.: History :.
(back story)
(back story)
The Twins
Both Parents were low ranked members of there small tribe but deeply in love. A few months later She gave birth to her twins. Twins are a sign of good fortune to the tribe So Fay and Galen were showered with gifts.
Sadly a neighbouring tribe heard of the twins birth and tried to claim them as there own, trying to steal them in the night.
Galen and Fay watched as there Farther protected them and there mother. After the battle One of the Cervitaurs who'd attacked them lay dead the other fled.
In the morning there farther was called before the council. The other tribe had said that He had attacked and killed there friend for no reason. He tried to explain whet had happened but they wouldn't listen.
He hugged Fay and Galen one last time and was lead away by the Cervitaur guards.
There mother cried that night when Fay asked when there daddy would be back.
Fay and Galen were awoken the next morning early by there mother she had packed little carrying packs for them and told them that she was taking them to there farther.
It was just getting light when they reached the edge of Nivae's Forest. There mother kept a quick pace which Fay and Galen could only just keep up with.
Staying between the beach and the forest there mother moved quickly no saying anything.
As it started to get darker she stopped and made a small hide den for Fay and Galen to sleep under.
Awoken early again Fay and Galen quickly ate there breakfast and started to pick up there bags there mother stopped them as told them to wait in the hide till she came back. She left enough food and water with them and making sure the Hide was covered Fay and Galen watch her leave.
Fay and Galen waited under the hide for the whole day and when night fell the huddled closer but still she did not return.
The next morning they were awoken by the sound of something coming nearer. They mover to the very back of the hide as it stopped near the entrance.
All Fay and Galen could see was a largish fox with a couple of rabbits over it's shoulder.
Fay was the first to move making a grab for the rabbits but a hand stopped her. Fay looked shocked as the fox started to change into something else.
This was when they met Minkey.
.:Minkey's Trial:.
Mink sighed as she put down the remains of her fishing net. She'd been working on it since early that morning and now she knew she wouldn't be finished before high tide. Carefully packing the net away she tided the camp before deciding she'd go do some hunting in the dark forest, As she had dubbed it.
Slowly mink started to change into a more suitable form for hunting. after her change mink padded out of the camp as a slightly large Blue tinged fox.
Hunting went well and soon Mink was on her way back with a brace of rabbits hung around her neck. Stopping quickly to get a drink she noticed a set of odd tracks in the mud. the were fairly fresh. probably made the night before.
letting her wild side take over mink decided to follow the tracks to see where they led.
The tracks seemed to double back on them selves a lot and the spacing of them meant that the one who left them was running. Mink stopped a larger set of tracks merged with the one he'd been following. What ever had been running was running from something. Mink knew that it probably wasn't alive anymore those track always led to a kill.
Turning back mink followed the trail back to the river and noticed the trail leading the other way. maybe she could find where it had come from.
mink slowly started tracking the pace was allot slower as the tracks were evenly spaced and they didn't seem to dabble back.
Something caught in minks nose. a new sent.
Carefully mink edged forward to gap in the trees. If mink hadn't been looking for something she would have walked right past it.
Tucked neatly in-between two large tree trunks was a small hide. creeping forward mink noticed two smaller sets of tracks swell as the ones she'd been following.
Picking up her courage mink mover closer to the hide.
Something moved inside as mink looked in.
Two pairs of eyes gazed out at her. slowly she moved forward seeing that they were only little.
Mink was just about to change when one lunged forward to grab the rabbits. mink caught her by the arm and changed into her more human form.
Both little ones looked shocked as she became normal but they didn't run.
Galen watched as this new creature grabed his sisters arm. ~Fay what should i do?~ he wished it was him that had been grabed. Fay would have known what to do.
Fay tested minks grip on her arm by pulling slightly the creature seemed to tighten her grip for a second but then let go.
Minkey watched as the two little ones tryed to back off into the hide. Knowing they must be afraid she smiled warmly.
"now then little ones. what are you doing alone in this part ofthe woods?"
