Its been so many years since there was peace among humans and beasts. Once the last animal witch was destroyed chaos erupted from beasts and man. It was almost like a barriers snapped in place stopping either from being able to understand eachothers needs. Within a matter of a decade it was nearly forgotten that we could even communicate. So after a few hundred years when my ancestors birthed my mother they didn't believe her when she said she could hear the forests troubles. Naturally people ostracized her and pushed her out of the family. When mom became of age she was given away to my fathers tribe. At the time his tribe was looking for a strong alliance to further the families. Because they were the weakest tribe at the time they had no issues taking the "scraps" my Grandfather was willing to give. While the Tiger Clan had no clue my mother was an outcast to the Kingdom of Earth. It was considered an honor to Papa when they gave the proposal to him. She was still a princess in birth right and name, so naturally it was believed to be fate at its finest. My siblings stared at me in amazed wonder as I told them the story of mamma and pappas love story. It was my favorite story as a child and now I proudly sat telling it to my 5 brothers and one sister. "Penny! Why was it considered fate?" Austin asked with his big brown eyes eagerly awaited my retelling. "Well Austin mom and dad had no idea of Grandfathers deceptive ideals when marriage was proposed. We never knew why mother was hidden from public, but Father was honored to be her chosen mate despite the politics. "Despite the deception mother was eager to leave Earth City as it was never kind to her so when she was packed up and brought to Tiger clan to meet Grandfather she dressed her absolute best and brought her gift to shock him. As Grandpa moved to greet Elspeth his internal subconscious awoke to greet him for the first time. Tango was reborn after the first handshake she gave. Mother had no clue as to why she felt the urge to say it but she greeted Grandfather with a bow then grabbed his outstretched hand with both of hers stating. "Thankyou Tiger clan for your acceptance of me. Now please awaken sir Tango to the world so he may introduce me to my betrothed and I may bask in the magnificence of what real family bonds provide" With that Grandpa immediately transformed into a huge White Tiger that was 12ft long nose to tail. He purred his surprise at the awakening blinking his icy blue eyes at her. She cupped the massive beasts chin in her hands and proceeded to embrace Tango saying "Welcome brother to this world. Stretch and show me my betrothed so you may meet your cub tonight. "Tango gave out a snickering yawn as a gaping young man stared in disbelief at the huge White Bengal. Ashton had no idea how to greet this magnificent cat or his betrothed. So he just stared as a huge paw nudged him to her. Ashton reached out and immediately felt this percussive pressure unlock, not unlike that of a key releasing a latch from place only it was in his head. "Hello, Ashton please allow me to meet Zeek with you. He is eager to show you his glorious coat" With that she grasped his hand and an electric shock stood both their hairs on end and in a blink of an eye Ashton was suddenly looking at Elspeth like she had shrunk and he could suddenly hear the world for the first time. Almost as if someone turned off the mute button and decided to let all the sound in. He could hear her and my father both saying "Welcome"

Ever since she could remember Elspeth was never allowed to sit with her family at dinner. She wasnt even allowed to be seen with them. They barely acknowledged me and only ever called on me if it was a benefit to them. Usually to do a reading for someone that wanted to use my seer ability.This was the only time I was ever allowed to 'dress my rank'. Nobody wanted to pay a seer if they were not ranked. It just meant they were weak and unreliable.As I pondered what I would be asked to read today I opened the back closet door and decided I would go with the dark blue hand me down gown my sister gave me. My dirty blond hair and crystal blue eyes matched it really well when I cleaned up. I hastily tugged my wavy hair into a neat bun. I added a fake pearl necklace and added a little blush and eyeliner. It wasnt much but as I looked myself over in the mirror I was satisfied with way I cleaned up.I grabbed my bag of reading supplies and left my meager apartment. I got into my beat up old truck and proceeded to head to my parents home. More like a bleeping palace actually. It was 30 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms with a sauna, hottub, pool, ballroom, reception room ,formal kitchen, and 5 seperate living apartments complete with there own kitchens and laundry additions. Not like it mattered though. There was an employee for everything that needed to be done so my "family" didnt ever have to lift a finger to take care of themselves. It disgusted me how little my family could do for themselves. Made me smile knowing I was nothing like them.It was cloudy outside, but still quite warm. It was perfect weather for me. It matched my personality perfectly. Despite my angst at pulling into my parents massive circular driveway I type in my guest keycode only for it to buzz at me angrily."Seriously guys! This is getting beyond OLD. Fucking stuck up snobs...." I look at the clock and see I am 2 minutes early. With a huge sigh I contemplate waiting till 2pm or buzzing the intercome for entry. As I decide to wait, I hear the speaker crackle alive and my fathers butler Boris comes on and asks"Elspeth may I help you?""I was summoned but am still early by 1 min so my guest code is invalid."I hear a buzz on the other end and the gate creaks to