Tooth and Tail: Silent Flame - Chapter 1
Story by The Colored Silent on SoFurry
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Rose Sharina, the vixen fox, had just broke away from the group and headed straight into the forest. The enemy artillery fire had pounded on their position which has force them to split apart from every direction. While the others retreated back to the main force of line, she decided to risk the venture and instead traverse deep into unknown territory.
Sharina knew it was a terrible mistake, but the artillery was vicious and death was at every corner. She couldn't return to the main force. She had to push forward. The sound of artillery fire began to fade as she continued running through the forest, alone and without any form of aid. There was a small hill that was a perfect spot for a defense position, and, firmly entrenched, she made a quick check on her weapon and count how much ammo there were left.
The gamble had paid off as the enemy artillery began their focus at the main force. The rising smoke and the whistling sound of enemy shell could be seen and heard from the horizon. It had been only a hour since she was on the small hill, waiting for an enemy that might never come. Feeling confident and assured of herself that the danger had pass, she then left the hill and continue onward ever deeper into the forest. She would survive this conflict no matter the cost.
While traversing into that foreboded woods, Sharina began to notice the strange sickness that surrounded her. There was a strong smell of smoke and ash, and trees scorched that became nothing more than burnt, decrepit twigs. The air was thick and hard to breathe, and she found herself to be in the middle of forest that was engulf in a sea of flame.
Sharina should have been scared, frightened even. She could not escape from her predicament, trapped in a middle of nowhere. While the situation was bleak and utterly hopeless, in a strange sort of way, she was not bothered or afraid at the least of the destruction. She could not understand the reason for this peculiar fascination. All that was left for her to do was to move forward.
Walking at an endless sea of fire, Sharina spotted someone at the distant. A dark figure emerged from the burning forest, wearing a tattered crimson cloak and a full face helmet. It walked towards to her in gradual fashion, not feeling the fire that surrounded the person. When the cloaked figure was within a respectable distance, it uttered an alien dialect that Sharina had never heard before.
Sharina couldn't understand or decipher the words that was coming from the crimson stranger in time as the fire began close upon her. Her sense of courage quickly faltered. Paranoia and fear had consume her mind, unknowingly blind to know what to do in the situation. Shutting her eyes and bracing for the impact, she saw the burning forest finally collapsed and consumed her whole at last.
Overwhelmed, Sharina snapped her eyes wide open, her body jerk and sat up from her shallow bed. She wanted to scream, but couldn't find her voice, feeling the tremendous pressure upon her chest. She felt like someone hit her with sledgehammer. With collected breath, she make a quick check of herself. She sighed with relief to see everything was alright.
It seemed Sharina couldn't take a moment of break when a strong, putrid stench of urine and manure invaded her nose. The smell was enough to make anyone lose their stomach. She quickly covered her nose to see the toilet at the opposite end, unclean and tainted with flies circling above it.
“What a better way to wake up." Sharina shuddered with disgust. Trying get up, she felt a gush of pain from the lower region that force her back to bed. She quickly looked down to see a large scar at the stomach; enough to have her guts spilled out. Then in a moment of unease and confusion, she finally remembered.
Sharina was supposed to be dead in that god-forsaken, frozen forest, lying behind a tree with a large hole in her stomach that no medicine or doctor could mend. The chance for survival from the cold, from the wound, from countless enemies at every corner was downright impossible to achieve. Yet, here she was, in a prison cell, with no knowledge on who or what she might encounter. The only thing that made sense as to why she wasn't dead yet was the fact that she may hold some information. Information that may relate to the faction that she serve such as their strength and their weaknesses.
After a couple of repeated failure, Sharina finally managed to get up from her bed, but had to lean against the wall for support. There she heard the metal gate shifted open.
Outside from cell arrived two animals, a squirrel and a wolf, wearing vibrant green uniforms. Sharina recognized those colors. They belonged to the KSR, the secret police. As they enter the cell to check the place to be cleared from danger, the squirrel then called outside. Both of them gave firm salute to the oncoming third entrant.
