Story: Far Beyond once we used to be.. (all chapters)

This is the “New World”,

It’s changed and will forever remain that way because of evolution...

My grandmother once told me the story of the past when I was a young child a long time ago. She said to me “Things were not always like this you know, the forests weren’t lush, the sky wasn’t blue and at a time we didn’t posses an Animal Soul.” I was too young to think of anything to say back and too interested to hear the rest of what she was saying, so I just listened.

She continued “Back before your time and mine, in that generation they did not treasure the world as we do now. The things before us were known as “humans” and they used the world’s life up until there was nothing left...  They were nothing like us, they did not posses ears and a tail, their senses did not increase with time, it decreased and became lame with “Technology”.  She looked at me, placing her hands in her lap and leaning forward she uttered “Do you want to know what lead to the beginning of the end for the “humans”?”

I simply nodded numbly; I was trying to consume all of this information as much as possible.  My grandmother closed her eyes, her black cat ears lay low as she seemed to reminisce on what she was told so she could recite it to me. “The “humans” were lazy and desired more that what they needed to live off of and that is what lead them to their destruction my dear granddaughter. You see technology was created by “humans” for “humans” it did them no true service but provided them with a way to become useless and have everything they want done without really doing it themselves.  So technology advanced, it became to be to the point were “humans” did absolutely nothing, their motor skills ceased to exist. But that wasn’t enough; “Humans” had to have everything in their control. So they caged any free animal and the demolished the earth till it was nothing but a hazardous wasteland so their way could prosper. The monsters we know now are because of the “Humans”. They caged up their animals back then for their own entertainment. So the animals evolve to what we know now in our world.

I couldn’t keep my tears held back any longer “Why would that do that?!! Their monsters!” I exclaimed, tears still streaking down my young cheeks back then as I looked up to my grandmother for answers. She bent down and wiped away my tears with her hand “Shhh... do not cry child” she said onto me “Just listen”

After a moment of silence, she continued “The “Humans” went on for centuries going about trying to advance their technology till one day. “Boom!!”” she yelled while throwing her hands up in the air for dramatic effects. “Technology had turned on the “Humans” the animals saw this as a chance of freedom and did not waste it one bit. They escaped! Technology self destructed its self, taking anything that knew about it or how to recreate it with it.”

I jumped at her sudden exclamation but with great glee at the change my eyes were wide with excitement and grin was plastered on my face. “Without technology though, many died. They knew not how to scavenge for food, or fend for themselves. So sole survives evolved and become what we are today. Because we had to evolve to survive we were able to obtain an animal soul.” She looked at me and smiled “Always be grateful for what you have Raeka, because you never know what could happen in the future.”

It’s been a few years since then and my grandmother has moved on (she’s a bit of a traveler).  I am now 18 and understand our world more but I will never forget what my grandmother told me.

A lot has changed since she told me that story; I am now going to school to learn about our soul animal, I go to martial arts training and go to learn sword play. I do a lot in school but some programs I have to take differently. Why you may ask? I don’t have my soul creature yet... It’s an embarrassment, everyone else does so they see themselves as better and it doesn’t make it easier on me. After all I’m the tribal leader’s oldest daughter. My father is a great white wolf, very rare for a person to be of such but he is a great leader and a caring one at that.

I have 2 brothers, and one younger sister. One brother is a lazy good for nothing so it’s not surprising he’s a sloth and the other is a cat, they aren’t exactly fit for taking over our tribe so my father hopes for me to. My sister is too stuck up because her animal is a peacock; she’s just a show off to me. So there is a lot of pressure on me and what my soul animal is.

Our soul animal is decided by our characteristics and traits, basically the core of who we are. My father says I’m a “late bloomer” and that it will happen when the time is right. I’m already way past due seeing as the people in our tribe usually have it when they are twelve to seventeen.  But I just remain patient for now to see how things go.

Today was like any other day, school in the early morning for learning what foods you can eat and which herbs can heal you. It wasn’t all bad, we got to go out into the forest and learn firsthand. Our instructor was an owl type soul creature. Owl ears and eyes, not hard to miss.

