Animal Kingdom

Echo, East Tribe

"Urgh. This is so. Pointless," I whined, gliding high above the tribe below, Blaze flapping some distance to my left. He tilted his wings a little and swooped in closer.
"Why do you think that?" he asked with interest, the sun dancing on his redish, russet feathers. I sighed and looked straight ahead.
"I have a feeling a lot of us will die for nothing. That's all."
Blaze turned his head back in thought at what I had said. I sighed and swooped down beside Ironstone, landing just in front of him.
He stopped abrupty, looking at me with expectant eyes.
"Can we rest? The weak are falling behind," I said, motioning with a speckled wing to the others snaking far behind the main body of the tribe, slowly shuffling their way forwards. He had been driving them hard, too hard in my opinion. I looked up and boldly raised an eyebrow, waiting for his answer.

Oh boy! Lol. Um, I couldn't help but notice, but Sorrow and Ross are the only males in the West Tribe... Just thought I should point that out

Kharusa, West Tribe

I laid out on the rock, sunning myself carelessly. I closed my eyes and took in the warmth. I was half asleep when I heard a bizarre - but familiar - sound. Sorrow.

My bright green eyes snapped open and I took off with lightning speed. Green sparks flew off my paws as they extended and I could feel the nature around me flourishing. I smiled gleefully.

As I felt myself growing closer, I slowed down. I soon came to a clearing where I saw Sorrow, Ama, and a few other animals already. I sat down in a forming circle and waited for the rest of our tribe to arrive. After a bit, I heard a gruff voice from behind me.

"Kharusa. Fire ball. Think fast."

I turned and, without a second thought, spat a water ball out of my mouth. It hit my teacher in the face. I flinched and looked away. I looked back with an apologetic look on my face. Ross was less than amused.

"No, no, my child," he said. "Wind. Wind will either blow it out or blow it back at your opponent."

"Right, right," I said, ashamed at my mistake. "I knew that. Sincerest apologies, teacher," I apologized.

The colossal bear sat next to me and we watched as the rest of the West Tribe appeared.

---



~Rayne

**I'm going to hope that this is okay - If not, I'll either edit or delete - Let me know**

Ama - West Tribe

Sorrow's call echoed around her, sending Ama's hair bristling. Humbly, Ama moved to her place in the circles. As Sorrow's pupil, Ama held a place in tribal meetings that was far above any other animal her age. She sat directly to Sorrow's right side, in the first circle.

Sorrow waited patiently as the West Tribe gathered in the clearing. Ama inspected the group as they trickled in. She noticed on animal in particular. Ama shuddered. Shihana. The fox repulsed Ama like no other creature did. Ama supposed that this was because Shihana was a fellow fox, yet she killed everything she touched. Ama's art had bought Ama a great appreciation of the preciousness of life; she had seen far too much death in the divining water. Shihana only tripled the amount.

Shaking herself, Ama turned back to Sorrow. He had stood up, now that most of the Tribe was in the clearing.

"Members of the West," he called.

"We answer," chorused the Tribe members.

"It has come to my attention that our cousins, the East Tribe, have begun a journey north. Does anyone know this to be false?"

Ama glanced around at the tribe. No one spoke.

"Very well," continued Sorrow. "I have come to ask you this: Do you wish to follow the East's example, and leave our traditional lands?"

There was a general rumble of agreement.

"Do not be so hasty," said Sorrow neutrally. "If we leave, we abandon our traditional home, our land for generations, and move on to uncharted territory. However, the Demon Tribe moves ever closer. To stay may mean risking our well being."

Sorrow paused, listening. "Therefore, I bring this issue before you all. Members of the West, what is your choice?"

There were shouts of "Leave!" "We go!" "Land is not nearly as valuable as our lives and the lives of our young!".

Sorrow waited for the commotion to die down. "Does anyone oppose?"

No one spoke. Ama looked aroun, surprised. Hardly ever at a tribal meeting was there a unanimous decision.

"It is agreed, then," said Sorrow solemnly. "We head North. Eat your fill tonight. You will need the strength. May the Forest Gods guard you."

"And you," was the chorused response.

The clearing began to empty. Ama stood up and waited respectfully until Sorrow looked at her. Ama walked up to him.

"Come, Ama. I believe it is time for a lesson..."