life as it rolls aside."No problem Ellie I got you."I loved Boris he always treated me with respect and didnt ever make me feel unwelcome. He knew I was only ever called here at the bidding of my parents. Usually mother since she one who demanded I work for my apartment. Ironic since while yes it was given to me I was also required to pay them rent. That rent was to be at there beck and call any time they decided. Along with 50% of my earnings from anything I do. It was distastefull.I pulled up to the front next to the budding rosebushes which greeted me warmly. I had a wonderful relationship with plants. I could make anything grow. Even dead I could spring something back so long there was even a small root with life left. Even dirt and minerals welcomed me. I could feel the humm and buzz of the granite and marble as it said hello. The house always loved having me ironic since the people didnt.As I walked up to the servants entrance my mother opened the door with a judgmental glare. "You're early" not an accusation just a heavily English accent full of her snooty demeanor. "I said 2pm I expect you to be on time not early. I have guests and important duties to attend to and you cant be here when ceetain people are here. It looks increadibly bad to have..."With a dismissive gesture to an outfit she bought my younger sister just last month and raved its beauty to the village "You show up dressed in rags trying to pass it off as wealth" she scoffed."Now get inside, because of your insolence we are now late!"Mother ushered me down the hall to a dressing chamber full of luxurious gowns with maids waiting to be told what to do."Mary, Kate I want you to make this woman look like she belongs in this family. Get rid of the baggy eyes, make her hair into a partial updo, and dress her in something Blue. Wait..." She lifts up an emerald green and a purple swatch of silk to my face. "Kate?""Madam the purple while eloquent does not match her pale skin tone. The green would be best out of those. If you want her to seem regal this would look best." She pulls out a scarlet swatch that made my skin glow when lifted to it."Absolutely as usual you have an amazing way with colors" my mother says gleefully. "Alright ladies you have 1 hour to fix this catastrophe for me. When you are done bring her to the formal ballroom for introductions."I am flabbergasted as the ladies take to wash and primp me to my mothers liking. After dressing me and preparing makeup and hair I was ushered to the ballroom. Boris winked at me and opened the door to announce me. "Miss Elspeth Covington welcome to your engagement announcement!" With understanding sorrow he walks me in to my parents who smile warmly at me.Fuck me..

In the begining we all start fresh. Nobody knows how our stories come to be. We all have a blank canvas not unlike that of fresh fallen snow skiiers itch to leave there mark on down a mountain side. Our started so many millenia ago I have since forgotten if it was God or myself who came first. I just know that this heart beat awakening is different. I dont know why but this time my birth is not the same monotonous cycle of love living and death. I feel the change as I am impregnated into this fertile egg and am eager to see what awates this body to be. Am I a man? Woman? Will I be wealthy or poor? Hopefully my forefather has decided this is my last cycle of torture for after the many deaths and rebirths I am eager to join my family again and perhaps I can join my rightful place protecting the Webb family again. My last thousand heart awakenings were dull and uneventfull. My body was of no special quality and having experienced all manners of torturous deaths I still always seem to come back to this same pool of souls to be sucked back to Earth into a mother who is entirelly too young to be a real parent. I have yet to grasp the why my mother is always 14 during conception and dies at birth. Every Webb daughter from the dawn of my existence has always died horribly in childbirth with me. So while I am being awakened with this new bodys first heartbeat I am also reliving my last life as always in a vain attempt to try and change something I never know what is. This time though I can feel something else with me. Whatever it is I know its angelic in nature. The harmonizing buzz my soul feels is starting to burst through my vision replaysso I cant focus on them anymore. orsee them."Hello?"Wait I heard that, but how"Why are you ignoring me?"the pressured question is bursting in my universe"RUDE!""I dont know how or why my mind is speaking at my hearts awakening so please stop yelling and tell me what you are"I feel the smug being laugh and poke my mental self "I am your gift in this new life Avery, you may not remember we were meant to be in the begining but I am here and you WILL not lose me this time as you are now bound by the laws of life. A million deaths to reincarnate with your spirit animal. I eagerily await your birth and we will be named on your golden birthday. Sleep now Avery. The Webb family is blessed by the gods today....."As I see flashes and hear thrumming I know that this awakening is mere seconds away from me starting a new life that will be immensly different then the last horrendous life I led.....I open my eyes in this starnge room of bright lights and immediatly wince wondering what that weird dream was. I lift my hand up to rub my bleary eyes only to realise I have no control over my body. As I open my mouth to shout for help I hear the screams of a baby and wonder where its coming from. "Shhh shhh shh shh shh I got you little one. Momma is here."As I blink I look up at the child who is also my mother and am perplexed. she is supposed to be dead. Wait I am not supposed to be awake yet. How did this happen!