Chasing the sun

The forest was silent. The animals, the plants, were waiting. And then the sickening crack echoed through the trees.

Protector
My paws raced over the forest floor, my heart pounding. I could only hope Talon, Lunar, and Fang were safe. Only that hope kept me running, even after exhaustion.The pads on the bottom of my paws were worn and bleeding. Gunshots seemed to fly through the forest, wounding everything they hit. The crack had signaled the guns. The forest’s fate was in my paws. I was the protector. Only my friends could help me. And they might not even be alive. I looked at the sun, my eyes blazing. The war had begun.

Lives
I continued to run, without a sense of direction. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t know where I would end up. I just knew I was running for my life, and my life could be could be as short as rumplestiltskin. I suddenly felt like a cheetah, even though I was a fox. I fell. Sounds of the shots surrounded me. The pattern of Lunar’s fur flashed past me. A strong shoulder pushed me upward, and together, we continued to run. I felt anger and embarrassment flush through me. I didn’t need help from someone I didn’t even know! I glanced over. It was Talon. I was completely fine with that.

Wailing
But where had Lunar gone? I soon got my answer. She slowed, looking back at as. Fang’s familiar shape brushed past me. The sound of another shot bounced off the forest trees. An anguished wail sliced through the air, stopping as abruptly as it had come. There was silence. A mourning howl soon followed the wail. There was the sound of footsteps toward where the wail had come. Another gunshot. Another wail.

Broken
I realized we had stopped running. I nudged Talon, wincing. I must have broken a paw when I fell, but it was not the time to heal it. “Run!” Lunar called.She was far ahead now. She was right, there were footsteps closing on us. I bolted through the forest. With every step a feeling of pain shot up  my leg  all the way to my jaw. Fang pushed ahead of us all, swerving into a narrow crack between to boulders. “Follow Fang!” I yelled over the sound of our paws hitting the floor, “ It’s our best chance!”Another gunshot sounded.

Determined
Talon yelped and shoved me into the crack, soon squeezing in after me. The sound of Lunar’s pawsteps pounded after us, she must have fallen behind. There was another shot, and a yowl of pain, followed by more footsteps. They were right behind us. And by the look of things, Lunar might not be able to help me.

Friends
I whirled around, shoving Talon behind me. Bolting forward to help Lunar, I snarled as loudly as I could. As soon as my paws hit close ground, my jaw snapped open. I leaped at the ‘humans’.

Protecting
They were surprised as I bit one of them.“Lunar,” I growled, “get away from here. Go with Talon and Fang. And don’t come back for me.”She stared at me for a moment, then backed away, disappearing into the shadows. I launched myself at the intruders, gasping as one of them held up a gun. It was gleaming. I shook my pelt in midair, confused. I realized there was a sharp metal pick attached right as it hit me.

Coming back
Apparently, it also had ridges. Also apparently, it can hurt really badly. And draw blood. Everything was looking pretty dark about then. Partly because they came back for me.

Lifeless
It happened quickly. I also may or may not have partly missed it because I was blacking out. Very slowly. Heh heh heh.. Anyways, Lilac ran towards the invaders with Talon and Fang right behind her. They leaped, their teeth gleaming. The intruders ran away. The last thing I saw was the lifeless bodies of two wolves hanging from their bags. Then I blacked out.

Entrance
When I awoke, I was in a cave, in a bed of leaves. The only thing was, it couldn’t have been a cave, there was no entrance. So how was I in there? I tried to get up and winced, glancing at my paw. It was wrapped in vines. Wait- was that supposed to be a cast? Where had those vines come from? There has to be an entrance. I told myself firmly, ''There has to be. Or an exit’’.

Green blob??
I looked around me in despair. There. My gaze narrowed in on a green blob on the far side of the cave. I got to my paws, careful not to put weight on the broken one. Slowly but surely I struggled to the green blob.

Stones and Vines
I was no more than a few feet away of what I could now barely recognize as vines,when my broken paw hit a nearby stone that I hadn't noticed. I yelped as red leaked through the vines. ''Think. Now there is only more of a reason to get to those vines. I got to get this darn paw healed.''

