Weldor Fortress
Kabatyr [town], Pur’tum [dwarf planet], Sel-3JJ [star system]
25 December; 07:49:23 Hours
Massive evergreen-like trees covered the surface of the dwarf planet, with very few mountains that managed to poke free of the canopies and into the skies. However, there was one mountain, Kaba which was known as the “Lone Goliath of the Emerald” that reached up to the heavens as it was the highest mountain on Pur’tum. The beauty of the green was nearly overshadowed by the continuous and thunderous singing of the numerous indigenous birds, like the haunting choir of fallen angels that echoed through the forests.
A small town sat near the peak of Kaba, as at its metaphorical center loomed a millennium-old war fortress that when constructed was a symbol of revolutionaries and even now remained so as it was the headquarters of the Shaomhav Quarter. Its stone and architecture displayed power and grace, with several courtyards that were filled with beautiful sculptures and gardens. Shaomhav had since converted its ballroom and one of the feast halls into two dojos that were used to train new recruits and their many Fangs.
“<What has he been doing?>” a man snapped just outside the massive double doors to the grand chamber, as two other men and Mya stood in front of him. “<He’s been in there for nearly three days!>”
“<He,” Mya softly answered as she was looking down to her right but then looked into the angry man’s eyes, “he’s meditating.>”
“<Meditating? He’s meditating? Are you serious? We have a storm brewing on Shaomhav’s horizon as we’re not only being blamed for the bombing on Welom but a brutal assassination on Haba! And, and the whispers of the Boundless are growing louder by the day!>”
One of the men, Uhtor who was one of the Mane’s Claws, placed his hand on the Fang’s shoulder as he said, “<I hear you, brother. I do, but you must understand that our duty is not only to free the universe of the oppressive blights BUT to hold the line for our Mane.>”
“<Hold the line? There may soon be no line to hold if the whispers are true!>” the Fang barked as he yanked back from Uhtor.
“<Listen carefully…” Uhtor lowered his voice, with the Fang’s eyes narrowing as he watched him glance at the other Claw and Mya before stepping forward. “… We will confide within you what no other knows outside this ring here.>”
“<I, I don’t understand.>”
“<You will,>” Uhtor said in a tone now barely above a whisper. “<Our Mane suffered injury at the hand of Beelezika—”
The Fang gasped, his eyes fluttered and he glanced to the doors before back at each of the three. “<Is he, is he okay? How bad is he? He is alive, yes?>”
“<Yes,” Mya adamantly nodded her head, confirming to the Fang before Uhtor cut her off, “he’s alive but—”
“<Physically, heeeh, physically our Mane has not suffered any worse than what he is capable of.>”
“<Then what’s wrong?>”
Mya now stepped forward, her arms folded as she looked into the Fang’s eyes with deep concern. “<His mind was tested.>”
“<I don’t understand,>” he admitted with his left eye squinting, and again he glanced between the three.
“<His blood feud with Beelezika is not only of the physical,” the other Claw, Deltuor explained in a deep voice, “but of a higher realm. Of a deeper one.>”
The Fang’s breathing became heavy, his eyes grew large as realization began to set in and his attention returned to the doors. “<Meditation.>”
“<Yes, it is needed most in times like this.>”
“<And your concern of the bombing and assassination are warranted, brother,>” Uhtor admitted, “<Though not due to these baseless rumors of this, heh, Boundless that have burrowed their way into the ear of the Fangs, but because there is indeed a darkness spreading of the Stygian… One that may be of another’s control.>”