The Cadets

The air was damp with fog tonight, making it simple for Uroko to sneak back in the school. He could see the bathroom window was just like he left it, barely open, and the light off. Climbing over the ledge, he quietly scaled down to the window. He latched the window shut a few seconds later and smirked as he watched the aura of a guard float by outside. Uroko took the hidden case off the wall above the last stall and changed back into his pajamas. It was extremely late, but he was still too pumped from the flying to fall asleep, or at least he thought he was.

Uroko would sneak out at night to enjoy the one thing that a very small number of people in the world could enjoy, flying. He knew of only three very strong psychics that could levitate themselves and a boy in Romania born with feathered wings. Even during training he never had the room he wanted for flying, so he broke the rules occasionally. Thankfully, since it was such a unique power, the Academy didn’t have sensors in place to spot him when he took off and landed.

He snuck over to his bed and noticed it was just after 3:00 A.M. Uroko cursed himself for staying out so late, knowing he had to be up in four hours. As he lay down he felt like someone was watching him. In a dark room with forty-nine other beds and no light on it made it hard to see if he was just being paranoid. Still reeling from the excitement he figured he’d never get to sleep, but as soon as his head rested on his pillow he was asleep.

He woke with the instinct to protect himself. His scaled wings burst out of nowhere through his shirt, the dark green scales rising from under his skin looking as if they were flowing over his full body. As they covered his left forearm they jutted out to form a large round shield, protecting him from his attacker, while they formed a fearsome set of claws on his right hand. Without his eyes being the slightest bit open he swiped his claw and struck the enemy. As soon as he heard the loud squeal his eyes burst open.

Gael was sprawled on the floor, her arm bleeding from where she managed to block Uroko’s attack. Niht, her brother, knelt by her side making sure she was okay. The other Cadets were gasping and whispering to each other, not sure what to do. It took Uroko a moment to process everything before he jumped off the bed to make sure his friend was alright.

“Oh man! Gael, are you okay? I swear I didn’t…I…oh god I’m sorry!” He didn’t know what to say or if she’d forgive him. He kept expecting to get punched in the face by her twin brother.

Niht looked up “She’s okay, are you?” He was staring at Uroko, along with everyone else. Even Gael’s eyes had a shocked look, not of fear, but of worry. Uroko looked from Niht to Gael and finally noticed he couldn’t stop shaking. That’s when he remembered the fear from his dream. Gael placed her hand on his. He wished it could have been one of those moments like in the movies where the girl’s touch comforted the fear. Sadly, it did nothing to calm him. Uroko launched for the bathroom, locking the door.

He stared in the mirror, hands on the sink. He couldn’t feel it happening but was sure this must have been why everyone was shocked. The scales kept coming in and out of his skin without his control. He couldn’t stop it, he couldn’t make them come out where he wanted, and he’d never had this many scales before. The same thing happened eight years ago, but that was when his power first showed. He was six years old and there wasn’t much he could control then, but he had learned and should have been able to control it now.

Not thinking, and shocked at the sudden appearance in the mirror behind him, Uroko turned and unleash several punches and kicked before he realized who he almost hurt. Thankfully, the water flowed around and under his quick assault.

“Woah, chill out man! I just came in to see if you were okay.” Samuel’s human form took hold. He was six foot of lean muscle and boxing champ of the academy. He usually shaved his head, but was going for a braided look right now. He grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around himself, “I think we should take you to see Nurse Quartet.”

Uroko turned back to the sink, and ripped the shredded remains of his shirt off, taking in the full site of his chest. He couldn’t hide the fact that he was scared. Not only because his power was changing, but the dream was still fresh in his mind. “Sam, I’ve...yeah, let’s go.”

Samuel opened the door to see Niht and Gael waiting for them “Gael! Don’t worry, I’m here now. You don’t have to worry.” he said as he tried to hug her. Gael mumbled in her normal shy voice “I’m fine.” as she watched Uroko walk out. Of course, Niht quickly diverted Samuel’s hug with a punch to the arm. “Quit it Sam, this isn’t a good time.” Niht handed Samuel the clothing he’d left behind when he took his water form. He stepped back into the bathroom to get dressed before they left.

