Before the sun the town announced morning. Shops owners beat rugs and opened windows. From the palace it looked like candles in the distance turning on as the citizen awoke for another day of work.

                Hero had been up far more early and he watched the townspeople as dawn unfolded. He took a sip of his hot chocolate then got back to work on his blueprints. He had plans to build a new windmill that would increase grain production and thus get food to the further out districts quicker.

                The leopard prince yawned as the first rays of sun began to reach his window. "Another day, another dawn." He said to himself. News of the war was still far off as of last night but Advisor Desono had said to be wary.

                Hero finished off his hot chocolate then put away his blueprints. As he was storing the papers on the shelf by his window there was a knock at the door. "It's open." Hero said.

                Uhua his younger sister opened the door and stepped right in.

                Hero frowned when he saw she was wearing her tiara and her reception robe.

                "Get dressed, Hero." She said. "Quickly."

                "What's going on?" Hero asked before she could leave the room.

                "Mama didn't say but she wants us in the throne room immediately." Uhua said and was gone before Hero could stop her again.

                Hero dressed accordingly and went down stairs to the throne room. He ran his paw along the tapestries giving the last one a large slap and sending dust dancing into the dim light. He slowed his pace when he neared the throne room and entered through the archway behind were his mother and father were already sitting.

                He took his seat next to Uhua who gave him a look of disapproval. "What?" Hero mumbled to her.

                Uhua leaned his way, "It would to good for the sons of Nagoray to learn to be punctual."

                "I'm not Kiva." Hero said and Uhua gave him an amused smile. He was her favorite brother, being closer to her in age than the Crown Prince. Also there was the fact that Kiva was arrogant and pushy.

                "So." King Saber said from the steps above his two children. "You're saying that Eshkope has fallen, the Royal Family is missing and Mount soldiers are pressing this way as we speak?"

                "Yes Your Majesty." Advisor Desono said. The wolf had served in the court for as long as any one of the royal children could remember.

                "Desono," It was the Queen speaking now, Naogora, a beautiful leopardess with the blood of kings in her veins. "How long ago did Eshkope fall?"

                "Near three months ago now Your Majesty." Desono said and then his ears laid back. "I apologize for the considerable delay."

                "You couldn't have foreseen it anymore than the rest of us." The Queen said. "And now you say Sapinfree has declared war on Mount Lions." She shook her head.

                "They will lose." The King said. "The Mount Army is four nations strong. And the Mounts are the more ambitious of the two. And what about Carn?"

                "They are fighting off the Mounts still, Your Majesty." Desono said.

                Murmurs went out across the court and Hero searched the anxious crowd. The various animals each voiced their concerns among one another.

                Desono howled. "Silence in the royal court!"

                "Desono." Naogora said. "We are going to need time to think about this."

                 The doors to the throne room suddenly opened the court gasped. "The Crown Prince, Your Majesty!" Desono announced then bowed in accorded with the rest of the court.

                Hero and his parents and sister sat back on their thrones as Kiva strolled in accompanied by his wife Lahar a tribal leopard princess. Hero had once too been fond of the brown eyed princess but was forced to bow out.

                Kiva gave a sweeping bow, managing to keep his crown on his head. He erected himself and cleared his throat. "So, father, do I still have a place at your table?"

                "The prodigal son returns." Uhua whispered to Hero as the family held a private meeting over dinner that evening with the Advisor and Ambassador and their wives. "Who does he think he is waltzing in here like that? Driving the wind wagon that you made."

                "We built it together." Hero said.

                Uhua sucked her teeth. "You always take up for him."

                "No I don't." Hero said.

                "Yes, you do." Uhua said picking up her cup. "You always keep the peace...you're the good one."

                Ambassador Akra a tawny toned stallion snorted. "This just goes to show how crazed the emperor of the Mounts is. We have nothing he could possibly want." He sipped his drink. "Carn has held them off for two years now and Sapinfree has joined the fight. They still have not captured Tangia's east."

                "That's nearly all the kingdoms." Naogora said. "And with Eshkope annexed...that only leaves us."

                "If I know Emperor Cato, he won't think twice about invading a neutral kingdom. Eshkope hardly had the power to defend themselves and look what he has done to them." Desono said. "We don't have an army at all."

