Ultrafate: Origins

Chapter 1: Shock

"Hey Matt," Eric called to his younger brother's room. "Get up and get ready sleepy boy."

"Ugg, what? Why?" A drowsy Matthew called back.

"It's 6:30, and you said you wanted to do some early morning fishing today, remember?"

"Hmm... I guess I did, didn't I?"

"That's what I remember," Eric replied with a smirk, "So get dressed, get yourself a bagel or something, and meet me in front."

Eric walked away from Matthew's room and went downstairs to the fishing closet.

The two brothers lived alone in what used to be their father's house. Now that he was gone, Eric had tasked himself with the difficult job of looking after Matthew. Often times Matthew would get into trouble, skipping school and sometimes following Eric to work. Eric didn't mind the trouble as much as he worried for Matthew. Specifically, for Matthew's interests, or more so his lack of interests.

Eric stood at the front door looking at the springtime dew. He was dressed in dark jeans and a grey shirt that had the outline of a knife designed on the back.

"I'm all set," Matthew called while running down the stairs

Eric looked up at him to see a teen whose long black hair was still damp from the shower. Matthew wore his usual dark gray hoodie and sweatpants, and on his wrist was a crystal bracelet, the one Eric had given him after their father had died.

Eric gazed at the bracelet for a while, then asked Matthew, "Where's your rod?"

"It's out back, next to the shed." Matthew replied, "Come on, let's get moving."

Eric picked up his rod and bait leaning against the wall, then followed Matthew to the backyard.

Eric looked at the boy, at his brother who he had taken care of for the past few years.

"I hope you can find something of your own." He thought to himself. "You're 17, you're not a kid anymore. I wish you would realize that."

Matthew grabbed his rod from the shed, and the two brothers went on their way. They walked along, both lost in their own thoughts, walking to the lake that lay just outside of their hometown, Steelfur.

...

"Come on, Glare honey." Marsry insisted. "You've been living here for 9 years and you still don't want to have dinner with us?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Glare replied, leaning against the wall, "You don't need to waste your own food on me when I can hunt for myself."

Glare was an 18-year-old spitron living in the town of Safrin, a larger town populated by gareni and few jaltris. Glare's scales were red near the top of his body, with a gradient of dark grey flowing in from the bottom. He lived with Teffer, the 19-year-old son of Marsry. Both Teffer and Marsry were gareni. Teffer had lime green skin and light brown hair. Marsry's skin and hair were similar to Teffer's but slightly darker.

"Nonsense," Marsry replied. "You can have one meal with us, can't you?"

Teffer then walked into the kitchen, having heard the conversation from the living room.

"All three of you?" Glare asked.

A blotch of uncertainty swirled in his stomach.

"Would Dad... be okay with that?" Teffer asked with slower words.

"I don't see why not." Marsry said, "He agreed to let you live here, one meal wouldn't hurt."

"He wasn't happy when he found out I was living here." Glare thought to himself.