Author's Note: Hey guys! Hope you enjoy the beginning to my little ramble. I'm actually not a newcomer to Lit, and my previous tale was very, very well-received.
But, as usually happens, unfortunate circumstances prevented me from posting the completed story and I wanted to make a fresh start with a new pen name. I'm actually a little curious if any of my former fans will recognize my style of writing. Hmm, we shall have to see, won't we? Anyhow, happy reading and please review! Comments are very rewarding to writers, and they give us the necessary fuel to continue.
Post Script: One; I'm a fan of long, well-written, plot-driven stories and that is the way I try to write as well. For those of you who are just looking for a quick bit of fun, this might not be your sort of tale.
And two; some of the words, especially from Jaril's perspective, are purposely misspelled to better give you an understanding of how he hears and interprets our language. You'll see when you get there. ;)
~ ~ ~
Prologue
The year is 3520. Traveling at light speed was a technological triumph that was finally breached by the human race three-hundred years prior. After swift exploratory actions were taken, it was obvious that the surrounding galaxies and planets were not only inhabited, they'd been watching the human race's advances towards unfettered space travel with increasing apprehension.
As negotiations, treaties, bargains, and boundaries were struck, it soon became evident that the human species was regarded as little more than a type of insane primate with innate homicidal tendencies. As a result, their progress in space travel was not well-received by many surrounding planets of people.
Moreover, the latest in human technology was considered primitive to the more advanced races, and put them at a severe disadvantage. A distinct difference than what they were accustomed to. As such, the humans were no longer at the top of command, and were put on non-negotiable restrictions wrought with endless limitations.
They
were
eventually allowed to expand but were left to build their own settlements when and where they were able. Furthermore, any attempts to branch out would not be aided.
*
Planet Saris, as it came to be known, was a huge red sphere that lay on the outer edge of the Lunari Galaxy and was fourth away from two small, twin orange suns. It was an exciting find for the humans to say the least. This large, newly discovered planet, seemed wholly unexplored, unclaimed and almost immediately became the target of an intense, enthusiastic study.
As more and more data was recovered, it soon became evident that despite the majority of it being covered in dense jungle, this planet was rich in fertile ground, well-hydrated, and the atmosphere was comparable to Earth's. The climate was a bit warmer, much more humid and, instead of the usual greens, the foliage ranged from an odd crimson to a burgundy so dark it was almost black. But these small differences were entirely negligible.
All in all, it seemed Saris would make a splendid site for a new human settlement and select few were chosen to be left behind to populate. This group would establish a claim, defend it, research the new territory and all its lifeforms, build, and attempt to cultivate the land.
Annually, however, a supply ship would be sent back to drop off needed provisions, and to do a wellness report on the society's condition as a whole. The findings were sent directly to the main intelligence sector of the human government as a basis for further expansion into the universe.
For the first year or two, all went according to plan. Things changed, however, when first contact was made. It seemed there
was
a multitude of indigenous peoples after all, and the native inhabitants were not as welcoming as the planet itself. Mostly, they seemed to be nothing more than scattered villages of primitive tribal-like races.
None were human and none seemed to enjoy having them around, but they did not try to run the newcomers off. Rather, these beings initially went out of their way to avoid contact.
However, as more and more land was cleared to make room for the visitors, accidental meetings occurred fairly often. As time passed, reluctant communication was learned, hesitant agreements were made and, after a bit of negotiating, it seemed that mingling and trading with the jungle people would actually work out rather well.
It wasn't to be, though. Soon, the more peaceful tribes became the target of harassment and cruel pranks. Groups of the more rowdy younger men were the culprits in many of these so-called games. And, as they were apprehended, they were duly punished.
The damage had been done, however, and the humans were now branded "dangerous", and all contact, friendly or otherwise, ceased quite abruptly.
Shrugging the setback off, the determined group of humans continued to build and thrive on their new planet, unaware that another tribe was keeping a very close watch on them; observing and learning. This species knew the jungle well and they knew how to stay out of sight until just the right moment.
Saris was big. Nearly three times the size of Earth. And, as such, a large portion of it still remained unexplored. Having not run into anyone other than the tribes that they'd already encountered and traded with, the human settlement foolishly thought that there were none other.
How very, very wrong they were.
The first raid struck in the middle of the night; swift, brutal and merciless. People were killed, livestock and supplies were stolen, as well as a good amount of much needed weapons and ammunition. And, as an added hardship, they also burned a substantial number of crops that the humans had managed to start growing.
The second attack happened a fortnight later, only they struck at dawn. This time around, however, the invaders had learned how to use their own weapons against them. Barring those two inconsistencies, it was a complete repeat of the first raid and left behind many more casualties. Witnesses could only speak of blurry recollections of large, dark-red beings charging out of the thick foliage and swarming into the unaware human population, leaving destruction in their wake.
However, after several more violent meetings, the humans managed to collect themselves and prepare an adequate defense. It proved formidable enough that they captured several of the alien warriors alive for study.
As time passed and research was done, the humans had gathered enough information about this new threat to make general assumptions based on their behaviors and appearances, and acquire a loose understanding of their language.
They were the dakreeth and, until the humans had landed, they were the unchallenged, dominating race of Saris. This war-like society populated the deep inner jungle, where the other, gentler clans generally didn't venture. The dakreeth, it seemed, were spread out in large sections all over the planet and made a habit of raiding and conquering the weaker species that they surrounded.
Fully suited to jungle living, they were a tall, humanoid, leanly muscled, agile race; able to jump from tree to tree and move through the dense thicket with a silent, fluid-like ease.
Their coloring mainly ranged from crimson to burgundy, just like the surrounding trees and plants, and their bodies were criss crossed with tiger-like black stripes. Completing the camouflage; their hair was thick and black, usually held back in long, vine-like plaits.
Never backing down from a challenge however, the human settlement fought fiercely for their claim and managed to hold their own against the hostile aliens. Nevertheless, the war waged on endlessly. Each side seeking to conquer the other and, thus, the planet as a whole.
As a result, most often whenever a human and dakreeth were to unexpectedly meet outside the confines of their territory, the outcome was commonly violent and fatal.
Years passed without much change. The surrounding planets knew of the small war that waged on Saris, but did little to either heed or hinder it. As long as it didn't spread out onto the neighboring planets, most just kept a wary watch on the proceedings.
The human settlement had grown in spite of the conflict and had claimed a permanent hold on a sizeable part of the planet. Suffice to say, warring with another type of people for land wasn't entirely out of the ordinary for them.
As such, life within the large compound was surprisingly normal. The general population left the fighting to the soldiers and warriors and, aside from the sporadic raids and wall breaches, the war was mostly forgotten.
~ ~ ~
"Where're you goin', Max?"
She paused in mid-step, and turned to glance down at her little brother. "I'm going to go and tend to my goats, Wormie. Where else would I be going at this hour?"
"I wanna come
too
," the boy pouted, sticking his lower lip out.
"You
know
you can't," Max said, smiling fondly at him and jerking a thumb towards the window, "Mama would have a bitch-fit if I took you to the boundary wall this close to the setting of the suns."
