Chapter 1:
Paralyx flicked her ears. Wind blew threw her fur, grass tickling her belly and legs. Her eyes squinted up at the sun, barely seeing the line of wood she knew as
the fence. This was it. She was about to venture past all that held her in prison. She looked back at her den one last time, a natural snarl spread across her
muzzle. She had grown a bit since she spoke to Vhandi, yet her appearance stayed the same only she was thinner due to the lack of food. A small grumble from
her stomach reminded her of that.
Rolling her eyes, she turned her gaze back on the fence. Gathering all the power in her hind legs, she bunched together, before leaping up onto the fence in a
powerful gesture. Her brand new collar itched against her scruff. The Twolegs had put it there once she was old enough to be licensed, and they knew she left
the garden from time-to-time.
`I guess they thought someone would actually turn me in with this thing..or they wanted to punish me.` Paralyx thought irritatedly.
She scoped the area in front of her, hoping to find some sort of branch as a lever to prop the collar off her neck. Paralyx jumped off the fence, staring sadly at
Vhandi's den, only a few lengths away from her.
``Sorry Vhandi.. I must do this.`` She murmured, and just like that, she bounded off towards the forest. The sunlight warmed her back, the ground beneath
her uneven and jagged, rocks flying up behind her. Paralyx loved every minute of it. The imperfections, the simplicity, and most importantly- the freedom. Her
muscles seemed to never tire, her heart about to burst with happiness. She drew in all the scents, the air seeming sweeter on this side of the fence.
Padding casually now, she came upon the stream that she saw with Vhandi earlier. She stopped to drink, enjoying it's clear, mineral-filled taste. She paused,
scenting the air again. She was not alone. Instinctively, Paralyx crouched down, flicking her ears, her eyes fixed on where the sound was coming from.
'Scuffling. Soft steps.. must be prey!' She thought, initiating another grumble from her stomach.
Paralyx slowly crept forward, keeping her paws light, and watching her path to make sure no sticks or other obstacles were in her way. The long grass
camouflaged her pelt beautifully. Although- it also hid her prey very well too. She paused, to see if it was still where she thought it was.
Duly noting that it was, she bunched her muscles together like when she had jumped onto the fence, before pouncing into the air, landing squarely- a few feet
away from the mouse. It squeaked loudly in alarm, breaking into a run, off into a nearby bush as protection.
``Shoot!`` She hissed angrily, lashing her tail.
She turned to cross the stream, padding through it, the cold water swirling at her paws. As she made it to the other side, she noticed a whole other section of
Twoleg dens. Paralyx looked up at a tree, climbing up the trunk quickly to reach the higher branches. She paused, taking in the beauty of the world she truly
lived in. There were several clusters of Twoleg dens, alongside fields where the Twoleg kits played, some other buildings, and loud noises.
Paralyx shook her head, and looked past that. On the horizon, she noticed there was a bunched group of bushy trees, and beyond that, she didn't know. All she
knew, was the instinct that she should go there. Climbing back down the tree, she started in a straight path. Paralyx had grown up long enough to know about
Monsters, ThunderPath's, alleys, and dogs. She was a street-smart she, and quite honourably so.
By the time she had navigated her way past the Twoleg world, she had finally reached the forest. The sun sinked behind it beautifully, but this drew the point
that she was still hungry, and now she was homeless. It would be dark soon, and especially in the unfamiliar, she wasn't sure how 'friendly' this forest would be
to her.
Paralyx padding softly on the mossy forest floor, happy to have some shade on her hot pelt. Soft flying insects buzzed throughout the dusk, birds chirped softly
to each other, and everything seemed preparing to sleep. Paralyx hoped soon she would as well, as her paw pads were worn out and her muscles ached. She
blinked around, noticing a open tree, that would be easy to spot predators from if she were to climb high enough.
With a deep breath, she sunk her claws in, shimmying up the trunk. Once she had reached her preferred height, she curled up where the branch was thickest to
prevent her from falling accidentally during the night. Yawning, she closed her eyes, and softly was lulled to sleep by the sound of the forest.
The next day, Paralyx woke up groggily, the sun shining brightly through the branches of the tree. She climbed down, continuing on in the direction she came.
Her ears caught sound of another scuffling noise. Instantly she dropped into a crouch, she wouldn't let it go this time. She focused, the shade hiding her more
easily this time. She paced forward quicker in her crouch, pouncing in a heartbeat, landing with the mouse in between her paws. She killed it swiftly in her jaws,
before letting it fall limp.
Paralyx stared down at it in awe.
`I can't believe I caught this!` She thought excitedly, light in her eyes.
Hungrily, she devoured it within moments. Swiping her tongue over her muzzle swiftly, she buried the remains that even a scavenger wouldn't want. Happy to
have some food in her belly, she continued on.
``This must be the right path for me. If I can catch prey, and truly survive out here, it's my destiny.`` She mewed determined.