《Reincarnated as a Fantastical Beast》


 Prologue - The Triad

    Dying was supposed to be like falling into a deep, never waking sleep. Where an eternity of peaceful slumber awaited the individual. A place where their mind or¡­ soul could drift eternally within the eternal void. At least, that was what he thought dying would or should be like. Instead, he stood in a white nothingness which appeared to stretch on to nowhere and forever. It was a plane of existence quite unlike the world where he had come from. Like a blank sheet of paper just waiting for its artist to draw or write upon its surface.


    He scanned the emptiness, looking for anything that might determine what this place was, or where he was. But his effort was futile. It was nothing but a void. There were no landmarks like grass and trees, no buildings, no cars¡­ there was no sound other than his own, shallow breathing. Wait¡­ I can breathe? But¡­ I thought I was dead¡­


    ¡°You are,¡± came a reply from behind him.


    He whirled around with a start and standing there was a single, cloaked figure. The entity¡¯s black garments were a complete contrast to the white all around them. Her face was hidden beneath a thin veil of cloth. ¡°If I am dead,¡± he said. ¡°How am I here? How can I breathe? How do I have a body?¡±


    ¡°All good questions,¡± this time, it was a male who spoke. His voice was deep like a trombone.


    He turned once more and saw the figure. Cloaked and veiled like the first, but big and muscular. Who were these people that they¡¯d just appear out of nowhere in this strange void? What were they here to do? ¡°W-who are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Another good question,¡± replied a different man. His voice was a higher pitch than the first and like the other two, he was also veiled and cloaked.


    ¡°In order for us to speak like this, you needed a body,¡± spoke the trombone. ¡°But bodies also need to breathe, so we¡¯ve provided you with air. Of course, you can also feel and get hungry and thirsty¡­ you can die again.¡±


    ¡°Then what is the point?¡±


    ¡°We needed to speak with you,¡± said the female.


    ¡°Your death was not a natural one,¡± the thin male said.


    ¡°It came out of regret and desperation,¡± the trombone finished.


    He stared at them for a time, bewildered. The three figures had just appeared before him, seemingly from nowhere at all and they came because¡­ they wanted to talk about his death? Gathering himself, he took a deep breath and looked the female in¡­ well¡­ where her eyes should be. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked.


    She hesitated to answer and instead, glanced at the other two for¡­ permission? The trombone nodded and then the female faced him once more. ¡°The triad,¡± she said simply.


    ¡°We are order as well as chaos. We can create and destroy¡­. We are the deities of this realm,¡± the trombone explained.


    Deities? That meant that¡­ gods existed. Overcome by this new revelation, he nearly fell to his knees. Catching himself before that could happen, he stood straight and furrowed his brow. If they were in fact, gods as they said they were, why would they come here? Why would they want to speak with him of all the people in the universe? Him who had made his fare share of mistakes, cost others their own lives and him who took his own life because of his regret and self loathing?Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°That is the reason,¡± the thin triad said. ¡°We are curious.¡±


    ¡°Curious?¡± he asked. ¡°About why I did what I did?¡±


    All three of them nodded. The female stepped forward and bowed her head. ¡°And¡­ we also wanted to offer you a second chance.¡±


    ¡°What is your answer?¡± the trombone asked. ¡°Why did you commit that most¡­ unforgivable act?¡±


    He stepped back from them and turned away, pointing his head toward what he could only assume was the ground. Thinking back he¡­ really didn¡¯t know. Why had he done what he did? Was his life really that horrible that he couldn¡¯t stand another minute in the world of the living? He was wealthy, he knew that much. With money he was able to obtain almost anything he wanted but¡­ that he knew, didn¡¯t make him happy. Especially with how he became rich to begin with. ¡°I¡­. ¡° he began. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I guess I really was full of regret. I hated the man whom I became.¡±


    All three of the black, cloaked figures stared at him. They remained silent in what appeared to be contemplation. Then the trombone stepped forward. ¡°We see,¡± he said. ¡°You did some terrible things in your life. Got to where you were by stepping upon the weak. You cared about no one but yourself¡­ not even your own family¡­. No¡­. you didn¡¯t even care about yourself, you cared about money and material things. Am I correct?¡±


    He turned around once more and looked into the now, showing eyes of the trombone. A tear fell down the entity¡¯s cheak. But what did he have, to be sad about? ¡°You¡­ are right,¡± he admitted. Everything trombone said, was true.


