Tough as Nails Adoption (Closed for renovations!)

[Captain Kaycee]

D: I saw someone post for the tribal! I guess I'll have to post what I have, and come back to edit it later. I'm still working, though it might take me the weekend to finish o.o;;
Anyone know when this finishes? Oh, and Spotty, if a Smili was in a dense rainforest where rarely any light shown, would that work for his light colour? :3

[Spotty]

Most often a smili will grow up in a colour similar to it's enviroment. A light smili will probably live in the mountains or the grasslands/savanna, a white or bluish one in snow, a dark one in dense forest. The regular brown ones are taiga forest type. Mostly. There are always exceptions of course.
It obviously doesn't apply to the albino smili though, it lacks colouration completly and would grow up the same anywhere.

Um, take all further smili questions to the smili thread and I'll be happy to answer. I just don't want to spam TaN more than necessary.

[MirrorMask]

Just wonder is my backround ok that I ended it in a cliffhanger.

[Captain Kaycee]

I would like to adopt!
Number: 8
Picture:
Name: Tai Kaliso (Tah-lee Kah-lee-so)
Species: Smili
Personality: Tai was very close to his father as well as his grandfather, and seems to have attributed most of their personalities. He is really a gentle giant when it comes to his tribal appearance. He also has a meditative side to him, in which he had acquired from spending most of his young life (3-6 years old) with his grandfather. He also has a strong hatred towards humans and how they seem to destroy everything they come in contact with.
Likes: Irohma Island, His Grandfather, Large rainforests, His Tribe.
Dislikes: Humans, Grasslands, Union of Independent Republics (UIR), watching fellow Smili’s die.
Background:
Irohma Island Rainforest; 1 day before the UIR attack
--
A small smili jumped up into a tree, gazing down at the small animal below. It was a rainforest creature that had stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time. The smili gazed down at the small creature, wrapping his long tail around the branch to keep from stumbling around on the branch. The creature below was sitting on his back paws, nibbling happily on a little berry that he had found in the rainforest.
You won’t be happy for long, the smili thought, bringing out his claws and quietly grasping the large tree branch. The impact would surely kill the creature, but sometimes a little extra punch made the kill more fun.
Suddenly the smili pounced off of the tree limb from the weight of his tail and flew through the air for a brief second before landing on top of the creature and digging his extended claws into its fur. The tiny animal let out a small squeak of pain before going limp and eventually having its blood run cold.
“Much better,” the smili growled, picking up the creature in his mouth and heading back towards the tribe. This was his last day to impress his grandfather and gain his tribal tattoos. He was nearly 8 years old and he still hadn’t gotten his markings yet. Most of the cubs from his litter had already gotten their tattoos, and it made him feel guilty for not impressing the rest of his family. I must do this. I can’t let my family down, the smili thought while he headed towards the direction of his tribe. All he had to do was prove his worth, and by that he had to prove his might to his father.
He had to defeat him in battle.

