| Kennel |Fifty-Three
(53)| Section |Common Creatures
| Name |Taiga
(Goes by Tai as well)| Breed |Golden Jackal/Bengal Tiger cross
(Canis aureus/Panthera tigris tigris)| Age |By the end of the story, 5 years
| Why do you want this animal? |As soon as Vity posted him on the fanclub, I knew, I was in love. A canine with tiger stripes, two things I love rolled into one. Then, he was lost in the depths of the fanclub, but I never forgot him; I simply assumed Vity kept him. Then, he was donated. And I had to make a choice. I loved both him and Gas Mask, who would I go for? Ultimately, I decided on Taiga; he spoke to me the most and his story came easily. I was actually amazed at how easily his story came, how easy it was for him to join my world. Castitan agreed that he would be a perfect match for a part of his story; a story that has yet to truly be told from the beginning. Taiga fit in that missing piece, becoming the savior of a cub that, without him, may have been murdered, deemed guilty by association.
| What will you do for this animal? |Love him is the obvious answer, as I love all my characters. He will have his own page on my new site, which is currently under construction, receive art when I can get it, and, one day, I hope to chronicle all of my character's stories into a series, all tying together at the end. I also hope to publish these stories, and share him and his story with the world.
| Personality |I am not a sociable animal. I prefer to watch, to observe. The only creature I stay with is my brother in spirit. a small, shape-shifting ghost named Alumit. That is the only companionship I need. However, I will help the rejected, those, like me, who have been cast out or treated unfairly by society. I was rejected for just being born, as I know many others are. There was only one case that truely spurred me to act; a cub, the son of a lord, who was guilty just because of who's son he was. I reminded me of myself; I had to help him. I had to save him. Everyone deserves a chance to be themselves; no one should be punished until they have committed a crime.
| Dislikes |-The Government
It's too biased in my opinion. If you're not perfect, they don't want you. We're just trash to be cast out. It infuriates me, but, until someone stronger than I can change it, nothing will be done.-Socializing
I'm not one for socializing with others. I prefer to observe their behavior, their reactions to situations. It's much more fun than hearing their lies, or their biases.-The Cold
I'm a plains creature, I like warmth. I hate snow, I hate ice, I hate the cold, because I don't have the fur to really handle it, though, it is thicker than a normal jackal's, thanks to my tiger blood.-Inequality
Just because I'm not like you, doesn't mean I don't deserve the same treatment. It's appalling how self-centered and uppity everyone is. No one deserves to be rejected, just for being different. No one. | Likes |-Children
They are innocent, uncorrupted, unbiased. They no nothing of prejudice and hate. All they want are playmates, friends that will play their silly games with them. I wish they would never grow, that they would never see the hate. But they do. And it hurts me to see it.-Alumit
My loyal brother at heart. Though we are not truely related, I feel like we are. He has never left my side, has never let me down. He will be with me until the end, and I will do the same.-The sun
It's warm, bright, cheery. Everything I need. I'm a natural pessimist, but warmth makes me calm, makes me happier. AI love bathing in the warm light. I revel in every day I am allowed to do so.| Song |"
Breathe Into Me" - Red
| His Story |I was born a freak, an unnatural hybrid of tiger and jackal; a union that, in the eyes of the Gods, should not exist. My mother tried her best to hide me from the Lords of both tigers and jackals, but failed. The jackal lord found us, and I was cast out. Rejected. Left to die.
I was just weaned, but I did not know how to hunt. I was to starve in the forest, alone, and unloved. All my crimes had been was being born. I had no choice in that; so why was I punished, I would later ask myself. My only answer was that our government, the government that swore to protect us, was flawed, and fatally so.
But that is not in the story, yet, so let me continue. For two suns I stumbled around the woods, trying to catch anything that was possible for me to eat; but I was young, and the prey was fast. I caught nothing, and so continued to starve.
It was only on the third day that a miracle appeared. And it appeared in the form of a translucent, white jackal.
“Wanna play?”
I yipped in fear, jumping back against a tree, staring at the glowing, white thing before me. I didn’t know what to say, or what to do. I had never seen anything like this, and my young mind couldn’t comprehend it. The ball, its black glassy eyes watching me, frowned.