Our instructor looked at the class his yellow eyes checking everyone out “Alright class, today you and a partner will go into the forest and find me a white twin leafed herb. Can anyone tell me what is the purpose of the herb and where it might be found?”  Everyone went silent till a girl with white cat ears shot her hand up. “It would be near a small spring or river, and has the ability to cure any aliments Mr. Epstin” answered the girl. “Correct!” He said with excitement “I will not be watching over you, so be aware, you know there has been an increase in monster sittings so use your senses well... as for you Reaka, stick close to your partner.”

Everyone laughed and I just rolled my eyes. “Alright now go!” Mr. Epstin said. Everyone paired up pretty quickly and it seemed I would be left alone. So I started to walk on my own, always keeping one hand on the handle of my sword.

I was making my way through the tall grass of the forest wearing the usual attire, a baggy shirt and long shorts that reached my knees. I carried over my shoulder a bag made of hid, inside it was delicious fruits I have harvested from the day before. I like my snacks.  I looked around to see nothing, so I kept on going but as I took a few steps I heard a rustling noise from behind me so unsheathing my sword quickly and looked around.

“Raeka!!” came a holler from behind. I knew that voice... “Oh shi-“before I could finish there was a dog boy sitting on top of me wagging his tail feverishly. “Hi Nick.” Was all I could muster at the moment.  He had black dog ears and a black tail. “Your father sent me to see how your studies are coming along, and from what I can see you’re headed in the wrong directions.” I tried to hide the shocked look on my face but it didn’t work. Nick smiled mischievously “You had no idea where you were going did you?” I looked the other way as I could feel my face become hot “Shut up Nick.” I retorted as I tried to push him off.

He reluctantly got up “Since I have nothing better to do why don’t I assist you?” Nick asked with a grin on his face. “No.” I said as I got up, grabbed my sword and started walking in a different direction. His ears hung low as he ran up beside me “Pleaaaseee “he begged. He gave me his special puppy dog eyes.

“Don’t look” I said to myself “Don’t do it... don’t...” I looked... “Fine” I yelled! I then sighed and looked at him. He was all giddy and wagging his tail as he moved in front of me and started to lead. And to think he is my father’s apprentice, the thought made a smile cross my face. I can see why my father chose him to take under his wing. If I don’t make a good tribal leader Nick surely would.

I was too lost in my thoughts to notice Nick had stoped right in his tracks. I ended up bumping into him and before I could say anything he quickly turned around, put his hand over my mouth and we both hit the ground. He got up off of me but remained low to the ground. He kept looking around, his hair on his ears and tail stood up noticeably. I was about to ask him something but he shot me a serious look so I kept quiet.

Everything was still, eerily still. No birds chirping, just the sound of wind until there was this loud crack and the sound of a tree falling. Now I was worried. I unsheathed my sword once again keeping a tight grip on it as I watched Nick. Nick wouldn’t move though, his body went still and his eyes just kept looking around franticly.

I got tired of just sitting around so I got up and crouched to look around myself and what I saw was more than I could have ever expected. This creature was massive with four eyes and claws that could probably gut more than six people in a single blow. Its mandible large in size and its features looked similar to that of a bears.

It couldn’t see Nick and me because of the tall grass but our view was clear. Nick seeing the thing finally, started to whimper. Nothing and I mean nothing was as hideous as this creature, its fur was tattered and its body misshapen. I didn’t know what to do, thoughts racing and heart pounding. What can you do?

All of a sudden I saw Nick get up and start charging at the thing. “Are you crazy!?!!” I hollered at him, as I got up and chased after him. “I cant let it reach the village or the the other students!!” he yelled back. His speed out doing mine by a lot, after all he was a dog, and I was just human. After a few minutes I caught up with him to see him on the back of the creature biting with all of hells strengths at its throat. The creature let out a mighty roar causing me to stumble back a bit. “Dear goddess, we are so fucked...” I thought to myself.

