The moon is full and glowing, shedding a dim blue light onto everything in this particular hemisphere of the earth. The recovering white lioness is huddled beneath a sturdy green shrub, her new brown honey badger companion curled against her chest and tangled among her legs. A loud breath of cold air signaled just how deep the slumber was for the lioness. She woke for the “first time” just days earlier. She believes that she used to be a god, and for some reason was violently stripped from her throne and turned into a female mortal. Infinite questions still plagued her, but no answers would be given to her. She was thankful that at least she wasn’t alone through this whole ordeal. The badger had been so helpful in helping her recover... and if it wasn’t for him, she would probably be as dead as vulture food.
Kori’ashi twitched gently as she entered dream world for one of the “first” times. She was in the form of her previous life, a magnificent god with power over nearly everything she came across. She glowed brighter than the sun, and everyone would squint in awe in her presence. Even lightening and thunder took the shape of animals and bowed before her. Everything was as it should be... Kori trotted to the nearest pool of water to get a better look at her magnificent self. When she leaned over the pool, expecting to cringe at her glorious appearance... she saw nothing. Nothing but a blur and some dark speckles that appeared to be eyes... and a nose. What is going on? Kori huffed, turning away from the water and back again to see if it would reveal her the second time. Yet again, nothing but a distorted blur...
In her frustration, Kori decided to fly across the earth. Flying had always made her feel better when she was not in the best spirits. But the “god” quickly discovered she lacked that ability, even though she was certain she had wings. Instead she broke out in a run, a rather flawless gait, if you asked her. With each step lightening sprouted from her paws, and thunder roared to announce her oncoming form. Even the mountains bowed... Kori felt her confidence strengthen once again. Yet still the question plagued her... Why wouldn’t the water shower her reflection? Kori snarled, tossing the thought aside as she continued to prance through her dream world. Prismatic clouds started to descend from the heavens, enveloping her form as she swiftly ran.
Soon the colorful fog split to reveal a path. Kori slowly came to a walk as she followed the path, wondering where the clouds were leading her. She came to a cliff that looked over the world. Kori could see, in perfect clarity, everything that was going on. There was a lone dark lion hunting gazelle in the north, a cheetah failing to court a cold leopardess in the west, and and a young cheetah cub racing a hare in the east. But when Kori shifted her attention southbound, she saw a sight that was rather familiar to her... A brown honey badger. He was alone. Something was missing in his world. As Kori leaned forward, as if it was an attempt to reach out and touch the ratel with her nose, a crackle was of dirt and rock disturbed her. Her head snapped to the cliff she was standing on to discover the source of the crackle. It appeared to be crumbling at a rapid speed, and Kori panicked. She tried to run away, but her path was blocked by the very clouds that brought her here. Why had they done this?
Soon enough the vulnerable lioness was plumetting towards the earth in a shower of rocks and boulders. Some of the larger boulders whizzed right past her, crashing through her wings and tearing them right out of her shoulders. Kori screamed in pain, whirling in the air as feathers and blood burst into view.
In what seemed like a lifetime later, Kori crashed against the earth in an explosion of pain and rocks. She couldn’t move, her entire body was paralyzed... and suddenly, it was dark. The light that used to illuminate her very fur had completely vanished. She was nothing but a pile of useless meat, wet with blood and whimpering like a child. The shadows around her took the form of demonic beasts she had never seen before... yet she already knew why they were there. They wanted to humiliate her, to harm her... just like the clouds and the water had done before. Soon enough her prediction came to pass, and the shadows descended upon her, tearing her fleshy body apart with fangs and claws superior to those of any feline ever to walk the earth... mortal or otherwise.
Kori woke with the sun, snapping out of her surreal dream land with a shout and a roar. Her entire body ached, every movement would just bring another surge of pain down her spine.
Hoco jumped and screeched, startled that the lioness had roared him out of his slumber. “Kori! Darling, what is the matter? Are you hurt?” The badger tried to usher words of comfort, but that was the most he could do. He was afraid of getting to close... for fear of being slashed by those wicked claws.
Kori thrashed for a moment before learning it was futile. There were no shadows upon her, it was a nightmare and nothing more. Besides, all this movement had probably ripped open another wound... Blood trickled from her nose as Kori laid her head against the rocky earth. A single tear fell from her eyes as she tried to contain her fear. Crying might only rip open yet another healing wound. “Just a bad dream, Hoco...” She said, taking him in her arms as he came close. She desperately needed his warmth and his love that he was always so willing to offer.
"You'll be alright, little missy." Hoco stroked the lioness's snow white mane as they embraced.
Kori chuckled, finding it amusing that he insisted on calling her little when he was clearly the smaller one in the relationship.
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