Chapter Text
Not long ago, Kumandra was a city at peace.
However long before that, when the city was still young, it was a completely different story.
If you managed to find a map today of the old city of Kumandra, you would notice the very shape of the city was like a rough sketch of a dragon. Because of this, when the city was broken into five sections they named their respected areas after the various parts of said dragon.
Talon, Fang, Heart, Spine and Tail.
Each of these sectors held the various families of Kumandra, each with their own unique culture and way of life. Instead of respecting their differences, the five sectors of Kumandra broke out in all out war. Said war nearly led to the complete destruction of their land, people and history. A leader from each section rose from the ashes of their past mistakes. Instead of fighting each other, they fought for peace between the five sectors. The leaders made a middle ground for them all to meet and work together once more. They labored and brought forth the building known as The Sisudatu, which would later in the present times become known as the Kumandra Community Center.
Over the years, the task of maintaining the Sisudatu was passed down from generation to generation. There were slip ups occasionally. There were times when Kumandra felt complete, as if there weren’t five sections at all and just one giant home for everyone. But there were spats and grudges that just wouldn’t die, and they simmered down throughout the timeline since Kumandra had first found peace. Threatening to surface once more.
Raya’s Father, Benja, had been the one to inherit the leader position of Heart; which he intended to run with honesty and good intentions. His people knew of his kindness, warmth and respect that he shared with not only his own but the people all over Kumandra. It was an obvious choice that he should lead them, wanting to put their best foot forward in an effort to do their part in doing good for Kumandra. Even as the five sectors struggled with their mistrust in one another.
When things were good, they were truly good.
Raya liked to remember the good, little things from before.
She remembered walking with her Father, hand in hand, every day after school to the Community Center. She remembered the place bustling with life, people coming and going from all over Kumandra city. She remembered the fresh smell of hot food from the Tail branch, the chatter of numbers and strategies in Talon, the adrenaline and sense of community from the athletic Fang hall, and the clatter of tools in Spine’s workshops. Passing them as they walked to her Father’s office in the Heart branch.
She remembered the thoughtful planning that went into the different programs at KCC to benefit the five sections of Kumandra. Helping their people strive and conquer the challenges of everyday life. Watching men and women and children alike lend a hand to anyone who so needed it. The fun times of sharing a meal together or the hosting of events that welcomed all. Decorating the halls, building homes, and even the simplest of spending time with people who felt lonely.
She remembered the dragon gem that was erected long ago in honor of Kumandra City coming together for the greater good, the peace that it held as it sat in the dead center of the Community Center’s garden for generations to come. There was happiness within its walls and there was a sense of belonging regardless of which section of Kumandra you were born into. Everyone was included here because that was what they had set out to do with the community center, to make people feel wanted. A sense of comradery and togetherness that could have lasted for years.
But, out of everything, Raya remembered Namaari the most.
Namaari of the Fang district.
Mrs. Virana’s daughter.
The rising star of her sector.
The kid everyone either wanted to befriend or become.
And once upon a time, Raya’s best friend.
They were a match made in heaven. Raya had the pleasure of calling her a friend for what both felt like a lifetime and a fleeting moment. Their parents were each a member of the Kumandra Community Council and each of them were expected to follow in their parents footsteps someday, which meant only a great deal to them for the sole reason that they’d get to be friends forever. Namaari liked the same things Raya liked. They both preferred being outside playing, or sparring moreso, than at boring meetings and expected formals where they were zipped and snapped and buttoned into tight, annoying and otherwise frilly outfits that were far too nice to have any real kind of fun in.
They played sports and games and other challenges to best each other at, collecting a number of bruises and scrapes like they were trophies and had their parents wondering how on earth they survived to the ages they were at the time with all their dangerous antics. They lived in a pretend world where Dragons flew free around them and that the two of them were warrior princesses that would conquer the skies and fly around the world to wherever they so liked and do whatever so pleased them, as long as it was with each other.
Regardless of what they had done or where they had been, the two always were seen hand in hand, smiling ear to ear around the Kumandra Community Center.
Namaari was Raya’s best friend.
With her, things were good.
Truly good.
And then they weren’t.