《Judgment of the Species》 Glossary Animus ¡ª Name of the theocratic empire that¡¯s taken over much of the world¡¯s northern and middle regions. Bachelor ¡ª A single male who is neither castrated nor in a harem. Birthing Season ¡ª A period in spring where babies conceived during the Rut are born. Capras ¡ª Animus¡¯s southernmost territory; also the goats¡¯ homeland. Used to be a lush and fertile land, but is now arid and inhospitable for those unequipped to handle the desert landscape. Currat ¡ª A large, flightless, domestic bird used by mammals for transportation and cargo. Similar in body plan to emus and elephant birds. Death Guide ¡ª A carnivore who is paid to kill and eat a qualified, consenting mammal (usually a prey species). Divination This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.¡ª A type of ceremony where the Emperor receives prophecies from the Goddess. Divinity ¡ª Magic which originates from the Goddess. Flock ¡ª Another word for ¡°family¡±, regardless of the members¡¯ species. It is typically a polygynous unit consisting of a male, wether, females, and their children. Harem ¡ª A sanctified marriage consisting of a male, wether, and females; the foundation of a ¡°flock¡±. Ichor ¡ª An extremely sparse, contained source of Divinity provided by the Goddess to the Animus Empire. Experienced wielders of Ichor are capable of bringing blessings, miracles, and even misfortune onto who/whatever they please. Maistry ¡ª A mid-ranking female in a flock. Matron ¡ª Matriarch or highest-ranking female of a flock, usually the oldest. Myr ¡ª A low-ranking female in a flock, usually the youngest. Natalday ¡ª A holiday which observes and celebrates everyone¡¯s births. Takes place during the Birthing Season. Rauccalo ¡ª A massive, flightless, grazing bird used by mammals for meat, eggs, leather, and cargo. Infamous for its tumultuous mating call. Rutting Season (the Rut) ¡ª The period in late summer - early fall where mammals are permitted to mate. Stud ¡ª A fertile male. Wether ¡ª A castrated male-at-birth. They are considered genderless and are referred by they/them pronouns. Those who are fully castrated in infancy are considered the purest members of society. Prologue, Part 1 Spring is the only suitable time of year to give birth to offspring. Yet as the blizzard wails from outside, a newborn lamb drowns out the noise with its own. Loud and vitalic, the unfortunate thing screeches for a life it is not supposed to have. Annissa, sheep and matron of the Holy Flock, frowns as she lifts the lamb away from its mother. Like all sheep born within the Animus lineage, the lamb is a pristine white; its coat devoid of any pigment or markings. The wool is slick with fluid from the womb and glistens under the golden candlelight, appearing almost ethereal if it weren¡¯t for such unfortunate circumstances. ¡°I want to see her¡­¡± Annissa looks at her sister, Anya, whose eyes remain glazed over from labor. The subordinate sheep rasps once more to see the child she has just birthed, but Annissa steps away. She promptly places the lamb onto the makeshift altar¡ª a small table draped with a mat, holding a candle and an offering of hardened bread. An incense blend of resin and herbs wafts upward, which will help guide the lamb¡¯s spirit back home. ¡°The bowl, please,¡± Annissa begins. Anita, the third and youngest sister, rises from Anya¡¯s bedside. She prepares a porcelain bowl for the child¡¯s sendoff, lowering a cloth into it before pouring a carafe of blessed water. Save for rattling windows and the lamb¡¯s greedy cacophony, the room is silent as Anita delivers the bowl to Annissa. Annissa opens with a prayer before dipping her hand into the bowl. Without ringing it out, she lifts the dribbling, waterlogged cloth which will be used to smother the lamb. Just as she prepares to cover the lamb¡¯s face, a sharp pain pulls in Anissa¡¯s arm as she¡¯s lurched backward. ¡°Won¡¯t you listen to me?!¡± Annissa looks over her shoulder. Anya, despite her weakened state, had stormed out of bed, her hoofed fingertips now digging into the puffed fabric of Annissa¡¯s sleeve. She had managed to pull Annissa¡¯s arm back with so much force that it was nearly dislodged from its socket. Anya, wearing nothing but a gown for modesty, bleeds over the down-feather carpet. Annissa grimaces. ¡°Annissa,¡± Anya breathes, nostrils flared. ¡°My matron¡­ please spare her.