Prologue

A dark shape spun across the sky, plummeting through the clouds and leaving streaks of white across the blue of the atmosphere. Much too vast and swift to be the average songbird, many a creature below turned to watch and whisper as it passed far above, making its way to a nearby village nestled between two hills. Villagers stepped out of doors to crane their necks to the sky in anticipation of the arrival. 

The shape smashed into the the village, landing upon the top of the center most well. The sound of cracking rock and wooden debris attacked the surrounding villagers, causing them to fall back in terror. “Be not afraid and head my word, people of the countryside!” A deep voice called through the settling cloud of dust. With a swish of his long tail, the dust billowed away, revealing the figure. A pale lynx stood before them, wrapped in dark cloth and draped in a deep blue cloak. His face was pulled back in a scowl, revealing sharp teeth, as jagged as the scars that crossed his muzzle. “I am Zenith, son of the Gale-Rider and Storm-Chewer Clans. You shall know me as the king of Sky. As your Lord, I command henceforth that this village shall be responsible for the raising my child, Korrin. Upon his sixteenth Birthday, I shall reclaim him as my son but until then his well-being will be all of your responsibilities. If he is to fall ill or injured upon this village’s watch, I will unleash the wrath of the sky. In addition, neither he nor any outsiders should know of his origin.” 

A stunned silence filled the villagers as Zenith surveyed them. “Well? Who will accept responsibility for my child, your future king?” He asked, his low voice grave with malice.

Whispers spun through the crowd as young doe stepped forward. “I will take him in, my lord. Prince Korrin shall be safe under my roof and my husband will work hard to feed him,” she offered, gesturing to a broad stag who stood behind her.

“Then it shall be. This here family will take primary care of my son and the rest of the village shall take upon the duty of keeping him safe,” Zenith proclaimed, his loud voice echoing through the crowd. Then, he knelt down and passed the bundle of blue fabric he had been holding into the arms of the doe. With all said and done, Zenith bound back into the sky, the broken well repairing itself in his wake as his figure flew into the gathering clouds.