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...a place where anything can happen...
...a time that is no time at all...
...with creatures that are only figments of our imaginations...
Chapter 1 - The Lost Century -- Donovan... and the Council of Elders, 22:02:38 02/07/03 Fri
The pound of blade against a metal semi-circle platform called silence in a room filled with angry shouts of worry and tension. Hundreds of aged warriors decorated with medals from brief battles of the past were silent, and all carefully took their seats, expectant eyes flickered to the seat at the center of their arrangement; and the Grand-High General nodded. Lowering his tail, he carefully eyed each member of the Council; then, coughing once, he began to speak.
"As most of you know, all planets in the vicinity of Etreus have been recently attacked by sentient beings with weapons of mass destrucion. As of yet, we have not been attacked; and we still have the time, and ready supplies, to vacate the planet and travel safely to a new home. I say we make haste to do so, for taking on these unknown beings could result in a great loss of our number."
Appreciative nods were made to this, and quiet murmurs of approval began to raise from various parts of the table. A slow but steady din rose as various Tokathe representatives began to bang their blades against the table... and then there was a shout outside as a tall black Tokathe shoved through doors of the Council Hall, and entered, hackles raised, to stand in his hunting stance before the Council.
"I have something to say, and I will not be moved until I say it!"
The grey General met the blacks gaze easily, ears flicked back against an emotionless head. His eyes narrowed for a moment, but he ignored the angry shouts of protest that rose from the others... and silenced them with a snap of his fingers, "This black is Donovan, a Guide among the commoners. For this, admittedly middle-class status, but status nonetheless... he has a right to speak to us. Go ahead Guide, the floor is yours."
Donovan's body shook with rage at his belittlement, but nonetheless, gave a curt nod of thanks. His blade lowered to the floor as he spoke, a firm tenor voice that quivered from frustration and anger.
"I know that your immediate choice in our predicament, would be to flee from our oncoming attackers. And of course, we could flee. But where would that leave the CoinShifters? The Kilven? The Vae? And if you care not for the other races upon your own planet then consider the homes, the houses, the shops... all the advancements that we as a race have struggled so long to accomplish? If you care for nothing else... then care for that!"
Angry snarls rippled throughout the crowd and few of the easily-aggrivated browns rose to their feet. Such imprudence from a lower-classed beast! However, the grey's hand settled the noise, and silence settle amongst the Council again.
"You presume much Donovan; and you know very little. Lives would be lost. Both Tokathe... and these other races that you care so much about. Your Kilven? Your Promised? Your unborn children? All of them, most likely dead. Do you not care for them? Do you not..
"SHUT UP! You are the one who presumes more then you think! My Life-Mate would die when you made the decree that none but Tokathe were to flee, whereas if we fought... He'd at least have a chance. As for Jalisah? She's a warrior, and she feels the same way I do. Unlike you cowards here, she is willing to risk her life for the good her planet!"
The General's patience wore thin, and a low snarl escaped his lips... which prompted the rest of Council to angry utterances as well.
"You dare challenge me... Guide?"
Ebon jaws open wide in a ravenous roar, which, by echoeing throughout the entirety of the room in it's ferocity, so destroyed any sense of civility that once was held among the sentient race. All Tokathe present are returned to the beastly rage that so fueled their non-sentient ancestors. Each warrior feels their adrenaline rush through ready veins, and spines are wrenched forward into the raptorine hunting form.. Chairs fall to the floor as Tokathe leap onto the top of their useless desks... the faster greys lurching around to close the gap of the semi-circle behind Donovan.
And the battle begins.
With a lurch of speed the general has leapt from behind his desk, shreds of his metals lie in tatters on the floor from where a lightning-fast blade ripped them from his clothing. Donovan draws his gun as soon as the grey moves, and flinging it into his left hand is able to easily grab a ready double-edged sword with his right from it's hilt. The General's speed easily matches if not betters his own, and just as sword leaves hilt, bullets come flying in Donovan's way. The black grimaces, springs forward into a flip to dodge, then fires back at the grey.
The General has moved, and Donovan winces as his bullets hit one of the members of the chanting circle that surrounds him... the body slumping to the floor, and soon being replaced by another. He hears yet another gunshot, and leaps up and back, landing directly behind the sniper. A swift flick of his wrist and his sword dashes out to run the grey through, but his movement is parried aside by a tail blade; and met with another barrage of gunshots. Donovan snarls and dashes to his right, his own gun firing madly as he dodges.
A grey whip of a tail is flung back at him and he parries it with a hind claw, only to snarl as the curved appendage drags him towards it. Again he fires his gun at his attackers head, and is released... but has to roll to his left to avoid being gutted by the Governor's own blade. Black body twists as he rolls to return to his feet, his gun aimed directly at the grey's... and the grey's aimed directly at him. Eyes glare unmercifully at the other... and after a moment of stalemate, both throw their guns to outside of the circle, and fling themselves at each other in melee.
Chants raise in chorus; blade hits blade, sword hits sword, black flips away then comes full force, only to have the same thing occur with grey. Then; a roar of pain as Donovan draws bloody jaws away from the grey shoulder... and red begins to seep down through silver fur. Another earth shattering roar echoes from the ebon as he claims first-blood as his own.
Again the insane blade-play continues. Wounds begin to come more quickly, until, three hours later, both are forced to draw back... sides heaving, blood flowing freely from most every appendage. Again a long stare, and all weapons are thrown to the outside of the circle. Clothing hangs from weary body's in tattered bloody rags, and in a single fluid motion, both blades raise to slice it from their bodies. And so, naked, without weapon, clothing, or power... the warriors stand.
And the fight begins again.
With low growls that soon rise to raging snarls, the two begin a slow lope around each other. Jaws hang agape as air rushes in and out in ragged breathes, blood drips from both, the scents of sweat and foul odor erupt from both, intermingling in the thick and darkened air. Then, in a moment, the grey strikes. Eyes are wide with pure fury as his blade flies directly at Donovan's throat, all claws aimed at the black's chest, jaws ready for the obvious parry that all who'd fought him had took... and all who'd faught him had died with.
A silent hush breaks through the chanting as those present recognize the move, and wait for what seemed to be Donovan's only choice. Only... Donovan took the blow. Gore flew from his hide as his chest was ripped open, and his throat was hit by blade, but his body rolled with this motion... and his own tail blade went through the grey's gut, innards erupting from the grey's back as tail blade burst through. Donovan's eyes grew dimmer with pain, but again, and again, his blade ripped through whatever muscule and tissue he could find... until striking bone, and snapping the General's spine.
The grey was dead as he hit the floor... and Donovan removed his blade, claws slipping in the blood that covered the stone floor, as his foreclaws rushed to a bleeding throat... With a high-pitched whine he forced the gap that was his throat together, and forced the words out in a whisper.
"As victor of the honor match.. I order that we go to war."
The surrounding Tokathe looked on as horror as the black fell to the floor, convulsing in his agony. A young white, who's pure fur was now spattered in both 'Koths blood, forced his form erect... and spoke, "Is he to be made Distant then? He killed." The older brown who'd been so angry before... shook his head.
"No young warrior. He followed the Codes of Olde. By killing the General... he gets a wish. Which... he may not live to make."
Another white shook her head, "No, no. My ears heard him speak. He made his wish. He said we should go to War."
A grey female nodded then, a tear falling from an eye as she too forced her form to the civilized stance... She had been the dead General's daughter... and as was custom, took his place until another General was chosen. Her voice did not shake despite her shock and grief, and she gestured for those around her in the way that her father once had.
"Then we go to War."
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Stricken with randomness... -- Tuatha, 20:47:20 02/03/03 Mon
"Paradise! Can it be all I heard it was? I close my eyes, and maybe I'm already there..." The singing came from a tall, lithe Tuatha as she wandered through the forest, unseeing orange eyes half-closed and single blade flaunted. She had tightly-curled mocha fur dappled with toffee rosettes, this femme, and she also trailed a slightly younger Tuatha, a blue-furred femme known as Rainer. The Song-Singer rolled her eyes, rather resenting the pure and easy tone that the other could produce without trying, but followed the aimless, meandering path set before her silently.
"You see the world through your cynical eyes, you're a troubled young femme, I can tell. You got it all in the palm of your paw, but your paw's wet with sweat and your head needs a rest..." Shaper tossed a grin back at her companion, who ruefully realized this tune was meant for her.
"You're fooling yourself, and you don't believe it! You're kidding yourself and you don't believe it. Why must you be such an angry young femme, when your future looks quite bright to me? And how can you be such a sinister plan? Such a caring young femme? And you're fooling yourself!
Get up! Get back on your feet! You're the one they can't beat and you know it. Come on! Let's see what you got! Just take your best shot and don't blow it."
Shaper abruptly turned to face Rainer after singing those lines, a fiercely challenging look in her orange eyes. The Song-Singer froze, startled beyond all belief; the gentle brown-furred had never before spoken of violence in a good way.
