Beyond our group young children raced each other and wrestled playfully, rolling across the ground. Their eyes confirmed their carefree lifestyles. Their movements seem lively and wonderfully random without worry of the opinion of others, free of tedious planning. They were free to do whatever they wished. I wish I could be like them.
The large light in the center of the huge room came to life putting the smaller surrounding lights to shame. Everyone stopped, including us, to turn toward the central light. Everyone sat with their tails rose proudly as they began to chant the folksong like they have for generations.
We are the rulers of the night
Silent shadows that prowl across the land
Forging an existence just out of sight
Our society is lost from the sun’s reaching light
Instinctively feared yet unknown to man
We are the rulers of night
We are survivors preserved by our undying might
We stand having marked our place in the sand
Forging an existence just out of sight
We stand for what is right
Striving to stake our existence even though we have been banned
We are the rulers of night
We form a society that is sewn tight
Mirroring humanity technology whenever we can
Forging an existence just out of sight
We are the patrollers of the stars working for those who have fallen’s delight
We are plotting in the darkness waiting to overthrow humanity’s ruling hand
We are the rulers of the night
Forging an existence just out of sight
After the chant everyone bowed with their long ears plastered again their heads then continued do whatever they had been doing before, for this was a daily routine that is rarely broken.
“Um come on Lady Kyzudo.” said one of the guards as I nodded then followed them across the expansive room to a small side room where Maya students were waiting for her with pieces of technology stolen from the humans above ground. Everyone paused when we entered then dipped their heads and briefly lowered their ears in a causal bow before continuing with their work. I sat down as Maya glanced at me disapprovingly but I chose to ignore her. The guards spread themselves around the room for maximum coverage though many were soon distracted by the new technology that the Death Stalkers brought in for analysis.
“What is their function?” as one of the guards.
“We are not sure but they are pretty high tech. Some of them don’t even have buttons just this pressure sensitive screen.” Maya said holding up one of the devices when the device began to vibrate, causing Maya to drop it onto the table. Everyone gather to watch the device skitter across the flat surface causing the table to buzz.
“Maybe you upset its defense mechanism.” one suggested as I snuck out the room while everyone was distracted. I ran along the wall pausing in the shadows, where I took off my robe then continued on free of the restricting cloth.
I ran pass the large enclosure where plump pigeons, which bred for having useless stubby wings and meaty bodies, waddled about. They gathered together for safety though our main interest was in the eggs, they lay on a daily bases.
I continued on pass the rodents, which stood over four feet high and crowded together, their lack of a tail allowing them to cram in tight. Their large sensitive ears were raised as they listened for the deafening bark of the Rodent Herder, which is a large black dog with long fluffy fringes though it main attribute was its oddly shaped ears. The dog’s ears were small and rounded with only a slight point at the top, being covered in a thick layer of fur to protect its sensitive eardrums.
I hurried pass those hard at work commanding the dogs as I dashed into the corn field. Here the brick flooring was replaced with soft dirt where rows upon rows of corn grew. Above a thick copper wire ran along the ceiling glowing with such intensity that to stare at it would mean being briefly blinded followed by the attempt to blink away the afterimages, that last for quite some time. The thick wires were covered with a glass covering to protect the crops from the danger of fire or drying out.
I continued on until the large underground lake was in sight then I sat on the ground as I imagined the world above. My father had been a member of the Death Stalkers so he saw the land above and he told me all about. He said that above ground the sky is without an end and that there are bodies of water at race toward the horizon before falling out of sight. He told me that the corn plants remind him of trees, which he described as great pillars topped with branching expansion tipped with wide leaves that blotted out the sky. He said there was a ball of blinding light that hovers above the world, warming it in its radiance. I can’t imagine such a world but I want to see it one day despite the danger.
I sighed looking out across the still water pleased. My life was so structured that I rarely feel free to simply be, to wish of a future that is truly my own. Here I feel free to do whatever I please. Here I was not royalty, here I was not cast in my mother’s shadow. Here I was whatever I chose to be. Well at least until I am dragged back to my structured life.
I often come here to stare at the lake’s tranquil water for hours at a time. I stroll down the lane of corn imagining great trees in their place until the world my once father described is alive in my mind’s eye. I scooped handfuls of dirt then allowed it to slip through my fingers as time passed without remorse, my mind completely at rest.
I relished in the faint earthy scent of the soil. Each whiff contained a memory. The ground was like an archive of the past experiences. In the soil my father still lived because if I close my eyes I could still see him preserved forever within my memories.
His silver tail would dance among the crops as it swayed as if in remembrance of an enchanting song. A majority of his coat was a dazzling white and was soft to the touch. His eyes were a striking blue that held traces of green which he assured me was the same hue as the ocean.
He told me of the soft plants that blanketed the ground forming a sea of greenery that stretched on for miles, carefully trimmed to a unified height. He told me about large tuffs of fine fibers that drifted along the air currents being lighter than the surrounding air. They were fluffy and white like the fiber used to stuff cushions. He also use to go on for hours about the mysterious lights that appear in the sky at nightfall. He said they were called stars and that they make up the fabric of the heavens. He said that the dead are alive among the stars, just beyond the veil of darkness that forms the night sky.
I let the rich soil slip from my hands as I continued to look out across the large pond. I use to splash in its cooling waters with my father countless times in the past. I use to cast my robe aside before diving under its surface. I use to laugh as the water rose with a hard slap of my hand as my father shook himself off before flinging water towards me with his tail. It did not matter if it was a proper activity for one born into the ruling family. It did not matter that I could be doing something more suitable to prepare myself as the future ruler. It did not matter if I presented myself poorly because to my father I was simply me, I was simply Kyzudo.
“Lady Kyzudo you should not run off when there is danger about.” said one of the guards as I looked up seeing my guards rushing over to me. I got up turning toward them annoyed for I knew I would be forced to return to the palace.
“I know but you knew where I was so I don’t see much harm.” I explained when one of the guards stepped forward.
“If you like this place so much why don’t you simply let us take you here.” the guard continued as the other presented me with the robe I discarded.
“Because that would defeat the purpose of coming,” I said annoyed taking the robe.
“Do you need assistance Lady Kyzudo?” asked one of the guards as I struggled to locate the opening of the sleeves.
“I am not be my mother but I am not helpless.” I growled as the guard bowed,
muttering an apology into the loose soil.
“I am sorry just lead the way home.” I said touching the guard on the back with my fingertips.
“There is no need to apologize to the likes of me Lady Kyzudo.” the guard said looking up modestly.
“We can’t march in formation in the corn field, so Lady Kyzudo lead the way and we will follow you at a distance.” a guard said as I nodded.
“Don’t worry I know my way home.” I murmured to myself as the guards surrounded me.
The walk home was carried out in silence. It was such a common sight to those who collected pigeon eggs and commanded the dogs that I only received a slight bow of recognition. The guards were silent for this was more of a routine than an event.
Then suddenly I paused when I saw a Death Stalker, still in his uniform, racing toward me. The guards formed a wall with their bodies to protect me but the Death Stalker slowed calling to the guards. The Death Stalker stopped a few yards away bowing low as two of the guards went to check if he was caring any weapons. Only after the search was completed and every fold of his uniform was inspected, was he allowed to approach me.
“I am sorry to alarm you Lady Kyzudo but I came to inform you that your mother has been injured.” the Death Stalker said as I lowered my tail in horror.
“I need to check on her!” I exclaimed pulling the robe over my head.
“What are you doing Lady Kyzudo?” the Death Stalker asked for it was not proper for royalty to be