Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

A dark figure approached the mouth of the flat sand polished cave. Broodlings stood out against the moonlight, their shadows meshing with the darkness of the cave. Stars filled the night like they always did. It was rare to find clouds in the desert, it made the winds harsh and the nights cold.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she watched them each bite into their flesh and run their fangs down. Their wounds matched the tiger stripes that lined their forelegs.

They stood there, blood dripping from their legs, covering old puncture scars. Shocked they couldn't find words, and froze as if spotted by a sand viper.

“Lady,” a strong voice rang out. Apparently he was tired of waiting for the others to respond and shot them a look. They all bowed their heads slightly and offered the same greeting. “She asked you a question Son Dart,” he said.

“Oh uh, yes Lady, well we bleed ourselves because the sand, well, the poison leaches into our blood first and then the body. If we do this it stops us from... dying?”

“To prevent the poison from escaping the blood and entering our flesh we must drain our blood so our bodies will produce more. If there is blood for the venom to occupy then it will not spread to our bones Lady,” the one in the rear responded. “Excuse them, they're not used to seeing a broodmother out here. Come Lady, this place is not for you.”

“The sands must be hard if you have to do that,” she said ignoring his last statement.

“They are cruel indeed, that is why sandwalking is for broodlings.” He turned to the others. “Get the kill inside, and start post hunt drills. I'll be inside shortly, no cutting corners,” he ordered and they hurried past her each with a torn piece of cloth wrapped around a large object.

“Sister Coal wasn't,” she said.

“No, she wasn't,” he replied. “Now come this place is not for you.”

“I just wanted to see the stars, I wanted to see if they're as beautiful as Coal said they were,” she said staring into the sky. “And they are.” The broodling approached and stared into the sky with her. She could see the large deformation on the right side of his face as if he'd been burnt. “Do you... do you think Coal will make it?” she asked.

“I have walked with Coal until we saw the clouds of the Griffon Highlands, we've slain beasts larger then the broodling hall itself. When I first walked the sands with her I feared she would be arrogant, a broodmother is not used to losing her place, no offense,” he said. He looked to the sand beaten tent that stood on the edge of the cave, his home. There had not been a sandwalker in the past so resilient to the poison, but he thought that perhaps it was because he spent so much time beside it. There was no going back into the caves for him. The absolute darkness of their passages, the closed in spaces. He couldn't handle that sort of thing. Scar would rather battle an antlion then have to report in the caves below. No, they sent him everything he needed, and as long as he kept training the new broods there would be no need for him to go below.

“None taken,” she replied.

“But that was not the case with Coal, she listened, learned,” he said, a certain pride in his voice. “While she may have been brash, and stubborn at times, she always listened to what those under her said. I give her great admiration for that. In order to lead one first has to learn to follow. Besides, Fang is with her,” he said. “It both saddens me, and brings me joy knowing they will pass under the stars together.”

“I wonder if I could ever take her place, in the sand I mean.”

“No,” he said with finality, “we need broodmothers, you are so few now.”

“I know, it's just... I can't imagine staying in the caves for the rest of my life. I guess this will be the first and last time I ever see the stars.”

“Perhaps one day you shall, if Coal succeeds.”

She shook her head. “No, my life is not long enough.” He cast his eyes down in answer.

“Coal could adapt, and that is what made her so strong, it is what has made us all so strong.” She smiled at his words.

“I hope so,” she said.

“Now come Lady, we shall have to bleed you too now. I will tell none you were here.”

“I guess I have to if I want to keep living,” she said.

“Live so that one day our kind may yet see the stars and know not what poison is.”