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Stuff like that. Have fun!

SPOILERS (of course!)

-Frost

Epilogue

Here it is, the end of the story! Enjoy!

Epilogue

            Rose laid back, watching her cubs play with a ball of moss. There were three, two female and one male. The male was the middle cub and was dark red and looked just like his father, the oldest looked like Rose’s mother, and the youngest was black and white with purple eyes.

            Rose got up and shuffled the cubs away. She led them to the edge of a deep, rushing gorge. Each day she had been waiting to do this, but couldn’t bring herself to. But now as she stood at the edge of the cliff, thinking about her life back home and everyone she needed, she convinced herself this was the only way. Besides, she felt no love for these cubs.

            She picked up the oldest cub by her scruff and threw her violently into the gorge, then the one that looked like Thorn, then the youngest, then she immediately turned around and ran as fast as she could, since one of her cubs had stolen it.

            Just a few minutes after she had begun her journey, she felt the cold, sharp claws of a dragon wrap around her body and lift her up. She screamed and struggled, but could not get out.

            Perhaps it was for the best that she couldn’t escape the grasp of the dragon, for if she had made it home, all she would have found was a charred wasteland of ashes and bones.  

            Except for one lone creature, one lone survivor, his yellow pelt dashing through the debris.

End of Epilogue

End of “A Darker Story” 

-Frost

Chapter XI

 Sorry that it has to be so fast-paced. It's just that I'm writing another story right now that is the prequel to a long series, so that is my top priority and I'm not going to just abandon a story. Don't worry, the story will still go as I planned it originally.

Chapter XI

            Thorn struggled up through the crowd and into the sky, granting himself temporary wings. The frustrated leopards tried to follow him but couldn’t. There’s only one place I can go, Thorn told himself. He turned away from the kingdom and flew to the Everdark Forest.

            Rose sat on the ground, watching him, wishing he didn’t have to go. Her father nudged her. “Don’t worry, he’ll never show his sorry face around her again!” He led her to the castle for the wedding with his tail.

****

            Tiger looked at Rose. They had been married for over two year now and she had been recently acting very strange. He prodded her with his paw and swallowed. “Rose, I have to go on a quest…” Rose nodded, staring off into space. “Uh-huh, be careful…”

            He snorted, put on his armor, grabbed his sack, and walked out the door, nearly running into Lee, a yellow snow leopard Rose had found outside the kingdom and brought in. Lee was still young, but growing very fast. “Bye, Lee,” Tiger pushed past him, anxious to get away from this crazy kingdom.

            Lee turned to narrow his eyes at Rose. Tiger hadn’t been the only one noticing Rose’s strange behavior, so tonight… he would follow her.

****

            Lee growled in frustration. He had been following Rose when she suddenly disappeared. He shook his head to clear it and rose his nose to the wind. Luckily he had a very good sense of smell, and he could smell magic. Huh… there was nowhere far enough worth going to use magic… except for… Lee gasped. The Everdark Forest! Luckily he knew a shortcut that could get him there in a few hours.

            When Lee got there, Rose was just leaving, but he saw enough to know what was going on. Rose and Thorn stood at the front of the forest, Thorn nuzzling Rose and wishing her goodbye.

            Rose stood, watching Thorn disappear into the forest, before trotting forward and running straight into Lee. “L-l-lee! H-h-how long have you been here?” Lee narrowed his eyes and ran off, screaming over his shoulder: “Long enough!”

            “Lee! No…” Rose raced after Lee. Lee turned to face her, growling. Lee clawed her amulet off and disappeared. Rose screamed her sorrow to the sky.

****

            Everyone was there: The guards, the king, Lee, and even Tiger, who had been stopped by Lee. They all trudged into the forest, catching Thorn. Tiger held a struggling Thorn down, ready to deliver the fatal blow, when Rose ran over. “No! Don’t!” Tiger gave Rose a vicious glare before slicing his claws through Thorn’s throat, enjoying the feel of the blood seeping into his claws. Rose howled in despair, turned around, and ran as far as she could while the group headed home.

****

            Rose sat in her room sobbing. She knew her father was standing outside, also sobbing. But she didn’t care. She didn’t love Tiger, she loved Thorn, but now he was gone. The night came and the castle was quiet. Rose slipped out and transported using the amulet she had stolen back to the edge of the kingdom. She silently slipped into a cave and rested. There she would stay, until she could go back. 

End Chapter XI

-Frost 

Chapter X

Chapter X

            The princes struggled out of their final challenge. Tiger had encouraged the team in the maze, stayed behind to fight the monster cave while the rest went ahead, helped them come up with a plan to put out the raging fire in the forest, and refused to abandon his group when he was tempted, but Talon had always taken the credit for Tiger’s victories, hoping to claim Rose as his own.

