There’s been many tales…many heroes….but what about the epilogue of them all? The child of two legacies might deserve a tale, don’t you think? Aye, I thought so….and now here in the muggy glades, surrounded by vast pine trees and where foxtaurs partake in their mischief, a child will be born….
In a valley of the deepest green there was a post with multiple targets to hit painted on it. The wood was chipped from the many attacks it had to withstand and the only relief was when its creator decided to quit for the day. But for now the sound of ruthless attacks echoed in the depths of the small glade hidden in between the ancient trees of the southern side of the island of Nathair Inis. Small animals scurried about with no concern about the strange noises since they were now accustomed to it. After all the heroes had returned to their homes and had been living life as normal as possible for two years now.
And now finally quitting his training was one of the two foxtaurs that had traveled in order to save the balance. Sweet dripped off from the foxtaur hero’s shoulders as he sat down under the old oak tree. His once fluffy brown hair was now matted and the curling ends rested against his upper shoulders. Even his deep black fur was soaked with the sweat from the intense heat of the late morning sun. “Guess, it doesn’t matter if I train with or without a shirt in this heat.” He muttered jokingly as he leaned back in order to fully enjoy the light summer breeze that was hopefully rustling by slowly.
“So you say.” Replied his mate grinning. “Yet, I think it’ll save me the temptation that you bring when you keep it off.” She handed him a flask of water which he accepted greedily.
“Really?” He replied after putting the empty flask back in her hands. “I think I like that.” His hands trailed through her fire like locks that reached down around to where her fox fur started. “It’s finally long again, Kaleen.”
Kaleen shrugged, “I was thinking about cutting it again though, Gin.”
“What?” He yelped and jumped up to face her. “You can’t!” Her hair had finally grown back to the length it once was before they had set out on a journey along with others. With their help another plot to destroy the delicate balance between the tribes was ruined….To think how much Kaleen and I’ve grown since then….from young arrogant pups to sincere adults…that keep serious mischief unlike most of the foxtaurs to a minimum. It’s amazing what journeys can do to any taur.
His mate interrupted his thoughts, “I was just kidding.” She blinked a couple of times before yawning. The wear of being with child was beginning to show in her delicate features. Not to mention the bulge showing out from under the white tunic that was her once flat stomach.
“Good.” He put his arm around her neck before lightly kissing her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“It’s not that bad.” But beneath that small smile of hers, Gin could sense the sluggishness in her movements and the pain that constantly flooded her senses. “But, I guess I’ll sit in the shade over there…” She trailed off as she walked nimbly through some underbrush to sit beside several oaks that cast a enormous shadow over half of the field. He followed with ease in his graceful gait, but yet his eyes showed his wariness. Which proved to be a good thing because a second later he caught a figure in the stomach with his wooden staff. “Gin!”
“Eep!” The cattaur that he hit was all too recognizable now. “Hi, Gin.” She paused sheepishly and waved over to Kaleen. “Hi, Kaleen.”
Immediately he strapped his weapon across his back, but still the heat of embarrassment filled his face, “Are you okay, Luna?” Pale silver tresses of hair covered her pale yellow eyes as she nodded. “Sorry about that.” He muttered as he helped pull her to her now muddy paws.
“T’is fine. Your mate is with child, any male would’ve done the same.” She dug her claws into the dewy grass and arched her back in a stretch, “I just wish you weren’t so strong at times.”
All three laughed at the old memories that she brought up. But it didn’t look like the cattaur had come to reminisce. So after brushing off a spot of wet grass, Kaleen indicated that Luna should sit down beside her. “What’s the meaning of this visit, friend?”
Luna sat down slowly, sighing she looked at her friends, “I’d love to procrastinate telling you this problem more, but…” She folded her two front paws and ran a hand absentmindedly across her snow leopard patterned like backside.
“What is it?” Asked Gin sitting down, “Don’t tell me….you’ve realized how odd cattaurs truly are?” He joked but his grin disappeared as she kept her gaze on her paws.
Her tail curled back and forth while she started to speak, “It’s your child.” Her eyes shot up, “He’ll be a target if you raise him yourself!”
