The Hybrids Curse

The wind whistled as sickly people filed into the courtyard. Some had wings, others had paws. But they all had one thing in common, they were hybrids. Sneezes and coughs resonated around the empty courtyard. The Hybrids Curse, better known as The Plague, was taking its toll on the people of Zeretope. Hybrids died every single day with no hope for a cure, until today. The council had finally found the cure and they were going to give it out to the people of Zeretope during the courtyard assembly.

The courtyard was located in the center of Zeretope. The courtyard was a round grassy field with five feet tall concrete brick walls surrounding it. In the center, stood a massive seven-foot tall, circular stage with throne-like chairs that formed a semicircle towards the crowd. The chairs were meant for whoever had called the assembly, generally the councilors.

“Citizens of Zeretope,” announced the head counselor in her squeaky voice. She looked to be around her mid-forties, graying hair was tied up into a sleek bun and her round glasses were halfway down her pointed nose. She looked just like a starving mouse even though she wasn’t a mouse hybrid.

“The rest of the councilors and I have worked tirelessly, day and night trying to find a cure for The Hybrids Curse, and we have finally found it!” She paused for a little bit, waiting for the cheering to die down. Two guards had walked onto the circular stage while she had been talking. They flanked her on either side, the one on the right holding a velvet cushion. The cushion was embroidered in a swirly gold design with buttons dotting the surface in a diamond pattern. In the center of the cushion sat the largest, most incredible crystal ever.

The crystal was a sapphire blue color. It had little flecks of gold here and there, which really brought out the green undertones. It seemed extremely dull in the cloudy sky, but then suddenly the clouds moved aside revealing a bright sun. The crystal shimmered with a rippling effect making it look like it was floating. The crowd gasped loudly in unison.

The gray-haired councilor held up the crystal so everybody could see it.

“This crystal gives off an aura that has healing properties. If you inhale the aura, you will be healed,” She said with the biggest smile on her face,

“Everyone line up! You need to be healed.”

The councilors sat in a round, circular room. There was a stone table in the center of the room with seven chairs surrounding it. One councilor, one who looked fairly young with ruby curls cascading down her shoulders, was pacing back and forth in front of her chair. Her faint hazel eyes, which were usually bright with mischief, looked more scared and frightened than they usually did.

“Hybrids have attempted theft on the crystal three times already! We have to hide the crystal now before it’s too late!” The councilor with hazel eyes yelled.

“Calm down, Sadie. We have to think rationally,” The starving mouse councilor said.

“Elenora, we keep saying we have to think rationally, but we end up not deciding anything!” Sadie replied.

“Sad-” Elenora started but was interrupted by another counselor. He had straight black hair. It seemed expertly tousled, and his sea-green eyes glowed mysteriously in the dim room.

“What if we break the stone?”

The room got very quiet after that.

“Are you crazy? That’s a terrible idea, Finn!” A counselor with bright violet eyes and brown hair replied, interrupting the silence. She carried herself in a way that made her seem like a snob.

“I second what Nora said!” A councilor with similar features said immediately, standing up at the same time.

“You’re only saying that because you’re in love with Nora, Jake!” Finn snapped back. Jake and Nora both turned as red as cherries. The two councilors who had been quiet during the entire argument suddenly raised their hands. The slight gesture made heads turn. These two councilors were ancient, they were thousands of years old. They were the rarest hybrids ever known. They were Pheonix hybrids. One of ‘The Ancients’ started speaking in an old, raspy voice,

“I agree with Finn, though may I suggest we find a way to put it back together before we break it? I say, once we split it, we hide the pieces around the world. Should anyone want to use it against us, they would have to find it first,”

“But what if they were trying to cure The Hybrids Curse?” Jake said, bringing up a good point.

“Then let us hope that they are smart enough to find it,” The other Ancient replied.

On that grim note, the meeting ended.