Fay looked towards Galen who nodded slightly.
"Are herd have come here to do some hunting. There out at the moment but soon all 20 of them will be back." Fay said trying to be brave.
Minkey raised an eyebrow. "So theres 20 of you. well i guess theres no reason to worry. Just anwser me one queston. How long have you been waiting for you parent to come back."
Before Fay could speak Galen spoke up "She left yesterday morning". Galen jumped slightly as Fay kicked his leg.
Minkey nodded So it was there mother. "Well you to it still early if we leave now we can make it to my camp before lunch time."
"were not going with you" Fay said quickly moving closer to her brother
"do you want to starve here?" Minkey said moving away from the hide. She knew they were alone now and if she let them here they would die
Galen stood up and picking up his little bag he moved towards the opening in the hide
"Where are you going? we were told to wait here" Fay said moving infront of him.
"I know and when she comes back and finds us gone she'll find us." Galen said pulling out his dagger. "I'm going to mark the trees as we go so she'll know where to find us
Minkey sat a little awayfrom the hide waiting to see if they would come out or i they were staying. The snap of a twig brough her attention back to her surroundings.
Sniffing the air carfully she stiffened
~oh no~ mink thought quickly changing to her wolf form before darting to block the hide
Fay thought about it for a moment before grabing her bag aswell "I dont like the idea of leaving but if we leave a trail she can follow it should be alright."
Fay moved towards the opening but both were ruffly shoved back by the large blue wolf.
Galen started to moved towards his sister as he heard a voice
Minkey looked at the creature noseing at the rabbits she droped when she changed. turning her head she whispered to the two littleones "dont make a sound and dont move"
Not taking her eyes of the creature, who was happly eating her rabbits mink moved forward slowly trying to lure it away from the hide.
Fay was nearest the opening saw the large creature that was eating the rabbits and shuddered. She wanted to move back in the hide but she was to frightened to move. She could only watch as it ate both rabbits before looking towards the wolf.
Minkey gulped slightly as it finished the rabbits. it didn't look to hungry.
~just eat and leave~ mink tought as she watched the creature lick it's lips clean.
Mink sighed slightly as it truned to leave.
Fay gasped as the large creature stood and turned to leave. hanging from it's long matted coat as a red piece of leather with a silver dove patten on it.
"MOTHER" she screamed before putting both hands to her mouth
Minkey gasped as he creature turned towards the hide and liked it's lips again. It may have decided that she would put up to much of a fight to bother with but the little one would be an easy target.
Lunging forward mink grabed the creature by the hind leg carfully doging his claws and teeth.
Leaping onto his back she shouted to the two still in the hide. "RUN"
Galen grabed his bag and Fays hand. then he started running towards the beach
Fay followed Galen still in shock of what she had just seen
Minkey jumped back as the creature made another swipe for her ~at least there safe~ she thought as she watched them run off.
Her thoughts were pulled back as the creature turned to go after them.
darting infront of him mink scratching at his eyes with her claws.
The creature screamed thrashing about madly.
Galen stumbled slightly as his feet went from grass to sand. Sliding down the high dune he let go of his sisters hand and turned to face the woods. The howling of the creature could still be heard even though the had run a long way. Suddenly it stopped and a terrible shriek was heard that sent fear through him.
Sitting in the sand where she had landed just behind her brother Fay was still in a state of shock.
When she heard the scream she stood up and hugged Galen tightly.
"Yang what's going on? Where's mom? I'm scared"
holding her tightly he could do or say little to reassure his sister.
"I dont know Yin. But that strange human-fox-wolf thing(Mink) helped us." ~I hope she's ok.~ Galen thought the last bit quietly to himself as he picked up his bag again.
"Come on Yin we cant stay here. We need to find shelter for the night."
Turning to face up the beach he stopped suddenly. In front of them was a new creature.
They were the same size and looked slightly similar.
