Goodnight My Prince
The setting is a stylized midevil yet far distant future. Women hold all the power. Conflicts between clans are settled by pitting genetically engineered warrior creatures against each other in massive battles. Ancient folklore tells of a time when some human infants were born male but this hasn’t been the case for over twelve generations so most women don’t believe it’s true. All human children now begin life as In Vetro fertilized eggs with genetic material from other women so they are always female. Warriors begin life as spliced egg cells in a lab then implanted into huge bovine type animals to grow. To most women the warriors are nothing more than bipedal male cows born to fight.
To the clan princess Abrilin, her warrior is more than just an animal. Her status has allowed her to raise and train only a single warrior. Arvek was chosen by the young princess from the warrior herds when they were both just fourteen years of age. Abrilin illegally taught Arvek to speak her language and think for himself. Over the years they grew very close but the relationship was kept secret because its discovery would mean execution for them both.
The image we see is the final stage of a massive battle between Abrilin’s clan and another. Losses have been great for both sides and Arvek has been mortally wounded. Abrilin runs from the safety of the battle viewing area to be by the side of her Arvek. With his head in her lap she places her hand on his bleeding chest to comfort him in his last moments.
PROLOG: There is a twist to this story that will be revealed only after the final image is submitted.