Chapter One: A Child is Born
Everyone that night heard the cries. The howls, the screeches, the yowls, the hisses, the growls, the whistling, and the mooing destroyed the once quiet and calm nighttime. Everyone knew what it meant.
It meant a child had been born.
The entire tribe gathered around the tent, waiting for their leader to exit the tent, the new child in her hands and the new parents behind them. Everyone gave a gasp as the tent flap moved aside and they stepped out.
Markena was not an old Lupe, nor was she a young one. She was a brand new leader, fighting her way bravely past the other male and female Neopets, to claim her place as tribe leader. Everyone admired her and respected her. And they had reason to.
Markena was a large Desert Lupe, the only one in the tribe. Her fur, a luxurious golden brown seemed to glow in the fire light and her dark green eyes- a rarity among Lupes, danced with happiness, but behind the happy eyes, there was a dangerous glint, the glint of a hunter that would not hesitate to kill when she needed to. And standing almost six feet tall, she was a large, muscular Lupe, with long black claws and white sharp teeth, ready to rip into a challenger.
In her arms she carried a small child. It was a Lupe. Or so it appeared to be. It had the body of a Lupe, the head of a Lupe, the feet and tail of a Lupe, but it was not completely Lupe. On it's back were two large black wings, leathery and powerful. Behind Markena stood the two parents and all became clear.
The mother, Sarkmena, Markena's younger sister, was a Fire Lupe, deep black fur with red and yellow fire shapes running up and down her legs, ear, face, and tail. She was a fierce fighter, sharp and cunning, and like her sister, willing to kill. Standing up straight, she brushed back her deep blue cloak, her gold and silver bracelets jangling as her husband exited the tent.
Everyone gasped as they viewed the father. The father, Tevara, was a Kougra, a Halloween Kougra. His fur was a deep dark black; the colors of shadows at night, and on his feet were great white claws, sharp and perfect for slashing and tearing. Instead of the normal Kougra ears, he had large ears, almost bat like, the right ear sporting a large gold hoop. Sharp fangs protruded from his mouth and his deep yellow eyes glowed in the fire. But most surprising were his wings. Large and leathery, they were black and tan, powerful and strong.
"ALL HAIL THE DAUGHTER OF SARKMENA AND TEVARA!" cried out Markena in a loud keening voice. Everyone began to chant and bow. "Her name is Germina! The Daughter of the Shadows!" The chanting grew louder as Germina was led towards the fire.
Sitting in the fire was a hot metal brand. Swiftly picking it up, Markena pulled out Germina's paw and placed the brand against the back of the paw.
Germina hissed and howled as the back of her hand hissed, the smell of burnt flesh and fur in the air.
"She is now one of the Shankruen! She will be a mighty fighter! NOW! LET US FEAST!" Wild cheers rang through the air, as two large Tonu's appeared, a large cart behind them. Inside the cart were two Kaus and a Moehog, all three of them shaking with fear. Instantly everyone grew silent as Sarkmena and Tevara approached the cage. Sticking a paw into the cage, Sarkmena began to stroke one of the Kaus while murmuring to herself.
"Yes… beautiful fur… nice and soft… you shall make a very nice blanket for my daughter." She whispered, a smile on her face as the frightened green Kau drew away. Pulling back her paw, she gave the signal to her mate who pulled a switch. Instantly the front of cage opened and the two Kaus and Moehog dashed out, running for their lives. For a few minutes the tribe watched the Neopets dash away. Then Tevara gave out a mighty scream.
"BRING BACK THE GREEN KAU FOR MY DAUGHTER!!! KILL THE REST!!!" he howled and instantly the tribe began running after the Kaus and Moehog.
The hunt had begun.
Everyone that night heard the cries. The howls, the screeches, the yowls, the hisses, the growls, the whistling, and the mooing destroyed the once quiet and calm nighttime. Everyone knew what it meant.
It meant a child had been born.
The entire tribe gathered around the tent, waiting for their leader to exit the tent, the new child in her hands and the new parents behind them. Everyone gave a gasp as the tent flap moved aside and they stepped out.
Markena was not an old Lupe, nor was she a young one. She was a brand new leader, fighting her way bravely past the other male and female Neopets, to claim her place as tribe leader. Everyone admired her and respected her. And they had reason to.
Markena was a large Desert Lupe, the only one in the tribe. Her fur, a luxurious golden brown seemed to glow in the fire light and her dark green eyes- a rarity among Lupes, danced with happiness, but behind the happy eyes, there was a dangerous glint, the glint of a hunter that would not hesitate to kill when she needed to. And standing almost six feet tall, she was a large, muscular Lupe, with long black claws and white sharp teeth, ready to rip into a challenger.
In her arms she carried a small child. It was a Lupe. Or so it appeared to be. It had the body of a Lupe, the head of a Lupe, the feet and tail of a Lupe, but it was not completely Lupe. On it's back were two large black wings, leathery and powerful. Behind Markena stood the two parents and all became clear.
The mother, Sarkmena, Markena's younger sister, was a Fire Lupe, deep black fur with red and yellow fire shapes running up and down her legs, ear, face, and tail. She was a fierce fighter, sharp and cunning, and like her sister, willing to kill. Standing up straight, she brushed back her deep blue cloak, her gold and silver bracelets jangling as her husband exited the tent.
Everyone gasped as they viewed the father. The father, Tevara, was a Kougra, a Halloween Kougra. His fur was a deep dark black; the colors of shadows at night, and on his feet were great white claws, sharp and perfect for slashing and tearing. Instead of the normal Kougra ears, he had large ears, almost bat like, the right ear sporting a large gold hoop. Sharp fangs protruded from his mouth and his deep yellow eyes glowed in the fire. But most surprising were his wings. Large and leathery, they were black and tan, powerful and strong.
"ALL HAIL THE DAUGHTER OF SARKMENA AND TEVARA!" cried out Markena in a loud keening voice. Everyone began to chant and bow. "Her name is Germina! The Daughter of the Shadows!" The chanting grew louder as Germina was led towards the fire.
Sitting in the fire was a hot metal brand. Swiftly picking it up, Markena pulled out Germina's paw and placed the brand against the back of the paw.
Germina hissed and howled as the back of her hand hissed, the smell of burnt flesh and fur in the air.
"She is now one of the Shankruen! She will be a mighty fighter! NOW! LET US FEAST!" Wild cheers rang through the air, as two large Tonu's appeared, a large cart behind them. Inside the cart were two Kaus and a Moehog, all three of them shaking with fear. Instantly everyone grew silent as Sarkmena and Tevara approached the cage. Sticking a paw into the cage, Sarkmena began to stroke one of the Kaus while murmuring to herself.
"Yes… beautiful fur… nice and soft… you shall make a very nice blanket for my daughter." She whispered, a smile on her face as the frightened green Kau drew away. Pulling back her paw, she gave the signal to her mate who pulled a switch. Instantly the front of cage opened and the two Kaus and Moehog dashed out, running for their lives. For a few minutes the tribe watched the Neopets dash away. Then Tevara gave out a mighty scream.
"BRING BACK THE GREEN KAU FOR MY DAUGHTER!!! KILL THE REST!!!" he howled and instantly the tribe began running after the Kaus and Moehog.
The hunt had begun.