Irohma Island Tribe; 1 day before the UIR attack
--
The smili padded through the large overgrown bushes that led into the tribe’s clearing. He was still holding the creature that he had killed earlier, and glanced around as some of the other smiles’ glanced at him. He noticed that his grandfather, the tribe’s chieftain, was standing at the middle of the tribe. The grey hairs on his mane, chin, and tail were starting to be a little more noticeable. The chief nodded once, then motioned for the smili to walk forward.
“Seems you have caught your final prey of the day, Tai Kaliso,” his grandfather told him, letting Tai put the creature down in front of him. “Indeed I have Grandfather,” Tai replied, bowing his head to his grandpa. The chieftain nodded in return, and then glanced around the tribe. “Hala! Hala ne kieiko!” he yelled throughout the camp, which made Tai lift his head up in surprise. ‘Hala’ meant group meeting, and ‘kieiko’ meant fighting for honour.
The battle is going to be today, he thought, his claws scraping the soft dirt. He was itching with anticipation, and he was pretty sure his father felt the same way. He loved his father, though after his mother died he was never the same. He was that gruff, self-disciplined smili that wished to fight whenever needed.
Most of the tribe surrounded around Tai and his grandfather, although his father was nowhere to be seen. Tai let out an irritated sigh while he paced back and forth. “I must get this. I must,” he mumbled to himself, but suddenly stopped pacing when he heard a low voice in the crowd. “Indeed you must, although you need to defeat me in battle in order to,” his father grumbled, letting the spectating smilis move out of his way so he could face his son.
Tai stared at his father with a burning flame in his eye. He wouldn’t let himself lose to him. This was his last chance to prove his might, to prove that he wasn’t useless to the tribe. His father glared at him through ice blue eyes, the same that his son had. “
“One-on-one battle between generations,” Tai’s grandfather announced to the tribe, standing on a rock that separated each side of the smili-made circle. Tai was on the right side, and his father on the other. “Each smili will prove his might by fighting until one cannot fight any longer. We will not have death in this camp. The rules are simple: Once one smili is pinned down by the other and that smili cannot get up, then the other smili is the victor. Do you both understand?” he asked, glancing at each of them.
“More than ready,” Tai growled, baring his large fangs at his father. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins as he put his tail high in the air and hissed loudly. His father stood up from sitting with his tail around his paws, and nodded towards his own father. “Indeed,” he muttered through his teeth, putting his paws in front of him and getting into the same stance as his son. “On my mark...” the grandfather chieftain yelled, raising his paw into the air. Tai glared his father, his body weight towards the ground so he could spring on his right when the fight started. “Datesda!” his grandfather yelled, meaning fight.
Both smilis ran at each other, Tai pouncing up into the air and landing right on top of his father. His claws dug through his fur and into his flesh, though his father snarled and rolled on the ground, knocking his son off for the moment. Tai bounced back up and wacked his father in the face with his tail as he turned around; then scraped his father’s face with his right paw. Blood was now dripping from his father’s face, mainly just above his eyes and below the little part of his mane that he had on his head. Tai let out a low growl, zipping to his father’s side and racing into him.
They both went flying into the dirt, each of them trying to get a hold on each other. His father happened to claw Tai’s right shoulder, which took a piece of fur out. Tai hissed in pain, though he quickly got back up and grabbed his father by the neck with his teeth. His large fangs cut slightly into the neck’s flesh, which let him get a good grip. He threw his father onto the dirt, trying to run the best he could to dig his front paws into his father’s right shoulder and ribcage. His father yowled in pain, though he was too weak to try and pry Tai off of him.
Tai’s grandfather jumped off his rock and went to look slightly at Tai’s father. He was limp, although he was still breathing. “The winner of this fight goes to Tai Kaliso! From this moment forward, he will be known as De makate’ rudo, the fire warrior!” he announced, lifting his front paws into the air. The crowd roared in approval, some of them lifting their tail happily into the air. Tai retracted his claws and stood off his father, while the tribe healers came out of the crowd and picked him up. They picked him up and headed into one of the cave rock formations, apparently going to tend to his wounds. “Tai Kaliso, you will be receiving your markings today, as well as become a full-fledged warrior. Are you ready?” he asked, glancing over at Tai. He lifted his head up from the ground as if he were bowing, and nodded slightly. “Yes, Grandfather. I am,” he muttered, closing his eyes for a brief moment. This was the day he had been waiting for. The day that he would earn his tribal markings and finally earn his right in the tribe.
“Done’a fala haru!” his grandfather yelled, summoning a few smilis from the shadows of the bushes. One of them had a rock that was cut deep in the middle and had black paint in the center. The smili held the paint rock by its tail, apparently also keeping the liquid from spilling. Most of the smili crowd were still hanging around to see the ceremony. It was an honour to see a smili get their tribal markings in the tribe, especially if they had defeated their own father to get them.
Three smilis circled around Tai. One was by his tail, another by his front legs, and finally one in front of his face. They each looked close to being an elder, and one of them even had a few grey hairs on his mane and chin. Tai stood as still as possible as each of them dipped their paws in the black ink and started to create symbols on his fur. The ink was made by a small black plant in the rainforest, and no matter how hard you tried to scrub off the ink that the plant held inside, it wouldn’t come off. Tai closed his ice blue eyes to keep from having the ink in his eyes, as well as take the minute to think.
I’ve done so much to earn this, and now I’m getting them. I’m known as De makate’ rudo because of my quick speed; I have a burning passion for my tribe as well as whenever I’m fighting. Thank you great spirits for this, Tai thought to himself as if he was praying. He believed that there were spirits who kept the rainforest and his tribe alive. He knew that a spirit will leave its body when it is time, but not always in death. If a smili was captured by the humans or the body becomes like a prison for the spirit, then it will escape to the rainforest. Then the body would follow soon after into the soil and become one with the earth once more.
Tai’s grandfather’s voice broke his thinking, and soon he realized that the smilis had finished their work on Tai’s new markings. “The ceremony is complete! Tai, for this night you must leave the tribe and go into the rainforest on your own. Are you ready to do this?” he asked, gazing at Tai with his ancient eyes. “Yes, I am,” Tai replied, bowing his head and turning around. The smilis spread apart to allow him to enter the forest... alone.
“And one more thing, Tai Kaliso!” his grandfather yelled from behind him. “You must journey to the mountains on the other side of this island, and go to the dormant volcano there. Pay your respects, then venture back here,” he said, then swiped away with his tail and headed into the smili crowd. Tai stood there for a moment to process it all, then nodded and headed into the rainforest. This is going to be a loooong night, Tai thought as he disappeared into the trees.

~~~
Oh, and I should explain what the UIR is. It's short for Union of Independent Republics, which is actually a group that are like poachers, although they only go after Smili's. It's alike a secret group that nobody in the world really knows about. They actually put experiments on Smili's and torture them, though most of it is for their own pleasure and curiousity than science. Just in case if I'm not able to finish the story in time when the requests close... ^_^;;

Another thing since I doubt I will be able to finish by Thursday... o.o;
Tai was born in the volcanic regions that he's actually going to go to by the end of the first part. He stayed in a cave for most of his 1st year and kept in the dar, since his father would hunt and gather for Tai and his mother.They were originally a small family that disbanded from the Irohma Tribe, but once Tai's mother died his father took Tai to the tribe to try and 'bond' with other smilis. Since Tai was so high up in the mountains and he was mainly in the dark cave for most of his life, his fur is a light colour. Also, when he refers to 'the litter' or the 'cubs from his litter' he means the smilis that are around his same age. He was actually an only-cub. ^_^

I'm still working on this, though here's Tai's story so far. I still have to get to the attack and when he comes back from the mountains, though so far here's the story. ^_^

