Ra'Shook of Fallenstand

[Lady Snow Oracle]

Never a greater warrior lived than that, Ra’Shook, of the Fallenstand pride. He was strong, loyal, and loved by many… yet in his heart he felt a great restlessness. At one time he had been an unmatched general for the Fallenstand, leading his fellow Sabers through many a battle against the dreaded Frostcreek Clan, and tasted victory as many times as one could count.

However, since the many moons after the last Great King’s passing, Ra’Shook no longer thirsted for combat, though he would have gladly fought had it been asked of him. The Great King had left no heir, as all of his children died with him in that most bloody a battle where his own life was taken… a battle Ra’Shook, too, had fought in. Since then, the Fallenstand had begun to break apart, having no one left to guide them.

The task, then, of watching over his people became Ra’Shooks self-appointed mission. He had not the ambition to rule, and would thus never try to become King, but his love for the Fallenstand drove him to protect his home in any way he could. For them he walked the enormous territory, passed by each cave, and took careful count of each of his precious companions.
Though that, my friends, is where his story truly begins…



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[Lady Snow Oracle]

The sun was low in the sky as snow fell softly on a ground already permanently coated in white. The forest was silent on this stark and lifeless morning, while a crisp breeze blew past the faces of so many frozen trees. All was still, save the slight motion of a figure off in the distance… a blur of icy blue that advanced ever closer. The slight sound of snow, crunching beneath the feet of a large beast, suddenly broke the chilling silence. Large, black paws trudge forward, leaving behind the distinct imprint the of a Saber.

Ra’Shook moved slowly forward. His eyes, blue as the ocean depth, looked ahead with an almost lifeless gaze. Exhausted, he had been out patrolling the extensive lands of the Fallenstand pride, determined to find what drove him. However, his sprits hung low this morning, as he knew his nose had never lied to him before… surely what he had sensed two nights before was the odor of Frostcreek, villainous scum. Having found nothing had to be a mistake… even if one of those murderers had wandered too far by accident, surely even then, he, the noble Ra’Shook, would have been able to pick up on the trail.
He sighed. A morning’s thought better left to other things… like sleeping. By now the bags under his eyes were very noticeable, as is the case for those who have not slept in several days. What a life to lead, scouting the land day in and day out… but it was what he wished for. After the death of the Great King, Ra’Shook wanted nothing more than to look after his pride, even at the expense of his own wellbeing. The Frostcreek had taken much from them then, but it would be no more… not if he had anything to do with it.

The sun was high in the sky now. The caves of his companions were finally coming into view, a welcoming sight. Soon he would be able to rest in his own cave, and be left to worry in his dreams about this terrible feeling he had deep in his gut.
Suddenly he stopped. Another foreign scent swept past him, though this was not like that of the Frostcreek. His eyes scanned nervously about, when just then a familiar face emerged from the cave nearest to him.

“Brother Ra’Shook, at last you return to us! Its been several moons… I was beginning to worry” greeted Sloanbek, a large and stocky male Saber of rather advanced years. He walked to Ra’Shook’s side, turning his head so as to face him with his good eye. He could read the troubled look on his friends face.

“Ra… what is it that bothers you so? Even through the sleep that clearly is not present, I can see distress…”
Ra’Shook’s head lowered slightly, distraught.

“Brother Sloan… I walked Kelleopia and her surrounding lands for two days and two nights… I even ventured to the cave of the Fire Mist… yet, while finding nothing, my heart still does not feel at ease. I can’t help but sense that something is not right.”

Sloanbek turned his head away from Ra’Shook, looking off in the direction before them.

“You dwell, my friend." He paused for a long while, before finally finishing his thought. "What happened all those moons ago… it was not your fault. Hok’bahl died for his people, and in that, secured our futures… ALL of our futures.” He looked to Ra’Shook once again. “Its time to lay this one to bed, as you should yourself. You look exhausted.”

Ra’Shook was far too proud to ever accept what Sloanbek had said as true, but he was indeed very tired.

“Thank you, my friend. I shall take to my home now.”

Sloanbek smiled weakly, seeing his friend off.

“Oh… and it slipped by me to mention. Another from the Mountain Sun pride arrived while you were away. I wished for you to meet her, but perhaps now it not the best of times.”

Ra’Shook nodded wearily, still walking away from Sloan’s cave.

“Another time, perhaps.”

