The Archer's Star

Chapter 1

People trust me with their animals- they shouldn't.

I've been training to be a Level A veterinarian for nearly an entire year and can't seem to pass the exit exam. This was the third time, and I promised my Dad I would pass. My confidence level isn't very high as I leave the exam room.

A soft, familiar buzz tingles my wrist. A text prompt. I tip my arm over and touch the tiny blue light visible under my skin. A small holographic image projects above my wrist. In big bold letters is the word I dreaded: FAILED.

Doctor Nera's text says she will give me one more chance before submitting a transfer request to a new department but I'm afraid my heart can't take the failure. All I have ever wanted to do is work with animals.

Footsteps echo on the hard tile floor behind me and I hear a familiar voice call out, "Lark!"

I turn quickly toward the voice and see my best friend Siro jog up beside me. He looks as if he just came from the gym, wearing a fitted black tank top, loose athletic shorts, and a pair of yellow gravity-defy boots.

I can't help but notice the changes made in his physique over the past few months. He's been spending far more time playing gravity-ball and lifting weights in the Physical Rehab department. Siro was assigned medical rehab as a Level A task after passing his L-Exams 4 months ago. He is the perfect fit for his job and seems to love it.

"Hey Si,"  I say, "What are you doing here?"

"Came to find you," he says slightly out of breath. "I knew your exam would be getting out about now and wanted to see how you thought you did." His brown eyes are bright, and I can see him search my face for an answer before his smile begins to fade.

I shake my head, no, slowly.

"Oh, Lark. I'm sorry. Do you know, for sure?" he asks.

"I just received the message on my text-prompt." I frown and hold my wrist up to him in a quick gesture. He swiftly grabs my hand and pulls me into his arms for a hug. His tan skin is warm and his scent, like aspen trees and lavender, is so familiar. I put my arms around him and squeeze back, resting my head on his shoulder.

He whispers quietly, "So sorry, my friend. If it's meant to be, it will be."  He hangs on a moment longer and lets me go.  "Let's go cheer you up with ice cream." He smiles.

I nod and can't help to feel like everything might be ok when I am with Siro. He has made me feel this way since I was ten and his family was transferred here from another community-villa.

The Xangs were settled into the tiny apartment next to us on the 139th floor of Saiph community-villa building V. The first time I saw his small face peeking through his front door he ran up to me and hugged me. Before that time, no one outside of my family had ever been so bold as to hug me. I remember freezing and not lifting my arms in return. He never judged me for that.

Si and I make our way through the corridors of the 38th-floor animal hospital wing and take a lift down to the 15th-floor dining hall. It takes some time to make our way to our favorite spot.

The community-villa of Saiph is one of the largest in the nation, housing 5 buildings, each 200 stories tall, interconnected by many glass bridge portals. I believe the total number of residents hover just under half a million people in this villa. Each family unit has a small apartment, and children are expected to live at home until at least age 18 or until they're married. Single adults who wish to live on their own must go to a single's dorm and newly married adults are permitted extra small living quarters.

Each community-villa is independently governed but with a hierarchy of laws that precede over it. The housing emphasis is always focused on available space, and as a result, the population must be kept under control. Couples that wish to have children must apply, sometimes years in advance. No one in Saiph gets pregnant by accident.

The world outside the Saiph community-villa is nearly uninhabitable. The depletion of the ozone layer along with diseases that have spread makes venturing outside the glass walls of the community only for very specific low-level trades. The people who haven't placed well among their exams are usually chosen for those dangerous tasks.

I've known only a couple of people from our academy that were not placed in the University Standards Level Program. One of them was a closer friend of Siro's and mine, named Timothy. I remember the day he took his USL's and received his placement result.

Timothy was with Si and I eating after the test. I saw the look of dejection on his face as he read his results. He was so embarrassed to tell us he didn't place. Without warning, we found out the next day he was gone. His family told us through their tears that officials from the trade placement department arrived the next morning and asked him to pack one bag for his new job. It has been almost a year, and we have not seen Timothy since.

The thought pops into my mind about what department I would have been placed in if it wasn't the veterinarian course. If I don't pass my Level A's, I will find out soon. My head swims with dread thinking of any other possibilities.

Si grabs my hand as he pulls me into the ice cream shop. The sign above the door flashes in bright pink lights, "Sprinkle's Ice Cream."

"Are you going with Chocolate Praline or Peanut Butter Trail, today, Lark?" The older gentleman at the counter says as he smiles at us. A happier feeling begins to rise in the pit of my stomach. Ice cream always makes my day better.

"I will have the Peanut Butter Trail, Zeik," I reply.

"Make that two," Si says holding up two fingers to Zeik.

He leans in closer to me and his shoulder brushes up against mine. His right is hand is still holding mine. I don't even think Siro realizes he's still holding it. I squeeze it gently and smile up at him. He radiates warmth, and simply touching him seems to always make me feel safe and comfortable.

Ever since I can remember, he has been the most touchy-feely person. I often think people just assume we are dating. Yet, he has never had an actual girlfriend. I have only had one boyfriend when I was 15, which didn't last long after my father found out. I never found out how he knew.

Suddenly, shouts from across the dining lobby grab my attention.  I turn quickly to look over my shoulder and I hear a crash and the unmistakable sound of glass shards hitting the floor. People squeal and a few cover their heads. I move toward the windows to see what has happened and I see a large bird struggling on the floor. Drops of blood are splattered against the white tile.

My breath is caught in my throat, as I see one of the strangest sights I have ever seen. A rare, giant owl has broken through the glass window facade with a 14" arrow sticking directly out of its left thigh.  It lays on its side, a giant wing flung open. Somehow, it's distraught eyes find mine. It silently asks me for help.

"Help, Lark,"-its eyes bore into mine and I can feel the pain in this bird's soul.

I know I must help it, but fear fixes me to the spot. Every failed test score is imprinted in my brain- how can I be trusted to do anything right?

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Love, Angela