[amato]

(Sorry, it didnt say it couldnt be changed, but ill go fix it.)

[Shiko Hayashi]

((It was edited! UPDATE! Lero was briefly visited for the first time by the demon sealed inside him, getting a taste of what a fraction of it's power feels like. The demon saved his life, only to almost control him. Then some sort of spirit pushes back the demon, dissolving the power of the demon and filling him with warmth and softness. Lero, thankful, finds out that the beautiful Leora came to his rescue before the demon took control of him. Now utterly exhausted, questions form in his head. Why did Leora save him? Why is Etrius so tense whenever he mentions her? And will the demon escape again and succeed in his quest to control Lero? ))

I would like to adopt!
Number: 5
Picture:
Name: Lero Dux
Species: Blind Smili
Other: Deep within Lero lies a powerful demon that threatens to break through his chains at any random moment if lero's rage takes over him.
Personality: Lero is a calm and collected. His face is grim sometimes, making him seem like a scary guy. But other times, he's smart, wise, intelligent, and if not a bit stubborn. He likes to be on the side lines, where he can easily leap at the leader and claw him to shreds in a mass war. But besides the point, he's sort of like an adviser. Wise, calm, and a pain in anyone's rear if they mess with him. But he's also curious and is found asking questions no one else thinks about that bring up other opinions. But the only flaw of him is his quick temper that flare sup at the mention of his odd mark. Thus, making him a danger to anyone around him with the demon within him, waiting to pounce at it's first chance to escape and wreak havoc before it must once again return to Lero and the endless slumber.
Likes: Lero loves the ocean and the season of Autumn. He loves painting beautiful pictures of the ocean and forest and such. He's very skilled for someone who's blind. He's an amazing hunter and an even fiercer fighter.
Dislikes: He dislikes rude and over confident people. He throws them in a river if they decide to taunt him or act foolish. He hates it when the people become lazy and laid back, thinking that there's no way that a war will reach them. It drives him insane and he just wants to pounce on the foolish kingdom's shoulders and knock some sense into them.
Background

The Beginning
He felt the warm carassing tongue of his mother across the top of his head. he opened his eyes and gazed around him. But there was nothing. He opened his mouth and let out a small squeak of surprise. He had thought, hearing all of the sounds, that there would be something besides this darkness. But there wasn't! He sat still for a few seconds before stumbling to his paws. "Easy there Lero..." Said his mother's soft and deep voice. Lero cocked his head, his ears erect. His mother's voice struck a cord in his memory. A dream. He tried to pull it form the murky white of his mind, but it slipped form his grasp like water. He growled in irritation, then stopped, his eyes widening. He could hear everything! Beautiful sounds. The whisper of the wind in the trees. The speech of the trees themselves as they spoke of ancient days. The cool rushing of the river. The slow and steady beat of his mother's heart and the blood rushing through the veins of a rabbit, a couple miles off. Not just that though. He could feel the earth, pulsing below his feet. Every single mineral and animal that moved between his paws. He lifted his paw and stared at it. He saw nothing, but he could smell the faint scent trails the creatures had left. Strong and rich. Like the earth. He parted his mouth and breathed in, stumbling backwards and into his mother's flank. Startled, she let out a hiss of surprise. He cowered in fear before her. She sighed and lied back down. "I'm sorry Lero. You surprised me." She said soothingly. Lero was wary as he came out of his frightened crouch. He opened his mouth again and took in all the scent tastes. His mother's scent was strong in his mouth. She smelled like the mint leaves and the warm and rich milk. His mouth watered and he opened his mouth, letting out a pitiful squeak. "Listen to my voice Lero. There you shall find food." Said his mother. He followed after the fading sound of her voice. Finally, he bumped right into her side with the tip of his nose. He squeaked and fell onto his tail. He cocked his head and he nosed his mother's side. Finding a teat, he latched on and kneaded her stomach, suckling the rich milk. "He looks like him, Agoroth." His mother said, slight concern in her voice. Lero felt the ground vibrate deeply as he heard the deep purr of his father. "Yes, but no one will ever know..." Lero continued suckling, but opened his eyes. Curiosity made him wonder if his mother saw nothing as well. His mother sighed sadly. "He will be different. Being blind..." His mother said, a hint of sorrow in her voice. Lero stopped suckling and turned to his mother. Something inside him yearned to comfort her and he leaned against her side, purring deeply. His father and mother chuckled. "Yes, but he will still be our son." His father said, affection in his voice. Lero yawned and curled into a ball beside his mother. "He is tired. And so are you. Rest. I will watch over you two." His father purred. He heard his father nuzzle his mother and then he walked a few feet away, sitting on the ground. His mother slowly drifted to sleep, but by the time she did, Lero had already fallen into a deep slumber.

~

"Come on Lero! Were over here!" Cried a tan and red smili cub. Lero stumbled towards the voice, but another called out to him from his other side. "Over here!" Cried a female black smili. Lero turned around, confusion plain in his blind eyes. he stumbled towards the voice, but nothing was there. Then he heard laughing and he fell onto his side. "Stupid Lero! Your nothing more than a clumsy newborn! Your not worth anything! You don't deserve that mark!" They laughed at him. Lero stayed still, trembling. Sorrow crashed over him like a wave. Why can't I fit in? He thought. Why does nobody like me? He felt a stone slap his flank and he gasped in pain. "Dung eater!" Cried one smili cub. Lero curled up into a ball as rocks and branches pelted his small form. Where were the adults? They said they would be there when he needed them. "Motherless and Fatherless whelp!" Cried the largest smili cub. Something snapped in Lero when he heard that. With a roar, he launched himself at the large smili cub, his claws raking through his face. The cub screamed and dropped to the ground, blood streaming down his face. The other smili cubs screamed and ran away, leaving their fallen leader behind. The wounded smili cub whimpered and moved to get away, but Lero towered over him. Rage flared in his blind eyes. He raised his paw to give the killing blow, when another paw lashed out and caught hold of his wrist and scruff. "Enough, Lero." Said a deep and gravely voice. Lero didn't turn his head, but waited for his anger to die down. When it did, he noticed with shock that the other cub was gone. The smili that had stopped him dropped his paw and let go of his scruff, but remained. "That was foolish. Letting your anger overwhelm you." Scolded the old smili. Lero averted his blind gaze, not caring. He felt the old smili's paw smack across his face, sending him flying. he landed on his flank, to surprised to move. "Look at me! You are blind, yet you see more than the seeing do!" The old smili snarled. Lero cowered. He heard the old smili sigh and then he felt it's paw steps as it padded towards him and stopped. The old smili sat next to him. "My name is Etrius. I am one of the rouges in this land." He said quietly. Lero cocked his head with confusion. "Then how do you know me?" He asked. he was shocked. He hadn't spoken for a long time. His voice was almost rough, with just a smooth feral purr embedded inside it. holding promises galore. "Because your father was my brother." Etrius said flatly. Lero was silent as he relieved the memory. Etrius must have read the pain in his eyes. "He asked me one last favor before he truly died. 'Teach him, brother. Teach him that he's not the monster they say he is.' Your father said." Etrius said. His voice was quiet. "Do you know why you are blind, Lero?" He asked, his voice silent, yet clear through the air. "No." Lero said, his own voice flat. Etrius sighed. "Then perhaps, it is time you learned. You have never seen how you look, and no one has ever told you." Etrius said. His voice commanded Lero not to argue or interrupt. He had a feeling whatever Etrius would say, would not be repeated. "You are a raven black. Your eyes are as white as snow, along with your pupils. Which are normally black. Yet you also bear the sign of Silver." Etrius said gently. "Sign of Silver?" Lero said, unable to hold back his question. Etrius let out an impatient sigh. "Long ago, a smili, close to your age, was born silver. A rare color for our breed. That smili was also blind. She had a mark, similar to that of a human hand, borne upon her shoulder." Etrius's voice wove the images into Lero's mind. "She was beautiful, and sweet. Her parents named her Leora. She was respected, and cherished by everyone. but deep inside, Leora was alone. So, one day, she decided to leave. When she did, she left through the forest, traveling to the borders and over the snowy mountains. There, in the bowels of a valley, hidden within the mountains, she found another smili. He was alone, and he was a rouge. He was grim, calm, and unnaturally skilled in things he shouldn't of been skilled in. Leora instantly fell in love. She desperatly tried to win his heart, but to no prevail. Secretly, he loved her as well. If not more. So one day, she decided to act. 'Say your name rouge. Speak it over the highest mountain and prove to me you are real.' Leora said with defiance. The smili knew that at the tallest mountain, their lied the grave of a human who had once been called a god. So there he went, climbing and defeating the cruel and harsh winds of winter. When he finally reached the top though, he found another already there. She was as white as the snow that whirled around her and her eyes were the softest amber. His heart went out to her when he saw her, but he remembered Leora's wish. So he went to the edge of the cliff, standing beside the strange female smili, and he cried out his name. He tried to call again, but the female smili clamped her jaws around his muzzle. Words hissed through his mind. "Do not say it! Stay here, with me...." the voice hissed. The words were tempting, but Leora's face kept appearing in his mind, driving him forward. He cried out his name again. This time, the female smili attacked him, sending him tumbling voer the edge. Desperate, he grabbed the edge of the cliff. "Say your last wish!" The female smili hissed at him. The smili, knowing he was about to die, cried out his name, one last time. Then, as he fell, he cried out. "Leora! My love!" And he plummeted into the misty depths. Immediatly, Leora appeared upon the top of the mountain. Upon finding her lover's killer, she went into rage and torn the smili to shreds. Then, once the snow had fallen over the blood, she fell to her knees and wept. There, she stood, waiting for death to find her. But she froze and time, instead, stole her. So there she sits, upon waiting for her lover's return from the land of the dead." Etrius said. His voice had fallen to a whisper. Lero looked up at Etrius. "Is that it? She's still waiting?! He hasn't come back?!" Lero cried in disbelief. Etrius turned sharply to him. "Did I not say he fell off a cliff?" He demanded. Lero was silent for a moment. "But....But she waited for him....." He whispered. Etrius stared curiously at him. "You are indeed, perfect." Etrius whispered. It was Lero's turn to be sharp. "Perfect? For what?" he asked. But Etirus didn't respond. He was lost in thought. Finally, he snapped to attention. he turned back to Lero. "Come with me." he said sharply. Instantly, the old smili was walking away. Lero scrambled after him, wondering how he kept such a fast pace. As they walked, Lero noticed the change in the air. it was getting slightly warmer and the smells started changing from grass and dirt to trees, water, and stone. Instantly, he knew they were going to see the elders. "Why are we here?" He whispered to Etrius as they came closer to the Elder's area. Etrius just grunted in response. Lero growled slightly in irritation. But his growl ended in silence as they came before the Elders. Lero had never seen them. their were three. One that smelled of peaches and summer. The other smelled bitter, yet sweet beneath it. The other smelled of Autumn, with it's brittle leaves and it's soft cool breeze. Lero's ears stood erect as he listened to Etirus. "Elders. I kno that this cub has no Master. I wish to apprentice him as my own." He said firmly. Lero's heart stopped for a few seconds. Apprentice him? As what? What did Etrius do? He thought, desperatly searching for an answer. "Etrius...... It has been seven years since you took on another apprentice..." Said the Elder that smelled of peaches. "Are you sure about this?" He asked. His voice was deep and slightly old sounding. Lero liked it in a way. He felt Etrius nod. "Yes, Elder Trein." He said calmly. "And the child, Etrius? What doe he decide?" Said the bitter, yet sweet voice. Lero turned his blind gaze to the elder. "May I ask something?" he said quietly. He sensed the bitter sweet elder nod. "What am I exactly being apprentice to?" He said, aware of how he sounded like a total fool. The bitter sweet elder smiled. "My dear child. Etrius, is a Rouge protector. Did you not know that?" The elder asked gently. Lero shook his head. Etrius sighed slightly. "A Rouge Protector is when a Smili born with a black mark, similar to yours, upon their right shoulder. They leave the other smili's, wandering the lands as a rouge. But also gathering information needed to protect our homeland. Then, when the time comes to fight, we are the ones that wait on the sidelines to add the killing blow." He said softly. Lero grinned automatically. "Was the rouge smili that Leora had fallen in love with a Rouge Protector?" he asked, excited. He sensed Etrius give him a short glance. he could feel the amused stares of the elders on them. "Your sharp." The bitter sweet elder said, smiling. Lero blushed slightly. Then frowned. "But my mark is different. It's white." He said, frowning. He felt the other's quickly glance at each other. What were they hiding? "Etrius..." Said a brittle and soft voice. Instantly they all turned to the Elder that smelled of autumn. Lero sensed the deep respect in the air. "The boy, will be a great apprentice. He has skill. Yet he also has rage. A demon within him changed his mark white. Watch his rage. Control his demon." The elder whispered. He felt Etrius stiffen, but he nodded. "Lero...." He the Elder whispered. Lero turned to the elder. "No matter how blind you are, you still see more than we see. You can see the battles within us, but you can also see the patterns on a leaf, invisible to any eye but your own. Today, you are no an Apprentice to Etrius. Go. Learn to hone your skills." The Elder whispered. As they left, Lero heard the elder whisper one last thing that made his hair stand up slightly. "Let Etrius learn from you and he might return to the one he loves." The Elder whispered. As Lero and Etrius left the Elders area, Etrius swiftly licked his chest fur down. "Arlight. Today, Lero, you are officially my Apprentice!" Etrius said, pleasure in his voice. He turned to Lero. "Welcome to the brotherhood." he said, grinning from ear to ear. Lero smiled. "As comes a new life, and a new day...." He whispered.

~

Lero sat behind the ivory bushes, his ears flicking back and forth. His large and muscular body rigid with excitement. He sniffed the air and the strong smell of enemy smili came through his nose. He wrinkled his nose. They smelled of snow and rock. They had come from the mountains in the north. Lero smiled and as they passed his hiding spot, he leaped. He landed on the leader. Swiftly, Lero hook his talons across his neck and he dragged him to the ground, pinning him, a claw on his neck. "Do not move." Lero said in a deathly calm voice to the surprised smili's behind him. "Or your leader dies." He whispered. The others froze and the smili beneath widened his eyes. "But your only a teen!" he shrieked. Lero grinned and pressed his claw closer into his neck. The smili shut his mouth with a snap. It had all taken less than five seconds to do this. He heard his mentor as he appeared behind the other two smili's. They shrieked with fear. "A ghost!" they cried. Etrius raised an eyebrow. "A ghost you say? That one is new." He chuckled. Lero grinned, but never moved his position. "Where do you think you boys were going? Walking into another territory like you didn't give a care in the world what happened to you." Etrius said. his voice was harsh. The others flinched slightly. "We're looking for someone. Our job was to retrieve him and go." One of the smili's whispered. The other on shot him a glare. "Pray tell me. What is that smili's name?" Etrius asked. His voice was softer, but still cold. "We do not know. Only that he is blind and is bears the mark of a Rouge Protector." The one beneath Lero said. Lero stared into the smili leader's eyes, shocked. He sensed Etrius freeze and he felt the tension in the air increase to maximum. The others shifted uncomfortably when the silence continued on. Finally, "He's not here." Etrius said flatly. The others froze. "He lives in the eastern area. Leave us be." He growled. Lero climbed off the smili and stood by his mentor, making sure that the smili's left and didn't take a different way out. instantly, he felt Etrius's distress. "Lero...." he said, his voice deathly quiet. "I know. They wanted me." he whispered. His voice was hoarse and his mouth was like sand paper. "We should of asked for more information. but I couldn't dang think." Etrius growled, turning and trotting through the woods. Lero chased after him. "They were from the mountains, right Etrius? Why would the Northern area want to do anything with the Southern?" Lero asked, confused. The world they live din was divided into four areas. The Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western areas. Each area has several smili clans. Each area had one ruler. In the southern area, where Lero was now, the ruler was Titania.The northern, Ruterio. The western, Spadiz. The eastern, Heroto. Each ruler would gather in the middle of the four areas to have a large gathering where a smili clan came to represent their area with their ruler. This year, Lero was