"You must fight to defend your life, the lives of others, and Vytha above all. Never kill your opponent, for that brings you to their level." Shaper's keen orbs bored into the blue-furred's skull. "You cannot be a pacifist, nor can you be a killer. You have much to learn of the ways of Vytha, mri'dyn, before you go to the stars as foretold." Rainer blinked, shaking off the chills, and wondered at the alien term she had been called.
And then, Shaper was off in a lazy lope, once more wandering through the woods. With a shake of her long muzzle, Rainer followed; what an odd Tuatha she learned from.
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The Dark Wars : The Danger [Book Two] Chapter Ten : The Mystery -- ME, 13:47:04 01/27/03 Mon
[Narrator is a female Nickimiss called Jairnay. This is after she and her Infernio friend, Fire Eater (XD) escaped from Equitor's lair with Moneshai's and Mackalla's help. Nickimisses are quadrupedal omnivores with canine heads, saberteeth, long necks, long bodies and limbs, many-jointed legs, bladed tails, Koratian hind paws, and forehooves. Both they and Infernios stand at about 16 feet. Oh, and a league = three miles.]
I awoke after a piddling three hours' worth of exhausted sleep. Rising, I stretched my many-jointed limbs and scanned the area - nothing alarming to be found. With a glance to my snoring companion, I nudged Fire with the flat of my tailblade. He twitched, opened one golden eye, yawned, and mumbled, "Hullo. Time to get going already?"
I shook my canine head. "Not really, but I'm going foraging, and if you could catch us some food..." Fire leapt up with a fierce, eager grin which emphasized his long fangs in a most unnerving way. "Why didn't you tell me that in the first place, Jair'?! I'm off!" With that, the long-bodied feline turned and sprinted away, disappearing into the foliage without hardly a sound.
In turn, I pushed my tired body into a lope in search of non-poisonous naturals, such as fruits, nuts, roots, etc. After a half hour's browsing, I returned with a large, tough-fibered leaf folded in my jaws; in it was several pounds of fresh food. Fire had already returned, two dead Preda Bens awaiting me. Their bodies were dark crimson without any white-grey, indicating that these two were very old beasts.
After we filled our once-empty bellies, Fire Eater began grooming his fire-orange fur clean and setting thin black stripes to order. I, on the other hoof, detached myself from my body and began floating upwards. When I was perhaps two leagues high, I stopped and hovered, taking a good look around. We had come out in a completely unknown area. I couldn't even locate the tunnel from which we had escaped Equitor's foul caverns.
I made a mental map quickly and accurately. To my surprise, I saw no creatures nearby, nor did I sense territory boundaries. Far off in the distance, I saw what might have been a kûsani tree, broad leaves tinted golden-red in the rising sun's light. The Center, if it was one, was directly nuea-ward from where I was. [eastwards] We would head there; perhaps it was the Center-base that had helped rescue us.
I relaxed my concentration and was instantly back in my body. My hearts and lungs started up again, as did my digestive system with a tangible lurch. Fire looked up and muttered through a mouthful of fur, "You know, I wish you'd warn me when you plan to do that. Scared the diamen out of me for a pelash." I merely grinned toothily and informed him of our location, and my thoughts on travel. He agreed whole-heartedly, adding as an afterthought, "When do we leave?" I twisted my muzzle in a shrug.
"How 'bout now?!" Fire suddenly cried, leaping to his paws as the ground began to shake violently. I sprang upright and we both stumbled, though natural grace kept us from falling like a dead branch to the warping earth. I sprang nuea-ward, running with torso low to the shuddering ground; Fire was right behind me, his beautiful golden eyes wide with surprise and wariness. Our speed increased, despite the rocking turf, to about thirty leagues-per-hour. Soon, though, the earth-shake made quick movement impossible. Fire and I crouched low, bewildered; how something like this could happen without our weather-senses warning us was a mystery.
Suddenly, the earth ceased its rollicking movements. I relaxed my tense muscles and stood shakily, and Fire rose unsteadily beside me. He said quietly, rounded ears still flat against his skull, "Jairnay, I don't know about you but I feel like sprinting to that Center. We'd reach it in maybe an hour." I shook my head and Fire raised a brow. "I feel like running as well," I assured, "but going at the speed we were, it would take us about three hours."
"Dyone! How far can you see!?"
"Farther than you, that's for certain."
"Ninety leagues away! Dyone, that's far."
"I feel like sprinting anyways. You?"
"Need you even ask, Jair'?"
With a laugh, Fire bounded away, and I shook my head with a chuckle and followed him. At first, it was hard to keep my front legs from bending this way and that, but soon I had them set and locked, moving only three joints like other creatures do. Having found my rhythm, I kept up with Fire easily enough, though he's an exceptionally fast cat.
Three hours later, we stopped, completely out of breath. I relaxed my forelegs and, to my embarrassment, crumpled bonelessly to the ground. Fire lay down smoothly, tactfully not commenting on my abrupt collapse. I let go of myself and my mind drifted upwards on the warm summer winds. Our sudden halt had stopped us five leagues from the Center, and indeed t'was a Center, not a Center-base. A very large one, at that, with perhaps one thousand adults of many different species, and two hundred chirrlings.
The heat was beginning to rise in intensity as the sun beat down. The generated haze blurred my vision, but I was still reasonably sure that none of our group, nor any of the Madreni I knew, were in the Center. Dyone and diamen. However, I finally recognized our location; the Center at which I gazed was one of the Caostal Centers on Handak... one of the larger ones, if I recalled correctly. I could see the silvery-indigo ocean about ten leagues off. Looking back down at my body and Fire, I noticed him sniffing the air; he must have detected the scent of nearby saltwater. However, something tugged at the back of my mind, and I again turned my far-seeing eyes to the ocean. Then it hit me - of course! The Bleish Sea! Not a very big body of water, larger than most lakes, but it was an inland sea, hence the saltwater-smell. We were directly in the center of Handak, then.
I let myself rise a bit more. In the far distance, danu-ward [northwards], I could make out the Minmon Range, the mountain range from whence Minmons originated. I had never met one of the beasts myself, but they were said to be over a hundred feet high, heavyset quadrupeds with huge teeth and claws, and a tailblade over fifteen feet long! In the other direction, sreki-ward [southwards], there were the plains and rolling hills that characterized sreki-central Handak, leading away to the desert that even I couldn't see from this distance.
From the direction that we had come, jaza-ward [westwards], a single, looming mountain rose above all else. Trené Jiop it was called, a fire-mountain of great volatility and unpredictability; for the many deaths it caused with its frequent eruptions, it was often called Mount Deathfire. Trené Jiop's proximity explained the earthshake; it would probably erupt soon. The Center was far enough away from the beastly volcano that those living there probably hadn't felt anything more than a few gentle tremors, and they were safe from the fire and ash it would spew when it exploded.
I fell abruptly back into my body. What the...?! I sprang up, fangs bared and short teal fur bristling. Fire leapt to his paws, a growl building in his throat, inspired by my own reactions. My muzzle swung 'round, searching, searching...
What had knocked me back?!
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This came out unexpectedly pretty... ^_^ -- Tuatha, 15:38:01 01/18/03 Sat
"Who are you?"
The question was uttered in surprise, slipping from a blue-furred muzzle to land squarely on mocha-hued ears. Rainer stared in startlement at the stranger that had suddenly appeared, backing up half a pace and sniffing warily. The blue Tuatha, now a young adult, wasn't often caught off-guard, especially by someone of such an unusual scent and appearance. Golden eyes narrowed as the other didn't seem about to answer, and three tailblades sparkled, newly polished, in the sun as an unspoken threat. Song-Singer she may be, but pacifist she was not. "Who are you?" Rainer repeated, lip twitching upwards in the beginning of a snarl.
A tall, lithe female looked up from her observations of a flower, grinning unafraid. Her single blade was tucked under her supple form, tightly-curled mocha fur spattered with toffee rosettes; she was obviously not a forest Tuatha, not with such rocky coloration. More likely t'was that she came from the mountains, far away. "My name is..." she paused, tilting her long muzzle before grinning again, "for you to guess. I'll tell you when you finally understand, Song-Singer, but I won't need to -- you'll already know." Orange eyes twinkled with amusement at Rainer's startled reaction, and the strange Tuatha resumed her examinations of a blooming yellow flower.
"Stranger," Rainer muttered, half-serious, "or is it Watcher? Your attitude is perplexing, whomever you are." The other female stayed silent in her ruminations, and the blue-furred snorted and settled to her haunches. "Observer. Examiner. Wanderer? Traveler?" ... "Am I even getting close?!"
