Taming the Demon
Shadi yawned and sat in her attic, waiting for her brother Hige to finish his training. What a bore, being seven with nothing to do but sit around waiting all day, was a nightmare. Shadi grumbled and stretched, arching her back in a cat like way. When she sat back on her window sill, her brother finally came in, wearing a smile that said training had been successful. He walked over to his baby sister, five years her elder, and picked her up. He pointed out the window, where a wagon being driven by some very pretty, but very tired brown horses pulled up outside the castle in the courtyard.
"See Shay? We have visitors. Maybe someone will want to play with you huh? Maybe someone a little closer to your age to play dolls with?" The young prince of Stryker said.
Shadi snorted at her brother. "Hige, Shadi don't play with dolls! Shadi likes to romp and play! Can't you take Shadi to go play outside like last night? Shadi wants to catch a mouse!"
"Shadi, I can't take you outside right now, not till its dark... besides, you can catch mice in the kitchen later, for now, we have new friends to meet!" Hige stood up, very tall for his age, and shook his mane, witch consisted of a tuft of dark brown hair on top of his golden head. He wore a white shirt with a brown vest, and brown pants. He wore no shoes, as he preferred his bare feet keeping him steady on the ground. He lifted Shadi to his hip, who was very tiny for her age. She was white with brown splotches all over her body, with very long, shiny brown hair that tumbled to her juvenile waist, tied in two pony tails on either side of her head in red ribbons, like two waterfalls down her back. Her attire consisted of black boys breeches, and a red tunic top, matching the ribbons in her hair.
Hige walked his sister down the stairs, smiling to his mama, the queen of this castle as he moved. She smiled at him, but didn't bother addressing Shadi with any affection- the child might make the mistake of believing she was liked... The snow white cat didn't hate Shadi, but she was imperfect, witch means she must be put in her place by those who are perfect, so order can stay maintained.
Hige frowned as he walked with his sister, who didn't respond to the coldness of her own mother, (she was quite used to it by now) and set her down by the door, as she was not allowed outside.
"Shadi, go ask cook for some cookies, and I'll meet you in there later ok? Hey! Save me one this time!" He laughed as his beloved baby sister scampered off to stuff her splotchy face with some cookies. He shook his head with a smile, and stepped outside to greet his fathers friend and his family.
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Sparkein sat in the back of his father's caravan wagon, currently headed to Castle Stryker, bringing trading goods from the Frozen Paw Clan, Sparkein's home pack. Sparkein was a 7 year old fox with a white pelt ,only his ears and tail tipped with black. He wore a solid white tunic that gave him free movement and would not absorb water, a big, two handed sword strapped to his back as tall as he was, and as always, razor sharp. He had forged it himself. He was the second youngest in his kin of 3 other foxes besides himself. He was probably the strongest, having the largest size out of all his siblings, and was an effective tank.
Dreaden sat next to his younger brother Sparkein, rubbing the top of his head, trying to sooth the sore spot that had blossomed there due to being hit in the head by his sisters staff. He was the oldest of the four foxes, but his fur was the invert of theirs, it was black with white tips, and no one quite gets why his pelt turned out to be that way, but it made him different and he liked it. He wore a black and white tunic with similar designs as Sparkein's. and was likewise also water proof. He is two years older then Sparkein making him 9, he carried a sword with a flowing, but very sinister design to it, which he had also forged himself He was the leader of the group in some ways and he was the strategist of the group, keeping the group in check and keeping the peace in between them.
Seltrena sat across from Dreaden and next to Sparkein, laughing as she had hit him with her staff moments before. Seltrena wore a blue and white tunic that was similar in design to the other siblings, and of course, waterproof. Seltrena was the second oldest, and 1 year older then Sparkein, making her 8. Her fur was white with black tips just like Sparkein. She wielded a staff that she made and designed herself, it was much like their mothers; the tips could be unlocked and blades would extend a good 4 feet from both ends. She was the medic of the group, but she was also the most hyper person any of the fox kits had ever known. But she had a few good things going for her because of her being hyper, Seltrena was extremely fast, and very flexible.
Keltrina was seated next to Seltrena, the youngest of the group at 6. She always wore a green tunic that was like her siblings, but it had many hidden pockets in it, and, what a surprise, it was waterproof. She used two blades that were attached to each wrist and were completely concealed, but, could be brought out given the right wrist movement, stab someone, and then instantly retract. She designed these herself. She was extremely curious, stealthy, and very smart she was a genius child, and excelled at assassinations.
"Hey you four, get out of cart" Hestare bellowed back into the wagon at his four children. Sparkein being the first to obey leaped out of the cart and landed squarely on the ground. "This place is pretty big huh?" He said while watching the other three foxes hop out of the cart.
