A new beginning

[Hareli]

Last cycle in the month of Melora, Late Winter, Early Spring in the Era XIII

Today was like any other day for Hareli, except that this day would undoubtedly change his life. It was the day of the monthly caravan raid to the surface and the group of fifteen Relequis had been searching the northern foothills of the Great Mountains for nearly five candlemarks when they finally came across a three wagon train piloted by a group of Katta. This was the first time that Hareli had seen a Katta, and he was supposed to hate them with a passion, but he felt not the burning hatred for them that his kind was so known for.

Immediately the raid went in a horrible direction, for his father, Jerric, called out for the children of the Katta to be gathered up. And when they were all together Jerric addressed Hareli, “Time for you to become a man, my son,” the gray Relequis said, holding out a small dagger.

Taking the dagger, Hareli approached one of the Katta children. His stomach was wracked with incredible fear, and his tail twitched with anticipation. He didn’t want to kill children; he didn’t want to kill anyone.

“No, I can’t do it; I have nothing against these people!” he protested. “I won’t kill innocent people, I don’t care who they are!” A startled murmur arouse among the Relequis as they were shocked that he wouldn’t fulfill this time honored tradition.

His father shook his head, and grabbed his brow with his hand. “If you do not do this, then you are not my son!” Jerric said boldly, staring Hareli in the eyes, black onyx piercing his soul.

“I will not!”

“Then you will watch.” Jerric said as he went for one of the youngest children. Picking up the small cub, he walked over to Gerid, a red Relequis, who held a pike. Taking the weapon, Jerric threw the infant up into the air. Hareli couldn’t watch, but the sound of the child landing on the end of the pike nearly made him retch up. A cheer came from the gathered Relequis, at the same instant that more than one of the Kattas bellowed in terror and grief.

The subsequent slaughter of the children was a retched sight to behold, as one after the other was taken and their throats slit. When Jerric and a few others of the Relequis were through with the children, the smell of blood permeated the air, a sickening stench that furthered the unsettling of Hareli’s stomach.

Next, Jerric moved on to the women, having them line up for their demise. His father was always obsessed with order, and his home was a prime example, spotless in every way. When they were through with the women, his father moved on to the men, leaving only one alive and sending him off running to tell what he witnessed.

When all was through, the bodies were rifled through producing a fair amount of gold and other valuables, and so were the wagons. The gold was split up among the Relequis and his father approached him again, “You are here by banished from my family. Take with you this money and supplies, and leave and never return.” Jerric handed him a purse of gold, the belt and sheath for the dagger he held and filled the satchel that he wore at his hip with a ten day supply of food and a full water skin. “Get away from me, stranger.” His father said coldly and turned his back on him, shaking his fluffy tail with disgust.

So Hareli left his life, never to return, and he traveled the foothills of the Great Mountains for an entire cycle before seeing a great sight. He saw the Rainbow Towers of Nexus Prime, not knowing what they were, and was drawn towards them.