AirYouBreath

It's been five months since Kalani became the crown prince's personal guard. She's gotten into a solid routine. Every morning before dawn she'd get up and head to the prince's quarters. The guards outside Xajar's room, Bento and the Siamese who Kalani has come to learn his name is Hurji, have come to respect one another.

From there the prince would start his morning reading on whatever assignment Master Zito had assigned him, and he'd have his morning cream. Honey flavored is his favorite. Then they'd be off to the courtyard for the prince's private training lessons. General Zephyr trained him in hand-to-hand combat, ancient martial arts, and weaponry. Kalani has noticed that Xajar has shown interest in Khopesh.

She would then leave for lunch while someone temporarily took her place, then return to join the prince in whatever activity was on his agenda. As of today, Xajar was outside picnicking with his younger sister, Princess Miyumi, who just turned eleven two months ago. They sat under the gazebo at the edge of the lake behind the palace. Kalani watched from her post on the bridge, far away for privacy, but close enough to act if the Xajar was in danger.

The white she-cat wasn't alone today. She was joined by Rin, a black and white tom, who was the princess's personal guard. They both stood watching not saying anything Both focused on their surroundings listening to anything that may seem out of place.

The prince's voice echos in her ears as he calls out, "Kalani." Her blue eyes widen when she hears her name leaving his lips. "Come here."

Startled, Kalani didn't know whether to abandon her post or follow her future leader's instructions. Something nudged her side, blinking her out of her hesitant state. "The prince has summoned you."

Gazing up, the she-cat meets the tom's blue eyes. "Right," she whispers, walking towards the gazebo where Xajar and the princess are seated. When she gets a few paces away she bows, her right arm crossing her chest. "You've summoned me your highness?"

"Yes, I did," he said sipping on his cream. From the sweet smell wafting through her senses, Kalani could tell it was honey. "I'd like you to join my sister and I for our picnic."

Uncertainty forms on the female cat's face.

"I can't your highness, my job is to protect not drink cream, and eat crab and fish cakes like a noble." Kalani replied, her tail flickering behind her. She hoped the prince would take the hint and let her return to duty. But instead, he ignored her, telling her to sit. Not wanting to get on the royal's wrong side, she obliged, sitting awkwardly in the seat between him and the princess.

Who didn't seem happy about the she-cat warrior intruding on her time with her brother. Kalani could feel Princess Miyumi's annoyance coming off her in waves. Not that the white she-cat could blame her. She'd be upset too if her brother invited some stranger to sit with them during a private moment.

"Are you fucking my brother?" The princess asked out of the blue, making Prince Xajar splutter his cream, and Kalani's eyes widen in shock at the princess's inappropriate language.

"Miyumi," the prince hissed, noticing the discomfort his personal guard exuded.

"What? I was asking a simple question?" Princess Miyumi said as if that was a casual question you might ask someone in a conversation. Like the queen, her green eyes reflected innocence, but she wasn't.

Collecting herself, Kalani answered the princess's question despite the inappropriate assumption. "No, I'm not. What your brother and I have is strictly work, nothing more, nothing less." Kalani turns her gaze away from the princess and towards the prince. "Right, your highness?"

"Right," he agreed. "Anyways, Miyumi who's been filling your mind with such vulgarity? A lady of your stature shouldn't know what that means at age eleven."

Princess Miyumi doesn't answer her brother's question, instead she stands up and leaves the gazebo in a huff, her personal guard following closely behind her.

"I'm sorry about my sister," Prince Xajar apologized.

"It's fine," Kalani waved it off, thankful the conversation was over.

"No, it's not-"

"Shush, do you hear that?" Kalani interrupted standing up from her chair. Her ears flickered in every direction trying to pinpoint the sound. Her eyes scanned the area, seeing nothing. Then she heard it again a whistling, this one close. Her eyes bugged as she spotted an arrow heading directly towards him. Without thinking, she pushed him out of the way just in time before the arrow hit its target.

The prince was fine, Kalani was not. When the white she-cat looked down at her abdomen fear and pain raked through her body. The black arrow shot through her torso. The pointed end stuck out of her stomach. Blood stained the white cat's fur turning it dark pink, tears forming in her sapphire eyes.