supposed to go to the gathering. He had been originally born in the Southern area under Titania. Being in the ruler's own birth clan, he would get to go. Etrius was born somewhere else, but he was the lead Rouge Protector among the four territories. Each rouge protector will meet with the rulers. If they had apprentice's, they came too. Lero was excited about the upcoming event, but not he was worried. Why had the a Northern clan come looking for him? He had done nothing wrong. He wasn't guilty of anything. Then Lero froze, paw in midair. His mind went through the story Etrius had told him when he had been just a cub. About Leora. And then when they had met the elders. When Elder Oak had told him he had a demon inside of him. One that Etrius constantly struggled to tame. Is that what they wanted from him? The demon inside him? He was barely aware of Etrius shouting his name as his mind worked furiously. His mark seemed to burn slightly on his shoulder as he thought of it. The area's were getting more restless. One day, it would break out into a war. A war so massive that all the areas were involved. A prophecy that had been said many years ago by an old wise smili. The first Rouge Protector. How one smili will come into the world, bearing the mark of Leora. But with black fur and white paint, he would see darkness and know evil as his own. Having the ability to turn the world whether for good or for evil, depends upon the heart of the smili. Lero took in a sharp breath. "The prophecy of the Forbidden." he breathed. "What?" he heard Etrius demand. "Their searching for it. Their searching for the smili that bears the white mark of Leora. Their searching for the weapon that will either save or destroy the areas." Lero breathed. He felt Etrius take in a sharp breath. Then, as if some muscle in his body had started working again, his paw slammed hard upon the ground. The earth trembled beneath his paws. He could almost hear them. Their voice sin the darkest shadows, whispering to him. Tempting him. Begging him to set them free upon the world. "The demons are calling. Their want for destruction is growing...." Lero whispered. "Lero." Etrius's voice was quiet and soft. That's what startled Lero. He had never heard Etrius using a soft and soothing voice before. He was even more surprised when he realized it sounded similar to his father's. "I'll take care of you. Remember what I said when you were younger? How my brother, your father, said with his dying breath for me to protect and train you? I promised. And I never break my promises." Etrius said. His voice slid back into his normal hard and grim voice. Lero couldn't help but smiling. "I know you will Etrius." he whispered.

~

Lero and Etrius raced across the open field, the huge clan of smili's behind them. There were about 54 smili's in all. All different shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. And only two of them had the mark of a rouge Protector. The ruler, Titania, ran in front of Lero and Etrius. She was a beautiful brown with amber eyes. She had white stripes that raced across her body like a tiger's. Her eyes were narrowed, yet behind that cold glare was a softness. Titania was a firm and just ruler, but she was kind and she cared for her clans. "We are almost there!" Etrius said in Lero's ear as they ran. Lero's heart clutched and he felt his lips pull up into a small smile. Butterflies roamed through his stomach. Suddenly, a thought raced through his mind that made his stomach clench. "Etrius. What if the other Rouge Protectors don't approve of me? What if the rulers don't approve?" he could hear his voice rising. He sensed Etrius was going to answer when Titania did. "Then I will clamp my jaws on their necks and shake them till the submit. No one has a right to judge who or who should not be a Rouge protector. Lero, dear one. You are a wonderful Rouge Protector. Don't let them judge you wrongly." Titania said firmly, but softly. Lero read her voice. She was telling the truth. She really would do it. He grinned and the fear dissolved. "Thank you Lady Titania." He said in a soft voice. "Please. Call me Titania. Better to break habits before they start." She said, throwing a grin at him that was lost in his blind gaze. Etrius shifted beside him and he felt the vibrations of his master as he chuckled silently. He listened as he sensed Titania smiling as she ran. Had he missed some inside joke between them? Before he could wonder, Titania's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Come now Etrius. Did you really think it was the right punishment for him? To throw him off the waterfall?" Titania asked. Lero sensed the teasing tone in her voice. Etrius must have as well. "He had called you a worthless whelp not fit for a ruler. I had every right to throw him off the waterfall." Etrius said, amusement in his calm and deep voice. Titania chuckled and then, they were silently running once again. Lero couldn't help break the silence with another question. 'Who did you throw off the waterfall?" Lero asked in a whisper. He sensed rather than felt Etrius smile. "Ruterio." He said, silent amusement in his voice. Lero gasped. He sensed Titania grin. "Yes. He was rather rude when he was younger wasn't he, Etrius?" Titania put in, her voice thoughtful. "I'm surprised your other brother and sister were not so." Etrius shot back. Titania nodded her head. "Yes. Although, Spadiz never wanted to race and Heroto always wanted to play fight." Titania said, lost in memories. Lero was shocked as they ran. The rulers of the areas were related?! Before he could ask anymore, he felt the terrain change. The soft dusty earth became springy with grass. The sounds of wind changed to the sounds of water and animals. "We've arrived in the entrance." Etrius explained. "Farther up leads to a large bowel, perhaps the size of three areas put together. In there are four large staircases that go all the way up and end in a flat and smooth oval platform where the ruler sits. Below the staircase, the clans stand around their ruler's staircase, leaving medium sized gaps between the clans. The bowel has walls of rock with four entrances in front of the staircases. Outside of the bowl, there is several rock mountains and formations set within a large grass meadow that stretches from each territory, resting in the middle of them." Etrius said, explaining the gathering area. Lero nodded, taking this all in. He could imagine it, and he could feel and hear it. The wind whistling through stone, the grass as they swayed gently. The flutter of butterfly wings and the thundering heart of a rabbit. And something else. "The eastern tribe has arrived." Etrius whispered to him. Lero nodded, noting how Titania was now sitting patiently on her platform. He made a move to join the clan lying at the base of her platform when Etrius stopped him. "No. Come. This is where we go." Etrius whispered to him. Lero followed after him, his curiosity growing as they walked up steps carved into the wall of the gathering area. When they reached the top, Etrius explained to him what he saw, but Lero could feel it. The platform dropped down into another bowel. This one smaller. It was filed with beautiful lush green grass and had a single hill, rising in the middle of the bowel. At the top of the hill, it smoothed out, looking more like a circular platform. There stood two smili's. One was a fiery red. He had green eyes and a black Rouge Protector mark on his left shoulder. Beside him stood a smaller smili. She was pure tawny with ice blue eyes and the same mark on her left shoulder. They walked up to them and dipped their heads in greeting. "Damascus. I see you have an apprentice." Etrius said in a friendly tone. The fiery red smili named Damascus nodded his head and smiled slightly. "Yes. This Terra." he said. His voice was deep and comforting. Lero liked him immediatly. Terra shifted her paws slightly and smiled softly at the two. "Hello Terra. I'm Etrius. This is my apprentice, Lero." Etrius said, his voice slightly soft. Terra smiled at them. "Hello." She said. Her voice was rich and had a slight lilt to it. Lero sensed Damascus watching him. He turned and smiled politely, uncomfortably aware of how his gaze must have seemed a bit blank. "Nice to meet you Sir Damascus." Lero said politely. He didn't respond. Etrius sensed Damascus's study and he lightly cleared his throat. "Terra. Lero. Why don't you two chat with each other. I need to speak with Damascus." Etrius said abruptly. Damascus snapped his head around and nodded. The two elder smilis padded away a safe distance and sat down, turning towards each other. Lero directed his attention to Terra. "So.... Your famous old Etrius's apprentice..." Terra said, nervous. Lero smiled, easing her nerves. "I guess so." He said, grinning himself. Terra must have noticed how his gaze was always perfect and when she talked to him, how he sometimes didn't move enough. She must have noticed that he was blind because, "Are you alright? Your eyes are so misty...." Terra trailed off and she gave a small gasp of surprise. "Your blind!" She whispered. Her voice was muffled. Lero guessed her paw was covering her mouth. Lero shrugged. "Yeah. I'm blind. But id doesn't hinder me. I've been blind all my life so I have no idea how the world looks. I have a pretty good hunch though." he said, grinning, trying to ease her