Fay almost ran into her brother as she turned around. Looking past him she saw someone coming towards them. At first she thought it was another cervitaur like them but as it got closer she noticed that instead of hooves like them this creature had paws.
As it stopped in front of them they looked each other over.
This new creature had reddish-brown fur that turned green at the legs and tips of there ears.
Bright blue eyes stared back at them through thick black hair that hung around the face. Fay jumped as they started to talk.
"Hi there I'm Jael." She said smiling happily. It had been along time since she had seen another Taur though she had never seen any like these two before. They were slender in the legs and there hooves were different from the centaurs she had met while in town. Sniffing gently her heightened senses picked up a familiar sent that clung to the smaller female. "oh you met up with mom. Come with me." She said turning back the way she had came.
Galen took a step forward to follow the little taur. But his sister pulled him back
"Yang" She whispered to her brother "how do we know we can trust her. We haven't seen another like her around."
Jael turned her head back round to face them. "oh my mom doesn't look like me. She can change her shape." Her ears suddenly perked up and she turner back the way she came.
"Look I don?t care if you trust me or not but there are a lot of dangerous creatures out here at night. So unless you want to make them a nice meal follow me."
Quickly she padded off up the beach.
.:Meeting Felicity:.
Mink sat bloody and hurt next to the lifeless body of her attacker. After the two little ones were out of harms way she had changed her form into that of a better fighter.
Sadly in the few moments she needed to change shape he had landed a very good blow that had broken her left arm. She knew she wouldn't be able to move it until the next morning, Changing slowly she knew she needed to get back to the camp. She also had to find the two young twins. As she finished changing she looked up there in front of her was another Cervitaur. This one though a bit older.
Felicity had come running at the sound of the battle. She had been tracking the beast for well over a year now and she knew it's roar any where. Dagger raised high she charged through the under growth. But as she cleared the last of the thicket she was just in time to see The final blow.
Watching the creature fall to the ground she felt the bitter sting of hatred flow through her. This other had killer HER target. How was she to avenge her parents now. Watching closely she noticed the strange creature that had won start to change shape.
Two new forelegs jutted out an with care she rose from her position. Standing there now where a wolf like creature had been now stood a wolftaur. She had only seen one once in her travels but could all wolftaurs change there shape?
Mink looked over the Cervitaur carefully. One hand was covered buy a glove the other held a dagger tightly. Sighing slightly mink smiled a little through the pain.
"If your looking for the twins they ran that way when the fighting started. Most likely if they went in a straight line they will be on the beach." Grabbing her necklaces that had broken off in the fight mink staggered slightly in the direction of her camp. At least it was one less thing for her to worry about.
Felicity was stunned for a second this creature had jumped into a fight to save two youngsters that weren't even hers. The Slow awkward way she was moving it was clear she was in a lot of pain.
"I know of no youngsters in these woods." Felicity said moving forward carefully thinking it might be a trap.
Mink stumbled slightly as she turned her direction towards the beach. Here whole body ached but she knew she'd have to find them now. Suddenly she felt someone next to her gently resting on her supporting her weight.
Moving carefully Felicity moved next to her helping her gently through the woods. Every now and then they would stop and rest but were soon moving again.
As they reached the beach the could see two sets of tracks going down the beach. But three sets of tracks leading up it.
letting out a sigh of relief Mink pointed to the third set of tracks. "It looks like the twins found my Jael. Though I told her to stay in the camp after dark." Carefully following the tracks they made there way down the beach. As they neared the edge of the woods mink pointed to smoke rising up ahead "There's my camp your welcome to stay the rest of the night if you like."
Nodding slightly Felicity had a lot of questions to ask but this was not the time.
She could tell that she was in a lot of pain just from breathing let alone walking and talking. As they neared the camp she could make out three small shapes sitting round a large fire.
Jael Jumped to her feet as two large figures loomed up the beach. Her fear turned to worry when she saw her mother being brough up the beach leaning on this new taur.
"Mom. Mom are you all right?" she called running towards them both.