Is this the end?

Kalani thought, as her knees buckled underneath her, and she slumped sideways on the gazebo floor. At the edge of her blurred vision, he could see the prince's mouth moving. However, she couldn't hear what he was saying, as darkness took over.

✳✳✳

The Knight and the Prince

The next day Kalani was told to report to the Crown Prince's quarters at dawn. She barely slept last night. And couldn't have breakfast until the prince had his. So not only was she cranky from lack of sleep, but also hungry.

As she navigated through the palace, she let out a loud yawn. This got distasteful stares from the staff, who were up early to start morning chores. Kalani ignored them. She finally gets to the crown prince's room, where two guards are stationed outside the closed door.

"Morning, boys," She chirped smiling at them, but they continued to stare straight ahead as if she wasn't there. "How rude."

The white she-cat stepped towards the door but stopped when two spears blocked her path.

What the hell?

"What are you doing?" She questioned crossing her arms against her chest.

"You can't come in here," the all-black tom guard sneered. "Now run along, I'm sure the prince has better things to do than be bothered with you."

The other guard chuckled.

Kalani scoffed. Her blood boiled. She had to fight the urge to claw out the black tom's eyes and rip out his tongue. Sending a quick prayer to Basest, she smiles fake.

"Right, right. What's your name warrior?"

"Bento."

"Well, Bento, I'm sure General Zephyr wouldn't be happy to hear that the crown prince's appointed personal guard wasn't able to report to duty today, would he?" She smirked watching as the tom's eyes widen in fear.

The other guard a Siamese narrows his blue eyes. "How do we know you aren't bluffing?"

"Easy," the she-cat said, pulling out a piece of parchment from her leg sheath with the assignment details and her uncle's signature. Kalani handed it to the Siamese.

Bento leans over reading its contents, before the Siamese hands it back.

"Sorry for the delay, Lady Warrior Alinac." Bento apologizes, letting her through. They return to their positions guarding the door as if nothing had happened.

Kalani then opens the door stepping into the crown prince's quarters.

**********************

When the door opens, Xajar looks up from the book he was reading for one of Master Zito's assignments. To his surprise the beautiful she-cat from the day before enters.

The prince watches her as her eyes gaze around the room. Xajar found it cute to watch her blue irises widen in awe. Upon settling her gaze on him, she bows, crossing her right arm against her chest.

"Your Highness, my name is Lady Warrior Kalani Ailnac. I've been assigned as your new personal guard for the time being."

The prince dropped his book, giving the Kalani his full attention. "You may rise warrior. And when we're alone, call me Xajar."

Kalani rises standing awkwardly at the door unsure of what to do next.

Xajar chuckled at her uncertainty, but before he speaks. His manservant, Orshiro burst through the door, unsheathing her daggers. The blade is placed close to his neck as she forcefully presses the tom against the wall.

As he recalls her moves from a day ago, the prince's eye widens in surprise at how quickly she reacted. Amidst his deep thought, Xajar almost forgot about Orshiro, whose green eyes bugged. Kalani pressed the blade deeper into his neck, drawing some blood.

"My prince," Orshiro pleaded, shaking like a frightened kitten. Too afraid to move for one small slip would be his end. "Help me."

"Lady Warrior Kalani, he isn't a threat. That's my servant, Orshiro. "He's a friend, not a foe," Xajar said slightly amused at the ordeal his man-servants faced. The prince stands from his chair and walks to where Kalani stands with the blades pressed against his servants' necks.

He stood behind her. Her jasmine scent wafted through his nose. Ignoring how pleasant she smelled, he placed his paws on hers slowly easing the weapons away from Orshiro.

When her paws were safely by her side, Orshiro spluttered a cough, slipping onto the floor.

"I'm sorry," Kalani said, putting her daggers back in their sheaths. "You surprised me, and I'm inexperienced with this." She held out her hand to Orshiro. "I'm Lady Warrior Kalani. The crown prince's new personal guard."

Orshiro gazes at her hand, hesitant before grabbing it. Kalani pulls him up.