Sharina saw the third entrant to be a middle aged, female wolf, average build with a missing arm on her right shoulder. She was unsure as to who the amputated wolf was behind the military cap, but as the wolf approached at a close distant from her what she saw made her quite shock.
The amputee gestured at her two escort as they left quietly from the scene with Sharina and her alone in the cell. Her brown, tired eyes remained focus at the prisoner, beaming at the fox both resentment and disappointment.
“You know why I am here, correct?" The amputee said.
Sharina stood straight without the wall to support her. “Yes, yes I do. I did not suspect that you would be--"
“Alive?" The amputee laughed. “I'm not so easy to die. But enough of the chatter, you know why I am here, yah?'
Sharina recognized the wolf to be none other than Selina Letvisky, former commander of the 32nd Sharpshooter platoon. With over a respectable kill count of over four hundred in the Grey Coat rebellion, she presented her loyalty to the KSR with ruthless determination and carved a path of her enemies with a single bullet. As a member of that platoon, Sharina knew her quite well and admired her ability as a capable leader. She did not suspect her to be alive after the fatal incident which split the 32nd Sharpshooter apart.
As the civil war dragged on with no apparent victor, a number of KSR soldiers defected to the other faction in hope for bid that they would succeed what the KSR had fail to do. Sharina wasn't exempted to this betrayal and didn't cross her mind that she would be among the many defectors. Almost the entire platoon mutinied that result the lives of many KSR personal, including Selina Letvisky.
“If you are here to finish me off then do it." Sharina said, not resisting at the slightest. “I knew what I did and I deserve it."
Selina eyed on the fox, circling around of her. “You think that a bullet would save you from your crimes? That I would let you off that easily without some sort of payment? No, you don't go off that easy, missy. Not while there are still some mess that need fixing." She then stood for a moment to give out a whistle. At a signal, the squirrel soldier returned, carrying what appears to be a new set of black uniform. He then dropped it in front of the fox before he dismissed himself.
Sharina stared at the stuff on the ground to notice that her personal belongings were included in the pile.
“You will serve the KSR once more, Ms. Sharina," Selina continued, raising her voice. “You will hunt down every traitor, every man, woman or child that raise their arms against us. You will kill our enemies or the enemies will kill you. Either way, Ill see to it until you paid your crimes."
“You think your words would threaten me?" Sharina spat. “What makes you think that I'll work for you? Once the Commonfolk know about this they would rescue me."
“You really think that they would risk the numbers just to save cocksure girl like you?" Selina shook her in disappointment. She then snapped her fingers where the squirrel appeared once again to give her a small bag. After the squirrel left, Selina tossed it towards to the fox. “Open it."
“What is it?" Sharina asked.
“Open it." Selina repeated forcefully.
Sharina wasn't sure at the wolf's game and instead untie the string that was around the bag. She placed her paw to pick out on what appeared to be some sort of pin. A pin that was made by an artist in the Commonfolk. This made the fox froze completely. “B-but…this is…"
“You see, my dear. There is no chance of going back to your Commonfolk." Selina announced with an evil smile. “Not much more to the fact that the war is over."
The last sentence shook Sharina to the core. She couldn't believe her fragile ears. “N-no…you're wrong…" She stuttered in rising panic. “This cannot be true."
“Oh, but it is true, my dear." Selina stated out point. “I can assure you we make every caution that none of them would get away from us. Your Commonfolk are gone, Ms. Sharina. The Civilized…the Longcoats…even the Swinefolk in the end have failed in their pitiful attempt. Only the KSR stand. We…we have won."
Sharina refused to believe the lies that was spewing from the wolf's mouth, but the evidence was right in front of her. The artist who made the pin went by the name of Richrey Gore, a student of art and staunch believer for a democratic movement. He made these pins just so to tell which was friend or foe. The pin that Sharina hold in her paw was meant for the new state once the Commonfolk had won the war. It was meant to be a secret to everyone except for a very few that Gore deemed worthy as friends. She could tell that her dear friend was already dead, seeing as the rest of the pins inside the bag were covered in dry blood.
“I suggest you think long and hard on your career." Selina, the amputated wolf, said with a steady caution. “While I have no love for traitors and defectors alike, the Quartermaster has informed all officers to show clemency towards the defeated and offer everyone the chance of redemption. So what it is gonna be?"
