[ WP ] All mankind lives on floating continents that slowly orbit the planet . Continents might come in contact with each other once in hundreds or thousands of years . Contact is about to be made between two very different continents with very different societies .

`` Two thousand years ago and more, in the time of our Great-Grandparents' ancient ancestors, Ragnar the Bold, first of the ShardBreathers, first discovered the World Heart.'' 
 
 The mighty throng stood dead silent and reverential as I spoke. As the words pass by my tongues and fangs I fondly remember my own first time hearing an Elder Shardbreather address the gathered Cohorts in this mannger. The Gods Dome resounds with my voice for the first time, this moment which will be the pinnacle of my mortal life. I am proud, and I am ready. History follows my voice this day. 
 
 `` For centuries, our fate stood just outside our grasp. The many sons of Ragnar died in their times, lives lost to the mysteries of this great puzzle. Today, brothers and sisters, I announce to your that our sacrifices have not been in vain! Today, broodmates, I tell you, the ShardBreathers have conquered the world!'' 
 
 There is murmuring now. 
 
 `` Tell us, brother Osthar, what does this portend?'' Chief Tallys stands before me, between the crowd and myself. 
 
 `` Our homes have seen the roofs quake above us and wondered. Entire tribes have been cut off from the Brood, and now you summon us before you to proclaim a victory. Do you claim that the ShardBreathers have caused the roilings that have claimed our kin?'' 
 
 `` I do, great chieftain. I do, and I mourn their sacrifice.'' 
 
 `` And even now, our laborers and beloved slaves toil to free our Broodmates and bring them back to the fold, back to our festivals and our wars, and command us here on fear of the World Heart to listen to this empty talk. Speak, priest! What do you have to tell us?'' 
 
 `` Be calm, great chief, and I will explain all.'' 
 
 I wait for the murmuring to silence. 
 
 `` Three Floods ago, our brothers have finally shattered the mystery of the World Heart, and it is a great one.'' 
 
 At the word `` shattered'' much of the crowd draws breath. 
 
 `` And while the Heart is well, we now know its' use, and know how to bend it to the will of the ShardBreathers.'' 
 
 `` To break our homes and slaughter our Kin?'' 
 
 `` Silence, interloper! You have said too much in this hallowed space! You will listen or be struck down!'' 
 
 Tallys bares his lower teeth but is silent. 
 
 `` The roilings you have felt are but the birth pangs of the great eggs of conquest that are to be delivered when Eaotem finds her destiny. You all know of the discoveries of our day-seers, those who venture above and see the lights outside our safe caverns. 
 
 They have told of the ripe lands we can not attain, with prey and fruit and new slaves for our pits and kitchens and playmates. You have heard how these other worlds stand far off, across the vast floods that rush in and refresh our stores. And you have all known how none who venture into the waters to visit have ever returned. 
 
 Today, that destiny is changed! Today, I tell you, the World Heart has been conquered, and we, its chosen, may bring this small cramped world of ours wherever we please!'' 
 
 ************ 
 
 `` Of all the neighbors that had to come knocking, of course it would be the ugly girl of the party.'' 
 
 Lucas looked over at me. 
 
 `` Can you not be an asshole for like, 8 seconds? And give me back the spyglass.'' 
 
 `` Fine.'' I slammed the telescope closed and tossed it back to him. I could see the big wet wart skimming closer, inexorably closer by the hour. This one we called `` Farthas' Wart'' due to it's brutal ugliness, a stone pimple with an apparently omnipresent thundercloud following it every time the Coast Guard saw it floundering in the distance, slowly revolving in the waves. 
 
 I stretched my claws thoughtfully as Lucas pondered the incoming vessel. 
 
 `` So, what's changed?'' 
 
 `` Could n't tell you. Nobody in the Guard has said anything though, we might be the first to notice. Maybe the priests know something, they've been even cagier than normal lately.'' 
 
 `` Seems to me that's more likely to mean they do n't know anything.'' 
 
 `` Mayhap.'' 
 
 I wandered over to the feed cage and pulled out a grammin. It squealed at me, obviously terrified. 
 
 `` Please, please, nooooooOOOO...'' With a wet crunch, it stopped struggling. I spat the skull back out and began eating, closing the cage back with my underpaw to keep the others from trying to escape. I fondly recalled the stories my grandad told, of the time before the priests had blessed them with language, given them a name and the gift of the tongue. Probably a lot less stressful to have dinner that way. 
 
 `` So, we're sure it's actually coming closer?'' 
 
 `` I'm sure. You sure?'' 
 
 `` Yup.'' 
 
 `` Then let's get moving. Grab me one and then let the rest go, we need to move fast.'' 
 
