Unknown.  If there is one word in the whole English language that I hate, it’s Unknown.  Things are supposed to be concrete.  Things are supposed to happen for a reason.  Things are supposed to make sense.  And one thing that should be concrete is loyalty.  Loyalty to oneself.  Loyalty to one’s family.  Loyalty to one’s city.  When all is said and done and loyalty breaks down, what do you have left?  Loss?  Paranoia?  Definitely not the strong foundation that you may have had before such a precious thing is shattered.

But that’s not what we’re here to talk about.

Hi, I’m Anya.  Now I know this name means absolutely nothing to you and that’s how I want it because as of now, that’s not important either.  But as unimportant as it may be, my story is also one of many about to unfold. 

Up until now, my life had been anything but known.  Anything but certain.  I had been lost…  Adrift and alone to the whims of…  Well whatever really.  My only saving grace, my only escape has been my books.  In my books I could find whatever I wanted, whatever I needed.  I didn’t think I needed anything else until I met her.  Vivien wasn’t much older than myself but I began to see her more as a mother figure.  And Cyprus…  I can’t say enough about that man.  Funny, warm, caring…  A prime Leader to help see Detroit into the History books…  In a good way of course.  The two of them wanted nothing more than to see their family and their city grow to whatever heights lay before them. 

But that was not to be their story.  Like a dagger in the night, chaos has erupted in 12th street Detroit.  In an instant the majority of those that cared for this district’s crews and who were seeking to see it’s growth and prosperity, the majority of this District’s leadership was taken from this world.  That choice evaporated, and that reality dissipated.  In its wake is confusion and again…  The Unknown. 

I was there that day…  Helpless to stop the bullet before it came.  Helpless to fight off their attackers.  Helpless.  I hate that word too.  But after the dust settled and the attackers dispersed, I ran to Vivien.  Barely clinging to life she implored me only one thing.  She trusted to me her most treasured possessions…  Not wealth.  Nothing like that.  No, what she longed to see in her final moments was that two tiny scraps of fur found safety.  None of us knew exactly why this happened or what would happen here on out.  ‘Take care of them Anya…  Go to Ethan.  He’ll help you.’  Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded fervently.  I then watched her struggle for breath only to give up her spirit. 

”Your fight is over.”  I murmured softly to her, closing her eyes for the final time before looking to the two tiny furred figures.  I wrinkled my nose slightly in distaste.  I know that the foxes were well looked upon here but it was beyond me why prey was so treasured.  The District was in chaos.  Leadership dissolved.  Honestly I didn’t know where to go from here.  Stay in Detroit?  Hardly.  But who honestly knew where this tumbleweed would go next?  

Looking down as I felt a soft paw against my foot.  Suppressing a shudder as I looked down upon the small female, I nodded.  This time, I wouldn’t be alone.  Crouching down, I reached out my hand to the little lady.  “Well…  Looks like it’s just us now.”  The little fox gazed up at me through those warm knowing brown eyes.  Shaking my head a little as I thought I might have seen just a glimmer of intelligence in those eyes.  Maybe there was more to these creatures than met the eyes.  Scoffing softly as I scooped the twins up into their satchel and looking one last time at my former home, I would move off into the night.  Who knows how long I would live?  What would happen next?  But you could bet that the unknown that was my story would not remain that way forever.