Dreamscape Shifters

Snow crunched softly underfoot as Asheerah made her way through the quiet White Woods. Besides the whispers of chilly breezes through the seemingly dead branches, and Asheerah's near silent breath, nothing else sounded. Asheerah felt almost uneasy. However, it was just the incoming snow storm she could sense under her skin. She wasn't supposed to be here, but then again, neither were the people she was going to spy on. Her people.

Asheerah took a quiet, deep breath and continued on. The dark cloak she managed to trade off a beggar was very worn and ragged. The material had been through much, and now did a poor job of keeping warmth in. She had been glad to give him her sturdier and thicker cloak; this current winter was fierce. Asheerah found the cloak adequate though, since she would only need it this one time; and it helped complete her disguise.

Asheerah straightened the dirt-colored sheer scarf she had tied over her mouth and nose, and tucked in a stray piece of hair. Pulling her hood back down over her eyes from where it had been slipping back, she paused a moment to listen. Nothing but the whispered breeze. Then, ever so faintly, in the distance, she heard a soft, almost shushing sound. She knew if she listened intently, she would be able to hear their individual voices. The gathering.

She glanced down at her disguise. Her newly acquired, well-worn black boots were a little indented where her feet did not fill the space. She cursed at herself for forgetting to stuff them with extra cloth. The dark grey dress she wore, though thick, was still much too light for the current weather and hung loosely off her shoulders. All in all, she looked like a young-old beggar. All that was missing was white hair, but Asheerah's long, dark, ash brown hair was braided back under her hood.

She buttoned the cloak up as best she could with several of the buttons missing, and set off more quickly than before. She noted that she'd forgotten to acquire gloves. She wondered if they might notice. Hopefully not, she thought. It would certainly give her away.

It irritated her that she was "completely unprepared," in her words, as she'd only been sent on this mission four days ago. Two had been spent collecting the disguise.

Asheerah wasn't used to spying missions. She normally scouted, due to her bird shifting abilities, and even then, only if there was minimal danger. As the crown princess and next in line for High Chieftess, she couldn't very well be risking her life. Unfortunately, this was a dire circumstance. Five days ago, The High Chieftain, her father, had called his militant children into the Counsel room.

"As you know, the nomags are disappearing." The High Chieftain's deep, gravelly voice filled the room. He sat imposingly upon an ebony throne carved from the bones of the first Great Dragon, their ancestor. He had been slain by his enemy in battle and to mock him, his enemy used his dragon bones to forge himself a throne. After many more battles, the throne was eventually taken back by their grandfather and though they originally wanted to burn it; they decided to keep it in memory of their great lineage.

"They've been saying we would regret not helping them and now they are disappearing. Word from the Kainai Kingdom arrived and now more than several hundred nomags have been marked as missing. Worse, 17 changelings were supposed to shift yesterday, only 7 managed." The high chieftain looked gravely at the stoic faces of his children. "Everyday, the fight for our magic grows more and more vehement. It is unclear what is to come, what trials we might face. Who is to say our shifting abilities won't run out? So for now, I want to focus on where the nomags are running off too. Their bodies haven't been found, so there is a possibility they are still alive. The council has informed me they've found evidence that the rumors are true. Nomags have been holding secret meetings to plan a rebellion for a while. How long, we're unsure, but the evidence we have suggests almost 8 moon cycles. Start with their elders, I'm certain they know what's happening to their fellow nomags. We cannot let this continue! So the council and I are sending one of you to the rumored location of the next meeting." At this, the High Chieftain stood up.

The High Chieftain towered above everyone in the room. In size and appearance, he was built like a buffalo. Like most men in this part of the kingdom, he wore no shirt. His wide, broad, dusky brown chest full of scarred muscle was on display; along with the necklaces made out of the bones of his fallen enemies. His bottom covering, a simple beige cloth that fell just below his knees. On his feet were simple sandals made of white ash wood and leather string. A prayer outfit.

His dark chocolate hair was pulled into a single long, thick braid down his back. Two soft, ivory streaks on both sides of his temple gave him the appearance of horns. Though his face appeared calm and open, almost gentle with his wide black eyes and long face, the aura he gave off was commanding and forceful. All in all, High Chieftain Aranon was a seasoned warrior who long ago earned his title.

"Crown princess Asheerah," He raised his voice in a way that made everyone in the room subconsciously straighten their stance. "Step forth! The high council has chosen you to carry out this task."

Asheerah's heart stuttered then pumped faster but outwardly, she showed no emotion. She simply stepped forward and said in a strong, clear voice, "Crown princess Asheerah reporting to High Chieftain Aranon at the high councils command."

