1- Conscription Day

It was pouring today.

Of course it needs to rain today.

I slowly get out of bed, looking out the window. I sigh brushing through my hair before putting it up. I had everything packed the night before per my mothers orders so I could rest as much as I could, wake up, change, do my hair, and put a limited protion of the last 20 years of my life on my back going out the door.

She advised I wear tighter fitted clothes, so thats what I throw on, she also said something about leaving my hair tight but I didn't see much reason in that. If someone decides to fight me it's their own funeral, especially trying to cross, how stupid could one be?

Plus the tension makes me head spin, and I need all the focus I can get.

I throw my rucksack over my shoulder going to General Sorrengails office, I'm not sure what she could possibly do or say that would have any relevance before I leave but i just follow the orders given to me.

I go up the 6 flights of stairs easily, that's only a warm up for me. As I draw near I can hear the mumbled voices behind the heavy wood door.

" You think she's ready?"

" She's been training just as long as you did once before Mira."

" Yea, but she acts out and that will get her killed."

There was a moment of silence. I wait for my mothers response, " Then so be it, if she can't act collected like us Sorrengails then she dies."

I do have a temper, one I show more often then not but I always needed to. Again I feel the burning heat of anger thats a secondary feeling now to me. I know she wouldn't care if I died, I've always felt her distain towards me. I never figured out why she didn't get rid of me, I'm not from the scribe, I'm from...

I guess someone from her travels.

Mira once told me that she tried playing it off as the scribes, but once I came out nearly void of color she blamed it on the sickness she had, then when I never grew back into my color and showed to many different traits to cover..thats when it came out.

That's when he hated her. Then I think that's when she started hating me.

I go through the door eyeing the two of them. " I assure you, I will not die." I spit.

Mira frowns while my mother had somewhat of a grin on her face as she looks at me. " Your here eariler then I thought."

" Excited I suppose." I lie right through my teeth, truth is I'm almost terrified. Almost.

She hums, while Mira stares.

All us kids were tall, my mother has height I suppose my father did too, while she's a golden color I'm pale, she was amber eyes while I don't have two of the same eye color, one being a semi dark blue and a drained blue grey adding to my ' exotic' appearence. She keeps her hair short for combat while I never cut mine.

The general looks me over, coming around to study me. Ofcourse she picks up a thick strand of my white hair pulling on it. " I thought I told you to keep this tight."

I pull my hair away with a yank, " Then I can't focus."

" It's going to be easy for a cadet to yank you down to your death with that white mop on your head."

I narrow my eyes, " They'd need to get close to me, and avoid my dagger."

" Then both of you will go down on the parapet." She sighs shaking her head.

" I believe in her." Mira says stubbornly at the cold women giving me somewhat of a firm head shake.

I know I can get through the Conscription day, but there was this small feeling gnawing at me but I won't let it show. " I assure you, your not burying another kid yet."

I feel the temperature drop, from her storm powers. Maybe it was wrong of me to say but she seems almost eager to want to bury me. She hates me, tolerates Mira, but she loved Brennan. He died 5 years ago, when I was 15 fighting in this never ending war. Soon after there was more rift between my ' father' and mother. With the stress of who I actually was, and Brennans death.. that's when he started to have his..pains, then issues after that.

Her look says it all but she knows how to keep her cool. She clears her throat, " It would be very embarassing if you didn't make it over the parapet. You'd be the only Sorrengail that didn't all because she was to damn stubborn to listen to the words of her peers. But I do have a little faith in you seeing you were top of all your trainings and classes. Now I do believe you know I won't be allowed to speak to you for the next three years.."

I nod, not like she's done much talking to me these last 20.... " I expect you to stay alive. Walk slow and change out of those flat shoes.. you need something with some grip..even more so seeing the conditions outside..." She sits down in her chair again, " That is all."

" I have boots I was going to wear." I assure. She still thinks I'm a damn idiot, she hums turning slightly away from us busying herself with papers. Mira and I don't say another word as we walk out of her office.

" She was the same way my year also, I think it's easier for her to pretend like she doesn't care." Mira says quickly.

I chuckle. " You and I both know she doesn't care."

She gives a soft smile as we walk back to my room, where it was already packed up. I look over the empty room, I was only gone for maybe... half an hour..

" See, she's happy I'll be gone." I mutter.

Mira couldn't make this any other way, she knows mom hates me..

" Wanna show me whats in your pack?" She questions, " Make sure you have everything you need?"

I toss my pack to the ground, letting her examine everything. She grins, " I think this was better equipt then mine, even with Brennan's help."

A small ping my sadness shows through but I smile, " Thank you." If I dare say I'm good any anything it would be combat, or military related. Thankfully they left my boots, which I already scuffed myself making sure to have as much traction as possible. Mira pulls something from her pack she carries, " I got the uniform for you, close to what us riders wear but..not exactly. And when I flew over here I saw the clouds moving in so I got these.."

She pulls out these fingerless gloves, knitted with almost a rubbery material. " Helps with grip just in case you..." She trails off, " But seeing how scuffed your boots are..maybe you don't need them." She now smiles handing them to me to put on.

" Thank you."

She nods, " This uniform is a little more tight fitting, good durable material, should protect you from any scrapes or anything... quick put it on before we leave...then I can help you with your hair."

" I don't want my hair touched.."

" It's windy out there Freya... even a hair in your eye could decide whether you live or die.. JUst a long braid, I'll keep it looser on the top." She coaxes.

I agree, seeing she's deserpatly trying to help me, so I get changed, lacing my boots tightly. She goes to the back of me braiding my long hair. " I don't think I've seen this hair color before." She says.

" I know it'll make me stand out more.."

She sighs, " Don't think like that. Your strong and can fight. Use that, know when to fight and when to stand your ground, there is a difference. Make sure they know not to cross you but please... don't make enemies...make good allies."

She finishes the braid todding it over my shoulder. I nod, " Noted."

They were sheaths in the clothing, I smirk grabbing my daggers from the pile Mira tore out of my pack putting them in their places.

I adjust a little, " This shirt is stiff."

She smirks, " Dragon scales. Designed it myself."

" Didn't know you were a stylist." I grin.

She laughs, " One of my many talents.." Her smile quickly fades... " Sleep in this if you can.. You know the rules right of the riders."

I felt liek this was a trick question, " Riders don't listen to many rules?"

She nods, " I knwo that but..killing rules. For the past years less and less dragons have agreed to bond, so more and more cadets turned to killing for better chances. Being a Sorrengail already has a massive target on your back, seeing you can fight will increase it, seeing your temper..." Again she trails off, " And your distinctive...with your appearence."

She means all 5'11.. 160 pounds of me.

" You need to be careful Freya." She almost begs.

" You act like I don't care if I die."

" I know.. I know.."

I sigh, " You know I can take care of myself..and yes...this will never come off me. I'll keep myself protected and in check."

She repacks my pack, " Good, and keep a dagger on you at all times."

" Done."

A bell rings, signalling an half hour left. She looks out the window at now the pelting rain. " We should go."

I nod. We both get up ready to start a new future.