Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength Read online

  “I will be a warrior of the empire.”

  Sula frowns at the predictable response. Every Kaji youngling wants to be a warrior for the empire.

  “Do you wish to fight in grand battles and conquer planets in the name of our people?” she asks sarcastically. Solum narrows his eyes at his queen’s attitude toward his offspring.

  “Atae will allow the Gridiron to determine her warrior specialty.”

  “Actually, Father. I have decided on my warrior specialty,” Atae says. “I wish to protect and serve the Ru-Kai bloodline. I want to ensure Prince Truin’s success in the Gridiron and as our leader. I will be a warrior for the royal heir.”

  “Many royal warriors are chosen during the prince’s time in the Gridiron,” Sula says.

  “Jeqi and I are already planning to enter the Gridiron with him.”

  “And what of the tournament?” Solum asks.

  “What about it?”

  “You are planning to participate, correct?”

  “Yes, of course,” Atae says. Then, she remembers her time loss. “It hasn’t started yet, has it?”

  “No. It starts in a couple of days,” Solum says.

  “Good,” Sula says. “Because if you fail to win the Sula Academy Tournament, you certainly won’t be of any use to my son in the Gridiron.”

  “I understand. Do you know when he plans to enter?” Atae asks.

  “My son will hold his pledging ceremony in a few days. He will announce his plans for the Gridiron at that time.”

  Atae nods and contemplates the road ahead of her that’s paved with blood, sweat, and pain. A twinge of doubt slips into her mind, and she wonders if she is strong enough.

  All because you were too weak to stop me.

  Atae snarls and clenches her fists.

  No, I am not weak.

  “I will be ready,” she says. Solum sighs in exasperation and proceeds to knock the wind from her sails.

  “You do not have a second form,” he says. “You do not have any native weapons. You are naturally at a severe disadvantage, and you wish to jump in unprepared. You will make a fine royal warrior, indeed.” Solum uses sarcasm to mask the concern for his child’s safety and the consequences of her rash decision. Atae glares at her father. She brims with anger and determination as she lifts both of her clenched fists.

  “These are my weapons.” She points to her head. “This is my greatest weapon.”

  “It’s difficult to strategize when you are scared and weak. Impossible when your body is flooded with adrenaline and panic,” Sula says.

  “I know what it is to be hunted. I know what it is to fight something bigger and stronger. I know fear and panic,” Atae says. Remembering her recent battle, she shakes her head to regain her train of thought. “I will be smaller and weaker than anything I come across in the Gridiron, so I will need to be smarter and faster. I will never underestimate my enemy. I have learned firsthand the price for underestimating a weak and frightened prey.”

  “I may be a master strategist,” Solum says with unabashed pride. “But, I cannot teach you speed.”

  “I can,” Sula says. She shrugs with a playful head tilt, and Atae’s eyes widen in surprise

  “What?”

  “Solum is a force to be reckoned with in any battle. However, he is slower than a squished Gru-Po,” Sula says. Atae almost giggles at the image of a slime beast the size of a small youngling outrunning her father.

  “I am considered one of the fastest Kajian females alive. As I’m sure you know, I am very skilled in battle. My son does not wish to learn from me. Perhaps, you do.”

  “I would be honored, my queen!”

  “Are you sure you can spare the time, Sula? I know how demanding ruling an empire can be,” Solum says. He stares at the queen, wary of his old friend’s antics. Recognizing the barb, Sula narrows her eyes at Solum.

  “I am Queen of the Kaji Empire. I can do whatever I wish whenever I wish. If I want to take a six-month hiatus, I will.” Sula says, then whispers to Atae. “Besides, I’ll just tell everyone that I am giving my son the best chance at success in the Gridiron.”

  “But who will run the empire?” Atae asks.

  “My advisors, of course. I have hundreds of them, and it’s about time they earned their keep.”

  “Very well, Atae. Tomorrow will be our last training session, and you will begin lessons with Sula after the tournament. That way, I can spend more time refining Prince Truin’s skills, and the queen can do the same with you,” Solum says.

  “Awesome. Jeqi will be so jealous.”

  Sula wrinkles her nose at the offending squeals of joy and rolls her eyes at the youngling’s excitement.