The hall was crowded by the other students wanting to get a look at what was happening, and they didn’t seem to want to move. Gael, pissed off by their idle curiosity, walked up to the kids who were blocking the way out and said in a calmly chilling voice “Move”. The sea of kids quickly parted as Gael led the way, with Uroko, Niht, and Samuel following.

The whispers in the crowd began to rise as Gael noticed the others weren’t following her anymore. She turned to see that Uroko’s scales were sliding in and out much faster than they had been. Uroko seemed to be in a state of shock. It was picking up momentum until it suddenly stopped, covering his whole body. Probably from the shock, Uroko lost consciousness. Samuel and Niht caught him, getting cut by the scales a little. Gael ran over and took Niht’s place as he, the faster of the two, ran for the nurses office. They laid him on the floor as one of the other kids broke through the crowd handing Samuel a pillow and blanket. “At least someone’s being helpful around here” he muttered. He placed the pillow under Uroko’s feet and covered him with the blanket.

Samuel noticed Gael’s arm was still bleeding. He ripped the bottom of his sleeve off and threw it on his shoulder. Leaning over Uroko, he placed his hand over Gael’s wound as it turned to water. The claw mark was much deeper than he realized, but he was not surprised that she hadn’t said anything. After he wiped down her wound he tied the torn sleeve around her arm, causing her to wince. Samuel smirked “We’ll get the nurse to take a look at you too.” Gael looked up at him “after she takes care of him.” Her eyes fell back on Uroko’s scaly face.

A few minutes later Gael rested Uroko’s head on the ground and fell into the trance. She walked over to the nearest wall, as the crowd watched in awe. Most of them had never seen the Song Twins’ Doorway. Her finger ran over the wall, a thin green glow followed it, outlining a large rectangle. Once she finished the outline a green vortex appeared with a snap where the wall had been seconds before.

Samuel stood up, lifting Uroko, and grabbed Gael’s hand. The light seemed to swallow him and Uroko as they stepped through the portal, followed by Gael. It was no different stepping through any door. One second they were in the hallway, the next they found themselves with their back against the wall beside an empty bed in the hospital wing. The doorway they had traveled through closed with a crackling hiss as soon as Gael stepped through. Samuel and Niht placed Uroko on the bed.

Nurse Quartet looked over the group, seeing Gael’s arm bandaged. She closed her eyes and began to hum. Before the others could blink, Nurse Quartet was now four identical people each humming a higher note. They all opened their eyes at the same time and immediately got to work. Two of them walked over to Uroko and began to examine him, one of them took Gael to clean her arm and bandage it properly, and the last took Niht and Samuel to the side to find out what happened.

Saba Tiv and the Shedding

The morning light shimmered through the canopy as Saba Tiv looked up at the flock of Kasliws going off for their daily hunts. She’d always wanted to work on the upper levels, to tend to the creatures of worship. But she had barely been able to get even the lowest of jobs after being tainted. That one blue feather had made her life more worthless than anyone else in the city.

Her and some other kids had been playing in the an old boat that day, trying to knock each other out. They had just gotten back to the dock, fighting to be the first out of the boat. It was the funnest day Saba Tiv could remember and would ever have again. She managed to wrestle her way on the boardwalk when the large feather landed on her. She was crying before it hit the water in front of her and her friends did not hesitate in running quickly to their homes to tell their parents. Even her sister ran, had she tried talking to Saba Tiv she too would have been tainted.

The shedding of the Kasliws is seen as getting rid of that which is not needed. The High Priests had told many stories of those that were cursed. They always ended in tragedy. Until it happened, Saba Tiv always thought they deserved it. But now she began to doubt. Most of the tainted left the village, some would turn to crimes and be sacrificed for the harvest, but Saba Tiv did what very few others tried. Though no one would speak to or about her, one day she just started cleaning. One of the rules her people followed was that if someone did something for you then you had to at the very least feed them.

It was something she’d only seen once in her lifetime. An old man would come by every once in a while just fixing things that were left broken outside of houses. He’d repair and leave them where they were found. The next day he’d come back and there would be scraps of food in their place. It wasn’t much, but the more she worked the better she ate.