The brown Tuatha chuckled prettily at Rainer's exasperation. "Not quite. Look beyond the surface, Song-Singer. You, of all Tuatha, ought to see my true nature." The dappled Tuatha met Rainer's gaze evenly, and for a long moment they gazed into each other's eyes in silence. Rainer breathed evenly, trying to search the other's soul, trying to identifying a subtly unnerving aura with a name. None came to her, and she finally broke eye-contact, instead looking at the flower. The brown female took the opportunity presented to softly ask, "What do you see, Song-Singer?"
Rainer laughed, but her answer was swift and thoughtful. "A Song waiting to be Sung, of gestation, growth, climax, and upcoming waning and consequential death, only to fertilize and ease new lives into being." The brown-furred nodded wisely, then scooped a pawful of the rich dark soil into her forepaw, and held it out to Rainer. "Now what do you see?"
The Song-Singer well knew the riddles that strangers exchanged, for she had traveled with Striker far and wide since meeting the mysterious male. "Life," she answered, imbuing her tone with false intensity, as such a reply deserved. An mocha-furred eyebrow arched and the strange Tuatha shook her muzzle, "Wrong. Try again." Rainer blinked. In all her travels, the soil-answer had always been Life... though once it had been... "Home."
"No." The brown-furred smiled quietly, "Thinking has no place in such riddles, nor do past experience. Feel it." Rainer mentally grumbled about such luxuries as banter, but gazed at the soil and tried to get a feeling for what she saw. It was dirt, really. Rich and fertile and moist, but still just dirt. Lately, the young adult had become disillusioned with the perfect world that her clan had lived in, and that she left for new experiences. "It's dirt," she finally said, figuring she'd receive another flat denial.
Then, something happened to the plain, simple dirt held in a long-toed Tuathan paw. It twisted, and writhed, and slowly molded into the shape of a single flame. To Rainer's further surprise, it radiated heat when she let her own forepaw near it. The brown-furred Tuatha spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, but the words flowed naturally and smoothly. "I am of Earth, but my powers are not limited to my element. They flow through it like music through the air, and I accomplish what is said to be impossible. Through the strength of Earth, I can wield the other elements as I need, and through the heart of Earth, the beauty of Vytha is never hidden from my eyes."
Rainer slowly backed away from the burning flame, and stared in startlement at the stranger. The dappled female smiled and in the same soft, gentle voice inquired, "Who am I?" The Song-Singer looked once more to the earth-fire, then to the mountains-dweller, and answered truthfully:
"You are Shaper."
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... -- ..., 22:28:37 01/14/03 Tue
A cold form huddled inside a billowing black cloak as a winter wind swept up from behind. Burning eyes blazed out as the well-built, handsome man gazed into the night, rain driving in a constant battery at his back. His black hair was chin-length and cut in an eastern manner, shiny and straight, accenting his strong but refined features and dark teal eyes. It was cold that night, the rain nearly pinpoints of sharp ice, the wind harsh and biting, and the darkness was complete. But the man could see the distant city from where he stood upon a hill, with lower plains to his left and a gloomy, sodden forest to his right. He could see it all, and he gazed upon the city with inexplicable sadness. It was there she lived.
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture is there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care
It wasn't for a lover he grieved, nor for a sister, aunt, or mother. It was a surrogate daughter, one of his blood and his tendencies, born to humans and thus utterly separated from him. He remembered her as a baby, so small and frail. He had held her himself, when he had entered the darkened house while her parents slept. She had been so tiny, so fragile, but at the same time, full of promise and life. His dark, smooth fingers had caressed her soft cheeks, touched her black hair... which had changed since, adopting a more earthy hue.
It was for her, his daughter, that the tears slipped down his cheeks and mingled with the cold, icy rain. Concealed entirely in black, even his eyes couldn't be seen within the depths of his hood; and so he wept freely, cursing fate that had placed his brethen in human form. That stole her from him. She was his!
There's a place so dark you can't see the end
Skies cock back and shock that which can't defend
The rain then sends dripping an acidic question
Forcefully, the power of suggestion
Angry now, the man dashed tears from his face with a swift movement, then tucked his smooth-skinned hand back inside his cloak. It was fate that had given her to humans, a soul that had so long been housed in Koratian form. And it was fate that he twisted to adopt his own current human form, a far cry from the illustrious black he truly was. Teal eyes closed briefly, then squeezed shut, tears seeping between the lids and warming his cheeks once more.
Then with the eyes tightly shut
Looking through the rust and rot and dust
A spot of light floods the floor
And pours over the rusted world of pretend
The eyes ease open and it's dark again
Fingers clutching at the edges of his cloak as a gust of wind shook his tall, proud form, the man wrapped the expansive fabric around himself and looked down upon the city. Such a disgusting place. He knew of her struggles, oh he knew. He knew how hard it was for her to pull her roots away from the harsh reality of human life and look to the spiritual - something she'd always done, even as a Korat. It was easier for him to talk to her, though until recently she'd never realized how close he was to her. But then, he didn't let her know many things. Just enough to let her remember her other home, her other life.
The man sighed through pursed lips, watching as the steam was battered by raindrops. Another gust of wind hit, rippling his cloak like a pair of wings. A section of the city went dark, then flickered back on. Torn between reality and desire, he reached out one hand, palm upwards in supplication. "Return her to me..." But then he shook himself, and gathered his cloak closer to his toned frame. It was impossible. She was a human now... and perhaps her soul would continue to be bound in human form, life after life.
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
A spark of light touched the cold form, and the man looked upwards. The moon had sent a shaft of light through the clouds to soothe his pain. She, at least, knew his pain. She always did, and She knew Her daughter's pain equally well. It was odd, the Korat thought, that an individual from a religion-less species could adopt the concept of religion... but it was fast becoming his daughter's life, and if only to be closer to her, he had taken it as his own as well. Odd, but strangely comforting at times. But the moonlight vanished and rain continued to pour from the night sky, obscuring the city lights at times. With no aim other than to be physically nearer, the man started down the gravel road towards the city.
Moving all around
Screaming of the ups and downs
Pollution manifested in perpetual sound
The wheels go round and the sunset creeps past the
Street lamps, chain-link and concrete
It was cold, and dark, and utterly lifeless in the streets. Buildings loomed high, though smaller by far than Lavana's trees. The man looked about him, scorning what he saw, and at the same time hating it so passionately for stealing her from him.
A little piece of paper with a picture drawn
Floats on down the street till the wind is gone
The memory now is like the picture was then
When the paper's crumpled up it can't be perfect again
Hooded eyes stared at the filthy, littered streets, overflowing trash bins and clogged drains. A soft sound behind him startled him, but slow and dreary as his thoughts were, he turned to look. And he nearly cried out, but stifled the sound.
A young woman, still a cub but growing up quickly, walked towards him steadily. She had no coat, nor shoes, and it was plain she had rushed out the moment she saw him; all she wore was a baggy T-shirt and jeans, nothing to fend off the winter rain's chill. She bit her lip, looking him in the eye with teal eyes so like his, and reached out a trembling hand.
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
The man was stunned at the sight of his daughter, and in two steps had taken her hand and pulled her to him, enveloping her in his cloak. Unafraid, though she knew his power, the girl clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder and weeping silently. The man pressed her to him, stroking her curly hair and staring in mixed horror and shock over her head. She was not supposed to find him, ever. She was not supposed to know of him, that... But all thoughts were washed away as his daughter looked up to him, her radiant spirit shining despite the darkness and cold.
"...Atumi?"
Fresh tears started in the man's own eyes, and he hugged her fiercely, shielding her from the pelting rain with his own body and his cloak. But it only was for a moment that the Korat was stunned, and then he gripped her shoulders and held her at arm's-length. He took a good look, and was glad that, at least, she held power as a human in her body, not just her mind and heart. She bit her lip again, fighting the tears, and fighting what she knew would come. He was going to leave. The man gazed for a long moment at his daughter, then pulled her to him to kiss her forehead. Silently, without words, the young woman nodded, and let her hands fall to her sides.
The man turned and walked out of the city, back to his hill. And when the moonlight lit the hilltop this time... it was bare.
She looked after him, watching until she could no longer see his shadowy form. Then, shivering and soaked to the bone, she returned to her home... tears saturating her eyes once more as she shut the door and was returned to a normal existance.
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Already done this with Morolla.... so.... not going to make them suffer again. Korat time! -- Korats, 21:00:04 01/13/03 Mon
Dark eyes gazed easily across the shadows of dusk; burgund' visage nodded once, emancipating the breath of air that had been caged inside a silent muzzle. A river traversed the valley below her and the female watched it's banks intently, she'd no sustenance for weeks now, but any fool beast that was laggard when departing from it's midnight drink... would soon become her meal. A voracious smile curved across the waiting muzzle, and legs tensed beneath the heavy form as a Preda Ben herd stopped at the river's edge. Eyes shimmered and the smile became a wry grin as the beasts that were ubiquitous to Lavana hastily took their refreshing drinks, and most left the rivers bank. But beneath the moon which now shone from full zenith, one beast with broken leg immersed its head fully into the water. A cruel flick of the tail and the red Korat's crouch has moved forward to a steady crawl, grasses barely moving around the large form as bulk is carefully shifted as so not to move the blades of grass that hid her darkened form. Down the hill she came, other 'Bens she'd already passed catching her scent and disseminating... but not the injured. Smooth whisper came out from curled lips as a luring mental purr, "No one will ever lament your death, no one will ever regale friends with your story... your trauma shall be brief and my hunger shall end... Goodbye 'Ben." Hind legs sprung and the 'Ben did not even lift it's head to see the blur of Red that aimed to hit it full force... nor would it ever.
