Secrets (Petra POV)

Petra wanders around her new home, still getting used to the space. The new furniture has arrived, making it feel more like a home, but it’s definitely an adjustment after her time in the woods. Still, the generosity of her new king astounds her. If she’s honest with herself, everyone has been incredibly welcoming.

Finally she settles into a chair, her long, furred tail curling into her lap almost like a blanket. Leaning back, Petra mulls over everything that’s happened to her since coming to the city. Somehow, everything has exceeded her expectations, and yet, there’s more she wants. There’s a big piece missing, and she has no idea how to attain it.

And there are regrets as well. Petra sighs, wishing she could speak the full truth to her king. Her wants and desires. Her true past. And the truth of her nature, what she truly is.

“Ast lor’ik des mar themil.”

The magical words of her native language roll off her tongue musically, and one of her clawed hands glows for a moment. Petra watches as that arm warps, becoming larger, and more scaled. Before the transformation can fully take hold, however, she halts it with another phrase.

“Berit vass ti gemir.”

Her arm reverts, still scaled and clawed, but not particularly monstrous. Petra shakes her head. Her true form is horrifying, and not something she can reveal. They wouldn’t understand. She would be cast out, hunted. Still, it’s good to hear her language spoken, even if she’s the only one who can understand. The human tongue is difficult, though it has a beauty all its own. After all, it allows her to speak with…him.

Him. Her king. Her obsession.

When since she first saw Kael it hit her with the impact of a hammer. Other races don’t understand how it works, but in that instant, she was his. Irrevocably. She knew, in that instant, that she belonged to him. And when the opportunity to become his guardian presented itself, it was difficult to hold herself back during the so called ‘tryouts’. There were none there who could even touch her, even in this lesser form. In truth, the only one in that room who may have challenged her was Orin, and then her king and his queen.

And then, she met his…family. The elf, so kind and ethereal. And the holstaur, brazen but welcoming. And of course, his queen, fiery and strong. All lovely in their own ways, and as devoted as well. Petra was jealous of their closeness, but she also was amazed by the obvious connection they had with her king.

Petra shakes her head. She had no idea what to do. And so, she resigned herself to guarding him, at least for the moment. After all, she had plenty of time. No need to rush things.