“I am more than capable of completing my duties for my devotion to the people is greater than…” Mother began when she stumbled forward, wincing as a wave of pain caught her off guard.
“What if you can’t? What are we expected to do in the event of your failure? She questioned as everyone looked to my mother for answers, but she didn’t provide them with one.
“I will deal with that situation when I must.” my mother answered as her challenger continued to advance dragging the blade behind her as everyone watched her stunned into a state of inactivity. Even the guards were conflicted as she neared. They did not force her to drop the blade they simply watched her as she neared their leader. There was something haunting about her vivid blue eyes, something unsetting about the intention they concealed within their depths.
She raised the blade then pointed it at my mother’s chest as the guards stared at her unresponsively as if they temporarily forgotten their sworn duty to protect the royal family at the cost of their lives. A few of them bared their teeth with displeasure but they were otherwise frozen just like everyone else, waiting for the challenger’s next move. Dabu stepped forward as his anger slipped through his clinched teeth with a hiss.
“Oops that is not the proper way to return one’s blade. I would hate for it to cut you.” She stated as she flipped the blade over in her hands then presented the handle to my mother. My mother snatched it from her hands before turning away.
“Of course not your majesty” she said coolly but she did not bow as expected or even lower her ears or tail out of respect.
“I have had enough of this, lead the way home.” Mom said as the guards nodded then complied.
After we got home and all of the guards left to patrol the area and the Death Stalkers to get some rest after completing their mission, we were left alone. My mother striped off her robe as the servants prepared a tub to clean her wound. My mother’s ears drooped with exhaustion as she let herself fall onto all fours. She took a few steps forward wincing, her movement stiff and painful. She was no longer an unfeeling warrior but simply a creature in a great deal of pain for she had stripped away her ferocity and brevity leaving nothing more than my mother in need to help I could not provide. She was a warrior yet being a warrior simply meant donning a certain temperament in the presence of the public only to reveal flesh and bone in the privacy of one’s own house. Being a warrior is a temporary mindset that conceals the mortal fearful beings we all are. It is separate entity from who we are yet defines how others see us, like the royal robes I was forced to wear.
“Your majesty the tub has been filled. We are now ready to begin cleaning your wound.” the servant called.
“I am coming.” Mom said as I watched her drag herself toward the sound of the servant voice.
I followed hoping that by removing the dried blood that clung to my mother matted fur that I would realize that everything was going to be alright. I peeked around the corner as the servant pressed the steaming cloth to my mother’s leg as she pulled back her ears hissing through her teeth. The wound was deep and a large tuff of thick fur was missing. It was no longer bleeding yet it was swollen and it seemed off colored.
“I think it infected.” said the servant fearfully.
“Then disinfect it,” my mother growled as the servant pulled back her large ears, closing her eyes in despair.
“I don’t have the means to disinfect it. I don’t know what to do.” the servant stated as I turned away afraid of what to think. My ears dropped on their own accord as a mournful cry erupted from my jaws.
There was a chance I would lose my mother, there was a chance that she would die. I got up then ran to my room in an effort to escape from my mother, who would only ask me to state my fear aloud. All four of my feet moved in sync in an effortless manner as I darted into my room. Kiza veered out of my way as I leap onto my bed. I pressed my face into the soft material that muffled my cry.
I could not lose my mother when I had already lost my father. She was the only parent I had left. I may not be too close to her because of the nature of her work but I knew she cared. She may seem cold and see me as her successor but I knew she also saw me as her daughter. If she died there would be no one left, who is close enough to see me as anything other as the leader’s daughter. She was my mother and I could not bear lose her, to be left all alone.
Emerging from the Shadow of a Great Leader
A night has passed and my mom has come down with a fever. She has become too weak even to pretend to be in good health. The Death Stalkers have come though I fear the only purpose of their visit is to simply pay their last respects to their dying leader. All of the servants are tending to her and the guards are whispering their fears in the halls. I fear my mom’s health is declining and it is showing no signs of recovery. I fear soon I may truly be alone.
Kiza meowed as one of my mother’s servants entered. She told me that my mother wanted to speak with me and I feared she wished to cite her will. I climbed from my bed as the servant bowed before exiting. Kiza meowed sympathetically as I pat her on the head then walked slowly down the hall, afraid of what I might find.
I edged down the hall passing a group of Death Stalkers on my way. They were whispering near the corner. They had their backs to me as if they did not want to be seen. A high ranking female, named Merula seemed to be doing most of the speaking.
“I hate to state my fears aloud but what will become of the people if the leader dies? We need a leader at all times but I am not sure if a commoner can best a trained warrior. Syrugia is right about thinking about the future of our people but I think that the next leader needs to be one of us.” Merula suggested as her peers nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Kyzudo is next in line for the throne but she is merely a child. I fear you may be right Merula. We may have to abandon tradition.” one of the Death Stalkers reluctantly agreed when Dabu stepped forward.
“No Sanoka will pull through this. We must follow tradition for the sake of the people.” Dabu informed the others, not accepting the possibility of her mother’s death.
“Hopefully you are right,” a Death Stalker agreed as I continued down the hall to my mother’s room.
I entered as the servant, standing over her, bowed then left us alone. I edged around the large bed peering at the mound of covers piled on top of my mother’s still body.
“Mom,” I called when Mother’s hand firmly grasped my upper arm.
“I need for you to promise to me that you will take my place if I am unable to lead the people, if I die.” she told me as I pulled my arm free from her grasp.
“You are not going to die.” I told her angrily though I could feel hot tears gathering in my eyes.
“I don’t know about that but I am going to die one day and when that day comes I need to know that you will take my place as leader.” she explained as I backed away, hoping to hide within the shadows stashed secretly away in the corners.
“But I can’t, I am not like you.” I told her when her eyes found me amongst the gloom.
“I know you can do it and you are the only one who should.” she assured me as I stepped forward knowing that I could not hide from her gaze.
“What about your brother?” I asked her as she scoffed at the idea as if it were ludicrous.
“He is a male. I am sure they will not take him seriously.” She reminded me when I thought of myself in comparison.
“He is a member of the Death Stalkers,” I reminded her as she nodded impatiently.
“I know that he is capable of taking on the responsibilities as leader but the public needs to accept him and after having a matriarchy for so many generations the change would be radical and would spark a civil war I am sure.” She explained as I continued to think of someone else, anyone else that could perform the duties expected of the leader.
“What about any one of our relatives?” I questioned.
“Their bloodline is too diluted for
the unanimous acceptance needed. No it needs to be you.” my mother confirmed as I backed away again.
“What if I fail?” I asked her but she did not give me a straight forward answer.
“You are the only legitimate leader. If the people are allowed to choose their own leader then they will become split which will spark a civil war. We heavily rely on each other to survive so such a division could harm our dwindling population.” Mom continued to explain.
“So if I fail our entire species could be in jeopardy?” I exclaimed fearfully.
“I am sorry but I need for you to try to lead them.” she instructed me as I allowed her to grasp onto my hand. She squeezed it weakly as I forced myself to look up into her eyes.
“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” I asked for confirmation as she smiled weakly.
“You need to be strong for the sake of your people so don’t show any sign of weakness or they won’t see you as their leader.” Mom continued to explain.
“Yeah that is all I need to do.” I agreed though my head still seemed to be spinning.
“I will be here as long as I can so ask me whatever you like.” She told me as I nodded before pulling myself free from her slacken grasp.
“Ok I would like to think about all of this alone.” I said then left the room, my mind clouded with the idea of taking my mother’s place. I wandered into the royal hall, stopping before the throne. My