Competition came as everyone; man and beast alike struggled to find the Seed. Dwellers along with threatened beasts like Rapsites and Forlocks, searched desperately for it. The news of Kilo's failure gave the rest of the Outlands an opportunity at immortality. Individuals and leaders of powerful colonies became greedy. Their eyes were no longer on peace but on obtaining the Seed for selfish gain. It was in one of these colonies that a guy with a great destiny emerged....
Sierra's eyes fluttered open to the soft chirping of birds. Sunlight filtered through the trees, a warm blanket across her face. She looked at her hands, turning them over in her palms, and let out a quiet sigh of relief; her skin was its normal color again. After the chaos of the previous day, she felt an unsettling guilt for sleeping so soundly. Beth was still snoring softly beside her, and she chose not to wake him. Instead, she slipped away to the river, intent on a quick bath before finding something to eat.
As she stepped into the cool water, a sudden rustling in the woods made her freeze. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a knot of dread tightening in her gut. She swam silently, swiftly, to where Beth lay sleeping, tapping him gently to wake him. A moment later, a deer burst from the bushes. Sierra was about to let out a breath of relief when an arrow whizzed past her, striking the deer instantly. She held her breath, fear gripping her.
A young man with blonde hair and striking blue eyes leaped from the tall grass, he was tall and handsome, grinning as he approached the dead animal. A bow and quiver were strapped to his back.
"Breakfast!" he said triumphantly, placing the deer over his shoulder. He stopped, his head snapping up as if he'd sensed a presence. He drew his bow, pointing the arrow directly at the water. "Who's there?"
Sierra slowly poked her head out. "Don't shoot, please," she pleaded, her voice a small tremor. "I'm lost. I have no clothes and I'm hungry. I'm here with my brother." She gestured toward a wide-eyed, frightened Beth.
The young man lowered his bow, his eyes widening as he took in her face. He pulled a piece of cloth from his bag and waded toward the bank, his gaze captivated. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Sie… Tina," she lied, remembering the ghost lady's warning.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"No. My village was raided by Kilo's men. My brother and I are the only survivors."
"Well, how about that. I'm Ingred. Let's get you warmed up." He helped her from the water, wrapping his cloak around her shoulders. He carried the deer on one hand and her brother on the other, back to his colony.
The colony was busy, a small city of a thousand people. Sierra had only read stories of such places in the archives of Zanfram, but seeing it for herself was an overwhelming experience. Ingred led them to his family's home, the grandest in the village, where his father, the chief, was already consumed by his own search for the Seed.
"Get them a room and new clothes, and prepare them for dinner," the chief ordered a maid, his eyes lingering on Sierra.
Later, the maids who brought their new clothes and helped them groom couldn't stop asking questions. "Where are you from?" "Are you a goddess?"
At dinner, the chief's interest in her was even more pronounced. "So, Tina," he began, his stare intense, "where are you from?"
"Very far," she replied, her own eyes fixed on her plate. "My parents were killed trying to help my brother and I escape from Kilo's men. We've been on our own ever since."
"Poor child," his wife said with a sympathetic shake of her head.
"Indeed," the chief remarked, his gaze still on Sierra. "Your beauty is almost inhuman. It makes me wonder if you are truly from this world."
"I get that a lot, sir," Sierra said, shifting uncomfortably under his stare.
After dinner, Ingred offered to show her around, but she declined, a frantic glance at the moon-streaked sky. She was terrified of what would happen when her skin began to change.
"Don't let my dad get to you," Ingred said, sensing her discomfort. "He's always... practical."
"No worries," Sierra replied.
"I know!" Ingred said, his expression brightening. "How about we go watch the fight tonight? Yankee, a demi-god, is fighting Nikki, a dragon-born. It's going to be epic!"
"Demi-god?"
"Oh, people just call him that because of his surreal strength and good looks."
"I can't," she insisted.
"Trust me, it's going to be fun."
Sierra looked at Beth, who was fast asleep. What's the worst that could happen? she thought, and agreed.
The arena was enormous and crowded, the air thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and dust. Sierra had never seen so many people in one place.
"Slaves fight for their masters here," Ingred explained, "and people gamble on them."
"Slaves?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes, slaves." They found seats in the front row as the match began. The roar of the crowd was deafening, the ground rumbling with their excitement. Sierra loved the fighting, a forbidden passion from her days in Zanfram, where her parents had called it "un-lady-like." She'd secretly learned the basics of self-defense, and her heart still longed for the feel of a blade.
The fight between Yankee and Nikki was the main event. As Yankee scanned the crowd, his eyes found Sierra's and locked with them. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other. Just then, the moon began to peek from behind the clouds. Sierra knew her time was up. She stood to leave, but Ingred grabbed her arm.
"You'll miss the best part!" he said, but his smile faded as he saw the fear on her face and the faint blue spreading across her skin.
She rushed from the arena, Ingred close behind her. Outside, under the clear moonlight, her skin turned a shocking, pale blue.
"Who are you?" Ingred gasped, his eyes wide with surprise.
"My real name is Sierra from Zanfram." The name struck him instantly; he had heard the stories. He quickly wrapped his cloak around her, and they ran home, only to find his father waiting for them at the entrance. Sierra was immediately arrested and locked up.
"I knew it!" the chief smiled, a look of pure triumph on his face. "I knew Kilo wouldn't raid a fairy tale village for the fun of it!"
"Dad, what are you doing?" Ingred shouted.
"Do you know who she is? She's the Blue Goddess! The Seed! The gods have blessed us!"
"I am well aware! That's why we need to help her, not lock her up! The prophecy states we must protect her!"
"To hell with the prophecy!" the chief roared. "How long do you think we have before we are destroyed? That girl is the key to all our prayers! No wonder her village was willing to die for her!"
"Father..."
"I am your chief, and my decision is final. She will not be released. Now go to your room."
Ingred left, his face a mask of anger and frustration. The chief watched him go, then turned to his wife, who simply shook her head in disappointment and walked away