¡± Her choice of words is submissive and pleading, but her tone is low and dangerous. Annissa snatches her arm away, making Anya stumble. Anita rushes over to steady the sister, but Anya pushes her away. Such a stubborn thing, as always. Not only is Anya stubborn, but she is dreadfully vulgar and weak-willed, as evident from the bastard she had just brought into the world. Annissa¡¯s blood boils at Anya¡¯s selfish disregard. Mouth tightening in rage, Annissa turns to face the sister. ¡°We¡¯ve been nothing but merciful to you.¡± ¡°Give her back to me.¡± Annissa lifts a hand to silence Anya. She wants to slap her too, but suffering from the pain of labor seemed like enough of a punishment. Anya obeys but stamps her foot. ¡°You conceived a bastard outside of the breeding season and we are offering you a way out,¡± Annissa continues. ¡°So what is it? To be cruel and keep this miserable lamb alive, or to protect our flock?¡± ¡°You are not killing her,¡± Anya grits without hesitation. Annissa huffs. She gestures to Anita while returning to the altar. ¡°Restrain her.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I won¡¯t allow it!¡± Anya¡¯s words morph into a shriek as Anita grabs her from behind. The two struggle, with Anita overpowering the much weaker sheep who continues to cry, ¡°I won¡¯t let you kill her!¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the best, Anya,¡± Anita tries to coax but to no avail. As earsplitting screams and cusses fill the room, Annissa picks the cloth off the floor, frowning at the dirt and shed wool that now sticks to its once-clean fibers. She dips the cloth back into the bowl anyway, re-soaking it. As it absorbs the rest of the water, she gazes down at the baby. The miserable scrap wriggles and screams like its mother, but soon it will go quiet and become an obscure relic of the past. Hopefully, one that the Animus Empire will never have to discuss or remember again. Goddess, have mercy on her¡­ and me. Annissa sighs, trying to quell her guilt. No matter how poorly this ritual is going, the lamb must be sent back. For the flock. For the empire. Even at the cost of¡ª ¡°Annissa, that is enough!¡± Annissa freezes instantly at the strident command. That voice did not belong to either of her sisters, but the familiarity of it makes her blood run cold. Only then does she notice that the bedroom door has been flung open. A stream of light colors the room, overcast by the silhouette of one mammal in Animus whom Annissa is beneath. ¡°Emperor,¡± Annissa stammers, turning to lower her head in the presence of her other sibling, Emperor Aries XV. Castrated and genderless, Their Majesty is the Holy Flock¡¯s wether¡ª and hence is the purest and most powerful individual in all of Animus. Their Majesty steps forward, standing between Annissa and the other two sisters. ¡°Do you realize how unjust you are being?¡± Annissa keeps her head lowered. Like herself and their other sisters, Their Majesty is a white sheep. Tall, lithe, and draped in gold-trimmed silks of white and scarlet, Emperor Aries XV radiates a divine authority that only the Goddess Herself can defy. Their eyes, hot with scalding disapproval, are pink with red, elliptical pupils. Annissa also has red eyes, while the other two sisters¡ª along with most born in the Animus lineage¡ª have pale blue. ¡°Please forgive me, my wether.¡± Their Majesty ignores her. They look to Anita. ¡°Let her go.¡± As if Annissa¡¯s orders never mattered, Anita loosens her grip on Anya. Anya rips away and nearly pushes Annissa aside while rushing to the altar. She picks up the lamb¡ª holding it for the first time¡ª and establishing to Aries that the child can never be sent back without the act being considered murder. Annissa watches with dread as Anya cradles the lamb protectively. Perhaps muffled by Anya¡¯s gown, the lamb¡¯s shrieks are not as loud as they had been. Failing to suppress her panic, Annissa stammers out a lackluster, ¡°My wether, we cannot keep this child¡ª¡° ¡°That is enough, my matron,¡± Their Majesty interrupts. Their red eyes narrow into a glare that burrows into Annissa¡¯s soul. ¡°As the flock¡¯s matron, you should be well aware of the requirements to carry out such a dire ritual. The birth mother must be in agreement, or would you rather face the Goddess¡¯s judgment?¡± Annissa winces at the mention of divine judgment. ¡°No, of course not.¡± ¡°Then there will be no sending back.¡± Annissa lowers her head again, to express submission but also to hide the horror and betrayal etching her expression. They¡¯re insane, she thinks, feeling a bit sick to regard the emperor in such a way. But there is no doubt that this is the truth. Even the emperor, the purest mammal in the world, the Goddess¡¯s prophet; member of the holiest lineage within the holiest species, is no longer invulnerable to the immorality that is overtaking the empire. An immorality that has slithered its way into the Holy Flock, resulting in the presence of a bastard. Annissa shakes her head. ¡°Please excuse me.