Railynn’s long skirts twisted around her ankles as she raced between large white marble pillars. Her light blue silk slippers barely made a sound on the polished marble floor as the small female jumped from tile to tile. Her new gown, made of blue and white silk, had small gems sewn into the skirt. As her skirts moved, the light caught on the gems, making them look like little silvery snowflakes floating gently around her.

Railynn was like a little frost frog, jumping over lily pads as she ran and skipped down the hall. Her entire body tingled with excitement as her legs propelled her through the palace far faster than she had ever moved before.

Servants and Lords alike, nodded their heads in submission and acknowledgment as she passed them by. News of the day’s celebration had already spread through the palace. Banners and streamers were being hung from the ceiling. And the smells from the kitchens were already beginning to float through the halls.

“Congratulations, my Lady,” a noble male that Railynn recognized from her Uncle’s council stepped out from between two pillars and blocked her path. Railynn looked up at the tall male as he smiled broadly down at her. His long horns reached towards the ceiling as they twisted upward. His large eyes were focused on her, seemingly unbothered by the smell of her magic that now engulfed her entire being. His hooves told a different story. They were nervously clicking on the marble floor.

Railynn could not remember the male’s name. She only knew he served on her Uncle’s council.

“Thank you, sir” Railynn smiled and gave a polite curtsey. The moment the male made a move to let her past, Railynn set out in a full sprint. Her skirts flowing behind her.

She had done it! She had finally gone through her awakening. Railynn had begun to doubt she would ever receive her powers. Whispers had followed her most of her young life. Her parents were some of the strongest magic wielders in the Northern Kingdom. She was a direct descendant of Queen Maeve, and yet when most royal children were practically born with their magic, she was not.

Pureblooded fae children usually received their magic between a few days old and four years old. The younger you were, the less risky the process was, especially for the more powerful fae. Halflings did not go through their awakening until at least their second or third decade. It was much harder for them to survive it if they went through it at all.

Those that did not dare question her parentage pointed to her father’s magic as the issue. They claimed shifter magic was inferior to elemental magic — the magic of the ancient Queens. They believed that mixing the two magics had somehow caused Railynn to be born with no magic at all.

However, Railynn never believed that. She saw how her father’s warriors treated their leader — with respect and admiration. She knew that her father’s magic was far more powerful than elemental magic would ever be. She had prayed to the Fates they would find her worthy of such magic.

The Fates heard her prayers. Because she emerged from her awakening a shifter, just like her father. Her naturally small stature mattered little when she could shift into a great panther at any moment she wished. She was a bit stronger now and faster too. Her eyes adjusted easily to dim light and her hearing and sense of smell were better.

Railynn bounced down the winding staircase that led to the lower levels of the palace. As she descended more and more palace servants milled through the halls. All busy with their morning chores.

The smell of sweets, bread, and meat grew stronger as she moved towards the arched doorway leading to the palace kitchens. Down here was Chef Hana’s domain. Not even her Uncle, King Jax, dared talk back to the elderly female.

Her pies and cakes were legendary. Queen Helena had promised Railynn that Hana would make her the largest bitter berry pie Railynn had ever seen for the banquet. While bitter berry pie was Railynn’s favorite, it was not the reason she had made her way to the kitchens this morning.

Emily would be working this morning. Railynn knew if she played her cards right Emily’s mother, Mrs. Green, might give Emily the morning off of work to go play in the gardens. After all, a fae’s awakening day was the most important day in their life. More important than any solstice holiday or birthday.

The young faun girl was Railynn’s closest and oldest friend. The two girls spent almost every waking hour together. They played in the gardens with the palace dogs and ran through the mazes in intense games of hide-and-seek. Even when Emily was helping her mother in the kitchens, Railynn was by her side.

Eight-year-old Railynn squealed her friend’s name as she rushed towards the kitchens. Servants moved out of her way as she ran down the hall. She was practically bouncing up and down with excitement as she entered the large room.

Emily had been the first person she wanted to tell about her awakening.

“Emily! I did it!” Railynn scanned the room to find Emily frozen in fear behind her mother. Her large brown eyes were impossibly wider as she clung to the fabric of her mother’s skirts. Her doe ears were pressed back against her mousy brown hair. Railynn cocked her head to the side, listening and sensing the area, trying to find the source of the threat that Emily was so easily able to perceive.

