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...