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Chapter one: New Beginning

It's a cool moonlit night. The wind passes through the trees producing a soft rustling. A lone wolf sits at a lake's edge. Fur as black as the night covers him as he gazes over the rippling water, lost in thought. Kofuku is his name. Many nights were spent this way, scoring the deepest recesses of his mind and searching for meaning. He broke out of his trance as he met his reflection in the calming waters. He scanned over his tired face, the light blue markings curling around his ears and down his cheeks. Crossing crescent markings over his fuzzy chest as a smile adorns his face. "I guess it's getting kind of late..." He thinks out loud with a yawn, stretching as he stands slowly. Feeling the cool grass under his paws and glancing at the full moon. A toothy smirk appears and Kofuku lets out a howl that rings through the forest. Satisfied, he chuckles and makes his way down a lightly worn trail. Kofuku arrives at the run down cabin where he spends his days. The cabin that withstood the test of time, still standing a thousand years after man ruined this world and went extinct. The beastmen rose to save this world that many thought was too far gone. The first few hundred years passed through famine and barren landscapes, but the beasts reclaimed and repaired what man so quickly destroyed. It wasn't easy and warring tribes still grab for territory, but the world remains, the world survived. The apocalypse man feared brought an end to them, yet the beasts they so casually used were all that could have saved them. Broken from his thoughts, he opens the creaky door to his modest homestead a few miles away from the town. He liked the serene calm he could get from these woods but still had things to do in town. 'I'll get some rest before tomorrow, it'll be a long day.' He thought to himself as he crawled into bed and pulled up the covers. The wolf sighed at the empty place beside him as he drifted off into a somber slumber. Kofuku opens his eyes to the bright sun blinding him. "Gah! Damn it!" He buries his face in the pillow and rubs his eyes. "Another restless sleep..." He crossed the room to the bathroom and sighed with his reflection. The bags around his tired eyes distract from the brilliant blue within. Kofuku lazily picks up the toothbrush and cleans his menacing canines before splashing water on his face. Slightly reinvigorated from the cool water and growling at the minty burn, he prepares some instant ramen. Casually watching the news as he devours his modest meal. Another beastman found dead this morning on the route to Takanazu. Claw marks were apparent through the wrecked armor and... "Looks like a fox this time.." Kofuku said aloud to himself.

A sudden knock on the door broke him from his daze. Clothed in his paw print black boxers, Kofuku grabbed his dagger and opened the door. His snarl relaxed and he sheathed his blade at the sight of his old friend Requiest. He's dressed in a modern fashion over his tough shark skin. Jeans and a dark hoodie with his back fin and tail exposed. He refuses to wear armor because 'My shark skin is armor enough!' His large sword strapped to his back. "Whoa man, calm down!" He raised his hands defensively as he spoke. "Sorry buddy, but you can't be too careful these days.." He attempts to laugh it off knowing he is justified in his cautiousness. Requiest scans over Kofuku's lack of attire and sighs. "Why aren't you ready yet, we're gonna be late if you don't hurry!" Requiest said with exasperation. Kofuku looked over at the clock and a shocked expression crosses his face. "Oh shit I didn't even realize it was this late!" Kofuku scratched the back of his head awkwardly with a sweat drop and an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry buddy.." Kofuku quickly padded over to the table where his gear rested. He tightened his leather armor over his furry chest and slipping some pants on before his grieves. He swished his black fluffy tail after popping it through the opening, The blue fur on the underside of his tail resting on the cool leather. Requiest made himself at home and sat watching the ignored news as Kofuku strapped on his quiver. Requiest's long rough tail and wide fins made him an excellent swimmer when necessary, but now he just absently played with it as the latest coverage of bad news flickered across the screen. More beastmen found dead along common trade routes between cities, sources suspect bandits are to blame. Bandit attacks aren't uncommon, but the frequency has increased over the past weeks. More on this when we... Requiest turned off the TV and sighed. "Why is there never good news anymore?" "The world's gone to hell ever since we started naming territory, battle lines drawn are bound to be crossed" Kofuku replied as he put his bow over his shoulder. The beastmen could not help but draw more lines after the humans left the world to them. Even the beastmen were not immune to greed and power lust. The demise of mankind had not destroyed these toxic tendencies, if anything it exacerbated them with the 'we recovered once' mentality. Kofuku tapped Requiest's shoulder. "I'm all set bro." The wolf stood before the Shark, decked out in his leather armor, a bow across his back, and a steel dagger strapped to his thigh. "Took you long enough you lazy ass!" The voice came from the sword. Kofuku was slightly startled as he forgot the sword could talk. The sword's name was Shikkoku and he was every bit the smart ass of his master, though often more blunt. The clock read 2:28 PM, "If I wasn't so damn tired I'd give you a piece of my mind!" "I wouldn't want you to lose what little intelligence you have left!" Shikkoku retorted. "Fuck you..." Kofuku replied with a lack of enthusiasm. "You know he's just trying to piss you off bro." Requiest assured. "Well it's working!" Kofuku growled back, wanting very much to hit something. Requiest merely chuckled and patted his friend's back, leading him to the door. Kofuku flattened his ears as he calmed down slightly. The wolf and shark made there way to the horses. Just a couple of brown stallions received from the local stable a few months ago for helping them with some troublesome thieves. It would only be a short ride from to get to town with the speed of these horses. They rode over the dusty trail with minimal conversation. Kofuku's mind wandered once more. Questioning his purpose far too often and thinking about his secluded home. It's true he was often lonely out there, but he felt far more alone in the city. Beastmen everywhere so self absorbed in their activities that we might as well have been alone, yet it lacks the peace of mind seclusion can bring. At any moment any random beastman could try to kill or rob you. The guards underfunded and meek could hardly be relied on. Thus is the way of this unsettled world. Leaders rising and falling as the common citizen struggled to survive. Kofuku broke from his thoughts once more as they neared the gates. "You okay over there man?" Requiest asked with concern. "Y-yeah... Just spacing out again." Kofuku stuttered and wagged his tail to assure that he was fine. The duo left their horses with the stable hand and made their way into the bustling city.

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