[[End Part One]]

 

[Lady Snow Oracle]

Ra’Shook awoke late that nigh, much rested from the two days he had gone without sleep. Slowly he stood, stretching his muscular front legs, and giving a sleepy yawn. He felt better now… finally. Even that lingering feeling he’d had just hours before seemed to have settled. He walked to the mouth of his cave, looking out into the darkness. Most of his companions would be asleep at this hour. Still, be walked out into the fresh snow that lined the ground before his home. Ra’Shook was too restless a soul to simply stay put, so rather he decided to patrol. He would walk his pride’s living area, passing by the cave of each Saber, and make sure there were no disturbances. It was something his did often, and took great satisfaction in… but it was more than that. He was determined to never again see tragedy strike his people… not so long as he lived.

He walked down the path that led from his own cave, which was nestled atop a ledge that looked out over the mountainside. He’d taken it up when he was first appointed General by Hok’bahl, many moons ago. It was convenient for him, then and now, and was not too terribly far from the dwellings of the other Sabers. His pace picked up a bit as he walked briskly towards the first stretch of caves. It had been the Fallenstand’s great fortune to live where they did, as luck would have placed a small series of cave hollows towards the base of Kelleopia. Some caves were large enough to house two or three families of Sabers, while others, like Ra’Shook’s, were only big enough for one.

He reached the first cave entrance. It was considered terribly bad manners to enter another’s home without being first invited, so sensing no danger, he moved along rather quickly. He passed another cave, and another after that; all seemed to be undisturbed, though he couldn’t help but catch wind of an unfamiliar smell. It was the same one he had noticed when he first returned home from his patrol, and he felt as though he was drawing closer to it. Finally he reached the dwelling of Tootwak and Kybol… two Sabers who lived in a very large cave, as the previous tenants who had roomed with them now lived closer to the southern mountainside. The sent was coming from their cave, he was sure of it… carefully he peered in through the darkness, unsure of just what it was he would fine. Gingerly he sniffed the air, taking a step closer towards the mouth of the cave. Something wasn’t right… the hairs on his back stood upright, as a chill crept up his spine.

Suddenly he raised to his hind legs, spinning around with a powerful roar. His fearsome fangs were born as he now faced another Saber, who was in the exact same stance. His eyes narrowed sharply as he slowly began to circle around, the other Saber doing the same. He snarled angrily, preparing himself to attack, when it occurred to him that something was off in the situation. The Saber that stood before him, also poised to attack, was not a Frostcreek… nor were they a Fallenstand. Quickly he eased up, loosening his mussels, and returning his ferocious expression to his usual placid look. The long tail and attention point ears… it was obvious this Saber was Mountain Sun.

“You’re the new reinforcement?” Ra’Shook questioned emotionlessly.

The other Saber looked befuddled, but eased up slightly none the less.

“Excuse me? And just who do you think you are? What right do you have to invade good Kybol and Tootwak’s home!” The Saber, clearly a female, snarled again at Ra’Shook.

A little dumbfounded himself, Ra’Shook squinted an eye at this brazen female.

“What right do I? Just who are you to do what you are claiming of me? I am not the one invading this home.”

“I beg your pardon, but they’ve agreed to house me. I have every right to be here. Its you I am still suspicious of.” She did not taker her eyes off of Ra’Shook, but did further relax her position. She could clearly see that this male meant her no harm, though she still did not trust him.

There was a pause, as neither would go further. Ra’Shook had mad a mistake, and wasn’t completely sure how to correct it. He, too, did not take his eyes off of her… partially because he sensed her distrust of him, but there was something else… something he could not figure.

“I am Ra’Shook,” he said at last, “I meant no disrespect to you.”

The female cocked an eye, unsure is this was a kind of tactic. After a while she replied.

“I’m Neeraja… from the Mountain Sun…” She remained wary, though finally relaxed herself. “What business do you have here, with Tootwak or Kybol?”

“None specific,” replied Ra’Shook, still eyeing Neeraja and her the same of him, “I was simply walking the grounds.”

Neeraja sat in the snow, her long tail curling around her side. Her expression turned from one of distrust to one of curiosity.

“You do this often? You must be a watcher then, or maybe a guard.”

Ra’Shook looked away for a moment,

“Not really… I do it on my own time. No one assigned me.”

Neeraja looked a bit perplexed.

“Your own time? How stra…” She stopped herself, suddenly realizing his motivation. While not totally informed of the details, she knew well of the Fallenstand’s tragedy. It was, after all, the reason she had traveled so far to the Snowy Mountains. She looked at him innocently, almost apologetically.

