P r o l o g u e

It was dark that night. The night Ma took me away. She moved so silently, but with such haste. She ushered me toward a great oak, and she squashed in with me under the gnarled roots.

"Ma, what is it? What are we hiding from? Where's Pa?" She looks away from my inquiring eyes, but the pain in them makes me stop pressing.

"We'll be safe for a while yet," She said. "We'll stay here for the night. 'Leave at the break 'o dawn."

Then, she wrapped a paw around me, drawing me closer to keep me warm. I snuggled into her dark blue fur, hoping to fall asleep. Yet I could still feel that weary aura surrounding her. It was so powerful it made me wince. What was she afraid of?

She slowly licked the top of me head, that one thing she did that made me say, "Ma!" Then I lifted one paw, trying to replace to blue fur atop my head.

She'd smile weakly, then say, "Dear, go to sleep. I'll wake you up in the morning. Everything'll be all right."

I closed by eyes. I breathed in deeply, hoping to feign sleep, and she fell for it. I surely hoped what she said was true. What could strike her heart with so much fear, that even I, her own daughter, could sense it?

One of my long black ears twitched when I heard the sound of heavy footfalls. What could that be?

"Oh no." Ma whispered. "No,not now. I thought we had time. I thought...!"Her paws tightened their grip on me, squeazing my breath out.

"Ma, wha...?"

"Come here, my little one." She gathered me up, and scrambled out from under the roots of the tree. What I saw then confused me greatly. Wasn't that the tall shape of my father? Who was that with him?

"Sweetie, I'd thought you'd no better than to stop running," Pa cooked.

Why? Why did he sound that way? Was that sound I heard in his voice, was it dangerous?

"But you...back at the den..." Ma stuttered.

"We have ways of getting around." Someone from behind us grumbled.

Suddenly, I was dropped to the ground, and I felt a wave of pain come over my mother. I turned, seeing her grit her teeth. A black fist was imbedded in her back, and it glowed with a dark purple power.

The name of the move sparked through my mind. Poison jab.

"Ack! My dear...Please...Run. Run as far as you can...Find help-" Ma said as she fell to her knees.

"No, I can't leave y-"

"Go!" Ma used that warning growl she always used when I did something wrong. "Go, and don't ever come this way again!"

I understood. I glanced at her once more, then broke into a run. My heart thudded when I felt a dark aura behind me. Someone was giving chase.

OHGAWSH. This was short. But I was in a rush, and I had to modify it a bit, and take out some parts to make for the next chapter. Tell me what you think. Please. OHGAWSH. Don't make me beg, gruh. c: