Simaya stood at the bow of the ship, looking across the dark waters. She breathed in deeply, taking in the salty smell of the ocean. The ship rocked slightly, as small waves crashed against it. Her shoulder-length dirty blonde hair, trailed behind her in the breeze.<br/><br/>Simaya turned her gaze from the dark waters, up to the horizon. She could see a purple light shining against the black sky. Dawn was approaching.<br/><br/>"LAND HO!" The young falcon sitting in the crows nest yelled, his sharp eyes looking off to the right.<br/><br/>Excitement filled Simaya at being so close to home. Her nails extended into claws, and a long orange and black striped tail grew out from under her skirt. She climbed the main mast, her nails digging into the wood. She started fixing the sails, as the navigator turned the ship to point to their destination.<br/><br/>Simaya looked to her homeland, and a sudden sense of dread snuffed her excitement, like water on a flame. Her hands stilled on the sail's rope, and she stared, wondering why such a feeling had come to her. Nothing seemed wrong with her home from this distance.<br/><br/>As they neared the dock, Simaya could not stand it any longer. She dived into the cold harsh waters, and swam for land. Simaya could hear her fellow sailors call to her from the trade cog, but her mind was too crowded with fear and uncertainty to understand their words.<br/><br/>Even before she could see further inland, she could smell a metallic scent that underlined the salty air. A growl escaped her throat and her hands tensed, as if ready for a kill. Her homeland, had changed in a dangerous way.<br/>---------------------<br/>When Simaya reached land, she shook herself, causing water droplets to fly off of her. Her claws retracted and her tail disappeared. Simaya saw the destruction of the island, fallen comrades... Nothing was as it had been when she left.<br/><br/>Her heart was pounding, and it ached with loss. Simaya blinked back tears that threatened to blur her vision. She searched the faces of the survivors, looking for Kiitani to find out what had happened.