¡± She steps past Their Majesty but not without shooting Anya a glare. ¡°I hope you know that there will be consequences for your mistake.¡± Anya says nothing. Nobody does. Their eyes are overcast, because this time, Annissa has the upper hand. She is the matron and she gets to enforce the flock¡¯s dynamics; the consequences. ¡°At dawn tomorrow¡ª¡° Annissa begins, still speaking to Anya, ¡°¡ªyou will begin atonement. Indefinitely.¡± Without giving time for their reactions, Annissa storms out the room. The empire is doomed, but the least she can do is maintain this wretched, astray flock. Prologue, Part 2 Spring and summer fleeted by after the bastard lamb¡¯s birth. Now autumn''s last leaves cling to nearly-bare trees outside as the air gradually turns frigid. Annissa sits straightened in her velvet-cushioned chair, dithering about what she must do. She watches from the study¡¯s window as an orange, shriveled leaf disconnects from its branch and settles out of view. Yet another indicator of winter to come. Not just winter, but a new year¡ªwhich Annissa can either bring forth change or allow to become worse than the last. She shifts her gaze back to the desk and looks down at the scripture before her. Hidden in the book is a thin, little pouch. Months ago, Annissa had placed the pouch conveniently between two pages, one of which contains a verse that will hopefully push her into action. ¡°Those who are not with Me are against Me, and those who are against Me must perish.¡± For the Goddess and Her empire, Aries must perish. Before Annissa can bring herself to take the pouch, a wave of hesitation washes over her, as it has many times these past few months. Time and time again, Annissa put her plans aside, leaving the pouch of poison sitting in the scripture, in her private study, unused when she was certain then would be the day. I must stop doing this, she thinks to herself with a grumble. Yet something in her still refuses to kill her sibling, no matter how necessary it is. Her ears twitch when a shrill noise emits from outside the study door. Annissa slams the book shut and places it back on the shelf before she even has a chance to register where the noise came from. It was from the bastard lamb, she realizes. Harmless for now, even if the thing is a scourge to the empire¡¯s sanctity. The bastard, a tottering female named Agnes, babbles incessantly as little hoof-steps clip unsteadily against the marble tile outside the door. The lamb figured out how to walk several weeks ago, and has been determined to explore every inch of the Holy Flock¡¯s quarters since. At least the quarters are just one small section of the palace, and the most private one at that, but Annissa has a feeling that the lamb will eventually want to explore beyond this place. And once that lamb wanders anywhere the public will see her, where they will be reminded of her¡­ the Holy Flock will undergo far more scrutiny than it already does. ¡°Stay where I can see you, little lamb!¡± another voice says as their feet follows after the bastard. It is Aries. They sweep the lamb off her feet and say a much-dreaded, ¡°Why don¡¯t we say hello to your matron?¡± Annissa grits her teeth as Aries knocks on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± she says, suppressing her disdain, but not before grabbing another book and opening it on the desk. Aries opens the door, bringing in the lamb, who is hoisted in one of their arms. The lamb¡¯s pale-blue eyes are wide with wonder as she looks around at the towering bookshelves with glass panels that line the room. Then she looks at Annissa and her face scrunches up in a smile. Annissa¡¯s mouth twitches in response. She must be honest that the lamb is darling and, in ideal circumstances, would be a much-adored princess. Annissa¡¯s face falls again while she frowns up at Aries. ¡°You should leave the caretaking for the ewes and ram, my wether.¡± ¡°They are my children as much as they are yours, dear matron,¡± Aries quips back. They set the lamb down, who proceeds to clamber on one of the couches. ¡°The children deserve my attention and Anita deserves a break.¡± Annissa¡¯s ears perk at the mention of Anita. Anita has been the lambs¡¯ primary caretaker ever since the other subordinate ewe, Anya, began atonement. As punishment for giving birth to a bastard, Anya has been forbidden from interacting with the rest of the flock, including the lamb she¡¯s brought into the world. That left Anita to doing most of the caretaking in Anya¡¯s stead. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be focusing on your divination?