Astrid thought about how she used to be.
How she had loved demi-humans so much that she called herself one.
How she would proudly tell everyone about her tails, about how they connected her to their world.
How she had looked at humans who hated demi-humans and wondered how anyone could be so cruel, so closed-minded, so wrong.
The stories of past conflicts between humans and demi-humans?
Ancient history. Irrelevant.
This was a new age. A peaceful age. Her mother was building a world where everyone could get along.
And Astrid had believed it.
With all her heart, she had believed it.
But now?
Now she saw the truth.
The demi-humans at that party—they had smiled at her.
They had praised her.
They had called her a blessing, a good omen, a bridge between worlds.
And she had believed them.
She had opened her heart to them.
And they had tried to kill her.
They had chased her through that forest, weapons raised, screaming for her blood.