“Don’t be afraid…I just want a friend…no one ever wants to play with me…”
It looked so sad, and I realized I had made it so. My heart ached for the little ball; he was rejected, just like I had been, because he was different. I understood that much, I just didn’t understand what he was. So, I did the first thing a pup would do.
“What
are you?” I asked, peering at him curiously.
“I’m a ghost,” I scurried back in alarm, my mother had told me scary stories of ghosts, “But, it’s okay! I won’t hurt you. I just want to play. Look! I can even look like you, if you want…”
I watched in amazement as he shifted, becoming my exact build, watching me hopefully with black eyes, small, wing-like bits above his shoulders, and black wing markings adorning his back. I was stunned. He gave me a hopeful smile.
“That…was…amazing! I wish I could do that!” I yipped, jumping up and bounding up to him, examining the change; he beamed in return.
“You mean you’re not scared? You like it?”
“Yeah! That’s so cool…”
He grinned, two small teeth sticking out from under his lip, “I’m Alumit.”
“I’m Taiga.”
And thus begun the most beneficial relationship in my life. He became my best friend, my confidant. Though, it did keep most people away. I mean, I had a guard ghost, but I could care less about other companions. I had Alumit. He taught me everything a jackal tiger hybrid should know (though I wasn’t entirely sure
what a jackal tiger hybrid
should know). And I grew, stronger than I probably would have before. But I was also harder, colder towards others; except, of course, Alumit. He was my brother, I couldn’t be cold to him.
Then came my second life changing event. I knew of the rebels that haunted the forests and plains, almost more effectively than Alumit himself, and I had heard whispers of a war, an attack on the lords. Though I also had a vendetta against the lords, I did nothing to help them. I watched as they took down the ziond lord, and the jackal lord, the very same one that had banished me. I watched silently, with no emotion as they slaughtered the warriors, the lords, the ladies…but when it came to the little ones, I was furious at their brutality. I wanted to help, but I had no hope of doing so. They would slay me, just as they had done to others. Alumit watched with sadness in his eyes, and I knew he thought the same as me.
“One day, my friend, we will save one of those children. When the time is right, we will help.”
Alumit accepted this without a word.
Suns passed before he heard a rumor of another strike, this time, on the leopard lord, Eyktan, and his family. He was celebrating the presentation of his son, who was barely weaned. However, the boy was at a stage where, given time, he would not remember the celebration. Nor would he remember the events that would happen after.
They struck the night of the celebration. The leopards were feasting to their young master’s good health; Eyktan looking like the proud, kind leader he was. His son was shyly observing the crowd from between his father’s paws. Eyktan’s mate was curled in a group of her closest friends. All was happy, all was calm.
Until the roar ripped through the crowd. I watched from my perch above the celebration as the rebels came from the north, ripping into Eyktan’s guard. I could hear Alumit whine from beside me, but I wasn’t paying attention to the rebels, it was the cub I was worried about. Surely they would kill him, as they were going to do his father and mother. The child was innocent in this, he didn’t deserve to die.
“This is the one, Alumit. We’ll take the child and go to the mountains. We can find a snow leopardess to take him. As long as he doesn’t die.”
“Alright…but…Taiga…how are you going to get to the boy? Eyktan’s there, and he won’t hand over his son to just anyone,” Alumit said softly, hovering over my head; he always swooped around when frightened or nervous. It always comforted me to know he was just as scared as I was.
“Eyktan’s known for being a front line leader. He’ll go soon enough, hopefully, he’ll hide the cub first…”
We watched as my prediction came true. Eyktan stowed his terrified son in their den, before leaping off to join his warriors in battle. It was a free-for-all; even the females were fighting for their lives. We had to be quick.
Using all of the skills Alumit had taught me, I crept down, silent as the ghost that followed, and I made it to the den without being noticed; considering I had been on top of the den to begin with, just hidden by shadows, it wasn’t that hard.
In the small cave I looked around, desperately looking for the cub, “Little one, it’s alright. Come out, I’m here to protect you.”
“Here! Taiga, he’s here!” Alumit had swept though, using his light glow to locate the crying, shaking cub; I slowly walked up, donning the most kind expression I could, smiling softly.
