Chapter One
By Kofiin (Placeholder)
Sounds Unfamiliar--Oh, it seems my lost soul is awake correct? Care to check for me, little one.
Water falling down hitting rocks making an audible noise when connecting. However, another, softer, noise laid behind the waters escape, the distant sound of dry coughing, the only breathing being in said cave to make a noise was a small wolf. A scratchy, bare throat was what it had, and oh was it bare.
Gasping for air, the wolf cub coughs stole more and more air then it could afford. The poor pup couldn't pay anymore, it needed to cease this coughing fit. Now. Water began to filled the cub's eyes, it could no longer see behind its own pain. Unfortunately, the fit of coughs only continued, it began to swallow more and, more saliva then it could produce. That only provided more pain then relief
As if its saliva was no longer saliva but instead pins and needles, wanting to stab its throat for a crime it has committed. It needed to stop this quench for thirst and fits of coughs, however no matter how powerful its will was the cub couldn't bring the energy to open its eyes. Without the ability of sight, the cub's ears peaked up. If it could not see, it shall hear. Maybe, just hopefully, there be a river of water nearby or it could find other people around who could get it help faster than wandering.
Splat…
splat....
Water climbing down the stalactites fell into several stalagmites underneath. It began to climb down the stalagmites, continuing its journey onward. Perhaps it was looking for a river, or maybe, it was lost. Ha, lost water continuing its adventure to find home. Only to end up within the cub's sound. As the water fell, and fell making noise at each crevice…splat…the water started to crawl faster. As though it was running away from a predator, a cat and mouse if you will. The water crawled and crawled but, it seemed to forget an important fact. The cat will always play, then kill.
As the cub reached the water, it started to drink and drink and drink. Not caring for the pain, it was feeling. It pushed its face into the small stream of water, it just needed something, everything. While drinking all the small stream could carry, the beast ignored the faint taste of iron the water carried. Once it had its fill, the cub's eyes finally had the strength to opened. Only to stare as a hazy liquid slowly dropped from its mouth. Blood, it was dripping blood. From its mouth and feet. Fear and confusion hit the pup, how was it bleeding? What happened? The poor little pup started to panic. Was it because the cub crawled towards water? Perhaps it injured its arms or dragged its feet across sharp rocks. Quickly the cub looked at its feet, if it was bleeding it'll need to take its shirt or pants and wrap the injury. So, getting an estimate of how much blood it lost was important, it could lose its leg!
"" You know, Mother Nature is kind. She just, shows her love in.. ahhh not so.. uhhh, kiiind way? You understand! Right?""
It seemed as though the beast finally reached this realization. Ħ3 was correct. Its foot, what it thought was its arm, what it used to crawl, was a leg. Not just any leg but appear to be a canines, and it was bleeding. Although blood was coming out of the small pup, it was starting to stop. As though its natural healing is much more than an ordinary canine. But just, the poor, little cub-----no the beast couldn't see what some will call a miracle. All it could see was a canine leg and paw. One question in its mind, what happened to it?
Actually, where was it?
This one, small little thought kicked started the beast. It began to check its surroundings. Looking around it appeared to be in a cave, of course. Where else can water fall from the sky, if not rain? Speaking of rain, the beast looked at where the water tried to escape too. Looking down the rocky cave the beast saw gemstones. Small gemstones, shaped as though they were carved into the walls, not formed from the years could be seen glaring at the creature despite being the only light in this dark cave. Their glare never leaving the beasts body, as if this beast is keeping them hold; not the wall they so dearly clung too.
Their shine brightens the cave, turning this dark, deadly cave into a magnificent spectacle. The colors yellow and blue danced around, wandering from wall to wall. Never standing still no matter how hard the beast tried to focus its eyes. Although the beast's eyes were annoyed, the sight was breathtaking. A faint ringing noise was heard by the creature, ignoring what it believed to be its ear ringing…splat
Quickly shaking its head, the beast cursed at itself. It needed to focus…splat…. The beast needed to find out what happened, it couldn't just break down, nor could it run away from whatever this... was. Perhaps it was dreaming? ...splat… yeah, a dream made more sense to the beast then it waking up in a canines' body.
Turning its head, the beast saw a small puddle reforming under the stalagmites. Without thinking the beast slowly poked its head up, removing its paw from the path. Perhaps seeing makes the brain believe better, or seeing breaks the spiral of denial.
In the puddle showed a long snout, representing a wolf. Alongside the snout came in view was short, somewhat pointed ears. It appeared to be a young wolf dINg cub.
And then, its fur came to view.
A rich, dark, ebony fur- No. No, the word "Ebony" doesn't nearly give it the lick of justice it deserves. An inky, dark substance that acted as fur leeched on to the young cub.
A pitch-black fur, so daring, so obscure that the beast believed if it continued to stare, it may grow eyes just so the abyss may stare back. Even with the help of the gemstones, the beast struggled to see itself as it blended into the shadows of the cave. diNG There was no highlight on the beast, no under tone, it was only, dimmed. A majestic, breathtaking raven-black. The only light from it, was the eyes.
Oh, and the eyes…oh my, the eyes. A magnificent sparkle was within them sitting on top a throne. A bright slightly orange-yellow set off its sit, and began an exquisite dance in the beast's eyes. Gold. Gold was the color.
