A Tail of Romance and Friendship Book 1 chapter 2: First blood Second Kin Third pain
~~~~~~(((Razam)))~~~~~~
"How could she? What did I
do to have her pulled from me again! ... but this time she will never be back!"
tearing up as I thought this to myself running down the hill, away from the
house and, away from her. I sobbed out loud "why does she have to go?...why must
I lose her again?" I cried some more as I got to the forests edge it was on the
opposite side of the hill from town. I went deep in the forest before I
collapsed in front of a thin stream, the grass still damp with morning due.
I looked up from the ground
to the water and saw what I hated most, myself. "Why was I so stupid?! I-I
could of said good bye... but now she is gone... and I'm alone" I looked down at my
tear stained reflection and growled and I lifted my paws and hit the water and
yelled in to the morning light thru the forest "Why am I such a retard!?" I
kept hitting the water hating myself. The water now going murky with the mud
from the river bed mixing with the crystal water giving it a brown color. I
looked to the murky water and sighed as the light reflected off the water even
in its dark composition.
I pulled my legs in and
hugged them as I rest my head on my muddy knees not caring in the slightest I
looked around the forest to try and take my mind off things. The trees where of
a pine and maple it was getting later in to the season the leaves would soon
start changing color. The ground was moist and the air thick and foggy in the
humid tempters we often got now. The shadows on the ground would dance as the soft
cool wind blew thru the forest, the leaves shook in the breeze with the light
softened as it passed thru the greenery. It smelt nice and like the farm from
the life turning to soil and the sounds of squirrels in the trees hoping from
branch to branch. My father would tell me they had hope and lived free wiled
lives something we should envy, to be care free and to fill our hearts and mind
with joy.
I rolled my eyes and lay
back against a tree looking up in to the trees with a sigh "Why must I screw up
everything... I could not even save my parents..." my mind flashed back for a
moment to that night in the orchard seeing the man in black holding my father's
chest as a shiny blade slide across it exposed neck. I shook my head and wiped
my face as the memory faded black "I was only a cub what could I have done" I
looked down as I tried to hold back my tears when I saw a dazzy standing in the
light and I let loose a sigh as I leaned forward and laid down beside the
stream and looked up at the flower.
"What is it about you that
makes you so strong? You weather the hot and the cold and you make it thru...
why? Would it not just be easier to move on" I looked to the flower at the end
of my snout hoping for a response sadly getting none. I let out a sigh as I
looked to the flower and its light sway in the air I let out "Why must I be
alone?" I again looked to the flower eager for any singe of life "Come on I
would hope you would say something... heh look at me I'm talking to flower for
company..." then I heard a light laugh from the other side of the stream and I
jumped back with my claws out.
I looked to the other and
saw a Kamoray with orange, black and white patchy fur and I yelled "Cain! Don't
do that you know I'm jumpy!" it was a face I have seen before he had a scar
over his left eye and had a patch over it after he lost the eye to an ice spell
gone wrong at a magic show that visits the village every month or so. He was a
happy guy a little chubby but in good health I guess he was a friend. "Well I know
your odd but talking to flowers man that just plain weird" he smiled to me as I
rolled my eyes thinking "yep that's Cain alright" I sighed and said "Ya I know
it is... just wanted someone to talk to... and a flower is better than no one"
He scowled and gestured to himself as
he said "What am I chopped liver?"
I lifted an eye brow saying
"really? Only you Cain only you" I smirked as I thought about that and thought
to myself "Who else would compare them self to a liver"
"What? I'm just saying you
can talk to me is all" he threw his arms in the air as he said this.
