Nissa: Meeting Rylan

He was different. I could tell from the very first moment. He'd been a fun-loving kid, always laughing and joking around. I remember the first time we spoke.
It was my first time to Idari, and I was wandering around the palace. There he'd been with his friends. They were all sword fighting. I had paused for a moment to watch. Then, he'd noticed me as I started to giggle at their fake fight. They were using sticks, so it really just looked ridiculous. He'd walked over, strutting over with some serious swag. I smiled at him shyly.
He'd went to lean against the wall. Problem was he was too far. He'd misjudged the distance. He'd fallen.
I remember laughing so hard. It was just so unexpected, so funny, and it totally caught me off guard. He'd stood up, going red.
"I meant to do that," he told me.
I laughed again. "I'm sure you did."
He took a deep breath. "I haven't seen you here before. I'm Rylan."
"Nissa. I'm visiting from Broen with my parents."
From that moment on, I trusted him with my every secret. Rylan was the best friend I'd ever had.

Fireheart: A Warrior Princess

I was born in a world where women had no rights. We were told to stay home and do the cooking and the cleaning. And most women were okay with that. Not me though. That just wasn't the life for me. I wanted to fight, like the men in our village. I was a bold woman, and I wasn't about to take no for an answer.
Then, I met a woman unlike anyone I'd ever met. She was beautiful and charming and kind, but she carried a sword. I knew she would know how to use it. And so I was inspired to keep fighting. That's all you ever need. Just to see someone else who has what you want so desperately.
-Fireheart

Serenity: The Weakening

I never saw it coming. The sickness came without warning, and I had no possible way to prepare for it. I wasn't an unhealthy or lazy person by anyone's standards. I was in good shape before the illness hit. I guess it shows you that you can never really prepare for these kinds of things. I grew weaker and weaker day by day. It finally got to the point where I knew that there would be no recovery, despite my dear husbands reassurances. I knew the end was near. My only regret is that my family would lose me. I knew it would be hard on both Alistair and Nissa. It was already so hard for them. But I was not afraid to die. I knew it was my time to go. And even through the weakening, I was not afraid.

Deepclaw: Losing Mom and Dad

Twenty years ago, Edgeshifter and I lost the people most important to us. We lost our parents. Mom and Dad were warriors like me. They were the best of the best. The strongest and the bravest of all the dragons in Draconia. But then, they were gone. I had been there when it had happened. Dad and Mom were both seriously injured in battle. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was when they were taken to the healers' cavern. Edgeshifter had been young, but she was a healer there. That was why it was so horrible. To see my little sister see our parents like that and be completely helpless to help them. When they'd passed on finally, Edgeshifter had ran out in the forest. I knew that she would always blame herself for not being able to heal them. That was the worst part. Knowing that death would never leave our family. Knowing that our family was no longer whole and happy.
-Deepclaw

Rhiannon: Looking Different

That's a real problem in both the Human world and Segolia. Here, you all think you have to be skinny and tall and look like a freakin' supermodel. I guess I really can't be talking. I have the same problem.
I'm a naiad, a water nymph. My people live in ponds and lakes, but they look completely elven. You wouldn't be able to see any difference between a naiad and an elf. I'm the exception. I was born with a complexion as blue as the sky. It's not scaly or anything though. Feels the same as anyone else's skin. It's just blue. Maybe I would have been okay with it. I don't know. The problem was though that all the other naiads talked about me behind my back--and in front of me. The ridiculed my skin color. I may have had a bubbly popular personality, but behind the face, I was hurting a lot. I mean, what did it matter if I was blue? Who defines beautiful? I guess what I'm trying to say is you should define beautiful for yourself. It's different. I'm still struggling with that one, but someday I'll understand. Someday, I'll know why I'm blue, and I'll see why looking different is beautiful.
-Rhiannon

Fendrel: Being Blind

I wasn't born blind.
It just goes to show you how bad things can go. I was a elven soldier, placed at Lissinau once the fighting got really bad there. That was when things took a turn for the worst. I guess I should just describe it exactly as it happened...
I remember someone yelling my name. "Fendrel!"
Time seemed to slow down after that. I went to swing my sword, but my assailant stroke first. One blow to the head and I was out cold. Frankly, I was lucky to have survived. I used to wonder if survival was worse than blindness. But now, I know I am lucky to live.
Since that day, I have been blind. I guess you don't really appreciate something until its already gone. I appreciate eyesight now, and I envy those who have it. Be grateful for your eyes. You don't want to lose them.

