Sebastian and Duke

Part II

Chapter 6

After Duke joined the separatists, he became the youngest elder ever, at only nine months. Even as an elder, Duke still had time to hang out with us. We climbed trees and watched the rays of Last Sun drift over the horizon. Duke taught us the names of many of the stars and told us how they showed us the time on moonless nights. He also taught us how we could get a warm bed during High Sun.

Sebastian didn't talk to us, but Duke told us that he had been appointed Diplomat. He was thrilled. But the Elders certainly weren't. Although he couldn't overrule Dagger in any of the consul's decisions, he could make decrees that would harm our system. Set, though, seemed to like him and after Sebastian had been Diplomat for one month, appointed him head Diplomat to the Emperor. Yuki was made an admiral, and he could patrol territory as far as Hyena Volcano.

Humphrey, being Set's son, was made of equal rank to Sebastian and he had a legion of troops at his command.

This turn of events plunged the separatists into the insufferable age. It was harder to get by. Even the smallest rebellion was sentenced to trial at Hyena Volcano.

The volcano was where the hyenas resided. It had been dormant for years because the lava had been covered by a layer of slick, black, igneous rock. There were many caves and each family got their own. Even Sebastian and Yuki got their own compartment.

How do I know all this? Because I've been there.

Chapter 7

Duke, Malcolm and I were walking our normal path to the Elder's den, where Duke and the other Elders taught us many things about the savannah.

It was Second Sun and the Elders expected us there before Third Sun. The sky was streaked with the orange of First Sun and the new yellow light of the coming Third Sun.

As we looked at the rising sun, we walked directly towards it, almost mesmerized by its beauty.

"Halt!" Came the howl of a familiar hyena voice. "You are in meerkat territory! Show allowance or be arrested." It was Ax. I glared into his ugly eyes and growled softly.

"Good Sun, Commander." Duke said plainly to Ax with an undertone of loathing and hatred. "My comrades and I have no passes but I ask that you permit us clearance, sir."

"That's General to you cub." Ax snarled in the same tone Duke had used. "General Ax."

"Congratulations on the promotion, General." Duke sneered in a falsely polite tone. "I then assume that your comrades have become Commanders? They were scouts, weren't they, General Ax?"

"Yes, cub." Ax replied. "Meet Commander Knife and Commander Bone." Ax grinned deviously.

Bone cackled. Knife snarled at me and you could almost see the cogs in his tiny brain trying to move.

"You." Ax directed his attention to Malcolm, who hadn't yet passed into meerkat territory. "You are free to go." Ax turned his attention back to Duke and I. "You are a troublesome cub you know, Abby. You've caused trouble that would make Maxx's big head explode." He chuckled. "Let's go." Ax led with Duke and I in the middle and Knife and Bone in the rear.

We entered Hyena Volcano and instantly I felt humiliated. The hyenas, big and small laughed at us. Even the black walls and floor seemed to taunt us. We walked towards a cavern marked Emperor, but we turned into a cave marked Admiral. I knew what that meant.

"You're taking us to Yuki?" Duke asked not showing the fear that was bottled up inside the both of us.

"We are taking you to Admiral Yuki." Ax grinned in a taunting way.