¡± ¡°The divination is in two hours,¡± Aries says. They glance at her book, a species index of mammals, randomly turned to a page regarding rodent culture when that does not pertain to the event. ¡°I do not see you fussing over it at this moment either.¡± Annissa breathes deep while pinching the bridge of her muzzle. ¡°My mistake as much as yours, then.¡± ¡°I actually have a question for you before I get prepared.¡± Annissa cocks a brow. ¡°What if we have Anya watch the children this evening? She is missing out on Agnes¡¯ milestones and surely would want to see¡ª¡° Annissa slams a hand on the desk to stop them. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Aries narrows their red eyes, glaring at Annissa the same way they had when she tried sending back the lamb. ¡°It has been almost a year since you punished our myr,¡± they say, referring to Anya¡¯s title within the flock¡ªthe most subordinate position a ewe can have. ¡°How long do you intend on doing this to her?¡± Annissa¡¯s foot stamps under the desk at the notion that she¡¯s ¡°doing this¡± to Anya, as if Anya is no more than an innocent victim. ¡°Are you implying she should be indulging in the luxury of her sin, my wether?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m implying is that she deserves to see her offspring at least once,¡± Aries retorts, their dodging of the subject not going unnoticed. But Annissa will entertain their little game. ¡°Elaborate on why she ¡®deserves¡¯ it.¡± ¡°Grace, my matron.¡± Annissa falls silent, leaning back in her chair. She gives herself time to muse for a moment, not about Aries¡¯ words, but about how drastically forgiving they are trying to be. The empire cannot be ruled with such a weak hoof, yet here Their Majesty stands, trying to waive an act of defamation against the very flock who represents the Goddess. ¡°Must I remind you that grace needs to be earned? You should know better than this, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°The Goddess would not condone such cruelty.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about the Goddess!" Annissa snaps. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Aries¡¯ voice grows cold and dangerous. Blood drains from Annissa¡¯s face as the realization of her words comes crashing down. Her muscles tighten with dread as her wether leans forward. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m not the Goddess¡¯ anointed prophet, Annissa?¡± they hiss in her ear, as if sparing her from any eavesdroppers. The only one in earshot is the bastard, who seems oblivious to their argument, too enamored by the couch¡¯s floral embroidery which she traces with a hoofed finger. ¡°No, Your Majesty¡ª¡° ¡°Then I suggest you do not speak such blasphemy again,¡± Aries finishes. They pull away and straighten, folding their hands together. ¡°But very well. I would prefer not to argue any further around this child, so I will respect your orders as matron. I should get ready for the divination.¡± They lift the lamb off the couch. ¡°Come on, Agnes.¡± As Aries carries the lamb away, the lamb waves goodbye to Annissa. Annissa gives a halfhearted wave back, and once the door closes, she slumps in her seat, catching a breath she didn¡¯t realize she was holding. And as if the Goddess had come down to show why Aries must die, Annissa is finally filled with motivation. Without any hesitation, she stands up from her chair and grabs the scripture. She takes the pouch and reads the verse again. ¡°Those who are not with Me are against Me¡­¡± she whispers along with it. She slips the pouch in her sleeve and shuts the book. ¡°¡­and those who are against Me must perish.¡± To save the empire and retain the Goddess¡¯s glory, she must destroy the one who claims to be a prophet, the one who allows sin to overtake this rapidly declining, heretical empire. There is no way Aries deserves to be a prophet. They may be a wether who was born in the purest lineage, but they are as much of a disgrace as Anya and the bastard are. There is no doubt that Aries is the Goddess¡¯ most unworthy vessel; a prison She must be liberated from. As the divination approaches, Annissa prepares the altar for the ceremony. She pours the powder from its pouch into Aries¡¯ holy drink, carefully drawing a rune into the liquid as she does; one that will release Her divine power from Aries¡¯ clutches once drunk. Aries won¡¯t just be receiving a prophecy. They will also receive the Goddess¡¯ judgment¡­ in hell. A sinful tear leaks from one of Annissa¡¯s damp eyes, but she disregards it. Aries'' death must come, and the Goddess must reign true again.