Prologue
732 Words
"Promise me, Renata". Unfamiliar with the desperate tone, I became unsure how to answer.
"Mum, please come with me". A lone tear travelled down my mothers fair face. Her lips spread into a thin line as she attempted to sooth me. I turned to the door once again.
"Renata, look at me my pretty little lioness." Terrified, I looked back into the light blue pools of my mothers pleading eyes. "You must survive, no matter what. You hear me. Fight to live. Fight to survive. Do whatever it takes, when you are strong. Take back the Pride."
I sobbed as the screaming increased and the sound of battle edged nearer. The other women and children huddled together. Frightened. I heard the roar of my people. Their pleas of mercy went unanswered. Even at only eight years of age, I knew staying here meant we were sitting ducks, my instincts told me to run.
My mother removed my crown and threw it across the floor. It had been a gift from my father. He had it especially made to fit me. The jewels arranged in such a way it looked like a tall tree with beautiful blossoming flowers. A sign of life for my Pride. A symbol of hope. We were peaceful but strong; encouraged growth and love.
"Mum we can hide, please come with me". I begged between sobs.
My mother curled my blonde locks around her finger and smiled, the action instantly calming me.
Leaning forward she kissed me gently on my forehead like she had done a million times before and looked back down at me, resolute of her fate. Two pairs of matching eyes stared at each other, both pleading for different wishes.
"Do not tell them you are the Princess of the Pride, Renata". Her voice stronger than before.
A loud bang echoed in the hall, the door starting to bow to the pressure. The women shrieked and the children cried, trying to run or blend into their surroundings. If they were here then my father had lost his battle. The tears I tried to hold back betrayed me, falling heavily down my rosey cheeks, "look at me Renata, my beautiful princess". I grew afraid. Afraid for not only me and my mother but my people. All the innocents that were just screaming had grown eerily quiet. I stared back at my mother. She was truly beautiful with her long golden hair that shaped her heart face perfectly and delicate skin that had a hint of rose on her cheeks making her look young and kind. "You must promise me Renata. You must survive. For where there is a princess there is always a pride". I nodded frantically.
"I promise, mummy". She pulled me in tight and then pushed me to arms length. That being her last embrace.
"Go and hide Renata. Remember what I told you". My mother stood abruptly and looked to the door.
The Dragon Empire guards dressed in purple and heavy iron crashed through the large wooden door of the Pride castle. "You are not welcome here bringers of death". Purple dress meant that the guards belonged to the Duke and Duchess who had a daughter only a couple years older than me, Lissandra. Why were they doing this to us? There had always been peace between the two. Our borders only clicks apart but we respected that border.
The fearless lioness Queen, my mother stood and walked forward turning back to my hiding spot under the table, a thin cloth obscuring a perfect view as my mother smiled at me one last time. I watched on in paralyzing terror as my mother shifted into a magnificent lioness with shiny golden fur covering her whole body and white devastatingly perfect elongated teeth. In her huge form, the Queen did not falter as she pressed forward. A warrior in her own right.
I watched on as the Dragon Guards captured and killed all that I loved.
I watched helplessly as the Dragon Empire conquered my beloved Pride, enslaving the young and killing the old. All I could do was mutter my promise, ‘I will survive’ but I added my own twist.
I vowed to survive only to take my revenge. To take away what they took from me. To destroy everything the Dragon Empire loves, no matter how long it takes, they will pay.
- Writer
