should have done something.”

“Haylen, it isn’t. We know who did this and it wasn’t you.”

“I know, but I should have done something, I should have seen it coming.”

“No one ever knows when they are coming. The Sea is too powerful. They use fire and evil. Their army and their king, they control us and this is how they do it.”

They looked up at the bright sun until the stars popped up, and then rolled over and fell asleep.

~

“Help!” The boy played, “Oh help my desperate soul.”

“How many times have I told you, don’t yell help or else someone will think you are in danger.”

“Leave all your blame here,” Draria said as they walked back into the village.

“Draria, you lost your dad because of me.”

“That was seven years ago and I am done being angry at you for that.”

The wind blew hard. Instantly, rain poured down.

“Uh oh. Let’s get inside.”

In a nice cozy house with a blanket around him, he wrapped his arm around Draria.

“Haylen, you are like a son to me.” Draria’s mother said.

“Thank you.” He said respectfully, “Do want me to get that.”

“Get what?” Draria asked.

“The door.”

“What door?”

Three loud bangs from the door arrived.

“That door.”

“How do you do that?” Draria asked.

Haylen stood up, “I just heard footsteps.”

He opened the door for him.

“Adam,” Draria called. She ran up and kissed him.

“Do you want to go hunting?” He asked.

“Mother?”

“Sure.” Mother said

They walked out the door.

“Be safe,” Haylen called before they left.

“So, how are you doing?” He sat down next to her Mother.

“You beautiful boy, always worrying about everyone else. I know I am not your mother but I hope I can be more than just your friend’s mother.”

“No, you are the next best thing.”

“Well, that is good to know.”

“I need to go,” He kissed her on the cheek.

As he walked past the burnt houses he thought about his parents and his sister. He never was that close to her but he wished he had more time. Tears ran down his face. It was his fault. He may not have been able to prevent last night’s fire or any other fire but he could have saved his family. That is on him.

He stood there thinking about the fire and his family’s death. He was still and his eyes showed guilt but what brought him out of it was a scream. A scream coming from the woods. He shook his head and followed the cry for help. People followed. What happened next is hard to tell. Not just sad, but gored with blood and horror. A Tragedy that not even you would expect. I don’t think I could tell you. Haylen never could forgive himself, not after this. After hearing screaming he ran as fast as he could.

Slashing and screams, everywhere. Draria wasn’t the one to get hurt. Adam was. His death was slow and painful.

“Draria, what happened?”

“I...”

People found Adam as he died slowly.

“What happened, Adam? Was it The Sea?” Haylen asked.

He shook his head, “It was... Draria.”

“What?” Draria stepped back, “no... I would never do that.”

Adam took his last breath before he died in the arms of his fellow brothers and sisters. They covered him with dirt as they thought about what he had said. They buried him right where he died, just like they did to the people who didn’t Turn to ash before they died.

people were arguing about what had happened. Know one understood. Adam had scratch marks and deep wounds. There were no weapons around, how could she have even killed him?

“Draria?” Haylen asked.

“I didn’t do it. I promise.”

“Okay, I believe you,” Haylen said calmly.

A priest approached and place his hand on her.

“I beg of you Lord, show me the truth on what had happened and we promise to do as you command with thy truth.” He mumbled a few things to himself and opened his eyes.

“Nothing, the Lord wishes to keep this from us and we shall respect his decision.”

“But-”

A bright wave passed through them as an imagery appeared.

“It seems the Lord has given us the truth in a vision.” The Priest knelt.

Everyone took his example and looked upon the scene. Their expression changed from Confused to horrified to worried and back to confused.

Draria crouched over Adam as she tore him to pieces. Blood dripping off her hands she cried for help. She was different though, bigger. She was covered in dark fur and she had long sharp teeth.

Draria, The only one standing dropped to her knees as she begged for mercy.

“I didn’t know. I don’t remember that. Lord, I beg for mercy.”

“She doesn’t deserve mercy,” someone called. People started yelling at Draria and yelling at each other. They argued about everything. They blamed her for the fires.

“Hey, the fire was my fault, we all know that. I said I would protect you like my father once did and I didn’t. whether or not she killed Adam she is still human.”

“We saw it. She killed Adam.”

“You saw the way she looked! she was different!” Haylen yelled. Everyone started yelling louder and pointing fingers as Draria cried on the floor.

“I am sorry.”

“Pfft, you are a murderer.” someone yelled.

“She doesn’t deserve mercy.” Someone repeated.

People started repeating that while others said she did. They went back and forth. No mercy! No mercy! Mercy! Mercy! No mercy! Mercy!

“Is this the way we respect thy Lord’s gifts!?” The Priest yelled, “By yelling and fighting over who deserves mercy or not? Because no one here is perfect and no one here deserves mercy and we are not the ones to decide who gets it. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Whatever thy Lord wishes is what will happen. Give me your word the Lord has spoken to you and we will do as he says.”

“The Lord says to stone demons and we all saw what she did to Adam.” Another girl called.

“It wasn’t her,” Haylen called. Everyone looked his way. “You saw that something came over her. She had claws and long teeth and fur throughout her body.”

“Half-women half-wolf.” The Priest said.

“A demon, stone her.” An older man called.

Every one gasped. “The Lord has spoken.” The Priest called, “He says to release her into the wild and let Him do his doing.”

“You’re going to banish me?” Draria stood up.

“You can’t," Haylen said.

“Young girl,” the Priest held her hands, “We know that you meant no harm but we must obey thy Father’s word. Now go. Run into the woods. Remember listen to what thy Lord wants you to do and you will find your way back to us. I am sure you will. Goodbye, Draria, goodbye.

She ran into the woods as fast as she could and wasn’t seen for three more years.

Three years later she returned. She was different. She was taller and stronger. Her hair was cut and she had scars all over her.

“Haylen,” She ran and hugged him.

“Draria, I haven’t seen you in forever. I searched everywhere for you. Two more fires in another village. It is crazy but now you are back and can help us get justice.”

“No, I can’t stay. I killed Adam and was banned.”

“It’s okay, we will figure out away.”

“It’s okay,” Draria said, “I found a place I could stay. People need my help and I can use my ability for good. I can control it.”

“What, no. You can’t leave. I don’t understand.”

“Come with me,” she grabbed his hands.

“I can’t, I have to stay here and protect the kingdom, and you, have to protect yourself. Go, do what you need to do.”

“Ok, I will. I will come back, I promise.”

“Ok, but just answer one question? Who are these people? Who needs your help?”

She smiled.

“There names?” He nodded

“Touren, Amelia, Luke, and Layla.”