The rest of her siblings, Iroh, Aaron, Ahmen, and Tuluyuh, all stepped back to give her a direct line to the throne. She walked forward and bowed low onto one knee in front of her father.

Of all his children, Asheerah was most similar to him in characteristics and qualities. She was calm and steady, sure of herself and her abilities; she was also not one to make decisions lightly. If it affected the Chiefdom in a negative way, she would not even consider it. For Asheerah, the Chiefdom came first, her people second, and her family third. This was a small peace to her father, who was still unsure of his 2nd youngest daughter to succeed him. At least she wouldn't drive the Chiefdom to ruin; if he didn't first.

The similarities ended there, though; Asheerah looked little like her father. Instead of dark chocolate brown hair, hers was dark ash brown. She inherited her mother's paler skin tone as opposed to her father's dusky brown. Though her wide black eyes remained a similar size and shape to her father's, her mother's sharp intellect filled them and made her small face seem cold. Her small, narrow, curved nose and naturally slim, downturned mouth only added to that coldness. As for her height, she was considered "small" by both shifting and nomag standards and bowing down in front of her father; she was practically a young changeling.

"Asheerah of the Bird Clan, crown princess to the throne of Akimel, will you go to the location of the next nomag meeting and gather information on the rebellion? Be aware, it may cost your life." He warned, staring challengingly down at his daughter. Asheerah kept her eyes down even as she raised her head, stood up and said, "I, Asheerah of the Bird Clan, crown princess to the throne of Akimel, accept this task and all its burdens willingly. May the Gods decide my fate."

There was a brief pause before the High Chief addressed the room at large, "Crown princess Asheerah has accepted this task willingly of her own accord. Those who have witnessed and oppose, you may speak your worries." With that, he sat back down and looked about the room. For a respectful pause, no one said anything. Then Ahmen step forward and sank to one knee with his head bowed. "Permission to speak, High Chief Aranon?"

"Granted."

Ahmen rose to his feet. Though smaller than his father, Ahmen's profile still displayed an intimidating physique. Lean and muscular, he had the build of an archer and while standing, he was a head taller than all his siblings. His face was long like his father's with wide eyes, however, Ahmen's dark brown eyes shone with an almost wild, bright light.

"Great Chief, how do you intend for us to start searching for these missing nomags? And the shifter? Isn't that the bigger problem? Why waste resources for the nomags?" Ahmen swiftly questioned.

"Start with the basics, question their elders, and those who last saw them. Track their trails as far as you can. The Clan mothers believe they might be linked to the fading magic. And as it is our responsibility to look after them, do you expect us to sit back and let them be lost? Are we so much better off without them?" Aranon's voice grew hard as he spoke the last part, with an equally hard glint in his gaze toward his eldest son.

"Of course not, Great Chief, I was more concerned about the shifters. I did not mean to sound uncaring toward our people."

Ahmen bowed and stepped back into line.

There was another pause while they waited for someone else to ask for permission to speak. Tuluyuh opened her mouth but then shut it just as quickly. The Great Chieftain glanced at her briefly before finally speaking.

"Then it's final. Crown princess Asheerah, your task has been given, complete it and return. May the Gods have mercy on you and the ancestors protect your way. I, myself will be in the Praying temple in meditation for as long as you are gone. All are dismissed."

The court bowed and drifted out of the room, Asheerah included. There were quiet murmurs and glances around Asheerah as she headed back to her room to get ready. She could guess what they were saying. Why her? Would she succeed? What if she failed? What was the high council thinking? Ignoring all this, Asheerah walked steadily to her room.

However, her mind was swirling with plans and worries. What should she take? Where would she start? Why were the nomags going away to begin with? When did the shifting abilities stop flowing through her people? What was going on?

Asheerah shook her head and tried to start with the first thing she should do, cleanse herself. It was important for anyone going on a mission to purify their minds and spirit, in the Akimel Chiefdom.

Asheerah took note of how the nomag servants greeted her as she passed a couple of them in the halls. They all bowed and greeted her before moving on. No seeming hint of animosity in their demeanor at all. But they had to know about the disappearances of their kind, wouldn't they?

Asheerah couldn't wrap her head around how everything had gone downhill so fast. It seemed only yesterday, that these troubles were impossible. But for several year cycles now, there were rumors of nomags being unhappy with their places in society. And there had been a gradual decline in the amount of new shifters each year. Even the mages and sages hadn't had any new disciples for a while. Was this all because of them? Was it really tied to the nomags? But magic and shifting had been around since the beginning of creation. Did someone offend a great spirit? Were they being punished? What happened? These questions cycled through Asheerah's mind despite trying not to. She needed a clear mind for the cleansing. She inhaled a sharp, deep breath and walked faster.