Markov was born in Moscow in the late 1920's. His Mother had died of smallpox when he was only ten years old. He was taken away after her funeral by his father to the Chersky Range, in Siberia, in order to take his son's mind away from the grief of his mother's early death. They joined a small Shamanic group, living close to the Indigirka River where they lived mostly on fish, but managed to gather a scarce amount of vegetation during the Spring and Summer.
When Markov came of age, he travelled with his Father up into Peak Pobeda, also known as Victory Peak, to meditate and to become one with their ancestors. Here, Markov was told about The ProphecY and his part in it by the spirits. He was scared and excited at the same time. Then, one night, he was woken by the clicks and hisses from an unknown source. He had gone to investigate taking his wooden staff with him, and he followed the ghostly noises to a man-made cave with water reflections dancing all around the entrance. He looked over the entrance, and saw a large gleaming emerald with a triskelion carved into the centre. He called out down the tunnel and waited until four eerie figures entered the mouth of the cave. They varied in size, but they were all muscular and handsome in a way. The first thing Markov noticed were their webbed hands and feet, accompanied with the fish like slits in their sides. At closer observation, he saw that their skin was grey and scaly, glistening in the moonlight, along with their hair being unnaturally slicked back. They bared their teeth, which were thin and sharp, and they growled at him and he was mesmerised by their piercing turquoise eyes, staring at him.
The shortest one was hunched over slightly and walked a few steps towards Markov, who stepped back in fright. The thing laughed and seemed to be talking to the others, it clicked and whistled like a dolphin, yet hardly moved it's lips. The hunched over creature quirked his head for Markov to follow him after it had stepped back with the others to the entrance of the cave. Markov dared to follow them, but when he had blinked, they were gone. The only thing left was a pool of ice cold water. He glanced over, scanning the pool of water, to see them swimming away into the depths of the mysterious spring. He knelt down at the side to have a closer look. Then another creature came up to meet him. He fell back shocked, cowering onto the ground. The creature was female; she got up out of the water and walked towards him.
Markov gazed at this mysterious and beautiful being while rubbing his eyes. Is she real?!
"Yes I am, Markov."
"H-h-h-how do you know my name?! What a-and who are you?!" He stuttered, as he jerked back violently with fear onto a strange but carefully excavated wall.
"I'm just a rare, rich human."
"You're not human! Y-you have skin between your fingers and toes!"
"You really think I didn't already know that?" She had a soft motherly voice, which calmed Markov. She came over and knelt in front of him. He quivered, then calmed as she stroked his face and she slowly transformed. Her shoulder length blonde hair was no longer wet and slicked back. Her teeth were no longer armed. Her skin had returned to a normal colour and texture. Her hands and feet returned to their human form; Markov, again, couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"What are you?!"
"I am human, with an interesting side to me."
Markov remained silent as she stood up and brought him up with her. He was pressed close to her body as she looked deeply into his average brown eyes. Her eyes seemed to glisten in the reflection of the water. Turquoise? They can't be real!
