Moonlings

Chapter One- The Trial

The small, furry white shape lay huddled in the corner of his cell. He was innocent. He knew he hadn't done anything, yet he was still being tried.

The sound of footsteps outside his door made him look up. His nose-less snout turned towards the exit hopefully. His eyes, one with a horizontal rectangle pupil and the other vertical, were filled with curiosity instead of fear. His fluffy ears perked up as the steps padded to a stop outside his door.

It opened smoothly, revealing another large weasel-like creature, this one with rhombuses for pupils.

"Potoo. Your trial is starting. Come with me."

Potoo stood and followed the guard down the narrow stone tunnel, which was lined with glowing mosses and small trapdoors. They reached a set of stairs, and with each climb the sound of voices grew louder, until they stepped out into the cavern.

It was massive, and could easily fit a building inside. Mosses and mushrooms emanated light all around, and a large crystal in the ceiling provided the main source of clarity. Potoo had emerged from a small door onto an enormous cliff overlooking the cavern floor, where many more weasels were gathered. On the rock, however, where just six creatures: Potoo, his guard, a group of three muttering among themselves further back, and a regal-looking figure at the cliff's edge.

Upon hearing Potoo climb onto the rock, the figure turned and her star-shaped pupils bore into him.

"The accused is here!" She announced in a voice that had clearly practiced this very saying. "The trial may begin!"

The entire cavern grew silent as the figure paced.

"I, Luazul, your humble leader, stand before you as judge. Potoo. Come forth."

Potoo shuffled to stand beside her. His shape was dwarfed by hers, as he was merely a pup.

"You have been accused by Moue, Astet, and Galy, all three guards of the triangle class. They accuse you of defending the enemy and attacking one of our own. What do you have to say against this?"

"Your lightness." Potoo started. "I believe I did nothing wrong. I merely saw three brutes attacking an innocent child. I couldn't let it be killed, even if it was a Skull Snake. "

This seemed to excite Luazul, as a glimmer entered her eyes.

"Very well. Will the accused come forth?"

The three weasels that had been awaiting in the back came forward, and Potoo went to their place.

"I notice that when you filed your complaint..." Luazul began, giving a wicked smile. "You forgot to mention that it was a CHILD."

The word echoed through the cave, rousing a bout of whispers from the crowd below. The three guards cringed, ears flat against their heads.

"What do you have to say about this?" Luazul finished sweetly. She seemed to be getting a sick pleasure from leading this trial and watching the guards squirm.

"W-well, it was stealing our food!" tried the guard Potoo thought was Astet.

"Oh?" Luazul's voice was chilling now, and she seemed unable to control the grin on her face. "Then tell me. Why were you eating lunch in ENEMY TERRITORY?"

"W-what!?" Moue gasped. "H-how did you figure it out?"

"That's simple." Luazul answered. She leaned closer to the three of them and looked them over. "You REEK of Nomes."

That words sent realization into all of the guards, who stood there shocked.

"And Nomes." she continued "Are the glowing mushrooms which, as many of our audience know, are native to the Valley of the Eels. Which is ENEMY TERRITORY. Do you have an excuse to have been there?"

The guards were silent. Luazul turned to Potoo.

"And you?"

Potoo immediately provided. "I was sent on a scouting mission by General Blite, your lightness."

Luazul frowned. "Well I need to have a talk with her about sending minors on missions." she muttered. "Anyways, I have decided on the punishment!"

The air was so tense, you could cut it with a knife.

"How about... FIVE ORB CYCLES IN THE PIT!"

The crowd let out a roar of approval, and the guards seemed horrified.

"Potoo! You are free to go!"

Potoo didn't wait. He turned and fled off the rock, out the door, and escaped out the tunnels into fresh air. Most Moonlings despised fresh air. Instead they stayed in the tunnels. But Potoo hated the walls pressing in on him, the smell he picked up on his gills. No, he preferred the crisp outside atmosphere, the clean gray rock under his paws.

He started to walk. That was the second trial in two orb cycles. General Blite would surely have a talk with him later. Potoo tried to forget about that as he wandered around, exploring the Crater Fields. He had gone far away from the tunnel entrance when he heard a loud noise. Quickly, he scurried behind a stone, believing it to be yet another asteroid. When he saw what had made the noise, however, he was shocked.

A tall white figure stood in the middle of a ring of dust, stabbing a pole into the ground.