I could not help but chuckle
softly and say in reply "Ya I know, well Nar-I is leaving again" I frowned
lightly and looked down at the flower
He sighed softly saying "Man
that sucks, but did you guys not know each other since you where cubs?" I
nodded again
"Ya she was always there for
me you know and I'll miss her" I smirk as I flopped back on to the grass and
then I felt a wet ball of dirt hit my snout and my eyes went wide and I shook
my head to get the dirt off and looked at Cain with a frown "What was that
for?" he smirked as he looked to me tossing another one in the air
"For fun now stop moping
around when you got shit to do" I looked to him and lifted an eyebrow "what you
mean?" he rolled his eye and said "You have watch today? If anything gets in to
town and burns it down your felt you know" he smirked and laid back closing his
eye "Shit head wanted me to come find you" my eyes went wide and my jaw dropped
saying "wh-what he say" Cain gave a soft laugh as he looked to me saying "Well let's
say you got ten min before you out of a job" he smirked as I jumped to my feet
and looked to him "Well thanks for everything Cain... I mean it... I got to go ill
find you after work" and with that I ran off and left Cain by the river heading
to my post.
~~~~~~(((Cain)))~~~~~~
I smirk as I wave and say
"okay Shure see you then" I laid back and sighed as I said to myself "well
today must be the day am I right?" I heard a voice echo in my head "Mmm yes
Cain it is they are on their way as we speak, the plan will go off without a
hitch for the petty people to hold on to" I grinned out a sinful smile as I sit
forwards saying "mmm well then we need to get going to meet up with them" I stood
up and walked deeper in the forest as a different voice said "But would it not
be best to get them all not just the lions?" I replied out loud "No our
mistress only wants blood to be spilt not all of it or no one will be left to
fear her" I nod as I reached forward with both paws and with my palms facing
away from one other I grabbed the open air
The air around my paws
rippled and I pulled hard feeling much resistance and then my eyes changed from
there deep blue to a blood red as did the snakes of my soul and I ripped a hole
in the air. The hole was jagged and torn and a deep red as a voce echoed from
inside the red hole "Welcome back Cas-ar blood sage" I grinned as I stepped in
and it snapped shut behind me left in the dark with the black snakes of my soul
and got read for the final event. I would rid the world of this dreaded village
once and for all. May the village be painted in blood and the survivors learn
to fear the mistress of decay once again.
~~~~~~(((Razam)))~~~~~~
I ran around the hill in the
forests edge making my way around the side of the town but taking a different route.
Mid-day our head guard and leader gray or as a good few people knick named him
Lt. shit head. He was an okay guy but a little too pushy at work he ran us like
clockwork "everyone must be forty minutes early for watch or you're in trouble
understood?" he told me on my first day at work and that was a little off
putting as I already had drawn the short stick and ended up with early morning
shift had to get up early as is so I could have time with... with Nar- before she
went to work at the tavern.
I got to town square and
looked to the sky and tried to use that to tell the time "Shit" I muttered
under my breath, it was an eighth past sunrise so I was late, our days went on the
96 hour cycle so 24 hours from sunrise to midday and 24 from midday to dusk and
then 24 to midnight and then 24 to sunrise. So I was 8 hours late (2 hours for
us) I jogged thru the morning light and down town to the barracks passing the
playground on the way.
I looked over to the
playground and saw two ladies talking as one pushed her cub. I smiled as I
recognized the fur pattern on one of the Kamoray. Smiling to the one with a
deep orange pelt covered with large black spots over her body "Hey Te-kaila!" I
waved to her as she turned away from the other lady in deep red fur from head
to hind paw possibly a sub section of the Wolverin a lot my sneaky though usually.
She smiled and waved back calling me over. I looked at the time and then to her
thinking "Eh I'm late already right? Walking over I said to the red Kamoray
"hey" Te-kaila looked to her and then to me saying "Razam this is MaryAnn she
is new in town, I was just showing her around and then he..." looks down to her
youngest saying "...wanted the swings" she leaned forward kissing the top of his
head him giggling lightly as she did so.
I smirked and rolled my eyes saying
to the black furred cub "Hey Michal." I put up my fist to the little guy he was
only 8. He laughed as he fist bumped me and then pulled back spreading his
fingers and yelled "Pew!" I laughed softly as he made explosion sound with his
maw and I looked up to the two females and smirked "I could take him to gray?"
