Number: 10
Picture:
Name: Kaken { in her native language, it means; 'Child Under the Storm's Protection' }
Species: Jackal / Protector of the God(s)
Personality: Used to be a very doubtful little animal. She doubted her own strength, her pack's strength, everyone and everything around her. She wasn't curious or exited, but always worried and frightened. Always looking to the darker moments of life, never creating any happy memories. Most tended to avoid her, so it caused her to spend many summers alone under the shade of a tree, watching them hunt. Her own parents are still alive, but claim to have never reared their own children.
This, though, doesn't make her depressed, before anyone gets this thought. She likes running, talking, and relaxing under the sun's rays. Most of all, she likes to observe the other animals in the shrub, and will spend hours talking to the local Elephant about the coming rains. She feels more alive when she isn't with her own kind for some reason or another. It's just easier for her.
Likes: Nothing much in particular. She likes the shade of green in the tree's leaves, and the sound of lions roaring in the afternoon, sleeping under the stars and talking to the other local animals.
Dislikes: Much everything else. Mostly the color of the sunset. She also hates humans, just doesn't trust them. Or, for that matter, anything that attempts to get too close to her. It's alright if she approaches you, but it's not alright if you approach her.
Background: “Why are you doing this to me?!” Kaken screamed as her own pack circled her like she was prey. They snapped at her feet and spat in her face. They all chuckled as if the sight of her, terrified out of her mind, was the funniest thing they had ever seen. “Because you are worthless, Kaken. You are no use to the pack if you have feelings of doubt against us.” The leader of the attack explained. She turned to him, when suddenly she yipped.
One of the subordinates launched onto her back and tore into the back of her neck and only missed a major vein by inches. Kaken squealed and attempted to roll but it was useless as the rest leapt and started tearing at her. They scratched at her stomach and legs and bit into her with their razor fangs. She was helpless and could only flail as the continued her tortured death. “Please help me!” She yowled as they jumped and knocked the wind out of her. She scrambled when she saw a break and managed to crawl a few inches before they pounced again and pinned her to the ground on her stomach, their paws on her shoulders and hind hips, holding her there.
The leader came by and opened his massive jaws for a killing bite, and Kaken closed her eyes, but no feeling of death did come. She slumped and started panting heavily, blood pouring like a river from the wounds. When she managed to open her eyes, she saw her packs members slowly letting go of her and trotting a few feet back. Their eyes glowed white and they stood as still as statues. She winced as pain shot up her, and she knew life was inching away like a beetle. Her breathing slowed and everything seemed to darken, when a snake slithered up to her casually and snaked up her nearly unrecognizable body. The…the snake did this? She thought.
“I can save you.” It suddenly hissed in her ear, twining its body around her neck. She gave an impulsive shudder to the voice and its harshness. The snake seemed to chuckle, tip of her tail flicking at Kaken’s nose. The Jackal was doubtful and scared. This snake has fangs of venom, and a body of mussel, and above all, she had powers, powers Kaken had never seen before, or even heard of in stories. “My name is Hebbi, and I am a god.” It smoothed.
At that, Kaken jumped, and regretted it. A deep gash in her side thudded with pain and all along here the rips and tears in her flesh pulsed more and more blood. Every second she felt weaker, and her vision would slur. Her breathing was coming out as ragged gasps and sputters. “Y-” she struggled to say, “-you are no-no god.” But Kaken doubted her own words. The evidence was standing only feet away from her in the form of her hypnotized pack, who still stood straight, eyes blinking a white and jaws hanging open.
Hebbi laughed this time and constricted tighter on Kaken’s neck. She let out a whimper. “Please…end this torment.” She started to plead. “Just kill me…” Her voice faded into a whisper. At this, Hebbi looked slightly alarmed. “My child!” She said hastily. “I promise glory, pride, strength, speed and intelligence. You will no longer feel the wrath of others as a second-hand predator. You will be a god with me! I will stop all the pain forever. Just make a contract with me!” Her voice began to crack, as she knew if Kaken didn’t make a contract, her one hope would be gone. Such easy prey would have slipped her grasp.
Life glitching from her, Kaken’s mind began to swirl, when the survival instinct kicked in. Her body didn’t want to die, it wanted to live, to fight, to survive. Mind over mind, she managed to say five final words. “I…will…make…a…contract…” And with that, her last breath escaped her. Hebbi stared in shock, but then burst with the humor of triumph. She opened her mouth and bit deeply into the corpse, letting poison run freely through the cold veins.
There was a pause, when Kaken sucked in air and began to gasp. She blinked her eyes and she flexed her paws. It’s a miracle! She thought, and slowly shifted. A burning feeling came over her, and she rounded to see what was wrong, but saw all her wounds were slowly sealing closed. And the pain, it was all going away. Hebbi let go of her neck and slithered away from her, but then turned. “The contract has been made, my dear. We are now partners. Fair is fair. I saved your life, and now you shall forever protect mine.” She said.
Kaken nodded blankly, but started as her beautiful hazel fur started seeping orange and green, spots appearing over her. She leapt up in surprise and began to walk in a circle, as If she were chasing her tail. As soon as her fur stopped fizzing and her new appearance radiated in the sunlight, she turned to Hebbi and frowned. “So, I must protect you? Like a body guard?” She asked. Hebbi nodded and snaked up to her, coiling around her leg and to her back. “And you must do what I say, so I may get back to the other gods.” She added.
The Jackal thought over it for a moment, but then nodded. “Agreeable. But, what about…” She trailed off, motioning to the pack around her. “Oh, they will snap out of it eventually. I suggest getting a move on, though you are now linked to my magic. You’ll learn more about it later on through your now immortal life.” Hebbi replied casually. Kaken smiled and then silently started trotting away from the scene, realizing this might just have been the luckiest day of her life.
Little did she know that Hebbi wasn’t the god she had in mind. Oh no. Not a god of the sky, but a god of the underworld.
EDIT: She's not the only "Protector of the God(s)", as there are more. They are also jackals, and they also look exactly like her.
Hebbi said: "I promise glory, pride, strength, speed and intelligence."
The black tip on the tail with the white band represents her strength and difference from the others of her species.
The cheetah-like spots on her pelt signify speed.
The speckles on her forehead show her intelligence.
The gold on her pelt shows glory. The green shows pride.
