.:|ηєw єαятн|:. (chapter 4 up)

[Charias]

This is just a story that's been brewing in my head for a few days. If you read it, can you comment saying whether it's good or not, please? It's just a bit of fun. Enjoy!

ιηтяσ∂ucтιση
It's been 500 years since the humans left. No one knows where they went or what happened to them; they just disappeared, leaving no trace. Some believe they were all killed by disease, others believed they left when the natural resources, which they depended so much on, ran dry.

They left their planet, their legacy, to whoever could claim it. Vicious wars are still fought over the right to be dominant. Two species battle for the right to call the Earth their own: the dogs, and the cats.

These animals, however, are not anything like how you will remember them. Hundreds of years of cross-breeding and mutation have made them bigger, stronger, more intelligent, and, surprisingly, more human.

∂σɢƨ
Shadowfang ~ Main character ~ Brave, loyal and wise adolescent
Blackfang ~ Shadowfang's father, Darklight's mate, alpha-male ~ Aggressive, stubborn and narrow-minded
Darklight ~ Shadowfang's mother, Blackfang's mate, alpha-female ~ Placid and wise, but a deadly fighter and unmatched hunter
Mudrock ~ Redrock's brother ~ Very close to his sister, was abandoned as a pup, loves hunting
Redrock ~ Mudrock's sister ~ Very close to her brother, was abandoned as a pup, loves hunting
Greytail ~ Willowtail's father, Hazeldust's mate ~ Watches for cats during the night, hunts during the day
Willowtail ~ Greytail and Hazeldust's daughter ~ One of the fighters
Hazeldust ~ Greytail's mate, Willowtail's mother ~ One of the fighters
Timberpaw ~ Loner that joined the pack ~ One of the fighters


cαтƨ
Eclipse ~ Main character ~ Calm, intelligent and agile, said to have strange powers like her mother
Skydawn ~ Eclipse's mother, Kakitu's mate ~ Kind and loving, can heal others
Kakitu ~ Eclipse's father, Skydawn's mate ~ One of the fighters, dislikes hunting
Leopard ~ Clan leader, Heidi's mate, Reyani and Aisatu's father ~ Agile and sneaky, a good hunter and fighter
Heidi ~ Leopard's mate, Reyani and Aisatu's mother, Clouded and Rita's sister ~ Thoughtful, quiet and shy
Rita ~ Heidi and Clouded's sister ~ Her mate was killed in battle, she has kittens
Clouded ~ Rita and Heidi's brother ~ A loner, doesn't really help the clan, just tries to stay out of the way
Reyani ~ Leopard and Heidi's daughter, Aisatu's sister ~ Playful and fun loving young cat, wants to be a fighter
Aisatu ~ Leopard and Heidi's daughter, Reyani's sister ~ The opposite of her sister, Reyani is peaceful and calm, and hates fighting

[AshtonLAT]

It sounds interesting, I can't wait to read the actual story

[Charias]

~ ƨнα∂σwғαηɢ ~
The blazing amber sun hung low in the fuchsia streaked sky, shimmering behind the stygian silhouettes of the forest. Loons yodeled atop the calm, placid lake. Songbirds warbled harmoniously from their secretive roosts in the coppice. It was beautiful. I could almost smell the freedom in the crisp autumn air. This was my chance.

I watched as Greytail retired from his post at the edge of the forest clearing; he slumped exhaustedly onto the dry, cold dirt with a sigh. The other dogs still snoozed.

I climbed up onto my four steady paws, and took a vigil stance: Redrock snored loudly, then rolled onto her back in her sleep; Blackfang snarled viciously in his dreams, snapping his fang-lined jaws in anger; all dogs were still deep in their sleep.

I took my chance, darting into the sun-draped forest, the brumal zephyr buffeting my furry muzzle. I raced with the wind, letting myself become immersed in the rush of sprinting through the turbulent wilderness; the peaceful forest in which I bounded so joyously between the swaying spruce. Startled grouse flurried into the deep blue dawn as I charged past them. Branches snapped under my fleeting feet, pine needles and crispy leaves crunching under my swift paws. I felt so free, so wild. I slowed to a halt and basked in the beauteous calm of the thicket.

I breathed in deeply the hiemal boreal air. I knew I would get punished when I went back to our territory, but it was worth it to feel so relaxed. I felt like I was finally home, where I belonged, away from the stress and bother of the colony. Here I was unrestricted, like us dogs were supposed to be. We were supposed to live carefree lives, playing and hunting and chasing our tails like we didn't know better. That's how it was when I was a pup. Everything was so fun, nothing was serious or strict.

I flinched. In the distance... I could hear something running. It padded across the undergrowth, panting. I could hear its hurried breath faintly. It was getting closer. I crouched low in the leaf-litter, not allowing myself to breathe.

Into the clearing something cautiously crept, it's long tail swaying behind it. It's pale features stood out clearly in the caliginous forest. It was... beautiful. It was so graceful and elegant in it's purposeful strides. I shuffled in the short ferns. The creature saw me. It gazed at me with it's soulful aquamarine eyes. What was this animal, that stood before me? I held back a gasp as I was struck by sudden realization. It was a cat.

[AshtonLAT]

Wow, that's really good, I'm definitely bookmarking this!

[Charias]

:D Wow, that's really good, I'm definitely bookmarking this!

Thanks so much!!! Yay, I'm so happy!!! Yay yay yay yay yay!!!

[Ourpawprints]

can I be a stalker. I love this! It is so well written and interesting and just amazing!

[Charias]

can I be a stalker. I love this! It is so well written and interesting and just amazing!

Thanks! That means so much to me!

[Charias]

~ єclιρƨє ~
I froze in shock as I became aware of the huge, bulky figure that was watching me. He was crouched in the shadows, as if trying to be sly, but his presence was obvious. He climbed slowly to his feet, not once taking his apprehensive eyes away from me. He was nervous, but I was too. He seemed just as curious as I was. He tilted his hefty head to one side.

I knew what he was: a dog, the enemy of the cats, possibly a killer; I just couldn't fathom this gentle-eyed canine hurting anyone. He seemed just as confused as I was, just as entranced, just as wary, and he was beautiful, too. His long, flowing fur fell perfectly across his muscular figure, amplifying his strength. He was streaked with intriguing, seemingly impossible patterns: azure, ash and white; and his eyes - they were so soft and delicate, ice-blue eyes. They seemed almost... mystical. They weren't at all like how I would imagine dog eyes to be. I could never imagine these dog eyes to be aggressive or malicious, they were too wise for that.

I didn't quite know what to do. The tension was building. One of us would have to move... eventually. I couldn't move; I wouldn't move. As much as I wanted to, my body refused my commands. I tried to look away, but I couldn't. It was like I was hypnotized. I couldn't stand it any longer. My legs began to quiver. The dog was still staring at me. I was still staring back at him. Neither of us moved. The tension in the air was so heavy now, it was crushing me. I couldn't take it any more.

I sprinted away into the thick forest before the dog could even notice I was gone. I ran as fast as I could, my long legs proving swifter than I imagined. All I could hear was my short breaths, my padded paws floating across the ground and the algid chinook that was gusting past my ears. I felt the gnarled trees flash by as I paced rapidly back to the camp.

Was the dog following me? I was too scared to look. I soon tired, however, and slowed to a halt, praying that the dog had not been stalking me. I cautiously glanced over my shoulder and sighed in relief. There was no dog in sight. I allowed myself to enjoy a steady trot back home once I was sure it was safe. Phew.

[Charias]

~ ƨнα∂σwғαηɢ ~
I stood in awe, not knowing what to do with myself. My mouth was ajar, my eyes wide. One thought repeated itself in my mind: how could we kill those beautiful animals? They weren't evil at all. They were just like us. I had always been taught that cats were mindless, soulless monsters; and I had been taught that our fighters were doing the right thing - killing them. How could none of the other dogs see that they didn't need to die? I guess dogs were - and are - famous for their narrow-mindedness, but how could they be so stubborn as to not believe their own eyes, and their own hearts? I was overwhelmed by the sudden burden of guilt, anger, amazement, sadness and shock. I hung my head, suddenly depressed, and allowed myself a whimper while no one was around.

