Chapter One: Alone

Alirach was restless again. It had been too long since she had last carried. Her mate could sense it, and feared what she might do if she had to wait any longer.

Baseel was smaller than his mate, and often more timid. This made it hard to carry out his duty to drive out their son in order that they might have another child.

Ender families, being bound by a specific set of instincts, only ever had one child at a time. And, once he or she came to be old enough to survive on their own, the father would drive them out of the den. While it sounds harsh, it is for the good of the child. Because if an Ender stayed too long in the den, the mother could wound or even kill them trying to drive them out herself.

Baseel had already neglected his duty once, and still bore the scars from protecting their last child. With Alirach in her agitated state, he knew he didn't have much time left.

Their son's name was Eshoel. Though he was only ten years old, he had grown almost to adult size. The young Ender looked at his father in confusion as he approached. Baseel did his best to look intimidating, raising the spines in his back in a show of dominance.

Alirach watched from the far side of the den, magenta eyes narrowed. Baseel could feel her burning gaze, and growled at his son.

Eshoel backed away in surprise, his own spines twitching defensively.

"Father?" He inquired fearfully. Baseel ignored the word, baring his teeth.

"Go." He uttered. "Leave now."

Eshoel's instinct told him to fight, to defend himself. However, another part of him was still attached to his parents. His heart was softer than most Enders', and Baseel feared it might hinder his ability to survive. Nevertheless, it was time for him to go.

"Leave!" Baseel snarled. Eshoel hesitated, glancing at his mother in vain hope that she might defend him.

Alirach growled.

Seeing he was obviously no longer welcome, the young Ender turned and darted out of the den, teleporting out of sight.

xxx

Eshoel wasn't helpless. He knew that he was of age. Baseel had chased him out of the den twice before, preparing him for the day he would be driven away.

It was time.

xxx

Instinct told the young Ender to go West. He teleported to the top a nearby cliff side and turned towards the darkening horizon.

His first act of independence was to find a den of his own. However, it could take days, perhaps even weeks before he found one.

He traveled through the night, covering a fair distance before the sky began to grow light. Having no possessions to take with him, he would make good time.

In the early morning, Eshoel came across a clearing. There were other Ender youth here, likely on journeys similar to the one he had just begun. There were four, not counting himself. There seemed to be a sort of silent agreement between them, as they stayed at a respectful distance from each other. Eshoel moved to the outside of the clearing and settled to rest for the day.

xxx

The next morning, the Ender awoke to growling. He peered out from the cover of the trees, seeing two other males facing off in the middle of the clearing. Spines raised and teeth bared, they glared at one another. One struck out, the tussle began.

Eshoel noticed the other youth watching as well, tense with fear and hostility. The urge to fight was spreading. Eshoel felt a hungry gaze fall on him.

He teleported.

xxx

The rest of his travels were much the same, and he learned to avoid the other Enders. Every den he came to was already inhabited, and poor Eshoel found himself unwelcome nearly everywhere he looked.

He traveled for months. Much longer than he should have. It wasn't until he reached the dry forest of the far West that he finally settled.

His den was not much of a den, certainly not suitable to house a mate, much less offspring. Eshoel didn't mind. After the hardships of his travels, he knew he was more fit for a life of solitude.

His soft heart ached, though. He missed his home. Baseel and Alirach, though they were not always kind and loving, they were his parents. He missed them.

Eshoel crooned sadly, then, seeing the sky begin to turn light, he slipped away into the cover of his lonely den.