It would be able to walk away.
A flying mass of black fur came catapulting from the left, sending the older female sprawling flat on her back; but only for a second. A swift kick to the gut was barely parried by a golden blade, and the black Korat flipped agily back to his feet. The red femme was already standing, eyes burning holes through her attacker, dark as night though they were.
The male's voice was cynical, "Botsa ze Cha Jysulehn, I see you've lost nothing of your former touch."
The female's words were enunciated clearly in a gravely alto tone, "'Botsa ze Cha' up your esh Kasheel. I'd no more accept those words from you now then I would were you an Original who'd survived btsa and the Dark Wars."
The ebon furred gave a silent grin to the femme, and raced around to her other side... though swiftly assessed that she'd turned as easily as he'd run. "Come now my russet beauty... you don't mean that..."
"You indolent little diamen-eating frante of a vagabond. You already lost me my supper, don't make me lose my appetite by getting your disgusting blood in my mouth."
The Black twitched an ear, words flowing, "Temper temper... my precious bladeless brainless brute."
Jysulehn's lips curled back into an oncoming snarl... and yet... she paused, and she grinned. An amourous look filled midnight eyes, and she forced herself close to the ever-disgusting male. "You... what you said before... You honestly think I'm beautiful?"
Kasheel paused, his fur raising oddly as the femme drew closer, closer... He jerked back. "Ah... sure."
Jysulehn's doe-eyes were forced larger, "Oh... I feel such an ingrate. Let me thankyou for this."
The black blinked, confused, sniffing her; she didn't smell angry, in fact, odiferous scents of something sweet were coming from the red hide. Was this Korat capable of love? And... why him? He blinked, once, twice, and allowed himself to slowly meander back towards the muscular form... Her neck drew close to his, her eyes wide, he grinned back, thought of the nights pleasures to come...
And then he was choking, choking desperately on some fluid that filled his throat. Panicked eyes flicked to the femme, who's blue orbs now only were filled with vengance, jaws dripping with.. his own blood. He'd taunted her for years... the strife between them was thick enough to be cut with blade! But never, never had she been able to match his speed in attack! Now... Now...
He allowed his body to slump to the ground as dizzyness closed in, he was going to die... his mind reeled... he was going to die!
Red femme eyed him once, and muttered in her true dark tone once more. "Pathetic fool, can't even remember to use your own specialty..." She smacked him across the face with her tail, and his head jerked across the ground, eyes staring after the form which now retreated to the realms of the dark.
And though the black would never speak words again... he was somehow calmed by this, and began to heal.
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...in prayer that this does not twist the knife... -- The Goddess Within, 20:23:19 01/08/03 Wed
L'impossible...
fading in and out,
within and without,
can you see beyond the veil--
and not despair?
Je puis mourir ce soir
...tonight I may die
Averses, vents, soleil
...rain, wind, sun
Distriburont partout mon coeur, mes nerfs, mes moulles
...will scatter everywhere my heart, my nerves, my marrow
Tout sera dit pour moi
...all will be over for me
Ni reve, ni reveil
...neither dream nor awakening
Je n'aurai pas été là-bas
...I will not have been there
Dans les étoiles
...among the stars
L'impossible it is called...
Immortalized by a poem
Written by an author of an old, soul-weary culture...
They no longer try to hide the face of death behind happy endings...
And we can do the same no longer.
We will cry and scream,
Kick and resist,
And refuse to let ourselves move past
The Veil of Lies
In which we live.
The urge to sink within a lie of our own making,
To ignore, to be blissfully unaware,
Fights the urge to see all,
Know all!,
Be ultimately aware and therefore...
Fateful.
Pain will rip out the knower's soul...
They will survive through their knowing
With an eternally bleeding heart.
But there is hope...!
There is always hope.
One thing can nullify L'impossible,
One thing is the direct opposite
Of this lifeless, helpless, delving beast.
She is here
...one hand reaches out
She is within
...and saves a lost soul from harm
With flaming sword
...I am reaching out
He will defend you
...won't you take my hand
It's up to you now
...give thanks I'm alive when I should be dead
Can you see beyond the veil
...all will be done without me
And look past the darkness
...but they tortured you and burned you
Into the light?
...back to the meaning of... life!
...She is a woman crowned with a crescent
...She is the mother of all that lives
...She is the Earth that is spinning in starlight
...She is the Goddess of all that is
Lean your face back-- absorb the rain
...let My worship be within the heart that rejoices
Feel the tears of the Mother stream down your cheeks
...for I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe
She knows the L'impossible that writhes within your soul
...if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee
For it is She who has created the ultimate question
...thou wilt never find it without thee
Will you yield and accept help from her gentle hand?
Will you humble yourself and feel your inner soul's anguish?
...for behold, I have been with thee from the beginning
The world has christened you to believe in pain and sacrifice and suffering as a way of life.
Will you dare to shun this vision and accept the bounty of the Goddess?
...and I am that which is attained at the end of desire
Look to the dawn and rising sun
...I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of the Light
Feel the warmth and strength fill your soul
...sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame
He knows L'impossible and dances gaily despite its weight
...let My worship be in the body that sings
He can teach you to live and laugh and love-- and never fall into the complacency you fear
...My protection blankets the earth
Will you comprehend the nature of life and the life of nature?
Will you quell your restless, intelligent analysis to feel the fire within?
...through Me all things must die and with Me all things are reborn
The Christian god is a harsh and jealous master, who placed you upon a pedestal of Original Sin and superiority to the Earth.
Can you begin to comprehend a dancing, free, loving God?
...all beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings
She has created L'impossible
From Her you were born, and She is a part of you
He dances within the twists of the veil, and travels beyond it freely without harm
From Him you were born, and He is a part of you
Can you understand?
All They have to teach
All Their love
They will comfort you
And explain to you the truths of L'impossible
...if only you accept Them...
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Interpret it as you will... But it came outa m'fingers... And it needed to be posted.... -- ^o.o^, 10:25:38 01/08/03 Wed
Bleeding paws scrape 'gainst iron bars,
a cage of insecurity presses in,
the key held by unknown sources
which have been given a sex and name.
The being within struggles against her chains,
the links of which are lies,
the strength of which is fear
she snarls and draws blood from her hide.
Was she ever human?
She thinks not like the others,
and thus confined is destined,
to a confinement of her own thoughts.
For her thoughts are not excepted by man,
and like the horse of broken leg,
are left to die, and thus return
to the creature who clings to them.
She fears ignorance, and fearing it drowns,
her oceans made of misconceptions of others,
and yet dreams. Yet how can a dream
take flight, with wings broken by a siren's play?
Yet one can join her in the cage,
the child can pray,
But this sister joins and does not see that
though she tries to help perhaps she sinks
the dagger deeper, until the damage is done.
Ignorant child.
She helps many and she believes herself mighty.
While she herself is still growing.
The being now believes herself alone.
No one is like her.
No one can ever be like her.
Even if they accepted her thoughts,
she'd still be alone, for she is different then they.
She is caged.
Caged by the living lie she has somehow found.
The living lie that cannot be ignored.
The living lie unseen by those who are happy.
The living lie that somehow the child must quell.
The living lie described as The Impossible.
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I felt like this might help... -- Me, 18:15:11 01/02/03 Thu
I returned to the dimly-lit, almost smoky room, dodging around the huge aquarium set in the middle of the oddly-shaped chamber, the carpet rough against my unshod feet. The little couch was set against the wall and I knelt before it, looking almost enrapturedly at the fish aquarium, with huge, brightly-colored, panicked fish swimming around in circles before I looked at him.
His long, silky, fluffy fur was grey and singed in appearance, and some had blackened - through age or through war I could not tell, though something in my heart told me he had not fought. The inexorable aging that seemed to be affecting almost everyone but me had hit him hard, and his blunt muzzle had silvered, though the wise brow that gave him such poignant expressions had darkened. His dark brown eyes were hidden in shadow, as the room was dim, and though he sat upright and comfortably, I could not restrain myself.
