Chapter 2: Past Revealed.
Challis, the name registered in Tallon's mind as the animal laughed at the wolves in the boat. Tallon couldn't think of where he had heard the name before.
"What do you want?" Balto growled at the intruder.
"I was just seeing how Tallon was getting along with his new life." He answered immediately. "I'll be seeing you later Tallon." He called as he left.
Tallon was confused, he stood in silence, scouring his memory for any trace of the name he had just heard. The creature had implied that he knew him. Nothing, he could think of nothing.
"Tallon who was that?" Aleu asked slowly.
"I…I don't know." He confessed.
The others looked a little warily at Tallon, it was obvious to him that they didn't totally trust him yet. He would have to change that, he couldn't be a decent bodyguard if Aleu wouldn't grant him her complete trust.
"He said he knew you." Jenna spoke up, voice barely a whisper.
"Maybe he does." Tallon answered. "But I don't know him."
"How come?" Aleu asked again.
"I don't have any memory of my past." Tallon said sorrowfully. "The first thing I remember is waking up in a small cave alone. That was when I was six months old, my only memory my own name. I have no memory of my parents or my home. I've been alone for the past year."
Sorrow showed clearly in his voice, his emotion betrayed his real feelings. Though he looked uninterested, the others could tell that he was hurting inside. Aleu now knew why he was so cold to everyone. He had never known happiness, or security. His whole life had been filled with emptiness and hardship.
"I'm sorry." Balto started. "I didn't mean…"
"Forget it." Tallon interrupted. "I would rather find out who this Challis is."
Tallon paced slowly in the cabin of the boat. He walked towards the front of the boat he needed to think. He jumped from the boat onto the beach.
"Tallon?" Aleu called as he walked towards the town.
"What." He asked, a little annoyed at the delay.
"Where are you going?" She finished.
"I'm just going for a walk into town, I need a little time to myself to think." He confessed to the bitch.
She nodded as he continued to walk into town. Tallon walked the streets quietly, paying no attention to the stares of the towns inhabitants, be they human or animal. For once he wasn't looking for a fight, he was looking for answers, and only one animal had them. Tallon thought over what he would ask when he found Challis. He needed to interrogate the creature, it was the only thing that had the real answers, the ones he longed for since meeting Aleu. He had to know what he was, who he was. Tallon forgot everything on his mind as he heard, no sensed something behind him. He could sense the animal as he turned slowly. His mind switching from thinking over the facts of his existence back to that of the cold-blooded killer that he once was. As he turned his pale gold eyes met the dark green of the creature that had followed him. He stood, staring in shock at the animal before him. Its sleek body covered in dark blue fur. It smiled at him showing the set of pure white, needle like teeth. The razor sharp claws on the end of its three toes scratched the ground impatiently. Its head topped with two white horns that curved parallel to its muzzle. It stood about an inch shorter than Tallon, and obviously younger.
"Surprised…I look just like you huh Tallon." Challis said calmly. "Well almost."
"Who are you? Why do you look like me?" Tallon growled.
"I told you. My name is Challis and I look like you because we're the same species." He laughed.
"We're the same…" Tallon started slowly.
"Yes. You didn't know huh." Challis was mocking the older animal.
"Tell me what I want to know!" Tallon barked loudly.
"No need to get emotional. I'll answer your questions, some of them anyway." He said.
Tallon remained silent for a few moments, here was his chance to learn the answers to all the questions in his head. One other question however bothered him at the moment, should he trust Challis. The other animal shifted his gaze suddenly to the other end of the alley. Three dogs turned the corner cautiously, obviously attracted by Tallon's growling earlier.
"Hmm. Guess they came to see a fight huh." Challis laughed.
Tallon simply glanced over his shoulder, uninterested by their audience. Challis however took great interest in them, he grinned, showing the deadly fangs.
"Came to see some blood shed did we?" He shouted to them, still grinning.
The dogs gaze in awe of the other two animals in the alley. None of them had ever seen anything like these before. Eventually one of them barked an answer to Challis. "So what if we did, problem?"
"No of course not." Challis laughed. "I won't disappoint you."
Tallon heard the words and immediately dropped into a defensive stance, however the blue creature was still looking at the dogs. Understanding dawned on Tallon as Challis leapt over him. He turned as quickly as he could. He was horrified at what he saw when he faced Challis. He had already killed two of the dogs and was now bearing down on the third. His sinister grin showing the exhilaration he felt as blood dripped from his fangs and claws. The dog lashed out at Challis who easily side stepped the attack. Standing now at the dog's side he swung his head to the right, his horns tearing into the canine's body. Blood splattered against the ground and coated Challis' face as he lifted his left paw into the air. The deadly claws raked across the dogs face, tearing flesh from bone. Tallon winced as the blood curdling howl left the dog's throat. Challis was even more cruel than he had been.
"Pitiful animal." Challis growled.
With that he tore the dog's stomach open. The wound was deep and definitely fatal, but it would take hours for the dog to die. Challis looked up at Tallon, licking the blood from his teeth as the dog behind him continued to howl in agony.
"Sorry but looks like we'll have to cut this short." Challis looked annoyed as he spoke. "But his whimpering is going to attract too much attention. I'll answer your questions next time. Later Tallon."
With this Challis turned away from the silver animal and walked off. He eyes the dieing dog at his feet as he past. As Challis turned the corner Tallon leapt into motion, the shock of what had happened leaving him, sprinting around the corner to catch the other animal. Tallon looked around the empty street frantically for Challis, nothing he was gone, but how. Tallon walked slowly back to the beach for two reasons, one he didn't want to draw attention to himself and two he felt ill after what had just happened. Challis was a cruel, barbaric fighter but he was good. He killed two dogs and mortally wounded another in seconds. Tallon walked up the plank onto the boat, he didn't want to talk to anyone right now. He lay down at the back of the beached craft. The events of the day flashed through his head. Footsteps approached him as he lay on the wood.
"Tallon what's wrong ?" Balto asked.
Tallon explained what had happened to Balto, how Challis had murdered those dogs and how he had enjoyed doing it.
"If he has my answers then I don't think I want them anymore." Tallon said after a while.
"Too bad." Called a voice from the beach.
Tallon jumped up and ran to the side of the boat, there standing in the water was Challis, his muzzle still stained with blood.
"So what do you want to know Tallon?" Challis asked.
"We're the same species yeah, where is our home?" Tallon asked back.
"Yes we are the same. Our home is called Blessing, a world separate from this one." Challis said smiling.
Tallon was awe struck, another world, how was that possible.
"Who are you? More than just your name." Tallon said immediately.
"I am Challis, ruler of blessing." He said with a chuckle.
Tallon decided to ask the most important question. "Why was I here, where are my parents, why can't I remember?" Tallon asked, finally getting his answers.
Challis looked up at the boat, looked at the other animals that had gathered on it.
"Those are questions for another day." Challis answered quickly.
"WHAT YOU SAID…" Tallon was cut off by Challis' bark.
"That I would answer SOME of your questions." Challis finished.
"Ok." Tallon said admitting defeat. "Why do you keep coming to find me?"
"Because I'm going to kill you." Challis laughed. "Well goodbye for now Tallon."
Challis turned and ran away from the boat as fast as he could. Tallon leapt from the boat and chased the other as fast as he could. He had caught up with the younger animal quickly, Challis realized this and turned sharply. The two animals now stood facing each other, barely one hundred meters from the boat.
"I won't let you do that Challis." Tallon barked.
Tallon jumped at the other animal, who simply sprang backwards. Tallon landed less than a foot from Challis who struck out as the elder landed. Tallon hit the ground hard, blood pouring from the gash on his muzzle, the wound started between his eyes and curved down his muzzle ending under his right eye. Tallon hadn't seen or sensed the attack until he felt one of the claws bite into is flesh. He regained his footing quickly, staring at Challis.
"You wanted to know who your family are, why you were here, fine I'll tell you." Challis shouted.
"What." Tallon asked, still a little dazed from the attack.
"You were destined to be ruler Tallon. The greatest ruler Blessing has ever had. However when your parents had a second son, they realised that it was he who should rule not you. They wiped your memory and abandoned you here." Challis watched in pleasure as Tallon dropped to the ground.
"What…happened to them?" Tallon asked.
"I killed them." Challis stated. "And I took the throne from your father."
"I'll kill you for that!" Tallon howled in fury.
He leapt at Challis, tearing at the other animal with as much force as he could. Challis dodged most of the attacks easily, however a few of Tallon's swipes and bites connected, cutting into the blue fur of the younger animal. Challis tired of this game quickly. He gripped Tallon by the scruff of the neck and smashed his head against the ground. Blood coated the ground as Tallon's left horn hit the ground and shattered, snapping nearly three inches of the horn off completely. Tallon's vision blurred as his head collided with the hard ground. He began to feel violently sick, falling limp to the ground as Challis released him. He could barely stay conscious as Challis leaned over him. His vision shut down completely, all he could feel was Challis' breath on his ear.
"I'm not going to kill you yet Tallon." Challis said softly, the others were already on their way here.
Nothing Challis had said had registered in Tallon's mind as he struggled to stay awake. He didn't feel Challis' tongue lapping at the blood on his muzzle. However he would never forget the next thing that Challis said.
"I'll see you later, Brother." With that Challis was gone, ran as fast as he could away from the boat. Tallon's eyes were wide, he couldn't believe it. The others reached him just after he lost consciousness. In his dreams he kept hearing everything Challis had told him. His past had finally been revealed to him.