    ¡°We have come, to offer you another chance,¡± said the thin male.


    ¡°Do you want to take it?¡± the female asked.


    ¡°Another chance?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you mean¡­ ?¡±


    ¡°Reincarnation,¡± the trombone said.


    Reincar¡­ that was an actual thing? He had heard about reincarnation from various religions and read about it in manga but¡­ never had he suspected even for an instant, that it was a real thing that could happen after death. ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°You heard us,¡± the trombone said. ¡°If you would like the chance to live again, we will reincarnate you.¡±


    He might have said ¡®Yes! Reincarnate me please!¡¯ but something held him back. He didn¡¯t know what it was, just that it all seemed too good to be true. There had to be some sort of catch. Like they wanted him to do something in return. Something that might only benefit them. ¡°What is it, you want me to do?¡± he asked. ¡°There has to be some other reason you are offering this second chance to me, right?¡±


    ¡°Nothing is given for free,¡± the female said. ¡°Especially not this.¡±


    ¡°We do want something,¡± the thin male continued.


    ¡°This world needs help,¡± the trombone finished.


    ¡°Help?¡± he asked. Did he mean Earth? And even if it was, how could he help? ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand what you mean. Are you talking about Earth?¡±


    The trombone shook his head. ¡°Not Earth,¡± he said. ¡°A different world entirely.¡±


    ¡°It is in danger from a deadly war between two races,¡± the female said.


    ¡°You need to stop it,¡± the thin male finished.


    The trombone stepped closer to him and raised a hand, forefinger pointed towards his forehead. ¡°You will be reborn, not as either of those races, but as a fantastical beast instead. Smart, intelligent and magical to some extent. We want you to live as if this is your only life. Do things in this one, that would help to make up for the terrible things you did in the last one. Save people¡­ and all life in that world.¡±


    He had no chance to respond, before trombone¡¯s finger touched his temple. An intense wave of vertigo enveloped him and he swooned. Darkness took him and he lost all sense of being. This¡­ this was truly what death should feel like.

 Chapter 1 - It Is Done

    Being born was a lot like one might expect. There was darkness. A vast, endless sea of nothing in all directions. His mind drifted in it. Not fully asleep, but not quite conscious either. He was just there, existing. An eternity went by and still¡­ nothing. When was this going to end? Would he ever be able to wake up from such a dream?


    His answer came in the form of a miniscule orb of light. Somewhere out there in the vastness of the void, it too existed. Its purpose was unknown to him, but he didn¡¯t care. Like a moth drawn to flame, he drifted towards it.


    Vague thoughts entered his mind. He thought, it would be nice if I could see the ocean. It would be nice, if he weren¡¯t just drifting in eternal nothingness. I wish¡­ I could hear birds. Feel the wind on my face and hear the leaves rustle. Grass Sway¡­ the orb ahead of him, pulsated. I want to step into that salt water and let the coolness of it wash over my toes. It pulsated brighter this time. Is this it? Is it the end for me/? It pulsated again. This time it vanished and he was left in darkness once more.


    In the void, he was alone. There was no sense of feeling or touch, he could not hear. It was lonely. He wanted more than anything, to just wake up in his penthouse bathtub and enjoy the views. He wanted to go back to his old life of stepping on the weak, expanding his empire¡­ because that was familiar. This bad dream¡­ this nightmare needed to end. He knew deep down, that was not something that could happen. Then, like a slap on the face, awareness came.


    He was alive and trapped within a dark prison. Some kind of gloopy liquid enveloped him and beyond that, there was a smooth, solid surface. His first instinct was to kick it. Nothing happened. Again his back feet kicked out and he heard them slam against it, but whatever it was, did not move.


    A small sound escaped his throat. He could talk or¡­ use his voice anyway. He didn¡¯t know if he could consider it talking. He squealed again, his little call of distress. Though he wanted to escape, he didn¡¯t think he would be strong enough. Out of frustration he kicked and called, kicked and called. Then a miracle happened. Other sounds. They were muffled and he couldn¡¯t hear them clearly, but whomever was making them, was close.