"I'm Orshiro, servant to his highness." The tom frees his hand and bows.

"Now that everything is settled, Orshiro, what brought you here this morning?" Xajar asked.

"Well, your highness, I have to get you ready for cream and cakes, with Baron Norel’s daughter." The servant said, scurrying to another door, which led to the bathroom. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Kalani stays by the main door, while Xajar enters the bathroom, after Orshiro, the other tom, starts the bath.

"No, I have not eaten yet."

"Then I'll send breakfast, so it'll be here when you get out of your bath."

"Thank you, Orshiro." The prince nods, taking his tunic off, his abs on display.

"You're very welcome, your highness." Orshiro bows again, before closing the door behind him.

**********************

Kalani hated not eating. Watching the prince eat was a torcher, and she wished her shift would end soon, so she could have lunch. Her stomach grumbled as she followed behind the prince and Orshiro, towards the parlor. There, she waited by the door for hours while the prince wooed the noble daughters of the kingdom.

The she-cat wished she was doing something else, such as eating or training. In truth, she'd rather claw her ears than listen to annoying she-cats gossip and blabber about artistry and music.

"Kalani," Prince Xajar called her name startling her out of her thoughts. They had stopped in front of a door and the prince's intense amber gaze was directed at her. "I asked you a question."

Her ears flattened in embarrassment. It was obvious she wasn't listening, and her white tail curled around her waist. "I'm sorry, your highness. Can you repeat that?"

"I asked if you had eaten."

Kalani frowned.

Why was the prince of all people concerned about my eating habits?

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I've eaten," she lied.

Xajar stared down at her. His amber eyes searched hers. They stay like this for a while, before someone clears their throat.

Blinking out of her trance, Kalani turns around and comes face to face with Queen Shasa herself.

"Your majesty," Kalani bows in respect.

"Mother," she heard the crown prince say.

"You must be my little kitten's new guard." The queen said studying Kalani. She did a 360-degree analysis of everything about the white she-cat. "Pretty too, wide hips, breast." Shasa stopped in front of Kalani looking at her. You could tell a lot about a person just by looking them in the eyes. "I'm surprised, you haven't been claimed yet, or queened."

"Mother," Xajar seethes, embarrassed by his mother's words about his new guard.

"What? I'm only speaking the truth, Xajar. Mothers can never be too careful. She's very protective of her kittens."

The prince rolled his eyes before entering the room. Orshiro had left a moment ago to tend to his other duties around the castle, leaving Kalani and Queen Shasa by themselves, besides the guards guarding the door.

As the white she-cat walked towards the door, Shasa gripped her arms to stop her from moving forward.

Kalani's eyes widen in surprise as she sees the queen's facial features resemble those of a mother protecting her newborn kittens from danger.

Queen Shasa whispered low so only Kalani could hear. "If you hurt my son in any way, I'll fuck you and anyone you ever loved up so badly, not even Bastet could save you." The queen threatened, letting go of the young she-cat's arm.

The fight rages on as Kalani dodges every attack Casio throws at her. The tom almost got her with his scythe, but she was quick to action and maneuvered in time before being nicked or worse. Knowing Casio, he was probably trying to harm the young she-cat to make a point. But she stood her ground. Kalani was determined to prove them wrong. She was more than capable and she would show them that. With a fierce growl, she readied herself for the next attack.

Despite this, Kalani didn’t know how long she could defend herself. She could slowly feel herself nearing the edge of the circle much to her dismay. No matter how many times she tried she couldn’t get an attack in.

Seeing an opening, she took advantage of it. She round house kicked the tom in the abdomen catching him off guard. Casio stumbles out of the circle.

“Stavia.” General Zephyr yells, and they follow his instructions. They stopped to catch their breathe. “Kalani wins this round.” The general nodded towards Nioki, a Siamese she-cat who’s becoming a knight just like Kalani, to add a point next to the white cat’s name. She kept score.

“Positions.”

Once again, the cats in the circle raise their weapons. Kalani noticed Casio changed his posture from the previous round. A murderous gaze holds hers. Kalani knew the tom didn’t like losing. It was embarrassing and to top it off, she was female.

