EverSun:
Part Three
by supergirl309

The meeting ended up being very long, and infernaly boring. I only listened when Ayou jabbed my paw, signaling that this was something important. Only Maurin and Erryns (the shadowed Grundo) really spoke. Proffessor Pherin, to my immense dismay, spoke at one point, telling the crowd of pets who and what I was, and what my purpose was and so on. When he pointed me out in the crowd, all I did was unsheath my claws and stare distractedly at them. No one looked for long.

When the meeting was finally over, I yawned and started trudging back to my room. At the cafeteria door, a sandy-colored Zafara grabbed my arm and pulled my aside, showing great strength.

My name is Xere, she said, pulling me against the wall.

I nodded. I know your name. That Lupe, Ayou introduced us.

She waved her paw through the air, as if physically waving aside the comment. Yes, yes. You're Jadus. She tugged at a leather strap encircling her forehead. I need to speek to you, she said seriously. It's urgent.

I nodded hesitantly. Since when did people talk to me out of choice?

Xere dragged me off to her room, a nice little luxury suite. I glared around the room. This was more my size than the cramped room I'd been given. But it wasn't like anyone cared where the freak slept. After all, I was just there tool. I found I was telling myself this quite often.

Xere perched herself on a high stool at the minibar and motioned me over. I leapt onto the counter. When she showed no signs of protest, and sat down on the hard marble surface.

Once I was still, Xere began to talk. So... what have you been told about all this, Jadus?

I blinked. Why was she asking me? I... Ayou told me... I paused, and for the first time, considered just how little I knew of this war. I know practically nothing, I said, starting to feel quite annoyed--both at Ayou for telling me nothing, and at myself for not caring enough to ask more.

Xere sighed heavily and rested her head in her paw. Well then... I have much to tell you.

She grabbed a Diet Neocola from the miniature fridge, took a sip, and began explaining. First off, she said, you must know that the Ayamins and the Gaimlens have been waring for decades. Mainly, we fight about territorial boundaries because our lands are very close together. But we're fighting about something much different and much more important now. But before I tell you that, I need to explain a few things about the Ayamins and the Gaimlens.

Not long after the Faerie War back in Ancient Neopia, a group of pet warriors who had served in the war lived on the outskirts of Sakhmet. But as the city grew larger, they moved farther and farther away from it. Eventually, they settled permenantly on the outskirts of the desert. Soon, they found out that another tribe of pets were living nearby at the edges of the Haunted Forest. At first, the two tribes got along alright, but they soon started arguing about land boundaries. It wasn't long before they became enemies, and their feud continued on for generations. Xere stopped and took a long sip from her can of Neocola.

During this pause, I asked, So what are you fighting about now? It has something to with stealing something or whatever, right?

Xere sighed and nodded. Yes. We stole something from the Gaimlens.

I thought of Ayou not telling me who we were siding with in the beggining and gritted my teeth. Well, why is this army siding with the Ayamins? I asked.

It's because-- Xere began, stopping abruptly. Jadus... someone's at the door. You should leave.

I glared at her. Why? Don't tell me I'm not allowed to be here...

She shook her head absently. No... it's not that... it's only, technically I shouldn't have told you all that, but it'd be easier to lie about it without you glaring at whoever comes in.

I narrowed my eyes. Gee, thanks for the compliment, I snarled.

Xere glared at me. But, though I hated to admit that I would only make matters worse, I knew she was right. I got off of the counter and exited through the front door, casting a whithering glare at Maurin, who stood outside Xere's door.

He kicked me sharply in the back of my ankle. I flipped around and moved my muzzle close to his face, glaring. Don't think that your rank can protect you from getting hurt, Lenny. I swatted him against the wall with a paw and watched him slide to the floor with a thump.

He stood up and glared sternly at me. Watch your step, ES21, he said severely, calling me by the title they'd given me as an expirement.

I have a name, I hissed coldly.

Maurin smiled, pretending to examine his feathers. Well, I prefer not to use it, ES21, he said cooly.

I aimed a venomous glance at him, then trotted off to my room.

I sighed as I entered the small room, flopping down on the pulled-together twin beds. I reached for the remote which was still on my nightstand, and clicked the power button.

Several minutes of channel surfing yeilded only the fact that there was nothing on. Nonetheless, I turned down the volume and let the TV buzz dully in the background. Sighing, I walked over to the sliding glass door and slid it open, taking a breath of the fresh, dry desert air.

I heard someone knock on my door. I rolled my eyes and growled. Come in, I snarled through gritted teeth, hoping that it wasn't Ayou, or even worse, Maurin.

I heard the door swing open on slightly squeaky hinges and turned my head to look at who'd come in. It was a tall, muscular silver Grundo.

he grunted, holding up a sterilized needle.

I glared at him. If you're talking about giving me a shot, then maybe you should get your temperature checked for a fever, I growled.

He cocked and eyebrow. Oh really? He squirted a few small drops of the liquid inside the saringe up into the air. Don't even bother. You're getting a shot, and don't think you can stop me givin' it to you!

I flipped around and growled at him. Try me, I hissed.

He smiled, obviously amused, then ran forward, leapt over my head and quickly jabbe the saringe into my back. I snarled as I felt the point dig through my thick skin. I squirmed around and jabbed him in the chest with my elbow. He recoiled slightly and pulled the saringe from my back.

Rubbing the spot where I'd kicked him, he grinned and walked out. I glared at his retreating back. So many people... there were so many people I hated.

I turned the TV off and walked slowly out the door into the desert, where the sun was rising majestically. I picked up a rock from the ground and chucked in the direction of the sun. After throwing several more rocks, I walked out about twenty yards and sat down on the hot sand. I sighed and rested my head in one huge paw.

Hatred. I hated them all. They didn't care who I was--only what I was made of. I wasn't Jadus, I was expirement ES21--an object, a tool.

I swung at the ground with my paw, watching a flurry of sand fly up at my touch. I didn't want to fight the stupid war, I didn't want anything.

I sighed. I was aware of someone standing behind me. I felt a paw on my shoulder.

Erm, Jadus? It was Ayou's nervous voice.

What do you want? I snarled.

He took his hand off my shoulder. Erm, I was just seeing where you were. ...There's another meeting tonight at eight. Try to be there at quarter til, okay?

I glared at the ground. I said coldly. I'll be there if I feel like it.

Alright... then... I heard Ayou say nervously, as he backed up and scurried back to the hotel.

I sighed. I wasn't going to any meeting. It's not like I'd ever listen to what they say anyway.

I swiped at another spot of sand, sending it up in the air in a flurry.

You'll be going to the Ayamin's camp tomorrow morning, I heard someone say from behind me it wasn't Ayou.

I twisted my head around. Standing behind me was a tall sandy-furred Zafara. Xere. We'll be going to the Ayamin's camp tomorrow morning, she repeated.

I nodded slowly. Yeah... What about that stupid meeting that's supposed to happen tonight?

Xere glanced at me a bit sternly. I highly suggest that you go Jadus. The information that's going to be given out is vital.

I sighed and nodded, resigned grimace on my face. Eh... I might be there, I muttered.

Xere smiled and clapped me hard on the back. Good choice, mate, she said.

I sighed again and grimaced. Yeah, whatever... It had better be worth my while, though...

to be continued...