    Who is¡­ out there? He asked. It was only a thought as his voice still was not working the way it should. Where am I? What is this¡­?If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    A myriad of voices erupted from beyond his prison. They spoke all at once, excited for this new development. He listened but¡­ because all the voices were speaking at the same time, they sounded more like static from a radio that was trying to find the right frequency.


    Who are you? He asked again. I want out!


    ¡°Calm¡­¡± came a voice to his mind. It was not his. ¡°Be calm.¡±


    He stopped struggling and listened. It was deep and melodious. The voice chilled him, but in a good way. He was no longer nervous or frustrated and he felt as if he could escape if he tried again. His back legs kicked out harder than the previous attempts. A crack. His ears twitched to the noise. Though it was small, it still sounded like a heavy drumbeat inside his cell. He kicked again.


    ¡°Come on!¡± another voice, this time female. She was young and¡­ excited? ¡°Again!¡±


    ¡°You can do it¡­ my son.¡±


    Those words of encouragement was all he needed. With one last effort, he pulled back his legs and kicked with all the force he could muster. In the seconds that followed, he found himself sliding out with that gloopy liquid. The air that immediately touched his skin, was cold and he shivered. As unpleasant as that was, at least he was out.


    Before, he could not see. His eyes had been closed so tightly, that he had been unable to open them. But now, without that sticky, gloopy substance surrounding him, he was able to do just that and was amazed by what he saw.


    Enormous stalactites hung down from what appeared to be the beginning of a cavern. Stalagmites jutted out from the stone floor below them, giving it the appearance of a massive maw. Luminescent flora grew abundant near the maw and probably further in. And the ceiling above twinkled like the sky, on a clear, starry night.


    ¡°He¡­ he did it dad!¡± said the younger female.


    ¡°And so he did.¡±


    ¡°Now that he is out¡­. What are we going to name him?¡± the older female.


    There was a long pause. Thunder rolled by in the distance and rain began to fall, pittering on the hard ground beyond the cave. A cool breeze entered, bringing with it the scent of ozone and rainwater from the outside, trickled in. He shivered again.


    ¡°How about¡­ Rayne?¡± his father asked. ¡°Yes, that sounds like an excellent name for him! The Rayne of our hearts!¡±


    Somewhere distant, somewhere beyond, Rayne heard a chuckle. He looked around, glancing from one figure to the next. There were more than just three sets of eyes on him and none of them seemed to have heard it. That strange voice. None of them seemed to have done it either. It is done, it said, inside his head.

 Chapter 2 - Time and Tail

    They were unusual. When he had been alive, he had never seen anything quite like the reptilian creatures, who stood before him now. Though they took on the characteristics of what a reptile would have - large eyes and scales - they took on the appearance of large cats instead. Their physique more closely resembled that of a cheetah. Thin and muscular, though much larger than one. Most of them wore what appeared to be a carapace helmet atop their heads. They had ears which were about half the length of their bodies and tails three times the length of that.


    Rayne stared at them with wide eyes. They were¡­ they were amazing and beautiful. He didn¡¯t know there could be animals like these, out in the wide expanse of the universe. Full of wonder and awestruck, he could not take his eyes off them. It seemed however, they couldn¡¯t take their eyes off him either.


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s your new name, Rayne!¡± the younger female stepped forward, out of the crowd.


    Though she was a lot larger than him in comparison, she was still much smaller than the two who stood behind her. She had what appeared to be the beginnings of a carapace helm, but it was not yet fully grown.


    He cocked his head. They were curious creatures indeed and he wanted to learn more about them. But when he opened his mouth, all that came out, was another squeak. He shook his head in annoyance. How could he learn more, if he couldn¡¯t even talk? Would just observing them suffice?


    ¡°Calm¡­ young one,¡± said his father. ¡°Your ability to communicate will come, in time.¡±


    His ability to communicate? What did he¡­ ? For the first time, Rayne looked down at himself. The experience was strange and surreal. Like he was in a body that was not his own. It was unfamiliar to him in every way. No longer a human¡­ he had four legs instead of two. Scales instead of skin. An extremely long tail and long ears to match. Yes. He was no longer a human, for Rayne had become something better.