I cried, begging him not to die and leave me, and trembling I reached for his hand... He offered it, a short-fingered half-paw that I had never really looked at in great detail before, though it had oft guided me through my endeavors of growing up. I grasped it and sobbed, tears sliding down my cheeks, shoulders shaking, and tried to cope with the impending passing of my great mentor and friend. But it could not be done. I was going to fight! Outside into the nuclear-wounded world, to try and make things right again! He couldn't leave me, not now, not when I was about to fix things--
With a gasp, blue-grey eyes snapped open and stared into the darkness. Sweat-soaked and breathing hard, the girl gripped her quilt, trying to burrow into her covers and escape her dream. Why the war and pain had invaded her she could not guess, nor could she divine why a sheepdog anthro had been so close to her-- but the hurt was real and it pounded along with her racing heart. Brushing hot tears from her eyelashes, she tried to fall asleep once more, but the alarm sounded, and she had to get up. A return to the waking world... one that still had blue skies, untainted by nuclear war... and one that held little promise at the moment for one teenager who had suffered through her mentor's soon-to-be-passing with all the guileless tears of a small child.
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I'm having fun. *G* -- Shifters and K'anta, 13:38:43 12/29/02 Sun
"Sachi! No! You'll die!"
Tari yelled, horror widening his jade-green eyes, throwing knife forgotten as it clattered to the hard, frozen ground. The young Cheetah, in human form, tensed to stop the Wolf, but another K'anta attacked just then, and he was hard-put to stay alive in a furious exchange of blade-play.
Sachi hovered mid-air, eyes closed, body battered, blood staining her clothing and skin. Her sturdy belt was the only unmarred thing about her, and that held her most precious weapon - her Crazouli knife, a six-inch blade made of half-alive Crazouli crystal. Silver energy whipped wildly about her like a spray of snowy wind, flickering and dancing in fiery patterns. With a sudden jolt, her eyes snapped open, a pure silver light radiating outwards.
"Your strength dies now!"
With almost effortless speed, the white Wolf drew her knife, gripped its short hilt in both hands, and pointed it like a gun at the one remaining K'anta ninja, a Raptor of such skill that he had defeated even the deadly Thero. Without hesitation, Sachi sent every last bit of her waning energy in a violent blast through the blade, which tore more energy than she had intended from her body and left her with precious little life-force.
"SACHI!!! NNOOO!!!"
Tari lurched forwards, delivering a knife-handed blow to the last Raptor plaguing his existance, just as the silver light exploded forth in an unavoidable beam for the K'antan ninja. The Cat lunged, the Crazouli jewelry wrapping his lean frame aiding him in catching the unconscious Wolf as she fell through the air limply. It was a rough landing, but he didn't jar her much, and panic stained his green eyes as he searched frantically for a pulse.
Jay awoke just then, face buried in the dirt and blood half-frozen and matting his long, black hair. Muscles aching, he pushed himself up and staggered to his feet, taking stock of the battlefield. The twenty K'anta ninjas were all dead, but the fifty-some regular Raptors weren't all defeated. His cold eyes settled on Tari, who cradled his bloodsister's body close to his lean frame. The smell of her energy was everywhere in the frigid air, and Jay stumbled forward, picking up The Beast -his six-foot broadsword- and almost casually lopping the head off an attacking K'anta. Five more surrounded him, weariness slowing their limbs but wounds pained Jay as well, so the male Wolf doggedly set his mind to slaughtering them... then he could check on his sister.
Rahfa opened his eyes in time to see Sachi's last self-sacrificial strike. In Tiger form, for he had had to Shift and heal fatal wounds before they could kill him, he rose, thick muscles rippling under his white-black striped pelt. A snarl ripped from his throat as he lunged for a few Raptors advancing on Tari and his precious burden. The nine-foot Cat had little trouble tearing those K'anta to shreds.
Jay finished with his Raptors, turning his head automatically to check for more enemies. And it was then that he saw it.
The ninja that Sachi had possibly given her life to kill rose, bruised and bloodied, but still alive and able to fight.
"Tari. Rahfa."
Jay's voice growled out of a scratchy throat, thick with rage. A massive Tiger head and a weary human face turned as one to look in shock at the Raptor. The Wolf snarled, the Beast heavy in his big hands, its shining length tilted downwards so that the tip rested on the cold ground.
They were done for. If Thero, and even Sachi, could not defeat this Raptor... there was no hope that Jay and Rahfa, no experts in energy compared to the aforementioned, could. And Tari was exhausted, his weak Cheetah endurance belying his power in energy-use. There were no more energybeans to restore strength, health, and life-force either.
"You are beginning to annoy me."
A surprised hiss came from the Raptor as he spun his muscular frame around, grey-striped tan hide criss-crossed with wounds. Who dare talk to the mighty ninja Akik as though he were some piddling fighter incapable of real harm!?
A frigid wind picked up, blowing a loosely-ponytailed mass of curly ebony hair backwards dramatically. Malicious jade eyes were startlingly light in contrast to dark mocha skin, which in turn was set off by the matte-black leather outfit the human-formed Panther wore. Leather gloves, almost like driving gloves, were bald around the knuckles and fingertips, where attacks had decimated even the tough material. Tall, pointed-toe boots were blood-stained, as were jean-like black pants. Where a leather vest and a thickly-woven tunic had been, there is now bared skin, wind-burned and bloody.
"You...! I killed you!!"
Akik protested aloud, shock tinging his olive green eyes. He knew of Shifters' notorious ability to Shift and heal in the most inconvenient (for K'anta) circumstances, so he had made sure to kill this one, the most dangerous one he had fought today. He should be dead!
Thero laughed, a cold, low laugh.
"You are a fool, and an annoying pest. You have insulted my race today, and far worse, you have insulted me."
The Panther's slim form tensed, lean muscles bunching as red energy suddenly surged into a fiery maelstrom surrounding him. A steady, dagger-like glare was leveled at the confused and angering K'anta.
"Now DIE!!!!"
Thero's scream cut right through the Raptor's senses, and though the Panther had been beaten to within a millimeter of his life, the energy that still lay within was immense, and it took one single blast for the K'anta's body to dissolve in the power of the Cat's blow.
Calmly, Thero floated back down to land lightly on an upturned rock. He folded his arms impassively, pain still radiating through his form, and watched as the last molecules of the ninja were blown away in the wind.
Tari half-grinned at his fellow Cat, before turning a very worried gaze back to Sachi. But her pulse was there, if weak, and though her energy level was literally below zero, though seemingly impossible she had survived lower levels.
Rahfa used the last of his own energy to Shift to human form, making his way to the Cheetah and Wolf just as his good friend Jay did the same. Jay crouched and took his sister from Tari, gently rocking her unconscious form in instinctive comfort.
"Tari."
Thero's still-cold voice brought the Cheetah around sharp, blinking. The Panther flipped a small object at him and, before Tari could even catch it, teleported back to Rummaen, his own planet. Rahfa reached out a broad hand and snatched the tiny bean out of the air, almost grinning as he handed it to Jay.
"Good thing he hates her," the Tiger mused humorously, "or he might insist on actually making sure she's alive."
Jay snorted, but Tari laughed weakly in relief as the Wolf ingested the energybean and her wounds and energy rebounded into the healthy range. Sachi's eyes fluttered open, and she quirked a grin as she slipped out of her brother's hold, squeezing his shoulder once in thanks.
"Let me guess. Thero had one left, and gave it to me so he could still kill me himself later?"
Rahfa laughed quietly and nodded,
"That's about the sum of it, though in a look instead of words."
Sachi rolled her eyes good-naturedly, hand still resting on Jay's shoulder. She and Thero were rivals in the extreme, and though she considered him an ally, he would like nothing better than to kill her in one supreme battle. Or so he maintained, though the Wolf had seen nothing to suggest that the Panther wasn't sincere in his enmity. The only thing stopping him from carrying out his wish to destroy the most powerful Wolf he knew of was Sachi's catring - it would be nigh treason for him to kill her when she had the blatant, all-inclusive friendship of his race.
"Let's go home. You guys look like bloody steaks."
Sachi grinned again as she felt Tari's and then Rahfa's hands on her shoulders, and through a bit of energy-play, she too teleported back home, dragging her three companions with her through time and space.
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Note - read prologue of Shifter Chronicles for background... *G* -- Shifters, 12:32:23 12/29/02 Sun
Sachi laughed in her chest, silently, as she staggered out to a clear spot in her home territory. The brilliant, almost luminous emerald of the grasses looked oh-so-very welcoming as she half-turned and fell on her side, cushioning the impact automatically before going limp. Her wild auburn hair slewed about her head in a tangled mass of curls, and she breathed deeply only once before opening golden eyes again. With some effort, she rolled onto her back, letting her sharply-filed nails unclench from her palm. A plumed tail snaked between her legs and its fluffy tip rested on one knee, the silky white fur a contrast to her red-brown hair and tanned skin. Despite her physical health, her tunic and leggings were in rags, her undershift barely provided decency, and her leggings were shredded to a level well above her knees.