Casio bared his fangs at her, hissing low.

“Casio,” the general scolds. “Control yourself. You are a warrior, not a feral kitten.”

Casio, embarrassed, bows, ears folded in submission. “Forgive me general. I was out of turn.”

Seeing that he understood, General Zephyr nodded.

“Commence!”

**********************

In the end Kalani lost, resulting her running twenty laps around the courtyard, and polishing the boots. By the time the white she-cat was finished it was already dark, and dinner was over.

As she went back inside to take a shower to relieve her muscles and dirty fur, General Zephyr intercepted her.

“Kalani, come into my office please.” He said showing a hand towards the open door. She groaned inwardly, wishing it was someone else.

Walking into the office she sat in an empty chair. The general closed the door before walking to his desk. He sat in front of her.

“Do you know why you’re here, Kalani?” General Zephyr questioned.

Kalani shakes her head. She really didn’t want to be here at the moment. The shower and bed back in the barracks called her name.

“No, General Zephyr, I do not.” She spoke, her tail flickering behind her.

The general shakes his head. ” Firstly, Kal, what have I told you about calling me General after hours? When training is over you refer to me as uncle. Understand. Hearing General all day is maddening to the point I wish my ears bled.” He says with hurt and annoyance.

Kalani rolls her eyes at her uncle’s antics. No one knew that the most feared general in the southern kingdom of Felinus was actually her uncle. And she liked it that way. She didn’t want people to kiss her up because they were afraid of her uncle.

“So, uncle,” she continued. “Why am I here?”

“Glad you asked,” He smiled, pulling out a folder from a stack of papers on his desk. “I’ve assigned your first duty as a Knight in the Royal Corp.”

Excitement bubbled inside Kalani, then disappeared. “Why didn’t I lose the match today?”

“Yes, and no.”

“Yes, and no?” She frowns. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Yes, you lost the match, but that didn’t mean you weren’t getting a duty.”

“Is this a show of favoritism, because I’m your niece? If so, I’m not taking-”

“No, no nothing like that.” He cuts her off quickly. She narrows her eyes, not believing him.

“Then what?”

“Don’t worry about the why, right now your main focus is on your newly assigned duty.”

“Which is...?” She asked, wanting to end the conversation.

“Guard the Crown Prince.”

Now Kalani was awake.

“What?!”

**********************

Queen Shasa a calico, sat in the parlor sipping her afternoon chamomile cream, while reading The Daily Furee when a knock sounded from the door.

“Come in,” she said without looking up when the door opened. Her focus was on a particular article about a new dress shop opening in the capital city.

The person who entered the room clears their throat causing the queen to turn her gaze away from the details on the paper and on to them. Shasa’s eyes widen in surprise when they meet her son’s familiar amber eyes. Different from her green ones. They reminded her of his father. The late King, who died six months ago.

“Xajar,” she smiled at him. “What a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you this evening.”

Prince Xajar sits in front of her. “Well, it’s been weeks since I visited you. I thought I’d drop by.”

Shasa hums taking a sip of her cream before placing it on the saucer on the table next to her abandoned newspaper. “How’s you're training with Master Zito?”

Xajar sighs, "Busy, Master Zito has me study the history of Animalia, the different lands, and political rulers of the past and the present.”

“Ahh, I remember those days.” Shasa reminisced. “Quite stressful trying to remember all those names, isn’t it?”

The prince nodded. Taking a crab cake from one of the plates on the table. He chews it slowly.

The queen watched his body language. She could tell something was on his mind by his tail flicking back and forth. It was a habit he picked up years ago.

“So,” Queen Shasa picked up her cream from its place on the saucer. “What’s on your mind, Xajar? I know this isn’t some regular visit.” She drinks her cream.

The prince’s eyes widen. “How did you know?”

“Please, I carried you for nine months, how could I not? Plus, your tail is doing that cute dance thing it does when you’re thinking.”

“You caught me,” Xajar confessed swallowing the remaining crab cake. “I wanted to know why I wasn’t informed I was getting a new personal guard, or why I wasn’t told Sir Nam was retiring.”