uncomfortableness. "What does it look like then?" Terra said, the teasing challenge in her voice. "Green." Lero said, laughing. Terra laughed as well and the uncomfortable matter was closed. Lero turned towards the muffled noise of Damascus and Etrius. "Can you hear what their talking about?" Terra asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. Lero gritted his teeth an nodded. "Their talking, sorry, arguing about why my mark is white." He said through gritted teeth. He felt Terra start in surprise and, as if on instinct, glanced at his mark. He sensed her do a double take. "it is white!" She said. Lero noticed a slight touch of fear in her voice. That was it. Lero snapped. "So? My mark is white! Big deal! What's the difference!?" He shouted angrily. He felt Terra back away and suddenly, there was a firm and none too gently bite in his scruff as Etrius drew him back away from Terra and Damascus stood in front of Terra protectively. "Enough lero. Your loosing it." Etrius growled at him. He started with surprise, then he slumped with shame and embarrassment. "Terra.... I'm..... sorry....." He whispered. Then, breaking out of Etrius's grasp, he ran. "Lero!" He heard Etrius call, but he didn't stop. He ran as fast as he could. He didn't care, just as long as he could get away from the sense of fear that had had suddenly fallen over Terra and the sense of anger that had fallen over him as swift as rain fell. He didn't realize he was running towards another approaching clan when he rammed right into the ruler of the Northern clan. He froze and glanced up into the blazing eyes of Ruterio and his adviser. He took a hasty step back , his fur bristling with fear. This was the ruler that had sent smili's out to capture him and bring them to Ruterio. The ruler cocked his head, like a bird watching his prey. "Pray tell me, who are you?" his voice was harsh yet deathly calm. Lero sensed the anger behind it. Lero thought fast of a different name. Anything to save his skin. "R-R-Role, Your grace..." He stammered. He sensed Ruterio smile, but it wasn't a friendly smile. More of a cold and calculating smile. "I shall remember your face for the future, young.... Role..." he said, pausing and purring as he said Lero's fake name. Lero nodded and then, without a second thought, he turned tail and ran back. his eyes were wide with fright and his senses were entirely cut off by fear. So he didn't see the miniature rock slide as it fell towards him and rammed straight into him. He let out a loud yelp of pain and fear. He knew rock slides were common in the gathering area since it was mostly made of canyons and such. He knew, that as the pain shook his body, that this time, when he closed his eyes, he wouldn't wake up anytime soon. Then he felt the darkness as it slid over his already dark world. Then he was gone.

~

'Where am I?' Lero thought. he felt as if he was floating in black waters. Yet something else was there. Something that glowed with a purple flame. 'What is that?' He wondered. He realized the black water felt heavy on him. He squirmed, but something's claws locked on him. He yelped with surprise. Foolish cub.... You should of used my powers to stop the rocks. Hissed a smooth and calm voice. Lero shivered mentally and the voice chuckled. Do you fear your own demon? But no matter. This time, I will lend my power and heal you. I die if you die. So don't die. The voice hissed the last part in a harsh and rough voice. Lero felt a sharp pressure to his chest and he let out a yelp as the black waters crushed down on him. He opened his mouth and his eyes flickered open. But the darkness was still there. But Lero instantly relaxed he knew this darkness. This was his blindness. He became aware of hushed voices. He moved his paw and he found that he could move, but barely. he was wedged in a small crack between many many rocks that covered him. He became aware of another thing. Power. It flowed through his veins like a white hot iron. But it felt good. More than good. He felt as if he could turn the world upside down. He placed his paws, back and front, on the slab blocking his exit and seemingly without effort, he pushed it upward. It rocketed into the sky, sailing thousands of feet away. Lero sensed the warmth of the sunlight and slowly, he crawled out of the crack and the hushed whispers stopped in shock and fear. He sensed the smili's. Everywhere. All around him. His clan. And Titania. The Eastern clan. Their ruler. He stood upon the rock hill where the rock fall had crashed over him. It was fairly big and he realized, that a voice rang clear through the crowd. "Lero!" his master, Etrius cried. Lero cocked his ears, aware of the power flowing through his veins. He wondered what he looked like. Suddenly, the demon's voice whispered in his head. Let me show you, what you look like in there eyes. It hissed with obvious glee. Then a image filled his blind darkness. He was standing on a large pile of boulders. His fur gleamed like a black raven's feathers. His blind white eyes glowed. But what made him take a quiet sharp breath, was the glowing purple fire surrounding. He looked as if he was on fire, but the fire was like no other. It was a dark demonic purple. His white mark glowed white like a lantern. He bared his teeth and he was shocked to find that it was a grimace. "No...." he whispered. The image vanished and suddenly, he felt a sharp pain drilling into his chest. He cried out and dropped to his knees, panting hard. You don't accept this power? How dare you! After I saved your life! The demon hissed, his voice harsh. "You saved my life... to save your own...." he hissed through clenched teeth. Suddenly, he felt a coolness spread over him. At first, he was frightened. But then a soft voice whispered through his mind like falling snow. Be still, my son. You are free of the demons wrath for now. I am proud of you... Whispered the voice. Lero didn't have to ask for the smili's name. He knew it from the legend Etrius once long ago told him. "Leora...." he whispered. He saw Leora's face in his blind blackness, smiling softly at him. Then it vanished and he knew, that both the demon and Leora were gone. Along with the power. He felt drained and weak. He pricked his ears and was aware of the crowd once more. He stood up shakily and jumped down in front of them. He heard Titania start forward, then stop. Then Etrius was there, standing in front of Lero. "Lero...." he whispered. He sensed Titania nod and she ushered the two clans and her brother, ruler of the Eastern area, away and back to the gathering spot to wait for the Western area to arrive. Leaving Etrius, Damascus, Terra, and Lero alone. Lero felt his mentor staring gently at him. "That was your demon's power, wasn't it...?" He asked softly. Lero could only nod. Etrius sighed, then cocked his head curiously. "How did you manage to cut the flow of the power?" He asked, concern knotted in his tensed voice. Lero hesitated. "Leora...." He whispered tiredly. He felt Etrius tense beside him. "She... Came to me.... She pushed the demon.... away..... Her voice... So soft...." Lero swayed and his mentor gently let him lean against him. He heard Etrius whisper something, but he was already falling asleep as his exhaustion crashed over him. "Get him back..... Talk later...... Watch....." He heard Etrius say. His sentences were cut off as he blinked his eyes blearily. He felt firm, but gentle jaws pick him up by his scruff and carry him away as he fell asleep.

~
MORE COMING SOON
If you wish to know the full story of Lero Dux and what happens to him, after all the forms are collected, please contact me. I would be more than happy to oblige.

[Tracks J]

I would like to adopt!

Number: 7

Picture:

Name: Loxias Xyan

Species: Smili

Personality: Loxias is a very strong character who isn't afraid to show this to any unwelcome other. Although some read him as arrogant due to his tendency to show off, he always puts his family first and will not tolerate any threats to them. He is a hunter of great skill. He can be a little self-concious about his albinism.

Likes: His clan, his duties, being with friends in his clan, showing off his abilities, and body art, which is somthing else he'd like to be good at, success.

Dislikes: Strangers, overprotective and deceptive pack members, being unsucessful during a hunt, being unable to do something successfully, failure.

Background: Coming soon...

[Sapphirescript]

I would like to adopt!
Number: 8
Picture:
Name: Tai Kaliso
Species: Smili
Personality: Tai was very close to his father as well as his grandfather, and seems to have attributed most of their personalities. He is really a gentle giant when it comes to his tribal appearance. He also has a meditative side to him, in which he had acquired from spending most of his young life (3-6 years old) with his grandfather. He also has a strong hatred towards humans and how they seem to destroy everything they come in contact with.
Likes: Irohma Island, His Grandfather, Large rainforests, His Tribe.
Dislikes: Humans, Grasslands, Union of Independent Republics (UIR), watching fellow Smili’s die.
Background:
Irohma Island Rainforest; 1 day before the UIR attack
--
