Ferals

General Stone's POV

A brisk rap on the door interrupts my thoughts, “Come in.” I say as I clear the papers and maps from my desk.

“Sir, Captain Hale and his squad have not returned. They were due back twelve hours ago.” Major Aimes states.

“Have the Scouts been sent out?” I ask.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Well?”

“There were signs of a skirmish. Blood on the ground, no bodies to recover.”

“No captives were retrieved then I take it.”

“No, Sir. From the Scouts report, the squad was caught before they could capture any of their young.”

“Damn, we need more test subjects. Send out another squad, as soon as possible, tonight would be advantageous, they will not expect another raid so soon.”

“Yes, Sir” he salutes and turns to go.

“Major,” I snap as he turns to go. “Send two squads, we need those test subjects.”

“Yes, General, right away sir.”

“Dismissed” I say as Major Aimes closes the door behind him. I run my fingers through my hair and collapse into my chair behind the desk. Tomorrow is Proving Day, King Henry will be attending along with his son Prince Sebastian. Tomorrow I will begin to initiate my plans for the future of our Kingdom, convincing King Henry will be the crucial first step into achieving that goal.

I stand and pull the old skeleton key from my pocket and head down to the holding cells. I pass through the cell block until I reach the last cell on the left. I run my fingers down the stone wall finding the small hole obscured in the mortar between the stones. I insert the key and push the concealed passage way open and start down the steep winding staircase. The secret door swinging silently closed behind me. I make my way down to the long forgotten laboratory hidden deep beneath the bunker that housed our ancestors, the original survivors of the Great War. Muffled cries and whimpers greet my ears as I descend the stairs and enter the lab.