Canlanma Street Level, Story 2

Story 2

   I wake -yet again- to the snore of another cadet. I really wish the other cadets would take others into consideration. There are crystals to aid with snoring or sleep apnea or even congestion. I mean, it isn't hard to go to their Healer and- Oh, the sun. It's not up yet. I climb out of bed and hop outside to open my Inane. I double-paw my necklace and stare at the Adimasi circle. The sun icon is still ten degrees from horizon, meaning I have some time. I could train and- I hear footsteps. Is that a patrolling Protector? I duck into a dark corner. I wait for the footsteps to pass before I grab a handful of shelled walnuts from my Inane and stuff them into my face. I need the energy to train. I have been asking to train since I was a kit -or a kitten? I don't remember- and it took convincing my entire dray -the entities in that science city call us a scurry, but they are wrong- to get me into Ludum to train. And now, I'm here, one cycle later. Still learning. Still getting the tactics and mannerisms down so I can interact with another entity properly. 

  I eat a walnut I hid in my cheeks and peek out of my dark corner. No one's around, I think. I see the light from the Commander's quarters is still lit. He must have left it on accidently, silly human entity. I step out and look around more. Nothing catches my attention. I move another walnut into my mouth and munch. With no one around, I creep my way into the armory. Thanks to my lack of height, I am able to squeeze myself through the door for more creature-like entities than I am. I see the vast array of weapons and star at their shiny exteriors. Their shine is so brilliant, even in the dim starlight They seem to steal the star's own brilliance and that may be morally wrong, but it is beautiful. I grab a big crossbow with magical etchings on the side and scamper back outside and onto the archery range above the kitchen. I climb the walls pretty easily and only slip once because the crossbow came off of the carrier on my back. 

  I place the crossbow on the ground and move another walnut into my mouth. The small archery target is easily 10 meters away, if not more. Easy for those more human than I am. I mean, I can walk upright, and I have a very basic humanoid shape, but I'm 95% covered in fur and still sport my tail proudly, but -most importantly- I'm only 100 cm tall. The crossbow I selected is about half my height, so I struggle to heave the crossbow into place. I load and aim, only to miss. Load, aim, miss. Load, aim, almost hit. Load, aim, hit the middle of the target. Load, aim, h-

  "You know, there are smaller crossbows in the armory." I bristle as I hear the voice of the Commander. I step back from the crossbow and stand at attention without looking at him. "Any reason for this selection, Cadet Sunshine?"

  "To challenge my capabilities, sir." I chitter.

  "I see. Be at ease, cadet. I will not be reprimanding you." I calm slightly and look over to him. If there was ever a perfect masculine human, Commander Aarant would be the model for study and testing. What a- "I do have one question for you, cadet."

  "Yes sir." I say without thinking. 

  "Your name is peculiar to my tongue. What was the origins of your name?"

  "The naming of all squirrels in my dray is purely inspired by circumstance. I was born on a breezy, sunny day in a Cycle of Light. Hence my name is Breezy Sunshine." I stop myself from rambling any further.

  "I see. My thanks for a clear and concise answer, cadet." The Commander smiles gently. "Now, let's go get you a more fitting crossbow."