I regained by composure to rush the beast and strike at his belly with my sword, blood spewed from the gash. Nick was still cling to the animal with dear life with his jaws, he just bit harder causing the animal to lash out in every directions. Mainly in mine, I was able to block once but with my other side being exposed it was an easy opening and I had three giant gashes form on my right side.

I let out a cry of pain as I fell to the ground. “Uggghhnnn...” was I could say as I tried to crawl towards the monster to try to still fight, leaving a trail of blood behind me though. I looked up to see Nick ripping out a chunk of the monsters throat out and jumping to the ground. He growled at the monster and showed his canines with anger. Nick charged the animal dodging its claws with grace until he saw me “Raeka..?” he whispered. The distraction got him caught; he was grabbed by the beast and thrown into a tree. I didn’t see him get up, so I was guessing he was either dead or unconscious.

“Nick!!!” I screamed as I got to my feet, blood running down my body from my wound on my ribs as I ran over to my sword and picked it up.  I could collapse in pain at any moment but I charged the animal, my brown eyes flashing blue and my vision going blurry. All I could remember after that was I stabbed the beast in the gut and slashed upwards causing its organs to fall out, and it holding its stomach as it screeched and started to flee.

Everything went black from that point on...

I had sweet dreams though. Two beautiful girls were watching over me. One had silver eyes that twinkled like the stars and golden brown hair, and gorgeous feathered tail. She would put her feathered tail over me and chant, and all my wounds would feel better. The other was a girl with horns on her head and slicked back red ears and red eyes that had a tail like a reptile that was red also. That girl just seemed to look me over, sometimes in pity and what seemed anger.

I awoke though, and with my head throbbing I tried to shield my eyes from the light to realize I couldn’t move my limbs. I looked around to see I was in the infirmary and I was bound to one of the beds. I struggled against the restraints until they broke apart and I was able to move once again. I leapt to my feet only to make it about two yards till I collapsed on the floor again. “Argghhh” I said in frustration as I tried to get to my feet again but only made to a kneeling position till someone walked in and saw me.

“Oh my goodness “came from the stranger that walked in. She had a sweet and caring voice, I could hear her running up to me and the feel of her fingers wrapping around me and gently lifting me up and carrying me back to the bed I once laid on. “It’s good you’re finally up but you should really rest now.” I sat down on the bed and looked up to her and scanned her. What was she... she simply smiled “My name is Constance and I was brought here by my tribe by the orders of your father to help resuscitate you back to your heath but to me it seems you had a little more going on than just fatal wounds.” 

I raised an eyebrow and my expression must have showed that I was confused. She grabbed a mirror and put it in front of me. My eyes grew wide as I now noticed I had blue eyes, white stripped ears. I looked behind me to see a long tail like a cats but with black stripes on it just like my ears. I opened my mouth to see enlarged canines. “W-What am I...?” I asked as I looked up at her... “She smiled a generous smile and grabbed my hand in hers. “You’re different, just like me.”

“What are you?” I asked her as I looked back at her feather tail that shone like no other. “I’m a phoenix” she said still having a smile on her lips. “Do you know what I am then?” I asked. “You’re a white Siberian Tiger, and I have never seen someone like you before.” She said as she eyed me over.  I looked down in embarrassment and I could feel my cheeks get red.

“You know you almost died... But yet I heard you got up and still fought to protect your friend. It’s no wonder you’re so different.” She said to me and sat down next to me. “You know your father came for you, and he called me and another girl to take care of you till you were in good health, we didn’t expect you to transform now because of your serious injuries.”

I just remembered that Nick also got hurt “What happened to Nick?!!” I almost jumped off the bed till Constance put her hand on my shoulder “He’s fine.” She  almost half laughed, he just got a big bump on his head, nothing serious like you.”. “Oh” I said. I looked down at my legs and could see the bandages on my side, I didn’t care to notice them earlier. I guess I was just too busy trying to get up. I started to take them off to see it was all healed except for three small scars.

Constance looked at them with me “I couldn’t get rid of everything “she said “I tried my hardest though”. I smiled at her, “you have done too much for me already, and you don’t need to apologize. Thank you so much” I said to her. Her face seemed to light up and she hugged me. I hugged back with emphasis. Is it weird I noticed she smelled of coconuts.

