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Aeternae -- Brothers for Life

By: Tyvara

Encountered in Northern India by Alexander the Great. Described as having bony, saw-toothed proturbance sprouting from their heads, with which they attacked and wounded their enemies. They killed several of Alexander's soldiers who were unlucky enough to encounter them.

~

I have spent my whole life tied to my brother Shamiir, despite how he's not my brother; I take care of him all the same. Ceph the Caretaker is what they call me because I've always looked after Shamirr. He's a good guy despite his slow nature. He's strong and fearless, but he's also about as smart as a rock rolling through the sand. He's lucky that he has the biggest razor horns of our entire heard, so he can defend against any beast that should take us on. No one can stop him, which is why no one has tried and no one will run him off. Shamiir is good with the young letting them play all around him, he laughs sometimes like he's their age but with a huge boisterous guffaw that echoes across the desert. Shamiir has always seemed like a big child. Everything excites him from an ant carrying a seed to its home to the antelope bounding across the plains. Nothing escapes his notice, and I Ceph the Caretaker will be there to make sure he stays out of trouble. Afterall, one Aeternae alone is vulnerable to anything. There is safety in numbers. The weak will always succumb to the perils of the desert. And one is a weak number. One is far too close to none. That's what the elders always say.

They've seen trouble on the horizon, but elders are always on about new troubles for our kind. I'm not one to jump when the elders mention doom. I try and keep a level head. I am a caretaker, it goes with the territory. But with Shamirr, there is always some doom that he doesn't see, so I must be vigilant where he is ignorant, such is my life. I didn't ask for it, but no one else would do it.

I should have listened to the elders, they are wise and there to help guide us. Though with Shamirr I don't think listening would have mattered. When the creatures came with their shiny sticks matching shiny bodies, walking on two legs as if they were reaching for fruit from a tall tree, our herd moved far away. Shamirr was chasing butterflies. I tried to get his attention, but he kept wandering closer and closer to the shiny creatures.

The herd of them stopped and aimed their sticks at Shamirr and me. I called out to Shamirr, but he did not hear me. When the first of them threw their shiny sticks I bellowed in dismay as they rained down over my charge. It wasn't until one lodged in Shamirr's back that he took notice. Enraged and in pain he ran at the shiny creatures. He took one down with his razor horn and trampled several others. Suck with the creature on his horn he shook wildly but one of the creatures was ready he raised his stick and lodged it in Shamirr's eye.

Shamirr went down with a wail.

I needed no further warning. I turned and ran as fast as my body could go.

I heard the creatures behind me, running on their two legs and throwing their sticks. I couldn't get away fast enough, and one scraped my calf as I ran. It stung but I did not stop, I would not let them get me as they had Shamirr.

The scenery passed by, desert changing into grass once again and my herd could be seen in the distance.

Bellowing to them, I ran a bit further, exhausted and ready to stop. My shaky legs finally gave out as the elders found me. They guided me the last few steps to the watering hole where I could finally refresh myself.

The elders demanded answers, and as soon as I was able I told them what had happened to Shamirr and me.

We all took a moment to morn our loss.

Still, I am Ceph the Caretaker, I will always have my charges. Now I mind the young ones, and tell them of the story of Shamirr, and how neglecting your elders warning can lead to great sorrow, even death in the face of the unknown.

The End

Author's Notes: My first thoughts on reading this creature is that Aeternae was the Roman word for rhinoceros, because what other creature has a razor horn on its face? So I thought I'd write something from the viewpoint of the rhinos. It's just a short little thing, more fitting for flash fiction than anything else.