The Meadow
I finally stumbled the last few steps toward the vines. Carefully, I pushed the vines aside to reveal a wide open meadow. The meadow seemed to glitter with magic and beauty, but a cloud of danger seemed to hang over it. What could be dangerous here? I thought. And I stepped into the meadow.

Confused
“Whoa Whoa Whoa.” Talon stepped in front of me. “ You’re not well enough yet to go explore.”

He seemed shaken.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

A look of confusion flashed across his face, turning into realization.

“Oh, just something a lady told us.”

I could tell he wasn't lying, but I could also tell there was something about what he had been told. And he wasn't telling me what.

“ So.. The others are all right?” I asked.

“ Yes, they are quite comfortable, actually.” He glanced around the meadow nervously. “Now go inside the cave, the others would be waiting.”

Are you kidding me??
But there was only one entrance. I thought''. And I didn’t see anyone''. I groaned. “Wait-you mean there are other entrances?”

He laughed. “ Yes, there are. Don't keep them all waiting! It certainly took them as long to find the entrances as for you to find the exit.”

I frowned. “ And what of you? What are you going to be doing?”

He sighed. “ I’ll tell you later. Stop being difficult!”

“ Okay. “ My voice softened, “ Dont get hurt.”

With that I hobbled into the cave.

I'm so mad right now
Talon was right. They were all waiting for me in the cave. I growled in frustration.

“Where the heck were the other entrances??” I yelled at Fang.

“Ummm..” He tried to contain his laughter.

“What?” I demanded.

A white she-wolf with silvery grey stripes stood and waved a weird looking staff. About twelve more entrances opened around the stone table they were sitting.

Wait-Magic Trees?? That’s a thing??
I gasped, confusion sweeping over my face for a second.

“How-”

“Magic, darling.” The wolf smiled, as if keeping something secret.

I tilted my head.

“Oh, sorry sweetie. My name is Tree. Magic is a very slippery thing. It takes years to master.’

 

‘You see, I have mastered the magic of healing. You can only master one thing. I chose healing.”

 

“Why healing??” Fang looked genuinely confused.

 

I sighed. “Some people actually want to HELP people.”

Lunar giggled.

“But WHY?” Fang wrinkled his nose.

I raised my paw, ignoring him. “One question. Who ARE you?”

“Sorry, darling. Did I not mention it? My name is Tree.”

Chapter 3
"Wait- the Tree??" I exclaimed.

Tree smiled.

Fang tilted his head. " A tree?? How is that important??"

Lunar gasped. "Oh my gosh!! TREE??"

'''Theories!!!! Who do you think Tree is? Comment!'''

Anger
“Okay, let me get this straight. So, YOU’RE STILL ALIVE?!?!”’ I was enraged after Tree explained everything. E-N-R-A-G-E-D.

“After all this time, all these times you could have helped Jamaa, YOU JUST- WHAT!?” I paused for breath. My voice grew dangerously low. “Decided not to?!”

 

“Well-” Tree started.

 

“No. No. NO excuses.Why?” I growled, my tail lashing. “ You could have- we might have not- WHY!?” I was usually quiet, but now..

My eyes flashed with annoyance and anger, my tail lashed angrily, my claws dug into the hard, suddenly cold ground beneath me.

 

“You see-”

 

I cut her off. When I spoke, my voice was no louder than a growl.

“My sister died because of you.”

Stranger Danger???
Every day it was the same thing, snap at Tree during breakfast, practice battling, snap at Tree during lunch, learn boring stuff, and snap at Tree during dinner. I was plain tired of the little- A bell rang out, followed by shouting and startled yelps. I recognized the voices- Tree and Lunar. The previously shouting voice yelled once more, this time more clearly. "Surrender! You will never defeat the army!!"

