The Night the Stars Fell - Preview
#1 of Published Works
?What if the Spanish Conquistadors had been furries? What if they happened to be Spanish bulls, while their conquests, the Mexica, were jaguars who live in the plush forests of the Amazon? My latest published story explores that and what would happen if a Mexica princess had entered the fray?
Well, my story The Night the Stars fell, explores that very concept. Please check it out at Furplanet or visit your nearest furry book dealer to purchase it!
"Steady the mast there, Miguel! Don't want any early morning crashes!"
"Aye Captain Diaz!" The young bull wrapped the frayed cord around his burly hand and pawed at the ground, straining to keep the heavy mast from coming loose and blowing the ship off course. He didn't have to hold on for too long before other young bulls joined him and they were able to safely navigate the rough seas. The Captain nodded, surveying the land through his spyglass as the ship plodded towards the shore. After so many months with an endless ocean view, seeing the horizon and the faint scent of fresh grass made his eyes water.
"How long before we make land?"
The Captain turned to see a gruff, weather-worn bull striding towards him. His eyes beady, brown eyes were narrowed as he stopped beside the Captain, a hooved hand out for the spyglass. The Captain didn't dare protest for the Commander was not one to be trifled with. He stroked his well-groomed beard for a moment while surveying the coastline and then handed it back to the Captain.
"Not long, sir. Seems like we could pull right up to the shore if the water remains deep enough," the Captain said, pocketing the spyglass and nodding to the First mate regarding the wheel.
The Commander flared his nostrils and flicked his ears, keeping his gaze on the approaching coast.
"And you're certain of this?"
"Well, the only way to be certain of that would be to keep going and we'll find out there, eh?"
"I'd rather not endanger the fleet; we might need them in case this is yet another island. In fact, I have another idea. Slave!"
His gruff shout made a nearby rat squeak and tremble before it backed into a nearby wall. It had been scrubbing a deck, a task made extremely difficult when several soldiers came by to kick his bucket over, but it was a welcomed task to be out of the Commander's sight and therefore, his mind.
"Y-yes sir?" the rat said, crouching low onto the deck, his whiskers twitching and his muscles tense, ready to run should the Commander swing out with a hoof large enough to break him in two.
"One of you recently whelped, did she not?"
"Y-yes sir. It was hard and long, but she came through with a litter of seven."
"Seven," the Commander said, fingering the golden ring in his nose, "that would be seven more mouths to feed, would it not, Captain?"
"Aye, it would, Commander. It'll be rough with rations being as low as they are, but I think we'll be able to-"
The Captain was silenced by the Commander, who motioned for two soldiers to come forward. One held a struggling doe rat in his hooved hands while the other had a bundle that held three squeaking rat pups. When the soldier brought them near, the Commander curled his lip and waved him away. The soldier edged to the side of the ship, holding the squirming bundle over the edge.
"One thing that I will not tolerate on this mission is insurrection and impropriety. You have sinned against me and therefore sinned against our Lord and incurred a debt. Captain," he bellowed, "what are the wages of sin, especially aboard this ship?"
"Commander, you can't mean-"
"Sir," the rat squeaked, squirming in the grasp of a third soldier who had appeared from out of nowhere, but his small frame did little to dissuade the burly bull. "Have mercy, m'lord! Don't-"
"Death."
Before the Captain could react, the soldier dropped the bundle into the ocean, where it floated for just a moment before it was overtaken by the waves. The Captain could only mutely stare at the Commander, the screaming of the doe rat blocked out by his shock. The soldiers then dragged her back below decks, ready to carry out the second half of the punishment. The buck rat wept silently, his tears leaving sooty trails on his fetid, grimy fur.
"I expect to be obeyed at all times by all who serve me, including slaves. Take him below deck and give him a lash for each remaining waste of rations."
The Commander made to head back to his quarters, but stopped and looked over his shoulder and added, "You'd do well to thank the Lord for his grace, slave, for Commander Hernando Cortes isn't known for his mercy."
Cortes stomped off, leaving a horrified crew and a weeping rat slave in his wake. The Captain, too mortified to speak, crossed himself and lifted his eyes to the heavens, hoping that the shooting star he saw was an acknowledgement of his silent prayer.