ALLETS
Saonj took a brush to her reddish-gold hair, but paused. It would all change, she thought. Almasta had already given her a hint that she was to be removed from council, either voluntarily or by deadly force. As for Roone...
The canine vamp sighed as she placed her brush back on the bed. What happened to Roone? She had always looked up to the elder leader, but all this time he had been secretly sending her fellow colleagues to their death. She knew that the musteline had what was coming to him. But at the price of Almasta gaining power? Fear would surely reign in Allets.
Saonj sat on her bed and stared blankly at the wooden planks over her windows. The founders of this community once believed that daylight was their common enemy. She wondered if there was a better line between day and night back then. Nowadays it all seemed like shades of grey.
"Saonj?"
She blinked at the whisper. She looked to her sister and bravely disguised her emotions with a grin. Saonj could tell that Espio was not used to red clothing. But that was the ritual for all those who were to attend Roone's final hour. Espio wanted to be by her sister's side, so even she could not escape custom.
"Its time."
The hallways were bare. The younger vamps were preparing for battle the following morning. Almasta's orders were to wipe out the vamp hunters when they arrive. Supposedly they would be looking for Roone's sick and dying, but they would only find Iwik's archers and Riau's warriors. Saonj was never violent, but she did not care if the hunters met their doom tomorrow.
The canine sisters entered the Chamber of the Dead. The medium sized room housed a hanging shed. And inside that shed, Saonj saw Roone's hazel eyes reflecting from within the shadow inside the rectangular peephole. The line-up to Roone was short, she thought. But then, vamps often do not witness the execution of traitors. Saonj joined the red clothed line and felt Espio's presence behind her.
"What will you say to him?" Saonj asked her sister.
"I'm not sure yet."
One by one, the vamps took their time in Roone's presence, asking him questions or getting something off their chest. A few screamed at him for his crimes, while some could only weep. Even as Saonj was next in line, she had no idea what to say to her former leader. And much to her disappointment, the vamp in front of her was barely with Roone for a minute. As that furre left, Roone spotted her. He looked ashamed.
"Saonj," he moaned.
"Why?" she asked him from below the peephole, "Why did you do it, Roone?"
"There was no hope for them," he replied. He was now avoiding eye contact with her and she was well aware of it, "The hunters would slaughter thousands of us if we didn't... if I didn't.... Times have changed, Saonj. Remember that. By the time you and Espio reach a century, your world will also change. Hopefully it will not change into something frightening as mine did. And I hope you live longer than one hundred twenty-six."
Saonj knew that she did not get much of an answer. She paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. Eventually Roone's eyes met hers and she became frightened. Almost by reflection, she saw the wars and devastation he witnessed. She saw the decline in racial tolerance... and she saw a brave guardian of Allets.
And that frightened her.
"Farewell Roone," she said cautiously. Without waiting for his reaction, Saonj turned and walked to the wall. She spotted Nemet's light green hair and approached him. Neither said anything. Given what Roone did, pacifist Nemet probably would not miss Roone's leadership either, but no doubt he dreads Almasta's oncoming reign.
Silently they watched as Espio moved in front of Roone. Saonj could not hear what Espio was saying, but after a moment, Roone broke down and bawled. Espio turned and left him there. As her sister approached, Saonj wondered what she said to him. She dared not ask at this time.
Espio was the last in line and just as Saonj anticipated, Almasta walked to the front of the small crowd. With one command with her hand, one of the soldiers walked up to the shed and activated a switch. A trapdoor, Saonj assumed. She had little experience with the Chamber of the Dead, but it was a logical assumption.
Sure enough, Roone's eyes disappeared below the peephole. Saonj swore she saw a flurry of greying blue hair descend. She head a groan and the canine winced. It was not an immediate death. It was probably how Almasta planned it.
"Where are you?" rasped the voice from inside the shed, "Dark Harvest, why aren't you here? Why..."
Only the sound of a swinging rope against a panel of wood could be heard. Saonj fought back tears as she watched two tiny feet sway inside the crack beneath the shed. She hated him, but she was sad nonetheless. Within moments, the crowd filtered out of the chamber. Saonj remained and she knew Nemet and Espio would stay with her.
"Who is Dark Harvest?" Nemet asked, "Was he a friend of Roone's?"
"I don't know," Saonj replied, shaking her head, "Do you, Espio?"
"I have to go," her sister replied. Espio started to walk out of the room, much to Saonj's amazement. She just assumed her sister would be at her side. Or maybe Roone's betrayal took a toll on her too.
"Where are you going?" Saonj asked her.
"I have to get ready."
