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You travel for what seems like hours, and your tongue has run dry, and beads of sweat drip down your forehead. You nearly pant until you notice a small obelisk just a few yards away. There is also a Blue Lupe there, hanging his head in what seems to be mourning.
You cautiously approach, and the Lupe there looks up at you and smiles; though you can tell in his eyes that he has been crying. "Here, have some water." He says, and hands you a tattered wineskin that looks as though it has been through a lot. You happily take a swig, and he caps it back on.
Who is this for?" You ask, as you can't help but be curious. The Lupe points to some pictures engraved in the stone:
You don't know what these mean, but the Lupe explains it to you: "His name was Remus," He starts, "He was my brother."
He was?" You ask curiously. The Lupe chuckles grimly, then nods.
Let me tell you his story."
A long time ago, when my brother and I were just pups, my father and mother had to separate from each other, in fear of a great evil that had arisen from the darkness to destroy all of his pack. So it would be harder for the evil, known as Tnatum, to find my brother, Remus, and I, Romulus, my parents also split us up. I went with my mother, and Remus went with my father.
Shortly after the departion, my father met a merchant going to the Lost Desert who had always wanted a son. My father saw this chance. The land that he had just passed through was in a war, and he knew what stratigies could help the defense win. And it was to this merchant that my father gave Remus.
It was not that my father did not love Remus; in fact he loved him very much as it was the only thing that he had left of his beloved wife. But he knew that the war waging in the country had some of this evil in it, and my father did not want his son to be killed by that evil. The Lost Desert was very far off, and my father knew that Remus would be safe from any danger there.
However, my father gave Remus one of his favorite items: a feathered necklace that had once belonged to the starter and leader of his pack, otherwise known as Paca. My father also knew of a magic contained in the necklace that protected the wearer from the dark arts.
Anyway, Remus was left with the merchant. My father had given him strict orders not to reveal Remus' real identity, and the merchant was very kind, and decided to follow my father's wish. He made Remus a mask, drab jewelery and all the garb that a desert Lupe is supposed to wear. The merchant was pleased, and he as soon as he got to the Lost Desert, he began to teach Remus the tricks of his trade; which was fruit selling.
Remus was very young then, and couldn't remember much. But as the years went by, he became a strong and handsome Lupe. The merchant was very loving, and overwhelmed at his adopted son's success. Remus was great at attracting customers, and many times he fought off thieves that tried to steal fruit.
Remus eventually forgot the father that he remembered little of, and the merchant did not mind as he loved Remus as he would his own son.
Remus was also active in the Lost Desert; at night, when it was cool, he often raced the other Lupes up and down the Desert Dunes. Remus was not very good at first, but with much practice he became one of the best.
In fact, on one of his practices he ran by a small hut near Sakhmet. This hut also happened to be by the local river, and he paused to lap up some water. As he did so, he noticed a brown Lupess only a stone's throw away from him, humming quietly as she danced in the moonlight. Remus was instantly smitten. When the Lupess noticed Remus looking at her, Remus blushed and sheepishly ran on and continued practicing.
Later that night, he couldn't get the image of the Lupess out of his head. He secretly wished to see her again.
About a week later, Remus and the other Lupes had organized a competition in which they would all race to see who was the fastest. That night, they all began to race, faster and faster on the desert sands. Remus pumped his legs and soon he was pleased to find that he was in first! He still panted furiously, and after a while he saw the finish point ahead of him. But there, at the finish line among many other Lupes, was the Lupess.
Suddenly utterly embarrassed, Remus tripped over his own paw. Some other lupes gasped at the finish line; This was the easiest terrian to run over (a rocky ground) and yet the champion had managed to fall! As Remus fell, his head hit a rock jutting out from the outcrop. He groaned as everything in his world went black.
Remus moaned as he awoke. His head pained him so, but he felt so numb that it really didn't seem to matter. As he looked around, he noticed that he was on a soft woolen bed in a room. He looked up and saw someone standing over him, holding what seemed to be a hot cup of tea.
The figure leaned closer, and Remus could now clearly see the face. The lupess' eyes brightened and seemed to glow. Her brown fur seemed to be groomed to perfection. I must be dreaming, Remus thought in utter amazement. "I see that you've finally awoken," She said in a voice softer than the woolen sheets.
Remus tried to stand up to prove that he was strong, but he failed and fell weakly back onto the bedcovers. "You need some rest in order to gain back your strength from that fall," She continued. "Yes," Remus agreed. "By the way, my name is Kebechet. I've lived in this hut ever since... ever since..." Her voice trailed off. "For a while. I sew blankets and covers and sell them at the local market." Remus decided to tell Kebechet about himself too. "I work at a fruit stall in the market also. The name's Remus."
The Lupess smiled. "It's been nice to meet you, Remus." Remus, once again, felt suddenly embarassed. "You too," He replied dryly with a faint smile. "Here, have this tea," Kebechet said as she handed Remus the tea she had been holding. Remus drank it gratefully as he heard the Lupess say: "I wish to see you again," After Remus drank the concoction, he felt slightly dizzy, and instantly fell asleep.