  “Jeqi will join you in your sessions with Sula,” Solum says.

  “What? I didn’t agree to that. Who is this Jeqi?” Sula asks. She sets her heated gaze on Solum, but he stands firm.

  “She is Atae’s hybrid packmate.”

  “Do you think Deh will let Jeqi train outside of Sula Academy?” Atae asks her father.

  “Of course, no one would dare turn down a personal invite from the queen,” Solum says.

  “Ha. You’re assuming that I will do this for you, but why should I? I do not know this youngling. Why should I care if she participates? Why should I train her?”

  “Because Jeqi is at the top of her class, and Atae will need a strong pack. I also know you want Atae to have every advantage she can before she gallops into the Gridiron to protect your son,” Solum says. His dark, narrowed eyes dare Sula to argue. She growls but relents. No, the queen would not want anything to happen to the fuchsia-eyed youngling.

  “Fine, but you will not be distracted from training my son. Developing his skills as a warrior and a leader is imperative.”

  “Of course, my queen. So that we waste no time, Atae and I will live in the palace until the younglings enter the Gridiron.”

  Sula nods in agreement, and Atae smiles at the idea of staying in the beautiful palace for so long. Thoughts of exploration between training sessions invade her mind, and Atae remembers her mesmerizing walk through the palace halls. She also remembers her traumatized reaction to Queen Sula sneaking up on her. Exploring alone may not be a good idea.

  “And Jeqi? Can she stay in the palace too?” Atae asks. She offers a meek smile to her queen, not wanting to push her luck. Sula watches Atae with her perceptive gaze

  “Why?”

  With her eyes expressing the turmoil she fears to voice, Atae stares at her queen in silence.

  “Strategy, of course,” Solum says. He glances at his daughter then continues. “The more time Atae and Jeqi spend together, the more in sync they will become. Pack unity will be an important aspect of their success.”

  Sula listens to Solum’s words but watches Atae as though looking for the real reason for the request. After a moment or two, Sula agrees to let Jeqi stay in the palace until the Gridiron. Then she directs the conversation to empire affairs, and Atae is allowed to eat in peace.

  Atae contemplates her situation as she finishes her meal. Her mind wavers between the determination to succeed and the fear of failure. Atae’s fear of inadequacy continues to plague her through the end of the meal when everyone bids farewell and leaves for their private chambers.

  Nightmares of Kandorq and the anxiety of being hunted intrude on Atae’s sleep. She tosses and turns in her bed as she gouges out invisible eyes and slashes at attacking specters. Struggling to see the path, Atae dashes through the dark forest in a frantic attempt to escape the huntress. She falls to her knees and rubs at her eyes when a familiar burning sensation overwhelms her. Soon, they are upon her. Kandorq laughs at her weakness and licks his lips while Salyn watches from behind him. Her green slit eyes bare down on the hybrid, and both tormentors enjoy the smell of Atae’s fear.

  As his cruel laugh echoes through the trees, Kandorq reaches for Atae, and she jumps away from him. She backs against a tree, clinging to the large trunk behind her. Salyn appears at Atae�
�s side and hisses at her. The youngling tries to escape, but leafy vines somehow entrap her arms and legs to bind her against the tree. Atae struggles as Kandorq and Salyn laugh. Unable to break the vines, Atae claws at them. She hopes to cut her way through, but her fingernails are no match. Still, she keeps scratching and tearing with all her might at the vines. Atae doesn’t pause when her fingertips slice open, and her nail beds tear away. The never-ending laughter plagues her mind, driving her to the brink of madness. Finally, she rips free of the vines and lashes out at the Setunn. In a flash, Atae sees Salyn’s eyes drowning in fear and anger as she bleeds out again.

  Atae awakens with a start. She squints her eyes at the bright moon flooding the room through her balcony. Dripping with sweat, Atae wipes her forehead and cringes at her sharp headache. She closes her eyes and leans against the cool pillows, willing the pain away. A twist of silver fog glints in Atae’s mind as it’s shoved back into the darkness, unnoticed. The pain subsides, and Atae opens her eyes. Grateful for the cloudy night, she sighs in relief at the darkened room, then pulls at the sweat-soaked sheets. Atae cringes at her sore fingertips and stops to stare at them in the darkness.