                Kiva cleared his throat then and stood at the table. "You are probably all wondering why I have come home." He said.

                Hero nodded subconsciously. He hadn't seen Kiva in over three months. Ever since he and their father had a dispute over the kingdom the Crown Prince had taken his then new wife and moved into the Blue Palace toward the west. The Advisor's son Elim had followed as well as many of Kiva's friends from his school days at the academy. He often held court of his own there.

                "Father, Mother," Kiva said. His pale blue eyes which made him stand out against the rest roved the room. Kiva was charismatic and as a child used to getting his way. "I have heard of our dilemma and I am ready to do whatever it takes to prevent the Mounts from coming to Nagoray."

                "Thank you, Kiva." Saber said whishing his son would sit back down.

                "And." Kiva said, "What I have prepared to do is..." He looked around at all the faces. "Build an army."

                Menrai a beautiful swan and the wife of the Ambassador gasped and the Advisor spit out his food.

                "Kiva." His father shook his head. "I was hoping you had finally gotten that idea out of your head."

                "Why father?" Kiva demanded and the part Hero hated was coming up. "Give me your best males and I will make soldiers out of them! I can lead a counter attack against the Mounts."

                "Kiva listen to your father." Naogora said.

                "No, Mother!" Kiva said. "I will not let Nagoray go the way of Eshkope! I trained at the best military school in Sapinfree and it's time I put it to use!"

                King Saber pounded the table. "That's what got your head full of that garbage in the first place! No son of mine is going to stain his hands with another's blood. It is not a good feeling and our kingdom is neutral. If you go fight against the Mounts they will poor in here and trample everyone in their path!"

                "I won't let them get that far." Kiva said. "The Mounts are a week's journey away. They are already ready to destroy us, just like they did to the Eshkopeans. Will you cry out neutral when all of our people are dead?"

                The room was silent and Kiva looked to his siblings for support but they both just hung their heads.

                Hero missed his older brother. Sometimes he felt like he was the only one that did but he hated that Kiva always caused a fight whenever he came.

                Kiva was about to speak again but thankfully Naogora held up her paw and stopped him. Kiva stood up from the table, throwing back his chair and stormed from the room. No one spoke for the remainder of dinner.

/

                After the meal was over Naogora sent Hero to find his brother. Hero first took a can of oil with him for the palace windmill. As he stepped out of the palace and started down to the muddy river bank the sounds of night spread all around him. The stars had assembled perfectly around a waning moon and the river sparkled like a bejeweled crown beneath the field of black.

                Hero pushed through the cypress and smiled when he saw Kiva at the water's edge. "I thought I'd find you here." He said, sliding down the embankment.

                "Who sent you, mom or dad?" Kiva mumbled as he starred down at his reflection.

                "Mom." Hero said as he put the oil can in his row boat.  "I don't think Father cares to speak of you right now." He snickered.

                "I'm glad you find it funny." Kiva said and after a moment of sulking he helped his brother with the moorings. "I have a talent for ruining things every time we get together don't I?"

                "You bet your spots." Hero said tossing the ropes into the boat. He hoped in and took an oar then nodded for Kiva to take the other. The brothers rowed across the river and Kiva jumped out with the rope when they reached the other side.

                "Tie it good." Hero said as he climbed up the dock. "You remember what happened last time."

                Kiva mumbled under his breath and twitched his whiskers. He remembered when he had last been in this boat and was surprised Hero had actually got it returned to him. He had rowed Lahar across the river and was too busy trying to impress her that he carelessly forgot to moor the boat. It had been a windy day and the river was choppy. By the time the two returned to the water the boat had vanished with the current downstream.

                When Kiva had finished securing the boat he followed Hero through the cypress. The windmill stood tall and black against the night sky, its four blades slowly turning and squeaking on their axel.

                Hero pushed the door open and looked up into the towering building. "She's a beauty isn't she?" He said to Kiva who was looking up next to him.

                "I guess." The older prince shrugged.

                Hero rolled his eyes and started up the spiraling steps.

                "She's kind of noisy." Kiva called up to Hero as he got higher and higher above him.

                "That's what the oil is for." Hero called down.

