"Wait... but what about the red mark? Wasn't I supposed to get branded?" Liana didn't take her eyes off the crescent at the bottom of the bath, and she could feel her heart pounding nervously in her ears.

Iris laughed as she crossed the room. "That's just a test to see how willing you are to commit to this. No, the actual symbol is with ink. We're not savages. " she pulled a stamp and pot of blood- red ink, pressing it tightly to Liana's forearm.

She let out a sigh of relief, glad that she didn't have to be branded, and looked at the bright red moon. "You little-" she wagged a finger at Iris. "That's cruel."

"It may be. But this next act will test your commitment as well," Iris led her over to the chair, and tied Liana's hair into a loose ponytail. "It's traditional for Bluebloods to have short hair. In the Blessed Lands, long hair is considered beautiful. But we chop off our hair to remind everyone that we don't play by their rules."

Liana anxiously fingered her long, icy locks, but she needed this. She wanted revenge for what the mainlanders had done to her. And she desperately wanted to become part of the Outcasts. And so she said, without another moment's hesitation,

"Do it."

Iris drew a knife from her belt and gathered her hair in one hand before glancing up to look at Liana's determined reflection in the mirror. She lifted the knife tentatively, then expertly sliced off the ponytail in one fell swoop. She held up the length of Liana's hair as she looked in the mirror. "This is what you used to be." she held it over the torch, until the remnants of Liana's time in the Blessed Lands burned away.

It was liberating, a literal weight off her shoulders. Liana fussed with her new bob, smiling. "The Blessed Lands just lost another girl."

Iris grinned. "That's the spirit. Let's go out to the mess area, dinner should almost be ready."

As they traveled back out of the room, Liana felt like a new woman. Xina stood by the front of the hall, blowing into a conch horn as everyone seated themselves on the picnic blankets. Liana sat by Iris, Travis, and the Forseer she had seen earlier- Taylor, who looked slightly anxious to join them but smiled as Liana called him over to their spot.

"As you know," Queen Xina's voice rang out, demanding attention. "We have a new member joining our ranks among the armada. Liana Kade!"

A chorus of cheers rose as she stood, embarrassed and flushed, and looked around once again into the crowd.

"Liana! Liana!"

"She's creeepy!"

"Meh, Iris is better looking."

"Come on, man! She's cute!"

"Okay, shut up!" Xina ordered. "Seriously, show some respect." She glared at a the section of tables that had catcalled. "Workers, please bring in the meals!"

A couple people rushed up and disappeared inside the building. Liana leaned closer to Iris, whispering, "Are those the people in the workfields?"

Iris nodded, flicking her auburn ponytail.

Liana drew herself back. "Isn't that like slavery?"

Taylor chuckled, overhearing their conversation. "God, no. We don't force them to work. If they want to try for warrior position, they can. But if they're in the workfields, they don't have to train, or hunt, or do any of the hard tasks." his gaze shifted to a young girl, who skipped over to their table, bringing plates of cooked fish and huckleberries. As he spoke, Iris tensed, but Liana saw her shoulders relax as she realized Taylor wasn't as creepy as she thought.

"Another thing," Liana said after she had thanked the girl for the food. "How are there kids here? Aren't newbies brung once they turn eighteen?"

"Some kids are born on this Island, like me," Taylor explained. "Others are brought in." he looked down at his plate. "Ugh, this again? Carson told me he had caught a deer!"

"Carson's a liar," Iris said, digging into her fish. "You should know by now."

It was nice to see Iris opening up to Taylor, especially after what she had said about Forseers. Liana picked at her berries, imagining the luxurious food of the Blessed Lands. It was all so unfair, how they treated the Outcasts.

"Earth to Liana!" Travis waved his hand in front of her face. "You in there?"

Liana blinked a couple of times and ignored the redness in her face. "Sorry, I was just-"

"Thinking about how stupid Dave looks right now," Iris said, pointing behind her.

Liana rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. She quickly changed the subject. "When does training start?"

"Better get your sleep," Taylor grinned at her. "It starts first thing in the morning!"

 I would like to thank each and every one of you  for taking the time to read, vote, and comment- your support is greatly appreciated.