Felicity was realy surprised now this foxtaur had called her mom. Was she this child's mother? the questions raced through her mind but a stumble brough her back.
Mink slipped on a loose stone and stumbled slightly glad that this new taur was halping.
"I'm ok Jael Just a little tired is all. Be a good girl and look after are guests while i go and rest." Leaning forward she kissed the top of Jael's head, brushing a few stray strands from her face.
Turning back towards the new taur she smiled the best she could.
"thank you for you help. I will be fine from here. If you need of anything ask Jael and she'll be more then happy to get it for you."
Turning back she smiled at the two young cervi's sitting next to the fire.
~ So my family grows~ she though happly carfully wandering through the camp and into the large tent.
Galen looked at his sister cross. "Look how beaten up she was yin. She got that cause you shouted."
Fay's eyes were filled with tears. "i'm sorry yang. It was just mother....Her robe.... that thing" Her voice trailed away into tears as she remembered the torn bit of cloth hanging from his fur.
Felicity looked across at the two young cerv's sitting next to the fire. The clokes they wore were not like the ones from around the woods in her area. They were thinner and brightly colored. They looked to be more for show then pratical use. This day had gotten Very intresting indeed. Taking her bag from her shoulder she sat next to the fire and was serprised when the young foxtaur handed her a plate with a selection of food on it
Mink awoke well before the dawn, like normal, and streatched her newly healed arm sore but healed.
Taking on a more normal appearence she quickly got dressed into a simple robe dress and headed out of the tent.
Next to the soft glow of the dying fire she could see the three cervis that had joined her the night before.
The two younger ones had moved closer to the older one and huddled in next to her.
She had to admit they did look cute togeather.
Picking up her fishing net she headed for the beach to catch breakfast.
Felicity stired in her sleep and gently opened her eyes. It was dawn and the dew was just forming on the grass. Looking around she noticed thet the two little ones had moved closerin the night.
She smiled slightly as she bruched a stray hair fom ones forhead.
As she looked them over she noticed that they wore matching bangles nd they were very similer. Siblings? she though no they look the same age. Then it hit her. They were siblings. They were Twins.
Her mind flitted back to what a travling centaur had told her a few days back.
~ "Yes thers a big todo over with the other cervi clan. A set of twins was born to a low coupple. They were very happy. pity to happen." the old Centaur said picking up his bag.
"why what happened?" Felicity asked placing her newly traded items into her carrier.
"Well from what i hear some others tried to steal the kids in the night and the farther protected them. Like any normal farther would. Anyway he killed one of them and te ohers made up a story that he went after them.
He's been sent to the Isle of Exile. poor thing mothers gone missing now with the twins. There all up in arms now saying the each other has stolen them away just for the luck. " sighing he scrathed his head "no offence to you but i never under stand cervies. All this big tado over twins. i was one of five born and i go nothing sept a thick ear from my old man." ~
So thats why they were in the forrest they were heading to the Isle of Exile to be with there farther.
A stab of jealousy hit felicity as shr though about it.
There parents were willing to give up there life for them. Ready to travile through dangerous woods just to be togeather.
Mine could bearly stand the sight of me.
As she looked down at the two becide her she knew she couldn't hate them. It was not there fault afer all.
Jael awoke to the sun starting to rise. Looking round she saw that the older cervi was awake. Getting up she grabed the water bag and headed over.
Stoping infront of her she smiled "i though you might like drink." she said offering her a cup.
Felicity smiled "thank you. i was a bit thirsty." Taking the cup she watched as this small fox taur carfully handled the large water bag. "you name was Jael right?" felicity asked taking a sip
Jael nodded placing the stopper back into the bag. "Yes it is. And My moms name is mink. You know the one you help back last night." Placing the water bag down she sat with her wagging her tail happly
"Well now i know you name it's only right you know mine. My name is Felicity." she said smiling happly. Soon they were takling freely like they had known each other for years.
Mink smiled as she headed back up the beach. It was now well into the morning. The sun was up and from what she could see every one was awake. Sifting the weight of her catch again she started up the beach.