A radiant, bright gold shined within. As the gold danced, a new unknown color joined. A flaming rose. Striking the once gorgeous gold with a painted crimson, the once breathtaking throne DiNG covered in gold was drenched in scarlet blood. Making it even more enchanting.
Air, the beast needs air dearly. It couldn't deal with this lost for much longer. Anxiety and fear were not what it needed now. It stared at the puddle with fear, not believing di- what -Ng its eyes so desperately tried to say. Not believing what it so dearly feared. Not believing what happened, where it was. DI—What it was--nG-. Was it going to di—die-ng--- inside of this massive cave? It can't even walk, it can't even walk! All it can do is crawl! What did it do wrong? DInG Why is this happening? What happened to its body? It swore it was just in a building, wasn't it? It was! Right? dING so what happened to its body? is this a hallucination? is it in a coma? A coma... for what? It is ali-DiNg- it was still alive. This had to be a lucid dream or, coma, or something! DiNg- and its alarm is goo- going off, that's the ringing noise. Isn't? Yes of course, how could it had been so stupid?!
Stupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupid!
How could it even think it was in some..wolves body? Can't you see eyes? What a bloody idiot it was. How dare it even believe that for a second? Such a foolish, pathetic failure. The beast turned its head down, opening its mouth the beast started to bite at Its leg. Seemly acting without thought. Pulling on its fur, tearing some out, some parts staying attached to the beast's body. Believing to mumble the word stupid. Fully believing it was still human. And yet, as true to word. Reality is cruel.
[ < SYSTEM HAS SYNCHRONIZED WITH HOST > ]
Stuck on the ground looking at the puddle of water. Though its reflection the creature saw a blue hue along with unrecognizable words. As though it spoke a different, unspoken language. Anxiety sunk it's sharpened fangs onto the beast once more, immobilizing the poor cub. As hard as it fought, the blessing of movement was not allowed. The beast began to pray. Pray to whoever was watching, whatever was listening, anything just for a small chance of survival.
[< SYSTEM HAS {(AWAKEN)} >]
[< This System Welcomes [HOST] >]
The once unrecognizable language became… readable? The beast's eyes glance at the words through the puddle, skipping through them as if this language was its mother's tongue. Stupid. The beast shook its head, now isn't the time to be amazed. [HOST] and [SYSTEM]. The beast could assume that this strange, floating thing was system. So, who… who is host? Wait, no. I… am host, Right?
The beast could only stare at the ground, what was going on? System? Host? Where was it? Perhaps something was pushed too far within the small beast. As it began to rise in anger, fear still clouded its judgment though. No matter how angry it was, it wanted to live. Dream or not. So, making this higher-being called system mad was not even on the last of its list.
Breathing in the beast decided to speak, slowly it turned its head to face this "System". Trying to hide as much venom as it could, the beast opened its mouth to talk with this "System". Only at the last moment did it think, could it even talk.
"Whhhu er eaOoa?"
DING
Broken, its speech was broken. Could this "System" even understand it? It can't even understand itself. However, the creature decided it needed to calm down, it wante—No. It needed to survive, so it needs to be calm. Slowly trying its best, it fully its whole body turned to face the System's blue hue while also moving away from the puddle.
{[This [SYSTEM] does not know what it is nor why it is here. This [SYSTEM] was created by [REDACTED] [UNKNOWN]. This [SYSTEM] is linked to [HOST] ensuring that {SYSTEM] will follow [HOST] everywhere till demise.]}
Confusion is the only emotion the beast felt. It didn't really clear anything, and what did it mean by created? Not born.
{[This System will shortly make [HOST] first quest. Please stand by and wait.]}
With that, the blue hue went as fast as it appeared. Leaving the beast to once more sit in silent It felt as though all the fear the beast had disappeared from existence. The anger it felt was gone, the anxiety was still lingering but was faint. All it could do was, wait. It had no other thing to follow, its mind was to foggy to make left to right. Truthfully it needed something to leech off, something to point in a direction so it could follow the path. This system was its only starting point.
As the creature hugged the ground its mind only wandered. The only sound in the cave echoed, water slapped the stalagmites nearby, slowly making the puddle in the ground bigger. Causing the creature to crawl further away. It didn't know why, it had a sickening feeling about… water. As the beast question this, fear of water. The Systems blue hue came back.
————-————-————-————-————-
.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.
[ < ADJECTIVE: Find Your Brother & Family
Reward: Reunite with family! What's
better than having someone who'll
protect your back?
Failure: Eatdh of Brother and HOST > ]
{ Accept Refuse }
.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.-.•.
————-————-————-————-————-
For a 'quest', it was easy sounding. A missing family member, and all the beast had to do was find them. And the failure of it wouldn't hurt the beast, right? Only the unknown brother. If it was a wolf cub, then its brother should be one too, right? Do it should be with the mother.
Nothing should be hard about this 'adjective'. If anything, it should be thankful for this system for helping it find a purpose. Just as the beast's mouth open to speak once more, the fleeting thought came to view; what does eatdh mean?
"...ta"
[{This System wishes [HOST] luck in finding
Sighing, the creature realized something. It wanted to survive. It didn't matter if this was all a dream, it didn't want to die. Even with this easy sounding adjective the beast had its guard up, not for the adjective but at the system. Slowly, the beast stood upright. Looking around the dim cave the beast had no idea where the exit was. Signing, it decided to follow the glowing gemstones, perhaps they led the way. Slowly moving one paw, the beast fell. Annoyed it shot back up, it needed to go. It needed to move, to walk. Whatever this System was it wanted the beast to find someone, better yet, something.
