Chapter 1 – Solace in a Dead Tree
The dead Kikwi was heavy and starting to take its toll on the snow leopard. He caught it trying to blend in with the tall grass by a cave, 'Pathetic Kikwis…' He thought, and was dragging it back to his home on a secluded plateau beside a grand, macabre tree. The snow leopard bit into the Kikwi and managed to throw the limp, dead corpse onto the plateau and jumped the gap where he could finally rest in peace and comfort. He finally dragged the corpse through a hole at the base of the tree that he called home.
The snow leopard became a dark blob and morphed into the shape of a man. Jacy sat down and proceeded to start a fire for his feast. He took a dagger and pulled the Kikwi over to his cot and began to trim the leaves off its back and placed them into a wooden bowl at his side. Jacy is a humble man of the forest, and this was his biggest catch of the Moon Cycle. He was rapturous. 'These next few moons'll be the paragon of bliss!' Jacy thought, smiling.
Jacy placed the bowl of leaves and dagger on his cot, and took the body of the Kikwi and tied its pitifully skinny arms and feet to a sturdy branch. He lifted the stick and placed it on two supports so the Kikwi was above the fire and would roast rather nicely. Jacy was actively watching the fire caramelize the Kikwi skin deliciously. 'I love Kikwi! It's perfect…You get incredible meat and a salad on the side! What other animal does that? Not those Goddess-awful Parella…Blehhh…Kikwis taste infinitely better!' Jacy thought when he heard a slight rustle of rope outside his makeshift home, 'What's that?' Jacy thought.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jacy noticed something green coming through the above entrance into the tree. The intruder entered Jacy's home and went straight to the pot which held all of Jacy's Rupees. Jacy tried to grab for his dagger but remembered he left it on his cot opposite of the room. He did not dare to try to get it. The intruder had a sword strapped to his back, and Jacy did not think it was worth the risk. The intruder picked up the pot and smashed it on the ground, gathered the Rupees scattered on the floor, and placed them in his wallet.
The intruder turned, saw Jacy, and walked over to him. Jacy felt the intruder target him with his piercing blue eyes and felt the forced need the say something to the intruder. "What do you think you're doing, brother? I worked hard for those Rupees! Who does that?!" The intruder just walked away and out of his house without a word. 'Who does that?' Jacy thought again, 'I'm gonna get this guy and make him pay! If it's the last thing I do! I swear to the Great Goddesses Above!' Jacy hit his head 'GAH! I should've just changed into a snow leopard and scared him away…How could I be so stupid? I will NEVER make that mistake EVER again.'
Trying to fathom what just happened and what he could possibly do, Jacy sat down on his cot and knocked his dagger and his bowl towards the ground. He began endlessly enacting several different vendettas in his mind. It was getting late and all that had taken place had worn down Jacy. He fell asleep, within moments, right where he was.