The queen sighed when she heard her son’s confession.

“Because I didn’t consider it important, Xajar. You have more significant things to worry about than a new guard. Your time to take the throne is fast approaching, and the council will want you to find a mate and marry by then as well.”

Xajar let his mother’s words sink in. Maybe she was right. Perhaps he is putting too much thought into this.

“You’re right, mother. Maybe I’m looking at this too closely. I have more serious things to worry about.” He agreed.

“That’s right, get moving, you have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I do?”

“Yes, don’t you remember, Baron Norel’s daughter Muro is coming to have cream and cake. She is one of the eligible ladies on the list.” Queen Shasa reminds. “Did you not read the list, Xajar?”

In embarrassment, the prince folds his ears. He hadn’t read the list. He was too busy studying and doing the assignments Master Zito gave him to glance at the list.

“What am I to do with you Xajar?” She shakes her head. “Come and give your mother a kiss before you leave.”

Xajar stands from his seat, and gives his mother a kiss on the cheek, and a warm hug. He released her and stepped back.

“Good night, mother.”

“Night my little kitten.”

Xajar grumbles under his breath. He didn’t like his mother calling him a kitten. He had grown to become a strong tom, wanting to establish respect among his peers. Having his mother refer to him as a kitten didn’t help either. He hoped she didn’t call him that when she was around the other ladies. Just the thought was embarrassing enough.

The prince exited the room, leaving the queen alone. When she was sure he had left, she breathed.

Queen Shasa lied to her son. Or she didn’t tell him the whole truth. Yes, Sir Nam was retiring, but there was another reason behind this decision. The bigger cats in eastern and northern Felinus have threatened to take over their kingdom. Their land was spacious for small cats like them, and they had lots of resources since their kingdom sat next to the sea.

She wanted to keep Xajar as far away from this problem as possible. Her son already had plenty to worry about. After he became king and has found his mate, Shasa will tell him.

Come on pick me!

It’s all Kalani can do not to scream. She digs her claws tightly around the leather of her silver daggers. Her heart pounded with anticipation. Today was finally the day she could show her worth.

To show the other Toms that she-cats can be part of the Royal Corp just as much as them.

Kalani shifts on her paws to calm her racing nerves. General Zephyr trained them and will select who fights today. He stares at his warriors, his yellow eyes narrowing making them fidget. 

He’s focused. The orange striping of his fur and gold armor made General Zephyr look regal and scary, particularly with the scar above his left eye. You would’ve never guessed he was a loving father of four kittens and had a mate.

“Attention.” He finally speaks. All the other felines including Kalani stand to attention, like they’ve been trained to do so many times. Feet slightly apart, hands by their sides, and eyes staring straight ahead. 

“Casio.”

A gray-striped tom with green eyes steps out of the line, but his posture is still attentive. There’s a long pause before the general picks the next challenger.

“Kalani.”

The white she-cat stepped out of line, standing horizontal to Casio. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, before tuning into General Zephyr’s instructions.

“In the circle.”

In response to his command, they padded towards the circle. They stood facing each other. Kalani looked into Casio's eyes. They were cold. There was no emotion in his iris. She watched his ridged muscles beneath his training attire. He smirks sending a chill down the young she-cat's spine. 

“Shake paws.” They shook their paws. “Raise your weapons.”

As Kalani raised her daggers, Casio unsheathed his scythe. General Zephyr studies them, circling them before adding.

“Everyone knows the rules. Stepping out of the circle gives the other person a point. After you step out 3 times the other opponent wins. And please refrain from drawing blood. It's difficult to get up off the ground.”

General Zephyr sighed, knowing the furball stuffed headed Toms wouldn’t listen. “My Bastet rests their souls.” Shaking his head, he says the word the two felines wanted to hear.

“Commence!”

**********************

From a window overlooking the courtyard where the guards were trained, Crown Prince Xajar watched with great interest. His eyes were fixed on the movements of the fighting felines below. Xajar was shocked by the tom's strength; he was afraid it would harm the she-cat. But where she lacked strength, her speed and agility were phenomenal. Each time the tom threw a strike at her, she was always ready to defend.

