#I don't have a tag for Chimeg

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#14 Clear

For FFxIvWrite2023 Characters: Chimeg Uyagir, Zo'ogai, Zo'tall Warnings: Dysfunctional family

It was so obvious, wasn’t it?

Yet she had clung to the hope that it wasn’t as it appeared. It was just a phase they needed to get over. After all they had both been thrust into such a big change in their lives. He just needed time to get used to it, and she’d be patient.

And Chimeg had been patient for many cycles. Endured the loneliness of whenever her supposed husband turned away from her at night, only knowing his back when she sought some kind of connection. Struggled to keep up the façade of a happy family, raising his son essentially on her own, as leaving the boy with his father had just resulted in displeasure from the man she thought she had feelings for. Comforted herself with the idea that things would change as their son grew older, perhaps he simply struggled with small children or was shy to get close to her as their first meeting to being married happened so fast.

Zo’tall was about to turn four when she began to doubt any change would ever occur, that perhaps her husband had untold feelings about her he did not share. Did he change his mind about them being together, and when, in that case? No, she wouldn’t lose faith that easily, Nhaama wouldn’t lead her into such a cruel fate as this.

She tested him. She sought the touch of another, as discreet as she could, having learned the ideals of this tribe that were they caught, they’d both be in for punishment. The man was not of Hydrae blood, married into the tribe just like her, which was all she cared about knowing of him.

Would he be jealous? If he truly loved her surely her announcement of being pregnant would incite some sort of feelings, which they could hopefully speak about, and make amends for her conspiring. Even if anger was what greeted her, she’d take it.

But Zo’ogai said not a word while the tribe congratulated them both on the family expansion. He’d just looked at her. Her husband and supposed love had nothing to say about her sin, even if they both knew the last time they shared an intimate touch was far before their son was born.

Even Zo’tall was more interested when his half sister was born. It left the mother lost and confused. She didn’t allow herself grief; she was too far gone into this life to turn around now, wasn’t she? But no longer did Chimeg try earning Zo’ogai’s attention, and no longer did she force their son to spend time with an uninterested father.

Then when her partner in crime sought her out with the suggestion of a second sin, she agreed, there was nothing left to lose. A final few moons when she suddenly saw their relationship for what it really was, unobstructed by her feeble hopes and dreams. He wasn’t even present upon the birth of her second son. It had been so obvious all these years, in his every action- or lack thereof. Why had he brought her here then? Did the time they spent together in her home, among the Uyagir mean so little? Clearly he had played her for whatever selfish gains he held.

And so she decided, it was better to take the risk starting anew, take the risk fleeing alone into the night. Yes, in the morning she’d take her children, grab what provision she could carry and leave. While all lay asleep, she cradled a baby boy, held her daughter tight by the hand and gazed down at her first born.

As time passed she had seen more and more of the boy’s father in his features. From the blue eyes, to the unruly hair, to the pinkish highlights. She saw the man who brought her so much pain so clear in the boy that she couldn’t bear the thought of bringing him with her. Lest she wanted to be constantly reminded of the face whom stolen so much of her life already.

Before the sun’s rays had illuminated the forest, she ran. In the hopes she could reclaim her life somewhere else. She did not care for the fate that awaited her now ex husband and abandoned child. Perhaps it was cruel, but for once in her life, Chimeg chose herself.