Chapter 1: A Bright Blue Tiger
They say Japan was made by a sword.
They say that the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out, four perfect drops fell back into the sea and became the islands of Japan.
But I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor.
A white tiger, turned bright blue from the moonlight, made a low rumbling sound from the back of her throat. She was surrounded by a pack of dogs, all ten of them snarling and gnashing their teeth. The tiger's eyes burned with fury as she wheels in a circle, lunging at one dog, clawing at another; keeping them all at bay. Suddenly, the tiger leaps over the dogs and transforms into a white bird, soaring majestically into the sky-
Ajapanese man sits up abruptly; waking from a dream. His dark bangs clumped to his forehead from sweat, and his thin sheet clung to his body. He wearily ran his hand across his forehead, pushing the damp hair away as he lets out a steady breath.
I wanted so badly to extend this chapter and make it longer so it wasn't so short and ugly. But if I did it would've messed everything else up. Just think of this as that short beginning thing some books have that no one ever reads.
Also in this story, I've made changes to how a personified nation works. I've made them more human. Fore example, the heal at the same rate humans can, and can die, but it takes more to kill them than humans. However, when they die, it kind of represents a cultural change to a nation, or something. I really don't know how to describe it. Like if there is a a group of people that begins to really stand out in a country, the personification would become like them. For Japan, it would be a samurai. Take like When Imperialism in Russia ended, Ivan would die, but then come back. Countries don't know when something like that will happen though. Just go along with it guys, even if you don't get it. Like, this is really just something the only makes sense in my head, and then when I try to explain it to others it makes no sense.
