Meridie

Our ancestors tell us of the Great Light that used to shine upon our fur. Many lives ago, we lived Above; there was no rocky ceiling that held us down. No walls seized around us. All about us was open air, the trees and the sky. It was free and oppressive. But a terrible curse came upon us; a plague that first ravaged our prey. Then it was our enemy; a terrible beast that would tear down forests to kill us. The plague made them even more ferocious, and our kind began to be slaughtered in droves.   Our leader rose; Nihm-Kasar, a legend of a verian. He was not content to let us die, and instead he led us forward; or, should I say, downward. There was only one place untouched by the curse. The Below; an underground, mysterious world no one sane had dared to set foot in. But we had no choice; we had to descend. He led us, every able verian, into the Below, and there we were, and are, sealed.   We cannot return; it is far too dangerous, or so they warn. Even if it isn't, we are fine here, are we not? There is plenty food, plenty shelter, plenty magic... Why wouldn't you want to stay?