He watched as they circled each other. Then after a pause, the gray-striped Tom strikes catching the she-cat off guard with his scythe blade mere inches from her neck. Xajar holds his breath thinking it was the end for the white she-cat, but what happens next shocks him. 

She arches her back, dodging Tom's attack. Then she throws herself out of his way when he strikes her again. Xajar blinks making sure he wasn’t seeing things, when someone clears their throat behind him.

Turning his attention away from the window, his amber eyes find those of his teacher, Master Zito. 

“Master Zito, I didn’t hear you when you came in.” Xajar said stepping towards his teacher. The flat-faced Tom only smiled at his student.

“All is well my prince. I only just arrived.” 

Master Zito finds a spot on the sofa in the prince’s room and sits, while the prince follows behind him. Xajar rings a bell on the table in front of him, and a maid enters and bows. 

“Yes, your highness," the she-cat in palace maid attire said.

“Bring us the afternoon mint cream, and sandwiches, please.”

She curtsies again, “Right away your highness.” Spinning on her heels she leaves the room.

When the room is silent, Master Zito speaks. "So, my prince, what caught your attention in the window? Hopefully it wasn’t a butterfly this time.” Amusement gleamed in the older Tom's eyes.

Prince Xajar chuckles at the mention of a butterfly. As a kitten, he was distracted by the smallest things. The most notable one is butterflies. There was just something so majestic about them that drew him in.

 “No, this time it was the fight below in the courtyard. General Zephyr had some of his students in the circle.” 

As if realizing, Master Zito hummed, “Oh yes, I forgot that was today. The General tests the students to become your next personal guard.”

Xajar eyes widen at this news. “A new guard? Why? Haven’t I already got one?”

“Yes, but Sir Nam plans to retire soon, and your mother wants you to have a personal guard right away.” Master Zito explains.

The prince scrubbed his paws over his face, his white-tipped tail flickering in annoyance. Xajar wished his mother would come to him about things that concerned him. There was no notification to him that Sir Nam was about to retire. Truthfully, no one told him anything. How was he able to become the next ruler if no one told him anything?

Minutes later the maid returns with a tray with hot mint cream and sandwiches on. She sets the tray on the table; curtsies then leave the room.

Taking a sandwich off the tray, Prince Xajar chewed it slowly, hardly tasting the honey glazed salmon. It tasted bland, but he knew the chef wasn’t at fault. It was him. He had lost is appetite. Setting the sandwich down he dusts his crumbed paws on his tunic, then stands.

“I’m going to speak with my mother." He replied to Master Zito, who was busy savoring his cream.

“Whatever for?”

Xajar shrugs, “I haven’t seen her in a while. I think it's time to talk to her again.”

Opening the door, the prince exited the room. His mind reeled from the conversation with Master Zito. If no one told him that Sir Nam was retiring and he was supposed to get another personal guard, what other stuff were they keeping from him?

We've hid amongst the shadows of the Wuxain Dynasty for far too long. Well, no more I will kill the emperor, and bring justice and honor to those who are like us. We call ourselves the Jufu, and we will rise to take back what was rightfully ours.

Tears leaked from Qin Qiu's cheek as she watched her family home burn to the ground. Images of her brother Dai Yun, mama, and baba, being slaughtered plague her mind. Somehow the Bi Chang Province army found out about her brother. About his secret.

She thought they were careful. Her parents even took precaution and built their home outside of the province after Dai Yun was born. After he began showing symptoms of a móguǐ.

It started when he was two summers old. Every time her parents or Qin Qiu bathed him, he'd turn blue. His symptoms grew worse as he grew older. His eyes turned yellow and slitted, his hands and feet webbed together, and his neck sprouted gills. Her parents tried to hide him. He couldn't go to the river without someone accompanying him, or outside when it rained.

Móguǐ like her brother wasn't supposed to live. As soon as one is born, they are supposed to be reported to the province leader, to be dealt with accordingly, as soon as they come into their curse. It was sickening. But it was law. A law put in place 200 years ago, by the previous emperor of the Wuxain Dynasty.