A small smili jumped up into a tree, gazing down at the small animal below. It was a rainforest creature that had stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time. The smili gazed down at the small creature, wrapping his long tail around the branch to keep from stumbling around on the branch. The creature below was sitting on his back paws, nibbling happily on a little berry that he had found in the rainforest.
You won’t be happy for long, the smili thought, bringing out his claws and quietly grasping the large tree branch. The impact would surely kill the creature, but sometimes a little extra punch made the kill more fun.
Suddenly the smili pounced off of the tree limb from the weight of his tail and flew through the air for a brief second before landing on top of the creature and digging his extended claws into its fur. The tiny animal let out a small squeak of pain before going limp and eventually having its blood run cold.
“Much better,” the smili growled, picking up the creature in his mouth and heading back towards the tribe. This was his last day to impress his grandfather and gain his tribal tattoos. He was nearly 8 years old and he still hadn’t gotten his markings yet. Most of the cubs from his litter had already gotten their tattoos, and it made him feel guilty for not impressing the rest of his family. I must do this. I can’t let my family down, the smili thought while he headed towards the direction of his tribe. All he had to do was prove his worth, and by that he had to prove his might to his father.
He had to defeat him in battle.

Irohma Island Tribe; 1 day before the UIR attack
--
The smili padded through the large overgrown bushes that led into the tribe’s clearing. He was still holding the creature that he had killed earlier, and glanced around as some of the other smiles’ glanced at him. He noticed that his grandfather, the tribe’s chieftain, was standing at the middle of the tribe. The grey hairs on his mane, chin, and tail were starting to be a little more noticeable. The chief nodded once, then motioned for the smili to walk forward.
“Seems you have caught your final prey of the day, Tai Kaliso,” his grandfather told him, letting Tai put the creature down in front of him. “Indeed I have Grandfather,” Tai replied, bowing his head to his grandpa. The chieftain nodded in return, and then glanced around the tribe. “Hala! Hala ne kieiko!” he yelled throughout the camp, which made Tai lift his head up in surprise. ‘Hala’ meant group meeting, and ‘kieiko’ meant fighting for honour.
The battle is going to be today, he thought, his claws scraping the soft dirt. He was itching with anticipation, and he was pretty sure his father felt the same way. He loved his father, though after his mother died he was never the same. He was that gruff, self-disciplined smili that wished to fight whenever needed.
Most of the tribe surrounded around Tai and his grandfather, although his father was nowhere to be seen. Tai let out an irritated sigh while he paced back and forth. “I must get this. I must,” he mumbled to himself, but suddenly stopped pacing when he heard a low voice in the crowd. “Indeed you must, although you need to defeat me in battle in order to,” his father grumbled, letting the spectating smilis move out of his way so he could face his son.
Tai stared at his father with a burning flame in his eye. He wouldn’t let himself lose to him. This was his last chance to prove his might, to prove that he wasn’t useless to the tribe. His father glared at him through ice blue eyes, the same that his son had. “
“One-on-one battle between generations,” Tai’s grandfather announced to the tribe, standing on a rock that separated each side of the smili-made circle. Tai was on the right side, and his father on the other. “Each smili will prove his might by fighting until one cannot fight any longer. We will not have death in this camp. The rules are simple: Once one smili is pinned down by the other and that smili cannot get up, then the other smili is the victor. Do you both understand?” he asked, glancing at each of them.
“More than ready,” Tai growled, baring his large fangs at his father. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins as he put his tail high in the air and hissed loudly. His father stood up from sitting with his tail around his paws, and nodded towards his own father. “Indeed,” he muttered through his teeth, putting his paws in front of him and getting into the same stance as his son. “On my mark...” the grandfather chieftain yelled, raising his paw into the air. Tai glared his father, his body weight towards the ground so he could spring on his right when the fight started. “Datesda!” his grandfather yelled, meaning fight.
Both smilis ran at each other, Tai pouncing up into the air and landing right on top of his father. His claws dug through his fur and into his flesh, though his father snarled and rolled on the ground, knocking his son off for the moment. Tai bounced back up and wacked his father in the face with his tail as he turned around; then scraped his father’s face with his right paw. Blood was now dripping from his father’s face, mainly just above his eyes and below the little part of his mane that he had on his head. Tai let out a low growl, zipping to his father’s side and racing into him.
They both went flying into the dirt, each of them trying to get a hold on each other. His father happened to claw Tai’s right shoulder, which took a piece of fur out. Tai hissed in pain, though he quickly got back up and grabbed his father by the neck with his teeth. His large fangs cut slightly into the neck’s flesh, which let him get a good grip. He threw his father onto the dirt, trying to run the best he could to dig his front paws into his father’s right shoulder and ribcage. His father yowled in pain, though he was too weak to try and pry Tai off of him.
Tai’s grandfather jumped off his rock and went to look slightly at Tai’s father. He was limp, although he was still breathing. “The winner of this fight goes to Tai Kaliso! From this moment forward, he will be known as De makate’ rudo, the fire warrior!” he announced, lifting his front paws into the air. The crowd roared in approval, some of them lifting their tail happily into the air. Tai retracted his claws and stood off his father, while the tribe healers came out of the crowd and picked him up. They picked him up and headed into one of the cave rock formations, apparently going to tend to his wounds. “Tai Kaliso, you will be receiving your markings today, as well as become a full-fledged warrior. Are you ready?” he asked, glancing over at Tai. He lifted his head up from the ground as if he were bowing, and nodded slightly. “Yes, Grandfather. I am,” he muttered, closing his eyes for a brief moment. This was the day he had been waiting for. The day that he would earn his tribal markings and finally earn his right in the tribe.
“Done’a fala haru!” his grandfather yelled, summoning a few smilis from the shadows of the bushes. One of them had a rock that was cut deep in the middle and had black paint in the center. The smili held the paint rock by its tail, apparently also keeping the liquid from spilling. Most of the smili crowd were still hanging around to see the ceremony. It was an honour to see a smili get their tribal markings in the tribe, especially if they had defeated their own father to get them.
Three smilis circled around Tai. One was by his tail, another by his front legs, and finally one in front of his face. They each looked close to being an elder, and one of them even had a few grey hairs on his mane and chin. Tai stood as still as possible as each of them dipped their paws in the black ink and started to create symbols on his fur. The ink was made by a small black plant in the rainforest, and no matter how hard you tried to scrub off the ink that the plant held inside, it wouldn’t come off. Tai closed his ice blue eyes to keep from having the ink in his eyes, as well as take the minute to think.
I’ve done so much to earn this, and now I’m getting them. I’m known as De makate’ rudo because of my quick speed; I have a burning passion for my tribe as well as whenever I’m fighting. Thank you great spirits for this, Tai thought to himself as if he was praying. He believed that there were spirits who kept the rainforest and his tribe alive. He knew that a spirit will leave its body when it is time, but not always in death. If a smili was captured by the humans or the body becomes like a prison for the spirit, then it will escape to the rainforest. Then the body would follow soon after into the soil and become one with the earth once more.
Tai’s grandfather’s voice broke his thinking, and soon he realized that the smilis had finished their work on Tai’s new markings. “The ceremony is complete! Tai, for this night you must leave the tribe and go into the rainforest on your own. Are you ready to do this?” he asked, gazing at Tai with his ancient eyes. “Yes, I am,” Tai replied, bowing his head and turning around. The smilis spread apart to allow him to enter the forest... alone.
“And one more thing, Tai Kaliso!” his grandfather yelled from behind him. “You must journey to the mountains on the other side of this island, and go to the dormant volcano there. Pay your respects, then venture back here,” he said, then swiped away with his tail and headed into the smili crowd. Tai stood there for a moment to process it all, then nodded and headed into the rainforest. This is going to be a loooong night, Tai thought as he disappeared into the trees.

