EBC: Andromeda's First Order

A large snow leopard drug her tired paws along. Her whiskers drooped and sorrow & fear clouded her eyes. It was past dusk now, and it was time for her to return to camp. Yet another day out searching for her leader had been futile, again. There was no trace of him, and his scent had grown stale. He was far beyond their borders by now; He wasn’t coming back. The month before, after his disappearance and the search parties that had come up nothing, the empire had sat vigil for Soren. Most of them must have given up on him already. Andromeda had sat with them, yes. But not yet to grieve; It seemed too soon for that. It seemed an unbelievable thing to do. She’d spent the chilly night beside his bloody armor, praying to the life-giving gods that they would watch over him, keep him safe. Bring him back safe. She wanted to wait for him. Just like he had waited for her. It was because of him that she had made it this far. Now he was gone. How could she go on? She was all the empire had now. Suddenly it felt like all the trees of the forest had collapsed their weight upon her back, and each paw step toward the empire seemed heavier.

                Being his second in command, Andromeda was expected to step up and take his place as leader of Fire Empire. But how could she? He had been her everything...and then, as soon as she had realized it, he had been torn from her. The snow leopard hung her head, a defeated sigh escaping her maw. How could she carry on without him? How could she take on the burden of the empire without him? She drew a deep breath to calm her nerves. For just a moment she could have sworn she picked up his warm scent, but she could not see him, or the fire that breathed from his spirit into her soul, passing his leadership and fiery strength from him to her. Then, with a soft breeze, his scent was gone. But her mind seemed clear now.

                This wasn’t about her. It wasn’t about how much it hurt her to be ‘taking his place’. It wasn’t about if she thought he was alive and would return. The fact was that the empire was leaderless, grief-stricken, and broken. They were growing uneasy and doubtful. New recruits were losing faith that the empire could hold its own in the torn state it was in. Older members needed the comfort of knowing there was still hope for a bright future. They needed her. She was that hope.  Whether or not he was dead - Whether she believed he would return or not- She had to call off the search parties and call her first meeting from the Skycaller’s Rock. It was her time to step up and give the empire the confidence they needed to keep living day to day. It was the only way to let them know that there was indeed, a way to go on; surely she could put up a good front for their sake. Andromeda bent her head to glimpse the necklace she had shortened and added some of Soren’s beads to. He would always be with her.

                Taking another deep breath, the snow leopard descended a small slope that led to camp and pushed her way through the entrance, shaking off her sorrow and misgivings. Some huddled group of cats here and there looked up as Andromeda strode in. She strode in holding her head high and confident as she made her way towards the center of camp where the Skycaller’s Rock stood a looming, empty figure. It was time to move on. Another figure emerged from the blacksmith’s den and approached Andromeda. The silver came to a stop to speak to Abella as she came up, bits of armor hanging from her jaws. She set them down at a surprised Andromeda’s paws.

                “I know you told us we didn’t have to worry about making you a headdress or anything, but...It was good practice for Felix.” Abella spoke softly. She too, was saddened by the goings on. Andromeda nodded in gratitude. Whether or not they’d made it for her truly for the sake of training or because they felt they needed to, Andromeda could not deny their hard work, even if she had not wanted a headdress; she didnt want to seem better or more important than her comrades.

                “Thank you, Abella.” Andromeda murmured. The smaller snow leopard held up Andromeda’s altered harness. The leather was black now, and a different design adorned the straps. Andromeda stepped into it and Abella situated it for her.

                “We also found this for you.” Abella tossed a red cloth over Andromeda’s gray back, the empire crest in black on it. The blacksmith attached it to Andromeda’s harness with two golden clasps that fit into the harness perfectly. “...And lastly.” Abella picked up a metal headdress. A ruby dazzled the center, and across it were the spiked colors of fire. Andromeda lowered her head, and the smaller snow leopard placed it on her head like a crown. Abella took a step back and Andromeda raised her head, finally becoming aware that the rest of the empire had come out from their dens to watch the coronation.

                “You and Felix do great work.” Andromeda praised the blacksmith quietly. “Fire Empire is lucky to have you.” She dipped her head to the other snow leopard, and leaped her way up Skycaller’s Rock.

                With each bound up the rock face, Andromeda thought about everything she and Soren had been through together, and the reason they weren’t together now. Scaeden. Andromeda had almost killed him, but Soren had stopped her. The snow leopard couldn’t help but feel a slight twinge of anger at her leader for having shown him such kindness, for he had repaid Soren’s mercy with blood and a dying heartbeat. She paused and lifted her chin to gaze at the starlit sky overhead. ‘I swear to the gods, Scaeden.’ Andromeda silently vowed. ‘If we ever meet again, you will die by my claws.’

                Her anger towards the other lynx and hunters in general was swelling. The silver gladiator meant every word silently spoken. Well, not quite a silver gladiator any longer. She had new responsibilities now. Soren had made her his right hand cat for a reason, and now that reason would show, as the new day would dawn on her as Fire Empire’s new leader. What she had to say now would affect the empire for seasons to come. The continued up the rock and stopped at its peak. She drew a breath, and recited for the first time the words she would use to call the empire to gather.

                “Fire Empire! Rise! Under the light of the moon I summon you!” Her voice rang out. She waited as the remaining members of the empire-those not emotionally impacted by Soren’s departure- emerged from their dens and gathered beneath the Skycaller’s Rock with the others. When it seemed everyone was present, Andromeda spoke.

