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Table of Contents: > Prologue > Chapter 1 A blue blur bolted towards the source of the screech. Driven with fervent desperation, Suki careened around desolate wooden shacks, patched and crumbling, but still called home by the Espialites. So engrossed in running she didn’t notice where she was until a rancid stench assaulted her nose. North camp. Dubbed Kutnoft by the Espialites. It had gained such a name because of the creatures that inhabited the area. The Rhylorgs. Kutnoft, or ‘Infested by evil’, was the entire northern camp on Kelmek, home Planet of the Espialites. A stomach turning mixture of blood and sweat hung thick in the air. Tears stung her eyes as she stumbled backward, revolted. Suki struggled to clear her mind as images of pointed, yellow teeth and rusty, iron shackles flashed before her. Another piercing shriek sliced through the air and freed Suki from her flashing prison of thought. Shaking her head she bolted forward. Darting around half of a crumbled wooden shack, aqua eyes expanding in horror as she tried to swallow a scream. Before her, in an open area, was a young Espialite cub. Merely a year younger than herself. Gashes ran rivers across his frail back, criss-crossed over jutting shoulder bones and thick crimson liquid pooled around four toed paws. Just standing there, the ghostly howls of the wind sent a shiver down her spine. With a shuddering breath, Suki staggered forward, stumbling over her own paws. As she approached she noticed thick, rusty iron shackles binding his feet together. “Turknok!!” Suki hissed. Iron shackles. The mark of a Rhylorg. Espialites were imprisoned by the Rhylorgs. Whether in life or death it was all the same. Unless someone gave you the death prayer, you would still be imprisoned. Even after death. The ultimate release. Crystalline tears caressed her cheeks as she surveyed the broken Espialite. Making no move to brush them away, she stepped closer to the body, raising one silky, yellow paw and placing it gently on his forehead. She prepared to do the death prayer. With one glance up at the red moon, Gonarg, she stated clearly and firmly “Ard ona sartha fra eld!” May your soul fly free Despite the danger that the Rhylorgs would return she had to perform the death prayer. Without it a dead being’s soul would never be set free and would remain in the body, forcing the being to become an un-dead. Without removing her paw she stared back up at Gonarg, it’s soft red glow soothing her. Tears still streaming down her face, she began howling a mournful tune to the moon. |