            The moment of truth was drawing nearer. The crowds drew closer and held their breath as King Malicis walked regally towards the bedraggled group.

            “I have been watching you using this orb generously provided by Thorn. I have watched each of you and carefully made my decision.” He dipped his head to Thorn before continuing. “My original plan was a deadly tournament, but the addition of Thorn has made me change my mind. One of you, through these challenges, have shown me that you are fit to marry my dear daughter, Rose.”

            Malicis rested his gaze on Tiger before going on. “Tiger. You have shown that you are smart, brave, strong, willing to make sacrifices, strategic, and loyal. These are qualities that I want my daughter’s husband to have.”

            Tiger looked shocked, and proceeded to numbly trot up to the king, who replaced his red crown with a black one. “The winner of the competition, Prince Tiger of the Golden Spruce Kingdom!” Those of the said kingdom went wild. Rose ran up to meet her future husband, eyes shining but doubt lodged deep in her heart.

****

            Thorn made his was through the crowd of kingdoms preparing to leave, searching for Tiger. He was a lucky prince, marrying such an amazing princess. He was glad he was a castle guard.

            Thorn looked up and gasped. Tiger was giving his speech to his subjects on the top of the tallest tree, but that wasn’t the cause of Thorn’s shock. Behind the prince, a light brown pelt covered by leaves was extending a paw, giving a rough shove, and sending Tiger shooting down. Thorn looked around frantically, but everyone seemed to be frozen to the ground. Thinking fast, Thorn took a leap into the air and flew towards Tiger. He grabbed him, but the prince was too heavy.

            Panicking, Thorn quickly created a force field around Tiger. He landed and the glowing ball of green around him faded. Thorn floated down next to Tiger, looking around at the shocked faces of the crowd.

            “A warlock! A warlock!”

            “What’s he doing here?!”

            “Evil has penetrated our kingdoms!”

            “Burn him!”

End Chapter X 

-Gylfie101

Chapter IX

Chapter IX

            Rose’s eyes shone as greeted the citizens of the other kingdoms. They seemed so kind to her, but then again she was the princess. And the higher royalty! She thought. Once the winner of the competition was determined, she wouldn’t have to worry about leaving. Since the Cold Heart Kingdom was more powerful, her future husband would be the new prince of the Cold Heart Kingdom. Someone nudged her harshly, and she turned around sharply, about to snap at whoever could be so rude-but then she saw who it was, and her gaze softened.

            “Thorn. Are you okay?” He looked bedraggled and nervous. Thorn shook his head. “Are you as nervous as I am?”

            “No way! I’m excited!” She paused to look at him. “Why are you nervous for my wedding?”

            Thorn shook his head again. “I don’t know. I’m probably fine, just tired.” He smiled at her. “Your wedding will be great. I promise.”

            But Rose didn’t seem so sure. Thorn’s nervousness had made her realize that if she looked deep inside her heart, she was reluctant to get married to any of these princes. And something else… regret. Regret that she couldn’t have someone else…

End Chapter IX

Chapter VIII

Chapter VIII

            Tiger snapped at Harold as he let out an ear-shattering scream. “You’re so loud, I bet they could hear you in the Lighter Kingdoms!”

            Harold sniffed as he tried to step out of the thick, goopy, slimy brown mud. Tiger looked around, trying to find a way out of what could potentially be the death of all of them.

            “Look! Why do we follow Tiger? He leads us all into mud!” Tiger didn’t have to turn around to know that the rude comment came from Talon. Tiger thought fast. “Okay,” he nodded. “I know what we have to do here. We can’t use our strength, so we have to use our brains.”

            Talon rolled his eyes and groaned. The rest of the princes had uncertainty in their eyes as they slowly agreed.

            “Okay, almighty Tiger, what do you suggest?” Talon sneered. Tiger looked around and immediately perked up as he saw the small Silver struggling in the mud. “Silver!” He barked. “Stop moving.”

            Silver’s eyes widened and he shook his head violently. Tiger looked him straight in the eyes. “Trust me. I won’t let any of you get hurt.”

            Silver took a deep breath and relaxed. To everyone’s surprise, he floated to the top! Tiger smiled as he gave instruction to Silver. “Okay. Grab that stick and climb onto that rock over there, closest to us. Right, okay, everyone’s going to wade over there. You pull us out, okay?”

            Soon everyone was out, and Yellow managed to sniff out a clear path.

