Author's Note: Sorry for all the errors in the last chapter guys, my stupid computer wouldn't let me correct 'em. This chapter will hopefully be the last flashback chapter and the story will really take off. Anyway, on with chapter 2!

Quote: You should have stayed with him, died with him. Died for him- Dark Moon

I sat in my tree-den thinking about the past looking at the sordid world outside. Some poor human had been found by a soldier, a horse/snake. He was loaded into a ship with other pathetic creatures, some human, some animals, and a few mutants. I waited for it to leave until I came out again. I climbed back down my tree and sit again on the sidewalk looking into a dirty puddle. I looked a lot different then I did before. My smoky gray/black fur was coarse and tangled and my tail dragged behind me instead of being held high like in the past. How much I'd changed from a naïve kitten to a gutsy rebel. I looked again at the prison ship descending into space and realized how little I cared that another living, breathing human was being taken to certain doom or worse. I swiped the ground with my claws and sat again with my tail lashing in frustration and anger. Why should I care? I thought It's not like they ever even tried to help us. When we tried to help the humans turned their backs on us. It's their own fault it's like this. Why is it my concern? But still, I still feel a tiny bit of sympathy for them…

~ 9 years ago, Polyester~

I sat on the roof of the palace waiting for Kaleo and my best friend Shiva Emberpaws to return. The announcement of the death of Pet Force had been announced two days ago. As I expected practically everyone was shocked, distressed and afraid. The whole universe mourned over the loss of the once powerful Pet Force that had fallen all too soon. And the planets in emperor Jon's universe wondered what would happen to them now? My lifemate had gone to his human's house as had many of the cats and dogs and other pets in the universe. Earlier that morning the pets had agreed to break the ancient pack: they were going to speak aloud to the humans. I had no human of my own and neither did Shiva. My friend had gone with Kaleo incase anything went wrong. She always had despised the people and didn't trust them. I wondered how the reaction would go, hopefully they'd stop freaking out long enough to realize what we were trying to tell them: The universe is in peril and we all must band together both man and beast to defeat Vetvix.

Just then Kaleo and Shiva came up to me and jumped to the roof. Kaleo had his head lowered and Shiva looked way to solemn. Something was wrong. I moved to my mate and pressed against him affectionately " Kaleo, what happened?" I asked him. He sighed and turned away. Shiva stood making her fur glisten in the sun. She was a rather slim cat on account she was a stray that lived in the city but rather good looking for an ally cat. She was my age with pearl gray fur on most of her body except her paws which were a light cream. Shiva slowly blinked her yellow eyes and said " They didn't believe us. They kicked us out and nearly killed us both. I knew it. They don't want our help. They've believed that they rule supreme for thousands of years and now that they realize that we must be treated as equals they want nothing to do with us. I knew it."

"And you were right" said Kaleo. "you spoke the truth the whole time, humans aren't our friends but our slave masters. They hate what they can't have. Now they know that they don't own us and so they'll destroy us. Shiva, I'm so sorry I never believed you." I was in shock. The cat who sat in front of me was not the Kaleo I knew but a cat who'd had all of his hopes and beliefs of a world where man and animal could live in peace destroyed and smashed to pieces like a silver plate on a table of cold reality.

"It can't be, it couldn't be that simple Kaleo. There has to be another reason to this." I said. The tom turned and looked at me . "Maybe. But what else could it be?" Just then we were interrupted by a television that had come on in a servant's quarters. My comrades and I want down to investigate. The news reporter on the set was looking troubled as he gave the report "Ladies and gentleman I have sad news this afternoon. Today at exactly three pm Emperor Jon died." "WHAT?!" All of us said together. "How is that possible? I just saw him five hours ago in the ballroom. How could he be dead? There were guards all around the palace and no gunshots, no shouts, no nothing" I gasped. On the screen the reporter continued "It seems that the traitorous Vetvix's soldiers killed him though telepathy. It's been suggested that the perpetrator was a no altered animal that had the power of speech. As of now any nonhuman creature acting strangely is to be disposed of. For now in this time of sadness in our universe's most gravest of days we can only wait and hope that justice will prevail. This Jake Barrows saying good day and take care of each other." "So that's it. They think we're slaves of Vetvix. They think we're traitors." sighed Kaleo. Shiva growled "Ha! They're ones to talk. They're the ones who betrayed us. Dirty beasts." "Be that as it may we need to find a place to crash. We can never come back here." I said as I jumped to the roof. The others followed me but I lingered for a while taking one last look at what once had been a place of joy and peace now a sanctuary for coming death and sorrow.

