|I would like to adopt!||Number|Three (3)
|Name|Atirasic
(Combination of Portuguese and Italian words for "Assassin")|Species|Eurasian Wolf
(Canis lupis lupis)|Personality|I am the assassin they all fear. I can make the most courageous and stoic of Lords beg. I can be cold, cruel, and calculating. I am silent, a ghost; I appear when needed and vanish when my job is done. This is not me. This is my facade.
I am a product of my past; a history full of pain and sadness, fear and bloodshed, tears and loneliness. My greatest achievements are my greatest failures. So ingrained in my ways, I feel I will never be free. I am the reluctant murderer.
|Likes|Thunderstorms - In a time when most creatures seek shelter, I sit alone. I watch the flashes in the grey sky and wonder why the the heavens are upset. I feel a kindred to them; both of us can take a life, but we can also restore it.
Sunrise - Sunrise means I have lived another night; it means I have another chance for freedom. It also reminds me, despite the pain in the world, there is still beauty to be found.
Hunting - The only part of killing I enjoy. The rush of chasing down prey is one that never gets old, no matter if I’m chasing a rabbit, or my target.
|Dislikes|Leopards - They are nothing more than haughty beasts, unfit for any use. They would much rather have others do the work for them, as they laze about. I fear a world run by leopards. I refuse to be a slave to a beast such as them. I would rather die.
|Song|Iridescent by Linkin Park
|Background|At least, that is what they see. That is what they want me to be. I am an assassin, with no side in this war. I come, I kill, I am paid, I move on. Simple. I have been paid in food, shelter, and even a mate. A mate I miss. But I cannot go back. I must keep moving. I have a calling to fulfil.
I never wanted to become this. A monster, good only for taking the lives of those who may not even deserve it. I take the word of those who hire me, and ask no questions other than what will help me kill them. The only time in which I do not feel like the murderer I am is during the sunrise. Beauty, though difficult to find in this world, still exists. It is something that keeps me going.
“You! Wolf!”
A cry breaks me from my revarie. I bow my head, before turning, giving the creature a dark look, my features stoic, as I have trained them to be. I watch as the leopard approaches, head held high. Insufferable beasts, leopards were. Just my luck one would want to talk to me.
“I am a messanger to the Great and Powerful Lord Eyktan,” the leopard rumbles in it’s deep, growling voice, “I am seeking a wolf by the name of Atirasic. Have you heard of this wolf?”
“I have,” I speak softly, my eyes displaying my disdain for the haughty leopard before me.
“Do you know where I can find him, then, wolf? This is an urgent matter,” the leopard gave me a look, one I could easily read: “I-am-better-than-your-worthless-self.” Have I yet mentioned how much I hated leopards?
“You already have, leopard,” I stood, proud and tall, inwardly reveling in the startled expression the beast now wore.
The leopard gathered himself quickly, “My apologies, Atirasic. I merely assumed a wolf of your...occupation...wouldn’t sit out in the open like this.”
“I take my chances, leopard. Death does not frighten me. Now, I believe your Lord is awaiting us. Shall you do your duty properly, now?”
I brushed past the beast, catching his angry scowl and smiling to myself. Maybe leopards weren’t all bad.
We traveled North, arriving at the leopards’ den by sundown. I ignored my companion for most of the journey, much to the beast’s annoyance. As we walked through the camp, I could feel hostile looks burning my skin; it was no secret that the leopards hated wolves, especially after the mass killing of most of the army. However, I pretended to not notice the glares, instead following the messenger to Eyktan’s own den.
The Lord sat, his most loyal generals, seated around a claw drawn map, battle plans I assumed. I stayed standing and silent as the messenger bowed his head and murmured, “My Lord Eyktan, I come bearing good.”
The Lord turned, regarding the messenger for a moment, then looking up at myself. The cold eyes stared into my own; I could almost feel my heart freeze. His gaze returned to the bowing servant after a moment, looking pleased.
“You have done well, Sykio. Matulis, make sure he recieves extra meat as a reward for his excellent performance.”
“As you wish, My Lord,” the leopard to the left of the Lord growled, leading the messenger and the generals away, leaving me with Eyktan, and the beast I could only assume was the infamous General Skaarn.
“I have been looking forward to meeting you; the one most Lords fear. For good reason, as I have learned. You do excellent work,” Eyktan started, giving me the same breezily pleased look he had given the messenger. Skaarn eyed me with disdain. I stayed silent.