            Before they knew it, they found themselves at the end of the passage. Yellow trotted up to the two goblets on the wooden table and inspected them. “There a-seems to be a-something a-written on some a-papers over a-here!” He shouted, them opened his mouth to read them. Talon shoved Yellow aside, wanting to be the important one here.

            “All of you must drink out of one goblet. One contains a powerful poison that will kill you all slowly, and the other contains the small key out of here. Choose wisely.”

            Talon reached to pick one up hesitantly, then handed it to Tiger. “All of you can drink it,” he laughed, “so that if it’s the poison, I’ll win.”

            Tiger growled and snatched the paper off the table and looked over it, then turned to the goblets. He looked inside each and began to laugh. “They’re both the same!”

            “No,” Harold yelped. “This one’s liquid is blue. The other is green!”

            “So?” Tiger shrugged. “A key dipped in poison placed in water will poison it, no matter what. And the colors are from the goblets, not the poison.”

            Tiger grabbed both goblets and dumped the poison out. A small key fell out of both. Tiger picked one up and felt around for a door. The unlocking of it brought a welcome burst of warm, blinding sunlight as the princes burst out of the chamber. The king ran over to welcome them, immediately recognizing Tiger as the winner of this round. “Smart fellow!” Malicis commented, and then nodded to a few guards, who took the key from Tiger and nudged the princes into another dark room.

            But this time, it didn’t stay dark. Torches mysteriously lit themselves, and the princes were greeted with their next challenge: a giant maze.

Chapter VIII

-Gylfie101

           

Chapter VII

Chapter VII

            Tiger held up his paw and swallowed, not sure where to go, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He could hear the other princes panicking. Talon groaned that the darkness would ruin his fabulous coat, Harold yelped that he was afraid of the dark, Yellow was running into walls, and Silver was unsuccessfully trying to calm them down.

            “ENOUGH!” Tiger silenced the group with a roar. His eyes fully adjusted, he searched the group. “We’ll never get anywhere if you do this! We need to work together as a team.”

            Talon snorted. “Never! We’re enemies, remember?” The rest of the princes nodded their heads and murmured agreement.

            Tiger stalked towards the princes and hissed viciously. “Would you rather die?”

            The princes were silenced immediately, except for Talon, who snorted and walked up to the red snow leopard. “Okay, leader, what’s the plan?”

            Tiger detected the sneer in Talon’s voice and realized he was set on winning. Tiger took a deep breath and pointed his tail forward. “We have to walk that way. Don’t depend so heavily on your sight; use your other senses more.”

            The group proceeded forward, with Tiger in the front and a clearly upset Talon dropping to the back.

***

            The mumbling of the crowd as they walked off to the festivities the villagers had prepared drowned out Thorn’s voice as he tried to speak to Rose. He frowned as the fifth attempt to communicate was once again, unheard. He waited for the majority of the animals to leave and gestured for Rose to follow him. Once they were out of the view of the others, Thorn reached into his satchel and pulled out a small dark blue amulet on a silver chain and handed it to Rose.

            “What is it?” She breathed as she accepted it.

            Thorn smiled. “It’s a magic amulet. It takes you where you really, in your deepest depths, want to go.” Thorn turned his head away. “It’s a gift. For your wedding, you know.”

            Rose smiled and hugged Thorn. “Oh Thorn, you’re so sweet!” Rose dropped the amulet in her dress pocket and leaped up. “Want to go look at the festivities? The villagers are proud of their creation!”

            Thorn got up to follow Rose. “Sounds great!”

            As they were walking, Thorn jumped suddenly. Rose turned her head to look at him questioningly. “You alright?”

           

            Thorn swallowed. “I thought I heard a scream…”

            Rose laughed. “Silly guard! You’re so jumpy!”

Thorn nodded uncertainly and asked cautiously, “How do you think the princes are doing?”

Rose shrugged. “I have no idea. I just hope they don’t die.”

End Chapter VII

-Gylfie101

Chapter VI

Chapter VI

            King Malicis smiled out at the land. The villagers were scurrying to get ready for the contest. Foods had to be made, clothing had to be prepared, the village had to be arranged properly, so many things to do, and only a day to do it!

            Malicis turned back into the castle and reflected on how well things had been going so far. Rose, who had always seemed so distant, had made friends with the new guard. Thorn had only been a guard for a few months, but had already grown to be liked by everyone in the castle. He was an interesting leopard, he had to admit. He always had strange tales of mystical lands that everyone in the castle would gather around to hear.

            “Daddy! Daddy!” Malicis swung his head around to see Rose running towards him, followed closely by Thorn. The King gasped as he saw what Rose was wearing.