"What army?" I called, sauntering out of where I was sleeping. Tree was huddled in a corner, bent over something while Lunar stood defensively nearby. "The one that tries to chase us? ... and failed?" At that moment Talon ran in. "GOODNESS MIRA!! STRANGER DANGER!!" He screeched. "Gee, I wonder how you noticed."

True as my heart
"No, that was only a diversion." When the voice spoke, it was very calm. "When you actually face us, you will perish."

Lunar's tail flicked in annoyance. "What is you name?" She demanded. "I need to know your name before I kick your sorry butt."

"My name is Copper. And I should warn you to choose your next words carefully."

"Excuse me." I interrupted. "Aren't you the one who killed my sister?"

I sprang at him as his eyes widened. He stood defensively, with his claws ready. I narrowed my eyes in determination and ducked through his legs, twisting around while I slid across the stone floor. My eyes locked onto my target: his neck. When I leaped, claws out and jaw ajar, my aim was true. Blood slowly dripped from the gash I had made, but I didn't let go. I needed to get revenge. I sprung off his back and struck again. This time I went for his ears, which already had multiple chips in them. My claws shredded them to stumps. A blood curdling shriek cut through the air. He had sprinted away. I quickly grabbed a bow and arrow. My aim was once again true. As true as my heart.

Talk about some family problems...
When I glanced around, my friends were locked in combat. Except for Lunar. She was standing defensively over Tree, and clawing anyone who came close.

“Lunar!” I called. “What are you doing? We could use some help you know!”

“I am helping.” She waved her paw dismissively, batting at another soldier’s ears.

I growled. “No. You’re not.”

“Yes. I am.”  She ducked under a flailing arm and lashed out with her back paw, hitting the soldier square in the chest. I edged closer.

“Well, fine. I’M going to go help fight.” I strutted away.

“I am helping!” She called after me.

“By what?” I shot back, extending my claws and hitting a nearby soldier. “Protecting a killer?”

“No. By protecting my sister. And our newest team member.”

Screams
As I clawed and bashed my way through waves of soldiers, Lunar's words replayed in my head. It was almost like a remix.

Sis, Sis-sis, sister, sis-sis-sis, Sis, sis, sister, ter, -te-te-te, ter, sister, sis-ter, sis-sis-sister.

I groaned. In that moment of weakness, my flank was hit by a flying arrow. I yelped in pain. Tree turned around, her eyes glinting. Lunar was nowhere to be found. There was blood on the ground next to Tree. Tree threw a wad of something greenish brown at me. It hit me in the mouth while I was gaping at her.

It tasted like, well, let’s just say if someone had chemically combined broccoli, spinach, and brussel sprouts and left it out for a day- ugh- that’s what it tasted like. Maybe worse. Of course, Tree being Tree, there was an aftertaste as if carrots, green tea ice cream, and swiss chard had been through the same process. I kept fighting, ignoring my now stinging side and my blurry vision. I had a pounding headache and a churning stomach ache. My paws were muddy and there was a ringing in my ears. And I fell. I curled into a tight ball, waiting for the blows. I could barely move my legs. Black inked across my vision. It spread like a virus until I could only see darkness. There was a blinding flash, and my vision was restored, only to find I now had multiple wounds. I shivered as pain racked my body. I couldn’t move. I screamed into the frigid air. I received a chorus of earsplitting shrieks.

Dream
My eyelids lifted partially open.

"Fa-fa- father?" I murmured faintly. A faint shape was glowing in front of me.

It was a cat, with a strong build. The cat had hazelish brown fur with white tabby marks.

"Yes?" A firm but somehow gentle voice replied.

"It is you?" I cried with relief and happiness. Drops of tears flooded my face.

"Of course! Now, listen closely... There is a prophecey...'

"To the one who stands alone

To the one who chases the sun

To the one who's never grown

To the one who forever won,

The time has come for you

To join in groups of two,

The powers are shifted

The curses are lifted,

Don't forget to follow the shrew,

The ancient ones reside,

Where the color meets the ride

You must find the artifacts they hide,

and let them be your guide,

To win or to lose,

To survive or be overtaken,

Is what you would have to choose

If you proceed

There's not a promise you will..." He faded away. Darkness edged around my vision. The world in front of me churned and changed into inky blackness.