With trembling limbs, the beast pushed itself up. Pushing one paw up once more, the beast found a rhythm;
One paw, two paw, three paw, four, one paw, two paws, twice paw, four…
Mumbling this rhyme to itself, the beast slowly began to walk.
Although the beast was, moving. It still struggled for control, the creature stared at the ground. Even in this dark cave, it felt too bright as the colors blue and yellow dancing over and over in a repetitive dance. Never stopping to breath. The beast looked back at the colorful wall. Staring at the gemstones.
Even though this beast appeared to be a wolf, it seemed to be much more of a copycat.
The beast moved towards the ground wall, to where the gemstones clung. As the beast reached the bright and somewhat dull, colored. the beast hugged the wall to start its descent.
PSSSHhhhhhhhhhhh
A cat will play with a mouse before attacking, yes, but sometimes the mouse attacks back. The beast's ears perked up, then, its eyes shot down. It appears that the waters journey was also to get out of this cave. Oh, the poor, poor little cub. It understood why it should fear water. The beast looked down to see brown, the water took a small detour around a rock, leaving a small little stream of water in front of its path.
Was the water dirty? The beast questioned. It makes sense, water in a cave? The odds of it being clean is slim to none. However, the beast couldn't linger on its questions with why it was seeing brown with the water till it saw what was gone. The forepaws skin was gone. The water wasn't dirty, no it was bleeding, fast. Quickly, although clumsy, the beast ran forward to get out of the waters path. Everything happened to fast, the beast couldn't think straight. It touched water, and lost its skin? Does the sight of water hurt the beast? Is that why it was bleeding when drinking before? Is that why it feared water? With all the questions the beast brain could think of, it couldn't make an answer. All it knew was one thing, it wanted was to escape this cave. Fortunately, all the beast running was not in vain as it could see light. Sunlight.
Upon seeing light, the beast felt its eyes watery. In spite of the fact that the beast recently opened its eyes, the beast felt as though it was trapped in darkness for an eternity. Shaking its head once more, the beast belittled itself; Your human! This is just a dream. You feel sunlight normally!
Stepping out of the cave, the beast stood in awe. A long, enchanting, luscious forest stood still. Trees so tall they pierced the clouds and stars. Turning to its side the beast was faced with tree trucks. The trucks curved around the caves entrance, guarding the wolves' den. Perhaps they, and their roots, were what caused the water to fall, providing safety and water for when water could not be found.
Taking a small step out, the beast saw bushes with thorny branches, berry bushes. Some bushes have berries on them for others, their berries where flat in the ground. Mushed as if stepped on by a boot. While some of them were flowering getting ready for their own plump, fresh, berries to come and show maturity. Staring the bushes made the beast realize something, it was still thirsty. And hungry. Confusion found the beast once more; did it not drink water? Yet, here was its body telling, demanding, it to eat a berry.
The beast slowly creeped up to said bush, looking to take at least one berry. Once the beast could see the bush upfront, it noticed that there were more unripe berries then mature. It seemed as though some other beast, or beasts, came by to eat. Still, that did not stop the beast as it began to look around the bush for a mature berry. Deep in the thorny branches lied one berry. A nice, plump, berry. Once the beast locked eyes with its berry-prey it slowly opened its mouth and close its eyes, before—-CHOP; the beast chopped down. Getting stabbed by the thorny branches however the beast did not seem to mind.
A sweet, tart-ness filled the beast mouth. It was sweet, much sweeter then the beast thought it'll be but the beast didn't mind. The taste causing the beasts' tail to wag, its ear started to flicker. The taste was one of mature, something of that nature, the beast didn't quite recognize it. It tasted fermented, tropical, but with the mix of home. The beast wondered if this was how its..family got their water. By these berries?
The beast bent downwards to see the mush of berries on the ground. As it done so, it caught the glimpse of flowers near the berry bush. Small little plants were scattered around the bush but these flowers had the beasts' eye.
They stand tall next to the bush, a marigold of color if you will. One thorny branch wrapped around the flower, attached to the branch was a few small flowers. It looked as though this tall flower held seeds however some of those seeds did not appear to be its own, on top of it.
The seeds were not seated for long however, as the wind came by in a hush whisper and quickly carried them along. Perhaps the tall flower is showing its thanks for the bush. The berry bush gives protection and the flower helps its seeds spread as well as its own. To show appreciation for their unspoken protection. As the beast stared at the flowers, it noticed a different kind of footprint. It looked more like a hoof, a hoofprint?
Shaking its head once, and again at its pun. The beast decided to hold on to its dignity and not eat the mushed berries on the ground. Looking around the beast started to walk in an unknown direction. Just looking around at all the life around it. When one can dream such a beautiful dream, might as well enjoy it.
Walking around, the beast spotted a small leaf lying on the ground. Bending down a little, a snail could be seen munching away. The little one didn't seem to mind the beast, more focused on its meal. The beast stared at this small snail wondering one thought; Does the grass taste good? Bending all the way down the beast slowly opened its mouth, before snagging some grass to chew on. It tastes earthy, a slight sweetness but overall nothing really. The once calm snail was beginning to show agitation towards the beast. It didn't like to share this grass-y land, the beast ear flicked to causing it to turn its head, the beast took this as a sign to continued its walk. Leaving the snail to munch on its leaf angrily.
