((This chapter is in the midst of being edited. Nothing here is completely final!))

The panicked whispers of the people in the tent slowly returned to Aelwen's ears. She took a deep breath, mint-scented air filling her lungs. Her eyes focused on her outstretched paw. She willed herself to make it a hand.

Before her very eyes, the claws shrunk back into fingernails, and red scales retreated back into peach skin. Aelwen smiled as tears slid down the slowly morphing cheeks of a dragon to those of a human.

Wings shriveled back into her spine. Her tail shrunk down as her body grew smaller and smaller, brown hair sprouting from her head and cascading down her scale-less back. Her legs changed shape, heels and knees lowering while her teeth flattened out, fangs reduced to the size of the rest. It wasn't painful at all, like the first time around, instead it felt natural, like sliding from one end of a room to another.

She lay on the rug covering the ground in a fetal position, tangled hair covering her tear-stained face and chest. She let out a long, happy sigh.

The room was filled with a tense silence. Gerel was the first to break it. By laughing.

Aelwen looked up, and gave a loud screech. She was naked. Among quite a few people.

Quickly, she took the edge of the rug and placed it over her.

"KOTUYA, STOP LOOKING RIGHT NOW!" both her and his mother cried at the same time. Kotuya's father put a hand over his son's eyes, while the males of the room turned their heads away in embarrassment.

Kera tossed Aelwen a blanket, which she quickly wrapped around herself. She attempted to stand up, but failed spectacularly and fell to the ground. Not again... she thought to herself with a resigned smile.

She had done it. Finally, she was back to her old self again. A flittering sense of joy and accomplishment filled her heart. Thank you, Auria.

The people cheered and clapped their hands. Kotuya's mother got up from her sitting position and walked over to Aelwen, bending down and whispering that she'd fetch her some clothes.

Aelwen nodded and blushed, subconsciously tucking her hair behind her ear. It was nice to have hair again. It needs a good brush though, that's for sure.

A few children ran up to her, asking her an assortment of questions.

"Did you see Auria!?" "What's she like?" "Was she a deer-y or a lady-y?" "Are you glad you're a human again?"

Aelwen laughed nervously. "Well... I... uh-"

"Let us give the girl her peace. She is very overwhelmed at the moment," Kotuya's father ordered.

Kera swiftly shooed the little ones away, causing them to run out of the tent in fits of giggles. The bulk of the crowd followed them, looking at Aelwen in amazement as they passed.

"The daughter of Liriel is among us now, and a follower of Auria, no less," one woman whispered. "I can hardly believe it."

"This could lead to many great things for us," said another. "She can lead Shifters around the world to understanding their true nature."

Kotuya's mother returned with clothes folded in her hands. She crouched before Aelwen, handing them to her.

"T-thank you," Alewen said gratefully. She brushed her hands over the cloth, lifting up the clothes to see their form more clearly.

It was a dress in the style of her kingdom, a sweeping gown intended for commoners, but pretty nonetheless. The white sleeves were decorated with frills on their mid-length edges, while a red skirt flowed gracefully from the bottom. A lace-up bodice decorated the chest.

"I assumed you would prefer a dress more akin to the ones you are used to, rather than one styled like ours," Kotuya's mother said, "It had originally been Kera's for when she would go out to explore the kingdom in disguise, but she's outgrown it."

Aelwen giggled under her breath at the thought of Deathsong wearing such an outfit.

"I really appreciate it," she said, "Thank you so much." She ran her fingers over the soft fabric and smiled. "Oh, forgive me, but may I ask your name?"

"Beveri," Kotuya's mother said, reaching out a hand. "And my husband's is Delku. Let me help you up. You must have quite a few questions for us."

Aelwen nodded. No kidding... she thought.

Beveri helped Aelwen to stand, which she did on thin, wobbling legs. She was first put into undergarments, and then the dress was slid above her head and around her arms, resting comfortably on her shoulders and hips. She looked nervously at Delku, but Beveri whispered to her that he was blind, hence the blindfold tied around his eyes. Kotuya's face was covered by a pillow.

Aelwen leaned on Beveri's arm as she stumbled over to the bed and sat on its edge. Kotuya took the pillow off, and looked at Aelwen. He didn't say anything, but rather nodded his head while raising an eyebrow and giving his sly grin. Aelwen blushed, and looked at his mother. She rolled her eyes.