After that day many of the "pets" began to leave their former owners. The cats left first mostly because they really didn't need people in the first place. Then came the horses and then the smaller pets like the rabbits and lizards and things. Lastly were the dogs. They didn't want to believe the fact that the people who had taken care of them had turned traitor and therefore wouldn't leave them. Many of the domestic dog population is now extinct because of this. One of the canines that left was a greyhound by the name of Strider or Stride as we called him that was a good friend of mine. He lived on a race track with other hounds and a track owner. I had tried to convince him to leave before but he didn't listen to me. "I know my human." he'd said to me "He'd never do something like that" " I hope you're right Stride, I hope you're right."

Later that that day I went to check on Strider in case his human wasn't as understanding as he said he'd be. I hid in the shadows on the track fence and watched. Strider and his owner Harris were in the middle of the track where the softest grass was. It was nearly nightfall, an unusual time for anyone to be outside in these times. So far Stride nor any other dog had spoke to their owner for fear of getting shot or worse. The dog looked at his human in the setting sun's light with large hopeful eyes. Harris knelt down to Strider and held his collar stroking his head. He took a large needle out and placed it against the greyhound's side. "Strider you're the fastest thing in this track and I'll remember that. You were a good friend." At this I jerked up and crept closer to the pair. What did he mean "were?" Strider looked back at him as if to say "Please Harris. Please tell me what the others say is wrong. Say you're my true friend I'll belive you. Please, I beg of you, listen to me and trust me. I trust you and I know you'll do the right thing. If you love me like you say you do, I know you'll understand and listen to me. Right? I'm not one of Vetvix's minions and you know that. You are my friend right?" Harris didn't listen and pressed the needle closer to Strider's thin amber coat "It's not like I want to do this. I'm sorry boy. I really am." The greyhound looked up at him and said in a clear voice "So am I." He jumped up and kicked the man away from him and ran to where I was. "So. It's true huh?" I nodded. He looked back at his former master who was now beginning to get up at looked at the dog. Strider looked back at him with hurt in his eyes for a moment "Let's go before I change my mind." I stood and ran to the fence with Stride right behind me "Hurry Stride, we can't let anyone see us or we're done for." "There's no one alive that can catch me, not ever". I hated the way he said it. He said it in a voice that was no longer innocent, a voice that had seen the world for what a horrible place it truly was.

Five weeks later

I don't know how she did it. I don't know when she did it. I don't know why she did it. I just know that she did it. The day Vetvix took over our universe was the most painful day of my life for more reasons than one. Vetvix had control of the universe at precisely six am. Everyone felt it. From the highest mage to the lowest commoner. We all felt it and we all were dumbstruck. It was the most horrible feeling unimaginable if you hadn't felt it for yourself. I was living in an abandoned bookstore with Kaleo, Shiva, Strider and others that left the humans. We had made a small alliance of about fifteen or so. I only recognized two animals of the group besides my close friends. The first was a large white ally cat called Goth. He was sort of a loner with an attitude, but he could fight better than any of us. The second was a ferret named Paris. Paris used to belong to a wizard and therefore very good in the magical arts. I knew a bit of sorcery, but not very much. A few weeks before Pet force got destroyed Sorcerer Binky had taught me a bit of magic: using the elements, pausing time, powering up my physical strength (like being able to shred an adversary twice my size) and of course how to fly. I still had a lot to learn like transformations and harnessing my powers (I accidentally blasted a statue with an energy beam once). I hoped Paris would teach me later when time weren't so rough.

