Tanda

Death. What an interesting concept it was, Tanda thought to herself as she trotted through the dense forest. Dark pines towered around the small white Fae and her breath created small puffs of fog. Her bright mane had been tangled and small twigs and leaves had stuck to the shiny hairs. Tanda didn't bother combing them out as she would be full of twigs within a few hours anyway. She remembered her mother and the way she would tell Tanda off for getting dirty since it wasn't how a lady should behave. It wasn't the only thing Tanda would get scolded for, the young Fae had always had a strange fascination with death. She remembered one particular instance when she had angered her mother with her, for other dragons strange, questions.

"Mom! Look what I found in the forest!" Tanda yelled excitedly as she stumbled into the small den, paws covered in mud and her normally shiny mane dull and wet. She could tell her mother was annoyed already but decided to show her anyway, it might calm her down once she saw what Tanda had found. With pride in her eyes, she held up a dirty skull that seemed like it had belonged to a shaman before Tanda had found it, as the small bird skull was engraved with small runes. "What are you doing with that, Tanda! I have told you so many times not to touch dead things. Also, look at you! Bring that back outside and then clean yourself. Your father is coming home in a few hours and I don't want you to look like... That!" the white Tundra scolded her daughter.

Tanda chuckled at the memory as she adjusted the skull on her head. A quiet whining brought her back to reality and she turned to see a small Mirror cowering behind a bush. As she walked towards it she could see the wounds on the young dragon's body and she knew he was close to death already. She smiled down at the young Mirror reassuringly, trying to make them feel safe as she came closer. "Everything will be alright, young one. It will be over in just a second and your pain will be gone." She said as she picked up her scythe, before bringing it down fast, releasing the hatchling from their pain.

"What do you think the other side is like?" Tanda asked her mother as she sat weeping next to her mate's bedside. Tanda's father was a fighter and had come home with deep wounds that not even the clan's shaman could heal. Wisteria ignored her daughter's question as she prayed to the Deities to let her mate survive, but the young Fae didn't stop with her morbid curiosity. "Do you think there is anything? Maybe there's a world just like ours for everyone who died! Oh, do you think dragons and beast clans go to the same place?" Tanda rambled on, paying no mind to her dying father, her fascination with death and whatever happens after overpowered the grief and sadness because of her loss. "Leave." her mother mumbled with a broken voice. The small Fae stopped her excited rambling and looked at her mother. "Leave Tanda. Do not come back." she continued. "Why? Did I do something wrong?" Tanda asked quietly, looking at her mother with confused eyes. "I knew the moment you hatched, the moment I saw your eyes that you were different, Tanda. You don't belong here. I don't want to see you ever again. Leave." Wisteria whispered and Tanda complied. She packed her things and left her family behind, ignoring her brothers' questioning looks as she trotted out of the camp.

Snapping out of the memory Tanda stopped in front of a large rock that sat next to a city wall. A tombstone. She placed a pale paw onto the cool stone as she read the names that were engraved in it.

Here lie Sergant, Wisteria and their son, Thing. May the Tidelord and the Shadowbinder look upon their souls and let them rest peacefully.

Tanda smiled sadly and looked up at the stars above as she wondered if they had ever missed having her beside her, as part of the family.