"Why? Are you going to battle tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Just as shock entered Saonj's mind, Espio was gone. She felt Nemet's black paw on her shoulder, as if supporting her. The canine turned to her friend and placed her paw on his as if to thank him. Nemet gave her a weak grin and Saonj could just make out his light blue eyes.
"I have to go too," Nemet announced, "Since Almasta became leader, she made Iwik my superior. Like it or not, I'm fighting tomorrow too."
"Take care, Nemet," she said.
Saonj did not watch him walk out of the room. Curious, she thought. Normally she would have adored Nemet's attention on her, but all she could do was stare at the tiny feet inside the shed. She was unaware of how long she stared at them or why she would. She just wanted to.
It may have been hours before she left the Chamber of the Dead. She walked through the wooden corridors, wishing the recent events away. The canine did not want to return to her room alone tonight. She was not sure if she wanted company either. But she wanted something to distract her for just a little bit of time.
She made her way into the giant auditorium and stopped. There were hundreds of children sitting inside the large room. As one child noticed her, the ones beside him did a second after. More and more, children took notice of her presence until eventually the eyes of everyone in the room were staring at her.
"Why are you all here?" she asked them.
"We're here for Roone's story," one of them answered.
Saonj could not believe that hundreds of children would be so quiet. All of them were anticipating an answer. As the canine walked toward the stage, all of the children's heads followed her. When she reached the top, she had an answer and her much needed distraction.
"I'll be telling the story from now on," she said with a smirk, "Last time, we heard that Allets the Osprey was leading Ayem to the wind of the mountains..."
"Do you hear the wind? Do you hear the wind?" Allets called.
"I hear it, friend," Ayem answered, "It's music. Beautiful music just like you said."
The large grey cat drew a long grey staff and aimed it at the wind. The osprey flew down and perched itself on a cobblestone, watching. Ayem whispered a few words and the top of the staff glowed until a large orange sphere appeared. Allets wanted to cry with excitement! But he knew that he should keep silent and allow Ayem to finish.
"Notes of Ages," Ayem called, "I stand in you, younger than the tones you play. I am the ageless furre on your changing voices, swept by the fluid of dances. You are my blood and I am your body. Imagination remains."
In that moment, as the osprey watched, the music of the wind entered the staff. Ayem now had the power of that music and with it, he will be able to destroy many demons. He pulled the staff back alongside his chest and looked at the osprey.
"Where can I find the sleeping toad you mentioned?" he asked.
"Up the mountain! Up the mountain!"
Ayem laughed, "Which one? There are many mountains in here."
"The tallest! Kuisp is the tallest!"
"Lead the way, my friend."
Allets flew into the air and Ayem followed on foot. The mountain range was vast and it took them many days to cross. The two would never tire of each other's company. In fact, Ayem had decided that the osprey was one of his most trusted friends. It was a pleasant journey for them until they reached Mount Kuisp.
"There's something different!" Allets screeched, "I sense a change in the mountains!"
"I sense it too," Ayem said. He looked up the large mountain and spotted something large, shiny, and purple. It had six legs and it looked down at the two adventurers with disgust. Ayem knew who it was.
"That's Slen," he told the osprey, "Slen the giant beetle."
Saonj paused and looked down at her audience. Quite a few of them had dozed off while others yawned. At first she suspected that she was telling her story completely wrong, but then she realized that it was a long day for everyone. Much to the children's disappointment, she called it a night. As the children stood, they groaned and whimpered for more. Saonj merely laughed.
"There will be more tomorrow," she told them.
She watched them walk slowly out of the auditorium and smiled. How she wished she was a child again. She recalled back to when her sisters and herself ran along the fields of Canisland. Back then she knew of the troubles and horrible events in her world, but she also knew she had the adults to take care of it for her. Silently she wished adolescence never came. If it weren't for her, Espio would not be a vamp.
Saonj's ears twitched as she heard a sweet melody far off at the doorway to the large room. She never heard anything like it. It was not a windshell. In fact, it sounded like a type of flute. The song itself was so beautiful, she knew there was a master musician at the door.
"Who's there?" she asked.
Notes of ages, a man whispered, I stand in you, younger than the tones you play. I am the ageless furre on your changing voices, swept by the fluid of dances. You are my blood and I am your body. Imagination remains.
"Its time you went to bed, child," Saonj replied with a yawn, "The story will continue tomorrow, okay?"
The song continued. Saonj watched groggily at the door and spotted a grown orange-beige feline dancing into the entranceway. His light lavender hair whipped as he hopped. He twirled once and disappeared down the hall. Saonj yawned again and wondered if she imagined it all.