Both foxtaurs leaned forward in disbelief, “What?!”
“The evil one, that we fought…” She bit her lip but continued, “He still has followers out there…they will want vengeance for their master. A child is the best option to get to you two. But there is good news!”
“Really?” Whispered Kaleen eyes down.
“Tell us that we can beat the “taur” out of them and get to keep our child?”
“I wish it was that easy, but…many other evils are out there as well. It’ll be that way until all of the unitaurs come back…but even then the peace will be a fragile thing.”
“Other evils? What’s this have to do with our child?” Asked Kaleen softly who was now being supported by her mate.
“You two are warriors for the future battles…and your child will also one day be a warrior. He will have the insight of a cattaur along with the normal traits of a foxtaur. A rare one indeed that must learn to accept himself…and his magic.”
“He’s special…” Gin glanced at his mate warmly, “Told you.”
“Aye, but we won’t be able to raise him.” Tears clung in her long auburn lashes and blurred her usually warm hazel eyes. “I won’t be able to hold my little foxtaur and tell him how much he means to me.” At that silence hung heavily in the air around the three companions.
“You don’t have to leave him immediately.” Luna’s hopeful voice broke through the silent glade. Both foxtaurs slowly nodded and the other two helped Kaleen stand and enter their den like home. Where she cried her heart and lurked in the deep depression of her thoughts.
Five weeks later a cry and squeal marked the entrance of a beautiful foxtaur baby. Kaleen panting, collapsed back against the soft bed of moss and wool. The elder foxtaur left the two alone with a nod of her head and a list of the final nursery instructions. Holding onto the small baby wrapped in the woolen blanket Gin smiled. “It’s a he, Kaleen.”
His mate smiled in return, “Good, then his name shall be Xenek.”
But a question still lingered in their happiness, How could they part with their darling son? They wouldn’t…that is until tragedy forced them to….
For the around three years they had ignored that important information that Luna had brought to them from Draiocht. Now it was evening and romping about was a small foxtaur child. “Xenek!” The call came from the other direction and so turning his head he faced his mother. Catching up to him, she brushed back a strand of raven black hair and took in his dark red fur that was streaked with black along with his black front two paws along with the blackened fur at the end of his tail.
“Mommy?” He asked the question softly before she rustled his hair playfully. “What’s wrong?”
Hiding the fear in her eyes, Kaleen grinned, “Nothing, dear.” But she had to blink her watery eyes before continuing. “You just wandered off and made mommy worry.” Grabbing his hand she pulled him out of sight and into the forest, “Let’s race to the beach shall we?” Her hurry was of grave importance, but the boy was willing to be fooled and go along with her tale.
The boy pulled on her hand, “Sorry.” His fingers laced with hers before they walked into the forest path leading to the beach. After a short pause, he looked at his mother. “Daddy?”
That was a direct hit to the fire colored foxtaur, “He’s doing some work in the glade. I’m sure he’ll catch up soon.” But the truth was something was fighting to get past Gin in order to snatch away their Xenek.
Stepping on the warm sands of the beach, Kaleen sighed and looked back only to yell, “Gin!” The whole glade was on fire now and the dancing flames licked towards them slowly but steadily. Rushing back to the path she threw several bushes aside and brought out a small boat, one that was easy to steer and would survive against the waves. It had been made for all three of them, but it seemed like that wasn’t going to happen.
“Mommy! What’s going on?” Whimpered Xenek as she pushed him into the boat along with a small package of food and some blankets.
“I have to go back and help, Gin.” Rasped Kaleen with tears in her eyes, “I swear you’ll be fine.” Biting her lip she continued, “We’ll meet up…but you must go on ahead!” With that cry and one last sorrowful look she hugged her son and clasped a necklace with the emblem of the sun and moon on it around his neck. “Be safe.” She whispered as the boat was pulled away in the ocean.
The last thing Xenek's honey colored eyes saw was his mother’s silhouette against the brightly dancing flames, which seemed to bend to allow her passage to hopefully his father. “Mother! Father!” He cried the words over and over as the whole island disappeared…as his innocent childhood disappeared in that one night. Lost in a troubled sleep he never heard the whispered words, “Xenek must survive. No matter what!” Maybe those very words are what allowed him to survive on the raging sea, but who knows?