Gone
I gasped, breathless, as I came to. I was lying still where I had fallen. There was a splash of red in the floor. And Lunar was still gone.

"T-Talon?" I muttered. "Wh- What happened?" My vision shifted from in focus to blurry.

"With you? You were squirming around on the floor and, err, well, errrrrrrrrr-"

"It was AWESOME! You should have seen it!! Talon had this weird yellow thing around him and all of a sudden there were storms EVERYWHERE!!!" Fang interrupted, eager. "And- and, he was standing over you while you were twitching and there was blasts of winds that shot at the army as soon as they approached you!! And-"

A dark figure approached, and Fang fell silent. Tree stood malevolently nearby.

"Who are you?" Lunar whispered.

"Me?" the figure laughed, revealing orange-red fur with magenta stockings (a type of leg marking) as she stepped into the light. "My name is Jaxsey, and I'm here to help you find your friend. You can call me Jaxs."

“REAWAKEN!” I yelled suddenly. Everyone, including Jaxs, yelped. “THAT'S IT!”

Landslides suck, and so does yelling. Oh, and death.
Fang slid across the cave floor in his hurry to start searching for Lunar. Tree was indignantly strolling towards the vine-laced entrance. Jaxsey was waiting outside by the time Talon and I came out.

"This way." With a flick of her ears, Jaxsey marched north, towards the rocky sandstone cliff in the distance. From my view, I could just barely make out a cave.

A scream echoed through the valley, which was where the Tree's home was located, coming from the cliff. Fang began to run, very quickly. His legs were such a blur you could barely see them.

"Go to those cliffs!" Jaxsey called after him. A rumbling sound followed her shout. Rocks and plants started sliding down the long valley walls.

"Landslide!" Talon yelled, and the boulders started slipping down faster.

And we ran. We ran fast and hard. We ran until we could feel our feet no more, yet the valley still seemed to stretch on for ages. The stones still tumbled behind us, closing in fast. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, yet we kept running. Suddenly, I heard a yelp of pain.

"Jaxsey!" I screamed, only making the cliffs tumble in faster.

"Go without me." She gasped. "You know where to go."

Before I could answer, dirt covered her orange red fur, and her magenta-colored ears vanished beneath the soot. The last I saw of her was her ice tail armor, and her orange and blue bow sticking up like a dorsal fin on a dolphin. A white and dark blue feather peeked up from the rubble. Looking back while running, I could have sworn I could see the glint of metal, where her Mira pendant would have been. As I continued to run, I could hear her voice in my head.

''I would rather die heroic in a freak accident than curl up and wait for trouble. Suicide would be better than that.''

Survival
We continued to run. Fang was about a mile ahead of us already. He didn’t know about Jaxsey.

“Fang!” I called. The rocks tumbled in faster.

“What?” He swirled around. A mixture of fear, anger, and concern crossed his cloudy features. Rocks fell.

“Nevermind. Let’s get out of here before anybody else gets crushed.” I yelled.

“WHAT!?” His eyes shot wide.

The rocks began to catch up with us. The valley, still, stretched on. Muttering underneath my breath, my running slowed. The streak of fur that once was Fang’s running legs was no more. We had caught up to him, but we didn’t dare to speak. Tree was still panting alongside us. I was surprised that her frail limbs were still thrumming on the ground, in rhythm with the rest of us.

At last, I could take no more. My running faded to breathless walking. My breathing dwindled. My heart stopped. And I thought of Jaxsey. I thought of my sister and my mother and father. All of them- dead. A wave of guilt crashed over me, and it felt like I was drowning in my own sorrow.

As I thought, my energy level dropped, until I had stopped trying to run completely. I felt the stones crash over me. I closed my eyes, ready to embrace it…

A well-muscled shoulder pulled me up. What happened next was blurry, though I remember seeing light once more. And a cave. And a single horseshoe. One arrow flew past me, too. I think there was another one…

Then everything faded to dark.