“You do not speak much,” the Lord observed. I nodded my head slightly, “May I ask why?”
“Why waste words when I have nothing to say?” I replied, my voice and features stoic. Emotion was dangerous.
“Smart wolf,” Eyktan remarked to the general beside him, “Possibly the first I’ve met. Now, let us get down to business. Have you ever killed a Lord, Assassin Atirasic?”
“Minor lords, yes,” I replied quietly, watching the duo’s movements.
“Excellent. How much do you know about the Lord of the Cheetahs, then?”
I furrowed my brows, thinking, coming up with a name, “Togo?” The leopard Lord looked even more pleased.
“Indeed. You see, I have deemed him a traitor, along with all the cheetahs under his command. My army set out to exterminate this problem a few moons ago, but Togo escaped, badly injured. I want you to find him and take care of him.”
“What do I recieve in return?” I asked, eyeing the lord.
“Pack lands. A safe place for you, and your mate, to live, under my protection. There is an alpha-less pack living there. It’s yours if you complete your mission.”
I considered the offer. I could finally have a home with the mate I missed dearly. We wouldn’t be hunted for my crimes. We could finally raise a family.
“I accept.”
“Good...you shall leave at sunrise.”
_|_|_|_|_|_
I ran, my tongue lolling from my mouth, the sounds of snarling and roaring behind me. I had been tricked. I was a fool. Now I had condemned an innocent male to die by the claws of a brutal beast.
Let me backtrack.
I had left at sunrise, tracking the wounded cheetah through the grasslands and forest, spending days following a looping scent. Togo must have known Eyktan would send someone after him, so, he attempted to throw off the trail. However, I was used to this type of tracking, most of my targets used it.
It had been three suns when I discovered him.
He sat, looking old and tired, wounds covering his once proud body. He watched me approach, his eyes informing me of his acceptance to his fate.
“You’ve come to kill me, haven’t you, wolf?” his words were matter-of-fact, throwing me off. Most of my targets begged for mercy. I wasn’t used to this.
“I indeed have been sent, Lord Togo. You must pay for your crimes.”
“I have committed no crimes against Eyktan. To others, I shall agree, but against Eyktan, I committed no crime other than trusting him.”
I cocked my head, watching the cheetah return my gaze.
“I assume Eyktan told you I am a traitor. Lies. I did everything he ordered flawlessly. In his mind he has deemed all beasts besides his precious leopards unworthy of living. He has done it to the wolves, and now the cheetahs. I should have listened to that tigress earlier...” the last part of his statement was directed at himself, but I didn’t mind, I was mulling over the Lord’s other words. It made sense with everything I had heard of Eyktan.
“You may even be next, wolf. Eyktan keeps no promises, unless they are to himself.”
“Ignore his lies, assassin. Kill him,” a growling, rough, angry voice joined us, making me turn. Skaarn stepped through the brush, watching me with a hard glare, “Kill him like you were ordered to do.”
I looked at the cheetah, before looking back at Skaarn. I didn’t know how many innocent lives I had taken before, but I refused to add one more to the count, “No.”
Togo’s head snapped to look at me, wise eyes startled; Skaarn snarled, baring his teeth, “Do not defy Eyktan, wolf.”
“I refuse to kill an innocent. He has done nothing.”
“That is not for you to decide. Now, kill him, before I kill you for treason,” Skaarn growled, his claws digging into the soil below; I stood tall.
“No.”
The next thing I knew a roar split through the air, Skaarn leaping forward. I braced for the tackle.
It never came.
Instead, Skaarn was intercepted by the injured Lord of the Cheetahs, the two breaking into an all out fight. I stood, unsure of what to do; I could not go back to Eyktan, as he obviously meant for me to be killed. I backed away, stopping when Togo looked at me, fury in his eyes.
“Go, wolf! Run from here! Find the Lord of the Zionds, help him. Tell him Togo sent you, as his dying wish. Go!”
I turned and ran.
Thus leading to my current predicament. I ran until my legs gave out, collapsing in the tall grasses that bordered the forest. I could no longer hear the fight. I knew the cheetah lord stood no chance. The lord had given his life for me, now it was time for me to repay his favor. I had to find the Ziond Lord.
I looked up, watching the sunrise. I had survived another night.
|Characters Mentioned|Eyktan - Lord of the Leopards
Skaarn - Leopard General, and second-in-command
Togo - Lord of the Cheetahs
Ja'Mai - Lord of the Zionds
