Cici did their best to remain under the radar. They weren’t great at it, which was why they weren’t living in a city and instead were travelling with a group of morally grey humans.

They were the kind of people that wouldn’t ask too many questions, which was what Cici needed. They needed a group that was going to just let them work for them without poking too deeply into their backstory.

Cici was pretty sure that they would not approve of it.

That was what their parents had told them, over and over, as they ran from one city to the next, one forest to the next, until Cici was left all on their own. No mother, no father, no parents.

Just Cici.

Thankfully, they had fully trained Cici so that they were able to get by in the world. Cici had the ability to tend to others, which came in handy when there was a stupid war going on.

The humans weren’t calling it that, but Cici was. So was any humanoid creature that would get caught up in the damn mess the humans had started. Cici didn’t choose to present like a humanoid because they wanted to.

They had no other choice.

Cici was just glad that the situation that had unfolded only a few days ago had happened to them, and not a different humanoid. Cici didn’t think the others were bad, per se, but the others that Cici had met weren’t exactly…good, either.

They would have seen the situation before Cici, and they would have jumped at the chance to get power. To get notoriety. All Cici saw was a lost child, a terrible situation, and an even more terrible future ahead of them.

Cici and their crew had wandered upon a scene from most people’s nightmares, but one that was, tragically, a more common scene in the last few weeks.

Bodies, mutilated and bloating, showing the age of their decay, strewn across a clearing. It looked like a rather vicious fight with neither side coming out victorious.

Their companions went to looting right away, which Cici didn’t criticize them for. How could they? Cici had done the same thing before. These were desperate times, and they called for desperate measures. The dead bodies wouldn’t need the items they had left on them that were salvageable.

Cici had done worse for less. Like when they had sold their own body for a safe place to rest. Cici was not above being called a freak, and used for another’s amusement if it meant that they were safe for one more night.

Which was why Cici was so surprised when they felt the tug of another magical being in the clearing. At first, it wasn’t obvious where it was coming from, and Cici was rather confused.

From what they could see, this was just a group of humans who had clashed and no one had been left the victor, but the more that Cici and the others poked, the more Cici realised that something far bigger was going on.

Their clothes were too nice. They had nice jewelry. Too nice.

That also got Cici’s companions’ guards up as well. Clothes this nice, with nice jewelry? That might mean that bigger fish were around, and they themselves could end up dead.

Cici didn’t ignore the pull though, and ended up finding something that made them wish that they hadn’t. Cici had gone even more pale then they already were, and felt like their heart was going to beat out of their chest.

Cici was lucky that they only travelled with humans, because this would have given them away to anyone else immediately.

Tucked behind some bushes, a short distance away from two dead humans, was a bag. It wasn’t a huge bag, just big enough to be a good side purse. Cici could probably fit five days worth of rations in the bag, and a few other things. It would be a good bag, especially since it was bound well, of good quality, and had a thick, nice strap.

That wasn’t what concerned Cici right away.

It was the heartbeat that Cici could feel from whatever was currently in the bag.

Cici glanced around, trying to see if the others had seen where they were, and thankfully they were all distracted. Looting dead bodies was a talent that one needed to focus on. You didn’t want to get…dead body on you.

Cici was thankful for that distraction because it meant that they could focus solely on the horrific discovery that was before them. Cici had a terrible, awful gut feeling. They wanted to open the bag, but at the same time, they knew that if they didn’t, they would be uninvolved.

The heartbeat in Cici’s ears, in their chest, made Cici unable to turn away.

Biting their lip, Cici knelt down, hands trembling as they reached for the item that they knew was going to change their future. Cici felt like it took eons for their hands to actually touch the leather. A shaky breath escaping their mouth as they did so.

It was warm. Another sign that something strange was going on here. Cici stared at the bag, unable to tell that there was something inside it. It wasn’t bulging, or shifting. There had to be a magic spell on the bag itself to hide what was in it.

