Chapter 4
A Message from the Gods
Once upon a time, there were a couple of men. These men decided to have a game. The ones you call The Nameless Gods. They wanted a game, a test, a way to find to the strongest. For any other reason than to watch a game? I don’t know.
They had technology far beyond what we even have today. They had ways to create new species, bond different species and create an entire planet from nothing, as the story goes.
They made thousands upon thousands of what we call Xenos. Each one different and all similar in some way. They used the humanoid figure to base their subjects. They made modifications to those by grafting the genes of the animal subjects onto that base. They made a zoo. Yet not quite. The Human intellect remained with the “animals” and it soon got out of control. Many thought it was inhumane, torturous and disgusting to be caging and testing on such creatures. To them it was their own creations, a simple science experiment, yet brought too close the Divine, to the creation of life.
Their subjects got out of control, being able to learn rapidly, speak, and use logic. They could hate, and love with all the emotions of their creators. They could learn and do everything the humans could do, with the added ability, or disability, of their animal counterpart. Yet there was something that the creators didn’t learn, that Xenos as you and me, their first subjects, were human, they had made another sentient being. Not just an animal.
Since they realized what they’ve created trouble began and we were banished, sent to a planet. They thought us wild, doing away with their creation. But secretly they had plans. Plans to find the toughest, strongest Xeno of them all.
Our creators had made sure we would survive, if by only our blueprint. Others made sure our survival was jeopardized everyday, every step, if only by ourselves. This was no utopia, not at all, not by a long shot. We did our best to save ourselves and the race, it was selfish, if anything. We had friends and others by our sides.
But those who weren’t banded together were the enemies. Immediately cliques set in. And those who knew each other fought together and each warred with the others. Xenos against Xenos. If they thought us to kill each other, it’d be only because of the humanity in each of us. Segregation and hate, and an ability to use it, surpassing the human’s simple hands and feet.
It was madness, none of us were knowledgeable to know right from wrong. Too young, maybe. Having been abruptly cut off from our education of history and politics. Chaos set in like a civilization of kids, savages. Really, we were all primitives.
Some learned respect and order while other only knew of hate and war. Some even hid and tried to believe they were nothing, you don’t see them here now. We all had to eat and satisfy our hunger, vegetation and scarce animals set us on edge, looking for meat.
We fought, Ares and Xeres, side by side. We had to. Canines, Reptiles and other vicious Xenos. The fight went on for days, unable to sleep. The wild side got to us and feral instincts told us what to do, logic escaped us.
We had enemies and eventually monsters lurking, searching for the hunger only a killing can satisfy. We know traitors and backstabbers, so we did what we had to, the only thing we could, it was no option. There was no fighting with our little numbers. Just us Felines against all other creatures and beasts. It was a game, if we didn’t kill each other, the faster killer would. They would hunt and search, but we survived, barely, living on the run until one succumbed to hunger, resting in a slumber, until called again.
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Many, too many, died. No longer able to continue their race: those you don’t see on Xenobia. Other fled after some time and we all separated to be able to eat and sleep. Finally the war ended with a treaty, we decided to make this place our home. No more savages. The land is big and after days and days of trekking we came across the jungle, our habitat and what is now your village.
Years went by, we had a family, we gave them names and jobs. The fifteen of us took on our roles.
More years went by and more creature came to Xenobia. Big bad and ugly creature. Abominations made by the men who made us, an attempt to wipe us out. Since then we always felt we were being watched. Since the appearance of the monsters we felt as if we were scrutinized, watched by a hidden evil. Not just by the monsters, as if someone was behind you, now in front of you, unseen and everywhere. An omnipresent evil lurching in broad daylight.
Lifeless abominations lurking in the night to take the incautious and unwary. Some died in the end, many lives taken for the sake of the same creature’s and the god’s pleasures. You live. You are our progeny surviving in the blood line and keeping it alive through your actions.
The monsters took more of the Xeno species, yet, with their procreation, some continued, some didn’t.
Some time went by, and by the work of myself, Xeres and the family as a close group we had been able to keep the monsters at bay.
It was one night when we passed away and the kids continued our lineage, thousands of years passed, Huntresses upon Huntresses came and went, Kings and Queens ruled, and wars and battles were fought. We survived, Xenos still ruled the land.
The men who created us had long since perished and no doubt new scientists took their place. Yet no more Xenos came to us, a neither any monsters. Society expanded, the monsters still lurked. Evil was at hand and while Xenos were Human, our other half still kept on. Instincts made us who we are and instincts kept us alive. Don’t be ashamed in who you are. It is who I am that made me as great as I was. It will be you who makes you great as you are.
Xenos are one of a kinds. The best are not the ones sitting high on the throne. The best are the silent persuaders of fate, the ones who create the future and put their feet forward into tomorrow. Courageous, beautiful, respectable.
Many more men came to Xenobia. It wasn’t only until the last few thousand years that real men, not Xenos came to Xenobia. They fought and found themselves their own home. They bartered and traded, fought and battled. The same instincts that kept us alive are maybe the same in them.
Xenobia won in its individuality. There is no other Xenobia. No place like home. Many people came to visit and never left, many have stayed and never returned. Xenobia is wild, there is no other.
Child, you are the Huntress, let me tell you this, you are the Feline Huntress incarnate and are blessed with our power. Nobody can take it away from you, there will be no maybes.
Take my hand child.
———
I took her hand, she was as warm as life. Her paws were made from the softest fur yet well used, there was so much power inside a simple gesture. She told me one last thing before I left. “Dawn, I am always here for you, call and I will be at your side.”
She stared at me, fire in her eyes. “Though as we are your gods, they are your devils. Slay them and bring the light to their dark souls. Choose wisely the actions you take Dawn. We have been and will be watching you closely. You are it, the last to save the future of the tribe. You are special, you aren’t even the conventional Huntress. Bring me their souls, bring them the light! Kill the devils!”
The anger had died out of her as fast as it came.
“You’re the one Dawn. You’re our savior.”
I stared into her beautiful eyes, she was the most serene figure I have ever seen. There was no match.
As I looked into her eyes she faded away and left me sitting on the beach once more.
I couldn’t tell you what had just happened but I know I have embarked upon something, an ageless adventure, a continuation of the last thousands of years. This was my time to play the role.
I sat down in the sand and watched the stars move slowly by, and thought of the responsibility I now have, what can I do about it. I’m only a kitten. There’s Celentine who will teach me everything I need to know. Will it be enough. What happens when she’s gone? Will I be able to keep the omnipresent evil at bay? Is there even such a thing? Everything seemed so clean and worry free. I must learn more, make Ares proud and show her that I am the Huntress. That I can take the reigns and keep Xenobia marching into the future. For the sake of Xenobia, my home, I will.