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Hige watched as the foxlings exited the cart while standing next to his father. His father, Alzeer, the king of Stryker was by far the biggest male Hige had ever seen in his life, minus a few dragons. At nearly eight feet tall, Alzeer towered over all. Broad chested and a thick auburn mane around his head and neck, garbed in a fine robe of the royal colors, black and red, he looked like the king he was. Alzeer grinned and approached the cart, roaring with a deep laugh. "Hestare, it's been too long my friend, been busy with the mate I see!" He laughed after spotting the smaller foxes.
Hestare laughs. "Aye, that we have" He says putting his arm around his mate, Litressa, the alpha female of the Frozen Paw Clan and the mother of the four fox cubs. She was a white arctic fox who was skilled with the staff and spear. She normally wore green and white clothing, and always carried a staff with removable tips that revealed spear heads on both ends. She was kind, and carried a very close bond with each of their four pups.
Alzeer was about to respond, when he noticed his oldest cub leaning in with interest. He loved his son, but Alzeer didn't trust him, and the cub flat out hated him, it showed in his eyes. Alzeer blamed the deformed cub that he last sired. Hige was far to fond of her, and didn't respect Alzeer's wishes when he put her in his place, had even attacked him a few times when Alzeer brought the whip out. The speckled kitten was more trouble than she was worth, but his mate refused to let Alzeer kill it off, for fear her oldest son would never recover. Alzeer loved his white mate, and let the kitten live, if you could call never leaving the castle living...
He smiled at Hige, wanting him out of his mane for the time being. "Hige, son, take the kits and find your sister Therra, you can play inside while we talk business. You may also show the kits to their rooms, if you will... play nice now..."
Hige mumbled but motioned for the four fox cubs to follow him, his tail twitching with agitation. Dreaden nodded at the other three and the four foxes followed him, curious but watchful, as they had never been in a place like this before. "How do you think they're combat skills are?" Sparkein whispers over to Dreaden. "I don't know Sparks we'll just have to wait and watch." he whispers back as they follow Hige.
Hige mumbled as they walked into the huge, looming castle, using the main entrance, a huge, mahogany door. It slammed shut after all the cubs were in, clearly locking. Hige paid no mind to it as he continued walking up a flight of stairs, up the main hallway.
"This place is weird." Seltrena says to the other three.
"Yeah..." Sparkein agrees as they all tried to keep up with Hige, not wanting to lose their way in this huge place as they walk they look down the corridors and halls, interested in the odd structure of the castle. Most of the dens back home were made from the earth and forest, not so industrial as this.
Hige stops half way up and looks back. "Hey, sorry about that, makes me mad when he treats me like this, I'm Hige." He extended a paw to each fox in turn. All four siblings took his paw one by one each introducing themselves "So were are we headed?" Dreaden asked when introductions were finished.
Hige grinned, a big lions smile, lazy and warm. "You get to meet my younger sister, Therra... I'm having the feeling your NOT going to like her in the least... But then you can meet my other sister, she's the baby, and while she's a bit strange, she's a sweetheart. Come, lets get your meeting Therra over with, she throws a fit if I don't pay attention to her." He sighed and continued up the stairs.
"So what's it like to live here?" Keltrina asked, being always the curious one as she looked around, her gaze never seeming to leave one thing before it went to the next. Hige's expression doesn't change as he walks. "A nightmare." They finally reach the top of the stairs, and Hige bangs on a small oak door, closest to the stair way.
"Open the damn door Therra, I'm not waiting on you like some servant! Move your tail, and try not to run into any walls on your way either!" Hige snarled to the door. A huff was heard on the other side, the sound nasally and annoying. A white cat opened the door, her face indignant as she tried to look down her nose at her much bigger brother. "I'm coming! Don't you males know it takes a long time to look beautiful!" her voice even more nasally when she tried to sound prissy.
"Yeah well, that could take you days with your smashed face... lets go now, or Shadi might get into trouble!" Said the lion brother, love and concern for his youngest sister evident, even without her around. He didn't bother to introduce them, as they didn't seem to like her anyways, like that was new, no one but father liked Therra...
The foxes followed after Hige, none of them showing an likeness towards their new acquaintance. They just followed Hige, trying to ignore the flat faced cat that now followed them.
Hige led them back down the stairs, and right back passed the large oak entrance. He led them through a huge banquette hall, decorated with huge tables and chairs made from polished wood. Portraits of regal looking felines adorned the walls, all in huge, gold and silver frames. As they approached a small door on the side of the huge room, Sparkein noticed a painting that had been turned around, the back facing outward.
"Hey Hige? What's that painting?" Sparkein says pointing to the flipped over painting. Hige stops, his paw on the door and turns to Sparkein. "Huh, I don't know, never really thought about it before... no one really uses this banquette hall, so I have no idea... turn it over and lets see." "Alright." Sparkein says, walking to the painting and looking over the back of it before flipping over the painting.