~~~

I'm still working on this, though here's Tai's story so far. I still have to get to the attack and when he comes back from the mountains, though so far here's the story. ^_^

I'm so going to lose to you ;.;.

[~Rachy~]

Me too XD

[Cottleston]

I would like to adopt!
Number: 5
Picture:
Name: Klarr
Species: Smili
Personality: Sharp, analytical, smart, can come across as cold. She trusts few people with her life and sheilds her emotions for fear of being hurt. But if you can break through her barriers she is a trustworthy, reliable friend and a shoulder to cry on.
Likes: Freedom, running, and something or someone to believe in. She also likes fish, and sunshine.
Dislikes: Water (because of something that happened in her past), humans (other than her humans, she is very wary of them)
Background (Optional, but it gives you a better shot)


I was born the runt, I suppose a human would say. The smallest, weakest, loneliest pup. Left out by my brothers and sister, I was nonetheless loved by my mother, as far as I can remember. The name she gave me was T'lia, but as it is hard for a human to get their mouth around the wors, we shall leave that out for now.
I lived with my family by a lake for the first little while of my pup-hood. I was very young, you understand, so I do not remember much.
I do not recall the prescise amount of time before my life turned sour, and I do not remember the location of the lake.
I do remember the lake itself, though. A great wide expanse of silver- green water, surrounded by pine trees. If I craned my neck to look up, I could see the snow- capped mountain peaks in the distance, shining against the clear blue sky.
There were fish in the lake, too. I remember my mother catching them for us on cold, grey mornings when the mist hung low over the lake, letting us tear them apart.
These were good times.
Our den was under a boulder, or perhaps several boulders, I forget now, on the shore of the lake. I do not know which shore, for as I have mentioned before, I was young and neither noticed nor remember these things.
The den. The recollection I have of the inside is only warm darkness, falling asleep in blissful safety against my mother's warm fur with my siblings all around.
How safe my life was, and how crystal- clear it's purpose. Or rather, lack of purpose, I see now, for I was happy then for that to be the case.
Of course I was. I was a tiny cub. How was I to know?
I'm getting ahead of myself. Sae says I do this a lot. He says he doesn't understand half the things I say.
I don't mind. He doesn't know. I wish I could tell him, but I can't. Not yet. He's young.

When I was a few months old they came. The first we knew of them was the smell of burning, then the smoke rising from behind the trees in the distance.
We awoke one morning and the trees were gone.
I think they were pet- traders- not out for our fur, but to sell us as pets and working animals. This is the only explanation for why I am still alive.
For whatever reason, they took us. They shot my mother with sleeping- stuff. We did not know this at the time of course, we thought she was dead, and all came out mewling from the den.
They took us too.
I remember a wire cage, too small to fully stretch out in. My brothers and sister were in simliar contraptions piled above and beside me. We mewled helplessly to each other. Our mother was no- where in sight at first.
I think this was in their camp, the trader's shelters and bright, crackling fire. We had never seen fire before, or humans. All we knew was that it was bad.
They were cutting down our forest. Taking the logs away to sell, I suppose. The trees I had loved were gone, the shores of the once beautiful lake rocky and bare and grey. This was not my home.

Then one day, when they decided they had done enough damage, we were moved. I remember the cage rocking alarmingly from side to side as it was picked up, separated from my siblings. I mewed desperately for them, and heard them distantly reply.
We were put in a small, stuffy, dark space. My first thought was of my den. I was so young, what else was I to think? I thought it was our den, I thought they were putting us back.
But I smelled the human scents and knew that our den was gone, crushed in the rubble the humans left behind. I knew it. Suddenly, it was real. In my small, blurry mind, I felt the first stirrings of something I'd never felt before- despair.
I wanted my den. I wanted to curl up to sleep with my mother in the safe darkness.
This would never happen again.


To be edited, of course XD I hope it's ok to write the background from her point of view.