⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Hi guys I have yet another extra- the idea was stuck in my head, okay? Anyway enjoy! (tw, slight blood) ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Bars of colored light danced on the Throne Room's floor. Sarene glanced at the beautiful stained glass window above the entryway to the courtyard and gardens. Something beyond the intricately cut panes of glass caught her eye. She furrowed her brow in concern. A cloud of smoke that looked as if it's source was somewhere along the North and EastPack's border. She made a motion to stand, but first she turned towards her advisor, Annaline. "Annaline, does that cloud on the North and Eastpack Border look like smoke to you?" Sarene's advisor and great friend looked up, startling from the document she was studying. 'The recent report from the ambassador sent to Gusthaven,' she thought, and felt her worries about brewing trouble in a country that had remained neutral towards Skydown, even allowing border crossage. She shoved that worry aside. "Why, yes actually. we should ask around about that, my Queen." "Sarene." "Sorry. Habitual I suppose." Thoughts of the recent troubles in Skydown stirred in Sarene's head. She felt an overwhelming urge to seek out Sunmist. Poor girl, maybe a half season-cycle ago she came running into Kazznarr seeking refuge, but in the last moon vanish (full moon to new moon), she lost most of her friends and her girlfriend. "Annaline, could you answer any callings people make for me for about an hour? I need to find someone." "Sure Sarene, hope you don't mind my asking, but is it Sunmist?" Annaline inquired. "Yes," Sarene sighed. "Do me a favor and tell her that I'm always open for a mind clearing." Mind clearing were performed by those with Memory seeing magic, such as Annaline. They could not remove distressing memories, but Memory seers could tone down their blaring hurt. "Of course." ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Sarene floated across the room. Being taught to glide, to flow instead of walk was an important part of Queen etiquette. As she passed through the lights on the stone floor, a memory started playing in her mind, whether she wanted it to or not. She crumpled to the floor, unable to hear Annaline's concerned yell. ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Today was the day of her coronation, and the little fox, just a moon short of 1 season cycle old was excited out of her mind. The beginning of the ceremony was extremely boring. She glanced at the crowd, hoping to find her new friend's face. Annaline has been risen in the palace, her parents servants. She was taught to always refer to a ruler as my King, my Queen, or my Ruler. And so she called Sarene 'my heir', and was certain to call her 'My Queen' after today. 'It's so dumb,' Sarene thought. 'Why can't I just be Sarene?' Finally the talking about how good of a ruler she would be was over, and Detrano, the current leader of The Stars, approached her. "Touch the Marking Stone." he said, gesturing towards the plain pillar in the center of the entirety of Kazznarr, with maybe 50 scratches, each from a past ruler, on it. Sarene walked up to it, entranced by the powerful reminders of so many coronations like hers. She touched it gently with her paw, and the world went black. ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Flickering lights filled her vision. They materialized into outlines five wolves, foxes, and one cat. One wolf stepped forward. "I am Carilen, first King and Ruler of Skydown. You are Sarene, born to WestPack. We five are the bearers of Wisdom. The ones with the most important memories. The other rulers transfer their corresponding memories to us." "Indeed." said the cat, a strongly built she-cat with piercing blue eyes. "Come forth and receive your knowledge." Sarene cautiously approached them. A large fox stepped towards her. "I am Lucifer, bearer of Love for all." he touched Sarene's head with his paw. The bearers of knowlegde faded, and she saw Lucifer walking the dirt roads of WestPack, giving food to those who needed it. She saw more rulers, doing great services for the people, returning home and lovingly hug their families. She saw love. Everything came back, and the She-cat walked up to her. "I am Birchshade, namesake of the river. I am the bearer of war." she touched her paw to Sarene's head. Screaming, chaos, dying. But above it all stood Birchshade, helping others through the pain, ushering all to march forward. She saw this was Birchshade's bane as well, she lost her husband in battle, and rushed into battle, having already lost it all, and lost her life as well. Birchshade pulled her paw away from Sarene, and started to sob. "Don't worry dear. That was all years ago. Floren is in StarPack. You'll see him after the ceremony." Lucifer said, as he put his arm around Birchshade, leading her back to the line. The other bearers gave her compassionate looks. "I am Yorane, bearer of hunger." a green fox with Antlers said, approaching Sarene. The glistening strands of beads hung over their antlers tinkled as they touched Sarene's forehead. (cont.)