  Running her thumbs across her fingertips, Atae finds perfectly healthy fingers. Remembering the pain from her dream, Atae wonders about the phantom stinging that still triggers her nerve endings. She cringes again when she peels dead skin from her fingertips. Grimacing, Atae stops rubbing her skin off and returns her attention to the wet bedsheets.

  As she pulls the top layer off, the sheet comes away in pieces. Somehow, the hybrid shredded the bedding during her nightmarish struggle. Shrugging it off, Atae tosses the torn sections to the floor. In the darkness, she doesn’t notice the multiple tufts of dark blue fur hidden in the shreds of cloth. Crawling onto the now bare, but dry, bed, Atae falls into a dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 15

  “I can’t believe it. How did you do it?” Jeqi asks. “How did you manage to score both of us private sessions with the queen?”

  “Honestly? I have no idea,” Atae says. She chuckles as they push their way through the entrance of Sula Academy. “I thought I was a rambling buffoon. At one point, Queen Sula thought I had insulted her son. You know, the prince.”

  “Well, if anyone were oblivious enough to do it, it would be you.”

  “Thanks,” Atae scowls at her packmate’s good-natured teasing. Jeqi smiles back but pulls Atae up short when they reach the door to their classroom.

  “So how are you doing? Really?”

  “I’m fine. See, I trimmed my hair and everything,” Atae says. She twirls her head around to show off her freshened pixie cut but stops when she catches Jeqi’s no-nonsense glare. “I’m almost 100 percent again. Just a little soreness here and there, definitely nothing I can’t handle. I’m just ready to get back to normal.”

  “Well, you picked a great time to come back. Today is our last day of training. It’s just supposed to be some review work and details about tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Round one of the tournament and one step closer to the Gridiron.” Jeqi grins and tugs her packmate into their assigned classroom, which bursts with younglings. Atae knows that she should be as excited as Jeqi at the prospect of battle, but something unsettling bubbles up from deep inside and knocks the wind from her lungs. She ignores the anxiety clawing at the back of her mind and takes as deep a breath as she can manage. Jeqi frowns at her friend’s odd response but doesn’t comment. Instead, she pulls Atae through the crowd of younglings.

  It only takes a step or two to realize that the classroom is not set up for review as Jeqi expected. Instead, Feku prepped it for combat training. All the holographic stations are gone, and the windows are covered. The younglings gather in their respective social groups throughout the bare room. Many of them stare at Atae, and others point and whisper. Atae stands straight with her head held high and glares at any onlookers until Seva calls to them.

  As the two hybrids walk toward Seva and Debil, Atae notices Seva’s remarkable improvement. Last time Atae saw her, Seva looked as though she would fall over from exhaustion. Today, her dark skin glows, and her ebony eyes shine with interest as she watches Atae. The movement of Seva’s head when she speaks sends her cropped, red hair fluttering.

  “Debil and I want to know about your attackers.”

  “Yea, who were they, and where did they come from?” Debil asks. Atae notices that Debil, too, seems much better. She notes her radiant caramel skin and short red hair with white tips. As they wait for Atae’s response, she notices that Seva stands a finger or two taller than Debil. The blue-haired hybrid opens her mouth to speak, then remembers that she doesn’t have an answer.

  “Uh…I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know? You mean they couldn’t figure it out?” Debil asks.

  “No. I mean, I didn’t ask.”

  “What do you mean ‘you didn’t ask’? Don’t you care about who or why you were attacked?” Seva says. Atae shrugs with a sheepish grin.

  “Well, I kind of figured it was just the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean Ka-” Atae stumbles over the name as a cold shiver runs over her back and sucks the breath from her lungs. Shaking it off, she continues.

  “One of them mentioned a ship nearby and a third companion. Maybe their captain. But I never saw him.”

  “You mean that unidentified ship was them?” Seva asks.

  “What? What ship?”

  “The ship that landed a day or so before you were attacked. How can you not remember?” Debil says.

  Atae frowns at Debil’s accusing tone and opens her mouth to tell all the reasons that she doesn’t remember an inconsequential conversation from days before she almost died. But Elder Warrior Feku strolls into the room, and all socializing careens to a halt.