Actually I kept sniffing I could smell a lot more, I could smell the flowers near us and I could hear the voice of others far across the village. I pulled away from her and looked at her “So I transformed? Is that why I can hear others across the village and smell that you are around coconuts a bit” She blushed but only a little. Then I mentally smacked myself on the head. “Of course that’s why you can you idiot, I said to myself”. I looked at her and smiled “I kind of just answered my own question, so scratch that.”  I could feel a sweat drop fall off the side of my face.

“So what now?” I asked. She quickly got up and pushed me down against the bed “You go to sleep and rest, you’re not ready to be up” she said sweetly. I just blushed, and looked her over. She had a small framed body and was definitely shorter than me but she was gorgeous none the less. She walked out of the room and I just watched her till I couldn’t see her and closed my eyes.

I thought to myself “Things are finally starting to get good” I moved my tail to where it lay on top of my stomach and I put my hands behind my head and fell back asleep.

Maybe now my life won’t be so difficult...

Man was I dead wrong. I awoke this time to someone tipping my bed and me falling to the ground. “Get up, we have training now!” Came a voice that sounded foreign and with a bit of an accent but it was definitely a girl. “Ugghh...”I sighed as I got up to rub my head “is that really necessary?” I said with a yawn. “Everything I do is necessary!” the girl said as she pushed me out the door.

I made it out the door then turned around and pushed the girl off of me causing her to fly back a few feet and fall to the ground. I looked at my hands in amazement and my eyes wide then looked at the girl. She laid on the ground a scowl on her face as she death glared me “Why you ...!” she breathed with anger as she rose to her feet. She had red ears with horns and a red lizard like tail. “I-I didn’t mean to... well I kind of did b-but...!” I stammered as she lunged at me. I side stepped her easily, it was like everything somewhat slowed down and I could sense her actions. I smiled teasingly and etched her forward by waving a finger at her to come my way.

Now she was pissed and growling lowly. She charged me but I just stood still till she was almost to me and then I grabbed her shoulders and did a flip over her landing behind her and quickly went down and sweep kicked her. She fell to the ground and was now fuming. She grabbed my leg when i wasn’t paying attention and threw me against a tree unexpectedly fast.

I hit it hard and fell to the ground with a loud thud and got up slowly. She walked over to me “You seemed to have healed just fine.” She said. She had calmed down and looked me over. “A Siberian Tiger huh... haven’t seen anyone like you before. Kind of weak though”. I could feel a vein on my head appearing from anger.

“What an egotistical and arrogant wench!” I thought to myself as I rose completely and dusted myself off and straightened myself out. “And who are you exactly?” I asked. She smiled. “I’m Tsunami, second eldest daughter to the tribe leader of the eastern countries.” She said with pride in her voice. I scoffed “am I supposed to be impressed?” I asked as I looked at her with the; I don’t give a fuck look I was good at.

Now a vein seemed to pop out of her skull “Rrrrghh... Whatever! I’m here because I was ordered to by my father; we made an alliance with your tribe.” I looked her over, nice body, very nice and she had these eyes, and she was definitely some sort of oriental so she wasn’t lying about coming from the east. “So what are you, an iguana?” I almost half laughed as I asked. She was fuming “I’m a dragon!!” she almost screamed.

I shrugged “same thing to me” I said as I started to walk away. She stomped the ground in the frustration and ran over to me. “ I was ordered to help you with your training, since you are now transformed you have to learn to control your powers and seeing as no one has ever been a Siberian Tiger before, I’m more suited to help you.” Tsunami said as she faced me.

I looked at her raised an eyebrow as I leaned in close to her, my face only a few inches away from hers “And what give you the right to teach me anything you Iguana?” I asked with a profound smirk on my face. She growled then put her hand on my head “Because I’m the only person who has ever been a Fire Dragon!” she answered as she pushed with great strength on my head causing me to hit the ground face first, laying there sprawled out and twitching slightly.