                “These past few days have been stressful on all of us. I know I’ve only been recently returned to the empire, but I need you to know that I did not abandon or betray you. I merely had unfinished business to take care of in that wretched city. And now that my demons have been laid to rest, I can continue my duties with a clear conscious. During my absence, we have lost beloved empire mates and welcomes promising new members. I apologize for having left the empire in such a precarious position without a silver gladiator, and I thank Aglaia for handling my duties while I was away.” Andromeda dipped her head in gratitude toward the tigress. "Now that Soren has been taken from us, it is my duty as silver gladiator to rise as Fire Empire’s new leader. I promise I will never leave you all again, and it would be my honor to become your leader, if you will have me even after my absence as of late.” Andromeda feared that some of her empire mates would be angry with her abandonment of them, and she would not force them to follow a leader they did not want to follow.

                Andromeda pricked her ears as her empire spoke amongst themselves, then called out, encouraging and approving. The snow leopardess cracked a small smile. How could she have doubted their devotion? Even those new members who did not know her could find no reason to object.  Andromeda dipped her head solemnly. “Then I humbly accept the position of leader of Fire Empire.” She rose her neon blue eyes to the empire gathered below, feeling a surge of pride in her faithful empire. Her pride faltered just a bit at the thought of the lynx who used to stand here, and she was silent a few moments while the crowd below chitchatted excitedly and cheered for their new leader. She hated to bring the mood back down with the topic, but she knew there were things that needed to be said.

                “Soren had a warm heart.” Andromeda began, sounding a bit choked. “He was born with the blood of a killer, and raised to fight, like so many of us. But when he escaped that life, he made a very strong point to never have to kill again. He no longer wanted to be that savage that took lives, and instead strived to be a feline who showed kindness and gave second chances. We will never forget that honorable attribute about him.” Andromeda paused, her voice hardening as she went on. “But it was his kindness that was his undoing. Had Soren allowed me to kill Scaeden, Scaeden would not have returned to kill Soren. Had we killed the hunter apprentice Furie, he would not have returned to kill Koda.” Andromeda made sure they received a painfully sharp reminder of the damage and pain the hunters had dealt them lately. “Sometimes, whether we like it or not, we DO have to take lives. May the gods forgive us, but to keep our freedom and protect one another, we must not be so afraid to end the life of a Bounty Hunter. They cannot be trusted to show the same mercy toward us. It is their JOB to hunt us. As freed felines, it is our DUTY to protect the empires against these city savages.

“And part of that is done with the help of a second; an empire cannot be without a silver gladiator.” Andromeda searched the sea of faces for a young white tigress. She’d given this choice a lot of thought, and had decided on Soren’s former apprentice. Andromeda had always expected to choose Brutus as her silver when the day came, but now the day was here, and the white tigress seemed more fitting. She, of all cats, had more of a reason to hate hunters and be more ready to support Andromeda’s choice to kill them then probably anyone else. “Aglaia, please step forward.” The tigress looked up, surprised, and padded closer to the Skycaller’s Rock. “Word has it that you rose to the occasion well when Soren asked you to be the temporary Silver gladiator. I have always trusted Soren’s judgment and so I know I can trust you to continue the duties of a Silver. Will you accept this position?”

                “Y..yes,” Aglaia stammered, still clearly surprised by the new leader’s choice, and bowed. “It is an honor.”  

                “You’ve earned it.” Andromeda murmured and raised her voice for all the clearing to hear clearly. “Aglaia shall be the new Silver Gladiator of Fire Empire!” The empire cheered and congratulated her. Andromeda dipped her head to Aglaia.

                “Rise.”

                The new silver gladiator straightened and took her place on the stone below Skycaller’s Rock, where Andromeda always used to sit. The snow leopard continued on.

                “Now then, in the honor of Soren, Koda, and the other empire mates we have lost to Hunters, I inform you now that I will not hesitate to end the life of a hunter should the situation present itself. Neither of our factions will yield to the other, and so there can be no peace between us. And should the position present itself to any of you, I expect you to do the same. For those of you who do not want another’s blood on your claws, I will not force you to kill. But you are to bring them to someone who will.” She knew some felines, such as those young ones who had never known bloodshed, might be afraid to take a life; she had to put that out there for their sake.  “This empire has been acquired by cats who knew their duty and had the courage to do it. Make them your examples and… do not weigh too nicely the perils of war.” Andromeda paused. There was really only one living hunter whom she had any special grudge against. “And should any of you come across the Bounty Hunter’s former leader, Scaeden,” Andromeda swept her gaze across her gladiators. “...you are to bring him to me. Alive.” Andromeda let the empire talk among themselves. Some seemed uneasy.

“Compassion is a dangerous thing, friends.  The hunters have taken advantage of our kindness and have disgraced Soren’s honor. We must not let this happen again. The days of warm hearts is over! We are Fire Empire; known across the territories for being courageous and fierce! The time has come for us to show the hunters how strong we can be when we don’t hold back.” Doubts seeming forgotten, the empire cats in the clearing below let out yowls of support. "We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Massilia, we shall fight in the mountains and plains, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the forest, we shall defend our land, whatever the cost may be… we shall never surrender! For our honor and for our freedom!”

                The caterwauls swelled like a single mighty roar, echoing through the trees so far that even the mountains likely trembled. Tails lashed, claws scraped the ground with the urge to dig them into hunter flesh. Andromeda smiled grimly. Whatever the future may hold, Fire Empire would be ready to face it.