As the beast walked, it began to hear cries. Cries from the skies, baby bird cries. Looking up the beast saw a black crow flying above it, before coming to a stop on a branch. The crow looked down at the beast, not caring for the cries of birds. Before the beast could question the odd crow, the sound of wind cutting took over. Quickly, the beast snapped its head down to protect its eyes from the harsh wind. Before, silence took over once more. The once crying birds now calmed. Slowly the beast looked up once more to see nothing. The crow leaving just like the cries.
Slowly, the beast turned to continue its journey. Did that crow have four set of eyes? Quickly the beast shook its head. It was just seeing thing, no bird has more than two eyes. The beast turned once more, it walked more then it thought it did. It could no longer see the tree that shields the cave. It began to wonder when will it wake up? It felt like hours passed. As the beast question how long it slept, a rain of colors came to view. A flutter of butterflies.
The beast stopped upon a small clearing, close to the flutter but far away it willn't scare them. The beast watched this flutter in awe, it has never seen a beauty like this before. All the different butterflies flying as one, jumping from flower to flower. Some resting on pieces of grass making it seem like the grass is their couch. The beast wished it could go closer to see the different wing patterns they all bore, all their different sizes. From small to big, some massive for a butterfly. But they all were in harmony, peacefully flying around in a circle above a posy of flowers. Witnessing this peaceful moment, the beast could feel something move behind it once again. Turning its head, the beast saw its tail lazily wagging. A slow pace wag that never fully reach the other side of the grass.
As the beast turned to look back at the butterflies, a figure caught its eye. A hazy, black figure jumping around in the grass. Once it fell down, it'll crouch down, before hopping back up. It appeared to be trying to catch a white butterfly. The butterfly appeared to be tired as it slowly floated down to a piece of grass, before flying right back up just as the figure jumped, missing the butterfly and landing its head into a small hole. Then, did the butterfly land on the grass. An audio pop was heard as the figure got its head out of the hole. Shaking its head, it turned back to the butterfly before jumping once more, and once again the butterfly was high up in the air.
The beast walked a little back to the flutter of butterflies. Standing in a place where it could see the flutter and the figure and butterfly playing. Although the beast just wanted to witness the flutter, it was having fun watching the play the figure and butterfly bought. So, it found a spot where it could watch both. Turning its head back to the white butterfly, the beast saw the figure jump off a fallen tree branch with its mouth open, trying to catch it, only for the butterfly to fly down and underneath the figure.
The sight bought a chuckle for the beast, without thinking the beast slowly started to push its forepaws forward, its tail going up in the air in a slow wag. Perhaps it needed this relaxation, these surrounding, the noises. All of it. Before the beast could fully sit. Its ear flickered once more, picking up a beep-ding. Turning its head to the noise, the flutter dispersed. Scattering in all places, the once peaceful colors that flew in a circle, now flew in fear. No longer the peaceful flutter they were, the colors changing from soft tones, to aggression. Loud colors now took over showing danger. As if there was a threat lurking, and they were warning a friend.
THUD
The beast, that was once looking up at the flutter and sky. Was now looking at the ground with a weight on its back. Pinned down.
Was death coming for it? The beast couldn't breathe. Anxiety and fear were showing its rear once more. The beast question why it was so, so stupid? Is it that figure on top of it? Why didn't it realize the figure was a danger? Was it because it was playing with a butterfly? That's even worse! The beast thought, It was showing it's a predator hunting! It wasn't playing, it was playing a sick game on the beast, showing what will happen to it once it gets its teeth onto it.
Question, after question. No answer after no answer. The beast sat in anxiety, full of fear of the unknown for what felt akin to hours. Will its death be painful? It wishes for a painless death. It seems as though believing everything to be a dream was not going to help the beast this time, not like it could even think straight. Anger once again began to rise, but this time. It stayed. The beast snapped its head, the best it could, to see what jumped it. Scared yes, but it needed to fight back. It could not go down without a fight. Only to be face-to-face with the unknown figure that appeared to be a wolf cub. A wolf cub whom eyes matched its own.
Marigold, marigold was the color of the cubs' eyes. Oh, such a beauty. Yellow and red danced within the eyes, however unlike the beast' eyes, this cub' eye color somehow mixed into one. Turning the once base yellow and sub-color red into an orange sunset. The down color was still yellow that appeared to be a sunset with a bright, pure, fun orange as its aftermath. Strikes of red could be seen by the beast, yet it did not pay close attention to find out where this red resides.
As the two stared into each other's eyes. The cubs tail started to wag, a growl leaving its throat. Was it going to attack the throat? The cub slowly moved back, and away from the beast. Still close enough to attack, but it was enough for the beast could turn fully and sit up. Yet it still couldn't run, what if this cub was faster than it? It did just learn how to walk. The cub started to squat down.
The cub, that was once playing with a butterfly, that tackled the beast, was now quickly lowering the top half of its body itself. Did it want the beast to attack it? The beast could only stare as its head turn to the side. Showing its confusion. The cub pushed its forepaws forward, towards the beast as if asking to be tackled, the back part of its body standing high, tail pushed into the air wagging, the beast watched in horror as the realization came to it. The cubs' tail wagged so fast it shook the rest of its body. A playful stance, a stance the beast did unknowingly. The beast was asking to be jumped, to be tackled. And this cub was just playing with it, as it did the butterfly.