 I shrug and reach for the cage, holding up a quaking morsel. 
 
 `` Naw, the fat female please. It'll be a long run home.'' 
 
 ******* 
 
 Tallys stands over me. 
 
 `` Give the order, ShardBreather.'' 
 
 He holds a slave hostage. A gift from my predecessor, her name is Yessif, which means Fresh Washing, and she is my favorite. 
 
 `` Please, Tallys, might cheiftain. Not my slaves.'' 
 
 `` Do as I command, Osthar. You have seen me break the others and I will break you if I must. She has need of only one tongue.'' 
 
 I gaze at her beautiful face and regret my life. I regret that I did not prepare my allies. I regret that I did not kill Osthar in the Gods Dome when he would not be silenced. I regret that I am bound and wretched and that my brothers are even weaker than I. 
 
 `` I will submit, for the life of the one pledged to me, Mighty Chief. Please, spare my slave. I offer my tongues and my wings to your service.'' 
 
 He is appeased. Perhaps disappointed that I did not resist longer, draw out his victory and his sadism, he releases her gently. I close my eyes and weep. 
 
 `` Now, Tallys. Tell me the secrets of the Returned ones. My scouts have been many, and now I learn you have kept them from us. Tell me what they found.'' 
 
 `` Predators, Osthar. Eaters of live food and killers for sport. They keep no slaves for their appetites allow nothing weaker than themselves except food. Fearsome warriors, they carry weapons that cast darts farther than our spears and fly, and can reach us even on the wing. They are a terrible threat, with but one weakness.'' 
 
 `` Tell me, ShardBreather. What weakness must my warriors know?'' 
 
 I breathe my secret. 
 
 `` They do not see in the dark.'' 
 
 ********* 
 
 `` That was... gentle.'' 
 
 Everyone around us was lying flat on the ground. We had definitely felt it when the spinning black mountain made landfall, but it had slowed down and hit almost a full two days later than we expected. 
 
 `` I think maybe all that work was a bit wasted.'' For weeks the cities had been shoring up critical buildings, preparing for the shock of landfall. Apparently we need n't have bothered. 
 
 The great black mountain, now ten leagues away, slowly ground itself to a shuddering halt over the course of the next three hours. 
 
 `` Hope it stops before nightall. Would n't want to miss anything.'' 
 
 `` I think it will, but only just. Probably have time for dinner.'' 
 
 We began eating in shifts. The screaming and bawling and weeping were nerve-wracking. Damned priests, could n't leave well enough alone. I mopped the blood off my paw with my tongue and kept watch. 
 
 `` Hey, look. Something's happening.'' 
 
 Sure enough, about halfway down the cliff face, we saw movement, black on black. My eyes twigged to it pretty quickly, though it took my brain a few seconds to get a clear image. 
 
 `` Yup, it's the winged ones. Too bad, the snake-ones were tastier by accounts.'' 
 
 We kept guard that night, with the invaders beginning to swarm around the Black Mountain like a flock of seagulls, or a swarm of flies on a dunghill. I went to sleep with a continent above me, blacker than the night around it, and crowned with a thunderhead. 
 
 ********* 
 
 We came upon them on the second night. Swooping down from the darkness, low in the tallest mushrooms, we sprang and bit. Tallys struck first, it was well he was chief. I was second, no weakling or oldling. We heard their awful screeches and wails and I felt one of their enormous darts skim off my leg, but then my knives were on him. I bit deep and drank of my enemy. Tallys did not slay his, but skewered it's foot to the soft earth and noosed it, dragging it weeping and with the cracking of bone. 
 
 `` Tormmind, see to the new slave. It is badly hurt.'' 
 
 `` Yes, ShardBreather.'' 
 
 `` Beloved, come to me.'' 
 
 `` Yes, master.'' I followed Tallys' beckoning to the odd cage before me. Within, many small things like us, but unwinged and small-fanged, cowered. 
 
 `` These are the food-ones?'' 
 
 `` Yes, master, they match all descriptions.'' 
 
 `` Free them, except two I will keep.'' 
 
 `` Leftior, break open this box.'' Brother Leftior wedged his spearhaft into the mossy bars and broke the cage handily. 
 
 `` Well done brother. Go and gather reports of the other parties.'' 
 
 `` Yes ShardBreather.'' 
 
 With that, he was off into the clear darkness, lit by the sparkling points of light we had come to adore so quickly. 
 
 `` It is no mystery why those who went outside the floodholes always longed to return to the outside.'' 
 
 `` No, beloved, it is no mystery.'' 
 
 ******* 
 
 Continued below.