(cont.) Sarene saw dust billowing around as creatures collapsed on the ground. She saw Yorane staring with concern, realizing how hard Skydown was hit by the 10 moon drought. Pups crying in the streets, orphaned. Yorane didn't know what to do. 'Hold up the reputation of Skydown. We mustn't ask for help from the neighboring countries. They will laugh.' Yorane finally realized their wrongs, but only on their deathbed, having been attacked by the people. The past faded, and the bearers came into view once more. "Never do what you think is right. Do what you know is right." Yorane said with a nod. A pale blue wolf strode up. "I am Cloudsigh. Bearer of Despair." He said, looking down. Sarene could feel the heaviness in Cloudsigh's heart. His mate? Killed by his childhood best friend. His family? Refused to call him their kin after he became king. His old best friend? Went mad after he refused her love, even after she killed his mate, and was killed after being found attempting to kill his advisor. His Kingdom? Losing a war with Saratuur, hundreds of lives lost. What was there left to do? He thought, sitting by a silvery pool in the royal gardens. He jumped in, and his vision went black... "Sarene, I see hard times ahead of you. Whatever you do, do not let the despair take hold..." He said with a nod. Finally Carilen stepped up, his golden fur glistening. "Be prepared young one, for I am not a normal bearer. I am the Bearer of Orthanon's memories." Sarene Gasped, "The twice-dead king?!" 'Yes. He would be in The Forgotten Pack if his spirit was not trapped inside of the Taken Flower. Before it was taken, we extracted his most important memories before entrusting them to me, to pass on as warning to each chosen and ruler." Carilen touched Sarene's head. Pride in his good. Pride in his Kingdom, his mate, his children. Pride in his power, saved to be used in great need later on. War. His crown clattered to the ground as his blood spilled out of him. As his spirit started to drift out of his body, greed consumed him. Alive once again, but at what cost? His greed had cost him his power of good, and most of his spirit. He was a shell filled only with memories swirling in the darkness. Moonlight Illuminated the blood on the ground. No conscious soul was left to realize he had taken his suspicious family's life. The Stars found him out. He killed four before the darkness overtook it all... and he was imprisoned in a bright blue rose. As soon as the black within him seeped in, the rose turned a navy blue. A rose of evil and corruption, that had enough black in it to ruin a mind with a single touch... Sarene gasped back into the dark. "I will never make such mistakes." "May you never..." Lucifer whispered. Birchshade dried her eyes. "Is it my turn?" "Yes Birchy." Lucifer said. Sarene smiled at the evident friendship between the two. It was nice to know there were still friends to be made in StarPack. Birchshade nodded, and closed her eyes in focus. She held her paws together, and they started to glow. The glow faded and she was holding a pale gold crown, simple but elegant. "Hope you like it. A new crown is made for each ruler. Keeps it interesting." Sarene glowed with excitement, "I love it!! Just wondering, are all crowns simple like mine?" Lucifer snickered. "You should see Yorane's crown. It's the craziest thing." Yorane glared at Lucifer. Carilen laughed and Cloudsigh smiled. Birchshade cleared her throat, and everyone stopped. "On the Behalf of all the Bearers, I, Birchshade, Crown you the next queen of Skydown. Arise, and take your power to Skydown, use it to the benefit of your country, and to help those in need. Arise, Sarene, High Queen of Skydown." As Birchshade said this, she placed the crown on Sarene's head and straightened it with care. All the bearers grinned. "You will make a great queen. You may well become the sixth bearer one day." Carilen said with pride. He touched Sarene's head once more, and she faded back to the world. ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ Sarene awoke with Annaline hovering above her. She was on the cold stone of the throne room floor once again. "Sarene I was worried what happened are you okay?!" Annaline gushed. "I'm fine. I just had a light head, that's all." "Oh. I'm going to begin looking into the smoke then if that's fine." Annaline said, adding on the question after a pause. "It's completely fine. I told you to earlier, remember?" "Oh. Yeah." "I'll be on my way to find Sunmist." Sarene said, remembering what she was doing earlier. "Very well my Que- Sarene." Annaline corrected, seeing Sarene's joking glare. "I'm going to have to behead you with a piece of paper again." Sarene said. They laughed remembering old times, a fracture of time when everything was fine, and there was nothing to worry about but the wrath of a cardboard guillotine They sighed and parted ways, the window into a past time closed. ⩤⩥⩤⩥⩤⩥ The flashback was gone.