Looking to the side away from the cub, the beast saw at what caused the beeping noise before.
[ < Found [BROTHER] Congratulations! > ]
[ < {(Remaining Family members to be found *Unknown* Time limit None)} > ]
The beast felt its body power off, it really, really could had used that message a little faster. All the energy it forced out to defend itself was for not. It fell to the ground, powerless. Fear had consumed all it had and all it wanted now was to rest. Rest, the beast thought, now that it thought about it the fear it feels, the pain of being thrown on the ground, everything is starting to feel too real to the beast. Could its brain really make up something so real? Shaking its head once more, the beast started to get back up. It couldn't rest now, and it'll question everything after rest. Turning its head towards its brother, whom was still in the playful stance that almost ended the beast. His tail shaking his whole body, waiting to be tackled, staring at the beast as it the beast was gold he dug up.
The beast pulled its paw up, feeling the dead weight of its paw, just to stamp it down on its brother's head. Trying to break its brother out of a playful mood, or maybe to show its not in a playful mood. Truthfully the beast does not know how wolves move and converse to each other. It only knows how to deal with playful dogs. When its brother growled at it, it didn't seem like a hostile growl. Do wolves growl to communicate? Should the beast growl to say stop? As the beast pondered on how to communicate, its brother tried to squish its face into the beasts' paw. Moving the baby fat on his cheeks into his snout turning his snout into a puffy, squishy melt that wants attention.
Looking down at its brother, the beast pulled its paw back. Stepping back a little before sitting. Its brother copied the beast, stepping back a little before sitting down, letting out a small growl with its tail wagging. The beast had its full attention. Slowly the beast opened its mouth, before closing it. How was it supposed to growl? What way is it supposed to ask for the rest of the family's location? Did this cub even know where they were at? The beast went back to old methods, questioning its own questions before they came out. Its brother noticed the beast hesitation and let out a playful woof towards the beast. It's tail wagging once more.
Looking up at its brother, the beast opened its mouth again. Only for the sound of a dog imitating a wolf's growl to come out from the beast. The beast shot its head down. Everything is going wrong, nothing is right. The beast wanted everything to end. Sighing, the beast tried to bark, to make a woof-like sound. Just for that one to sound even more like a dog imitating the big-bad wolf. At the very least, better a dog imitating then to sound like a human.
Its brother turned its head this time, looking at the beast with confusion, letting out a woof again. Before it seems to realize something as it began to look around. Standing up the cub started to push the beast, his tail wagging, as he started to walk. Looking back to make sure the beast was following. Perhaps the beast dog-growl manage to work.
As they walked through the slowly dimming forest, the beast couldn't stop its enjoyment of small nonsensical things. What caught the beasts' eyes was a group of small flowers. Small little white flowers that sat by themselves. They barely pushed past the grass, yet they fought to live. Its brother watched as it tilted its head. Looking back, the beast quickly shot up and followed its brother. Not wanting to anger the other cub.
Their walk was long, the sky once filled with light now dimmed, an orange hue slowly being over turned by blue filled the sky. As night was slowly starting to show. The beast wondered what species of wolf lefts its young for the whole day? As questions began to start in the beast mind again, someone, better yet something stopped it.
While walking, the two beasts felt a strong vibration starting from their feet up to their heads. The beasts' brother turning around to quickly hide underneath the beast. It's head underneath the beast stomach while the rest hung without protection. This vibration was not one from an earthquake, no, and the beasts learned this fact fast. As a loud, demanding, thunderous sound beamed into the two beasts' ears. The sound came to fast to be a man-made weapon. Shaking, the beast looked around wondering if what made that noise. Was that an explosion? Its brother slowly crawled out of its hidey hole, allowing the beast to move around as it looked. Before the sound of growling and barks could be heard.
Turning to look at each other, the brother cub began to walk in the direction of the barking and growling. Its tail was happily wagging since they found the pack! Their family is just a few more steps away. And they probably have something to eat! If only the beast held some of that excitement as it could only think about the explosion. What caused it? And then it hears barking? After a boom like that. To the beast, this situation didn't taste good, it tasted of bitterness. Yet, the beast followed its brother. Maybe, just maybe it was over thinking. The system said there was no failure for this too! So surely everything is fine.
The two beasts fought through branches and branches of berry bushes and fallen shrubs. The beast couldn't help but question how they were supposed to act with family? Should it go into a playful stance? Should it growl at them too? At the thought of growling again, the beast shook its head. It didn't want to go through that again. As the beast saw a clearing, it picked up on the faint smell of iron, the beasts' brother already started to rush. Trying to run out the bushes they were in, and join the family in a hunt, believing this iron smell to be their meal. Yet the beast, acting on instinct, bit its brothers neck and pinned him down. Stopping his attempt to run out the bushes they were hiding in. Its brother didn't try to fight back, seemly noticing something as well. Perhaps the beasts' instincts were right, it should question everything.