Shihana

After all the animals agreed to move north I turned around and left, the others would go and collect their favourite bone or stick and then move out within the day, I had no such belongings, I never had. I noticed the other fox, Ama, glancing at me, I knew that she like all the other animals in the tribe were repulsed by me with the exception of Sorrow. I had never even been given a chance.
I felt angered by this, not even in the demon tribe had I been subject to such isolation, that was until they tried to kill me.
As my anger grew the circle of death around me got bigger and the smaller tribe members nearby started to wheeze and cough, some even fell over. Sorrow looked up at me quickly and suddenly I felt calm the affected animals regained their strength, the weaker plants and insects couldn't be revived by the strongest of magic.
I* started to run out of the clearing. as I passed the animals that had already left, I was hissed at and the animals that were capable of it threw stones at me. Though when Sorrow asked them to stop, they did. Everyone listened to Sorrow.

** could someone pull me in please. possibly the person I'm friends with?**

*I will bring in your character, I think it could be interesting for Shihana to have a friend*

Shihana

I went to Sorrow's meditation place, all was calm there, It was the only place that was never really affected by my presence. I sat panting but suddenly became alert again as I sensed that I was not alone.
There was a small Jaguar looking at me funnily, she looked as if she was deciding whether or not to approach me. I sniffed the air and sighed, "You are not from the west tribe, what are you doing here?"
The jaguar stepped forwards and said, "My name is Joy, I came to see the west tribes leader, Sorrow. Why are you here?"
I looked at the ground and said dismally, "I live here."
"So the rumors are true! there is a demon living with the west tribe!" she exclaimed, "This is brilliant, I knew that all the tribes could coexist amongst each other!"
I looked at her like she had gone mad, why was she being so nice to me?, "Sorrow is not the west tribes leader, he does not like others to think this. He only advises and teaches. He will probably be back soon."
I walked over to my under ground den and crawled inside, A head popped in, "Can I wait with you?"
I looked around for an excuse, any excuse not to let her in but couldn't find any, I could almost hear Sorrow saying in his way, "When you are asked for help, help, then when you are in need, the favour shall be returned", I sighed and turned my back to the Jaguar, letting her in.

*I hope that that's OK!*

*Yeah. That was real good. Thanks.*

I crawled inside the underground den.

"I normally don't go into strangers houses. So whats your name." I said smiling.

The fax looked at me, head tipped.

"I'm... uhm... Shihana."

"That's a nice name."

She looked at me skeptically.

I smiled reassuringly.

Just then we heard Sorrow walking outside.

Sorrow, West Tribe

"It is all a matter of focus," I repeated to Ama, who nodded as we returned to my place of meditation. "Clear your head of all thought, and you shall grasp even more vivid visions."
Ama opened her mouth to speak, but just then a breath of cool air surrounded us. Her nose twitched in a quick sniff.
"Stranger..." she said, her hackles prickling. I remained as calm as always as I walked through the thicket, to greet a jaguar and Shihana, who bowed her her a little ashamed look upon her face.
"And who might this be?"

Adar, Demon Tribe

I gnawed on a rock, annoyed by how hard it was. My nine-inch fangs worked at the rock's hard surface, but couldn't seem to break it. After I had gotten tired of trying to break the rock with just my teeth, I spat a fireball at it and it shattered into a bunch of little pieces. A couple of them hit Night. She growled with disgust.

"Honestly, Adar. Grow up."

I growled angrily and snapped in her face before stalking off.

---

Haha, sorry it's so short Just wanted to get the Demons started ^^

~Rayne

Shihana

Sorrow was asking me a question. Why did he always put me in the spotlight, Why? I thought, Why does he always ask me to talk to the others?
"This is Joy, she is of the east tribe!" I said with as little enthusiasm as possible, but to be honest, I wondered why she talked to me, no that wasn't it, why she accepted me. I stared at the little jaguar while she stuttered out her story.
"S-so Mikael was wondering if the west tribe had made plans to get through the Demon Tribes land and onto paradise." she got out at last.
I was surprised on how much the east tribe had thought about this, however the demon lands were unpredictable and hostile, only the strong could survive there. I shuddered, How were these animals, used to a life of luxury, survive let alone navigate in that place? I asked myself.
Before Sorrow could answer, I stepped forwards and said clearly, "I already know the best rout for the west tribe to go, we are getting ready to depart soon. The west tribe has a guide."
As I said that, the other fox, Ama flinched and looked like she was going to object, however, Sorrow stepped in, "Are you sure you want to take on that responsibility, Shihana?"
"It is time for me to repay my debts towards you and this tribe," I said ferociously, forgetting myself.
Joy and Ama began to pant for breath and even Sorrow was affected by my little outburst and as they started to recover, I continued, "You shouldn't have to worry about me leading the tribe through the wasteland; it's them actually following me that you have to worry about." I stared pointedly at Ama while saying this.