    Through the endless void, the vastness of that nothing plane, he had drifted. An eternity went by and still he remained in darkness, until finally something had changed. One miniscule orb of light. And then he was here.


    Rain pattered the ground outside, sending little echoes of it into the cave. They rocochade off walls and ceilings, off the others in the room and back out, into that rainy night. Rayne raised his head to meet the eyes of his father. Kind and courageous, caring. This person was one of the pair who had birthed him and given him the chance to live again.


    The strong male turned toward the rainy night. He looked back. ¡°I will return,¡± he said and then leapt out into the darkness, with a curtain of rain falling back over the entrance, where he had exited.


    He had only been in the world for a short time, but already he felt something that had been rare when he was a human. Something precious and that was impossible to destroy. Rayne felt loved. He also thought that maybe¡­ just maybe he also loved his new family. It was clear to him, with them all crowded around as they were, they truly, truly cared.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± one of the older males stepped forward from the shadows. His eyes were cold like daggers. They looked over Rayne, judging his very existence.


    Rayne didn¡¯t know what else to do, or how to react to such a figure. His instincts took over. The hackles on the nape of his neck stood up. His ears went back and he lowered himself in his nest of glowing flora. Making himself smaller did seem like the right way to go. His eyes stared into the eyes of the other.


    ¡°Maybe they care,¡± he said. ¡°Me? Not so much.¡± he wandered back into the mouth of the cavern within.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± the younger female said. ¡°He may talk big, but he won¡¯t do anything to you. At least, not while dad is around.¡± she approached calmly and lay right next to him, on the bed of flora. ¡°I know you can¡¯t speak yet. You might not even be able to understand me yet but¡­ my name is Jay. Our father is Kho and our mother is Chida.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Still nervous, Rayne glanced toward the cavern mouth.


    ¡°That was our uncle, Jaydeth,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ rough around the edges. I uh¡­ I don¡¯t even think he means half of what he says. He¡¯s just angry.¡±


    Rayne yawned and lay his head down. What does he have to be angry about? He thought. It was strange that all the others were standing around him like his own, personal protectors. They were smiling and happy. Love emanated from them and then there was his uncle. Someone who didn¡¯t even seem to care.


    Jay looked at him with a curiosity even most of the felines on earth couldn¡¯t match. ¡°N-nevermind,¡± she said. ¡°Breaking out of that egg couldn¡¯t have been easy. Just rest,¡± she said. ¡°Father will be back soon and then you can eat.¡±


    Resting sounded like an excellent idea. Rayne yawned again and closed his eyes. Thunder rolled, lightning flashed and the soft pitter patter continued. All around him he could hear the murmurs and whispers of those other fantastical creatures. Soothed by those sounds, he listened. Gradually they began to fade. Become quieter like the whispering wind. They disappeared and then it was just him in the deepest, most relaxing sleep he could have ever imagined.


    His eyes popped open.


    <hr>


    It was sudden and unexpected, but once again he found himself in that white void, that blank canvas. What could have happened to bring me here? He asked himself. As far as he knew, he hadn¡¯t even the chance yet to fulfill the thing those deities wanted him to do. So why had they brought him back here? Had he done something wrong?


    ¡°H-hello?¡± he called out. Nothing but echoes returned to him and¡­ he could speak? Rayne looked down. Two legs. He looked to one side and then the other. Arms. He raised both hands, feeling his face. He was human again. But how?


    ¡°Because we willed it,¡± the female said.


    ¡°This is only a dream,¡± said the trombone.


    ¡°When you wake, you will once again be that creature.¡±


    The three cloaked figures all looked at each other. They knew something he didn¡¯t, something he should know and that they were going to tell him. The female stepped forward. ¡°What did you think of that whole experience?¡±


    Rayne stepped back. What did he think about being reincarnated as something other than human? He shook his head ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°I guess¡­ it was an interesting experience. Would I do that again or keep going¡­?¡± he shrugged. He truly didn¡¯t know. He guessed that if it meant his own existence then he would keep living as whatever that thing was. Wouldn¡¯t anyone else?