            Rose smiled as Malicis gaped over the beautiful gold silk and a diamond tiara. Rose hopped around. “Do you like it?! Maddy made it. Thorn gave her the idea. We kept it a secret from you so you would be surprised. She shook her body and stared at her father. “Did it work?”

            Malicis shook his head to come back to reality. “It’s amazing!” He grinned at Thorn and motioned for him to come with him. “You’re part of the wedding planning committee.” He glanced at Rose. “Go relax. Read. Tomorrow’s a big day for you!” Rose nodded and bounced away. Malicis turned to Thorn as they walked together. “She’s so happy.” He breathed in and looked Thorn straight in the eyes. “Thank you. For cheering my daughter up.”

            “No problem,” Thorn replied. “I want to thank you for making me a guard.”

            “Ha!” Malicis laughed. “You killed a general in a gory, bloody way. Of course you were going to end up a guard!”

***

            Thorn inspected the rather boring layout of the grand wedding. It was missing so much. He leaped up and interrupted Malicis in mid-sentence. “No!”

            Everyone turned and looked at him with shock, even the King. Thorn trotted up to Malicis and put a paw on the parchment. “For Keyla’s sake, this is a royal wedding. It needs… decorations!”

            The smallest guard was the first to ask, “What is a… deck-er-a-shun?”

            Thorn groaned. “Okay,” he murmured. “Guess I’ll have to show you.” He nodded to the king. “Get all your best sewers and woodcutters here at the castle.” Thorn rubbed his paws together. “It’s time to spruce up this wedding.”

***

            Five snow leopards stood in a line, each looking quite calm for someone who was about to compete in a potentially fatal contest in order to win an unknown princess’s paw in marriage.

            A massive roar quieted the murmuring of the crowd, gathered around a huge stretch of field. All turned their heads to see King Malicis, waiting for the attention of the villagers from many different kingdoms.

            He cleared his throat, and in his loudest roar, began to announce the contestants.

            “From the Shining Star Kingdom, Prince Talon!” A light brown leopard with matching eyes stepped forward, flashing a princely smile as the entire portion of light brown leopards went wild.

            “From the Golden Spruce Kingdom, Prince Tiger!” The red leopards cheered as the red leopard dipped his head.

            “Prince Harold from the Fallen Angel Kingdom!” A blue leopard’s smile was met by more cheers, this time from the blue leopards.

            “Prince Yellow from the Black Sun Kingdom!” Yellow leopards cheered for their yellow prince.

            “And finally, from the Wooden Claw Kingdom, Prince Silver!” A handsome silver furred prince was cheered for by the silver furred leopards.

            King Malicis grinned. “And now, the first round of the game!” He looked down at the princes. “I’d tell you what you have to do, but that ruins all the fun, doesn’t it?”

            The princes were roughly shoved into a door. They heard shutting and locking as they were faced from all sides with eternal darkness.

End Chapter VI 

-Gylfie101

Chapter V

Chapter V

            Rose rushed to get ready, shuffling around looking for her papers. As she threw everything around in a desperate search, she furiously wondered why sundials didn’t have alarms. She cursed violently as she scurried to get her lavender silk dress on.

            “My, my, that’s no way for a princess to speak.”

            Rose jerked her head up in shock to see who was speaking. Standing in the doorway of her disarrayed room was a tall, skinny dark red snow leopard in a guard’s uniform. Rose plopped on her tiara and faced the guard. “Who in the name of Flame the great Fire Dragon are you?!”

            The guard smiled. “I’m Thorn, the new guard. I was sent to check on you. You seem to be late…?” He ended, clearly expecting an answer.

            Rose groaned. “I know I’m late! I can’t find my cursed papers!”

            Thorn lifted a foot to step forward hesitantly. “May I come in?”

            “I guess,” Rose mumbled. She looked up at Thorn. “Can you help me?”

            “That’s exactly what I was going to do.”

            The two rummaged around in the messy room for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly, Thorn stopped at stared at the floor. The princess looked at him questioningly and walked over. “What did you find?”

            Thorn was looking at a beautiful picture painted with the finished colors of a sleek black snow leopard with deep red eyes next to a beautiful snow leopard whose fur seemed to be made of frost and icy blue eyes. In between them was a young cub with creamy fur tinted pink and eyes just like that of the white leopard. Thorn glanced at Rose to see her eyes filled with tears.

            Rose tenderly picked up the picture and hugged it. “I thought I had lost you,” Rose said hoarsely. “But I love you…”

            She set the painting down in front of Thorn. “Thorn,” she rasped. “Do you know who they are?”