Gray and Te-kaila have been mats longer than anyone in town from a young age
they knew love. "I don't know Razam Michal can be quite a handful you know and
don't you have watch?"
I sigh and nod "Ya I do and
I do" I smirk as I look back to the now confused cub and I smirked to him "I
got to go to work with daddy" his tail flicked in excitement of mention of his
father and looked up "Momma?" she looked down to him as she drew air thru her
teeth "Yes Michal?" kind of hoping he was not about to ask for his father. "Can
Razam and I go see daddy?" she rolled her eyes a little disappointed. Not sure
if he would listen to me like he did with her and his father. To reinsure her I
smiled softly "Don't worry he will be safe I would never let him get in
trouble." She let out a sigh "I don't know..."
Michal looked up to his mom
and said "Pweeese I'll be good I promise" she sighed and said "Fine... but you
better be on your best behavior for your father or you going to be in deep
trouble mister" she messed his head fur and rolled her eyes. "Yay!" he yelled
as he jumped on to my and holding around my neck. I winced as I wrapped my arms
around him lifting him up as I stood straight. Waving to the two lady's I
turned towards the barracks "I'll catch you two sometime again" I held on to
the smaller cub as I walked hearing Te-kaila shout "Be safe alright you to"
returning my wave and I shouted back in unison with Michal "we will, bye!"
I soon disappear from their
view and said to myself "Good now to deal with my boss" Michal looked to me
saying "who dat?" he lifted his smaller ears to listen to me as I chuckled.
Looking to the cub I smiled "Daddies my boss" his eyes went wide saying "My
daddy's your boss?!" I nodded and he continued to say "why he give you trouble?
Did you break something... daddy gets upset when I break things..." I chuckled
lightly and said "Yes I broke our deal to be early for work" He nodded saying
"mhmm that's why he'll be mad, did you hide the deble...deal?" I smirked as he
fumbled with the word deal and shake my head saying "No thankfully" I looked up
to the tower that stood in front of us and I said "here we are... the barracks" I
looked up to the top of the main watch tower and saw Gray my commander looking
down to me. "Your late Razam!" I sighed under my breath and looked up to the
bright lion saying "Ya... sorry I know Cain told me I brought Michal for Te-kaila"
he grumbled softly as he disappeared from my view and I padded inside the stone
brick tower opening the old oak door with a light creek from the rusted hinges.
As I stepped in the first
thing that hits me was the smell, it was a warm, greasy, oily smell from the
things we used to keep the weapons and armor in good condition, the small
windows provided a bit of light but most of it came from the fire place at the
side of the room next to a small chair and table, the far wall equipped with
all the weapons and armor. The opposite side of the fire was a stair case that
ran along the side of the tower. Waiting in the main room at the bottom of the
large stair case I looked around bows and smile at our signature bows with
their shorter brown limbs; its iron wound string with its steel and wood limbs
made it next to impossible for most to pull back. These bows were perfected by
our race, for our race, for our naturally stronger forearms. Even still I have
some problems pulling back the bow string. As I looked at the walls stoked with
weapons and armor I smirk as I thought "One day I'll have one, one for me to
call my own. Not just to barrow" Being poor as I was the dream of being armed
was just that, a dream.
He came thru the opening to
the stairs with heavy footsteps. Patting out the flickering flames from his neon
red mane he said with a rough grumble "You can't keep being late like this
Razam". His fur pattern was rather interesting, sporting a neon red mane with
the rest of his body's fur a brash shade of gray and his eyes, a brilliant
blue. Like most fire mages his aroma mainly smelt of smoke and charcoal. I
remember Te-kaila saying that he did not always look and smell like this.
Before his magic came out he was orange manned and yellow furs. The only thing
that remained from that time was his bright blue eyes. The thought is scary to
think about, when most obtain the ability if they ever do, it can sometimes...
sometimes do just that, change everything about them from skin to fur to even
eye color or sometimes rarely bone stricter giving them horns or spines. Can
you imagine that, one day finding yourself looking nothing like you did before?
