Prologue - The Anklorians

PROLOGUE THE ANKLORIANS---

Caves. Nasty, bitter things are they not? Seldom can they be seen in the light of day, and hopelessly invisible beneath the dark cloak that the nights wear. If a sun cannot brighten it inside and out then I fear it is a home of darkness, and that goes for all things, caves are just another addition to my ever growing list it seems. It started with the inside of holes in the ground you see, fascinating things, maybe the dwelling of a rabbit or bad roadwork that could swallow car parks in mere seconds. Some holes can never be fully lit. However where we are is far beyond lands of such technological advancements, I decree that we rewind to a much simpler time and journey to a much simpler world. One that is bright despite its home of origin. I am fond of the modern era, mistake me not but I do see a charm in the more simple world where the fantastical was still called magic and not science. So I say we return there.

Now as for the caves of earth, yes they house the dark. Be that in bitter icescapes or the most exceptional of forests of beauteous green and yellow-ish suns that encourage the brightest of songs even on the most down days. Yet caves are the same in most locations are they not? Merely holes of mystery in the walls of nature and yet creatures still thrive, but these creatures are not always perceived with the same fondness as say a dog or a cat, no no when some think caves they think of…

Spiders. Eight tiny legs each holding a fat body with alientastic sets of eyes. Never one for spiders either have been. Some think of wolves, beautiful creatures I grant you but no one can forget their danger. Some even just picture the dingy smell of the caves as the murky water that can form in them. The cold inner rocks to the touch, they chill fingers through the bone do they not? Some caves, I say this with full conviction harbour a great deal more than we know in this world. I say it and you may laugh in your region indeed but we will no longer discuss the caves of earth, heavens no. These caves possess magic.

What lives in these other worldly caves? Or better yet, who? There is a race of creatures I am inclined to show you, for they inhabit darkness wherever and however they may find it and claim it. Usually in natural lands, they dislike the indoors. These beasts are not small creatures by any means, some can be however, the smallest one, one named Betra stood around two feet. The tallest however grew to be a whopping 7 foot in his natural form, his name was Ephin, he struggled with his height up until his coming of age. Now these peculiar beasts are not just men of various heights, in fact they are not men at all. They go by a rather feared name in their world. No one knows quite where they first came from, not even themselves they have their own legends but those have since turned to myth no more believable than the story of Troy in the land of ancient Greece. These creatures were known as the Anklorians.

These beasts were not inherently foul, and their priorities not so far from those of you and I, however they are an uneasy folk. Not all were well acquainted with feelings, but most were not alien to them, I could paraphrase this and say if many an Anklorian were to lose a partner they might attend the funeral if they had nothing much better to do. The anklorians were a race of relevant beauty in their youths at least. Eyes reminiscent of our puppies, and pointy ears, flowing hair which they could change at will. Oftentimes the hair in their youth reflected their emotion glowing certain colours, much harder to control but in time they learn the skill. Notice I say their beauty was present in youth, coming of age was another matter for them. For us our coming of age is usually an excuse for merriment and excitement, the embrace of friends and songs when their faces are lolling with a magical buzz from the potions and concoctions consumed throughout the night. The anklorians, while it is still considered an honour, have a much more trying time.

Remember I said they were feared? Why would a race of such beauty be feared across this other globe? These are not malicious folk, not in the slightest. They're a cursed species. Yes cursed, very much so. The origin of this is all but unknown like their initial location. The conditions of such a curse were known all too well, however for it affected each and every one of them. They were born with strange blood. It gives them abilities to transform their outward appearance. They could take a human form if they so pleased, it was a painful process to transform but required. But why is this a curse? Part of their blood is (a result of the curse) in fact human. Hence their abilities, unfortunately they depend on the human blood to stay alive it surrounds the heart in the centre of their chests. So they needed to maintain their supply, and this is why they are so feared. Do you see what lengths they may have had to go to? For the last thousand years or so, there was a cave where there would be a continuous supply of human blood known among the entire race, they journey every year to retrieve it in a process called the 'collection' they also hold the annual coming of age ceremony then too. They stored it at the base of the high mountain. Once however, they run out of their supply, they could not maintain their transformations and are reduced to a damaged state of their natural forms permanently, skin clinging to bones, eyes half popping out of their faces, their fair ears become torn, teeth sharpen and they slowly begin to die. A fate no one would want, right? Now these transformations were not so easy they were ludicrously painful but they were possible.

One such of these creatures was born on a fine day in the time of winter, the folk of that world called this season the 'Kragh', they struggled to tell the difference between the seasons all too well, instead they named two main seasons, the 'Kragh' meaning the cold times and the 'Ragh' meaning the warm times. A female one, Freya was laying in a cave on her back atop a bed of straws and leaves, her skin (like the rest of the anklorians) was the colour of gunpowder, her eyes were green with faded pink lips and dark brown hair, ears pointing to the cave walls, screaming a shrill shriek. Beside her stood her partner or 'Amorite' as they called them named Fyurik. A towering male, he stood at six foot five and was a physical specimen of a fine Anklorian. His hair was long and his ears were pointed, his eyes were deeper bluer than the ocean sea with gunpowder skin. He knelt beside Freya and clenched her claws as he spoke to comfort her.

"It shall be over soon," he had a tender flicker in his gruff voice. He was trying his best. This race struggles with feeling. "Just push as hard as you can."

"Easier said than done! Argh!" Freya was in searing pain.

"Focus! Push!" Fyurik ignored her comment and continued his support.

"Oh you will learn, damn your eyes!" She pushed "Argh! Damn your eyes Fyurik! Damn your eyes! Leave me you oa-" She pushed harder than she knew possible. "Argh!" a blood curdling scream erupted from the cave that made the winter creatures flee out of that area of the forest. "Fyurik! I think it's done! I'm sorr-" Freya started but she was cut off.

"Hush darling, look," Fyurik held his cradled arms before Freya and met her apologetic gaze, handed the baby to her "Do not concern yourself with words you said in intense pain, they were hardly things you meant, enjoy your moment," with that Fyruik stepped back and smiled at his new family. 'A beautiful sight,' he thought to himself, beaming from ear to ear.

"What do we name him?" Asked Freya, her wide green eyes widening more. "I remember the ones we have discussed but none feel like a fit,"

"I agree," said Fyurik with a hint of thought in his voice. " What of… Ailar?" He asked with a twinge of hope.

"No, I don't think so," said Freya equally as thoughtfully, "Januk, we should call him Januk,"she said softly "what say you to that?" Fyurik stopped to think and looked from the child to his mother, the excitement on her face, the plea in her eyes and gave in.

"Perfect, our little Januk," He hugged her from next to the straw and leaf bed.