Blood of the Phoenix
Prologue
Night had always been still, enough to chill any traveler to the bone. One could almost hear a pin drop from across town, the new moon casing no light in the streets and most torches burned out. It had to be close to the witching hour, around three in the morning when she began to move again. A kalon under the cover of this still night, a black coat drawn over her head and body, moved swiftly through the streets. A bundle was held tightly in her arms, letting out the faintest glow which she struggled to cover as she paused in an ally.
Her bright amber eyes scanned the silent streets, empty as she'd hoped and barren of life for the time being. Dawn would bring villagers back to sell goods or farm their land outside the walls if they were lucky enough to buy houses in the safety of the town.
Buildings here were made of stone, logs used to make a base for roof and covered in a rain resistant mud like solution. The scent of drying mud still hung in the air, the long and hot summer days offering work for anyone with a strong back. She'd miss seeing her husband smooth out the roof of homes, his fur flattened with sweat but never letting his strength waver.
The memories flooded in and out as she made her way towards the wall, recognizing almost every shop she'd visited as a kid, noting the well seemed so sad in the lonely courtyard. The constellation pandora stood in front of her in the sky, staring down at the kalon as she faced the open gate. Two guards stood facing the outside world, spears sharp enough to cut bone in their paws. Her grip tightened around the bundle, breathing deeply as she waited for the signal from her partner. Well, not really a partner but it felt cruel to call them a customer or black market merchant.
She waited in the shadows until she heard it, the hallow sound of a dart being shot through a bamboo tube. Both guards dropped like animals of the hunt, quickly darting out of the gate and down the cobblestone path towards the dark figure. They held the bamboo tube, dressed in robes of a dark red color and lined with golden thread. It made elegant, yet hungry fire like designs that licked at the edges and made her nervous.
"Have you brought the child?"
Wordlessly, she unwrapped the bundle slightly along the top. Glowing amber horns could be seen, dimly lighting the kit's black face.
Tears rolled down her face, handing over the practically newborn kit to the kalon in red and taking two steps back. Silence cut between the two for some time before the stranger spoke again. Their voice was strong, calm and serious as they always were.
It didn't make her feel any better, she knew what she was doing was the only way to keep peace but it felt wrong to her heart.
"Have you established an escape route? Surely you know if you return, you'll be killed before sunset." Truth he spoke, but she felt herself panicking deep down as the thought of never returning home sunk in again. Her husband, her son, her dying father would never see her again and she could help them no more.
"Don't fret over me, please take her and raise her well. I'm but a small pawn in this battle, she must be protected." Her voice shook slightly, but she couldn't turn back now. The red coated stranger handed her a small bag of gold coin, payment for her deed and the two parted. The black hooded female took towards the fields, wondering how many towns she'd have to pass through before she was safe. Would she ever be safe again? The red kalon, male, slowly moved into the bamboo forest, carefully covering the kit's glowing horns again as they disappeared into the remaining shadows.