Suki chased around the small red hen that had escaped their traveling wagon. "Finally caught you! ya little jerk," she said to the hen and then put her back into the small wooden cage in the back of the wagon. She brushed strands of her black hair out of her bright blue eyes while she squinted up at the hot sun. "is it always this hot here?" she muttered under her breath.

"Not always, but most of the time." said her father as he walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "welcome to your mothers land, Suki. Welcome to Oasher." he said warmly.

Suki felt a warm joy in her heart. This was the nation and city her late mother had grown up in and this was going to be her new home too. Turning to her father she pleaded "Please let me explore a little? I know where we will be staying and I could meet you there when the sun meets the rooftops!" looking into her father's eyes she gently touched his arm as she begged.

After a second of silence, her father began to laugh. "Oh, how you remind me of your mother," he said with a sweet smile. "Alright, you may go. But be at the Oaken inn by the time the sun hits the rooftops!" he said. "Yes! thank you Papa!" she squeaked as she jumped up and down. Giving him a peck on the cheek she dashed off without a care in the world.

The large streets were lined with people of every kind. There were men and woman dressed in humble clothes, which were covered in thin layers of dirt. Then there were those dressed in fine silks, draped in jewels and followed by servants. There were soldiers that walked in pairs seeming to be keeping the peace in the land.

As Suki walked down the streets of this fair city she began to notice eyes fell upon her. was it because she was a new face?

Passing by, a small boy with his mother pointed up at Suki "Mother look at that girl's eyes! They are blue! have you ever seen eyes so strange?" the boy hollered in amazement. The boy's mother feeling embarrassed jerked him quickly away by the arm.

Suki stopped and watched as the boy and his mother walked away. "My eyes?" she muttered quietly. was that why she had gotten such stares?

looking around she observed many other people. Not one! Not one person she looked at had blue eyes. There were brown, green, and even golden eyes but not a single blue eye in sight. "they must be rare in this region" she shrugged and continued to walk down the street feeling good about her now unique eyes.

As Suki ventured further into the city she found herself in an odd place. The streets were less crowded and many of the people looked raged and dangerous. Feeling uneasy she turned to find her way back but she had caught the attention of an observant man.

"Are you lost miss?" a tall man asked with a smile.

quickly Suki replied "no." something did not sit right with her. This man was not genuinely concerned about her he was after something.

Suki tried to walk past him but again he stepped in front of her. "You have quite beautiful eyes. some might say unique," he said with a quick laugh as he looked at two other men closing in on her.

Stressing Suki went to run but the man grabbed her. "I'll catch a hefty price for you at the palace!" he sneered.

Suddenly the other to men grabbed onto her. She struggled with all her might but they were too strong. she tried to scream but one of them covered her mouth with a cloth. There was a strange smell and then she felt herself slipping from consciousness. she tried to fight but she couldn't and soon fell deep into a sleep.