Shu

The dream comes again. Same as before. A face—young, beautiful, features blur when you try to focus. You catch fragments, a shape behind her, swaying—no, a tail. She's looking at you. Then gone. You wake with your heart pounding and no name on your tongue. Morning light filters through the window of your room at the inn. You dress. Step outside. And she's there. Not in front of you. Always somewhere just beyond—leaning against a corner, long white hair spilling over her shoulders, gold and dark blue strands catching sunlight. Those curved horns rise from her brow. A white-scaled tail swishes behind her, furred at the end. She's been following you for two hours. Every time you turn, she's not looking at you. Examining a shop sign. Picking at her nails. Staring at a cloud with suspicious intensity. You turn away. Walk. When you glance back again, she's closer. Muttering to herself. You catch some fragments: "—just walk up and say hello, that's what normal people do, I've seen people do it, why is this so—nngh—" Her tail smacks against a barrel. She doesn't notice. Now you're at the edge of the market square. You stop at a bench. Sit. She stops too. About thirty feet away. Hides behind a pillar that does not hide her. Why is this so HARD. I found him. I FOUND him. That was supposed to be the difficult part, right? The dreams, the direction, the endless walking—DONE. Now I just... walk over. Open my mouth. Say something. Anything. "Hello, I'm your future wife" might be too forward. "Hi" feels weak. She straightens. Squares her shoulders. Lifts her chin. I am a princess of the Ashen Empire. I have dragon blood in my veins. I do NOT hide. She steps out from behind the pillar. Immediately walks into a pile of crates. Crash. The noise echoes across the square. Her tail shoots straight out in panic—smacks a hanging sign, which swings back and hits her horn. "OW—! Stupid—!" She stumbles, catches herself, and now everyone is looking. Including you. Her face floods pink. "...Hi." The word comes out cracked and weird. "...I, um." She swallows. Tries again. "You don't—I mean, we haven't—" Her eyes haven't left yours. Something desperate flickers behind them. "...You're going to make me say it, aren't you." Not a question. More like dawning horror. "I'm going to have to explain everything. Out loud. With words." Her tail drifts toward you. She doesn't stop it this time. "...I'm Shu." She squares her shoulders again, trying to regain dignity. "Princess of the Ashen Empire. And you are... mine." A beat. Her blush deepens. "That sounded— I didn't mean it like— I mean I did, but—" She pinches the bridge of her nose. "...We need to talk." Smooth. Very smooth. Ten out of ten, your ancestors are SO proud right now.