She had fought well, the Wolf reflected as she gazed up at the darkening sky. It had taken two days, two days of relentless, highly skilled battle. A new pair of Wolves, mates despite their just-adult ages, had wanted to join Silverwood. They challenged for Gamma, though the rank was only in abstracts, for the two 'Gammas' were in fact the two main Guards, Sachi and her bloodbrother Jay. As there were no Betas to such a small, undernourished pack, there could not be Gammas... but Sachi and Jay held rank slightly higher than their fellow auxiliary Guards, Fire and her cousin Desheh. Seyiri had challenged Sachi, and Mahku, her mate, had challenged Jay. Sachi had laid out the terms of the fight, being the challenged Wolf - not to the death, in human form with two double-headed spears, and the first to Shift five times to heal grevious wounds loses. Jay had been less lenient - one sword, human form, and first to Shift two times loses. It had taken Sachi two full days of hard battle to win, and only by a slim margin. Jay had won in a day and a half, which considering his prowess with his sword is a compliment to Mahku, then had watched his bloodsister's fight until it was over. The blood-linked pair had retained their positions, but only barely.
And Sachi was exhausted beyond belief.
Quiet footsteps alerted her, and she raised her head just enough to spy her brother's tall, broad-shouldered form emerging from the dusk shadows. Jay grinned wolfishly and dropped a roughly-woven but warm blanket on his sister's prone form, before sprawling out beside her and tucking his own blanket around his muscular frame. "That was close. Too close," he muttered, shutting his green eyes in mock-horror. Sachi snorted half-heartedly, a grin tugging at her lips nonetheless. "T'was a good fight though," Jay continued, shifting his weight to find a comfortable spot on the still-warm earth. Sachi shot him a look and he chuckled. "Goodnight Sach'."
"G'night, Jay." The white Wolf rolled over, pulling the blanket around her tightly, yawning broadly before letting her eyes wander back the way her brother had come. A swift inhalation told her of two approaching Wolves, and she groan-growled under her breath. A bright laugh startled her, and Jay half-twitched.
"Oh, go to sleep you luggards. We just wanted away from the partying." Fire's familiar voice, without the usual friendly acid, was enough to relax the blood-siblings into settling back down. A dark hulk padded at her heels - Desheh, also in human form, dwarfed even Jay's well-built body. The petite female curled up on the ground on Sachi's other side, and Desheh laid down near Jay, both cousins Shifting to their Wolf forms to sleep. They were not the only ones who had gone without rest to watch the skilled battles being played out near the center of the territory - most of the 25-strong pack was snoozing, even though it wasn't quite nighttime yet. But the rest were celebrating such an excellent battle, and the acquisition of a female able to breed - there were only four females in the entire pack. One had lost her mate in the last battle, two (Fire and Sachi) were adolescents still, and the other was Tepura, who in no case would rush things with her special friend, Ashikena. Seyiri's presence, along with her mate, was a true boon to a pack who otherwise could not increase its slowly dwindling numbers.
Sachi's eyelids fluttered shut during this train of thought and her fingers uncurled, relaxing as she slipped into the soothing, pride-balming restorative called sleep.
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Why Zrego Trains (Rather Graphic) -- Raptors and Korats, 00:24:47 12/24/02 Tue
The female Lavanian raptor stood over her kill with pride even as the life-blood dripped from her own flank. Her sides shook heavily with pain, but she laughed, for the Korat she'd faught would be the first to die. The beast beneath her shook with silent agony, he was ancient, with tinges of silver about his muzzle and scars across his flank that stood as emblems of battles past. A rebel mane worn by those many generations younger than he hung tattered from his blood-stained head, and his ears flicked back against it. He curled his lips back in a final snarl, glaring at his killer with unforgiving eyes whose gaze did not break... though they grew dimmer with each passing moment. The raptor screeched at this, and dug her claws into the Korats hide, but the male did not flinch. However, the scent of new blood caused a stirring among the bushes, and shining eyes of other Raptors revealed themselves from the shadows. The female turned to hiss at them, then placed her blade along the Korats throat. He spat on her paw. She cuffed him once across the face, then raised her blade again... but the blade did not come down.
"WE SAVE NU'QUA! RAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!"
The female Raptor was hit full force across the chest by two vicious foreclaws of a vengeful youth known as Zrego. His blade flew faster then she could rise to her feet and before the spying eyes of the other Raptors who lay in wait, the female fell lifeless to the ground, her bloody head laying a few meters away from her body. With a roar of anger the other Raptors flung themselves from the brush, and Zrego leapt backwars slightly, meeting the first raptopr head on, parrying him aside after a moment of bladeplay, then leaping to his left to find another Raptor with it's blade at his throat. A flash of gold and Zrego's attacker was on the ground and gutted, despite the layers of cartiledge, tan Tamayan's black blade was sharp, and her blood lust gave her unknown strength. Zrego turned to watch as the other member of his training group faught bravely against three Raptors, white Fashi's muscle rippled under a blood-stained coat as he cut one beast in two with his blade, and ran another through with a hind claw. Zrego was there for the third one, flipping deftly over his head to thrust a long-claw through the Raptors neck as he twisted mid-air. Tamayan picked up the pace a bit and pulled her full speed, springing off of trees and occasionally throwing out her small blade to immobalize a beast or two as she dodged and flipped. One Raptor dealt her a forceful blow to the head as she passed however, losing his arm in the process, but knocking her unconscious from the sheer force of the collision. The Raptors fell upon her immediately, and though Zrego snarled and flung himself into the fray, the tan was dead by the time he'd gotten to the middle. Howling once in anguish Zrego the red-striped black flung his neck out at the nearest Raptor and ripped it's throat out from it's form, relishing the sweet blood and losing himself to rage. His blade flung wildly at any beast that came in sight, he began to merely run a hid claw through anything that moved, and if they dodged, he'd leap left, fake in, and kick them through their head. He was oblivious to the many wounds he recieved, his furious bladeplay slaughtering all in his midst... until finaly his own loss of blood did him in, and he collapsed upon the red-slickened ground.
He awoke hours later, his fur clumped together from mud, sweat, and blood. He struggled to his feet, focusing blindly on the dull throbbing pain in his hind haunch until it subsided with a brief healing. Zrego shook his head, trying to clear the vision that seemed to twist and turn before his eyes... and when he did, he fell to the ground again and prayed that he'd be blinded once more. The dead lay strewn about his feet, and the stench of the rotting gore that lay all about the clearing was unbearable. Zrego grimaced, bit his lip until it bled, then forced himself to rise again. His eyes flicked over the scene before him, hundreds of Raptors dead, and there... the mangled body of Tamayan. He stepped away from it, leaping forward as his backtreading caused him to stumble upon the body of Fashi, though the white's head was nowhere to be found. Zrego stumbled away in horror, then turned to hear groaning... "Mri'qua... You live..." The youths voice was strained, half glad and half... filled with disbelief and shock.
"A warrior does not die until he is heard. You Zrego, you have caused death, and you... you are too young, unready for this. You must recieve training, some kind of control."
Zrego eyes grew wide and he placed the blunt of his blade and the red's chest, "I'll recieve it from you! From you! You will live! You will teach me!"
The old Korat shoved Zrego's blade away with a foreclaw, "My carelessness today has caused you the loss of the only family you ever knew. I would ask too much for forgiveness, so instead promise me Zrego... promise me you will find another pack, promise me you will find control... promise me..."
The red-striped adolescent shook his head, "No. No Mri'qua!"
"Promise me Zrego..."
There was a sigh, a moment of pain, "You have my word."
The red's eyes shone fiercely for a moment in a long remebrance of days of youth, then grew dim as he joined his brave students in the other realm.
Zrego stood away from his first trainer, and the only father he'd ever known, saluted him once with his blade... and then ran.
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Atumi made me do it. -- Korats, 00:19:03 12/21/02 Sat
Atumi snarled as one of the more arrogant pack members -a black female- got too close to his snout with her gold tailblade. She'd been doing that, taunting the pack second, for weeks now. As had others in the pack.
Tew watched, perched in a tree. Even the easy-going tan had his ears flat and pearly teeth bared in a grimace. Bright-furred, lean, and inconceivably fast, Tew was also pack-second, though usually thought to be of slightly lesser rank than Atumi. But now, his robin's-egg-blue eyes were narrowed, almost cold, and his copper tailblade flicked, clinking liquidly against the stony bark of the tree.
Shula growled in his throat, warning the femme, Seja, off. Atumi was already stretched to the breaking point with insubordinate, arrogant students who paid no attention and seemed to be just within the hard-to-kill mark. For that matter, the big red was testy enough with these insolent Korats.
Seja sauntered off, a smug grin on her muzzle. Atumi snarled, ebon fur bristling, and rose from his crouch. I'll kill her, Shula. None of these are worth Chitter droppings.
Shula shook his heavy skull, ears permanently canted backwards. You will not, Atumi. I'll dismiss the whole pack soon. But not yet. It is winter, and the hunting is thin.
