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 Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:57 pm
This thread's purpose is to bring two brothers, Melomar's Zidane and Mei Silja's Atka, together after a nearly life-long period of separation. Please do not post without permission.  
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:12 pm
Zidane's day began with the first reluctant mutterings of the birds in the trees. His keen little bat-like ears twitched and his bleary dark eyes popped open. Underground, light's tendrils rarely reach any deeper than a few body-lengths into a hole or tunnel. In the vagueness of predawn, none reached the xio pup's eyes. Snuffling around, his tiny nose found groggy grubs and other bugs and they barely complained on their way down his gullet.
He stretched as best he could in the home-made tunnel then squirmed his way outside. By this time, the tops of the trees had been splashed with warm color. The xio could not see this, though other creatures had and were celebrating the new day. His addition to this morning symphony was a deep stretch and a yowling puppy yawn. He and scratched at the bark of a nearby tree with needle-sharp claws and shook himself off.
How long had he been alone? Most of his life, near as he could tell. He was in terror most of the time like any small mammal, but somewhere deep inside he knew that the ultimate destiny of a full-grown xio was to rule near the top of the food chain. That was his only dream, to one day be able to bathe on a flat rock in the sun and not have to worry. But for now, he had plenty to worry about.
Slipping into the underbrush almost before he could register the sound in his brain, he watched with quivering eyes and nose as a larger creature stomped by. It was oblivious, but he could never be sure when something might whip around and strike at him. Such was his life.
Once danger had passed, he slipped off in search of water. A creek or a puddle would suffice. Anything for his parched throat.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:45 pm
Atka walked on wearily, his black pads making little note in the ground beneath him. For awhile now he had been alone and it tore at him for he knew the truth, he failed. Since born he struggled to keep his family together and one by one they disappeared. Some were hurt and lost along the way, others wandered off and could not be found again, and some just simply left. Now he was alone and unlike the start where he knew he could make it, now he was not so sure. Calm green eyes like the surface of a lake stared forward with little to nothing showing in them for light or hope only empty determination.
So far Atka had lived on small things he could catch, even dead things he ate to get by despite it cutting into his pride. He had at once time, wondered across a family of Xio. He had at first thought the pups were without mother or father but upon approach found out otherwise as a huge male moved forward growling. So being without parents had been wrong, he learned that when he saw the pup’s crowd around their parents so happily. So then, was he and his siblings a mistake, or were their parents killed? Then what of the two without their skulls, they were not Xio so were they truly blood?
Thirst over took him from the smell and hearing of a quick flowing creek. What use was it to keep moving he wondered, he would not grow any time soon and so would be prey to those large things that rumbled in the darkness both mind and life. Still for some reason tired as he was, Atka kept moving on and eating when hungry drinking when thirsty. He hoped he would find a calling, something of him to be true and that he was not a dream. There was something else to that bothered him, he looked the same of his brothers and sisters but for eyes and paw pads. What is there to show he is not them and they he?
Spotting the creek and jogging forward he soon found himself chest deep in the quick running water. Sharp claws dug into the creeks bed into the sooth rocks and pebbles beneath foot. He loved his siblings, but looking like them all made him feel like he were something and nothing but now even they were gone. So Atka stood and stared off into the creek, his green eyes shocked him as he saw just what he was turning into; prey.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 4:11 pm
Zidane spend the better part of half an hour searching the creek bed. Swiftly-moving waters can be as deadly as they are life-giving. The sun was high in the late-morning sky by the time he found a shallow pool that would hold less danger for him. He could soothe sore paws and soak away grunge while savoring the sweet running water. Most importantly, if danger came to him, he could save himself by jumping further into the water. A suicide move perhaps, but it would be better than watching another feast upon his entrails while his vision slowly faded away. He knew what it would be like. He had seen what his survival meant for his own prey.
Despite his age, there was very little puppy fat on the xio's body. Those nutrients most needed by growing pups were not available to a creature with no mother. His cravings had helped him to satisfy many of his body's needs, but there is just no comparison. So when he finally stretched his body out seeking the water's edge, he looked like a pigmy xio more than anything else, all limbs and big ears and huge, mistrusting eyes. Even his soft puppy fur was matted and scraggly like a stray dog. Maybe that's all he was, after all.
But all that did not matter to him. What mattered to him as he slipped up to his neck as he crouched in the slowly-swirling pool, scattering water skippers, was that this felt wonderful. And if anything at all feels wonderful, that means that one must be alive, or dreaming...
After several moments, he heard something, indistinctly, over the rushing sound of white water over rocks. Perhaps it was nothing, but his ears twitched as he scanned the water. He was ready to flee at the first sign of danger. He had not survived this long without being just a little paranoid.
Then he saw it. But he simply could not believe his eyes. They were seeing some sort of mirage. Perhaps he was really dead and had paused to look back at his body. But if that was so, shouldn't there be blood? Perhaps this was some form of vision? He was hopelessly confused.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:00 am
Atka in his musing became aware of something staring at him, looking up he saw only himself staring at him in shock, but wait. Moving he noticed that his image did not follow, eyes brightening he stepped toward it his tail low giving a few wags as he did. “Are you e, or are you other blood or my blood?” The color was his; the eyes were his but more wild as was the baby blue fur. His own was sleek though thin but the one he stared at was ragged and seemed not to be groomed or cleaned at all. “Blood,” he asked again with fear coloring his voice. Was this his sibling really alive and at least a bit well?
The smell that his nose caught was faint, too far away and too much water! Quickening his pace he tried to get closer while still trying to show he meant no harm, his tail was down and his neck out stretched. The water was getting deeper, his claws scarped to bottom to hold him still so he wouldn’t be washed away. He couldn’t get closer he was to small his muscles not strong enough from the little food he could get. Though he was closer now, the sun warming his fur coat despite the waters coldness that lapped over his back. “Are you my blood?” This time there was desperation in his voice, he was confused and scared that this was again not something real.
When really hungry he had seen his siblings again and played with them, only to find out it wasn’t real.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:03 pm
Blood, blood. That was the only word he could catch over the crashing of the water. At first, he thought that perhaps this other self was telling him that he was covered in blood. But glancing back and forth, over his shoulder and along the length of his body, then later up and down the stream, he saw no blood anywhere. He must be dreaming. That was the only conclusion he could make.
Across the way he realized that the other pup was trying to approach. Is he trying to cross? Along this stretch, it was impossible. A puppy their size would be swept away, or lose his footing and hit his head. "Get back!" he bellowed. He tried to look as menacing as possible. Most likely, soaked as he was he looked merely desperate and half-drowned.
He waded back to the water's edge and shook himself off, glaring indecisively back at the other xio pup. He knew of a place where he could cross safely. But it would take the better part of an hour to find it and double back to meet him. If this "vision" was real, then he might have left already. Was it worth it to try? Well... there's food over there at least. It probably wouldn't hurt.
So he headed off down along the river, keeping as close to the shore as he could and watching the other pup as long as he could.
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