“You must love them a lot.”

Ra’Shook looked at her stoically, not feeling he needed to answer. Turning from her now, he stepped away, starting again down the mountain towards the remaining caves. Light was just starting to peak out over the horizon.

“Wait,” Neeraja called after him, “where are you going?”

He did not stop.

“To finish my duties. Goodbye.” He started to make some distance from her now, not bothering to look back… yet, something deep within him wanted to. He wasn’t sure why, but for some reason she captivated him. Though of course, that was completely illogical, as he had only known her for a few moments, and in all reality didn’t event know her at all. He grunted to himself, trying not to think on it anymore. Whatever this feeling was, it would surely pass soon enough.

...

Standing back in the snow, even more perplexed than before, Neeraja continued to watch in the direction that Ra’Shook had left for. He was strange, she thought… yet somehow fascinating. So strong an resolute, though she sensed he was not as secure as he appeared. She was temped to follow after him, but as the sun now began to peak clearly over the horizon, Neer decided rather to not upset her hosts by running off, and halfheartedly walked back into her cave.

[[End Part 2]]
 

[Lady Snow Oracle]

Several moons passed since his first meeting of Neeraja.
Ra’Shook stayed true to his duties, and walked Kelleopia each evening, tending to his pride by keeping watch over their safety. However, all was not the same. As he walked each day, passing cave by cave, he stopped... paused a moment at Tootwak and Kybol’s home. Now, too, he kept a further distance from it than any other cave. Ra’Shook was not oblivious to this strange occurrence, and tried to reason with himself each day, that there was no need to create distance between himself and the cave... and that there certainly wasn’t anything that demanded any more attention there than at the other dwellings... but he could not help it. Eventually he found himself coming there more frequently, after each hunt, and again at dawn each morning after he woke. The routine was tearing away at him, the absurdity of it all was more than he could bear... yet still he came... stopping, watching.

Neeraja had taken the roll of hunter in the pride, and thus journeyed out with Kybol and Tootwak -who were also hunters- the first of every week. This had been of no real significance to Ra’Shook before, as he did not participate in the routine hunts, but changed now as he had its schedule memorized. The night of the hunt, when each of the parties would return home, Ra’Shook would be there... waiting, up on a ledge, just out of view from the cave. His blue eyes remained fixed on the entrance... until at least they would return. Toot and Kybol always entered first, he noticed... and finally, Neer. His heart would flutter, though he did not know why. It confused him, angered him, scared him all at once, yet he could not stop. He had to come... he was drawn to the cave.

At last one day he grew careless, and wandered too close to the cave as the hunt parties returned. He was scarcely concealed, though Tootwak and Kybol entered without noticing him. He waited. Neer had not followed behind them, and was nowhere in sight. His heart began to race... at first in a sort of childish self-contempt, frustrated yet again that he allowed himself to indulge in such a silly game... but after a moment, when Neer had still not come into view, it turned into a tinge of concern. Why had she not followed Toot and Kybol? His eyes began to race around the caves entrance, hoping desperately that she would suddenly come into view.

“Hey!”

Ra’Shook spun around with incredible speed, his heart still racing and his breathing now heavy. Much to his surprise, however, Neeraja was now standing before him. His pulse started to slow as he looked past eyes to the trees that surrounded them.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, eyeing him coyly. “In fact, what are you doing here EVERY night after the hunt?”

Again Ra’Shook’s heart began to race. She’d known? All this time and not said anything? His glance shifted downward. He was ashamed... and felt no better than an ignorant cub.

“I’m sorry,” he replied gruffly, “it wont happen again.” He moved forward, attempting to walk away.

“Whoah!” She quickly stepped in front of him, foiling his escape. “Not so fast.” Despite Ra’Shook’s obvious attempt to avoid eye contact with her, Neer suddenly moved forward so that her nose was only a few inches away from his, forcing him to look up into her emerald eyes. She smiled slightly, speaking in a soft, almost pleading tone.

“Why is it every time I try and talk to you... you walk away? Did I offend you the last time we spoke? Truly, if I did, it wasn't intentional...”

Ra’Shook was in a corner, and hadn’t a clue what to say. He continued looking deep into her eyes, hoping maybe he could fish out the words that simply were not coming to him. This pressure was getting to be too much for him.