            Thorn swallowed as he made the connection. “The cub is you… the black one is King Malicis, and the frosty one is…” Thorn’s words faded out, his own eyes becoming wet, remembering memories that weren’t there.

            “My mother.” Rose finished. “Queen Frostbite. She died protecting me from a dragon… she was amazing.” Rose looked up at Thorn. “Who are your parents? Where are you from?”

            Thorn bit his lip and turned away. “Oh… you-you don’t have any…”

            “Of course I do!” Thorn laughed weakly. His face fell. “I just don’t remember them.” He looked into Rose’s entrancing icy blue eyes. “Can you keep a secret?” He whispered. After the princess’s slow nod, he leaned over and put his mouth to her ear. “I’ve lived in the Everdark Forest my entire life.”

            Rose leaned back, eyes wide. “Wow,” she breathed. “That’s amazing…”

            Thorn closed his eyes and smiled. He was about to get up to go when he heard the crinkling of papers. “I do believe these are yours,” Thorn nodded towards the papers on the floor. He watched as Rose bent down to retrieve the papers. “And, umm, would you like an escort?”

            Rose seemed startled. “S-s-sure!”

            As the two trotted out the door and down the stairs, Thorn stopped. “Huh…”

            Rose shook her head. “You have no idea where we’re going, do you?”

            “Hey! Give me a break! I’m new here!” Thorn huffed.

            Rose laughed. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

***

            That day, Thorn gained a friend.

            He also learned the way to the Lessons room.

End Chapter V 

-Gylfie101

Chapter IV

Chapter IV

            Thorn’s legs felt as if they where moving on their own. He stared blankly ahead as he moved forward. The murmuring of the villagers was drowned out in his own nonexistent thoughts. The stern faces of the high ranking soldiers surrounded him, the general in the lead of the parade of shame. The castle gates became closer and closer, and soon the soldiers where traded off for scary looking guards.

            Thorn watched the passing patterns of the castle floor as the guards pushed him along, soon facing a massive, imposing figure. The figure’s eyes gleamed at turned towards one of the guards. “Is this the losing general? My, it didn’t take long for the Fire Foot Kingdom to surrender their general. I thought they had no honor…?”

            The guard swallowed and began. “Unfortunately, Sire, the code of honor has been broken. Instead of the losing kingdom surrendering their general to us… the general has been killed.”

            King Malicis’s gleaming eyes grew wide. “What!” He screeched. Through his fury, all he could manage to say was “Wh-pp-o?!”

            Before the guards could shakily step back to point at Thorn, the deep red snow leopard shouldered his way to the front. “I did,” he said casually, licking his blood caked fur.

            King Malicis sat there in shock as the general told him the story of the murder of the Fire Foot general. When the general finished, the king’s gaping mouth took up most of his face. King Malicis found himself struggling to get a grasp on words. Finally, he spoke.

            “That-that- that was… vicious… and great…”

            Shock was apparent through the crowd. Malicis leaped off his throne to face Thorn. “How did you manage? You may have been disloyal but… you showed true bravery and most importantly… savagery!” Malicis sat back. “How would you like to become a castle guard?”

            Thorn gasped, lost for words. “I-it-it’s so soon-I-I just b-b-barely started, I mean, so soon, and…”

            Malicis glared at Thorn.

            Thorn straightened up. “Yes, Sire. It would be an honor to serve as a castle guard.”

            “Good.” Malicis nodded and then eyed Thorn’s bloody pelt. “You start in a week, take a rest…” He eyed Thorn’s coat. “It looks as if you took a massive blow there. How long do you need to recover from that?”

            Thorn glanced at his pelt casually and laughed. “No, sire. All the blood you see is not mine. It is from my enemies!”

End Chapter IV 

-Gylfie101

Chapter III

 Gore

Chapter III

            He stuck out like a sore thumb. He was an easy target. They all knew who he was. Because of his coat, he suffered abuse from his fellow soldiers.

            But he was still expected to be just as tough and loyal as they where. And he was.

***

            “Hey Red, your on cleaning duty!” An older soldier shouted, his buddies snickering around him.

            “Not like I don’t do it everyday,” Thorn mumbled as he dragged his feet over to the filthy table. The soldiers where about to pester Thorn when the whistle was blown and the soldiers rushed to line up. Thorn quickly shoved the food into a leather sack and threw it outside, sliding into the line just as the general started inspecting each soldier. Thorn straightened his back up, looking straight ahead, showing no emotion. After what seemed like an eternity, the general stood at the front of the solid line.

