A/N: So, I guess my wish to delve a bit into other stories has been satisfied a little. As such, Season 2 is upon us. This is a short prelude for the things to come. Not sure how things will go with updates, probably the same as always. First though, I will be cleaning up the first season and putting it up on the ao3.
Unrelatedly, the new God of War is a great story. But hey, this was thought up waaaay before it, so no, these stories are mine and mine alone! Aside from names and borrowed characters. Oh, and songs that inspired them.
Anyways. The song for this one is Coming home by Grave Digger. Howleys!
\m/ Century later \m/
This was not the first time the duo acted as deserters. And not the first time their infiltration was a complete success. Whoever would believe any small prey mammal would willingly fight alongside predators? No one would. As such, lord Big readily capitalized on this assumption and deployed his assets to the best effect. Still, it really irked Judith of clan Hopps when ignorant cretins called her a hare. Since there was just a small little detail of her being a rabbit. Yes, similar, but still different. Trying not to get angry at the tittering and jabbering ewe that was assigned to take care of the two valuable guests (who supposedly had detailed plans of the encampment and supply lines that predators have established), Judith was once again reminded of why she should be even more careful with her temper, that didn't change despite the long hundred and twenty four years she has lilved.
\m/
It was right after her mother died at a fruitful age of ninety seven. Judith was only nearing her seventieth birthday, and a leader of her clan for third consecutive decade. Her father, the former head of clan Hopps, has called her to his room that night.
Upon entering his personal quarters, that he shared with his late wife, the doe was once more astonished with how youthful he seemed to be, despite being a hundred and two years old. With a silent nod, she took a seat and waited for her father to speak. The elderly buck didn't make her wait for long. But the subject he breached that night has thrown her off for quite some time.
- Judith. Do you believe in gods? - Her ears stood erect upon hearing this question. A question she never expected to hear from someone like Stuart of clan Hopps, staunch believer and supporter of Creator. The One and Only, the Beginning and the End, Who made all and ruled over everything. Or,at least was supposed to rule over everything. Some creatures, and apparently a lot of mammals in the past were not too keen on the idea. To the point they opposed to the Creator. And,for reasons only the Creator would know, He left this world to its own devices. In the end, nothing good came out of it. Egoism, hunger for power and wealth, lust, envy and hatred has flooded the land. Up to a point, where a number of predator nations united, founding the Teutonic Kingdom. Under the Red King, they took up arms and waged war upon those who openly opposed the Creator. Or so the whispered stories told, since all written histories of those times were somehow lost.
- There is only the Creator and no one is comparable to Him. You know it father. Why ask me this question? - Her answer was terse and tinted with a bit of apprehension. Has her father..?
- Good. Then, I will explain further. I want you to keep your last sentence in your mind during my explanation since no one does compare to the Creator. - This got the doe's worries slightly assuaged, and she prepared to listen carefully to what her father had to say. From the expression on the buck's muzzle, this was serious.
- The stories and legends don't come by themselves, nor are they just fruit of one's imagination that came out of laziness and too much wine. Odin, Fenrir, Tyr, Surtr, Loki - most of legends about these, and probably many other, gods have real events behind them, blurred with time and vanity. While a creature can never hope to even compare to its creator, amongst themselves they can be… different. Follow me so far? - The doe gave a nod, not to interrupt Stuart's thoughts with her voice.
- Good. So, say a mammal has achieved an extraordinary feat. What would they be to mammals around them? Probably heroes. But, when these extraordinary feats are constant and they go beyond what your average mammal is capable of, they would be like gods in the eyes of those that share not our knowledge, but choose to deceive themselves in willful ignorance. Those extraordinary mammals know no better, and accept their status as gods and the worship that comes with it. Which is how the legends are born. - Judith listened closely to what her father was saying, judging and weighing his words. So far, it seemed a likely thing and didn't contradict anything she knew. After all, her ability to control objects from a distance was something that could be described beyond extraordinary, the reason why the doe only demonstrated it with her spear, earning herself the title of the best wielder.
- But father, why tell me all of this now? - This was the most important part that she wished to know the answer to.
- Judith. Sometimes, mammals become gods, lets just use this word to describe mammals that are above others in abilities, through different circumstances. The Creator may have left us to our own devices, but he has not left us entirely on our own. Other unseen creatures are also capable of turning mammals to gods, though I think you understand that the price for that is. - The buck's meaningful gaze made her gulp, remembering the time their clan had a feud with another rabbit clan. The Hindspaw clan has employed ram mercenaries to help in eradicating the Hopps. At least one of the rams was aiming to use the fight between clans to enter the Hopps burrow and turn their young ones hidden there into sacrifices. Was it not for the fox mercenary who Stuart hired...
- But sometimes, mammals are born gods. A very rare occurrence. And you happen to be such an occurrence. - This made Judith's eyes open as wide as possible, while her ears stood even straighter than before and a disbelieving "what" escaped her.
