A cold breeze blew through the air, whipping at Star's fur. She shuffled uncomfortably, casting a quick look at her fellow guard, who was currently passed out in a useless lump against the wall. She debated with herself about waking him up, but decided she'd let him rest. At least one of them wasn't having to be bored out of their minds in the cold, guarding against nothing. Eventually, her sore legs convinced her to gave up on standing, and she slumped down to the ground. As if the universe had been waiting, a guard immediately poked his head through the doorway. He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Get up, they might need you in a moment," the guard said, looking down at the sleeping guard with a mixture of disdain and amusement before going back inside. Star stood up reluctantly, her legs groaning in protest. She gently kicked the sleeping guard, who startled awake with a gasp. Star snorted in laughter, earned an annoyed look.
"Have a nice nap?" Star asked with a grin. The guard stood up and yawned.
"I didn't even realize I dozed off," he yawned, his words slurring together with sleepiness. "Are we switching shifts soon or something?"
"No, I think we're about to escort the Leader and his family back, the other guard told me to be prepared," Star replied.
"Ooh, we get to be some of the first to see the new heir!" The guard said, his ears perking up with excitement. Star nodded as the second guard walked back out of the medic's building, his face solemn.
"Come inside," he said gruffly, before turning back through the door. Star and the first guard exchanged concerned looks before walking inside. The wooden hallways were covered in different well trimmed vines, which Star assumed were used for medicinal purposes. The vines gave off a calming earthy scent, but it was overshadowed by something else. The smell of blood. Star started walking faster, opening the door at the end of the hallway. The leader, a tall Umbra with midnight black fur, was standing against the wall, tears rolling down his face. He was holding a newborn umbra in his arms, staring at the bed. Star followed his gaze to the lifeless body of the leader's wife. A quiet gasp escaped from Star, and she felt her heart drop. The leader let out a loud sniff before trying to regain his composure. He turned to the medic, who was sitting down with a hollow expression.
"I need you to prepare her for-" his voice caught in his throat before he could finish his sentence, but the medic nodded in understanding. The leader turning to Star and the other guards. "It's time to return home." The words were nothing but muffled noise to Star though, she was staring into the newborn umbra's eyes in a trance. A cold feeling shook her to her core, the newborn was staring back. Star's world seemed to darken around her, aside from those blood red eyes burning through her soul.
