The suns began to set behind the trees, making the river water shimmer in the twilight. The soft muted orange glow trying to fight its way through the leaves of the forest could no longer warm Advos's tanned skin as he lay along the river bank. The cool summer breeze blowing his thick auburn hair into his face and around his spiraled horns, made him wish he could sit there forever in that relaxing moment. The chill in the air and the fading light reminded him how late it was getting, and he knew it was time to start heading back to the house before they were late for dinner.

He brushed the hair from his emerald green eyes and tried to untangle it from around his horns. His thin body sprung from the soft grass, and he began to scan around for his brother and sister.

"Kye! Kaley!It's time to head home." He shouted

"Coming!" he heard them respond in unison from further down the river.

They came into view, running from around the tree line, their golden-brown hair reflecting in the fading sunlight. Advos could barely ever tell them apart even though they were his brother and sister. It didn't help matters that they often talked in unison, which most people either found extremely adorable or very off-putting.

"What do you think mama made for dinner?" Kaley asked running over to her older brother.

"I'm not sure, but when has she ever made anything we didn't like?" he smiled reassuringly at his sister, as he began to walk up the pathway toward the house. Advos at seventeen he was at an age where he wanted to be alone, whereas the twins at ten wanted to shadow and imitate his every move. This morning he managed to convince them to play further upstream looking for a very specific fish, he was certain they would never find.

After a short walk down the street from the park, they made it back home.

Responding to the black wristband Advos was wearing, the front door slid open.

"Welcome home young Master Advos," said the security system as he passed through the doorway. The system then greeted the twins, recognizing their wristbands with the letters P.R.I.S.M etched into the side.

"Well hello, I was just about to call you" their mother called from the kitchen. "Go wash your hands; dinner is on the stove."

"What are we having for dinner Mama?" the twins both asked which immediately earned an eye roll from Advos.

Asani, stood in the kitchen preparing their plates. She was a beautiful, slender, woman with thick auburn hair that matched that of her eldest son. Her horns were longer than her children's; as an adult. They spiraled and ran along the curvature of her skull like all the Maladons.

"Roasted sovocet and poplops" she replied as she began setting the plates on the table. She noticed Advos’s eyes light up,knowing it was her son’s favorite meal. She couldn’t help but notice he had been acting a little off and she hoped his favorite meal might help.

"Will dad be home soon?" Kye asked their mother as he looked to their father's usual chair sitting empty.

"I told you this morning, he'll be home tomorrow," said their mother, passing the dish of poplops to Kye.

"But that's what you said yesterday!" replied Kye

"And the day before!" continued Kayle, both with an accusing tone.

"I didn't realize I was under oath." said Asani sternly, but her face softened when she saw the twin's somber expressions, "You need to be patient. Your father does vital work; sometimes it takes longer than he planned.

"But he's been gone for almost three weeks..." Kayle said, a tear in her eye. She hated that her father was gone so often, and she was always noticeably unhappy when he was away.

"I know dear, I know. Your father will be home soon." Asani smiled reassuringly at her daughter. Advos knew, however, despite what she said, their mother had no better idea than he did when their dad would be back.

Physicer Tanus Klorda, was a retired army surgeon who worked at the local hospital in Egica City. He was quite possibly one of the most respected doctors on the planet and was currently in Nanica, two thousand miles away from home, for a medical conference where he was presenting. Asani knew that sometimes her husband would get so swept up in the concept of influencing new young doctors. She frequently brought up the idea that he should retire from the hospital and teach full time.

"I'm sure he'll be home soon enough" Advos added, smiling at his little sister.

Upstairs in his room, Advos closed the door behind him, then slumped into his chair. He let out a heavy sigh. Advos removed the PRISM from his arm and slid it into the docking station on his desk. Pushing a button on the side of the desk a large holographic display opened giving him access to the device. He then flipped through a couple of files sliding his hand in front of the holographic display. Advos tapped what he had been looking for and relaxing music began to fill the room.

Besides being nearly finished with primary schooling and having to figure out what he was going to do with his life, in a few days, it would be his birthday. He would be eighteen, and his parents were sure to make a big deal of it. They went all out for their birthday’s every year. Advos had grown tired however, because again his mother would ask him who he wanted to invite from school. Which meant again he would have to not have one to provide. Which every year for the past ten years led to the members of his extended family asking ‘Where are all the kid?’.

Advos got up from his desk and walked over to his bathroom. Staring at himself in the mirror he sighed again, and slumped back against the wall next to the shower. He was always studying, going to his teachers for extra help and replacing a social life with school. School being over soon he just felt lost. His family and school were really the only things he cared about, and pretty soon he would have to leave them both. In days he would have to go to the career center, to be assigned a career. He had scored so well on his exams that he was eligible for nearly everything. Assignment were purely based on need, so he had no clue what he would be doing or where he would be doing it.

Dad, I wish you were here, I really don’t know what to do. Advos thought as he slid down to the floor. Usually, this would be something his dad would jump at the opportunity to give his advice. But, with Tanus being so busy with his career lately, Advos saw his father far less than he wanted. His dad rarely had time to really even talk to them remotely. But, his father loved his work like he loved his family and he was good at it.

Advos looked at a flower on his counter and could remember traveling across the Maladonian Collective to wherever his father was stationed. Meeting all the soldiers, and experiencing the gratitude and admiration they had for his father first hand was the highlight of the trips for him. When he was eight, just before the twins were born, was one of the last times his family was on a base. Advos could remember vividly a man being wheeled through the hall by an orderly.

"Wait!" the soldier bade the orderly.

"Aren't you Major Klorda's family?" the soldier asked recognizing Advos and Asani.

When he turned to them, the patterned tattoos of thick green vines covered both of his hands. This was the mark indicating he was a second level Padrin. Asani immediately sank to one knee and bowed her head. Advos stayed staring at the stranger in disbelief; he had never seen a Padrin. His mother quickly pulled him to the floor when she realized he had not moved.

"Yes? Do I know you, Padrin?" Asani questioned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry madam, there's no need for that, please stand up. I recognized you from a picture your husband keeps. He's been my surgeon and doctor since I was injured. Are you his son?" He asked Advos.

"Yes sir" Advos replied in a shy whisper.

The soldier was covered in blood-soaked bandages around his arms, chest, and head, and it made Advos uncomfortable to see someone in that much pain.

"Come here please" the soldier beckoned to him.

Advos glanced up at his mother, who nodded in consent.

Timidly the boy shuffled over to the wounded man in his wheelchair.

"Your father is the only reason I'm alive to talk to you, son, and words can't describe how grateful I am." The soldier said slightly choked up, to the point where Advos could see the moisture gathering in his eyes. The Padrin extended his hands and out of nowhere a large flower appeared. It was the most astonishing floor he had ever seen. He could hear both his mother and the man’s nurse gasp in surprise.

“I want you to have this as a symbol of my gratitude.”

“Thank…You…so much” Advos stuttered as he took the flower.

Ever since that day it made him so happy whenever someone told him how thankful they were for his father. It always filled him with such pride to know how much his father was helping people. He wasn’t sure if he could be as good of a doctor as his father. He didn’t even know if he would get selected to be one. But he knew of any of the jobs that was the one he wanted the most. Having the opportunity to save lives like his father. He decided to take a shower and relax under the warm spray before trying to head to bed. If tonight was like any other night lately, he knew he wouldn’t be able to get much sleep.