- I had my suspicions after learning of your abilities. But more importantly, your looks! You are way beyond what is considered to be any rabbit's prime, but look exactly the same way you looked when you were in your thirties!
- B-b-but what about you? - Was all the doe could come up with. Stuart was supposed to be around hundred and two, an extremely old age for a rabbit, but apart from gray fur there were no indications of him being as old as he was.
- Oh, right. Sorry Jude, forgot about that. - His awkward chuckle made little to ease the irritated quirk of her eyebrow at being called that. Jude the Dude, a nickname her father gave her a long time ago, and that many of her siblings took to calling her behind her back, since she never married.
- While I am still the Stuart of clan Hopps that you know as a person, and your father to boot, I am one of the so called gods. I am slightly older than six hundred years.
And just like that, her life changed.
\m/
Two small figures moved stealthily, looking to get away from the encampment of general Elkinson, the latest threat towards the Tundra Town under Big's rule. Elkinson, moose in his fifties, was a renown general of the recently formed Portuan Kingdom, the sixth one sent to conquer the lands of the Tundaria, to facilitate further invasion to the North. The fourth one to return back without fighting a single battle with a slit throat.
- This is getting rather boring. I mean, it's better this way, but still. Hope lord Big gives us something with actual fighting involved sometime soon. My spear is getting rusty. - Judith was murmuring as she ran under the dark night's sky, knowing her father's hearing was good enough to let him catch everything she said.
- What can I say? Unless they catch up on the fact that every time two bunnies enter the camp a general dies, I don't think there is a chance of that. Lord Big will just keep sending us to eliminate the head of the threat, rather than send us to fight all those armies the Portuans send. But hey, maybe next time we get two generals with the army! We can split them then, eh Jude the Dude? - Only more grumbling could be heard from the doe, causing Stuart to smile. His daughter reminded him of himself so much.
- Oh well. I guess we just keep helping lord Big and his mammals then in any way we can. If no one expects two "cute bunnies" to be assassins, so be it. - Judith was resolute as ever and still putting others ahead of herself. It was true that she was his daughter, but a big part of Bonnie Hopps lived within her too. When the time would come, Stuart would not worry about her. His little naive bunny was long gone. Instead, a grown and mature doe took her place, ready for her own journey.
The winds were whispering of a change, after all.
\m/
Nicholas of clan Wilde was no ordinary fox. Known as one of the most seeked after mercenaries among the predatorian nobility of the North, the Helvegen, he was both revered and feared. Distrusted even. Everyone who had a shred of power and riches enough to afford service of mercenaries wished to acquire him into their little armies. Wanted to assume control over the dangerous beast, that was rumoured to wipe out hundreds on his own, over the force that could turn against them in a flip of a coin. The fox was not known for being loyal after the contract was fulfilled. But that was a story nearly a century old. The fox just up and vanished one day, never to be seen again in the lands of the North.
No one knew much about his origins or the individual behind the black silk eyecover he always wore. Where he hailed from, lineage, reasons. The todd appeared as a ghost, out from thin air from the territories that belonged to wolven and lupine tribes up in the Scottish mountain range. A land with ancient history and guarded secrets. A land from where his life and journey started nearly thousand and a half years into the past. A path he left a millenia ago.
Nicholas of clan Wilde silently trotted through the ancient woods of his childhood, calling him home. Dark and foreboding to any sane mammal, the todd felt welcome and at ease amidst the snow covered land of the tree-giants. A rare lizard would run away, sensing the fearsome presence of a dangerous predator, while birds set silent, hiding in their nests.
The crisp night air filled the fox's lungs, his breath escaping in white clouds of steam. The snow brought pleasant coldness with it, caressing and familiar to his bare feet and paws. The moon and the stars were shining bright in the dark sky, glad to see the young boy that has left his mother and roamed so far for the colours of freedom. No matter how close to the colour of blood they were.
The forest ended and in several purposeful strides the fox found himself standing on the edge overlooking what remained of his once prosperous home. Overlooking nothingness and wild nature that took its place. A small smile bloomed over his muzzle as Nicholas removed the silk eyecover from his eyes and opened them to the view. He chose night specifically, since his vision's peculiarity could be mostly ignored with so little light. He would still see the lines that showed just how fragile this world was, but they were not as prominent as during daylight. The darkness hid things well, after all. Mostly.
With a loud howl, coming out of his predator's heart, filled with challenge, bloodlust, and rage, the fox has announced his presence to the land. It rebounded throughout the North, resounding within all those who shared the same heart. No longer than half a minute later a much more savage howl joined in, issued from a throat properly molded for exactly this way of communication. And just a moment later, vibrating roar of a slumbering giant supplied its undeniable strength to the choir.
Many predators all over the land were awoken from their sleep, sensing a change in the air. And thousands of fists were raised into the sky in silent welcome of the new age the winds have spoken about.