A wolf cub, bigger then the beast and its brother, was laid on the ground. Surrounded by a crimson red pool, its eyes bursting open in fear. Mouth left open agape, as though it tried to get one last attack before falling to its wounds. another cub laid face first into the soil. No respect given to the bigger looking cub, it appeared as though death came to it so fast it didn't know its life ended. A smaller pup rested under another pup. The two looks as though they wanted to pass within a loved ones' arms, as they wrapped around each other, neither sides willing to let the other go. Scared if they do, that even in the afterlife they will never meet again. All showing signs of death at different times, yet they still moved to be together after death. Making sure to join each other's final spot, so no young ones is left behind in the afterlife.
Turning its head away from the sight, the beast remembered its hold on its brother, letting go of its brother whom seemed, gone. His eyes were not focused, his body shaking heavily as his mouth was agape, gasping for air. Though his eyes didn't focus the beast could see the clear emotion they held. Quietly, the beast positioned itself to be in front of its brother. Shielding him from the gruesome sight. The beast looked back towards the bloody screen. From its point of view, it could see many different humans with animal features. All different species yet acted in a group, following only one leader. There seem to be two normal looking humans in the mix though, one with green hair, the other blonde.
As the beast watched them fight something out of its view, a new figure joined. Long, pink hair came to view, within the pink lies a few strings of yellow. Those strings of yellow were tied up into the back sides of the hair, forming a half-up-half-down back ponytail to fall behind. Making the hair appear like it was shining even with the suns dimming light as the hair glowed, deer antlers rest on top stretching outwards as if there were open arms waving towards the sun. Underneath the antlers was a golden butterfly, with a string coiling around her head. Small jewels could be seen hanging off the butterfly and its strings, leading off the butterfly were stars pushed into the hair. Going further down, a necklace that shines a similar gold to the butterfly that sits on top her head rests on the neck. Leaning down into a small shaped diamond that sits on top the chest.
The shirt, an ocean fill light colored turquoise blue, was not nearing the neckline, but the collarbone. Said shirt was halted by a deep cerulean blue leather corset that laid over both a shirt and halfway on top of an asymmetrical skirt that flew to the left side of it. Leaving a small show of leg, that were quickly hidden by knee long socks underneath the skirt. All was left was the brown leather boots the lady wear. The right boot seems to have a ribbon wrapped around it shaped into a bow. In her right hand, she was holding a lantern. However, the flame within was nor orange or yellow, it was a light purple, a sweet, gentle periwinkle laid within.
As the beast stared at this newcomer, the deer antler opened her mouth and spoke, causing the two adult looking wolves to become seen as the group of mult-human-species made room for the deer antler. The deer antler smiled at the two wolves and the two injured cubs fighting aside them. Her smile ran a chill down the beast, something, something about this one said danger. Quickly the beast turned to look at the still fighting members. Before the beast could steal a good glance at the four, wind came cutting. The beast closed its eyes, sharp wind being everywhere, as though other explosion happened, yet the two beasts didn't hear anything. There was no ground shaking, no loud noise, it came out of nowhere. Once the air cleared, the beast opened its eyes, to see the bloody aftermath.
The two cubs, the two that were just alive, that were just fighting side by side with their mother, were gone. Ones head was missing, gone without a trace. Such a perfectly clean cut the cubs' body didn't have enough time to produce blood to spread everywhere. Its headless body standing still just for a moment, needing time for gravity to pull its corpse down. The beast stared in shook for the sight it has witness, it began to look around, looking for the other cub, looking for its resting place. Looking more closely at the beheaded cub, was an extra paw. Just, one, lone, paw. The other cub was gone, the only thing left of it is its paw. They could not rest side by side with their family, even in their resting spots they couldn't have each other. Forced into being alone, while being surrounded by family.
The beast forced itself to turn away, looking for the surviving wolves. They stood side by side with each other both having gruesome injures. The older, bigger looking wolf was bleeding from a hold on its left side, perhaps this is from whatever killed the two cubs? Its right eye was missing while its right hind leg had an arrow sticking through it. Its left ear was missing as well, it appeared to had been cut off. The wolf next to it, what the beast believed to be its mother since the older wolf was a male, also had a gaping hole on her side. Looking more closely, she had a broken jaw and a punch mark under her eye. A dagger stuck deeply in her back, not moving an inch no matter how much she dodged attacks and attacked back. It was jammed in there.
Finally, maybe in some sick play of power, part of her tail was cut off. The beast looked as far as the branches let it, but it couldn't find where that part of her tail was left. Maybe, they never left it and planned on taking it home to wear. Even after all this abuse, all this torture, their mother and her companion were still in a battle stance.
The deer antler lady wiped her forehead, waving her lantern in the air she called for someone in the back. Before closing her mouth, a silent cruse escaped under her breath as she realized something. Stomping her foot on the ground, she slammed her lantern down as she threw her fist at the last standing hounds and shouted. Turning on her heel, she went to sit under a tree.
At the commend, bows were pulled back, swords appeared out of thin air, leaving a mist in the air as they showed, the fight starting all over again. Bows let go first, slicing through the air towards the hounds. Their mother jumped left, dodging the upcoming arrow. Before breaking open her mouth to catch another, glaring at the long-eared archer who let dared to go. Snipping the arrow in her mouth, she took charge. Moving right, then left she leaped into the air, mouth opened wide showing all her bloody teeth. As a sword came flying to strike her open mouth. She quickly shut her maw down on the sword, standing on her two hind legs as the archer fell back, onto the ground. A swordsman standing between him and hound, protecting him.