It was a slow change supposedly, but still? What would I do if I lost my fur?
Ya sure it has good side effects but... is that something I really want? Well
luckily my family did not seem to have any magic users in the blood line, I
thinks it's genetic anyways... so I'm safe right?
"Daddy!" I got snapped back
to reality with Michal yelling for gray his father as he walked over.
Gray smiles as he reached
out for his son and I handed him off with a smirk relieved of his weight, "Hey
little man!" I smiled as Gray tossed his son up and caught him again in his
arms.
Michal
giggled as he was tossed by his father "Yay!" he would squeal as he laughed his
father doing the same before hugging him.
"Bap!" the cub yelled as it
squished his father's nose with his smaller paws. "Again?" the kitten smiled
wide to his dad.
Gray nuzzles his nose
against his sons smaller one as I waited trying to be patient "In a little bit,
right now I need to talk to Razam" I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard
him put emphasis on my name knowing right there I was in shit.
"Awww pweeese" he begged
only for his father to shake his head and place him down on the ground.
"I'm sorry but daddy needs
to do this" he sighed softly as he ruffled his hair and looked back to me and I
grabbed my arm rubbing it lightly ready to be scolded.
He sighed in reluctance
before saying "Alright..." and then turned to walk over to a small table and
stool with some parchment and a small paint set.
I sighed and looked down
squeezing my arm as he started with "Razam you where support to be here at
sunrise that was almost 9 hours ago" he softly rubbed his snout clearly annoyed
"I thought we talked about this this is the third time this week you have done
this, this bloody week" he looked up to me and folded his arms
I sighed softly and said
"I'm sorry ill not do it again..." in truth I had been spending to many mornings
at the stream to relax, money was hard to come by as is. It was just to get
away a bit a day, never meant to come late.
"And why would I believe
that this time? You gave the same dammed reply last time, how many more times
are we goanna play this game? You're not the only one low on money you know" he
looks to me with his eyes that only seemed cold now.
I sighed softly and say
nothing only nod and looked to him waiting for his verdict
He sighed and rolled his
head saying "You get one last chance then you're gone for good, I'm only doing
this because Te-kaila likes you and ask that I try to take it easy on you, but
this is it are we understood?" he looked me with that cold stair
"y-yes sir" I could not help
but stager as I find it was Te-kaila who saved me this time if not for her... I
don't want to think about it least to say life would become really hard
especially without Nar-I. I looked to him and took a staggered breath and
waited for him to say something anything, just to break the silence.
He looked to me and said "You
got watch for the next 44 hours on watch now get going set 3 is yours today and
you got slot 2 for brake" I nod and with my head down I walk to the back of the
room. Looking up at the guard sets the watch tower I grab set 3. It was made of
leather padding and steel buckles. Picking up the chest plate I slide it over
my head and reach around grabbing the strip of leather and threading it thru
the buckle and pulling it tight, repeating on the other side fastening it nice
and tight feeling a bit constricted. Now grabbing the bottoms and sliding the
fabric on to me siting on a chair just by the armor and grab the pads and
buckle them on my thighs and calves on both legs. Standing back up I grab a
black scabbard and short sword from the table. Holding the scabbard I pull the
sword out half way and examine it for any faults. The blade had a roaring lion
etched right above the hand guard the symbol for our village. Founded by grays
ancestor some odd 800 years who also happened to be a fire mage. Not too long
ago in reality since most Kamoray lived to be somewhere between 280 and 300
years old.
As I finished looking at
steel sword I slid it back in to its scabbard then attacking the sword belt
around my middle just along the top portion of my hips to keep it in place and
give it a light tug to make sure it will stay in place. Satisfied it won't move
too much I reach for the quiver that came with the short sword, quickly
counting the blown and white fletched arrows and nod "25 perfect" I say softly
to myself as I sling it over my shoulder taking a moment to fasten the buckle so
it won't fall off. Then grab the long bow off the table and a string that lay
beside it, hooking the string on the bows bottom end then resting it against
the stone floor, pulling the string straight and tight as I bend the wood and
iron limbs of the bow slightly. Finally hooking the string on the top letting
go and take a moment to look over bow.
