FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Rising Anew -Chapter 10, Old Enemies-

"He's close... i can feel him..." Papaw whispered to the snows as he stopped up ahead of the rest. He scanned the trees for the danger he knew was near at hand. Seeing nothing he turned and trotted back to his grandchildren.

"We have to pick up the speed, we are almost to the Glade." the old grey tiger urged.

"We are moving pretty quickly, we cant go much faster in this snow and we havent stopped in two and a half days Papaw." Narina replied grumpily "Why are you in such a hurry, is Purrma making blood cookies or something?"

Narcenac couldnt help but laugh. Everyone in their family knew that Papaw was a notorious theif when it came to Purrma's blood cookies. It was then that he caught the feirce seriousnous in his grandfathers eyes. Something was wrong. Something was agitating him and that put Narcenac in unease. Reaching down he checked the long dagger at his side. Looking over, he smiled to himself at the matching blade slung across Narina's shoulders. They were ok, after all, she meant enough to him to be worth fighting anyone or anything for.

***************

The trees made the ground seem inconvenient as the creature leaped. It saw no reason to trudge through the snow. After all, its prey was very formidable, and snow made noise. It wanted the element of suprise on its side.

Suddenly it stopped. "Damn... It's you Carnisian..." it cursed as it felt the scar along its ribs. "It's been too long my old foe... Let's see if you are still as spry as ever."

With a roar of hunger it moved at full speed. Jumping through the treetops as fleetingly as any squirrel.

***************

Turning with the realization that their pursuer was very close, Papaw shouted, "RUN!!! WE HAVE TO GET TO THE GLADE!!!"

Narina and Narcenac looked at one another and could see the worry in eachother's eyes. Together they grabbed Tarsus and sped through the snow. The white powder flew into the air behind their speeding paws as they fled that gruesome roar.

Papaw came bounding back, lifting the girl onto his shoulders and unsheathing his sword, he took stride with the two young tigers. The trees seemed to close in on them all as they ran. More roaring came from the blackness that filled the forest.

For the first time in his life, Narcenac felt that his running had purpose. He couldnt afford to die. He had a woman... She was all that mattered, he had to survive so that she could survive.

Narina saw the feirce determination in Narcenac's eyes and growled in confidence. If he could be strong, then she could too. Grabbing his paw, she sped along faster. They could face anything, as long as they were together. That was the bond she felt.

***************

"The Glade! Its past this next thicket!" Papaw encouraged. "We are almost ther..." he cut off as he saw what stood before them. His heart fell as they all stopped. He knew that this fight was coming... but he had wanted to avoid it.

"Hello Carnisian... Havent cut you up in a while." it growled.

Narcenac stood stock still, terrified at what he saw. The creature was massive. At least 8 feet tall. The curved ram horns curled back to its short stalky neck. Its red eyes burned with a hatred that could be felt physically. Its wolf muzzle was torn and ragged with scars from fights it had won. The long, shaggy, wooly, black and grey fur was only covered sparsely by peices of armour that looked stolen from different places. What was this monster.. It resembled a hideous mixture of a wolf and a ram.

"I knew it was you Marcerous... Your stinch is unforgettable..." Papaw replied with a feirce growl snaking through his voice.

"Do you remember the last time you crossed my blade Carnisian? You gave me something to remember you by." Marcerous said savagely as he drug his long curved claw along the scar on his ribcage.

"I remember... I should have let you die... You ungrateful wretch... Instead you killed my daughter as thanks for sparing your life.." Papaw roared at the beast. Lowering Tarsus to the ground, he took up a stance with his blade. Tarsus, terrified, but brave as ever drew her little dagger and imitated his roar. "Narcenac, Narina, take our little warrior here, i told you where to go, now go..." Papaw ordered quietly.

Narcenac started towards Tarsus when suddenly Marcerous slammed his blade down in the ground by his side.

"Be still little kitty, your grandfather is not who i am after. I want your blood, and that of your little slut here." Marcerous growled out at Narcenac.

Narcenac forgot his fear, and more importantly, forgot what his grandfather had told him to do. With a flash he drew the long dagger and held it a foot away from the creatures muzzle. The look of suprise he recieved was satisfying.

"Say one more thing about her, im begging you..." Narcenac whispered, squeezing the handle of his blade till his knuckles hurt.

"Narcenac! Do as you are told!" Papaw roared. He knew he had to get Narcenac away. He knew what the monster Marcerous was capable of and that Narcenac was no where near ready to handle him. He sighed in relief as Narcenac sheathed the blade and did as he had ordered. "Tell Purrma i want those cookies hot when i get home..." he said as they left with his goofy lopsided grin.

"Ooo Cookies! Tell her to save those little morsels for me after i tear your bastard grandfather to shreads you whelp!" Marcerous taunted after the tigers. He turned just in time to lift his blade as Carnisian's blade carved the air towards him. The resounding ring from the metals clashing filled the air.

"You still taunt instead of paying attention to the one you are fighting." Carnisian growled as he swiftly leapt back a few feet.

"Fighting? this is not a fight, a fight is between equals, and you were never my equal.." Marcerous retorted, bringing his big blade around, slashing at the tiger's side.

Carnisian fluidly parried the blow into the snow, spinning and catching his foe in the left side of the head. Had it not been for his horns, the blow would have knocked Marcerous senseless. Instead, it only angered him. With a roar of anger, the monsterous creature flung itself at the tiger.

Sparks lit the night as the two blades splashed the ringing tone of metal on metal into the air. Again and again the peel of blade on blade, each screaming for blood, rang out.

***************

Narcenac growled at himself as he ran with the girls. "I should have killed him... I should be with Papaw fighting..." he thought to himself. He kept his paw on the hilt of the dagger, ready for any more surprises. Narina had tears running down her cheeks and Narcenac knew why. He remembered when kids at their old highschool had called her slut and whore. It was a time before she had even began to explore. She had spent alot of time at his house crying into his pillows and talking to him about it.

The trio rushed off as the darkness surrounded them, masking them from the battle behind them. Only the moon remained to bear witness to the clashing foes.