S.A.S. - Book one: Secrets (Rewriting)

Chapter One: Memories

Red woke up to the harsh sound of drums and flutes battering his ears. Where the hell am I he thought as he got up off the ground. The only thing he could remember about his past was a feeling of betrayal and anger. Not wanting to dwell on these thoughts, he turned and walked into some sunlight. Warmth. The sun on his planet didn't radiate heat; They were too far away from it. The planet produced all the heat. Curious.

Red took a look at himself, checking to see if he was ok. He was a limber foxlet, young and what looked something like a cross between a human and a fox. Red had silver gauntlets with an orange gem on each wrist. He also wore a tattered, well-worn T-shirt and baggy shorts, and a red and black beaded necklace around his neck. He had big ears, but from what he guessed was a battle left a fresh V-shaped nick. But what was I battling?

Turning, Red focused on the drums and flutes. The melody they played flowed through the air like the stream that he and Flame used to play next to and eat oranges at...

"Flame!" he shouted and turned, yet again, to the place he had woken up from. "Flame, where are you?!"

"Agh!" a faint gasp caught Red's big ears, and he saw a small red-orange paw behind some large bins. "Flame - ?"

Flame was a smaller foxlet, but she was an arctic fox. She wore a pale green T-shirt, worn but not as worn as Red's, and grey jeans with a brown leather jacket. Flame also had a silver-blue ring in her ear. She had flame patterns in red-orange going down her arms and legs. These flame patterns gave her her name, which was Flamora. Red just called her Flame.

"Red? I thought - but - You were ban..." She cut off suddenly as she realized they weren't on their home planet. "Banished" she finished quietly.

Red realized that she was right. He remembered now. They had been banished from their home by the Council of Fire. He and Flame had tried to protect their sacred Dragon Flame from a group of bandits but ended up with the blame as no one was allowed in its chamber.

"I'm so sorry Flame. They were like family to you..." he trailed off, not wanting to continue.

"It isn't that bad. I've still got you." Flame whispered, obviously not wanting to either.

Red and Flame had been best friends since they were little foxlings. They weren't related, but they still felt a special bond that only some could feel. Red's parents died before he had the chance to meet them, but Flame's mother happily took him in and they've been together ever since. Both of them trained as royal guards, but only Flame made it in since Red wasn't officially her brother and wasn't part of the royal guard's family line. He still "volunteered" to help them protect the kingdom from the petty thieves that harassed the marketplace.

"Well, not like we can do anything more. After all, It's... for life" Red said as he walked over to help her stand up. "We just have to find out how to blend in."

"First of all, what do these people even look like?" Flame asked as she pushed him away, but Red just shook his head. "Well, we best find out, if we are going to blend in."

Red got up, and Flame did the same, but then after a few seconds, she dropped back down to the ground again. "Are you OK?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face. "I thought you were OK!"

"I thought so too, but something is wrong with my leg. I can't feel it" Flame replied worriedly. She looked around nervously. "Someone will find us soon."

"Let me look at it. Don't forget, I've done this lots while being on my own." Red hurriedly ripped open the bottom of Flame's pant leg and grimaced.

"What? What is it? Is it - bad?" she had just seen her leg and the big gash that was sliced along her ankle. "Why can't I feel it?"

"Either the Council gave you something to numb the pain, or..."