"So...humans and dragons are all the same?" Aelwen asked Delku. "I-I've gotta say that was quite the surprise. How could such a thing be true?"

Delku gave a long sigh, scratching his thin black beard peppered with grey. "Yes, it is true. Every human is created with a dragon form, and every dragon with a human one. Two hundred years ago Shifters lived as such, freely changing forms whenever they pleased just as the people of this tribe do."

"You all can change whenever you want? On the spot?" Aelwen inquired, her interest peaked.

Delku smiled. "Indeed, and you can too now." He chuckled at Aelwen's surprised gasp. "You will be able to see it happen after we are done talking. It is a rule not to transform in this tent."

"Why not?"

He motioned his hand upwards. "This is the Historical Archive. The past of our tribe is detailed here, hence why this one is so big. It is a priceless artifact to us, and we want to be as careful as possible within it. Young Shifters can have... trouble when controlling fire breath. Thus we only allow human forms in here."

Aelwen felt herself strangely taken aback. These people had a whole culture centered around being able to shift between dragon and human. It felt so alien, and yet this was how her own ancestors had used to live.

"You said just about everyone used to live as human and dragon. What happened 200 years ago to change all that?" Aelwen wondered.

"Liriel," Kotuya suddenly said through closed teeth. Beveri shushed him. Kera grimaced as she leaned against the main tent pole.

"Mother...? H-how?" Aelwen looked from Kotuya to Delku in shock.

Delku slowly got up, resting on his wooden cane. He walked over to the painting just to the right of the entrance, his cane tapping in front of him. He motioned Aelwen to stand next to him. She followed with Beveri's help.

He placed his hand on the painted canvas, feeling the textured brushstrokes. His fingers passed over a legion of Shifters inhabiting a familiar city.

"That's the Capitol!" Aelwen exclaimed. "It looks a bit different, but that's the castle I used to live in!" She pointed to the huge building in the center.

Delku touched the shining spires of the grand castle, then moved up to a figure standing on one of its balconies. It was a brown haired woman dressed in turquoise with a silver tiara atop her head. Standing next to her was a man draped in maroon robes. A silver crown graced his brownish-black hair.

"The Queen and King of years past," Delku said. "They ruled the land well, and were loved by much of the kingdom. They were young and not experienced on the throne, but they still did their best to preserve peace in the country. The Queen, named Kaleign, was born to the royal family. She was a resolute and studious woman, who took her job very seriously. The King was from a farming village all the way on the other side of the land, and brought life and happiness to the kingdom, often performing for his wife and court. Auria had blessed them both, and as such looked upon the country with tidings of joy and bounty. Of course, there were still the average troubles a kingdom needed to deal with, such as crime and dealings with other nations, but these were fairly easily dealt with for the two lovers."

Delku led Aelwen and Beveri to the next picture in the series. It was of a teenage girl in a hooded purple cape, bright hair painted with gold foil spilling down her shoulders. Her eyes flashed yellow, her hand clasped around a large scythe inlaid with amethysts.

"However... one day, rumors began to spread about a young woman who could perform very strange feats of magic. They said she could cause people to change personality, to grow violent at her whim. Soon, she grew a cult-like following, and established her own church dedicated to the demon named Cainen. As her followers grew, so did her powers and her influence. She called herself the Grand Witch Liriel."

A chill ran down Aelwen's spine. Her breath hung on Delku's words.

They moved to the next picture. A turquoise dragon stood next to a maroon one, both breathing fire at the hooded girl with the scythe, who was using her weapon to spew violet flame back at them. Two massive armies fought below the rivals. Crimson paint had been splashed upon the canvas.

"At first, the Queen and King did not pay much attention to the Grand Witch. They thought she was just a simple cult leader. What they did not realize was that her cult had grown into a thriving religion. Sparks flew between the Shifters and the followers of the witch, until one day a breaking point was reached. It started with small fights, but soon escalated into a full blown war, which ended with the Grand Witch Liriel's army storming the capitol and taking over the castle. After a long and arduous fight, Queen Kaleign was defeated, and banished from the kingdom forever, along with what was left of her army... but not before her husband and only child were sacrificed to Cainen in front of her."