When she arived she could see that Jael had allready gave everone a drink and they were happly talking between themselves.
"Good morning all. I hope you all had a good night." She said putting down her catch.
Felicity jumped slightly. When had she left to go fishing?
"Are you all right?" she asked looking over her host who the night before could bearly walk.
Mink smiled. "oh yes i'm fine now. A little sore but fine. My kind are very fast healers."
Looking at the two young cervies stairing at her she smiled.
"Well now were all hear and awake. My name is Mink. You probaly all ready know Jael, My adopted daughter. So who do i have the honnor of hosting at my camp?"
Smiling Felicity went first. " I am Felicity Meran. From the Garan hunters."
Galen raised him self up next "my name is Galen Cernava and this is my twin sister Fay."
Fay smacked his arm a little upset she couldn't give her own intorduction.
Mink smiled nodding as each one spoke. "well now we know each other haw about some breakfast?"
Mink chuckled as the twins smiles became bigger.
"Jael can you take Galen and Fay with you this morning. We'll need alot more so make sure you all have a basket each."
Galen looked at his sister then back to Jael as she returned with 3 very large baskets.
Fay spoke up. "what are the baskets for?"
Mink looked at the two young cervies. "Well we need to collect things for breakfast. Normally Jael collects berries roots and herbs and i get the meat or , in this case, fish." they bothe still looked alittle puzzled.
"Well you can go with Jael or you can help my gut the fish if you like. eithe way it'll make breakfast alot closer."
The twins looked at each other for a second before they each took a basket from Jael and followed her through the camp.
Minks attention then focused on Felicity.
"You wouldn't mind helping my gut the fish would you? i cought alot more then normal"
Felicity nodded and soon they begain the easy tack of gutting the fish.
"So how did you find Jael?" She asked in the end
Not looking up from her task Mink smiled "much the same way as with the twins." she paused for a second as if remembering. "It wasn't to long after i had landed here myself. I had just really set up my camp the week before. I went out hunting in the early morning and saw Jael trying to pull a boat up the beach. I noticed she had stoped and Saw one of the large beasts comming out of the woods looking at her. Now i knew they prayed on the smaller animals so i went to help. Well he caught my sent and ran off. Any way i went to help her ad her farther was hurt in the boat. So i helped him back to the camp treated him. When he was better he helped me build this camp up and asked if i would take care of Jael while he was away." as she finished her story so did she gut the last fish. "after a while she just started to call me mom. I dont mind. I dont think i'll ever have real kids so this is the next best thing."
Giving a soft sigh she cleaned her knife with a small cloth and took the fish fillets towards the fire pit.
.:Cook and they will come:.
The fire spit and sputtered as more fuel was added to the dying embers but was soon roaring again.
Placing the filleted fish in a weird wire rack mink placed it in a holder at the edge of the pit, Close enough to the fire to cook but far enough back so it wouldn't burn or taste to smoky.
Turning back to felicity she smiled "'ll put the other fillets in the smoke house and rack them fully later. I got more then enough today. I might even have enough to take to market"
Felicity smiled and helped her carry the other basket to a low to the ground tent with a sloping roof.
Watching as mink moved the front cover a strange light brown smoke drifted out through the outer flap.
"What do you smoke the fish with?" she asked looking at the strange smoke.
Though she knew How to smoke fish she only did it over a normal fire in her tent at night never on a larger scale.
Mink smiled as she put the basket in the inner door area.
"i'm smoking some meats so i'm using Mesquite at the moment. it's a bit strong for the fish but i'll put them lower in the tent and not smoke them as long so it wont be as strong."
She looked at her pile of wood and ponded for a moment.
"Later i might go bird hunting. i have some apple wood here and i know a few taurs in town who cant get enough of it."
Mink prattled on happily happy that she had someone older then the kids to talk to.
A dark shadow passed over head and mink smile grew bigger. "well this is a surprise"
Mink
Wyetta
Felicity