Remus woke once again, but this time in a familiar place. Adobe walls surrounded him, and the thick smell of teacha fruit cleared his nostrils.
You're awake, son! Thank heavens!" Remus turned his head, now lightweight and alert towards the voice. His adopted father's head poked through the doorway. "A nice Lupess brought you over here a few hours ago. She said that you had fallen at one of the races."
Kebechet..." Remus murmured. So it all hadn't been a dream...
Ah, yes! That was her name."
Remus simply stood up in wonder. His muscles no longer ached, and he felt completely healed. Kebechet's concoction had done wonders for him.
Many days passed, Remus selling fruits to customers and racing. He sparingly saw Kebetchet at the races, and when he did, he now gained confidence. He realized that when she was there, he raced stronger, harder, and faster. When the races where over and he looked for her, it always seemed that she had dissapeared, as if by magic.
Remus missed her, and wished sometimes that he could get to know her better. One day, he suddenly remembered the little hut by the river. Perhaps he could, indeed, visit her.
He traveled as he had many days before, along the river. Before long, he came to a hut, the small one that he had seen before. He eagerly raced towards it, and when he got there, he knocked happily on the door.
He saw a small brown paw tentively reach out and open the door. A small, brown, furry face with glistening yellow eyes stared back at him. At first, Kebechet looked surprised, maybe even amazed, but then her awed lips curved into a shy smile.
Welcome, again, Remus." She greeted. "Come in,"
Remus walked into her home quietly and almost nervously. He began to ask himself questions. Why was he here? Why had he done this? One wrong move and Kebechet would think he was an idiot-
Why have you come?" She asked, seating herself on a reed-woven chair. Remus' muscles tensed nervously and his sweaty paws almost made him slip on the dirt floor.
I-" Remus paused. What to say? What to say? "I wanted to see you again."
Kebechet paused for a moment, and then her smile turned grave.
I need to tell you something, Remus," She murmured in scarcly a whisper. She poked the embers in her home with a stick, setting them alight in a bright fury of flame. Remus listened with all his mind, and strained his ears to hear her as she began her story.
Ever since I first saw you, I sensed something... I wasn't sure what it was at the time... But there was something, some great priority within you. I am curious by nature, so I asked around and eventually found out about the races.
They sounded interesting, and I found you there, racing with the other Lupes. As soon as you went past me, I knew that you had untapped magic within you, as I practice the art myself.
Then you fell. At the end of the races, I managed to carry you back to my home to be revived. As soon as I set you down on the sheets, I touched your forehead to check your temperature. As soon as I did this, I felt something... different. There was a door in your mind, one-third open. And this, as I later found, was part of the lesser-known truth of your past.
It was protected by a very strong magic, a particular spell that even I cannot concur up. However, no part of it does not let me not reveal it to you.
Your father... He was from the woods... Somewhere near Meridell... As for your mother, she was Altadorian, I can see that as your name is centainly so. There was a great magic, a strong, shadowy magic, and it separated your mother and father. Your true father is not the one who cares for you, but rather someone who gave you to your current, adopted father... He told him never to reveal your real face, an so it is covered by this mask.
You are a part of a great prophesy, and your real father did not wish to endanger you, so he sent you away, and here you are."
She stopped, staring guiltily at her paws. Remus gaped... But as she told the story, bits and pieces came together in his mind, and he realized that she must be telling the truth. His so-called-father had lied to him this whole time?
Kebetchet began once again.
But your father left you with a memento, and that's the feathered necklace around your neck. It is meant to protect you from many kinds of dark magic, and could even prevent you from dying, in some situations."
Remus glanced at the necklace around his neck. He had never questioned it before... All he knew was that... Well, it was there.
Please," She said again, "I do not wish to burden this upon your shoulders."
You have not," Remus stated, "Rather, you have unburdened them." He took her paw gently in his and whispered in her ear,
You've opened my mind to a whole new light, Kebechet."
Remus ran home, and found his adopted father in the adobe hut, quietly reading scriptures.
Ah, there you are, son!" He said happily.
Don't call me 'son'." Remus replied flatly. "I know the truth."
But... son..." His adopted father started as the smile faded from his face.
I need to get away from a while." Remus said, as he ran out the door and back out into the Desert.
Remus ran. And ran. And ran. Though he didn't know it, tears streamed his handmade mask. Why had no one told him?
As his feet finally began to grow weary of kicking up the minuscule grains of sand, Remus spotted an oasis. He stopped at a small pool of water and began to become aggravated of his mask, of which his adopted father had made.
Come off!" He yelled as he pawed angerly to try and get it off. When he tried over and over again with no avail, he laid down his head by the edge of the pool and sobbed.
Suddenly, a rustling came from the bushes beside the oasis. Remus' feelings of regret and sadness were suddenly pushed aside by those of curiosity. He crawled to some brush and listened: "We need to eliminate them... Soon." "Why?" "They are too much of a threat to my power. These two have eluded me for a while; I should have eliminated them when they were pups."