    ¡°Kaishin,¡± the voice of the trombone.


    ¡°That creature is called Kaishin,¡± the thin male said. ¡°Will you keep living as it? Or shall we end your existence now?¡±


    Rayne nodded. ¡°I will keep living as it, of course,¡± he said. ¡°Why did you bring me here? What is it you want me to do?¡±


    There was an uncomfortably long pause before the female stepped up to him and raised a bony finger. ¡°The time has not come for you to complete the task we have given. Live as the Kaishin for a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°We wanted to make sure your heart is in this task,¡± the thin male said. ¡°And to give you advice.¡±


    ¡°Walk as one of them,¡± the female said.


    ¡°You are no longer a human,¡± said the trombone. ¡°Become one of those creatures instead. Become a Kaishin. Only then can you complete the task we ask of you.¡±


    The female pressed her finger upon his forehead and darkness once again, fell upon him. In his mind, he could hear her voice. ¡°If you are the right fit? I don¡¯t know. Time will tell.¡±


    Rayne fell and in his descent, those sounds returned. The rain, the rolling thunder, murmurs and whispers. His eyes twitched and then one opened. They were still there. No longer standing in the darkness watching him, the Kaishin were all fast asleep. Rayne looked toward the ceiling to see it no longer sparkled. Everything was peaceful and quiet. Somehow they had brought him back. He smiled, content knowing that finally, he was home.

 Chapter 3 - Cave Crickets (Part 1)

    He tilted his head, curious about the now, dead thing which lay on his nest. Kho didn¡¯t expect him to eat that did he? Rayne lifted a five fingered paw and tapped the creature with a claw. When it did not move, he lowered his head and sniffed. He reeled back, insulted by the foul stench wafting up from its flesh. A bout of raucous laughter in front of him, caused his head to swivel up.


    ¡°Ea¡­ eat it Rayne!¡± Kho said in between fits of giggles.


    Rayne glanced from his father, back to the¡­ thing he was meant to consume. It was interesting, but also grotesque and unlike any animal he had seen before. Even the Kaishin were more like earth animals than this thing was. It seemed like it would have been from some kind of strange science experiment. A cruel joke by the teachers in science class. He looked back to Kho and raised his eyebrows.


    Kho shook his head. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like it, but this is all there is.¡±


    Disappointed, Rayne turned back to the mammal, reptile, avian creature. Its eyes were wide open, but no life existed within them. The Kanflasnakter stared back at him, lifeless, dead, deceased. Rayne swallowed.


    As much as he didn¡¯t like it, he still had not eaten anything after hatching out of that egg. This was the first meal Kho had been able to bring back for him and he was really really hungry. He breathed in, more to calm himself than anything else, and opened his tiny maw. Rayne couldn¡¯t stop the saliva from forming when he brought his teeth closer to the creature¡¯s flesh.


    A snake-like appendage, long and thick and scaly, grew from the creature¡¯s tailbone. Rayne hesitated, following it with his eyes. There was a head with beady snake eyes staring back at him. The snake¡¯s tongue flicked out and then back in again. He squealed and stumbled back, falling over in his nest.


    That seemed to be the tipping point for Kho who fell in a chaotic fit of laughter and giggles. He was supposed to be the adult, a father figure whom Rayne should be able to look up to for advice and for comfort when he was feeling down. Instead, here was Kho, father of Rayne, rolling on the ground and unable to contain his mirth.


    Annoyed and embarrassed, Rayne rolled back to his front paws and stood up, recovering from his less than graceful retreat. He furrowed his brow at Kho and snorted his discontent.


    ¡°Kho,¡± Chida said as she approached from the outside. In her voice, there was a hint of authority. Not overbearing, but just enough to get Kho¡¯s attention.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    He rolled to his feet, trying to recover from the apparent hilariousness from what Rayne had done. There was still water in Kho¡¯s eyes from laughing so hard. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, he¡¯s just¡­¡± Kho trailed off and immediately sobered when Chida gave him an expression of unamusement.


