Kaida’s story begins on a remote island, a secret haven for her small Clan. Her childhood was a symphony of vibrant colors and sun-drenched days – chasing butterflies through fields of wildflowers, learning to hunt with silent steps and sharpened claws, her world bounded by the island's cliffs and the endless expanse of the sky-sea beyond.
Her father, a skilled hunter and a respected elder within the clan, taught her the ways of their people – the subtle language of whispers and gestures, the art of navigating forest shadows. He nurtured her innate musical talents, his weathered hands guiding hers as she learned to pluck the strings of a lute, her voice a melodic echo of the wind’s whispers
But this idyllic existence crumbled when the long shadow of the Tervalkyre Empire stretched across their peaceful shores. An Imperial expedition, drawn by the island's strategic location, claimed it as their own, dismissing the Chimera’s claims to their ancestral home with chilling indifference. Kaida's clan, faced with overwhelming force, was given a choice: relocate to a barren wasteland on the fringes of Imperial territory – or face the consequences of defiance.
Kaida, however, refused to surrender. As her clan prepared for their forced exodus, her heart burning with both grief and defiance, she made a decision that would change her life forever. Utilizing her skills in stealth honed by her father's training, she slipped aboard an Imperial transport vessel in the confusion. She would not be caged, her wings clipped to serve the needs of a society who deemed them to be no more than barely tamed monsters for their amusement.
Emerging from the shadows in a bustling port city, armed only with her lute, the clothes on her back, and the burning ember of her ancestors’ spirit, Kaida faced a world both alluring and hostile. The sky-sea’s winds, once a distant lullaby, now carried the scent of both opportunity and danger.
She adapted to the harsh realities of survival amongst humans, utilizing her feline grace and quick wit to navigate the crowded streets and shadowy corners of Imperial society. Her nimble fingers, once trained to climb trees and stalk prey, now excelled at picking pockets, lifting purses, and acquiring whatever necessities she required to survive.
But thievery was not her true calling. Her heart sought not to steal but to connect, and she found that connection through her music. Her voice, clear and haunting, resonated through bustling marketplaces and smoky taverns. Her melodies, sometimes infused with the ancient rhythms of her homeland, sometimes mimicking the popular tunes of human society, carried tales of loss, resilience, and a yearning for the freedom she had known beneath unbound skies.
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Author's Notes
A flash of glittering steel in the dark. They fell silently, but the voice in their heads screamed an alarm. Bodies fell in the gateway, piling higher and higher. My muscles ached, my blades blunt. I cast a glance over my shoulder, and the world lit up.