Nine-year-old Krolia rolled out of her sleeping nook, which was called a flack, ready to start the day. Scrambling to her feet she raced to the kitchen for breakfast. "Eka vapess mayi!" (Good morning mom!) The young kit greeted. Her mother was holding her baby sister Kelma and had the five-year-old twins Carbie and Bibble clinging to her back. "Eka vapess Krolia, samya tala" (Good morning Krolia, breakfast is ready.) Their mother, whose name was Falo, replied shifting Kelma so that she could brush Krolia's hair as she ate.

Their house was a reddish-orange clay hut that was about the size of a small cabin and had a copper-colored straw roof. All the furniture was made out of turquoise wood, except for the large pot in the fireplace, which was used for making soups and stews, and the little oven which were metal. The floor was made out of the same clay as the rest of the hut except that it was cooked longer to make it harder and smoother. The windows had chunky glass in them that were highly durable to put up with wild kits.

When Krolia had finished her food, she scampered off to find her pouch for school. "Mosa ciss elhu?" (Looking for your pouch?" Her older brother Skase taunted holding it up out of her reach. Krolia scowled not about to give him the satisfaction of her begging him to give it back. The thirteen-year-old was always teasing her in some way or another. Skase's forest green hair was shaggy and his bangs nearly reached his navy-blue eyes, that were gleaming with mischief.

Realizing that her brother wasn't going to give her back the pouch, Krolia ran off to find their older brother Kygon. At fifth teen Kygon was the oldest and had a soft spot for Krolia often letting her tag along on what he was doing. But most importantly Kygon could always put Skase in his place. When she came back riding on Kygon's back, Skase immediately dropped the pouch and ran for dear life. Scooping up the pouch Kygon handed it to his little sister, who was resting her head on his soft navy-blue hair. "Shawshaw Kygon." (Thankyou) She said happily.

"Sheishei." (You're welcome) With that Kygon snatched up his own pouch and set off for school. Krolia was the youngest school age kit in the family with the twins still having to wait a year to start. They were soon joined by Skase and their sisters: Froana, Magew, and Svelia, who all had their father's magenta hair and forest-green eyes. Krolia and Kygon were the only ones of the siblings to get their mother's violet eyes. In fact, Krolia looked very much like a miniature of her mother and many expected her hair to stay solid violet when she went through puberty.

Halfway to school they were joined by a bunch of other kits including Krolia's best friend Lia. "Thaichi Lia!" (Hi Lia!) Krolia greeted sliding off her brother's back. Lia had burgundy hair and magenta fur on her ears and tail that resembled those of a cat. Her periwinkle eyes were almost always sparkling with happiness and she had a circular marking around her left eye. "Thaichi Krolia, patan tala schadamy?" (Hi Krolia, ready for school?) Krolia nodded and the two girls started chatting about what they wanted to do after school.

The girls chatted the rest of the way there not caring who overheard them. When the group arrived at the school, they were all displeased that they were going to have another lesson on how the entire planet was safer being part of the empire than they would be alone. Some of the teenage kits flat out refused to listen to their teacher explain in yet again and left, leaving any younger siblings confused at what to do. Krolia looked at Kygon who simply smiled and sat in his spot. Following her brother's example, she sat down and hoped that it wouldn't cause school to go late again.

Once school was over Krolia scampered outside ready to play she didn't make it very far before Lia pounced on her. The two of them tussled on the ground for a while before they wore themselves out. That's when they spotted Krolia's older sisters hanging out with their friends and decided to see what they were doing. To their disappointment the older girls were just talking about boys.

By the time Krolia made it back home it was time for lunch. "Krolia alfeu tuya." (Krolia come nurse.) Falo called having already do so for the rest of her younger children. Climbing onto her mother's lap Krolia connected her umbilical cord to her mother's and snuggled as she nursed. Even though Krolia and the twins were old enough to not nurse Falo liked to have her kits have milk for their lunch until they turned ten since even when kits are fully grown, they can still want to nurse and this she found made that happen less often.

When Krolia finished she curled up in her nook to take a nap, still exhausted from wrestling with Lia. When the little girl woke up, she heard her family gathering in the living area. This was unusual at this time of day and it usually meant some kind of an event was about to happen. Joining them Krolia soon realized something was wrong because everyone looked frightened.

Looking out a window she saw that the entire village was in chaos with dog like pirates with banana-yellow skin capturing people every-were. These she realized must be the calese the very people they had been trying to stay away from by being part of the empire. Kygon pulled Krolia away from the window to join the rest of their family huddled up in a corner. Puzzled she asked why they weren't putting up a fight and just cowering in a corner. Her father, whose name was Orib, explained that the calese had weapons designed to be used on them and that they typically were only used on those who fought back.

Krolia shivered in her brother's arms now understanding their predicament. "We can at least run, right?" She asked wanting confirmation that it was what she was supposed to do if necessary. When Orib nodded Krolia was relieved that she didn't have to go down without a fight. One thing the little girl couldn't understand was why the calese were doing this, what had they ever done to them? Plus, if they were going to do this why not wear a simple brown shirt and pants like everyone else? It was almost like they wanted to be notice as they did these horrible deeds, but who would be that evil?

The next thing Krolia knew was that the calese had dug into their home and everyone was scrambling to get away in every direction. Kygon carried her on his back as he escaped out into the open by walking on the walls with his bare feet. Krolia clung to her brother as tightly as she dared scared that she might fall off and look him in all the chaos. Tears streamed steadily out of Krolia's eyes making it hard for her to identify where she was and frankly, she didn't care as long as the kit had her brother, she knew that he would take care of her. But their hopes of escape were smashed when a bulky bulldog-like calese pirate knocked Kygon down into a corner.

Goggles covered the pirate's eyes making the siblings unable to see them, but Krolia was sure that they were gleaming with the way he was giving them a wicked smile. "Mayi, Fayi gachet!" (Mom, Dad help!) She cried just before the pirate gassed them causing them to fall asleep. When Krolia woke up she found that Kygon was gone and that she now had a number branded on her just above her ankle. All around her kits from every clan from the ages two-twelve were crammed into the back of a small ship, some crying, some trying to comfort each other and some were silent and solemn seeming way too familiar with this. "Is this your first time?" An older boy asked Krolia. She blinked not understanding what he had said. The boy nodded having got his answer. "Welcome to slavery." He muttered.