(I)
Et Stellas, the biggest Empire of an animal world.
With canids that live in harmony and prosperity inside their own problems.
The sun is up, high in the sky, with a unique warmth that hits the green and peaceful grassland. The huge Empire, with a huge pair of main gates, and a big main road that leads directly to the huge amphitheater.
In these days of the year, the Empire is filled with music, drinks, and dances for the Carmentalia festival.
Canids celebrate, for the women birthing and prophecy, playing with their instruments, drinking the wines of the best winemakers of all the Empire and dancing at the beat of the music.
Pups run from one side to the other one with crowns of flowers on their heads, females dances jumping and moving their paws gently in the air while the males just clap, stomping their feet in rhythm with the company of a few howls. Gifts are being exchanged at the same time as hugs or kisses.
Besides the festival, not too far from the big gates of the Empire, is the Palatium(1). A huge and majestic palace, situated in the top of a hill with a beautiful look to the city of Et Stellas in one side and a look at the green camps in the other one.
The music of the festivals doesn't reach the palace though.
In there, you can only hear the calmly sound of some birds singing and winging around, a wind that hits the big walls that cover the entire Empire, the sound of the leaves of the trees and tall grass of the camp being pushed by a soft afternoon breeze. . . and an
"Aurelius!" . "Ahh!" Screams the Dog, moving his paws in the air before falling of the big mattress he was sleeping. Aurelius is a uniquely white Samoyed Dog, just like all his ancestors since the rise of the Empire.
In Et Stellas the white fur, sign of peace, and the dog shape, sign of guard and fidelity, are sacred for the canines of the Empire.
Maximus, an albino jackal and a loyal servant of the Emperor, leaves a heavy gasp, looking at the big dog in the floor, but after a couple of seconds he quickly recovers himself, standing straight and clearing his throat for a clear speak "Young Samoyed, the Emperor had been requesting for you in the locus throni(2)" He announces, for the third time that same day and, turning on his ankles, he leaves the room.
The white Samoyed slowly gets up and leaves a big and long yawn, raising one paw high in the sky to stretch his back while gently rubbing the back of his head with his other. "Stupid Jackal. . ." He speaks, more tone of a whisper while ending his dignified yawn, turning around to glance at his recently used bed.
"I heard that" Maximus' voice replies from nowhere, making Aurelius chuckle with a warm grin on his face.
The palace is mostly closed, surrounded by huge and beautiful decorated walls that forms long corridors, where can lead a single whisper from one side to the other side of the Empire. The only sounds that dominate those corridors are the cracking wood of the torches and, but rather infrequently, footsteps.
Aurelius' room is big, actually is one of the biggest rooms in the palace, with a big mattress in the middle that dresses with some pillows and a big red bed-spread, and next to it is a Lectus(3) covered with a light yellow blanket. On the other side of the mattress is a small table, a round top and three legs, with a big brush sleeping over it.
The dog finishes dressing up with a light yellow formal tunic and toga(4), and walks forward the small table. His big paw reaches the big brush with no hurry at all and carefully starts grooming himself.
Two times in different parts, giving long and low strokes at the same rhythm of his breath.
The birds still chirping outside, the melodious and clammy sing of a peaceful life and Aurelius likes that, he can't help wagging softly his tail from one side to the other.
Aurelius finally puts down the brush with a long and sharp sigh, laying it back on top of the table in the exact place where he found it and, still with no hesitation, heads outside his room.
He starts walking straight, forwards, down the lonely corridor. Aurelius is walking a little faster than usual, his paws are already interlocked behind his back, and he's forming a warm smile on his face.
The journey to the Throne room is not too long. The Samoyed stops in front of two big doors, made from thick dark wood, decorated with lots of shining golden shapes and patterns and two shining silver handles to open each door. Standing in front of the closed entrance are two guards, or warriors, with sword on scabbard and shield hooked to their backs.
"Decimus" Rumbled Aurelius, with the spice of authority tone on his voice, looking at the armed wolf standing in front of the right door. "Marcus" He adds, now to the Doberman on his left. Both guards quickly bow with their entire bodies, almost at the same time, before opening the door for the Son of the Emperor.
The first thing Aurelius sees when he enters the big room is at his father, sitting on the beautiful throne. Dressing with his Emperor golden armor, his scabbard with a sword on his left side and a pugio(5) on the other side. Always beside him, his wife, Jules, or Aurelius' mother, dressing a light blue peplos(6). Her long and perfectly groomed fur, together with her delicate face and figure, make her look like a powerful woman.
Emperor Arthur and Aurelius are very similar in look; Samoyed, broad shoulders, ears always perked up with white fluffy fur and, both of them, taller than the 'average size'. And Jules, she's a beautiful albino wolf and the typical physical appearance dreamed of by all the females of the Empire.
Arthur quickly, with a small hop, stands up of his throne and gets closer to his son, immediately scooping him in a big hug "Son, where have you been? I was worried!".
People of around, even from the other Empires, never saw an Emperor that close to his son. They have always seen the jealousy, a fight for power, or other things between the royal blood families, but Arthur has a story behind. One that he never tells for reasons that he, Jules and Aurelius, well know.
Arthur breaks the hug and grabs softly his son's shoulder with his big and firm paw, can't help smiling softly. The younger Samoyed just chuckles, resting one paw on top of his father's "I was resting, father, no need to worries". They do have a very strong bond, an inseparable father and son.
But that won't take too long.
Arthur feels a soft tap on his back, perking his ears more than he usually does before stepping aside. Jules carefully raises her soft paws to grab Aurelius' shoulders, and carefully leans forward, pressing softly her cheek to his cheek.
Jules has been always with a unique etic, she respects the laws and the legacies, but that doesn't mean she loves her son with all her heart.
"Tell me, father, you requested my presence" Aurelius glances darts his father, taking his paws back to his back and raising his ears back up. Jules gets closer to his husband and, taking his paws, she whispers something that makes Arthur quietly laugh with a nod.
A couple of seconds later, she leans to kiss the Emperor on the cheek and walks away, while Arthur addresses his son, with a warm grin and a "Follow me".
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(1) Palatium: In Latin, Palace.
(2) Locus Throni: In Latin, Throne Room. (Locus; place, room, spot. Throni; throne)
(3) Lectus: Roman furniture, used as a couch or a bed.
(4) Tunic and Toga: Roman male cloth, woolen toga is often draped over the tunic
(5) Pugio: Dagger used by Roman Soldiers as a second arm or sidearm.
(6) Peplos: Body-length garment worn by women
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Et Stellas: Beyond Different Worlds
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