Re: Legends Contest
Jun 29, 2012 17:29:55 GMT -5
Post by Meesh on Jun 29, 2012 17:29:55 GMT -5
-The mixed breed and his story- not an entry to be judged, just my idea for a story :3 -
My name is Altair. I am, as you can see, a mixed breed, the seventeenth of my kind in existence. My father was a canine and my mother, a feline. Their names were Erin and Sarah. Let me tell you our tale.
When I came into the world, it was a happy place. I was surrounded by the pods of other canines and felines, and happy parents and relatives stood around us. My pod was one of the last to crack open, so when I first saw the world, it was to see many newborn canines and felines tottering around for the first time. When I first stood and tottered to join them, gasps met my arrival. It then occurred to me that I was different than most, being part canine and part feline. For the most part, though, it didn't matter. I was with friends and family and I was happy.
I grew a happy life with my friends and family. We learned how to hunt and live together. Some of my friends evolved, and others didn't. It was a peaceful existence.
Then came the plague.
It started with the older ones, the weaker ones. They would suddenly develop a cough, and then a fever. By the third day, their tongue and lips would be bloodred and they would have trouble breathing. By the end of the first week, they were dead. Felines and canines sickened so quickly, we didn't know what to do.
Soon, there were a mere nine of us left. Nine, when there had once been thousands. We didn't know what to do. All hope was lost. We finally decided to leave the place. For nine days and nine nights, we traveled south. Soon, one canine fell ill. Then another. The felines grew ill shortly after.
It did not take long to realize that I, alone, was immune to the illness. I did my best to tend to the other eight, but I could only do so much. Two days had passed since the first of us grew ill, and we were running out of hope.
Then, an idea occurred to one, a young feline named Feria, and my mate. She suggested that if we could not save ourselves, perhaps we could preserve the next generation. The illness seemed to only affect canines and felines, so if we all sacrificed ourself to become trees, as our ancestors had before us, we would guarantee that the next generation would survive. Only I would remain, in order to educate the younger generation in our ways.
I protested strongly at first, knowing that for my friends to go back would mean all of their deaths. But they persisted. All to soon, we reached the Dried River Bed. By then, only I and three of my companions remained alive. I pleaded with them not to go, but with one final goodbye, all three turned and padded towards the place where they would die. I never saw them again.
Desolate, I fled to the orchard, where I found three new saplings. I was surprised to have recognized them at once as my friends. Thorrab, the muscular young canine, the bravestf I knew and my brother in all but blood became the Annab Tree. Gentle Nerif, the oldest of us still remaining and a canine, became the Kata-hal tree. And my beautiful Feria, the mate of my heart, became the Tart Cerasus tree.
I knew it would take centuries for the trees to grow old enough to bear pods- all the other trees were barren of offspring- so I prayed to the Goddess of the Moon to preserve my life long enough for the next generation to hatch. I cared for my three friends as their trees grew and prospered, and watched as all taints of the illness finally left the lands I had loved.
When the trees were large enough and I felt ready, I alone, slept in the triangle the three trees made. I felt the spirits of my three friends join me as I slept, and when I awoke, every tree in the orchard was covered with pods- hundred of pods. I felt a joy in my heart I had not felt in centuries, and eagerly awaited the day I could meet the newborns.
But then a specter appeared before me, the Goddess of the Moon. She told me that I was to leave the lands, to not return until the newborns were numerous enough to survive. So I left. I returned once last year, watching with joy as the newborns of that era hunted under my teachings. But, deciding that they were not numerous enough, I again left.
And now i return. I am glad to see how many of you there now are. And with this, it is time for me to complete my purpose in life. For a week and a day, I will remain, repeating every story I was told, every bit of knowledge I have learned. Ask any question of me and it shall be answered. And in one week's time, I shall leave to rejoin my companions, the three trees who were once my best friends, and my purpose shall be completed.
My name is Altair. I am, as you can see, a mixed breed, the seventeenth of my kind in existence. My father was a canine and my mother, a feline. Their names were Erin and Sarah. Let me tell you our tale.
When I came into the world, it was a happy place. I was surrounded by the pods of other canines and felines, and happy parents and relatives stood around us. My pod was one of the last to crack open, so when I first saw the world, it was to see many newborn canines and felines tottering around for the first time. When I first stood and tottered to join them, gasps met my arrival. It then occurred to me that I was different than most, being part canine and part feline. For the most part, though, it didn't matter. I was with friends and family and I was happy.
I grew a happy life with my friends and family. We learned how to hunt and live together. Some of my friends evolved, and others didn't. It was a peaceful existence.
Then came the plague.
It started with the older ones, the weaker ones. They would suddenly develop a cough, and then a fever. By the third day, their tongue and lips would be bloodred and they would have trouble breathing. By the end of the first week, they were dead. Felines and canines sickened so quickly, we didn't know what to do.
Soon, there were a mere nine of us left. Nine, when there had once been thousands. We didn't know what to do. All hope was lost. We finally decided to leave the place. For nine days and nine nights, we traveled south. Soon, one canine fell ill. Then another. The felines grew ill shortly after.
It did not take long to realize that I, alone, was immune to the illness. I did my best to tend to the other eight, but I could only do so much. Two days had passed since the first of us grew ill, and we were running out of hope.
Then, an idea occurred to one, a young feline named Feria, and my mate. She suggested that if we could not save ourselves, perhaps we could preserve the next generation. The illness seemed to only affect canines and felines, so if we all sacrificed ourself to become trees, as our ancestors had before us, we would guarantee that the next generation would survive. Only I would remain, in order to educate the younger generation in our ways.
I protested strongly at first, knowing that for my friends to go back would mean all of their deaths. But they persisted. All to soon, we reached the Dried River Bed. By then, only I and three of my companions remained alive. I pleaded with them not to go, but with one final goodbye, all three turned and padded towards the place where they would die. I never saw them again.
Desolate, I fled to the orchard, where I found three new saplings. I was surprised to have recognized them at once as my friends. Thorrab, the muscular young canine, the bravestf I knew and my brother in all but blood became the Annab Tree. Gentle Nerif, the oldest of us still remaining and a canine, became the Kata-hal tree. And my beautiful Feria, the mate of my heart, became the Tart Cerasus tree.
I knew it would take centuries for the trees to grow old enough to bear pods- all the other trees were barren of offspring- so I prayed to the Goddess of the Moon to preserve my life long enough for the next generation to hatch. I cared for my three friends as their trees grew and prospered, and watched as all taints of the illness finally left the lands I had loved.
When the trees were large enough and I felt ready, I alone, slept in the triangle the three trees made. I felt the spirits of my three friends join me as I slept, and when I awoke, every tree in the orchard was covered with pods- hundred of pods. I felt a joy in my heart I had not felt in centuries, and eagerly awaited the day I could meet the newborns.
But then a specter appeared before me, the Goddess of the Moon. She told me that I was to leave the lands, to not return until the newborns were numerous enough to survive. So I left. I returned once last year, watching with joy as the newborns of that era hunted under my teachings. But, deciding that they were not numerous enough, I again left.
And now i return. I am glad to see how many of you there now are. And with this, it is time for me to complete my purpose in life. For a week and a day, I will remain, repeating every story I was told, every bit of knowledge I have learned. Ask any question of me and it shall be answered. And in one week's time, I shall leave to rejoin my companions, the three trees who were once my best friends, and my purpose shall be completed.