But I thought that you ridded yourself of two, sir." "Indeed, but they were very small and nature helped. Remus is the one we're after.
Remus gasped in suprise. But if these thugs want to deal with me, they'll get me, Remus thought to himself, letting the anger swell up in him once more.
He leaped out of the bushes in an angry burst, and two creatures turned to greet him. One looked Lupe-Shaped but was shrouded in a black cape, and the other was a horribly twisted and mutated Driak, holding what seemed to be an ancient spear, decorated with feathers similar to Remus',
The Draik immediently grabbed Remus by his sruff and Remus growled and snapped at him. "Ah, an invader," The Lupe under the cape said. He then revealed his paws and moved them around, muttering some kind of word, or a string of them. Remus was suddenly lifted of off his feet and frozen in midair. He tried to move in vain, but could not.
There we are." The Lupe under the cape smiled, and removed his hood, revealing his purple darigan-Lupe face and his terrible red eyes. The Lupe then gasped in suprise as he spotted Remus' Necklace. "He has the... the necklace," The Lupe thought aloud in awe. "Then you must be who I am searching for... Tell me your name, son,
Remus did not like the sound of this, so he merely replied, "No,
Of course, there is the hard way," The caped Lupe smirked, and the Draik put the spear to Remus' head. Remus braced himself, waiting for an impact, but nothing happened. Suddenly a burst of light arose from the spear, and Remus felt a terrible headache in his head, and directed his eyes at the spear.
Suprisingly, the spear had not entered his skull, but rather seemed to be extracting his thoughts. Remus shouted in pain, and the caped Lupe seemed amazed. "Remus," He mouthed. "We need to know more," At this he glanced at the Driak, who nodded and placed the spear to Remus' head again.
Oh no, I'm not going through that pain again, Remus gritted his teeth and called upon all his strength. Suprisingly, he was released, and slashed the caped Lupe who moaned, and then bit the Draik, hard.
SIEZE HIM!" The caped Lupe screamed, and Remus ran as fast as he could, but the Draik took a lucky shot with his spear, and suddenly Remus' world went black.
***
When Remus awakened, he felt no pain, or any feelings at all. He looked beside him, and saw, well, himself. Only dead.
Dried blood came from his forehead, and Remus could see where the spear had hit him. Everything seemed intact, but his necklace was gone from his dead body. Remus then turned to himself and saw that he, indeed, wore it.
For the first time, he realized what an odd situation this was, and looked at his own paws. At first, he saw nothing, but slowly his vision adjusted and he realized that now he had ghastly, glowing, transparent paws, and his whole body was, in fact.
It was then he wondered why he was here, not in heaven nor hell. He then vaguely remembered Kebechet's words: It is meant to protect you from many kinds of dark magic, and could even prevent you from dying, in some situations.
He sighed but felt no feelings of grief or mourning. He felt no hunger, no thirst, no desire to do anything. But, suddenly, he bean to wander, searching for something he had not yet found.
.: Epiloge :.
Kebechet had heard murmurings of Remus death for many months, and had mourned privately in her hut. Her weavings had gone askew and she wondered why she could not think straight any more. At random intervals she broke down in tears, even occassionaly in public.
Tonight was one of those nights as she lay down under the stars, clutching a half-woven blanket to her chest. The vast cosmos of stars calmed her mind, but she could not help wondering where Remus was at this moment, and what he would be doing. She then remembered a poem her mother sang to her, many years ago and began to recite it aloud:
To hear your voice is pomegranate wine to me:
I draw life from hearing it.
Could I see you with every glance,
It would be better for me
Than to eat or to drink.
She sighed and listened to the bubbling river beside her; it almost sounded like a howl, an ancient Lupine howl. Kebetchet sat up, frozen, and tilted her ears towards the noise. As she turned cautiously, she saw what appeared to be a shooting star over the horizon. But it kept coming closer, and closer. Kebetchet held her breath.
Paralyzed, Kebetched stared, amazed, as a spirit approached her. He was well-sized and emitted aghastly glow that eerily illuminated the area. The spirit stopped inches away from her snout, and stared gently yet intensly into her eyes. Kebetchet gasped."Remus,
She looked at him apprehensively. Remus nodded slowly and nudged his head against hers in affection. Kebetchet sighed and tears glistened in her eyes. "So you're stuck, in an immortal limbo, until you find your purpose." She noticed, glancing at the necklace. Remus nodded again. "But for now, you're stuck with me."
Remus nodded, not able to speak in his state. Kebetchet leaned on his shoulder, knowing that spirits can vanish as quickly as they appear. Remus began to howl, and Kebetchet recalled a different poem:
So seize the day! Hold holiday!
Be unwearied, unceasing, alive
you and your own true love;
Let not the heart be troubled during your
sojourn on Earth,
but seize the day as it passes!
But first you must follow ze rules:
1. NO BEAUTY CONTESTS (like you would win anyway =p)
2. Do not credit as your own.
That's pretty much it. I also do customs, but only 3 at a time. Current people waiting are:
1. Desvanu
2. yuoyooyuoyoo_2004
3. Nobody
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