Role

Chapter 3

The waters coalesced and deeper he fell. Deep. Deeper. Deepest. He felt his
body hit the ocean floor and he opened his eyes involunatrily, the salt of
the water stinging them. Suddenly the chains clasped around his ankles and
arms were lifted and he was tossed into the air once more, the Imperial
Marauders laughing as Valinag coughed viciously, spewing salt water and
rubbing at his eyes frantically as best he could with the cumbersome chain.

"Had enough, you nature pet?" growled Valinag's father. Valinag had been
caught attempting to save a few woodland creatures from the Imperial flames.
This was his punishment. Valinag had always been close, closer then most, to
nature, despite his father, an Elite Blade. Valinag was special, in that
aspect. His father had been relentless in his torture today, and he was
beginning to worry. He cared not for the sentient beings, good or evil, only
if they harmed that which was natural

Suddenly Valinag found himself kicked in the stomach. He seemed to have
passed out for now he was strapped to the mast of the small ship, his father
and his small crew of 'Marauders' scouts of the Empire guffawing to
themselves. Upon seeing him awake his father closed in once more.

"Never again will you warn others of the Empire's coming might" growled his
father, an onyx knife glowing a sickly yellow in his hand.

"Force open his mouth!" He yelled, and clasping hands formed around Valinag's
nostrils until his mouth opened. A sharp flash of pain, a small trickle of
blood and his tongue lay in his fathers hand.

With that, Valinag was cast back into the waves. Tied with chains. The last
words he heard were "It would be nothing short of a miracle for you to live,
whelp"

Valinag drifted deeper, deeper into the waves, welcoming their embrace. The
creatures flitted about him, they seemed to think he was in no danger, and
Valinag was inclined to agree. The Water was his home, his parents. He had no
father. The Water was his father. However at home he felt here in the waves,
he knew he could not live here, and soon his lungs burned. As he hit the
ocean floor for the second time that day he glanced around, using his eyes,
hands, and natural bond with animals a shark soon swam to him, and bit
through his chains. After a few quick kicks, Valinag swam strongly to the
surface, bursting and gulping in great lungfuls of air.

Swimming to shore, Valinag Waters clammered onto land, striding confidently
forward along the beach as drops of blood fell from the corner of his mouth.