[complete] Event 1 Task 1

[Kagerus]

I hadn't been aware that my family would be in the crowd today, as the first event takes place - their presence causes my stomach to flip, and not because of the baby. My nutmeg eyes flash to Khaedrik, my brother, who has already spoken his fear: that he is nothing but shadows. And once, maybe that would have been my fear, too.

But my fear is different now. It lays just beneath the flesh on my barrel, a terror in the form of a baby - but no one knows that I am pregnant.

No one but Khaedrik.

I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing that if I lie right now, I will likely lose points for my team - and although I feel no allegiance to them despite the greek symbol we all share on our flanks, I recognize that this competition may have effects in the real world, too. Politically.

I grimace.

"My biggest fear is the child growing inside of me. I am scared of the death it heralds. I am scared that it will resent me for abandoning it... And I'm scared that it will grow up knowing only the darkness, and not the light, too."

Gods, help me.

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Word count: 200

Answer to question:
Annie Oakley is the princess of the west, and Target was the name of her TV horse.