The Witch of the Wastes

[Reynard the Wanderer]

Elika never knew her mother, nor her father. She was the only survivor, the only child left from a tiny village on the outskirts of the Land of Wind. The shinobi team that came to defend it happened upon the town too late to save the people, but fought back the opposing force that had taken the land. To make amends the head medical shinobi on the squad took the child as his own. When they reached Sunagakure, the Kazekage had different plans. No one would notice if such a child were used to hold the demon he'd captured to save his land. In hopes to use her as both a shield and sword for his people, he implanted Shukakku, the one tailed demon, inside Elika. The Kazekage did not last long in his position, leaving the fracturing village of the Sands to wander. No one knows what became of this Kazekage, but in a time so turbulent as it was, not one paid attention to one of the plethora of Kage to take the seat.

She grew up aware of the beast inside her, never allowed to slumber for fear that the demon might use her body to destroy the burgeoning village. The gourd of sand she carried upon her back marked her as she walked through the streets; the people always turning away from the witch, mumbling about her nature. No citizen dared to make eye contact with her, the volatile of the nine beasts. She sits each day upon the gates of Sunagakure, watching out over the open desert. She never takes her eye of the land, the eternal guardian that watches her wastes. She dreams that someday she'll be able to protect them, healing their wounds. The shield of sand against all invading forces.