“I... I must go...” he said finally, breaking Neer’s hypnotic gaze, and turning his head slowly, almost regretfully away. Without hesitation he sidestepped her, doing his best to control the urge to run. He had to remain collected, lest run the risk of appearing weak. Every muscle in his body was clinched has he lightly padded away from her.

Neer watched again as Ra’Shook left her alone in the snow. She figured better than to chase after him, yet somehow she felt as though there was more to say. Perhaps he was hiding something from her, though deep down, she couldn’t help but feel she was hiding something too. Just what it was she did not know... but it was odd. She know so little about him… and still she was fascinated. Feeling strangely defeated, she made her way back down to her cave.


---


When Neer finally made her way to the mouth of the cave, Tootwak and Kybol where already standing out in front of it.

“What’s happened?” she asking, feeling at first concerned. She wasn’t sure if they were standing there on her account, seeing as she had not followed directly behind them, though she wasn’t going to admit guilt directly.

“Nothing my dear!” Toot replied cheerily. “We were simply waiting for you to return.”

“Yes,” Kybol nodded, “ we wanted to let you know that we’ve been asked to help patrol at the base of the mountain tonight. Odds are against us being back before morning... we just didn’t want you to worry.”

“Oh, silly me” Neer replied. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Thank you for staying to tell me this.”

Tootwak and Kybol smiled as they began to walk off.

“You’ll be alright my dear?” Toot asked kindly, turning her head back.

“Of course, thank you.” She smiled as her hosts walked into the distance. When the two were finally out of view, Neer walked silently into the cave. The day had been long, and thanks to her recent encounter, rather strange. As she laid down in her corner of the cave, she couldn’t help but think of Ra’Shook. What an oddity he was. In the days past their initial encounter, she had tried several times to speak to him... but every time he seemed to hurry off in the opposite direction. And today, when she finally had him in a position where he HAD to say something... he still managed to dodge her. She grunted, thinking of what she could have possibly done wrong to make him act this way. It wasn’t as if she deliberately attacked him on that first day... and she had certainly meant no harm afterwards. And it was altogether absurd to assume that he was shy. From the stories she’d heard of him, he had to be one of the fiercest Sabers in all of the Snowy Mountains.

Oh, but what could it BE?

She now suddenly found it ridiculous how much she was dwelling. She hardly ever dwelled on anything, let alone something like this. She slapped her paw down, indignant to think no further on the subject. Restlessly she laid her head to the ground, flopping over on her side. All of this would seem considerably less important if she could just get to sleep. Then, if it so persisted, she would worry about it in the morning.


---


It was late now, and Ra’Shook’s ears were pressed tightly against his head as he made his way down the mountain. He was careful not to make a sound, lest others be alerted to this journey he was now undertaking. Again his heart was racing fast, though he tried his best to look collected and calm for the trees. ‘This is stupid,’ he thought to himself, ‘a childish endeavor’. Yet still his feet marched onward through the snow, now falling fast from above the mountain. Though he had only been walking for a few moments, the distance he was crossing seemed to be taking a lifetime. A small voice in his head was telling him to turn around, to forget ever having ventured out this night... but he knew in his heart that if he retreated now, this force that was inside of him, driving him, would eat away at his soul until he was no more. It was something he had to do.

At last he reached the cave’s entrance. The falling snow obscured his view inward, though it was too dark to see very far anyway. Carefully he stepped forward, then paused. His foot lay directly before what to him seemed like a dark void that was about to swallow him up. He forced himself ahead once again, entering the cave fully now. Though dark, his very sensitive eyes (a standard Saber feature) were able to pick up enough light for him to see relatively well. Slowly he pressed onward, making his way to the back of the den. He sniffed the air gingerly, picking up clearly on Tookwak and Kybol’s scent... but as he pressed his nose to the ground, a third scent caught his attention. He moved carefully, following it to a flattened bit of ground in the corner. His head popped up abruptly. Where... where was she?

“Well well well,” a voice rang out behind him, “this certainly doesn’t look very good for you.”

Ra’Shook spun around frantically, startled by such an unexpected sounding. His eyes grew wide as he recognized that it was Neer, looking directly at him with her own narrowed eyes.

“Whatta think you’re doing? You know you shouldn’t be here. Its late, and both Tootwak and Kybol are away.” Her voice was stern, but not angry. In a way, it sounded as if she wasn’t surprised in the least that was here.

“I know” he said softly, trying his best to look away from her. “I asked them to take the watch tonight.”