            “Loyal soldiers of the Cold Heart Kingdom under the rule of the fearsome King Malicis and his daughter Princess Rose! Some of you may have only been here for a little under a month-” at this he shot a glance at Thorn and a few others-“but I believe you all have had enough training…” he paused, as if only for dramatic effect.

            “To go into a battle.” The general finished with a look that silenced all questions or protests. “The foolish Fire Foot Kingdom is planning a surprise attack on us, but our spies have made that no longer possible. We’re going to strike first, very early in the morning when the sorry lumpmuffins will be fast asleep. As much as I hate to say it, you need your sleep.” He stared at the line with burning eyes. “Well? What are you waiting for? SLEEP!”

            The line scattered, each rushing to their cottage. Thorn slowly walked to his cottage that he shared with no one. As he slowly climbed in bed, he wondered if he would get out of this battle aloud. Despite spending his entire life in the Everdark Forest, he had still heard enough to know what the battles where like: gory, merciless, and vicious. He soon fell fast asleep, but his sleep was full of visions of a bloody battle to come.

***

            Here he stood, almost frozen to the spot, as warriors sliced each other open right before his eyes. He was never born to be a fighter, and so many where dying.

            At first it seemed guiltily satisfying to see those who had berated and teased him for so long being torn apart, but he quickly pushed away the evil feelings. What do I do? Thorn thought shakily. He was suddenly hit with his dreams from before, the ones he had forgotten. Everything flashed before his eyes.

A battle lost, an entire kingdom falling.

The Darker Kingdoms rising up, destroying everything.

A force worse than anything known to the kingdoms enslaving all the survivors of the horrible Armageddon.

And it was all the work of the Fire Foot general, an emotionless, power-hungry, blood-greedy animal.

You couldn’t kill a general. It just hadn’t been done. It was far too dangerous, as generals where protected fiercely by their soldiers.

            Thorn breathed in the scent of the blood and the carnage around him, and gathering all the strength in his body, he rushed through the various gore and bleeding bodies scattered about. He ran right past fighting soldiers, barely missing being hit in the face by someone’s slimy intestines. A foolish warrior threw himself in front of Thorn. Thorn struck out, tearing the warrior’s eye out. He howled in pain and clumsily ran off, his bloody eye socket the least brutal of the wounds. As Thorn ran, he felt something squishy pushing against the fur above his claw and realized the warrior’s eye was still stuck to his red, dripping, wet claws. “Ugh,” Thorn grunted, but paid little attention. He was on a mission to save the world.

            As he approached the general, the fighting became worse. Soldiers surrounded Thorn, determined to protect the general. Thorn spared no expense in getting rid of his attackers. He charged one, snatched his tail in his teeth, and swung him around so hard he flew off into a tree, smashing his skull, blood and brains leaking onto the tree. Thorn next clawed two soldier’s eyes out, which also lodged themselves onto his claws.

            Thorn soon realized that although his fighting was vicious, the number of soldiers was too overpowering. He reared up, jumped above the claws of two warriors threatening to tear him apart, and landed in front of the heartless general. Before anyone had any time to react, Thorn lunged at him and bit his tiny pink nose off, swallowing it as the general screamed in pain. He threw himself at Thorn, but Thorn was fighting to save the world. He couldn’t afford to lose, so he simply stepped back, watching the general take a hard fall onto a sharp stone, which would soon be covered in a deep shade of red.

            The general felt sharp claws digging deeply into his muscular back, and as he lay there, weak from blood loss, the world fading in and out, he saw eyes, coming closer. Eyes of some of his most loyal warriors, coming towards him.

            “No,” he protested weakly. “You where my favorites… your eyes are so sharp… don’t do this… traitors…” His eyes filled with blood and pain and with a sickening sound, he saw no more.

 Thorn quickly finished the almost-dead general off with a swift bite to the neck. He finally came back to reality and realized that everyone had been watching him, petrified, wondering what to do. Thorn simply sat down, trying to pick the seven various bloody eyes off his claws.

As the general’s body was being dragged away by torn, bleeding warriors, Thorn couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look! He’s got the same color coat as me now!”

End Chapter III 

-Gylfie101

Chapter II

Chapter II

            “Razafrazamagaloobleblahblo…” Thorn grumbled. “I never realized the town was this far away…”

            It had already been five days and Thorn was still trampling through the dry weeds, trying to find even the smallest glimpse of the town. But he wouldn’t have to look any farther, for when he trekked up a spiky hill, he could see cottages off in the distance. The excited snow leopard picked up speed, trying to propel himself faster into civilization.

            He soon skidded to a halt, panting in front of the entrance to the town, guarded by fierce-looking, pitch-black, scar-ridden guards.

