Cassandra PendragonThe smell of decay wafted over the training grounds, blood spatters, seemingly black in the light of the illumination runes, and Roberts’s head defaced the shining wood of the platform. My eyes were stuck on the decomposing remains of our guards while they slowly turned into a tangled mass of liquified flesh and rotting bones. The cold was still spreading and I couldn’t move my legs anymore, my heartbeat had slowed down to a bare whisper and the smell made me dizzy. Fear grabbed me and turned into panic as I could feel less and less of my body. I could only move my head a little but I was still bound by the sight before me, my eyes glued to the disgusting aftermath of the fight. By all that’s holy, I didn’t want my last impressions to be the gruesome display before me, but than again, probably no one who had fallen in battle did. Through sheer willpower I made my body move, slightly, and turned towards my brother. His anxious face loomed over me and blood dripped f

Cassandra Pendragon1 hour earlierWe hurried over to the hole in the wall and peered down. Smoke, flames and Boseiju’s branches obscured our view but I could still discern a formation of dwarves enter the garden. It was an impressive sight, fire reflected on their armour and their voices carried over the cacophony all around. I couldn’t make out any details but I felt much better when I saw a streak of white light erupt from the second row and annihilate a shadow perched on a branch above. Unlikely knights but the shining armour part they had down to a T. Maybe we had a chance now?I could collect everyone I cared about and fly them down to the dwarfs. Before I had thought we would have to fight our way to the airships above and, if we would have been able to get there, flee the island. But now, maybe we could stay. If one or two of us remained behind and rallied the remaining royals and their guards we might even be able to coordinate with the dwarfs and clear the garden and palaces

Cassandra PendragonWe all rushed to Greta’s side and bombarded her with questions: “you’re awake, how can you be awake? Do you know what happened? Can you move?…” “Calm yourselves. I’m fine for the most part but still drained. Are we still in danger?” She croaked. Before anyone could answer I replied: “Yes, we are. We should get moving. Can you walk?” “With a little help I should be fine. Why the rush? What’s going on? All seems quiet.” “My husband and two soldiers are waiting for us in the courtyard. Let’s get there first before we start talking.” My mother interrupted. “We should hurry.” Greta didn’t insist but rose slowly to her feet. Ahri, who had picked two more blades from the wall while we had been talking, had to keep her steady but she could move. We didn’t waste any more time and headed to the courtyard. The others were back already. Mordred and my father were clad in mithril from head to toe. Mordred carried his longsword and my father had his sceptre in hand. All three

Cassandra PendragonI thought about what Xorlosh had said as I picked up Adam from where I had left him and walked over to the fox people, my people. I had to give them hope and reassure them that we were going to be okay. I plastered a smile on my face, rubbed my eyes one last time and strode on purposefully. They greeted me respectfully, even the wounded ones were trying to get up. I shook hands, hugged children and tried to encourage the down hearted, which were nearly all of them. I answered question and tried to project an air of confidence. “Yes, the garden is safe, every intruder down here has been killed. No, I don’t know exactly what’s happening on Boseiju, but we’re working on a way to get back and reclaim our home. Yes, the palaces have been attacked as well, but I can’t say for sure how each family fared. No, whatever happens we’ll not leave the missing children to fight for themselves…” on and on the bombardment of questions continued and I took the time to talk to every

Ahri AreteAbout 7 years agoIt was my twelfth birthday! Finally I’d be a full member of our family. Tonight, grandma would take me to the crystal cave where all the memories of our past had been stored and I would come to know our purpose and what part I would be allowed to play. It was one of our secrets, the Arete family was old, very old. We had migrated to this planet ages ago, the why and how weren’t common knowledge and I was curious to finally come to know the reasons.I had grown up in a small family of four, I had a little sister, Emilia and two amazing parents, Mathilda and Eugene. We were all rather slender kitsune with fluffy tails and brown eyes. My grandmother was really old with five tails, she even had some strands of grey in her white fur, a trait we all shared. The white fur, not the grey strands. We lived in a small colony consisting of seven families, 34 kitsune all in all. Our home was a small island somewhere in the north of the archipelago with harsh winters an