Starfall

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Location: Equus, South Zebrica

Time: 10 years ago

The endless savannah, home for the wise Zebras, and home for the cruel Lions. Their ago old conflict, one to eat, the other to be eaten left it's mark on this night, as it have done with countless others.

The night time land was lighten by fires of a small village as it burn to it's ashes slowly, accompanied by horrific cries and gleeful cheering. The lions had a feast, and the Zebras been the guest of honour, to be served on their plates. Many had flee, but those who could not suffered the fate no sapient being should.

From afar from a hilltop a small group looked back at the valley which was their safe home, or as they though to be. Now their eyes mat with tears and ears laid back flat. Slowly, and with great struggle they turned around, clearly still hearing some of their love ones desperate calls for help. They left. One young mare, with golden rings lead the group. Their chance for safety laid beyond the mountains, but she already had her doubts. Likely they would need to flee from there as well in short order, and try to meet up with other villages to form an alliance to hope to fend off this new, wild tribe of lions, and even then with a great cost of life.

Many hours have passed and the moon was now close to end it's journey in the night sky as the small band of survivors got close to the mouth of a mountain passage, the village now just a small flickering speck in the distance bellow when something caught their eyes up in the night sky. It was a brilliant shooting star, and it was heading their way. The sleepiness and exhaustion left their eyes first with wonder, then soon with fright as the flaming object passed over their head, towards the savaged village with a great roar. But it was not a space rock, was something else as massive fires blew out from it's bottom, slow down, and still with a massive force impact the ground, one such they could feel where they stood. And whoever might been down there was sure to be no more, reduced to ashes for the wind to blow freely away. The Zebras stood there, mouth agape, could been the gods vengeance on the lions? But what of those who were still alive and held captive. Their though of train soon stopped as another object, like the one moments ago, light up the night sky, then another one, and even more, all slowing down some, and impact the flat planes bellow far and wide. Fear for the worst the the world was ending they run, run as fast as they could, away from the falling sky.

When they finally stopped, as their legs could no longer carry them it was morning already. They made it to the other side of the passage snaking among the tall mountains. The young shaman fighting her fatigue to help her pairs begin collect different kind of flowers and herbs she could see among the rocky passage. It would be not much, but it could very well mean the difference, she gave to the young first as the others distributed them or pick more themselves, and they chew the foul tasting breakfast. Once they finished, they lay there in silence. The night took it's tool on them all, physical and mentally. Minutes tick by when a bright light appeared in the sky, overpowering the sun, and it was coming their way. Fear spiked once more, and tears begin to fall as it approached, slowing down, and over their heads, they could feel the heat radiate from the flames before a massive gust of hot wind hit them. The wrath of skies passed losing more of it's speed, and now they could clearly see it. It was massive, draft the ones that feel from the sky the night, it blew blue fire on it's 8 legs, made of metal, and the roar was unbearable, but finally it disappeared behind the peeks, yet they could still hear it. Then the ground shook and at last the beast calmed down as it's ungodly voice gone.

The small group was terrified. And with fear anew, they pick up the slack, fighting their way through exhaustion and aching, protesting limbs. Reaching the nearest village, which was in utter panic. And instead of help, they receive accusation of summoning sky demons and all kind of vile acts. And thus they continued their journey, towards north, with despair reaching new depths.

Days passed on as occasionally they saw more of the smaller demons descend, far away, where their once home laid. The group was smaller now, outcasts, weakened by hunger, no place to rest and hide from the elements and predators, they gave a final look towards the plains as they entered the jungle, only to carry on, and hope their journey end, one way or another.