The swordsman pushed his sword to the side, throwing the hound off balanced leaving her on the floor. Walking to the laying hound, raising his sword high up in the air, a clanking noise rattled as his sword fell to the ground. The male hound bit into his shoulder, turning his head he threw the swordsman into the air, jumping on his hind legs to bite his arm again, shaking his head he slammed the swordsman onto the ground. As the winded hound got back up, she quickly moved to her companions' side, biting down on another arrow aimed for his head as the hound bit down on the swordsman neck. The swordsman kicked at the hound before throwing a punch into his face, at this the hound bit harder, making a defining crackling noise. Letting go of the swordsman neck, the hound stepped on his chest, overlooking their attackers.
Turning her head to look with the male hound, she couldn't help but take a glance at her fallen babies piled up on each other. Her tail slowly stopped wagging, a soft whine escaped her snout. Their lives taken before it even started, and for what she questioned as a dagger was thrown between them. She ran to the right, wanting to get her claim on their attackers. They did not attack them for food, so why; jumping up the hound took an arrow to her stomach, as she opened her muzzle, biting another archers head in a snap. The arrow in her stomach turning to ash as she snapped her head up, jolting to another without wasting a single breath on her first kill.
They were not attacked for the need of survival, so why; The male hound took the right, stepping on top of body parts as he ran to another swordsman. Before the swordsman summoned his sword, the hound bit into his leg, aggressively shaking his head right and left. The man screamed as he kicked the hound, yelling for his companions to help him. As a lady ran to him holding a dagger, a sickening creak stopped her before a pop was heard. The lady stared at her friend, her face falling in horror watching his leg get ripped off his body. Muscles tearing as they try to keep the leg attached, his calves' muscles now showing as they twitch and throb around in the detached leg. Yelling with all her strength, she threw her dagger into the hounds missing right eye. Causing the hound cry out pain, letting go of the leg he rushed back to the female hound. The lady ran to her friend, falling to the ground she held him as they both talked to each other. The man letting out a laugh as he pointed to his missing leg.
As the hound reached the female hound, she pulled the dagger out of his missing eye. Will her cubs forgive her for being a terrible mother? Why would they; A yelped left his muzzle as a woman jumped onto his back. Grabbing the arrow stuck in his hind leg, twisting it before trying to pull it out. The hound bucked his hind legs out, causing him to stubble back away from the female hound, the woman grabbed the arrow tighter, her free hand reached out and grabbed his back, nails getting lost in his fur. The female hound prepared herself to help fend off the woman before any harm is done, before she could help her companion another swordsman found his way between the two, two swords rest in his hands.
One sword raised above his head, the other rest in front of his stomach. Walking towards the hound, she launched at him. Quickly changing his swords, the swordsman parried the attacked by slicing his upper sword down vertically, the hound pulled her head back, barely dodging the swords tip. Looking back at the man the hound could see he took a few steps back. The hound ran to him again, steering from his left side readily to pounce.
As she lowered herself to the ground, looking over to the side to the hound shaking the lady on his back off, taking the arrow out with her. She couldn't stop herself from looking over at her fallen cubs. The red filled vision disappearing as the cold hard truth came crashing down. Her cubs were gone, no matter what she did she couldn't get them back. Her ears fell to the side, a soft whine left her snout, she held one, last, single asked for this cruel world; May she tell her babies she loves them even if they despise her?
As the thought came to view, she noticed bushes shaking. Moving without reason, she jumped to the side, leaving the two-wielded swordsman, starting to move back to the bushes with the smallest hope of maybe. The hound once getting rid of the woman on his back, quickly turning to her sitting on the ground in a dazed he opened his muzzle and bit down. Ripping her head off. Once reaching the shaking bushes, she moved her head in to check for anything to replenish her energy. Or maybe, a dying mothers last wish.
Trying to push into the bushes, a set of paws push her out. The beast sitting down with both its paws out stretch, pushing its mother away from their hiding spot. Its brother hiding behind it, shaking as his ears fell back, sitting on top of his tail. The bushes shook from a different reason now though, as their mothers tail wagged faster then the eyes could blink. Moving the leaves but a few. As fast as she appeared, as fast as she left out, only the faint sound of a warning bark in her leave.
Turning her head to the hound, they locked eyes. Seemingly communicating without voices, a nod was all the hunters could see before they scattered, if these beings want to kill them, they must work for the satisfaction of their last breath. The female hound ran right, away from her last two cubs, while the male hound took the left, the direction of the two hounds, yet far enough of them that the chasing hunters will have no reason to check. As they took off running, the hunters stood still for a moment, before a sharp voice yelled at them from the trees. Barking out orders while pointing with her free hand, the other holding a piece of meat.
The beast, now identify to be a hound, turned around to face its brother. Opening its mouth once again, it bit into his neck before trying to run. Using the shade from the trees and bushes as cover. It's ear flicking to a ding noise again, yet this time the hound believes to already know what the System will say.
[ < NEW ADJUSTIVE: Survive with your
The beast dragged its brother through bushes, snapping twigs as moved, trying its best to get away from these hunters with the added weight. Legs shacking under pressure, was the beast always so heavy? It feels as though it has blocks of cement on its back. Nothing is working how the beast wanted, no matter how much it wanted to believe this was all a dream the smell of iron was to strong to be fake.
