Chapter 1, part one: The Last Straw.
Chapter 1, part one
The Last Straw
Actra wiped the sweat from her huge, twitching ears. The only place a Noctero actually sweat was in their ear, so of course it smelled awful after a few hours.
Menial labor became harder and harder as she clambered into her teen years, but such was the life of a slave.
Ever since Rupture Farms re-opened and became New Rupture Farms, the Noctero have been kidnapped from the continent of Astoria and used as slaves. Actra had been lucky. She was born in captivity, which was strange to think about unless you knew she was a slave.
At sixteen, Actra was quite well built for working all day. Her head had a strange, somewhat familiar smile and big, expressive eyes. Her ears were no bigger than any other Noctero, and her hair, though messy and unkempt, was the route to envy in her friends. Her body was delicate, yet strong. It had to be to support her huge wings, which stretched off of her arm. Her hands were made up of two fingers, the index and thumb, and were extremely dexterous. Her feet rested on the bottom of two long, limber legs, and each foot had a “thumb” to grasp prey while in mid-flight. But since the Noctero’s days of scouring the air was put to a halt, all thoes thumbs were good for was to pick up a fallen tool.
The last task of the day was to give meat on a conveyer belt a last check before it went into packaging. But today’s project would be interrupted.
“AURRRGGGHH!!!” A cry of pain emanated from down the hallway. Actra jumped in fright. She decided to take a peek at the source of the noise.
Actra peered around the hall. A patrolling Slig was beating down a friend of hers, named Octavos. The Slig had one weapon, a brass club that he patted his right hand with. The Slig was bored and had saw an opportunity to quell his boredom. Octavos struggled to get on his hands and knees, though his body trembled from the forceful blow to his back.
The Slig spoke in a deep, raspy growl. “I’m sorry,” the Slig hissed, “I didn’t quite catch that. What did you say…?”
Octavos sputtered and coughed up a bit of blood. “P-please, sir,” he stuttered, “I-I just wanted to ask f-for s-some water.”
“Yeah.” the Slig raised his club, “That’s what I thought, yous little whelp.” With another forceful blow, the Slig struck Octavos in the chest. Octavos coughed in pain and flew back.
The beatings continued, and as Actra watched, the more sickened she became. This wasn’t right! This wasn’t right at all! No creature should be treated like this!
Then Actra felt her fist tighten. Her teeth grit and she bore her fangs. Then she did something no one ever thought was possible.
She stepped out from behind the corner of the hallway. “LEAVE HIM ALONE!” she yelled.
What do you think? Please crit.
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