1.2

In the beginning, there was the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. The Sun ruled the light, shining brightly on the flora and fauna. He led with a heated ferocity most plants and animals enjoyed. The Moon Goddess basked in the borrowed light from the Sun God. Glowing where there was darkness, lighting the way when needed. 

Over time, their roles changed, mixed, and warped. The people changed as well. The animals they once admired integrated with their souls. Their souls, being tied to the moon, changed once a month when she was at her most robust. Some changed to felines, others canines, then there were reptiles and primates. 

No two people were the same. Families of four could have one of each shifting animal. The Sun God became enraged. The people began to solely worship the Moon Goddess, much to her dismay. No matter how many times she spoke with the shifters they didn’t heed her words. 

In order to calm his ire, the Moon Goddess selected a special child born from a shifting species. She would be the pride of the Sun God. The shifterless one. Tied not to the moon but to the sun. When she came of age, she would be able to choose either to serve the Sun God with immense powers or regale herself to the moon and choose a shifter form. 

After talking it out, the two gods agreed. A pact was formed between them and the shifters. The first child born shifterless was said to be revered. Loved to the point they chose the Sun God. They aided in the advancement of their kin. Who always spoke highly of her. Never a harsh word against her. 

As the years wore on, the once revered sun child became ridiculed and mocked. The taunting and torment they faced were things the gods were ashamed of. Even with her guidance, they chose not to stray from their current path. It became so bad the knowledge on the sun child was twisted into a menacing threat amongst the people. Children born shifterless knew nothing of their special fate. Time and time again, they chose the Moon Goddess. Much to both the gods’ dismay. Pretty soon the Sun God’s anger leaked out in the form of scorching weather. The days became longer and hotter. Even the seasons were altered. Winter hardly was cold. The chilling winds were dampened by the rays of the sun. All the changes to their current lives, still unaffected them. Until one day, the sun returned to normal. 

Everyone cheered and cursed the Sun God for his petulant behavior. The moon goddess had finally had enough. It was the first time she had meddled in their lives, but something had to be done. The newly appointed elders of the clan received a prophecy. If by the fifth shifterless child, the Sun God was not chosen, life as they knew would begin to crumble. 

It began on a moonless night. The elders had convened in a secret meeting. The representative of each shifting clan met in the darkened forest. A tiger alpha perched in a tree awaiting the arrival of the other elders. 

** 

Crunching of fallen leaves alerted him to the impending approach. His keen eyes narrowed in on the reptile accompanying him was the wolf. He stretched in the tree and yawned. As graceful as the feline he was, he jumped from the tree, landing perfectly on his feet. Finally, the primate swung into focus. 

A grin on his lips. “Elder primate, what do you have to smile about?” Alpha Tiger scowled. 

Just like the deadly happy-go-lucky chimps, Primate Elder chittered before answering. “Because we have all shifters in our kinsman clan.” 

Reptile Elder lazily rested against the tree trunk. “We do not either, but why must we meet under the cover of darkness? It’s too cold!” 

Wolf Elder sat next to the reptile elder, lending some of his heat. “You know we are not to be together. We are the elders but we each have alphas of the kinsman clan. We are to aid in council, but never make decisions.” 

Reptile coiled closer, accepting the emitting heat. “Then why aren’t we also alphas? Or leaders. It would make more sense.” 

Feline Elder finally interjected. Having the honor of being both alpha and elder, it was not a fate he would wish on anyone. “A leader unchecked is a tyrant in the making. Alphas are the leaders. We are the council to ensure they do not overstep the boundaries put in place. We have to discuss the latest birth. As primate and Reptile have said, they have not had a shifterless babe. What say you, wolf?” 

Wolf Elder licked the cheek of Reptile elder. “We’ve had a few births, but none have the birthmark of the sun. Why does it matter?” 

Alpha Tiger sighed. “Do you not remember the warnings from the previous elders? Gene? Sanchez? What about you, Solomon?” 

Solomon lazily lifted his head. Upon hearing his name, he spoke with a hiss. “Sss-sorry Monteliusss. We jussst don’t believe the propheccy.” 

Gene adjusts his body, allowing Solomon to rest against him more comfortably. “My elder says we would be the third with a shifterless. Why should there be any rush? We would have two more chances?” 

Sanchez nodded his head. “Agreed. let it be someone else’s problem? We’ve only been elders for less than a decade. We have three more until we change hands. What if we don’t get a shifterless child?” 

Montelius paced the beaten path. An arm across his chest with an elbow resting against it. His hand was tucked under his chin. “We each are allowed forty years as an elder and you’re right, it’s possible we won’t deal with a shifterless babe, but the three previous elders hadn’t either. If you think rationally, it’s likely the shifterless will be born during our guidance.” 

The other three elders rolled their eyes. Gene grunted. “We have several women in our kinsmanship that have yet to give birth. Monty.” 

Montelius closed his eyes and nodded. “Our kinsmanship has about a dozen. And multiples have been discovered in at least half of them.” 

Solomon hissed. “A ssshame if a shifterless happens to be a twin.” 

They each nodded. Monty looked up at the dark sky. Even though the moon was not present, he could feel the goddess more. “Whether or not a shifterless is a multiple, we need to ensure they are treated well. They must choose the Sun God.” 

Gene interjected. “I was told she would need to choose the moon goddess.” 

Solomon nodded. “Same. I was told moon.” 

Sanchez tilted his head. “Hmmm, I think I was told. Sun God.” 

With the four of them at odds, the shifterless would be just as confused. Montelius was sure it was the Sun God. There were at least two dozen births on the horizon. If it happened in his kinsmanship, it would be easier to sway them, but if not, it would be that much harder. Pulling himself away from his thoughts, he chided the other elders. “Whether it’s sun or moon, we still have to treat her with respect, love, and care. Do we agree?” 

The elders agreed. A funny thing about agreements. Everyone has their own interpretation of what transpired. The brain is a maze of wonderment. 

The elders departed, going their separate ways. Alpha Tiger vowed to treat the new shifterless with everything in him. An inkling of dismay marred his heart. The thought tumbled from his lips. “They won’t treat the shifterless with respect.”