Suddenly, the hold on its brother was loosen. Its brother was fighting and wiggling to get out its hold. The beast bit harder, causing a whine of pain to escape its brother it couldn't let go, it couldn't die it. It didn't want to die. If it let go, it'll die, the System will kill it, it didn't want to let go!
Not looking down to see where it was walking pain went through the beast letting out a whine, the beast let go of its brother before looking down to see it stepped on a sharp rock. Its brother threw his head back and away from the beast, not allowing for a hold to happen again, before looking at the beast. His eyes were lost, he didn't know what to do nor where it was anymore. So, he looked at its only family member last for what to do, not to be choked.
As they looked into each other eyes, the beast hesitantly took a step, its brother following, one more step, once again its brother followed. The beast nodded as someone, something, barking out orders looking back at the bush they were hiding in the beast saw the leaves moving, making way for something to see. The hounds took off. Not caring for the noise they were making as they ran.
The leaves opened their eyes holding a small smile as they watch the hounds as they run. Slowly turning its small smile into a crooked smirk showing off a small part of its teeth, as its eyes lazily open. Turning back, its whole body showed as it shouted back to the hunters;
He always wanted a dog.
Walking through a forest is easy, no? Running through a forest is tricky, yes? Being hunted will be very, very hard then.
The once beautiful branches faded into the burry background long ago, if the beast didn't know where it was before, now it truly doesn't know where they are. It didn't focus on this matter for long though, the only thing in focus for the hounds was, nothing. They just needed to get away, to escape, to live. The beast took a quick glance back before falling over a rock, its brother stopping its race forward to look back at its sibling, worried it to will die. The beast held its whine of pain, instead it rolled over and quickly got back up. The beast cursed itself before looking back.
Turning its head back, the beast scanned the forest. It didn't hear any footsteps when they ran, looking at its brother it seemed to be on the same page as the beast. It didn't hear anything as well. Taking one step towards its brother an arrow landed in-between them. Nearly missing the beasts' nose.
The beast froze. There was no one when it looked, just the bushes and trees they ran past. Where they surround? The beast felt its body become heavy, it felt so tired. Its brother looked back to see where the arrow came from, the beast looked over at him feeling an emotion go through it as it watched its brother, scared and afraid, yet trying to help protect it, letting out a bark, the beast turned to start running again. If they can't smell the attacker, then they're not close enough. That arrow was a free-shot, they needed to run further away, run till they can't feel any part of their body.
As the beast started to run in front of its brother, another arrow was soon shot. Causing the beast to falter. Falling down, it moved its right paw to be in front of its left causing it to slide on the dry dirt. Banging against a tree, the beast looked down to see bloody stains following its descent. Another arrow being the cause for this sight, as the arrow sits stuck in the beasts' hind leg. The sound of something running at cause the beast to look up, only to see its brother running to it, his eyes widen as he barks in alert worry.
The beast pushes itself to get up, its legs shaking from pain yet it can't falter now. Not now. Looking as its brother finally reaches it, the beast watches as its brother lowers himself to the beasts' wound. Before, the arrow was pulled out. Its brother opened his mouth and bit onto the arrow, giving a small nudge before pulling. Taking it out in one pull. The beast yelped out of pain, not able to hold its whine. Pain took over the beast as it kicked and tried to bite. Why, why did this thing want me in pain? The beast questioned. Blood was now pouring out of the beast, though it did heal quickly that did not lessen the pain. The beast, eyes now filled with confusion and pain, tried to bite its brother again only to be stopped by wind cutting. Another arrow shooting between the hounds.
As the two jumped back away, the beast closed its eyes before yet again, turning to run. One step in, a whine was heard. An arrow pierced the beasts' back, shooting through its spine at an angle. Falling down, the beast weakly pulled its head up to warn its brother to just run, to leave it. Just to see its brother in the air, being held up by the throat by a human. One from the hunter's group.
The man whom held its brother had his eyes closed, and wear a sicken sweet smile. His free hand raised to hold his chin as he opened its mouth to talk.
"This puppy doesn't look good~? Are you sick?"
The man's voice was so sweet, so sweet as he slowly killed the hound. Slowly blocking its airway, making the hound open its mouth with the foolish hope that oxygen will travel down its throat on its own and it could breathe again. The hound felt his heart beating as the cold, creeping touch of death embraced the hounds' body. Feeling its body go limp the hound tried to pull its paws up and push the man away, shaking its body to try and bite his hand, anything. The mans smile kept growing as he watched the hound struggle for life. The hound felt its chest throw out in pain, its heart beating so fast the hound cried out while struggling to bite.
I don't wanna die
The beast stared at the screen in-front of it. Its brother, the one it was tasked to find, the one that jumped it, the one that just wanted to play, be tortured to death. Will this man do the same to it? I don't wanna die Or will the man leave it after its brother died.
The latter felt worst to the beast, being left alone to slowly die from blood loss next the corpse of its brother. Being forced to stare into his eyes, and know it's your fault he died. If the beast never went to find him, he still will be playing with that white butterfly. If the beast said no to the System, he'll be playing still. Why wasn't the beast kinder to him? Why did the beast call him an "It"? Shaking its head, the beasts' lips moved into a small curl. A sad smile. it's all the beast's fault. I don't wanna die