A shiver ran down Cici’s spine, a shiver of warning. Don’t do it. Cici’s Mother’s voice told them. Leave the bag alone. What you don’t know can’t kill you. Cici didn’t want to live by their Mom’s words.

Their Mother was dead. Where had her words gotten her?

Cici’s trembling hand pressed against the bag, their touch more firm. Now they could tell that it was radiating heat. A normal bag wouldn’t have this property. Someone had done something to make sure that the bag never chilled. Cici’s mind focused on the rapid heartbeat inside of the bag and how it seemed to…race more when Cici touched the bag.

“H-Hello.” Cici said quietly, glancing around in worry to see if the others were around. “My name is Cici. I’m sure you are very scared. Don’t worry, little one. I won’t harm you.” Cici murmured, their hands clammy as they reached for the bag, picking it up into their hands. Cici almost dropped it, panic filling them before they were able to pull it over their neck and rest it on their shoulder.

It wasn’t a light bag. Whatever was in it was quite heavy. That was slightly disappointing. Cici was hoping that the bag would also be able to counter the weight of things inside. What was the point of having a bag like this if it couldn’t do that?

Then again, magic wasn’t perfect. That was something Cici had learned young.

“What did you find, Cici?” It was the leader of their group. They would obviously come over to check out the findings of their newest member, and to see if they could profit off of it. Cici, knowing this, turned to meet the human with a small smile.

“I found a nice bag. It feels good. Touch it.” Cici offered the bag up easily for the human to touch. He was a scrawny man, but Cici didn’t doubt for a second he would slit the throat of someone lesser. They had seen them do so.

Without hesitation he did so, rubbing his fingers along the leather and gave an appreciative nod.

“Similar in style to everything else we’ve found. Have you checked inside yet?” He asked and Cici shook their head.

“No. I was too entranced by the quality to do so.” Cici told him, not quite lying. He gave Cici a pitying look, a smirk touching his lips.

“Of course you would be. Well, I’m sure something like this was only carrying rations. If it’s anything like gold or money, pass it over.” Cici nodded easily. Cici had no need for currency, they did most of their trades in favours and skills. It was the humans who went into towns and drank. Cici never did.

“Of course, Lucas.” Cici said easily, meaning their words. Lucas smirked, patted Cici on the shoulder, and left them alone. Cici had to let out a shaky breath past their racing heart, unable to believe that he hadn’t asked to look at the bag more.

It was a damn miracle.

Maybe it was because they found a good haul that he wasn’t as concerned about what Cici had, or maybe they were going to try to check the bag later. When Cici was asleep. They had done it before, and Cici hadn’t minded then. That was then though.

This was now.

Cici needed to be damn careful. Hopefully there was some money inside the bag that they could take and trust that that was all of value in there.

Cici did not want to hand over the little one inside. They were too scared to even actually look inside. Cici’s gut feeling was telling them that something was going to be set in motion once Cici set eyes on the baby.

That’s what it was.

A baby.

What kind? Cici had no idea. They just knew that this one had been separated from their parents far too young. With humans all around, no less. Cici wasn’t an expert on kids, especially since they had no plans to have any, but they knew enough.

Babies like the one in the bag needed to be near magical beings. Like Cici, and the other secret humanoids. More likely they needed to be near their race. Cici knew that the creature inside of the bag couldn’t be like them. They didn’t feel the same tug.

They did feel a tug, but it felt more like…a distant relative? A cousin? It was hard to explain in a way that most would understand. All magical creatures were related in some way, which was how Cici knew that it was a magical creature.

Cici tightened their grip on the leather strap of the bag. They needed to keep moving, keep looking. It would be unlike Cici if they stopped at this. They needed to pilfer more. Find more. Or else they would draw too much attention and the rest of the group would think that they found something of value.

They had, but not in the same way that the others thought.

Cici forced their feet to move, turning to the bodies nearby. Hopefully they held something worthwhile.