"Hey Hige? What's that painting?" Sparkein says pointing to the flipped over painting. Hige stops, his paw on the door and turns to Sparkein. "Huh, I don't know, never really thought about it before... no one really uses this banquette hall, so I have no idea... turn it over and lets see." "Alright." Sparkein says walking to the painting looking over the back of it then flips over the painting.
The painting looks to be very old, but it was exquisite. The painting was done, very painstakingly, in oils. A young feline, looking to be twenty or so was spread out on a white and red chase, dressed in a very simple, but very beautiful Victorian blue dress, no frills needed to make it flattering. The feline who was in it would have been stunning regardless, even if she had been naked. Her fur was white, but was splotched liberally with a reddish brown, contrasting beautifully with her stark green eyes and little pink nose.
Her stature was short, and her body delicate looking, witch was odd, because the cat was very well endowed, her breasts filling the corset of the dress snuggly, curving gently down to her ribcage, just the size that made a male want to reach out and let his paws drift down, unto her abundant hips... Her body was a work of art all its own. Her hair, looking touch ably soft, was artistically pilled on the top of her head, spilling out of the comb that held it to frame her face, the color copper where the light hit it, and a deep auburn where it was hidden in shadow.
She was looking shyly at the artist, the slightest hint of a smile on her face, working together with her sparkling green eyes to pull the viewer into the picture with her, fooling you for a moment, to believe that you were the lucky fur she was smiling so shyly at, a lacey white fan held delicately in her nimble paws. The look she was giving the artists made one stop and think about what the pair were doing shortly before the portrait was made, or even what they might have done afterwards.
While Sparkein was a bit young to feel lust for a woman, he did blush, knowing this was a very beautiful cat indeed.
"Oh wow, I wonder who this is of..." Sparkein said, his breath partially stolen by the beautiful feline in the painting.
"She's beautiful." Seltrena says walking up and looking the painting over as well.
"Wow Hige do you know who this is of?" Dreaden says looking back at Hige.
Hige approached the portrait, and smiled. "She's my great-great grandmother, The Lady Angelica." Said Hige, sounding formal. "She founded this castle, all by herself. Its said she never took a mate, because of a silly legend, but she did take many lovers, and I do believe that is my great-great grandfather, an African slave who was one of her attendances, Caspius, painting her." Hige said, as if he read this right out of a book. "He was once a prince in his empire, but he was kidnapped for his strength, as lions were once very hard to come by in this land. She bought him and took him as her own. She was sickened by the slave trade, so she banned slavery from the Kingdome, and many lions and other exotic felines migrated this way, as you can see." Hige grinned with mischief, obviously proud of his lion heritage.
"She bore my great grandmother, who bore my grandmother, the lady Sophia, well known for her own madness." Hige went on, not caring he was spilling family secrets. "She undid all of Lady Angelica's work, and once again legalized slavery once her mother was dead. She bore two kits, by my grandfather, a half-breed lion and cheetah by the name of Xyercies. Her first born was my father, Alzeer, then my aunt, Lady Helene. She died as a kit, but my father went on to rule this castle... and he's doing a cracker jack job of it too..." Hige said dryly, sarcasm dripping from his mouth live venom.
He smiled, a little proud of himself. "As the castle will be mine one day it is my job to keep records, so I read up on them often."
"I see." Keltrina said studying the painting. "You said she never took a mate because of a legend?" Keltrina added curiously.
Hige sighed. "Yes, my family is plagued by an illness... Me and Shadi are the only ones who show no hint of madness... Even Therra, at her young age, seems to have it..."
Therra snorted at her brother "Your going to get into trouble for telling family secrets! And don't you dare call me mad!" She spat.
"Shut up Therra, no one wants to listen to your ranting... lets go find Shadi, before she eats all the cookies again and gets sick!" Hige smiled, wanting to change the subject.
"Cookies?...where?!" Keltrina says looking around with eyes as big as dinner plates.
"Oh boy, she found out you guys have cookies." Sparkein says laughing watching Keltrina trying to figure out which way to the cookies.
Hige laughed loudly. "She'll have to battle my baby sister for them, Shadi isn't a fan of sharing her cookies, only with people she likes... well, lets go into the kitchen now, before they disappear..."
Therra piped in, following her brother into the kitchen, "A lady doesn't eat cookies... a lady eats only what she has too, so her figure doesn't chub up... like hers!" She pointed to a large table, that hid a very small kitten under it, with big green and brown eyes that said 'cuddle me please!.' She giggled and crawled out from under the table, and spoke through a mouthful of cookie. "Shadi missed you Hige!"