Looking to my side I bring
the bow up and look to my left paw that held the bow and slowly pull the string
back half way nodding happy with the tension then slowly release the tension as
I held the bow to my side. I turn to the stars thinking to myself "Well now to
get to actual work" I let out a light chuckle as I let my paw drag along the
stone brick wall as I walked up the stairs looking in to the second floor. It
was full of crates and boxes of all shapes and sizes I smirked as I look around
and saw a mouse scurry from the one crate and smiles softly as I saw it as I
walk up the stairs to the third floor glancing in at the cages for the
prisoners, not that we ever really had any one to detain.
I got to the top of the
stairs and looked up at the wooden hatch about 2 feet wide and 7 feet long, I
lifted right paw and undo the two steel bolt locks and then step up as I push
it open. The wooden hatch falling to the side of the stairs as I walk up and
smile as I stand up straight inhaling deeply the still morning air. The last
rays of day brake coming in to full view over the horizon, "What a sight" I
thought to myself with a warm smile. The top of the tower was covered with a
thatch roof, a small table sat a little bit to the far side a wooden stool.
Walking over to the edge of
the of tower and smile as I looked down to the town, the people looked like
little specks down below and looking out over the forest was a warm expression.
The forest at any height seemed massive you could barely make out the watch
towers for the other nearby villages, I heard that they each had a guy like
Gray leading them, I kind of wonder what life would be like outside the forest,
maybe see some of the other races and cultures could be fun but at the same
time I would be leaving my home behind. I let out a content sigh knowing in the
end if I ever do decide to adventure out the rest of the world's not going anywhere.
I pad over to the stool and
sit down as I looked over the town and forest and sit my job. I chuckles to
myself softly as I entertain he thought of leaving "Ya right like I can
afforded that" then letting out a sigh as I look off in to the distance.
~~~~~~((( Michal)))~~~~~~
I sat at my table and
painted a picture for daddy. It was of him and me on the tower top and a sun
set. I giggled as I lifted it up and yelled "Daddy!" as I jumped from my stool
and knocking over my paints the red spilling down my back and I said with a
frown "Oppsies" I giggled as I put my wiped the pain off my bluish t-shirt and
then wiped it on the table and when that did not work on my pants. I giggled as
it looked weird with the streaks of red and I ran to the stairs and looked up
them. I loved these things made a cool sound "Hello!" I giggled and listen
closely and then heard it say "Hello" I laughed and yelled "Weirdo!" I gilled
and then heard it say "Weirdo!" and I frowned and say "Nooooooooooo" and then
frowned as is said the same back "Baaa your mean!" I pouted as I put my paw on
the wall and carefully went up the stairs and growled determine to find the man
daddy called echo, he was being vary mean to me.
As
I started up the stairs I felt large paws grabbed my middle and lift me up and I
squealed and then saw it was daddy, "hehe daddy! You scared me!" I giggled as I
grabbed his neck holding on to his warm red mane and burying my muzzle in his
chest, "Don't do dat to mee."
He
laughed softly and said "Michal how did you get all messy so soon, I only left
to get a snack"
I smiled up
to him and then remember my painting and lifted it up and showed it to him "I
made us see, look we are on top of the tower!" I giggled as I hold it in front
of his nose and smiled my tail flicking back and forth quickly.
"I
see looks good" he chuckled before taking it and having a closer look not all
up in his face and says "Is that a red buffalo?" he chuckled
"Noo
that's the sun silly" I giggled as I bopped him on the noes, smearing paint in
his snout.
