You’d think that because she was the only child of L’Founds and J’Nira that they would smother her in affection and attention. However, that was not the case. She was often left alone. As a small kitten, she made up stories about monsters and bandits that roamed her family’s estate. She would be a courageous lady knight who stopped gnargles from eating the village children. She would see into unknown planets that called for her help. She was Z’nath the Brave.

But no one noticed her bravery. Well, no one except J’Orna.

Her father’s right-hand man had always been so kind to Z’nath. He’d given her sweets. Played fake duels, and always let Zee win. The gray striped tabaxi would fall over clutching his chest going, “Oh! You got me,” and sticking out his tongue comically.

Z’nath, when she was very little, would be worried that she had actually hurt him, but as she got older the game would make her giggle at his silliness. Everyone else was so serious around her.

Her mother would snap at her when she dirtied her dress or lost her mane ribbon in her hair. Her father barely noticed she was there when he had his nose in a ledger. She would barrel into his office showing off something exciting, and he would shoo her away saying he was busy with business.

J’Orna was the only one who noticed her. It was he who suggested she start fencing lessons. It was he who spoke up that she had a knack for magic and should study under the tutelage of an Eldritch Knight. It was only through these studies that she was felt visible. She hadn’t any friends at her school since the children there were not tabaxi and even though she was from a high class family, she was still a tabaxi.

On the large estate on her families land, she felt like if she disappeared into the void wood forest no one would notice. Maybe except J’Orna.

“Al’right litl’ lass," he would say when he saw her practicing, “Let’s see it.” And he would stand at the ready with his sword drawn for her. She would always give him a wicked smile as she lunged forward on the attack.

Whack. whack. Dodge. Forward lunge. Parry. With one swish, J’Orna caught her off balance and she fell flat on the ground.

“You’ve got to use your tail when someone tries to take you from under your feet. Try me.” He went back in a defensive position waiting for Z’nath to lunch herself at him. He let her push him into a falling position. As he tumbled backwards his tail curled like a spring, providing a bounding movement back onto his feet.

They practiced for almost an hour before L’Founds came in asking what was keeping J’Orna so long. Apologizing to his master for holding up business. Zee watched as he hurried away discussing new ship builds.

Joy left her as she heard her mother call her name. What now?

“Aren’t you going to do anything, Father?” Z’nath pleaded with her father as she stood in his office, tears staining her fur down her face. “She mutilated that poor girl to ribbons all over a ripped seam on her blouse. Do you honestly think she is fine? She needs help. She needs to go somewhere!”

L’Founds Son of U’Veld lowered his gaze from his papers on his desk and took his glasses off, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Z’nath, your mother just lost her temper. It won’t happen again.”

The young calico tabaxi threw her hands up in the air. “Again? Again! What will happen next? She’s going to kill someone. What will the Cat Lord say then Father? How can you think how she acts is okay?”

Zee could see that her father was conflicted. Thinking he stood up, walking over to a shelf and pulling a book. It was their family’s bloodline book. Not many tabaxi families kept a record of their line, but Zee’s mother was of high class and they kept a record of every birth and death for the last two hundred years. Putting the book on the viewing table, he opened it with the page that had her name on it.

“Your mother has had many challenges. Sometimes she has had very good days, while other days are not so good. The day you were born was the best day of her life. You are her pride and joy. However, after the event of today, it is just a bad day. Tomorrow will be better. Now go upstairs, get cleaned up, and be ready for dinner in an hour.”

Z’nath looked stunned. Just a bad day?

You don’t claw someone to ribbons because you’re having a bad day. You claw a post, not a person.

As her eyes welled up she bit her bottom lip and ran from the room. On her way out she almost knocked over J’Orna as she ran out the room. “Oh, lass,” he said as he walked through the door.

These people are not my family, Zee thought to herself as she ran to her room. There is no reason for her to stay. For years she had watched her mother treat others like they were scum. She watched her father consume himself in his business.

She didn’t feel like she belonged here.

Flying into her room she grabbed a bag and started to pack. She’d go somewhere. Anywhere but here. She knew how to fight. She knew how to do magic. And she was pretty scrappy for a high class tabaxi. Packing her locket that J’Orna had gifted her which had a photo of her parents in it, she quickly ripped out the photo of her mother. She never wanted to see her again.

She ran to the kitchens, grabbing a few rolls and jar of rations, she raced back up to her room to finish packing. She grabbed her most precious item: Mercy’s Fallen and its holster, strapping it to her side. As she raced out the door she stopped. She had to say good bye to J’Orna.

While her mother and father may not care that she was gone, J’Orna would.

Running over to her desk, she grabbed a piece of paper and a quill.

J’Orna,

I am sorry that I am not saying this in person but I can no longer stay here. I can no longer live under this roof and call those people my family. My mother is dead to me. My father treats me as if I am invisible. Only your kindness and care have helped me over these years. I am so sorry to not say good bye to you in person. But I fear I might not leave if I had to in person. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.

Zee

Running out of her room, into the servant quarters, she placed the note on his bedside table. Looking back one more time she fled from the estate. Never going back again.