  Feku stops in the center of the room to inspect his crop of young warriors. This is his last opportunity to bestow upon them the wisdom and strength they will need to survive in this harsh universe. Feku strains under the weight of his responsibility, but he does not falter. He takes several moments to scan the classroom and meet the gaze of every student, recognizing the strength and skills they’ve developed over the last twelve seasons. A sense of pride pools in his chest as his pupils watch him, eager for the long-awaited challenge. When Feku’s gaze falls to Atae, the small pool swells into a waterfall. She glances at her teacher but avoids meeting his gaze. He can read the shame burning on Atae’s cheeks, but he doesn’t understand why. Twisting his lips into a frown, Feku dismisses the hybrid’s odd behavior and addresses the class.

  “During the last couple of weeks, the last of the purebreds in this class have finally completed their shifting phases. Congratulations, you now have the same ability as every other Kaji warrior in the universe.”

  Atae shoots Jeqi a questioning glance, and the blonde nods her head to Debil and Seva. Both purebred females grin at the announcement, and Atae realizes that they must have gained the ability during her absence.

  “Everyone, split into three groups according to your ability, battle beasts, partial shifters, and non-shifters,” Feku says. He points at different areas of the room for each group to gather. Jeqi follows Atae to the non-shifting area, and almost half of the class, the hybrids, join them. Marqee and Sloan pass by Atae and Jeqi on their way to join with the other purebreds in the battle beast group, and Sloan bumps Atae’s shoulders with a fake surprised expression.

  “Thought you were dead.”

  “Sorry to disappoint,” Atae says.

  “You might as well be. You’re five points behind.”

  “For now.”

  Atae and Sloan part as quickly as they met but continue to glare at each other from across the room. Jeqi observes the small interaction with annoyance but doesn’t say anything.

  After everyone finds their assigned group, all eyes shift to Jent, who stands alone in the section reserved for partial shifters. The Kip hybrid rubs his arms and fidgets under the scru
tiny of his classmates. Atae notices Jent’s desperate glances to the group of battle beasts like he’s hoping for support from his packmate. But Tuk refuses to meet Jent’s eyes and pretends not to notice his friend’s plight. Atae wonders how their pack will hold up in the tournament. She can’t help but feel appreciative of Jeqi; at least they value each other as friends. Atae wonders if Jent and Tuk’s pack is by agreement rather than a real pack bond, but her thoughts are fleeting as Feku continues.

  “How many of you have seen a battle beast shift?” The moment he finishes his question, half the class signals with their visual visor. Forgetting that she’d activated her visor before arriving, Atae blinks away the sudden onslaught of holographic light emitting from the group. Since Atae has never seen a battle beast shift before, her visor remains dark. Glancing at Jeqi, she notes that her packmate has not seen one either. Feku surveys the younglings and nods as though he expected as much.

  “What drives a Kaji to shift?” Feku asks. Then he motions to Debil.

  “Emotions can force a shift.”

  “Emotions…hmm. By your logic, you would shift every time your mood changes. So will we be forced to deal with your jealous battle beast next time Sloan pays too much attention to Atae?”

  The entire class thunders into a cascade of laughter. Jeqi glances at Sloan and smiles at his attempts to cover his blush with a flippant twist of his mouth. His eyes flutter with a dismissive roll as they search for any place to land but on Atae.

  “Why would she be jealous of Sloan and me fighting all the time?” Atae asks her packmate. Jeqi hides her amusement and fights the urge to shake her head at her friend’s naivety. Oblivious, Atae watches Debil blush and stare at the ground.

  “If all it took were emotions to trigger a shift, you’d be a blushing battle beast by now,” Feku says. “Care to guess again?”

  Debil shakes her head and steps back into the crowd of students, hoping to disappear. The classroom once again lights up with visual visors as younglings vie for a chance to earn recognition and points. Sloan, crossing his arms over his chest, steps out of the group of purebred Kaji to stand next to Debil. He peers over his shoulder at her, and Debil’s heart rate jumps as she swallows. When Sloan peels his gaze away from her to address Feku, his lean stature and confident swagger attract everyone’s attention.