Time passed by and she had a fairly nice place just outside of the city. Most of what decorated her abode was found floating under the giant trees, things that the villagers had lost or threw out. Everything was going the best it could, considering the circumstances, or they were until that day.

Saba Tiv was walking through the city that morning having already cleaned a few places and eaten a healthy breakfast. Her sister was walking down the path towards her. She wanted very much to turn and run away, and she almost did. Until she heard the loud crack of the board and saw her sister fall into the water. She dropped her supplies and ran as fast as she could.

Her sister was screaming for help trying to stay afloat, but she’d never learned to swim. Saba Tiv reached out as far as she could but her sister refused to acknowledge her presence, continuing to scream for help. By the time the nearest boat reached her she had already drowned, tainted the waters with death.

It had been a long time since anyone had died in the water, a long time since the last sacrifice was needed to appease the Goddess of the water. The village would not be allowed to catch their food until a sacrifice was made to the Moht Gruvt. The large fish slumbered under Dwour, the sacred tree, until it sensed death.

The guards of the High Priests came down and took Saba Tiv away. The best sacrifice for the village had always been an outcast. She did not fight it. She still accepted all the rules of her society and understood it was her place. And after watching her sister die she welcomed it. It must have devastated her parents to have one child tainted from the sky and one tainted from the water. If it did, they did not show it.

Guards did not escort the sacrifice unless there were no living relatives. Her mother and father, who had not looked at her since she was a child, held the large branches that symbolized the passage of the sacrifice. Without them, the boat would be attacked by the Moht Gruvt. They reached the platform at the base of Dwuor as the Moht Gruvt started to move.

Saba Tiv walked to the far edge of the platform ready to jump in. She could hear the low chanting from her parents and all the villagers. Her toes touched the water as she spread her arms ready to fall when the chanting stopped. Her eyes closed, Saba Tiv began reminiscing about the moment that changed her life, the moment that led her here. Then, the chanting stopped.

Saba Tiv leaned forward just as a loud screech pierced the air. The splash never came, instead there was wind surrounding her. Barely able to open her eyes she saw the village below her. Was this death? Was the Kasliw taking her soul to Qwoi, the land beyond the sky? Tons of questions like these filled her mind until she looked down and saw her parents fall into the thrashing waters below. Denied of it’s sacrifice, the Moht Gruvt would have starved the village had they not fallen in.

Just as she realized she was not dead, the large bird gently sat her down at the feet of the High Priests. They were just as shocked as she. The eldest Priest stood and told the long forgotten story of a many plucked by the Great Kasliw, chosen to ride beyond the Canopy. A tale that was only believed to be a myth even by the oldest. The elder raised his hand signalling everyone to wait for his return.

It seemed like forever. No one dared speak, not even the other High Priests, even though they had so many questions. But when the eldest returned holding an odd looking outfit no one knew what to say. The jacket, pants, and hat were all made from large blue feathers, like those that had tainted Saba Tiv. But she did not understand, not even the High Priests were suppose to touch these. The High Priest approached Saba Tiv, handing her the clothing “You will be the first since I was a child to ride above our world. There are many places out there, most likely even more since I last rode with the Kasliw.” Everyones eyes turned to the eldest High Priest in shock.

Saba Tiv stepped out before the High Priests once again, but this time adorned as the Kasliw’s Chosen. Just as she stepped before them a Kasliw landed beside her, equipped with some type of riding harness. As she studied it the eldest High Priest stepped up, placing a hand on the giant bird. “My old friend, it has been too long since we were last in each others company. I am glad that you have decided to redeem this child. I have watched her for many branches and she has never strayed from the role she was given. Guide her to the world, to where you need her help.”
With that the eldest told her how to mount the Kasliw and helped her up.

