A Tail of Romance and Friendship Book 1 chapter 2: First blood Second Kin Third pain

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~~~~~~(((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?"