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Author's Note: Yes, the characters are the same as the ones from my roleplay, Heart's Desire. But this is the backstory. It might eventually overlap, but if it does I'll change things.
Summary: After peace is declared between the Avians and Serpiente, a young Serpiente girl seizes her chance to study with the Avian artisans. All she wants is to be an artist...but ambition has a price.

Part 1: Borderlands

The field was still blood-stained. Aravitri Dravinse tried not to think about what her boots were crunching on, but the smell could not be ignored. A rusty smell, sharp and almost...angry in nature. She kept her eyes fixed ahead of her, trying not to see the red-brown stains on the dry grass. This was once a battleground, forsaken now in a time of peace between the Avian and Serpiente peoples. But the ground remembered, and would remember for many seasons hence. Against her will, the girl's eyes were dragged downwards. She took note of the way light fell on the earth, unable to avoid taking everything in with her artist's eye. She knew that she would always remember this scene, this day. If she for some reason had need to, she could probably depict it rather well in a painting. Her mind shied away at the thought, and she jerked her head up. She would never paint this scene, never. It was gory and terrible, a sad reminder of an ancient grudge that was now buried.
Only freshly buried... her mind whispered. New earth on the conflict only...no reason why it can't come back quick as a spring storm...and you are walking into the lion's den if it does, the Hawk's Keep...what respectable Serpiente girl would do this?
Aravitri gritted her teeth in frustration. "My own instincts are calling me...well, I don't know what, exactly," she muttered, not for any real reason other than hearing a voice. She'd been on the road for a week or so, and her ears enjoyed the sound as it fell upon them.

That sound fell on other ears. Ears hidden in gold-orange hair, hair which framed a feral face. Orange eyes narrowed, and the watcher moved slowly forwards. Her steps were sinuous and almost...catlike. She stood in the edge of the trees bordering the clearing Aravitri had chosen to cross, and watched the girl calculatingly. Her target was wavering, picking her way between as many of the blood stains as she could, moving slowly. That would soon change.
The woman made the shift in an instant, springing from the trees and changing shape in midair, her body stretching and twisting until she landed lightly on the cat paws of her second form. The lioness raced towards her prey, her passage announced by the sharp sound of brittle grass breaking. The serpent girl whirled around, fear evident in her eyes when she saw the predator approaching. She raised her hands as if to sheild herself, the lioness leapt-

Alyak looked up as his sister returned to the camp. She was in her second form, dragging a girl by her black braid. Annae deposited her prize at her brother's feet and stood on her hind legs, body lengthening and becoming human.
"This one was on the old battlefield. I thought we might have a little fun with her, eh brother?"
Alyak set aside the ripped tunic he had been laboriously stitching back together and bent over the unconcious Serpiente. He laid two fingers on the side of her neck and felt a pulse, barely evident. He nodded without looking up.
"She's still alive, though deeply unconcious. Annae, you know you don't have to hit them that hard. I'd wager you left claw marks too. That's sloppy hunting, dear sister."
She grinned at him, sharp teeth exposed. "May I remind you, dear brother, that I am the leader of this pack and not you? Besides, what fun are they if you can't toss them around a bit?"
"You could give them a sporting chance to fight back," he suggested, knowing the inevietable response to come. The argument was an old one, which both parties now only halfheartedly participated in. Annae heard the weariness in his tone and nodded in acknowledgment of his clear wish to be left alone. She turned and departed, entering a tent on one side of the clearing. Alyak watched until the tent flap swung closed, then returned his attention to the girl. It was with surprise that he discovered she had moved, rolled over in her sleep to clutch his hand. He reached down and gently loosened her fingers, surprised to find her skin cool. He stared down at her with consternation, wondering what to do, then shook his head and picked up the ripped tunic again. She was only prey, after all. And his pride would take care of her, so why did it matter if she was cold?
Soon, when the pride had their way, she would be colder.

((And so, once more, I post into the void. Give me a shout-out if you're reading this, will you? Tell me what you think, or simply that you're interested/alive/able to type. Thanks!))

Part 2: Severed Ties

Annae ducked out of her tent at the prey-girl's scream. "Shut that stupid snake up, Alyak!" she roared, fingernails lengthening into claws as she teetered on the edge of her demi form. Her brother, to Annae's surprise, ignored her, speaking instead to the serpent. Annae rolled her eyes and walked over to them, still somewhere in between human and demi shapes. She tapped Alyak on the shoulder, claiming the attention of both people.
"Whatever you're talking about, you can stop now. She's meat, brother, food, sustenance...you see? Not someone to converse with. I've half a mind to just kill her now, save a lot of trouble."
"But you won't do that." It wasn't a challenge, simply a flat-voiced statement.
"And why won't I, dearest sibling?" she said archly, raising one orange eyebrow. "As far as I can see, since I brought her in she's done nothing but distract you from your work and bother me with her foolish, useless screaming. I thought we might have some fun with her, but if she's simply a nuissance I have no problem killing her now." Annae raised two claw-fingers to her lips as if to whistle, blew, and was foiled by the soft fur growing on the back of her hands and digits. Scowling, frustrated and embarassed, she drew in a deep breath. That breath became a roar as she exhaled, a roar of summoning that called the pride to her.

Aravitri listened to the argument with wide, frightened eyes. The one called Alyak was clearly less bloodthirsty than his sister, though that wasn't exactly saying much. And that roar...
She had no time to think after that, as Alyak yanked her to her feet. "Run!" he yelled, shoving her in the one direction from which no pawsteps sounded. Weak-limbed, she stumbled forward as fast as she could, but a snort of frustration from behind told her she wasn't moving fast enough. Another roar answered the lioness's call, far too close for comfort, and Ara responded instinctively. She dropped to the ground in her serpent form, copper body fading perfectly into the dead leaves. Now she didn't have to hear the approaching footsteps, she felt them. A pair of half-formed lion's feet crossed her vision, and like any true copperhead she lunged forward and sank her fangs into the heel. A hand, also half-transformed, batted at her and she was sent flying into the undergrowth. Safe, now, but too stunned to move. There was nothing for it but to let the darkness close over her again.

Alyak was in his demi form now, battling against his own sister. The foolishness- she was older by three years and much the stronger- of this didn't occur to him, but the steady seeping of strength from his limbs was noticed. He lashed out and dragged his claws along Annae's cheek, leaving five paralell scratches that oozed blood. Other claws were set into his shoulder, and the weight of another lion dragged him backwards. He fell on the attacking pride-mate, thrashing and rolling back and forth in an attempt to dislodge the antagonist. Above, his sister was screeching half-articulately. The words 'traitor', 'serpent', and 'strange' were the only ones to reach his ears clearly, especially since the attacker on his back had let go of his shoulder but sunk teeth into his ear. Alyak reached back and swiped at where the eyes should be, but was met with a fountain of blood instead. The jaws loosened, and he turned around to meet the most horrible sight of his life.