Before she could turn to thank them for everything giant bird lifted off soaring for the canopy, to the world beyond. Though she was over joyed by the thought of such an adventure, she was a bit sad to be leaving everyone behind. Until the final acts of the High Priests echoed through her head “Your whole family was removed from the life of Dwuor after you and your sister became tainted and your parents sacrificed. But now that you have been chosen by the Kasliw, you have earned the right to place your families branches upon the Great Tree once again. They shall be placed with the High Priests of the past so that all will remember this tale. And if you happen to return just as the eldest did, you will be placed as the first High Priestess in our lands. May Dwuor watch over you child.” The last words struck as the Kasliw broke past the canopy into the blinding light of Saba Tiv’s new life.


Image courtesy of http://www.jessevandijk.net/g_10_10.html

Cadets - (Pilot episode)

The air was damp with fog tonight, making it simple for Uroko to sneak back in the school. He could see the bathroom window was just like he left it, barely open, and the light off. Though he could use his powers to scale the wall without one of the guards feeling it, he had no problems climbing the two stories. He latched the window shut a few seconds later and smirked as he watched the aura of a guard float by outside. Silently, Uroko took the invisible case off the wall above the last stall and changed back into his pajamas. His nose twitched at the strong smell of his own sweat. He’d been through a lot of fighting tonight, but it was fun. A few of the other cadets had inquired about his sweating so much in his sleep. Eventually, he used the only excuse he had one too many times, and the counselor had gotten wind of it.

Sahlyana would start each session asking him to meditate on the nightmares, and then she would ask him to describe them the best he could. Uroko was quick thinking and would describe the fights he had with the criminals, adding in false descriptions and him losing instead of winning. He worked so well faking his emotions that often times even he almost believed them. But he was always worried that Sahlyana could tell he was lying. She was born with no eyes, but had the ability to see, hear, and feel a person’s emotions. This made her one of the best psychiatrists in the world. He was terrified the first time she summoned him, and this may have helped.

He made it back to his dorm room just after 5:00 A.M. with only two hours to sleep. As he lay down he felt like someone was watching him. In a dark room with hundreds of bed and no light on it made it hard to see if he was just being paranoid. Exhausted from the night’s rounds, he fell asleep as soon as he got under the covers.

He woke with the instinct to protect himself. His scaled wings burst out of nowhere through his shirt, the dark green scales rising from under his skin looking as if they were flowing over his full body. As they covered his left forearm they formed a large round shield on the top, protecting him from his attacker, while they form a fearsome set of claws on his right hand. Without his eyes being the slightest bit open he reached out and grabbed the enemy by the throat. As soon as he heard the loud squeal his eyes burst open, as did his grip.

Gael was sprawled on the floor, her hand at her throat, coughing and trying to breathe. Niht, her brother, knelt by her side making sure she was okay. Whispers from the other cadets were almost deafening. Uroko was trying to decide if he was more disturbed by what he had done or what he had dreamt. It took him a moment to process everything before he jumped off the bed to make sure his friend was alright.

“Oh man! Gael, are you okay? I swear I didn’t…I…oh god I’m sorry!” He didn’t know what to say or if she’d forgive him. He kept expecting to get punched in the face by her twin brother.

Niht looked up “She’s okay, are you?” He was staring at Uroko, along with everyone else. Even Gael’s eyes had a shocked look, not of fear, but of worry. Uroko looked from Niht to Gael and finally noticed he couldn’t stop shaking. That’s when he remembered the fear from his dream. Gael placed her hand on his. He wished it could have been one of those moments like in the movies where the girl’s touch comforted the fear. Sadly, it did nothing to calm him. Uroko launched for the bathroom, locking the door.

He stared in the mirror, hands on the sink. He actually feel it happening and was sure this must have been why everyone was shocked. The scales kept coming in and out of his skin without his control. He couldn’t stop it, he could make them come out where he wanted, and this was more scales than he’d ever used before. The same thing happened eight years ago, but that was when the power first showed. He was six years old and there wasn’t much he could control then, but he had learned to and should have been able to control it now.

Not thinking, and shocked at the sudden appearance in the mirror behind him, Uroko turned and unleash several punches and kicked before he realized who he almost hurt. Thankfully, the water flowed around and under his quick assault.

“Woah, chill out man! I just came in to see if you were okay.” Samuels human form took hold. He was six foot of lean muscle that could knock your lights out fast. He usually shaved his head, but was going for a braided look right now. He grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around him while walking over to unlock the door. “I think we should take you to see Nurse Quartet.”

