(Solmonath 7, 45 / 9:00AM)

  A month before the start of the demi-human skirmishes.

  In a land, before discriminants roamed free, the Southern country of Haxouburg used to hold the largest population of beast-humans second to Aizzonia. Dog-humans, cat-humans, elves, bunny-humans, horse-humans, and shark-humans; all of these humanoid species called the country home.

  Even though all of them were separated by their race.

  Inside of a small village just north of Ridgemente, was a community that knew the true meaning of family life. Curious kids, rowdy teens, and hard-working adults, all dedicated their time to themselves.

  Even for those who wanted change.

  (???) Praise be my brothers and sisters!

  On top of a huge stage in the center of the small town, was a frail and bony shark-human below average height. Wearing glasses, a black dress shirt and slacks, and church shoes, the sleeves on the end of his wrists were folded up formally. Not only that but the bottoms of his slacks were folded to allow his white socks to seem as if he had puddle-jumpers.

  All around the stage, many other shark-humans gathered on the edge of the stone wall, looking up at the intellectual man with a high-pitched voice.

  (???) Change is soon upon us! Yes! Changes in how we are seen in the eyes of man!

  The kids continued to play near a warped tree on the edge of the village, their minds unable to comprehend the words behind the booming man. Bored, the teenagers went back to their games of blackjack or poker, betting whatever part-time money that they had little in their pockets.

  Meanwhile, the young adults folded their arms onto their chests, slowly nodding their heads up and down.

  (???) Despite them leaving us in small villages such as these, we are looked weird upon when entering one of their cities! Even though they cause no harm to us, their stares only cause us soul-crushing pain! Aren’t we subjects of God’s creations too?!

  One of the young adults raised their hand in the air, leading many of the other shark-humans to leave a little gap for the man. Being singled out, the intellectual shark-human on the stage smiled softly at him.

  Rubbing his chin with his left hand's fingers, he took a step forward, the tips of his shoes on the edge of the stone floor.

  (???) Speak as you may brother!

  (Shark-Human #1) I understand your good cause Kirk, but I may add.

  Raising his right hand to the top of his head, he lowered the black flat cap that nestled his curly hair, having it down to his knee cap. Clearing his throat, he straightened his back while staring directly into Kirk’s warm eyes.

  (Shark-Human #1) If it’s not broken, why bother? We’re all happy with this way of jocular life, so why change it?

  (Kirk) You seem to misunderstand my words brother, but that’s ok! Our daily lives won’t be affected by the change that I please, but by the change that others see in us!

  That same shark-human firmly gripped his chin, rubbing his clean-shaven skin with his rough and parched fingers. As the rest of the crowd still laid a large gap between the mild haggler and themselves, the haggler moved his head up and down softly.

  Seeing that the rest of the crowd continued to gaze their eyes on him, Kirk looked up to the desert sun that wasn’t harsh in the late winter months. Feeling the sprinkle of its rays gleaming into his bluish-grey skin, a soft exhale of air pushed out from his lungs.

  (Kirk) Do you think we are chosen to be special?! No! But that doesn’t mean that we are chosen to be God’s joke!

  Every man and woman held onto each other the more Kirk spoke with his dry lips, his speech flowing like the desert sand on a soft mellow day.

  Lowering his eyes down to the crowd of his peers, he spread both of his arms out wide, extending them out the most he could. His body trembling slightly from the strain of his muscles, both of his church shoes that stuck to the stone ground sunk deep into it.

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  As his eyes sparkled.

  (Kirk) We are not meant to be the strung by social status! We are supposed to be equal amongst men! I’m not speaking for just you my brothers and sisters, but for the other strungs of society that are in the same sand as us!

  Lowering his left hand, he jabbed it deep inside his black dress shirt, his frail knuckles grazing the fabric and cotton. His fingers scratching the cover of a small laminated paper, Kirk pulled it to showcase the cover of a black bible.

  Raising his left hand, the small bible cast a shadow amongst the shark-humans, all looking at the black cover that sparkled and glistened. Squinting into the golden letters, Kirk had his eyes trail from the left of the crowd to the right, all harnessing their attention.

  (Kirk) Change is the only way that we are seen as equal in the eyes of disdainful men! With this bible! The book that I read from Genesis to Revelation! I can assure you that we will walk amongst common men!

