You may be wondering about the story of Umbraclaw, a standout title among the recent surge of cat-themed games. It's not related to the creatures from World of Warcraft. Instead, Umbraclaw centers on a house cat named Kuon who, after passing away, awakens in the Soulplane. In the game, players guide Kuon through eight levels to find keys and return to the real world. Playing on the adage that cats have nine lives, each of Kuon's deaths grants a new power for survival. However, caution is advised: upon the fifth death, Kuon gains a human soul and transforms into a humanoid, gaining strength but losing some feline abilities.

This narrative toys with a concept where all events within the game also occur in the real world. Those familiar with the game will grasp the unfolding events. For those unacquainted, consider looking it up or trying the demo on Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Xbox Series X/S, or Steam. Additionally, the game is set to feature a special crossover with Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 towards the end of June.


Death. Death is a certainty known to many beings, inescapable by all. Yet, what if the deceased were granted a second chance? Moreover, what would such second chances entail for those who never lived as humans? This narrative follows Kuon, a house that received an unexpected second chance at life following her demise, albeit not in the manner she anticipated.

Perched atop a rooftop, a being surveys the town below. Confusion clouds her understanding of recent events. She remembers her last moments, fading in her owner's embrace, followed by an enveloping coldness. Upon awakening, she finds her appearance altered; no longer the cat she once was, she retains some feline traits but also bears a human resemblance. As she ponders this duality, a twitch of her ear catches a familiar voice.

"Another day..."

A girl named Tsukumo stepped out of her house, her expression etched with sadness. She was the owner.

"Kuon..." she murmured, drifting away.

'Kuon... that's my name,' thought the creature, examining its new claw.

Kuon retained some memories of herself and the girl she observed. She was aware that she had been Tsukumo's joy since her kitten days. However, her memories were more blurred than her fur. She also noted that her attire was similar to the girl's, albeit in different hues. Looking down, Kuon spotted her owner strolling down the street, emanating gloom. She then began to dash across the rooftops, vigilant to keep her owner out of harm's way.


Later,

Tsukumo let out a sigh as she meandered through the town. Three days had passed since the loss of her house cat and dearest companion, Kuon. Kuon had been her sole source of joy. Tsukumo was cognizant of the inevitability of death and had anticipated that Kuon would pass before her, yet she found herself unprepared for the reality. Attempting to recall the joyful moments shared with Kuon only intensified her longing.

Tsukumo continued walking, oblivious to the three boys observing her. They exchanged nods and trailed behind her. Unaware of being followed, she was startled when one of the boys approached her.

"Hey there, Tsu!"

An arm slung over her shoulder, and she looked up to see the boy.

"Marcus? What do you want?" she inquired.

"I've noticed you've seemed down lately. Is everything okay?" he probed.

Tsukumo eyed him suspiciously, pondering his intentions.

"Please don't tell me this is another scheme to ask me out," she said.

"Whoa, whoa! Relax! That's not my intention! I'm genuinely concerned about you," Marcus replied.

Tsukumo sighed and shrugged off his arm, stepping back.

"I lost my pet cat, that's all. I'd prefer to be alone," she explained.

"A cat?" Marcus echoed, taken aback.

"Yes, a cat. She brought me joy, more than you ever could. Now please, I'd like some space," Tsukumo stated, turning away.

Marcus watched her leave, then exhaled deeply as his friends arrived, shaking their heads in disapproval.

"Don't look at me like that. I did what I could," he defended himself.

"AH!"

The boys spun around to witness a gang seizing Tsukumo and dragging her into a van.

"Tsukumo!" Marcus yelled as he watched the van speed off.

Meanwhile, the others began to phone the police, oblivious to a figure dashing across the rooftops.


Kuon felt a surge of anger. She remembered the three boys were harmless, especially the one who had spoken to her owner. However, when other men seized her owner, it ignited a fierce anger within her. She effortlessly trailed the van and then leaped onto its roof.

"What was that?"

Hearing the side door open, she notices a human peeking out. She reaches down, grabs the man by his shirt, and lifts him as he screams. Kuon hisses at the man, then flings him away from the van. Using her larger claw, she digs into the van's side and swings inside, startling the others. Kuon sees Tsuskmo tied up in the corner and spots a man drawing a gun. She moves swiftly, knocking the gun away, then slashes with her claw, sending the man flying. As the rest turn to charge at her, Kuon readies one of her powers.

Utilizing her anteater power to freeze time, Kuon had ceased to question the strangeness of receiving powers from various animals. She turned, lifting her owner, who was suspended in the temporal freeze. Casting a glance back at the motionless humans, she leaped from the van. While the power was in effect, she swiftly cut through one of the bindings before making her escape.

Time reset, and the van spiraled out of control, ultimately colliding with a lamppost. Kuon transported her owner to an alley and gently laid her down. Tsukumo was in disbelief at the sight before her. A creature had materialized out of thin air and rescued her. She observed as it used a smaller claw to sever the ropes binding her. After she took off the gag, she gazed at the creature in wonder.

"What are you?" she inquired.

Kuon gazed at her, realizing she wasn't recognized. It saddened her slightly, yet she continued to stare. She could speak now, but words eluded her.

"...Meow," she uttered before scaling the building wall and vanishing from sight.

Tsukumo watched the creature depart, her confusion mounting. Moments later, the sound of police sirens reached her, prompting her to leave the alley. Doubtful that anyone would accept her story, she allowed herself to be escorted home, unaware of the eyes still observing her.


This is a brief introduction. As this is one of my non-Danny Phantom stories and not an original character (OC) story, I noticed that Umbraclaw isn't listed under the game list. I'm inclined to think that it won't garner much attention from my fans. I embarked on writing this because I felt the urge to write, despite lacking ideas for my other stories. Most of the game's details are explained at the beginning, but experiencing the game firsthand is often better.

More content is on the horizon, though I can't promise a swift update. Once again, my motivation for writing this stemmed from a genuine desire, even if it meant I might not receive much feedback from you all.