            “Err, hi!” Thorn’s words where met with hostile glances.

            “Halt, stranger! State your business!” One of the guards snarled.

            “Citizenship.” Thorn said simply. The guard inspected him and nodded. “Where do you come from?”

            Thorn hesitated. What should he say? “I-I was a foolish loner who desires nothing more than to be a humble citizen of this amazing kingdom, loyal to none other than the superior, feared, strong, and absolutely worthy King Malicis, who trains his guards and soldiers in the way of the fierce and merciless so this kingdom may stay the most respected as it should be.”

            The guard seemed flattered and impressed. “You seem like you really want to be a citizen,” the guard growled. He flashed a glance at his fellow guards. “Let him in. He will become a citizen.”

            Thorn guessed the guard he had talked to was the head guard of this group. He almost threw his fist in the air and shouted out, but didn’t want to make a fool out of himself. Fancy talking and flattering, Thorn thought. Works all the time on the stupid brutes like these guys.

***

            Thorn threw his satchel down onto a chair and yawned. It had been a long day. He had no idea becoming a citizen of this kingdom took so long. He was too tired to take a tour of his new accommodations, so he found his way to his room and blew out the candle.

            Needless to say, sleep came upon him almost immediately.

***

            Thorn whistled as he trotted down the brick path towards the village market. He had a few gold coins in his satchel, but seeing as how most forms of payment where silver, he was guessing he could purchase more. As he approached the market, the sounds, sights, and smells became overwhelming. The market was bustling with activity even so early in the morning. It seemed like the whole village was here, adults purchasing food, cubs scurrying around, the elder leopards selling homemade jams and cookies. Each new smell brought joy to his sensitive nose, and he could take it no longer. He ran into the market, about to burst into a cheesy song, when he noticed that everyone was looking at him.

            Thorn shrank down, not used to having all these eyes on him. The villagers mumbled, and Thorn was able to catch a few words.

            “Who is he?”

            “He’s not from here.”

            “I think he’s dangerous.”

            “He seems strange.”

            Thorn’s eyes darted around the crowd, feeling uncomfortable, wondering how they could tell he was from somewhere else. Maybe they where such a close-knit group-wait, no. At this point, he noticed something strange, something he had never noticed before: They all had black coats. Thorn swallowed and quickly thought of something to calm the villagers.

            “I was just a foolish loner who-” Before he could finish, a villager grabbed him by the neck and held him up.

            “Look, Mr. Fancy Words, that may have worked on the guards, and you may be a citizen according to them, but we don’t like outsiders. Especially you. You’re different. We don’t trust those kinds of animals. If I where you, I’d stay far, far, far away from us. You’ll never fit in. We’ll never accept you. Got it?”

            Thorn nodded furiously, and the leopard dropped him. “Good. Now leave and never come back-if you know what’s good for you.”

            Thorn didn’t know if the villager meant to leave the kingdom or just the market, but he wasn’t going to back down that easily. However, he didn’t want a fight and make a big scene on his first day, so he scampered off to his cottage on the edge of the village. Now he realized his mistake. He should have never come here. With his dark red coat, he would never be one of them. He sighed and waited for the inevitable.

            Ha! It came at him laughing. That was some display out there. Ya know, ya can make them like ya. That’s what you want, don’t ya? Come on, ya know ya want to!

            Go away, Thorn responded. I don’t need friends like that. I need real friends, not ones who are forced to like me.

            Come on! Ya’re just acting like a wimp!

            Thorn shook his head. I was given this gift for a reason. I’m not going to misuse it.  I don’t know why you won’t leave me alone.

            Think about it. Ya know ya want to. Just think about it. Just like that, the voice was gone. Thorn sighed. He would never be free from the voice, he knew it. But he wasn’t going to misuse his gift, not matter what any voice said. He dug around in his satchel for his plant seeds and walked off wearily to the backyard. Looking around at both the inside and the outside, he realized… it needed something.

            “I know just the thing!” Leaving the seeds on a chair, and grabbing an ax, he headed out to the small forest a little ways behind his cottage.

***

            A few months later

            “Ha! The only thing that isn’t thriving in my life is a good relationship with the villagers!” Thorn exclaimed. He had planted a garden, which was turning out to be successful, found out he was good at wood carving, and furnished his almost empty cottage! Not bad for an outsider like me, Thorn thought.

            As he stood back admiring the bedside table he had just finished carving, he jumped as he heard a sharp rapping at the door. He rushed to grab the doorknob and yank it open. Standing in the doorway where a pawful of menacing guards.

            Thorn straightened up. “What can I do for you?” He asked confidently. (He had also been working on overcoming his nervousness in front of others.)