"Then
what's that?" he said pointing to the rays of light coming from the sun and I giggled
"That's
sun light!" I laughed and say "I see it when you go to work and before I go to
sleep" I laugh even more wrapping my one arm around his neck as I point at my
painting.
He
chuckled warmly as we walked down stairs and then put it on the shelf and said "There
we go now everyone can see it"
I
giggled lightly and nuzzled my daddy and then there was shouting from outside,
it scared me and I buried my face in my father's warm mane and shivered lightly
but then he said as he looked to the door and put me down saying "Stay here son
your brother will be here later" he looked up and then a voice shouted from
upstairs
"Sir!
A fight broke out with a Wolverin in town square it's getting messy do you want
my help?"
My dad looked to the stairs and
yelled "No but if you see Magnus send him to me"
"Yes sir! I'll keep drawn if
needed!" then the voice left and I looked to my dad as he ran out and I frowned
with a sigh, saying to myself "Stupid people let me and my daddy be..." walking
over and siting back beside the fire.
~~~~~~((( Gray)))~~~~~~
I
ran out the door with little hesitation as I sprinted to town square thinking
to myself, "What's a Wolverin doing in town?" I heard a lady yell out "Get away
from us you creep!" I ran down the road towards the voice as I pushed pass
people and then I heard a voice that only one person had, "Stop you will hurt
her!" it was Te-kaila my mate. I felt my passé pick up but it was still too far,
my heart beat quicker and I felt my mane flicker as I growled and my mind
raced, my eyes turned to a deep fiery red with my rising anger my mate was in
trouble.
Then
I turned a corner and say a cart it would take too long to get around and I was
approaching quickly, I took a deep breath and looked around as I approached to
check for by standers, no one. Then I sped up gaining heat and felt my heart
beat faster as the world seemed to slow. I leaped forwards as stream of fire
shot from my foot paws as I passed over the cart I cut of the flow of magic, leaning
forwards as I came back down I rolled as I hit the ground, getting back to my
feet as I looked around the square for Te-kaila and the Wolverin, and then I
saw them.
I looked at the Wolverin he
had deep gray fur with black patches and a lady with deep red fur being held by
the neck in one paw the other a knife as he shouted "You basted how dare you
kill her, I loved her!" he shouted at the female "We had a deal! You would
leave us alone if we helped you!"
He was clearly emotional and
a threat, I shouted "Drop the weapon now and leave the lady be!" Te-kaila stood
behind them both in shock "Good she's safe" I thought to myself.
He turned to me and held the
blade to her neck and yelled with tears "Trust me I'm doing you a favor by
offing this basted!" He growled, a growl from someone means their challenging
you for power and he barked out with teeth bared "He killed her!" he cried as
he pressed the blade against her neck.
"She's innocent! Let her go!"
I growled back my mane now roaring with flames or orange to deep red as I
brought my arms up ready as my body tempter raised.
"No. he's going to pay..." he
said as he started to draw blood with the small shiny blade growling.
"No!" I yelled reaching out
but they were too far I could not reach them.
Then there was a loud deep
thud as the man fell down and a mane less lion clutched the lady in one arm the
other holding a sword, he had hit the hilt off the Wolverin knocking him out,
the lion looked to me it and smiled saying "Looks like I'm just on time father"
it was my son Magnus he had come as he said right on time a moment later and
she would of died thank Renmora. I
rushed over and took the lady from him and looked to her saying to my son "Good
job son, can you take her and you mother home to patch up and make shure she's
alright" I looked over my shoulder and to the Wolverin saying "I'll deal with
him"
"Yes father" he nodded as he
put his sword away and lifted the lady up bridal style, she had passed out
during the ordeal and look to his mother and nodded as he walked down the road
with her and I looked to the Wolverin. Kicking the dagger away from him before
bending over to pick it up and looking at it, it had an odd shine to it taking the
daggers sleeve from him I put it away pocketing it. Leaning over I picked him
up by the back of the neck and then hoisted him over my shoulder walking him
back to the tower thinking "Something's off, why did he keep calling her, him?"