Neer’s nose wrinkled. “But... why?” She took a step away from him, her ears going back. “Why have you come here?” He voice had suddenly turned shaky, and her posture was wary.

“Please” Ra’Shook begged, realizing that he’d come off entirely wrong, “its not like that. I didn’t come here to make any kind of... trouble for you...” Again he couldn’t help but feel stupid, that he’d waltzed into her dwelling at night, knowing that she was alone, and yet somehow expecting her to understand.

“I just wanted to talk...” He looked up at her, almost sheepishly, hoping that she would understand.

Neer’s ears drew forward again as she cocked an eye at him. She hadn’t really figured he’d come to harm her... though she couldn’t help but be alarmed at his sudden appearance. After all, its not as though he’d been very forthcoming in the past... how could she be expected to predict his intentions.?

“About what?” she said at last.

“About before.” He was trying his best to sound purposeful and strong, though in reality he could hardly think of what to say. He fought within himself to find the right words.

“It was... perhaps... rude of me...” he fumbled. “What I mean is… I shouldn’t have walked... off like I had.” He glanced away, then back again. This was so march harder that he’d imagined it to be.

A grin crept onto Neer’s face. She walked forward, taking a seat before him.

“Is that what this is about?”

Ra’Shook leaned back some as she drew closer. This was all so terribly awkward for him; he hadn’t a clue what to do. At last his frustration got the better of him, and he let out a troubled sigh. If he could not say this gracefully, then he would say it truthfully. He knew no other way.

“Look... I’m sorry. I’ve acted like... like an idiot. I don’t know how to say this to you... I’ve never had to do anything like this before. I just wanted to...” he fumbled again, “its... strange...”

Neer’s grin grew wider. “So wound up! There isn’t a reason to be so tense. I’m not judging you. To be honest, all I’ve really wanted to do myself is talk to you.” She scooted closer to him again.

He continued to look at her sheepishly. “Why?”

“Because!” she chirped. “You’re fascinating... said to be so fierce, yet look at you now... so humble and shy. “

Ra’Shook couldn’t help but feel as though his masculinity had taken a sharp blow. His mouth twisted into a humorous side-ways frown.

“Thanks a lot. You’re really trying to making this easy on me.”

Neer laughed a bit, seeing the humor in it all. After a few seconds, Ra’Shook too rid himself of the frown and manager to show a smile. At the sight of such a thing, Neer’s face lit up drastically.

“See” she said gently, “this isn’t so strange.” She looked deeply into his eyes, sensing the side of him that he was trying so hard to force back. She moved forward yet again, inching quite close to him now, her expression soft and caring.

But it was all too much for Ra’Shook to handle. All at once the fear and anxiousness he’d been fighting back returned, and he sprang up at once. It was if all the air in his lungs left him, and he was breathing heavy. He had to leave, had to get out of here. Without words this time he made his retreat, bounding briskly towards the exit.

“No!” Neer called after him. She grew frustrated now, having finally shared some time with him, only to have this stunt pulled again. She wasn’t about to let him walk away... not this time. She hopped quickly to her feet and ran out before him, blocking his path. Snow showered onto her back as she stood firmly in the cave’s entrance. She lowered her head angrily, narrowing her eyes.

“WHAT are you so afraid of? Why do you feel you have to run from me? This, ‘great’ Ra’Shook I’m told of, nothing more than a coward!? A terrified cub who trembles at something so simple as a conversation? What is this cowardice?”

He frowned. Suddenly Ra’Shook leapt forward, using his great paws to push her forward, ultimately tossing her backwards into the snow. He had her firmly pinned beneath him, though through his fierceness, he was incredibly careful, gentle. He moved his face close to hers, almost allowing their noses to touch. Wind and snow whipped furiously over them, though Ra’Shook held his position; he did not move, not once, but rather stared intently at Neeraja. For a long while they stayed like this, both locked in each other’s eyes, both out of breath. Finally, with a defeated grunt, Ra’Shook turned his head away.

“This isn’t right... I need to go.”

He lifted his paws from her, releasing the hold. He gave her a pitiful gaze as he silently backed away, moving slowly off into the snow storm. Soon he had disappeared from view entirely, though Neer had yet to move from her belly-up position in the snow. She simply lay there, looking in Ra’Shook’s direction, allowing the darkness of the forest to blend with the showering snow... and morph into the shadowy path that he’d left behind.


[[End Part 3]]

 

[Lady Snow Oracle]

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