Aelwen was shaking now. She could hardly believe what she was hearing as the group moved to the next picture.

The turquoise dragon sat in darkness, surrounded by trees as her head hung low in despair. Many other dragons formed a circle around her, their flashing red eyes turned towards the viewer.

"Her sadness and hopelessness breaking her heart and mind to pieces, the banished Queen turned away from Auria and let her heart tip towards the side of darkness. She dipped into the power of souls, and discovered ways of using magic even while stuck in her dragon form and without the guidance of Auria. She could devour a human and trap their soul within her. With each soul she took, the stronger she became. Her loyal army followed her and stayed dragons as well, though they could not match her power. She hid, trained, and waited in secret, gobbling up the former members of her kingdom who foolishly wandered into her territory, all of whom she believed had betrayed her. Over the next 200 hundred years the Empress of Dragons waited for the perfect moment to exact her revenge. The magic of souls kept her cold heart beating far longer than it should have been."

The next painting was of Liriel lording over her new kingdom, a golden bear hovering over her.

"The Grand Witch Liriel indoctrinated all of her newly acquired subjects into her twisted religion, forcing them to stay human. She banned all mention of Auria as a Goddess, and forbid anyone to talk of the former Queen or the ability of humans to become dragons. Thus, the next few generations of Shifters were born, unaware of their heritage's great abilities. She promoted her most loyal followers to Great Witches, and tasked them with hunting down all dissenters."

A picture of a group of black-haired people with brown almond eyes was painted vividly on the tent canvas. A few dragons stood behind them, while some had the horns and wings of dragons, as if in mid-transformation.

"Despite her efforts, a small tribe was able to evade her witches. They were known as the Koana. Using portals enchanted into waterfalls, they could settle down in pockets of reality where none could find them. Thus, they stayed protected, and taught of Auria's blessings to each generation. With them settled most of the kingdom's fairies, as well as others the Koana secretly assisted and brought into their fold. Within this growing community, a spark of rebellion grew."

A long silver table was depicted next. A Koanan sat at the head, while many people of varying race and species lined the rest of it, which included a beautiful sphinx woman, and a pegasus stallion.

"This rebellion was lead by creatures of all kinds, and spearheaded by the Koana. It sought to take down Liriel's rule, and bring Auria's light back to the world. While it did make great strides in accomplishing its goals, it was brought down after being discovered by the Great Witch Cerubia. The members all wiped their memories of their involvement in the rebellion for fear Liriel would search their minds for information on the Koana. She did, but because of their great sacrifice, she found nothing. They dispersed, and are currently still out there in the world with new purposes they never would have fulfilled before."

Delku gave a sad sigh before moving on to the next painting, which was a portrait of a fully grown Liriel. Beside her stood a small child with flowing brown hair and solemn blue-green eyes.

"After hundreds of years of being kept alive by dark magics, Liriel took a husband, and with him had a child, whom she named... Aelwen."

Delku turned to the shocked Aelwen. He took off the blindfold, grey, sightless eyes covered in scars digging into hers.

"Little did Liriel know, Aelwen would be the one to liberate the kingdom from her grasp."

Aelwen collapsed to the ground, her breath haggard and face stained with tears.

"I don't understand," she said between sobs, "I was living with a monster my whole life, how could I not see it!? How could I be the daughter of such a disgusting, horrid creature!? How could I be so blind... to everything?"

Kotuya bit his lip and turned his head away. Kera looked to the ground. Beveri crouched low and embraced the convulsing girl.

"The sins of your mother hold no burden over you now, Aelwen." Beveri kissed her forehead. "I am very sorry you had to hear this..."

"I know it's hard to believe. You barely know us, yet we are expecting you to trust us as we claim horrible things about your mother. You have my gratitude for listening to this story." Delku's eyebrows lowered in grief. "I, too, am sorry."

Aelwen pursed her lips. She became listless, and didn't respond when talked to. Beveri took her to a small guest tent, where she spent the night in a miserable stupor.

Her dreams whisked her back to her father being torn apart by wolves as her mother watched.

This time, it was Liriel who had ordered the wolves to attack. A wide, unsettling grin was set upon her face, like that of the waning moon.