That same day Kaleo and I went to a nearby fountain to decide what to do next. We sat on the ledge looking at the small koi fish inside. "I wonder if they know?" I thought aloud. "Who?" "Those fish. They don't seem to worried" "They are. And they know". Suddenly a huge explosion tore apart a nearby building. A figure emerged with small piercing eyes that struck me to the core, paralyzing us both. The figure laughed long and hard until my blood froze and all of my fur stood up in horror. Vetvix. She stood on a hovering platform, long black hair that seemed to glisten with vile wickedness hung down to the ground. She held the staff of Hermes on her hand. An item once the symbol for goodness now a tool for treachery and distress. I could do nothing but stand frozen hissing in both dread and rage. The vile veterinarian said not a word but thrust out another beam of energy blasting another structure to pieces. She lifted an eyebrow at us and sent out a shining ball of light that flashed before us, blinding our sensitive eyes. "That was easy. I don't see why I'm even looking at this stupid planet. Polyester. What an idiotic name." She then turned to us and sent another energy ball hitting Kaleo in the ribs. He hurled into a wall and crumpled to the ground screaming in pain. Vetvix laughed at him and picked him up by his scruff as if he were a newborn. She then sent out a green fireball that trapped Kaleo inside. He mewed pitifully trying his best to stand and defy her, but he was too weak. He collapsed and stared at me with sad pain filled eyes as he tried to speak but all that came out was a small grown. Vetvix somehow found my poor Kaleo's anguish hilarious and she laughed at him again. I lost all thoughts of the danger then, I forgot the fact she was more powerful then I was, it didn't matter anymore. No one, no one hurt my life mate and got away with it. I bolted to the villain and sunk my sharp teeth into her arm screeching with fury. Vetvix screeched and flung me to the ground. "You insolent little pest! You DARE to defy me? You little fool, you insignificant bug! Don't you know I can kill you without barely lifting a finger? I'll obliterate you!" " I don't care. I'm not going to let you kill my mate you wicked wretch!" I hissed at her from the hard cement. "Oh really? We'll see who's going to let who do what. Besides who ever said I was going to kill him? I'd rather kill you and make this worthless bag of fur a mind slave" she said, her voice dripping with poison. She formed a huge ball of tremendous blue energy and held it as a pitcher would hold a baseball and prepared to hurl it at me. Paris then appeared, took one look at the situation and opened a portal, shoving me into it. Immediately after we went through we were back at the bookstore. Paris sat and panted heavily "You okay?" My eyes flashed in desperation "Kaleo! I have to get him!" I shouted struggling to get up despite the other's protests. Goth had to come and put one of his giant paws on me to keep me from running back. "Shadow." he said gently. I growled and tried to bite the whit paw that held me until it let me up again a bit. "Shadow, he's gone" Goth said. I stopped struggling and lay on the dusty wooden floor. "I know. I just.. Wish.. That I could've.. That I.. That.. I just wish that I'd…" Shiva came and pressed against me. "Yeah I know. You did all you could and Kaleo knows that. He may be captured, but he'll be okay as long as you're still around Shadow." "I'm getting him back." Shiva sat up and stared down at me "What do you mean? You're not going to do anything stupid are you?" "No. Not now, I can't. But I am going to get Kaleo back Shiva, even if he's crossed with a raven, I'm getting him back. I'll go though whatever I have to to get him back. And he's alive and I know that in my truest of hearts and if anyone says otherwise I'll bite their ears off." My friend nodded and pulled closer to me as did Strider and Paris. "You know I only meant to save you Shadow" whispered the ferret. "I know." I said back to him.

After that we formed a resistance: The Shadowrunners. Shiva led us and thanks to her we set free many of Vetvix's slave, even if they were only in small prison camps. The bookstore was now called Liberté's Abri; in French it meant Freedom's Shelter. A few humans joined us, though they didn't live with us they helped with technological stuff with cutting wire and computer hacking. And so a group of freedom fighters was formed to put Vetvix out of power and set our universe free. The Shadowrunners were born and soon Vetvix's empire would die like all the dreams we all once had.

~Present time~

I stood watching the spot where the slave ship had taken off and sighed to myself looking at my reflection once again in a broken store window. "Shadow Stargazer what would Kaleo think of you now?"

So now you know what happened. Now I can get to the real story, sorry this chapter was so long I'll try to keep 'em shorter next time. You're also very welcome to add any original characters you may have, just include a description of him/her and I'll try to put them in. Be sure to include their personality, species, breed (if they have one), and appearance too. I'll try and post the next chapter soon!