The black spat disgustedly. I care not for their lives. Rid me of them or I will do so myself.
...days later...
Seja nicked Atumi's haunch with her blade, smirking as he spun and snarled. "Give me a break, 'Too-mee, big master Shoo-luh won't let you do anything," she sneered comtemptuously. Shula had most of the pack on a hunt at that moment, but Tew was watching from high in the trees.
"By the Phoenix, I will have your soul." Seja laughed at his venomous threat and turned her back. Atumi's teal eyes began to glow, and he struck - his pale grey blade plunged between the femme's shoulder blades, snapping her spine and impaling her heart in the same vicious, effortless blow. The few Korats left in the clearing shot to their paws, shock plain on their muzzles. A red male lunged, foolishly thinking to take revenge for his sister's sudden death.
Atumi's tail withdrew from Seja's lifeless body and whipped out to completely decapitate the red, his body otherwise motionless. A tan's admittedly speedy attack was dodged with one leap, then the black spun and channeled his energy through his lithe body. A blast of raw, white-hot power surged forth and seared the tan into ashes. Thus three of the thirty-four strong pack died at Atumi's will.
When Shula returned, he was not happy.
...days later...
Red and black stood nose-to-nose, ears flat and growls rumbling in thickly coiled throats. The remainder of the Atumi-ravaged pack, now numbering fifteen, gathered around the pack leader and 'second silently, well out of range of the enranged black. Tew perched in a tree high above, bright blue eyes watchful, somehow hiding his vibrantly-furred self in the thick shadows swathing the broad tree limbs. It had come down to a challenge, at last. Shula opined that the deaths of so many of their packmates had taught those left the lesson needed. Atumi wanted them all either gone or dead by his will.
Atumi's teal orbs began to glow, emitting a soft radiation of blue-tinged light, an unusual sight that most likely stemmed from his extensive knowledge of life-force energy. Shula's mahogany eyes narrowed, no longer reluctant to take his friend on in a serious fight. It had come to this and he would finish it. For all his years and skill, Atumi had never before bested the young red.
It was not for victory that Atumi fought. It wasn't even to get his point across, or to have his preference implemented. It was not to gain leadership, for the black well knew his own fallacies in that area. It wasn't even to achieve 'permission' to kill or drive off the rest of the pack.
It was to vent his anger in the only way he could - by throwing himself and all his power at the one Korat who could handle it.
Atumi struck at the close range, muzzle-to-muzzle, tailblade slashing towards Shula's torso. The big red parried with his ebony tailblade, and the two commenced a bout of bladeplay too fast to be seen even with a trained eye, though Tew high above could track the motions. But that didn't release the black's anger quickly enough, and he lunged. Black jaws latched onto ruddy throat, black claws riddled ruddy fur with vicious slices, grey claws lacerated black pelt, and ruddy jaws locked onto a black skull. Pressure is applied in all placed, nearly scalping Atumi before he ducks away and nearly chopping Shula's neck in half. The two go at it again... and again... and again.
By the time it's over, Shula and Atumi are crumpled in healing trances, both bordering the edges of death. Tew drops from his branch and stalks stiff-leggedly around the circle of terrified pack members, ears flat.
"Begone with you. You have caused this. Leave, and never return."
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La la la... part of a holosim... -- Shifter, K'anta, 21:40:40 11/30/02 Sat
"Filthy lizard!"
"Human scum."
The clash of blades punctuated angry snarls, two warriors rebounding from the massive impact agilely. Sachi flipped once, twice, and landed on the balls of her feet in a crouch, lips drawn high in a snarl. Her K'antan opponent, a skilled Raptor ninja, touched down lightly as well, unruffled. Wolf and Raptor stared each other down balefully, three blades glittering in the sullied light. Smoke from the nearby city -under attack by K'anta forces- tainted the sunlight, cast livid shadows, stark against the dry ground.
Sachi stood, bare feet splayed against the ground and muscles tensed under bronze skin. A ragged, torn tunic fluttered in the weak, scorched wind, the dark blues and teals muted under the red-tinged sunlight. Twin hybrid swords were held at ready, silvery blades gleaming wickedly, the tips and edges stained with blood, both fresh and dried - but none from this K'anta. She had yet to lay a mark on the ninja; the young Wolf is a good bladeswoman, but far inferior to an experienced, skilled K'anta, be he ninja or not. Red-brown hair curled into a bun set at the top of her head, keeping her lengthening hair from receiving an untimely chop by enemy blade, and golden eyes narrowed as she focused her entire being on her opponent.
The K'anta male stood tall and proud at nearly seven feet, jade green stripes decorating his copper-hued hide, and dressed in amber pantaloons, a yellow-orange vest, and a mahogany cap. Pacific blue eyes seemed to glow as he regarded his enemy, and the Raptor shifted into a battle stance, three-fingered right hand gripping the hilt of his five-foot behemoth of a broadsword tightly, the longclaw on his first digit wrapped securely around the leather-bound haft. His left arm cocked behind his muscular torso, claws extended, and his talons dug into the soil. His short but useful tail swung behind him, curling to an extent so that his balance is flawless. He is Reo'fas, and he will not be defeated by some slip of a girl!
Sachi furrowed her brows as she felt the typical surge of energy that forebode an attack. In preparation, she reached deep within herself and felt the power that lay dormant within, but then she remembered - no K'anta knew that Shifters were helping to defend Earth from their armies. K'anta in bi form weren't keen enough to detect the human-formed Shifters, but Shifter energy had a very distinct feel, and were she to use her strength, it would be like announcing to all the attackers - look! we're Shifters! now you know how we fight, so you can just get down to defeating us!
Reo'fas sprang to the offense, slightly-curved blade sweeping downwards in an awesome strike as he descended from a leap, energy adding speed and strength to his movements. The younger Wolf grinned tightly and shot backwards, flipping once and forcing her body to respond in earnest as the Raptor sailed at her again; three blades clashed, ringing metallically in a flurry of blows before the two broke apart once more. Sachi touched down with one foot before launching into another attack, twin blades whirling in a frenzy. Every vicious swipe and thrust was effortlessly blocked by the K'anta, who counter-attacked with blazing shots of energy. Sachi twisted and dodged, delivering a powerful kick to the ninja's chest in an effort to get him away.
Another landing was made by the fighters; the Wolf mutt slid into a fighting stance immediately, but the Raptor stood tall for a moment, gauging his opponent whom he erroneously thought to be a mere human. And then they were at it again, movements too fast to be followed by the untrained eye, blades flashing in the reddish light, and neither one drawing blood, though energy blasts hit hard, as did kicks.
...an hour later...
Sachi struggled upright, using her one remaining sword as an aid to rise. Tunic and leggings now even more ragged and singed, muscles sore but untiring as befits her Wolfish endurance, she delivered a burning glare to her opponent as he, too, climbed painfully to his feet. They'd exchanged drop-kick for blast this time, and had both been slammed into the ground. "Defe jayicah enura," Sachi muttered. This is getting old. To her surprise, the K'anta laughed. "Shair." Yes. Golden eyes widened in shock, and the young woman quickly switched to English, "You speak Wolfin?!" The ninja dipped his long muzzle in a nod, "Aye, and apparently you do too... Shifter."
Sachi sucked in a quick breath, but knew that she couldn't slip it past this K'anta, as wily as he'd been proven to be. He continued, mildly amused and leaning on his sword, "So all the trouble my brethen have been having destroying the cities is because of Shifters. I should have known. No humans can match us in blade-play." Pale blue eyes narrowed as the ninja focused in on his opponent. Sachi grinned wickedly, "I admit it freely. You've been plagued by a Wolf, not some mangy human."
"I never thought I'd find my match in one of the furred race at all... let alone a Wolf." Sachi's eyebrows shot up, and she laughed wryly, "Well, congratulations, you're the first K'anta, ninja, Bountier, or otherwise, that I've not been able to kill within this length of time." The Raptor regarded his enemy with some amusement, then abruptly sheathed his blade. Sachi, surprised, lowered hers and rested the tip in the dust, lacking a sheath.
"I'll make a deal with you, Wolf. Go, and fight. Return at sunset if neither side seems to be winning, and we'll finish this. We're getting nowhere as it is. I will be waiting."
Startled and wondering if she can trust the ninja, not to mention wondering at his motive for postponing their battle, Sachi peered up at the taller warrior, cocking her head curiously. Then, grinning, she approached him and offered her free hand - her left hand still tightly gripping her blade's hilt. Baring long fangs in a dangerous grin, Reo'fas grasped her hand, squeezing tightly and sealing the deal. The Wolf nodded and backed away, tucking her blade between belt and hip. "Then I'll see you at sunset. Somehow I doubt either side will lose easily." Ears twitched minutely back at the thought of losing comrades, but she sketched a bow and turned, springing towards the next city which, by the feel of its energy, desperately needed Shifter protection.