In a valley of the deepest green there was a post with multiple targets to hit painted on it. The wood was chipped from the many attacks it had to withstand and the only relief was when its creator decided to quit for the day. But for now the sound of ruthless attacks echoed in the depths of the small glade hidden in between the ancient trees of the southern side of the island of Nathair Inis. Small animals scurried about with no concern about the strange noises since they were now accustomed to it. After all the heroes had returned to their homes and had been living life as normal as possible for two years now.
And now finally quitting his training was one of the two foxtaurs that had traveled in order to save the balance. Sweet dripped off from the foxtaur hero’s shoulders as he sat down under the old oak tree. His once fluffy brown hair was now matted and the curling ends rested against his upper shoulders. Even his deep black fur was soaked with the sweat from the intense heat of the late morning sun. “Guess, it doesn’t matter if I train with or without a shirt in this heat.” He muttered jokingly as he leaned back in order to fully enjoy the light summer breeze that was hopefully rustling by slowly.
“So you say.” Replied his mate grinning. “Yet, I think it’ll save me the temptation that you bring when you keep it off.” She handed him a flask of water which he accepted greedily.
“Really?” He replied after putting the empty flask back in her hands. “I think I like that.” His hands trailed through her fire like locks that reached down around to where her fox fur started. “It’s finally long again, Kaleen.”
Kaleen shrugged, “I was thinking about cutting it again though, Gin.”
“What?” He yelped and jumped up to face her. “You can’t!” Her hair had finally grown back to the length it once was before they had set out on a journey along with others. With their help another plot to destroy the delicate balance between the tribes was ruined….To think how much Kaleen and I’ve grown since then….from young arrogant pups to sincere adults…that keep serious mischief unlike most of the foxtaurs to a minimum. It’s amazing what journeys can do to any taur.
His mate interrupted his thoughts, “I was just kidding.” She blinked a couple of times before yawning. The wear of being with child was beginning to show in her delicate features. Not to mention the bulge showing out from under the white tunic that was her once flat stomach.
“Good.” He put his arm around her neck before lightly kissing her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“It’s not that bad.” But beneath that small smile of hers, Gin could sense the sluggishness in her movements and the pain that constantly flooded her senses. “But, I guess I’ll sit in the shade over there…” She trailed off as she walked nimbly through some underbrush to sit beside several oaks that cast a enormous shadow over half of the field. He followed with ease in his graceful gait, but yet his eyes showed his wariness. Which proved to be a good thing because a second later he caught a figure in the stomach with his wooden staff. “Gin!”
“Eep!” The cattaur that he hit was all too recognizable now. “Hi, Gin.” She paused sheepishly and waved over to Kaleen. “Hi, Kaleen.”
Immediately he strapped his weapon across his back, but still the heat of embarrassment filled his face, “Are you okay, Luna?” Pale silver tresses of hair covered her pale yellow eyes as she nodded. “Sorry about that.” He muttered as he helped pull her to her now muddy paws.
“T’is fine. Your mate is with child, any male would’ve done the same.” She dug her claws into the dewy grass and arched her back in a stretch, “I just wish you weren’t so strong at times.”
All three laughed at the old memories that she brought up. But it didn’t look like the cattaur had come to reminisce. So after brushing off a spot of wet grass, Kaleen indicated that Luna should sit down beside her. “What’s the meaning of this visit, friend?”
Luna sat down slowly, sighing she looked at her friends, “I’d love to procrastinate telling you this problem more, but…” She folded her two front paws and ran a hand absentmindedly across her snow leopard patterned like backside.
“What is it?” Asked Gin sitting down, “Don’t tell me….you’ve realized how odd cattaurs truly are?” He joked but his grin disappeared as she kept her gaze on her paws.
Her tail curled back and forth while she started to speak, “It’s your child.” Her eyes shot up, “He’ll be a target if you raise him yourself!”
Both foxtaurs leaned forward in disbelief, “What?!”
