A mane of golden hair frames the face of this young woman whose tan skin and gold-green eyes create a sort of monochrome palette. The effects of sharp jawline and arching brows are softened by full, cupid's bow lips. Her eyes belie the innocence of her face; they are eyes that have seen the world and found it wanting. She's average of height and lean of weight, but there's a strength in her litheness; something of the cat, rather than the bear or wolf. It's a body made for speed and agility rather than power and brute force. The unblemished, pure quality of her face is juxtaposed by inked designs along her neck and her hands.
Born tiny and early, like all of Piri's and Stad's children, it was expected that little Nava would fall to the same fate as most of her siblings — an early death. But it was soon clear that the little girl had spirit. She grew into a bright, strong child who was more interested in play fighting or watching the warriors train than in her either Stad's or Piri's duties. She was very young when Ibem brought home another "sibling" to the clan, and so she accepted Veks as her brother with no question at all. It was Ibem who she idolized, and it was no surprise when she began training to be a warrior.
While she was no stranger to loss, her world shattered when she was just 17. A hunting party was attacked by Reapers, killing her father and also her lover, a young man named Taigon. Seeking vengeance, Nava joined the reaper hunt that followed and split off from the group on her own. When she didn't return, it was assumed she'd been killed or taken by the Reapers.
Nava managed to kill one of the reapers, catching him by surprise, before three others gave chase. Finding herself caught between the reapers and the edge of a cliff, she jumped. Wounded already from her fight with the reapers, Nava was thrown against some rocks by the current of the river, knocking her unconscious. A group of nomadic traders, fishing on the river, pulled her out, cyanotic and not breathing. A healer among them managed to resuscitate her. Seeing her blade wound, the group loaded her into their wagon to escape a similar fate.
Nava's wounds were serious enough — a blade wound, broken ribs, a broken leg, head trauma — but she also developed pneumonia from the near drowning. It was weeks before she was well enough to even question who her rescuers were, months before she could even begin to take care of herself, a year before she had regained most of her strength. By that time, they were far, far from her home.
Nava thought she could perhaps make a life with them. She studied with the healer, Garek, to learn his trade, and she slept in his bed, despite not being in love with him. The others in the group treated Garik as some sort of god, but to them, she was some sort of Other, for having come back from the dead, in their eyes. When she had nightmares, calling out the names of her Coesbur family and friends, they were frightened, thinking she was communicating with the other side. She finally packed up her belongings, said her goodbyes, and began the long trek back to Coesbur.
| All Cats Are Grey |
Due to her travels, Nava is a little more tolerant of outsiders than many Trikru, at least when it comes to other Grounders. Her clan and village come first, of course, but she is happy enough to live and let live. |
| Curiouser & Curiouser |
Nava's got a curious mind that's likely to get her into trouble sometimes. She wants to know more about just about anything and everything. |
| Heart Upon My Sleeve |
She may be a warrior, but she's also the type to telegraph her feelings in her expressions. She may follow an order she doesn't like, but it'll be clear she doesn't like it. |
| Rendezvous with Death |
Being dead, even for a few minutes, changes a girl. She's not quite the impish teenager she was two years ago, and she has scars that can and can't be seen, along with some trepidation when it comes to cliffsides and rivers. |
"Timshel" by Mumford and Sons
Cold is the water. It freezes your already cold mind, already cold, cold mind, and death is at your doorstep, and it will steal your innocence, but it will not steal your substance.
"Long & Lost -" by Florence + The Machine
Is it too late to come on home? Are all those bridges now old stone? Is it too late to come on home? Can the city forgive, I hear its sad song…
"Can't Be Loved" by Elle King
It's dark and it's black and I can never get back to way I used to love. My heart it just ain't right, but I try with my might, but I just can't be loved…