                When his brother disappeared into the bowls of the machine Kiva climbed the steps and found himself a place to sit in one of the high windows at the loft. "You know I always forget how nice the kingdom looks from up here." He called to Hero.

                "Huh?"

                "I said I always forget how nice the kingdom looks from up here!"

                Hero suddenly appeared next to Kiva cleaning his hands on an already soiled rag. He joined he brother in looking out the window. "Remember how we used to camp out in the loft?" He said. "I used to beg Mama to stay up late...then we'd come up here with our telescopes and look up at the stars."

                Kiva smiled. Sure he remembered but his relationship with his parents had deteriorated over the years and he could feel his bond with his siblings fading away too. "Do you still wish you could fly?" He teased Hero.

                Hero folded his paws and rested his head on the window stool. "Do you still wish you could have been a soldier?"

                "Hero." Kiva scoffed and turned away from the window.

                "Of course I still wish to fly,  Kiva." Hero said dropping down to all fours. "To be way up there...dancing through the heavens...just like the birds."

                "Leopards aren't made to fly, Hero." Kiva chaffed. "Get your head out of the clouds. It's time you started thinking realistically."

                "I am thinking realistically." Hero said, "Look." He ran over to a corner in the loft were an old desk still remained from the days they used it as a club house. He returned with blueprints and spread them out on the moonlit floor. "I've got it all planned out, see?" He said looking up at Kiva who crossed his arms. "The first time I thought to build mechanical wings but then I thought of the windmill—"

                "Hero."

                "—and I realized blades would be better!"

                "Hero!" Kiva shouted and the windmill fell silent. Kiva sighed as he looked down into his brother's big innocent eyes. He knew a thing or two about wood works having gaining a carpenter's apprenticeship to pass his exams in Sapinfree. "This is child's play."

                "But Kiva—"

                "Hero, look at that thing!" Kiva said.

                "I am." Hero said. "It operates at the center and has a spare sail and a rudder for maneuvers. There's even a place for passengers—"

                "Yes, Hero it looks very intelligent but it's impossible." Kiva said and walked to the edge of the loft. "Don't tell me that is all you've been doing while I've been gone." When Hero didn't answer Kiva laughed. "Little brother, the kingdoms are at war...it's time to stop dreaming and act."

                Hero gathered his papers. "How many times does Father have to tell you we aren't going to war?" Hero said.

                "He won't have a choice." Kiva said his blue eyes illuminated by the moon beams. "The Mounts are less than a week away and we've only just gotten word. The only way to confront them now will be to fight them, show them that Nagoray is a mighty nation and not primitive kingdom that still operates on windmills to pump water."

                Hero looked down at his paws then straightened his bandanna. "A week away." He thought and paced for a moment. "The message—" He whirled around. "You—"

                "I delayed it deliberately." Kiva said and Hero's mouth dropped open.  "If Father had known about Eshkope sooner he would have long ago gone out to sue for peace. At best the Mounts would have made us a province; at best, Hero." He walked up to his brother and placed his paws on him. "Tomorrow I will once again tell father what I have planed and if he does not listen than I shall sever my court completely from his."

                Hero hung his head as his brother spoke.

                "Then I will go out into the kingdom and call every able bodied Nagorin to arms." Kiva said. "Then they will regret, Hero. The Mounts will regret they ever started this war in the first place. "They will regret they annexed Eshkope, they will regret fighting with Tangia and Carn and Sapinfree...they will regret that they killed our cousins."

                Hero finally just turned away. He tried not to let Kiva see him cry but his sniffles echoed in the hollow space. Their cousins lived in Carn, the first Kingdom to challenge the Mounts in their ethnic cleansing. When the soldiers stormed the palaces they struck the Nagorins dead with all the others...even girls. Only the King of Carn and one of his six sons survived and now fought with a vengeance.

                "I can avenge them." Kiva said suddenly at his side and rubbing his back. "I can avenge them all...give the Mounts a taste of their own medicine. Let them be the ones living in dread for a change."

                "It won't bring them back." Hero said and when Kiva tried to hug him he pushed him away. "Mama cries every night for her sister and her family. But she prays, Kiva," Hero sniffled loudly. "She prays not for their souls but for the souls of those who did it. That's how Mama fights the war...and that's how we should too."