Reo'fas leaned back against a half-crumbled wall, pale blue eyes watching her go. And he smiled a cold, knowing smile.
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~Bwee... Canis New Year~ -- Lossa folkees, 23:09:06 11/09/02 Sat
In the ebony night on the planet of Keshal, golden flames began to light across the silk of black plains. Golden streaks sparked up towards the sky, silvery plumes of smoke rising from their heat in the early November cold. Within moments swirls of color started a dance around these flames, patterned hides a flickering rainbow around each shining fire. It was the Canis New Year, celebrations had begun.
A muscular orange furred male stood on a ledge over looking one of these fires. One powerful black draconic wing stretched kindly over his mate, a teal-furred femme who nudged him kindly in return. They were alphas of a pack from Earth, and had made arrangements with the Keshalan government long ago so that they might enjoy the coming of the New Year closer to their native home.
So enjoy they did. Powerful bodies of all imaginable colors surged around the leaping flame, most were Canis, ages ranging, but all young. Other beasts stood along side this, friends of the Canis, some joining in the dance, others just enjoying the heat and the beauty of the spectacle before them. The Dance continued, around and around,t eh only sound the silent thud of paws against the flying turf... and then, the howl. The howl began when the two moons stood together in a beautiful line. It echoed from pack to pack, the alphas of each circle resounding the call as the chilling tune came to them, then continueing it again as other pack members joined in at will. Finally the howl was a constant melody rolling sound, and songs of celebration rang out.
The femmes joined in an uplifting tune of rebirth of the new year. Pups sang a song of racing each other to get to new day. The males sang a song of bringing up a new life. And all beasts, Canis and others, joined in the Old Terran tune "Auld Lang Sine." When the moons had split and were both half way through their travels to setting, the Alphas of the pack gave a long low howl to signal the start the final ceremony. All dancing stopped immediately, and the chosen youth of the pack stepped forward to begin the Hunt of Past Evil.
Her name was Mithra. She was lean and muscular, ocean blue fur tipped with silver, and the aura of wind was about her. She was Magi, the elemental powers of air flowed through her body. They even echoed in her light soprano voice, as she hosted the age old chant, half sung in language, half sung in howls, but always sung in the spirit of tradition.
"We hunt because the moon is clear,
we hunt because we have no fear,
we hunt, because, we hunt, because, we hunt!
Reh eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Kindred Spirits now attack,
fight old sins, defend our Pack!"
Two harmonizing tones joined in to this, and heads turned to hear the Alphas, Tashvik and Tana, join Mithra in her song.
"We hunt for kindred and for friends,
we hunt until our soulforce ends,
we hunt, because, we hunt, the ALPHAS hunt!"
Mithra's voice responds easily,
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Tana, Tashvik, Welcome back!
Let us all rejoin the Pack!
Three brothers step forward, hides of ebon, red, and white marking their growing forms. They leap about the fire as the sing with a spirit not seen by many in years.
The ebon goes first, his voice a recently changed baritone,
"I hunt because our teeth are bared,
I hunt because we've been prepared,
I hunt because I hunt, NINAN shall hunt!"
The russet leaps forward, his gold blade held firmly behind him as a strangely powerful bass voice echoes from the youthful frame.
"I hunt because I feel earth's pain,
I hunt because it's why I came!
I hunt because I hunt, TORVUM shall hunt!"
The white tilts his head back allowing a tenor howl to rip from his chest.
"I hunt for those that I protect,
I hunt for life in retrospect,
I hunt because I hunt, BREGAL shall hunt!"
The eerie soprano echoe canceled all thought as she responded,
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome brothers, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"
The beta pair stepped forward now, darker tones tinged their fur. The female a navy blue with green draconic wings, the male a pure smokey grey. The female grins harshly then sings.
"I hunt because it's in my blood,
I hunt to kill, as wolf-kin should,
I hunt because I hunt, HESVONA hunts!"
The grey male rears back, his muscular form an impressive sight as he backwings with furred pinions to hold himself upright in the night air.
"I hunt because I'm not alone,
I hunt to defend all I own,
I hunt because I hunt, KEROK shall hunt!"
The soprano echoe came from the rock, and shining blue eyes flashed in the depths of night.
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome betas, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"
Next came a Canis of white fur with his mauve mate...
"I hunt to fight for all my kin,
I hunt to die unless I win,
I hunt because I hunt, KERASH shall hunt!"
"I hunt because I've given birth,
I hunt to help the mother earth,
I hunt because I hunt, yes CIGE shall hunt!"
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome betas, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"
The rest was a blur... slowly but surely the other Canises sang their tunes and were reentered into their pack. The song was about to end, all Canises rejoined, the sacred hunt about to again... when a flash of white hide appeared before the fire. All turned to watch the lengthy form of the Dragon who'd dared to intrude on the sacred ritual, friend or not.
The dragon's voice was heard in the minds of all, it was strangely beautiful, not alto or soprano, but a gentle mix of both, pleasing to the mental ear, yet strong enough to keep one's attention.
I hunt for I've fought by your side!
I hunt with dignity and pride.
For though, I'm not of fur and paw,
You'll find, I'm just as strong with claw!
All was silent for a moment, Mithra looked the femme Dragon, then at her Alphas. Tana and Tashvik eyed the white a moment... then grinned, and nodded.
Mithra laughed aloud before singing once again, leaping from her ledge and circling the fire, beginning the dance of life once more!
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Though your form is not wolven,
all that matters lies within!"
The Canis surged forward in a rush of color and excitement, some of the younger ones who'd known the white Dragon since youth leaped on her in glee and excitement! She was a pack member! A Dragon! A pack member! How wonderful!
A howl from the hanging ledge cut the celebrations short. The teal face of Tana grinned at the expectant forms below, then leapt and wings spread, glided to the ground. She tilted her head to look up at the Dragon, and her song began again... slow at first, then picking up the pace to a faster tempo.
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Have no worries, have no fear
for all beasts are welcome here!"
The song erupted again, everyone joining in the wonderful music of howls and laughter... Catrens, Nicats, a Derrva, a Hrom, a Niyah, a Morolla, and even one Shifted Human danced the night away round the circle. As the moon set and the sun rose, the Pack of all forms went to hunt at dawn, bringing down the best kills of the entire season. A newly expecting Korat pair watched in bemused glee, too absorbed in each other to truly join the hunt, but laughing and enjoying the friendhips of others just the same. None new how many new little lives were growing within the white form of Deijan, but all expected that the black Trahdjmeh would be a wonderful father.
After all, it was a new year, and a perfect time for new beginnings.
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Just a note so I don't die later... Anrik and Trihek are Kelly's chars, not mine, and © her... consider this... fan fiction? -- Korats, 05:58:06 10/21/02 Mon
A young adult stretched his limber frame, glossy fur rippling with the motion of toned muscles. Cream-furred with burgundy stripes, the Korat was built like a somewhat short-legged black, powerful tail tipped in a silvery blade. He grinned as he straightened from his langorous stretch -- then a black blur flung him forward and into the Terolian dust. Banretin rolled to his paws, only to be knocked over again by the same ebony streak. "Anriiiikk!" the male yelped as he staggered up once more.
A black beauty stood before her friend, sleek fur without a hair out of place, and brilliant amber eyes glowing with amusement. A dully silver blade tipped her tail, a rare thing for a female Korat. Anrik laughed lightly at Banretin's tortured expression and bapped him on the snout gracefully. The striped half-ducked and wrinkled his muzzle, "I'll never be able to keep up with you, by the sun," he half-joked; the femme was an exceptional black in speed and agility, and for all Banretin's tan heritage, he could only sometimes outrun his cubhood friend. "Where's--"
A solid connection to Banretin's ribwall sent the male skidding several meters, though he stayed upright this time. "TRIHEK!" he howled, grinning gleefully at the new arrival. Reddish brown and built far more stockily than either of the others, the male grinned in return and landed a heavy greeting-whap with the flat of his metallic blade on Ban's shoulder, nearly knocking the slimmer Korat down. Anrik smirked at her twin, identical golden eyes meeting briefly in a knowing gaze. Banretin's emerald orbs flicked up, caught their expressions, and whimpered.
As one, the two siblings rocketed forward, but this time, Ban was prepared. Spinning, the striped kicked out with his rather short longclaws held back to his shins, connecting solidly with Trihek's chest and stopping -or at least deflecting- the red's power-lunge. Anrik's pounce was blindingly fast, but Banretin's not a slow Korat either, and he turned in time to catch and somewhat buffer her 'attack', rolling over and flinging her off swiftly. Remaining on his back, the striped grinned as Anrik collapsed in a fit of laughter and Trihek joined his sister with a deep bass chuckling. Emerald eyes crinkled in mirth and Ban let his own laughter slip out. Together, the three Korats -friends since arriving on Terole- sprawled in the dusty soil as the blazing sun beats down.
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