    ¡°This is all there is,¡± she said. ¡°Eat or you will not grow stronger.¡±


    She did have a point. If he didn¡¯t at least try this meat Kho had brought back for him, he would starve and whither away into nothing. Rayne snorted again, shook his head and sighed. His stomach then rumbled so loudly that he swore the entire cave could hear it. And indeed, looking around the dark interior, Rayne could see other eyes on him besides his parents. He sighed again, opened his maw and bit into the snake portion of the Kanflasnakter.


    He chewed¡­ and chewed¡­ and chewed, all the while doing his best not to spit the horrible thing out. The taste was just as it had smelt or perhaps even a little bit worse than that. Rayne squinted his eyes, tears running down his cheeks, and shook his head in distaste.


    It was mainly the toughness of the meat he didn¡¯t like and how it turned into a gooey mess inside his mouth. How could they possibly, as his parents, expect him to eat something so horrid? Rayne swallowed the meat reluctantly and turned his attention back to his parents, one of whom, stood there, bemused.


    ¡°I am sorry Rayne, but that was all there is,¡± Kho said.


    Rayne laid both ears back and let out a small whine. He didn¡¯t want that to be it. That dead thing in his nest was not something he could find himself eating the entirety of. It was strange and gross, he wanted something better¡­ something more tasty than what he had been given. He stared at them both, pleading for something better.


    A steak would be nice, he thought.


    Chida shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t have¡­ oh nevermind,¡± she turned to Kho. ¡°In time, he will learn to eat what he has been given.¡±


    Kho sighed. ¡°Should we leave him here then? With that thing¡­ I mean.¡±


    ¡°Rayne,¡± Chida said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to eat the whole animal, but try to eat more. Okay?¡±


    He would try but Rayne honestly didn¡¯t think he would be able to stomach the whole thing. Maybe not even another bite, even if it was a small one. He sighed and fell into his nest, the comfortable, warm flora around him. Rayne watched from there as his mother and then Kho, turned around and began to walk away.


    The odd mix of three animals that should have never gone together, lay in his nest, smelling of terrible things. Rotting flesh and fruit. A sickly sweet smell. It stunk up the place and continued to decompose. Yes he was still hungry, but even if he starved, he refused to eat another bite of that. He lay his head down and closed his eyes.

 Chapter 3 - Cave Crickets (Part 2)

    A chirp and a scuttling was what woke him. Rayne raised his head. Light from the outside filtered in and the rain which had given continuous ambience the entire night, had long since stopped. Everything had gone quiet and peaceful. Those murmurs and whispers were gone as well. He squinted his eyes and scanned the area to see if he could find that noise.


    His eyes fell upon the sleeping forms of his parents and Jay. The other Kaishin were asleep as well, in restful slumbers. The chirp again. He swiveled his head in that direction. There was nothing but the dark cave.


    Another chirp and a¡­ thump?


    Rayne stood up, more curious than ever now about what had made that noise. Entranced by it, he felt himself walking to the edge of his nest. He stepped over and stumbled, landing with a tiny thump on the hard stone floor below. Rayne stood again and shook himself. That fall had hurt, but only a tiny bit.


    His eyes went to the forms of his sleeping parents. Neither had moved. Their chests moved up and down in a peaceful rhythm. Good.


    The chirp sounded again, followed by that scuttling and another thump. He jerked his head in that direction and there it was. An odd animal, insect creature stood not ten meters from where he was. The fact that the creature was almost larger than he was, scared him a little, but Rayne was a bit more curious than that.


    It was round with tiny antennae protruding from its head. The creature¡¯s round wings rubbed together, producing the melodious chirp he had heard before. With those large legs in the back which were meant for jumping, he would have assumed it was just an oversized cricket. It had all the characteristics of one. But then using eight normal legs, it scuttled forward. A bit perturbed, Rayne leaned towards it to try and get a better look.


    The cricket hopped this time. Rayne cocked his head. This was unusual. Of course he had seen crickets on earth but those all had six legs. This one had ten. It hopped again and he followed.


    Is it edible? Rayne thought as he approached it closer. If it were edible, he would probably prefer eating this than that monstrosity back in his nest.


    It scuttled forward, inching its way closer and closer to the mouth. Rayne lowered himself to the ground and let out a tiny growl. He wanted this thing to know that he meant business. Then he wiggled his bum and pounced. The cricket hopped away.