Rylan: Many Losses

I was only eight or nine when it happened.
It was a year of tragedy. That was the year that I lost my beloved mother. I don't know how it happened still. It was all so fast, and I never understood how she had died. No one did really. She just passed away in her sleep. It was like she had died of old age, but she had only been in her 30s. I knew that something else had caused her death. Even if I had no idea what that was.
Then, when I was fifteen years old, I lost the person I cared about as much as my mother. Though, the loss had only been temporary. Nissa had been the best friend I could have asked for. Even if I'd always hoped for her to be something more... That aside, she'd always been a good friend to me. But then, she stopped visiting me in Idari that year. It was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth. I could only hope that, someday, I would see her again.
To make matters worse, that was the same year that she showed up. That red-eyed woman with the auburn hair and bone white skin. She'd turned my own father against me. I spent the remainder of my teenage years alone. I think that loss was, perhaps, the worst.
After all, I had lost my friend and my mother, how could I lose my father as well?

Edgeshifter: Foolish Curiosity

I was foolishly curious. Okay, in my defense, I was young and I had never been outside the dragon city before. You'd be curious too, wouldn't you? So, this is how it happened:

            "I stared up at the wall uncertainly. I knew that I was being stupid. If I went in there, there was a good chance that I’d be thrown in prison. It would be irrational to do it. On the other hand, if I didn’t, I would spend my entire life wondering what would have happened if I had.

            I could do this. I had to do this. I took a deep breath. I reached up and grabbed the first handhold. Then, I pulled myself up, stepping onto the first foothold. I continued to do this until I reached the top. Finally, I peered over the edge. The city below was full of life. Elven people crowded the streets.

            I climbed down on the opposite side, into the elven capital. I glanced right and left. No one appeared to have seen me climb the wall. I stepped into the street in awe. I looked around, wide-eyed, at the city. There was so much to look at! I saw merchants selling their goods on the street. I saw elven men observing certain objects, but there was even more elven women. I observed them closely. I realized just how little freedom they had. They never spoke to men unless spoken to. They never spoke their minds. The thought made me shudder. I wouldn’t be able to stand not talking. I knew a lot of bad things would have happened if I couldn’t talk. I supposed that was why I wasn’t an elf.

            I continued to wander the streets, watching the elves curiously. Ever since I was little, I’d been taught that elves were heartless creatures by nature. Looking at them now, I was sure that we’d been wrong. The elves appear in high spirits. They were happy despite all their problems. It was so different from dragons. A lot of the time they were bitter. It made me wish I could be a part of this people.

            I paused, startled. There was a palace guard, staring at me. I shuddered when our eyes met. I didn’t like it. I turned on my heel, heading down an empty street. Finally, I glanced back, relieved to see that no one was following. I leaned back against a building, and closed my eyes. Unfortunately, my peace was short-lived.

            Suddenly, someone came up to me, slamming their hands on either side of me. I opened my eyes, taken aback. My eyes widened as I met the gaze of that same palace guard. He stood in front of me, his hands on either side of me, touching the wall. His face was close enough that I could smell him. I tried to push him away, but he ignored me. Then, he grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. I clenched my teeth, and glared at him.

            'Now what’s a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?' he said smoothly.

            I lost control. I raised a hand and slapped him across the face. For a minute, he was too stunned to react. By the time he had recovered, I was preparing to hit him again. This time, the guard caught it. He grabbed my wrist. I tried to wrench free, but it was no use. He was stronger than me.

            Then, his eyes widened in surprise. He had seen the white dragon wrapping around my arm. It was the dragon’s mark. In elven form, every dragon had it. It was our greatest flaw.

            The man smiled darkly. 'Dragon,' he said, stating the obvious. I wanted to make a sarcastic reply, but I was too afraid of what would happen now. He watched me for a long time.

            Then, he began to pull me along, still holding onto my wrist. I refused to go with him. I fought him with all my might. Finally, he stopped. He watched me, unsure what to do. I glared back stubbornly.

            I gasped suddenly as he brought his fist down on my head. Unconsciousness was instantaneous."

Alistair on Time

It's strange to think how things have changed. Twenty years ago, I was at a ball in Idari. Stefan and I had been good friends back then. And then, I'd met Serenity. Beautiful, charming, sweet Serenity. Little had I'd known that we'd soon be married...And then have our beautiful amd passionate daughter, Nissa. Yeah, a lot can change in twenty years. It passes quicker than you'd think.
-Alistair

Blog of Segolia's Guardians

Hi, Nissa here. I guess I should explain what it is you're looking at. This is the blog of the Guardians of Segolia. It's posts are of our lives, before and after the prophecy became a part of us. All twelve of us, both the Guardians and the dragon partners, will be posting about our lives.