“The evil one, that we fought…” She bit her lip but continued, “He still has followers out there…they will want vengeance for their master. A child is the best option to get to you two. But there is good news!”
“Really?” Whispered Kaleen eyes down.
“Tell us that we can beat the “taur” out of them and get to keep our child?”
“I wish it was that easy, but…many other evils are out there as well. It’ll be that way until all of the unitaurs come back…but even then the peace will be a fragile thing.”
“Other evils? What’s this have to do with our child?” Asked Kaleen softly who was now being supported by her mate.
“You two are warriors for the future battles…and your child will also one day be a warrior. He will have the insight of a cattaur along with the normal traits of a foxtaur. A rare one indeed that must learn to accept himself…and his magic.”
“He’s special…” Gin glanced at his mate warmly, “Told you.”
“Aye, but we won’t be able to raise him.” Tears clung in her long auburn lashes and blurred her usually warm hazel eyes. “I won’t be able to hold my little foxtaur and tell him how much he means to me.” At that silence hung heavily in the air around the three companions.
“You don’t have to leave him immediately.” Luna’s hopeful voice broke through the silent glade. Both foxtaurs slowly nodded and the other two helped Kaleen stand and enter their den like home. Where she cried her heart and lurked in the deep depression of her thoughts.
Five weeks later a cry and squeal marked the entrance of a beautiful foxtaur baby. Kaleen panting, collapsed back against the soft bed of moss and wool. The elder foxtaur left the two alone with a nod of her head and a list of the final nursery instructions. Holding onto the small baby wrapped in the woolen blanket Gin smiled. “It’s a he, Kaleen.”
His mate smiled in return, “Good, then his name shall be Xenek.”
But a question still lingered in their happiness, How could they part with their darling son? They wouldn’t…that is until tragedy forced them to….
For the around three years they had ignored that important information that Luna had brought to them from Draiocht. Now it was evening and romping about was a small foxtaur child. “Xenek!” The call came from the other direction and so turning his head he faced his mother. Catching up to him, she brushed back a strand of raven black hair and took in his dark red fur that was streaked with black along with his black front two paws along with the blackened fur at the end of his tail.
“Mommy?” He asked the question softly before she rustled his hair playfully. “What’s wrong?”
Hiding the fear in her eyes, Kaleen grinned, “Nothing, dear.” But she had to blink her watery eyes before continuing. “You just wandered off and made mommy worry.” Grabbing his hand she pulled him out of sight and into the forest, “Let’s race to the beach shall we?” Her hurry was of grave importance, but the boy was willing to be fooled and go along with her tale.
The boy pulled on her hand, “Sorry.” His fingers laced with hers before they walked into the forest path leading to the beach. After a short pause, he looked at his mother. “Daddy?”
That was a direct hit to the fire colored foxtaur, “He’s doing some work in the glade. I’m sure he’ll catch up soon.” But the truth was something was fighting to get past Gin in order to snatch away their Xenek.
Stepping on the warm sands of the beach, Kaleen sighed and looked back only to yell, “Gin!” The whole glade was on fire now and the dancing flames licked towards them slowly but steadily. Rushing back to the path she threw several bushes aside and brought out a small boat, one that was easy to steer and would survive against the waves. It had been made for all three of them, but it seemed like that wasn’t going to happen.
“Mommy! What’s going on?” Whimpered Xenek as she pushed him into the boat along with a small package of food and some blankets.
“I have to go back and help, Gin.” Rasped Kaleen with tears in her eyes, “I swear you’ll be fine.” Biting her lip she continued, “We’ll meet up…but you must go on ahead!” With that cry and one last sorrowful look she hugged her son and clasped a necklace with the emblem of the sun and moon on it around his neck. “Be safe.” She whispered as the boat was pulled away in the ocean.
The last thing Xenek's honey colored eyes saw was his mother’s silhouette against the brightly dancing flames, which seemed to bend to allow her passage to hopefully his father. “Mother! Father!” He cried the words over and over as the whole island disappeared…as his innocent childhood disappeared in that one night. Lost in a troubled sleep he never heard the whispered words, “Xenek must survive. No matter what!” Maybe those very words are what allowed him to survive on the raging sea, but who knows?