Uroko nodded and ripped the shredded night shirt off that he’d been wearing. As he opened the door Samuel rushed passed him. “Gael! Don’t worry, I’m here now. You don’t have to worry.” he said as he tried to hug her. Gael squeaked in her normal shy voice “I’m fine.” as she watched Uroko walk out. Of course, Niht quickly diverted Samuel’s hug with a punch to the arm. “Quit it Sammy, this isn’t a good time.”

It didn’t take long for the team to take their squad positions which caused all the other cadets to move out of the way. Gael taking the front with her steady stride ready for anything, though she knew this was just an escort, but why not use it to do a bit of training. The rest of the team understood and took their positions as well. With Samuel and Niht on both sides of Uroko, just in case he needed any help. And it didn’t take long for the help to be needed as Uroko fainted shortly after.

Samuel and Niht caught him, getting cut by the scales a little. Gael ran over and took Niht’s place as he, the faster of the two, ran for the nurses office. About five minutes later Gael rested Uroko’s head on the ground and fell into the trance. She walked over to the nearest wall, causing the crowd to stare in awe because most of them had never seen the Song Twins’ Doorway. Her finger ran over the wall creating a glowing door shape. Samuel jumped up, carrying Uroko and held Gael’s hand. Light flashed inward as he stepped through the portal, followed by Gael. Within seconds they found themselves beside an empty bed in the hospital wing. The doorway they had traveled through such the air inward and closed with a hiss as the four identical nurses took Uroko into their care.

Pandora's Toy Box

The rain was coming down in cold stinging sheets. The stoops that were covered enough held shadowy figures and lots of smoke. The weather kept the druggies from bothering the boy without a name, with the exception of a few curses that were thrown his way. His rags were barely hanging on him as he wandered down the darkened street shivering. Splashes from the occasional car couldn’t make him any wetter.

He felt like he’d been slogging through the dark for hours. Yet he knew exactly where he was, until he looked at where the vacant lot should have been. There was now an abandoned building that looked older than any of the crack houses he avoided. But something about this place was inviting. The little boy felt it was as good a place as any to get out of the rain.

The place was as dilapidated inside as it looked from the outside. Broken out windows decorated the place along with the front door frame with rusty hinges. The was no telling where the door was. Layers of dust wafted around front room like it was too afraid to settle on any of the decaying furniture. Bookshelves lay crumpled on the floor, the rotted wood having given in to its own weight long ago.The little boy noticed tiny footprints in the dust making him realize he wasn’t the first intruder to stalk this horrid place recently.

Perplexed by the building and just glad to get out of the rain, the little boy didn’t even wonder how he could see so clearly in such a darkened place. He followed the footprints, that were just a little smaller than his, to what had been the kitchen. It was in such shambles that the boy couldn’t get inside. Part of the old icebox had rusted away causing it to fall in front of the door. All of the cabinets no longer hung on the wall, instead littering the floor. The top of the door frame had also fallen down.

The little footprints made a right down a short hallway that ran into the only door still hanging in the house. He passed by two rooms on both sides of the hallway. One looked to be a bathroom, but the ceiling had caved in and it was hard to tell. The other looked like a dining room that was probably connected to the kitchen. He followed the little feet inside.

Broken picture frames were strewn all around the room, no longer containing what ever it was they had lightened the room with. The dust was more settled in this room even though the large window to the right was broken away. The large table, still holding on with three legs, leaned a little. The boy imagined how such a large table could have held so much food, more food than he’d ever seen in his life. The chairs were laying on the floor, either having fallen backwards, sideways, or broken to pieces. He strolled over to the doorway to the kitchen but was also impeded from this side. With nothing to hold his interest, the boy left the room to explore further.

He stood in front of the door for a long time thinking it just didn’t belong. The footprints of the kid before him seemed to have gone through. Opening the door, he expected a loud creaking sound to claw at his ears, but the door opened as serenely as the door to the bakers shop, only without the mouth watering smell of breads.The stairs behind the door looked sturdier than the whole house. He started climbing them a bit confused by their cleanliness.