“It’s all right, little one. I’m here to take you away, so you don’t get hurt. I promise, I won’t hurt you… Come here…”
I was amazed when the cub did so. He was a trusting little thing, but, I guess when you’re scared, you’ll take the first comfort you’re offered. I picked him up by the scruff of his neck, being as gentle as I could, and, slowly, I left the den, climbing back up the side. I went unnoticed, everyone too busy fighting for their lives. From my perch, I could see the cub’s mother, dead below the den outcropping; I wondered if she had died trying to get to her son. I didn’t see Eyktan, but I assumed he has met the same fate. With a bow of my head in respect for the dead, I ran.
It only took a night to reach the mountains, and a day to get up the side. I was desperately looking for someone, anyone to take the cub, but I met no one. I understood why that night, the night following my rescue of the cub.
A blizzard, like none I had ever seen, attacked the mountain. Alumit list my way, but the trip was still very dangerous. I slipped multiple times, just barely able to hold onto the cub, who was shivering in my mouth. Finally, it was too much; I set the cub down by a rock, sheltering him from the frozen winds, but, as I looked up, Alumit’s light had grown dimmer.
“Alumit! Brother!” I yelped, but my words were lost amongst the storm. I looked down at the cub, nosing him, “Stay here, little one, I’ll return.”
I fought the winds at a run, barely able to see the small ghost’s light. It took me longer than I wanted to to reach him. By the time I had gained his attention, I couldn't see my trail. My blood froze solid. I couldn't see where the cub was; I could barely see my nose.
"Alumit! We have to find him!"
We searched all night. We failed. The cub was gone. And it was all my fault.
The seasons following seemed like a blur. Eyktan had survived the attack, scarred, both physically and emotionally. He had lost his mind and his sense following his mate and cub's death. A death I could have prevented. Eyktan began a methodical war, a war I could have prevented. I was a fool to think I could change anything for the better.
Even Alumit couldn't change my mind, or bring me any comfort. He stayed with me, however, and for that, I was grateful.
Every four seasons, I returned to the spot where I had lost the cub, wishing I could turn back time, wishing I could go back and save him. Wishing I could take him back to that den, where he would have grown to be a lord, possibly as wise and caring one. But, no, the deed was done. The cub was dead.
Or so I thought.
It was my third trip to the "memorial" as Alumit referred to it as. This trip, however, was destined to be different. Very different. We reached the memorial to find someone was already there. A very contemplative someone. A very familiar someone.
"Taiga! It's the cub!"
The cub, now adult, whipped his head around regarding us in confusion, and I flashed back to the night I had coaxed the cub from his hiding spot from the den. The same eyes, the same markings, the same coat...
"You know me?"
It was like I was looking at a ghost of my past, or seeing a future that could have been. Was I hallucinating?
"Yes! We saved you the night your father was attacked, we thought you would be killed as well. We brought you up here, actually, but we thought you had died. We had lost you..."
That had to be it, I was hallucinating. Or dreaming. One of the two. But, if I was hallucinating, how did Alumit see it too? He was a spirit, surely spirits couldn't hallucinate...so that left one choice...
"You are the ones I owe my life to? The ones that brought me up here, and helped me find a father? Helped me grow into who I am now?"
I could barely believe it.
"Yes, I guess if you want to credit us with it."
The cub was alive.
| Characters Mentioned |-Alumit
Taiga's best friend and "brother", is a shape-shifting ghost.-Ma'dual
Lord of the Zionds, Taiga witnesses his murder at the paws of the rebels.-Naduon
Lord of the Jackals, banished Taiga, was murdered by rebels.-Eyktan
Lord of the Leopards, is attacked by rebels.-Neyruki
Eyktan's mate, mother of Castitan, murdered by rebels.-Castitan (Tsamitan)
Eyktan's son, Taiga rescues him from the attack.| Other |The reason his story ends as it does, is because from that point on, I feel that part of the story would be better told from Castitan's point of view, not from Taiga's, but that does not mean that's how the jackal/tiger's story ends. Oh, no, there is more to his story, but it is better told from other's eyes.