  The front of the crowd of shark-humans began to slowly clap their hands, with one to two-second intervals of clapping that were detrimental to their nervousness. Like a domino effect, the middle of the crowd soon clapped with the front, then the back…

  Then the entirety of the crowd followed along.

  Instead of one to two-second intervals, it was a repeating motion, a sound that only extended both of his hands from one end to another. Bowing his head down, his soft smile lit up from his gray face, leading the winter sunlight to blanket the back of his neck.

  (Kirk’s thoughts) And make it a world where my sons and daughters will find peace.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Solmonath 7, 45 / 9:04PM)

  Half a day later.

  A full double moon glowed underneath the small village that the shark humans called home. No kids playing, no adults working, and no teens vandalizing property, all kept their souls and bodies warm to the confines of their shelters.

  A shelter made of just sandstone and brick.

  Inside one of those tiny shelters, a shark-human opened the door made out of hard straw, letting him inside the hut that cooked him up like a fish. Wiping his forehead with his right sleeve, a multitude of sweat-stained the black fabric of his dress shirt.

  But he had his eyes on a walking woman in front of him; a woman with a large nose, simple cloth dress, and bluish gray skin.

  (???) How many of them had heard you from the stage today?

  (Kirk) Got half the village hearing me. I suppose it’s better than no one.

  The shark-human woman raised her right hand onto her stomach, causing Kirk to look at the large belly that stood out. A warm smile lit up his face, his tightened shoulders loosened up as if someone had cracked his back.

  Walking up to the woman the same height as his, he lowered his right hand onto the woman’s hand. His thumb rubbed along her hand, and a small kick sparkled the skin of their palms.

  Then another kick.

  (Kirk) You talked to the village doctors about the time of your pregnancy.

  (???) They said that I broke through the second trimester, so today I’m starting the third.

  (Kirk) That’s great. Just another three more months before our first child.

  (???) Hehe, they said I might have twins.

  Turning her body around, he wrapped his arms around her stomach, while placing the front of his body alongside the back of hers. Placing his head onto her right shoulder, he softly closed his eyes while the smell of lemon and cherry pushed up to the core of his nose.

  Massaging her stomach, she softly gave the left side of his cheek her lips, doing it softly before pulling back. Putting her hands on top of his, she looked down at the sandstone floor, her bare feet stained under the powder that swelled her skin.

  (???) Kirk … I think it’s time.

  (Kirk) Time for what dear?

  (???) You've been fighting long enough…

  Kirk lifted his chin from her shoulder, tilting his head to the left to see her eyes pushed down and pinned to the floor. The corner of his right lip twitched, and he stopped it, replacing it with his cheeks pushing up to create a cheerful smile.

  Her hands clenching tightly onto his knuckles, it wasn’t enough for him to yelp, but enough to settle air into his parched lungs. Breathing it out, the parched CO2 brushed her dry skin like the desert wind.

  (Kirk) Oh honey … Pike … You don’t have to worry about my—

  (Pike) Please think about our kids dear. I just don’t want them to live a life without a father.

  (Kirk) But dear, those fellow men beyond these village walls won’t harm us, they have no reason to.

  Pike remained silent while letting go of his hands that continued to grab her stomach. Letting them drop to her sides, she lifted her head so that it was straightened out, and turned her head to look at Kirk’s pushed-up eyes.

  Noticing one of his eyelids twitching invisibly, she placed her right hand underneath his chin, causing his twitching eyelid to cease.

  (Pike) I’ve seen the kids play to their heart's content, the teens getting punished for their actions, and adults such as us showing our pride in what we do… but…

  Turning her body around, she stood right in front of the man while she bore her children.

  Grabbing both of his hands, her eyes tinted a hint of tears that were held by none other than her eyelids. Her scleras began to turn a pinkish red, and the corners of her eyes soon trailed down a trail of salted tears.

  Tears that caused Kirk to gulp.

  (Pike) Please live for our children.

  His hands wrapped around her stomach again but tightly.

  Holding onto her like a lifeline, his forehead reddened from it resting on her shoulder bone. Clutching his hands together, his legs soon lost the motion to walk, as he stood with frozen feet that were glued to the stone of sand.

  Feeling one or two drops of water sinking into her white fabric dress, her hands trailed back and forth his frail forearms.

  A small whimper escaped from his lips.

  (Kirk) Just let me fight a little more.