... -- The Middle of Nowhere

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Date Posted: 16:53:38 10/07/02 Mon
Author: Human, Korat, Masi, Drakka
Subject: ...

A small girl knelt, reaching out two pale and slender hands to cup around a red rose in full bloom. A young black Korat crouched at her side, lupine ears perked in curiosity. "See, little Ebony, this is a rose. Isn't it pretty?" Blonde-brown curls framed her childish expression of wonder, blue eyes a-glow, the girl rested one small hand on her companion, whose matching blue eyes gleamed in understanding.

A howl echoed from the hills, dim and distant, but 'Ebony's ears flicked in confusion. Death? The young Korat rose from her crouch, gripping the girl's shirt in her teeth carefully and tugging her back in the direction of the village.

But it was too late to run.

Out of the shadowed forest shambled several four-armed beasts, hideous insectoid faces contorted into vicious grins. Ebony growled in a soprano tone and put her small form in front of the human girl, who cried out and clapped her hands to her mouth. Clicking laughter answered her, drowning out the terrified heartbeats of two children.

One Drakka raised an innerarm, the wickedly long claws glistening with fresh blood, and pointed a thick finger at the pair. "Kkkillk kthkkemk." The other three laughed their agreement in horrible voices and advanced, dull black hides resembling shadows. Ebony's snarling raised in pitch and volume, and she bristled defensively, but she was barely a year old, and couldn't hope to defeat even one of the bipeds. The little girl let out a scream and stumbled backwards, eyes wide with fear.

Quick pawfalls were heard only seconds before a very bright blur launched itself at the nearest Drakka, knocking the stocky crett down before springing agilely away. The blur landed and the details resolved into a Masi adolescent, sunshine-yellow fur striped with orange and fading to snowy white on her underside, a flowing corn-hued mane let loose. The feline curled her lip high, and yelled to the two children, "Get out of here! I'll deal with these beasts!" Ebony, though she could not speak, knew the wisdom of such advice, and took the girl's sleeve in her teeth and together, they ran towards the village, a good mile away.

Rinyosan hissed, a line of bright fur along her spine bristling, and her thick tail fluffed up and lashing wildly behind her. "You're dead, Drakkan scum," she whispered, long ears slicked to her skull, before lunging as the one she'd previously pounced rose. This time, the Drakka was prepared, and the two bipeds exchanged a furious array of blows before Rinyosan got lucky and her translucent claws scored a deep gash in her opponent's leathery neck. But a Drakka had gotten behind her, and its own thick, fairly blunt claws ripped into her flank, sending her sprawling several meters away. The young Masi rolled to her paws, panting, and shot forward to deal with her new attacker.

Half a minute later, a human scream penetrated flattened and bloody ears. Rinyosan snarled weakly, one hand pressed to a gaping hole in her stomach, the other fending off the Drakka. Two lay dead, and only one was fighting her. The other must've followed the younglings. Bright feline eyes grew narrow and vengeful, a storm moved in behind those orbs, and with one laughing-at-death look, Rinyosan lunged and tackled her opponent. Superior at wrestling, it seems, it was only a moment before the black beast lay dead and the adolescent was tearing down the slope, towards where a red and black form was being tugged at by a human girl.

Rinyosan hit the last Drakka hard from behind, knocking him sprawling -- but this time, she didn't jump away. She hadn't the energy nor strength, nor time, to do so. So she clung, enfleshing her claws into his skin, clinging as he struggled to rise. Her pearly white fangs sunk into his neck, desperately gnawing, trying to reach his spine before one of his four arms got a hold of her. Or worse, before he could reach one of the children. But the Masi was tired, and weaker than a Drakka to begin with, and the beast quickly flung her off and turned.

Rinyosan faced death as she opened her eyes, snarling and feeling warm blood coat her bright fur. "Run," she rasped, and staggered to all fours. She dimly saw the young Korat rise, blood seeping from a gash along her skull, and tug the girl away. The Masi grinned, a predatory grin and not one of amusement, and she sprang.

When it was over, four Drakka lay dead... alongside one adolescent Masi who gave her life in defense of children. The future of Jhey, and indeed, the future of all worlds.

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