Tatiana still hadn't become accustomed to what the Rift truly had to offer.  She had promised her mother she would return here, but the Rift had defied her expectations.  She had been raised in a land that was stark and cold.  The Rift was anything but, to say the very least.  Tatiana felt like she had adapted well to this strange place, but often felt the longing for a simpler life.  However the final promise to her dying mother bound her here; a vow was not something taken lightly.

She still struggled, on some days, with the circumstances that had brought her to this place.  Watching her family fall one by one had been the most difficult type of pain to withstand.  She had a theory that watching her family's suffering was what made it so easy to ignore her own.  Perhaps that's why she survived - she was better able to push away the pain that consumed her in favor of theirs.  She still wore the scars of her past - some invisible, some plain as day to anyone who crossed her path.  Her ribs were still visible beneath her iridescent coat.  Hips and shoulders made sharp angles where there should have been smooth curves.  Still, she knew the external signs of her past would heal long before those she held inside.  

She hadn't been to this particular part of the Rift before.  Clearly her parents had some attachment to this place - what other reason would her mother have for directing her back here?  However there had been no elaboration and Tatiana had done little in the way of exploring.  Her green eyes flickered over the strange landscape.  It was unlike anything she had seen, which was not a strange occurrence since she had settled here.

The bamboo here did not stand in even, neat rows as would be expected. Instead the stalks twisted and bent at strange angles.  They created endless mazes - some well lit, some dark from where the bamboo twisted into mangled tunnels.   There were strange gashes (from claws, perhaps?) in some of the stalks where a strange, sour smelling liquid seeped from them.  Tatiana couldn't bring herself to determine if this…ooze, for lack of a better word, held any medicinal benefits.  She had learned her lesson about some of the plant life in the Rift.  Even the most innocent looking flowers could sting like acid.  She, of all people, should know that. 

Regardless of its quirks, this looked like a promising place to find some space - some time to herself.  Even though she had spent much of her time alone, since coming here she had found that the Rift was a relative hive of activity, and keeping her guard up was proving to be exhausting. Maybe now she could finally find some much needed peace. 

And just like that the illusion of peace shattered. 
She rolled her eyes. 

Apparently, one of the things that her mother had failed to mention was that the reason that she had left the Rift in the first place was because she was some kind of Royalty.  Tatiana had never been raised as royalty.  The thought of even being royalty was so far beyond her imagination that she couldn't even fathom the idea.  But even though her little family lived like peasants in the snowy mountains, the Rift remembered.

Returning to the Rift meant that Tatiana inherited the title that she never knew she had.  And there was another perk, if you could possibly call it that.   Apparently, when you were the last of your family line - a royal family line - you are no longer trusted with your own survival, even though Tatiana had done a pretty damn good job to this point. 

It obviously wasn't enough to convince the powers that be.  Because Tatiana found herself saddled with a bodyguard.  It really was unfortunate that he was so damn attractive.  What a waste for the persistent pain in her ass.   To some extent she could understand that it was his job to follow her around, but he didn't have to push all her buttons.

"Oh yes. I forgot. I'm completely helpless!" she said, plastering a condescending smile on her face.  "Thank the Gods you're here now."

She took a few exaggerated steps forward and mischief lit up in her green eyes. "Oh but I'm just so…weak."  She wobbled, theatrically, falling dramatically to her haunches before she was sitting - literally - on the ground before him. "I just don't think I'll make it."

Then she swung her head around and leveled her gaze at him and the mischief was gone. 
There was just a challenge in her gaze.