Stars of Autumn

Chapter One

Wake up at 6, get ready, go to work at 7, come home at 9, clean up, eat, sleep. This was the daily schedule for everyone in the stronghold. Well, almost everyone. Daily life was monotonous, and Osprey was tired of it. She needed something different, something exciting, but no such thing was found in the stronghold. She longed to see what was outside the safety of the castle walls.

Of course, that was forbidden, no one ever ventured outside. There in the stronghold it was safe, everything anyone could ever want could be found there.

Still, she was constantly trying to escape, but to no avail, she was constantly caught. She was supposed to rule the kingdom one day, to defend it, but how could she perform this task successfully without knowing what lay beyond the gates of her kingdom?

Her brother, Caiman, was the current ruler. Everyone knew that it would only be a matter of time before he joined his 2 brothers among the stars. The throne was wanted by everyone, the need for power was strong amongst the people. Caiman was extremely strict when it came to the law, making sure everything was in perfect order. If anything was but in the slightest out of place, it would be eliminated. No matter if it was living or not, even one of his own citizens, if it didn't meet expectations, it was to be eliminated.

    Osprey shuddered as she remembered the horrific scene of the execution.

    " Please! It was only a mistake! I didn't mean it!" said the young soldier.

    " We don't have room for mistakes here, " Caiman replied coldly.

    Osprey recalled the sheer horror in the child's eyes, the fluent movement of the ax and her head falling to the ground. Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine.

    She threw off the sheets and got up for yet another tedious day. Stretching, she heads out the door without bothering to change into her uniform, leaving with jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket.

    She slipped into her office undetected, or so she thought.

    "You're late, and out of uniform. This is the sixty-seventh time in a row that you're not in uniform," stated her brother.

    "Yeah, yeah, where's the paperwork?" Osprey snapped back

    "Not even a good morning," muttered Caiman. "It's right here. Remember, it's due Monday. That gives you 4 days. Monday." He put extra emphasis on the last word.

"It'll be on your desk first thing," Osprey stated blandly.

"Better be," retorted Caiman.

    Osprey skimmed over the forms, as one caught her eye.

    "Prevailing Head of Council, sign here," she paused, then proceeded to make her way to her brother's office.

    "What in the actual hell is this?! You can't just sign some damn paperwork and become queen! And where was the consent?!"

    "The people are growing restless, they need someone to lead them when my rein-" Caiman tried to say.

    "When you die," interrupted Osprey.

    Caiman let out a sharp exhale," Yes, when I am no longer living," Caiman confirmed.

    "Then we have a problem, you have control of guards, troops, heck, even the entire military force. You can easily prevent your own death, so why aren't you doing so?" questioned Osprey

    "You will learn in time," blandly stated Caiman.

    "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I Would understand it just fine if you would tell me!" retorted Osprey

    "This understanding isn't gained by words, only by experiencing it will you know," replied Caiman, "Now back to work, the due date is soon."

    Osprey left her brother's office without another word. "This is such bullshit!", thought Osprey. She entered her office to finish the paperwork, leaving the one paper to the side. At 2 in the afternoon, she was finished.