A thought hit Railynn, but she did not want to believe that. Emily was her friend after all.

“Emily…” Railynn said softly. She realized now that the entire kitchen had gone silent. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at them — to stare at her. As Railynn drew closer, Emily ducked further behind her mother’s dress, a strong smell formed around her. Railynn did not have to ask what that smell was. She already knew. It was fear. Emily’s fear.

Railynn swallowed back her tears. A lump forming in her throat. She did not want this magic anymore. She wanted to give it back.

Railynn looked up at Mrs. Green for help, for answers, but Mrs. Greens' kind eyes were hard. Why was she angry? There was a rigidness in Mrs. Green’s posture as she looked down at her. None of the kindness that Railynn had always seen in her eyes remained.

"Lady Railynn, I must request you leave," Mrs. Green said quietly but firmly. Like her daughter, her ears were laid flat against her head.

Railynn was frozen in place. This could not be real. It was all a dream, a nightmare. Railynn turned to the other kitchen workers, but each one she looked at shifted their gaze away from her.

“I just wanted to play with Emily,” Railynn’s voice was quiet as tears already began to fall down her face. Her small hands rubbed against her eyes.

Railynn had believed that Emily would have been overjoyed, just as her father and mother had been. However, no one in the kitchens looked pleased.

“Honey,” the soft sound of her mother’s voice came from the doorway. Railynn turned to see her mother, standing behind a stone-faced Chef Hana. For once, Hana’s ire was not directed at Railynn, but towards Mrs. Green.

“Princess,” Mrs. Green’s eyes went wide as she bowed her head and curtsied to Railynn’s mother.

“Railynn, I believe you should leave Emily to her morning chores,” Her mother’s chin was high as she spoke. The words were kind and soft, but the look in her eyes, as she stared at Mrs. Green, promised death.

“Kiella and Kelleb are waiting for you in the gardens, go play with them.”

Railynn simply nodded and choked back her tears as she retreated from the room. She could hear her mother’s soft voice hissing quietly as she spoke to Mrs. Green.

“She is a beast! Just like your husband!” Mrs. Green suddenly screamed at Railynn’s mother. Railynn stopped walking. Her feet felt like they had turned to stone. Pain shot through her chest as a silent sob racked through her small body.

She did not hear what Chef Hana yelled at Mrs. Green. Railynn did not hear the inhuman growl that ripped from her father’s mouth as he came up behind her. She did not feel the sudden chill that filled the lower levels of the palace as her mother’s magic struggled to stay contained. Her father was by her side, his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. His hands, calloused from years of wielding a sword, gently stroked her hair.

“My beautiful brave girl,” he whispered to her as he held her close. She let him scoop her up into his arms. Her father carried her up the stairs, and back to her room. Silent sobs shuddered through her body as hot tears continued to stream down her face.

Railynn curled onto her side as her father placed her on her soft bed.

“Rest,” was all he said as he turned to leave the room.

“Emily is afraid of me,” Railynn replied. It was no longer a question but a statement. General Turen looked at his daughter with pain and love in his eyes.

“Yes,” he said softly. As if the truth of it hurt him as much as it hurt her.

“I am a monster,” she was no longer crying now. So much pain and sadness laid in her eyes, but the tears and crying were gone, replaced by something far worse, acceptance.

“No!” Her father’s reply was still soft, but she heard the hard truth in that word.

“You are no such thing!” Her father was at her side once more, lifting her chin so that she looked him in the eyes. She watched as his eyes changed. The tawny gold color grew, filling the whites of his eyes until only the color and his slightly oblong-shaped pupil remained.

“The only monsters are the people who would dare to call an innocent child a beast and make them cry,” Railynn’s mother said from the door.

“You are like me now,” Her father sighed deeply, “people will be afraid of you, simply because of the magic you contain, but that does not make you a monster,”

“Your magic is not to destroy, but protect. With time, people will come to understand that truth,” her mother smiled encouragingly.

Rae nodded in understanding, but her heart sank. How would she play in the gardens with Emily if her friend was too afraid to be near her?