As he opened the door at the top of the stairs the bottom door closed. Afraid he was locked in, the boy raced down the stairs to open the bottom door. It was still unlocked, and opening it cause the top door to closed. That’s when he noticed a string attached to the bottom of the doors leading to a hole in the wall just under the bottom hinges. His little sigh of relief turned into another coughing fit. He fell against the wall on the bottom step coughing until he was too worn out to continue. Blood and spittle was spattered on the floor in front of him as he tried to catch his breath. His whole body was tired from the racking fit, so he decided to rest on the step for a while.

Some time later, the boy got to his feet and climbed the stairs again. As soon as he opened the door this time he saw a small figure dash into one of the rooms ahead. He walked, weakly, to the doorway where the foot prints lead. It was the most amazing bedroom he’d ever seen. A white, framed bed with lots of pink hanging from every side and above, sat in one of the far corners. Across from it was a extravagant white dresser with a huge mirror and lots of little things spread across the top of it. But the thing that caught his attention most of all was the large wooden box inlaid with gold, emeralds, and many other kinds of jewels.

Though he had been brought up on the street, he did manage to learn to read just a little. He knew all the letters, but had a hard time making out the first large word on the box “P-A-N-D-O-R-A-S” he tried to sound it out several times, but it sounded weird. The other words were much easier “Toy Box”. His eyes brightened at the thought of toys, something he had never had before.

He opened the lid and leaned inside to get a good look at all the toys. There was only darkness, a darkness that suddenly started sucking the air out of him. He couldn’t breath and he thrashed, barely able to move his arms. His hand grasped something fuzzy just before he fell to the floor and passed out.

Not sure how long he had been asleep, he opened his eyes to see a stuffed rabbit held hard against his chest as if he were trying to save it from something. He blinked a few times before he realized feet in front of his face. He leaned on one arm and looked up to see a little girl is a white gown.

She smiled softly “My name’s Pandora, what’s yours?”

He sighed and scrunched his nose. He hated every time someone asked him that. Sheepishly, he answered “I don’t have one.”

She looked at him quizzically “Well, we’ll just have to give you one!” She placed her hand on her chin, looking up as if thinking really hard. Her “Ah ha!” surprised him, causing him to back up against the toy box. She proclaimed “From now on, you’ll be called Joseph.” She smiled sweetly.

He didn’t know what to say, out of everyone who’d ever met him, no one ever bothered to give him a name. “I like it” he said with a smile.

Suddenly, the girls stature changed as did her voice. “Joseph, you have opened the box that damned this world at one time. Though, do not fear, you have actually helped it this night. I have decided it was time to give life another chance, and chosen to collect all that escaped my box long ago. Though there is one rule. From you I have taken something that would have killed you this night, and in return you chose something that you’ve always wanted.”

Joseph looked down at the stuffed rabbit, hugging it for fear she would take it back. He wasn’t sure of anything else she said, and it showed on his face.

She smiled softly, but looked much older than she had, though she hadn’t changed at all. “I have taken your sickness and along with it every piece of that sickness that was in this world. In order for you never to get sick again you must keep the rabbit within twelve cubits at all times.” As she said that, she showed him what a cubit was.

He nodded as his eyes started to get heavy. With a yawn, Joseph fell asleep hugging the rabbit.

Joseph awoke the next day in a nice warm bed. A knock at the door and the call of his name seemed strange. A lady in pink pants and a white shirt came in and sat down next to him checking his temperature. She caught sight of the little rabbit next to him “Did you have a visitor?” she exclaimed happily. He hugged it and nodded. She took the thermometer from his mouth and asked “Did you name it yet?”

He nodded as if resolute “His name is Pan!” and hugged it tighter than ever.

She smiled sweetly and touched the rabbit on the nose “Well it looks like you and Pan will get to go home today!” And with that, she was off.

As his mother led him down the hallway to leave the hospital, Joseph caught a glimpse of a familiar little girl in a doorway. Though he couldn’t quite place her, she sparked a feeling inside that he’d never forget. He whispered “thank you” as she waved good bye with a smile.