            “Royal Soldiers. In a completely random lottery, you have been chosen to serve in the fierce protectors of the Cold Heart Kingdom. In other words…”

            Another guard finished the sentence for him. “You’ve been drafted. For the Royal Cold Heart Army.”

            Thorn gulped.

            Life just got much more complicated. 

End Chapter II

-Gylfie101 

Chapter I

Chapter I

About one year before

            Sitting at a small wooden table where two snow leopards. One, whose sleek, black coat had long been tangled and bloodstained, and the other, with rosy cream colored fur and icy blue eyes. The latter was picking at her food with her sharp claws, not seeming to be very hungry.

            “Rose! Quick playing with your food!” The black leopard exclaimed.

            Rose stopped picking at the meat and sat quietly, paws folded neatly into her lap. King Malicis, the black leopard, knew something was wrong with his daughter.

            “Rose? You usually devour your meals. Are you okay?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew the cause of this lack of appetite: nervousness. She was awaiting the answer of the announcement Malicis had sent out months earlier.

            “Look, Rose, I don’t know-” Before he could finish his sentence, a guard came barging in to the small room.

            “Sire! We have received answers from all the snow leopard kingdoms. All the eligible princes will certainly participate in the contest for young Princess Rose’s paw in marriage.”

            Rose breathed a sigh of relief. The anticipation was over. A worthy suitor would be chosen for her in a potentially fatal contest. It was the best way to choose her future husband. Of course, she had heard stories of foolish princesses who rejected the contests or forced marriages to run off with peasants, outlaws, or maybe even refusing to get married at all. She would never be accused of breaking the highly enforced laws of the kingdoms. She understood this was for her kingdom’s sake, and if a prince could win her father’s brutal competition, he was definitely worth marrying.

            “When will the contest be held, Father?” Rose inquired innocently.

            King Malicis looked down at his young daughter. “Don’t worry, honey. It will only be about a year before the preparations are over.”

            Rose frowned, thought it over, and smiled. She would have plenty of time to prepare. “Okay, Father!” She put on her sweetest smile and skipped off to her room, her meal still uneaten.

            Malicis watched his daughter skip off. “The sorry kitten who wins the contest better be worthy enough to marry her,” he spat, and then noticed the guard still standing there. Malicis shoved the guard towards the table. “Here,” he said casually. “We’re not hungry.”

            The guard’s eyes lit up as he prepared to plunge his muzzle into a feast fit for a king (and a princess.)

***

            If one where to travel to the outer edges of the kingdom, they would find the Everdark Forest. It was said to be home to several vicious creatures who would tear apart the first outsider they saw. Even King Malicis’s guards where ordered to stay away from it. But perhaps, if one where to travel to a certain point on the outer edges of the Everdark Forest, they could hear someone splashing in a river of clear, fresh water, and the joyful humming of a dark red snow leopard.

           

            The leopard continued humming his jovial song as he leaped out of the river and violently shook his fur to dry out. He continued humming as he grabbed his leather satchel. He continued as he trotted through the forest, watching the creatures scamper by. He loved everything about this place. The creatures, the plants, everything, and it was all under his protection.

            A small rabbit with sharp fangs and devil horns came running to the leopard. “Everdark,” it whined. “I gots a thorn stucks in my footsie.”

            “Oh Junior, again? You just can’t seem to stay out of that rose bush, huh? And you don’t have to call me Everdark. It’s too… formal.”

            “But ‘Thorn’ is whats I keep getting stucks in my footsies,” Junior whined.

            Thorn the Everdark reached down to inspect Junior’s foot. He put a paw into his satchel to grab a few herbs to rub on Junior’s sore foot. The thorn was soon gone.

            “Thanks Everdark!” Junior smiled. Thorn smiled back, but it was quickly replaced by a look of worry.

            “You guys can handle yourselves, right?” Thorn said weakly.

            “Bu-bu-but Everdark, you can’t leave! We need you!” Junior sniffed.

            “Sorry Junior,” Thorn sighed. “I’m going to the kingdom. I-I-I need to experience life in a different way. I’ll be back, I promise.” And with that he quickly turned his back on the sniffing devil rabbit so he wouldn’t have to see those adorable puppy eyes that had been a major obstacle in his journey.

            “I love living here, I love being your Everdark, but there comes a time everyone has to venture outside of their comfort zone. It’s just part of growing up. I’ll be back, I promise, I would never abandon you…” Thorn whispered, as if only trying to convince himself it would be okay. As he walked away, the plants seemed to whither a little and the animals grew silent.

End Chapter I

-Gylfie101