    Hunting it may not be so easy, he thought as he stood. If it was easy to hunt these, then why had his father brought back that other edible but not edible creature?


    It hopped again, this time beyond the stalagmites.


    For a moment, he stood in silence, just looking at that ominous mouth. It was the entrance to a massive cavern. Although he couldn¡¯t see the entirety of it from where he stood, Rayne could see enough of the cavern to get a clear picture of what might be in store if he entered. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he was still hungry.


    Urged on by his need for something tasty, Rayne ran into the mouth. He stood on the edge of a precipice. A giant canyon spread out in front of him. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, with strange, white crystals hanging from those. The roof sparkled like a starry, night sky, just like the roof of the cave he had been born into. And below he could see a bright, orb of light. Hundreds of those crickets swarmed around it, chirping and hopping.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    His eyes fell on the orb and he felt himself unable to look away. It was mesmerizing and¡­ the orb pulsated. Startled, Rayne stepped back and crashed into a solid object.


    He looked behind.


    "What are you doing here?" His uncle asked.


    Rayne coward under Jaydeth''s gaze and looked away. Out of all he could have run into in the cavern, he wished it hadn¡¯t been his uncle.


    "Relax," Jaydeth said. "I haven''t come to harm you." He looked down into the crevice.


    Melodious chirping echoed up from the canyon below as those crickets crowded around that light. It pulsated, turning blue and then white again. Some of the crickets strangely enough, mimicked it. Their wings became a vibrant blue, before turning back into a pale black. Other colors erupted in the swarm. Reds and greens. Yellows and dark violets.


    The entire scene, took his breath away. It was the most captivating thing he had ever seen. How some of those crickets changed their color into something vibrant and beautiful, then changed back into their dull gray black.


    ¡°They are beautiful,¡± Jaydeth said. ¡°But sometimes the most beautiful things can be the most deadly.¡±


    Rayne glanced up at him.


    ¡°They are poisonous, we are unable to eat them¡­ did you think we would eat those¡­ disgusting animals outside if we had any other choice?¡±


    Jaydeth had a good point. Both Kho and Chida had told him, that strange creature they brought back was all there was. He shook his head in reply. Even if it was the only thing, that wouldn''t stop him from trying to find something better.


    A scuttling on the roof above.


    Rayne jerked his head up and then he felt his eyes go wide with surprise. It was an enormous centipede. After crawling down one of the larger stalactites, it had extended the entirety of its body, reaching for the light orb.


    Jaydeth followed his gaze. "We may not be able to eat them, but they do have a purpose," he said. With his nose, he pointed toward the giant centipede. ¡°Watch.¡±


    The elongated insect stretched and stretched, further and further down. As it approached the orb of light, it opened its giant mandibles. One of the many crickets down there in the crevice, looked up at it. There was a pause. A moment of silence. The cricket rubbed its wings furiously together, emitting a terrible, high pitched screech. The other crickets looked up and immediately began hopping at the centipede, trying to knock it down¡­ trying to eat it?


    Rayne shook his head, trying to rid himself of that horrifying sight and the screech which had nearly deafened him. He looked up into his uncle¡¯s eyes. ¡°Those crickets,¡± he said. ¡°They are¡­ defending that orb?¡±


    Jaydeth looked at him and then allowed a slow smile to cross his face, ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°And although that cricket was planning to eat you, it is our job to defend it as well and the crickets.¡±


    ¡°E-eat?¡± Rayne swallowed.


    ¡°Well, I did say some of the most beautiful things are the most deadly.¡±


    ¡°They seemed¡­ harmless,¡± Rayne said.


    Jaydeth shook his head. ¡°No,¡± he said. His voice had become somber and quiet, reflective. ¡°We¡­ it is our job to defend that light. For ourselves¡­ for our souls and our very existence. That orb you see down there, is the reason we are unable to move away from this place.¡±


    Rayne looked up at him and there were tears in his eyes. Jaydeth was weeping silently as he stood there. They were a truly tragic species. Trapped in a place they were forbidden from leaving, doomed to spend an eternity as guardians for a pulsating, orb of light. His eyes fell back upon the object and they too, filled up with moisture.