My melancholy was interrupted by a bellowing, distraught howl. "Fang, where are you?" I recognized that distressed ululate; it was my mother - Darklight. I bellowed in acknowledgement, "I'm here mother! I'm coming home!"

I ambled on in utter dysphoria, sadness and guilt festering in every fibre of my being. The forest that had been so joyful and free before now seemed like a cage, enveloping me in anguish and pain.

Weakly and wearily traipsing between the towering birch trees, I tried to ignore the musky scent that affronted my nares, but as it got stronger I couldn't evade it. The heavy scent of dog hung in the air. I could recognize a few of the dogs' odours: I could smell Willowtail, Timberpaw, Hazeldust, Mudrock and Redrock. I couldn't recall all of the scents, however. I was confused - why was there such a big gathering of dogs?

I barked to them, "Hey! I'm here!" Willowtail, iconic in her burnt sienna, blood-matted coat, strode into view. "There you are Fang. I've been looking everywhere for you!" She replied cheerfully. I shot her a perplexed glance. "You have no idea what's going on, do you?" she asked, smirking. I was about to reply with no, but I guess my expression answered the question before my mouth did. "You're going to war, pup." I cocked my head in confusion and shock. "What did you just say, Willow?" I tried to suppress a whimper. "You heard me." She barked, and with that, Willowtail let out a bellowing howl, beckoning dozens of dogs out of the shadows. I let out a sigh under my breath, "I don't want to fight..."

[Charias]

~ єclιρƨє ~
"What are you doing here?" Kakitu, my father, snarled. "You know it's dangerous to be out here alone! What if you saw a dog? It would rip you to shreds!" He was in a rage, his dark orange fur bristling on his back like a porcupine's quills.

"But dad, I did-" I tried to explain, but I was cut off once again by his ranting, his venomous beryl eyes radiating fury and frustration.

I glanced around at the army-like gathering of felines that crowded the borders of our territory, and decided it would be a good way to change the subject.

"What's with all the cats, dad? Is something going on?" I inquired curiously, masking my radiant face in innocent beauty in a way only a cat could. My father didn't buy it, and immediately barked that it was none of my business. Nothing was ever my business - all everyone wanted to do was keep me safe. It was getting annoying. I couldn't go anywhere alone, I had strict rules that I had to adhere to or I would get punished. Severely. It was stupid - none of the other cats had to live with such stern - and boring - rules. Perhaps the worst part of all was that nobody told me what was happening. Ever. I'm not as fragile as everyone seems to believe I am. I can fight just as well as any other cat.

It was obvious what was happening, however. I could easily work out from such a gathering of our fighters that there was going to be - well - a fight. And with how seriously everyone was treating it, I could pretty much estimate who we were fighting against too: the dogs. That thought dragged my mind back to that dog. Surely they weren't all like that? Surely the dogs were evil. Why would we be fighting them otherwise?

I could remember exactly his perfect ice-blue eyes, how harmless they seemed; and he had not chased me either. If he was evil, he would have chased me, and probably caught me and killed me too; but he didn't. But all dogs couldn't be like that, could they? It disturbed me. A lot. That dog... he wasn't really a dog. He was a cat, but he looked like a dog. He had the heart and the soul of a cat, but I couldn't escape the fact that he was a dog. Were they all like that: just cats, that looked a bit different, and acted a bit different? They couldn't be. If that were true, then our fighters today would not be killing savages, but mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. What if the dogs were just like us: scared, confused, only wanting to protect their family? And we were killing them as beasts. As monsters.

I had to do something about it, but what? I was just a cat, most treated me like I was still a kitten. Why would they listen to my ludicrous ideas? I sighed. Whether I spoke up or not, this war was going to happen. Today. Maybe tomorrow too. And it would keep going and going until one of us finally found the sense to do something about it. I knew then that I would have to fix this. I would have to make it right. But I couldn't do it alone.

I crept away into the shadowy forest. I had to fix this, but first, I had to see what I was up against.