Ama

Ama gave a low growl. "My loyalty is to the tribe, for the tribe. Lead us, if you must. But let me assure you, fox: One move against us, and you have made yourself a life-long enemy in me. I will hunt you down."

"Ama," said Sorrow warningly. Ama growled again and shook herself.

"It seems I have already made an enemy in you," observed Shihana coldly. Ama's eyes sparked.

"Not an enemy."

"Certainly you wouldn't call this friendship?"

"I would not."

Shihana licked her paw carefully, watching for any attack on Ama's part. "Then what?" Shihana asked innocently.

"Just be sure to not underestimate me, fox," snapped Ama.

"I'll make note of it," replied Shihana evenly, meeting Ama's eyes. Ama looked away furiously.

"Excuse me, Sorrow. I need to leave," she said in a tone of forced politeness.

Flashing Shihana a withering glare, Ama backed out out of the thicket. A brier caught on Ama's snout. She growled and brushed it away furiously.

Ama stalked off, toward her quiet divining pool. It was near Sorrow's meditation clearing, and Ama often retreated there when she needed peace. The moon was full that night, and its reflection in the pool was still and clear. The light from the moon bounced around the grove of trees, giving the place a eerie light.

Ama dropped down silently by the pool, resting her head in her paws as she gazed into its depths. With one paw she carefully touched the pool, marring the perfect image of the moon. As the ripples faded, Ama caught a whiff of the desert air. She almost sneezed as a bit of sand flew into her nose. Ama held back the impulse, knowing it would ruin her vision.

Ama leaned closer to the pool. She saw the entire West Tribe trekking across the vast desert. Grimly, Ama noted that Shihana led at the front, Sorrow not far behind her. Ama looked into the distance, and saw a vast range of rocky slopes. Ama narrowed her eyes and looked closer at the hills.

At the top of one of the great hills, Ama spotted a faceless animal staring down at her Tribe, watching them. Ama tried to concentrate, to see the face of the Tribe's would-be attacker. The vision as a whole blurred. Ama forced herself to relax, drinking in the details of what she saw. She recalled what Sorrow had taught her about not pushing the visions too hard.

A crack sounded in the woodland behind Ama. Ama jumped, splashing her paw once again in the pool. The vision disappeared, and once again Ama only saw the reflection of the moon. Breathing heavily, Ama stood and faced her visitor.

Kharusa, West Tribe

I looked up as Ama turned to me. I smiled nervously.

"Sorry to disturb you," I said to her. "Just wanted a last look around before we left, for old time's sake."

Ama nodded. "I understand," she said with a sigh, directing her attention to the ground beside her.

I eyed her suspiciously. "Something's wrong," I noted. She lifted her eyebrows and lowered them again very quickly, acknowledging my statement. She didn't look up. "What is it?" I asked.

She looked at me. "I don't like where the future of this tribe is headed," she told me.

I was never good with cryptic riddles. "What do you mean?" I asked.

She sat down and looked into the pool again. "Nothing," she replied.

I raised and eyebrow and cocked my head. I slowly walked over to her. I sat by her and looked at her with concern. "You can tell me," I told her reassuringly.

She didn't look up, but instead, kept her attention directed at the water. I sighed.

Ama

Ama heard Kharusa sigh beside her.

"Don't worry," said Ama quickly. "I've had strange visions before, and we are still here. I think we will pull through, but - Well. I'm sure it is nothing to worry about... I mean - "

Kharusa chuckled, stretching out her paws lazily. "I'm not worried, Ama."

Ama shut her mouth quickly. "Sorry," she replied quickly.

"Are you worried?"

Ama looked up at the sky. She rolled back onto her feet and trotted to the edge of the clearing. "I don't know anymore..." Ama muttered.

"Won't things get clearer as they come nearer?" asked Kharusa, rising to come once again beside Ama. Ama looked at her.

"I suppose so."

"Do you not agree with Sorrow? Do you think we should not leave?"

"I will follow Sorrow to the ends of the earth and back. But, in all honesty, I am not sure that - " Ama faltered. What was she supposed to say? That Ama was skeptical about Paradise even existing? That she did not think the Tribe would ever reach it? That she thought no one would? "Never mind."

Kharusa met Ama's eyes. "Are you sure you are okay, Ama?"

"I'm fine," said Ama quickly. Ama winced; she sounded sharper than she meant.

"Come on," said Ama bracingly. "Let's go find the others..."