Know-it-all
My heavy eyelids fluttered open, but only for a split second. Soon they again joined Talon’s and shut tightly.

''The toucan’s dark grey feathers shifted. His dark green feather obscured his round, orange eyes and his wings, with their red tips, launched the toucan off the ground. A few feet away, it landed, and the ends of it’s red ribbon scarf floated to the ground, the festive lights on its back glinting. Another figure was there. As it walked into the light, the first figure’s, the toucan’s, black legendary glove and and rare spartan helmet became visible. ''

''“Lilac…” The toucan crooned. A shriek of pain emitted from the second figure. The setting shifted to a room. A dark, dark room.''

My eyes snapped open. I was in a room. In fact, a very dark, dark room. The same room, precisely, as in my dream. Talon was already awake, using his claw to try to unlock the door.

“Where’s Lunar and Fang?” I asked. “Don’t tell me we lost them again already.”

Talon laughed. “Sorry to burst your bubble.”

He continued to pick the lock.

“Oh.” I got up and walked over to where he was standing. “You can’t pick this with a claw. It needs… a blast of some sort. The bad news is, only magic could cause that, and we don’t have that.” I stepped back, not knowing why I knew that or how. I could tell Talon was thinking.

“I got it!” He yelled.

“Wha-“ I was cut off as he gathered his paws to his chest and pushed them forward, a small whirlwind swirling above his paws. He jerked his paws up and the whirlwind enlarged and flew towards the lock. It exploded a few seconds later. The door swung open.

He grinned goofily at me. I grinned back as we walked through the doorway. I couldn’t help thinking of my dream, and the strange toucan.

The One
I ran ahead, which I admit, is not the smartest move in a foreign place. Talon was still behind me when I heard an, “OOF!”

I dunno why I wasn’t caught with that one. I thought, backtracking towards Talon.

He was stuck in a net. It seemed he had tripped on something.

“Help…” He murmured. “It- it’s one of those.. Electric…”

I listened no more. Soon, I had him out. I always had my trusty pocket knife available.

“Thanks.” He muttered, before finding the button to turn off all of the traps. He, after all, was always the brains of the operation. Or, at least, whenever Lunar wasn’t around. He was kind of a tech genius.

As we walked through the hall, checking every door. (One had lasers, one a cow, one a very angry muffin, endless possibilities) I thought back on our ho- our old home. I thought of all the animals, who had sacrificed their lives because they always knew one of us was.. The One.

The One… The one to stop this. The one to stop the madness. The One…

The one to bring the fall of the Steel Toucan Legion.

The One. Yes, you guessed it. It’s me.

And Talon. And Lunar and Fang and… someone else. We don’t know who.

How? How is one person five? How is one power multiple? How is one revenge many?

How is one legend split?

I’m such an idiot sometimes
A rabbit. A card game. A forest. A talking CD. (We were stuck there for a little) An inanimate Dino- AH! Oh. Sorry, I thought it was real, not a toy.

Moving on, Talon and I went through a lot of doors until we found Fang. Lunar wasn’t with him, but I was sure she was safe.

Fang was not in the best condition, I admit. So I probably shouldn’t have slashed the chains holding him to the floor. With my claws. Yeah… not the best. Oops.

Anywho, after he was free, he pointed us in the direction of Lunar. Talon had to support him as we walked, as he was very weak. I theorized that they went after him first. Wait. Then what if Lunar… No.

Again, I ran. (Wow I must really be in shape after this… Nope. Nevermind. Too many chips. And ice cream… probably. The ice cream must have been clouding my brain at this point.) I bolted towards random doors, pulling them open and losing hope as none of them held Lunar. Fang would grumble that I “wasn’t following his directions” and that I was “ignoring him when he told me I wasn’t following his directions.” Naw. I just was… not listening with any interest. Or at all.

Then I tripped, fell on my face, tripped both of my companions, and triggered another trap. Yay. (Totally not my fault.)

~W.I.P.~