No amount of words or respect would stop Sharina from killing the wolf at the spot. She would rather die than to serve again with these murderous butchers. The thought of her compatriots who died from the war was in vain. The death of the love of her life were all for nothing.
“I will let you decide tomorrow." Selina said, turning back to the metal gate. “Pray that you make the right decision."
At the lowest point of her existence, Sharina had the perfect chance to kill the wolf at the spot. Although she would die in the process at least she would get to see her beloved once more in the afterlife. Just as she was about to do it, just as she was about to make her last decision, something stopped from her track. She felt a tug on her shoulder that prevented her from killing the wolf. She make a quick glance from behind to find no one except for herself.
With them long gone, her fragile ears picked a strange, unworldly sound. A fainted whisper, a melodic song, calling to her name. Its eerie voice repeated several times before directing her to the pile where the squirrel had drop from earlier. She took a caution approach to notice something on top of the pile. When she looked closer it was a pendant made of brass with a gemstone ruby at the center.
Sharina find nothing interesting about the pendant. It looked pretty much like the ordinary trinket that she saw all over the place. However, as the eerie voice suddenly went silent, the ruby began to glow in a gentle, warm light.
“What in the world are you?" Sharina said, picking the artifact. Unsure if she had lost her mind or not, she had the oddest sense to placed it around her neck. As she did so without any hesitation, the pendant flared, brighter than ever before. A white light erupted from the pendant, engulfing her and the room completely.
Once the light faded at last, Sharina opened her eyes and find herself in a random forest at broad daylight. The only thing that she was feeling right now was the strong urge to empty her stomach, with the absolute dread of nausea and vertigo.
“Ugh, what have I got myself into? Ugh…" She said, trying cover her mouth.
After a moment of recuperation, she was able to pull herself back together to experience the absolute shock and disbelief that was in front of her. “It shouldn't be possible…" She said, denying to everything. Where she was right now defied all logic and reason. “How is it possible?"
Sharina knew that words meant nothing in this strange realm. So instead, she then began to walk straight into that unknowable territory, seeking some sort of answers to solve this unusual dilemma. There was an uneasy silent in the forest that quiver her soul. An empty silence where there was no life at all. No birds. No animals. Nothing. There was no soul in sight except for herself.
What might be for an hour, Sharina spotted something ahead. She emerge into an open space in the forest where strange, ruinous building structure were laid everywhere. As a former student of history and archaeology, none of the structures match any markings or culture.
Just as the fox was about to make sure that what she was experiencing was real in the first place, her eyes caught a glance from far ahead. In the center was a stranger with a red cloak and a disfigured helmet, sitting in one of the fragment of the structure. It was then that she realize that it was the very same person that appear from her nightmare.
“To this, I fade, my deed is done. May you shall burn to ash and none." The red cloaked stranger spoke at an aggressive tone and stared straight at the late bloomer, the fox. He then gradually stood up and walk towards to her. “It seems the Flame has still need of my service, I see." He sighed, but nevertheless give an affirm nod. “Very well. If the Fire desire of me so then I shall honor it."
Sharina was a bit weary at the stranger's approach and stepped away from a safe distance. The red cloaked stranger then removed its helmet to reveal naked, tan face with the only black fur available was the top of the head and around the mouth.
“Consider yourself lucky, derelict fleabag." The red cloak continued. “Not many normal folk would have the privilege to bestow such an honor."
“Honor?…fleabag! Who do you think you are?" Sharina said out loud, not realizing that she was inches close at the red cloak, poking at its chest. “What is this place? Where in the pits am I?"
The red cloak raised an eyebrow, but eventually give a scoff response. “I forgot that you have not fully grasp the magnitude that I bestow upon you. Understandable for a mere beast." He pushed her finger away. “You are in the realm where the Fire is at its strength. The mind of which an ancient entity reside within the gemstone of impalpable power. Basically, in a simpler term. You are in the shell of a gemstone."
Sharina was about to ask another question when an excruciating pain emerge. She pressed at the temple from both side of the head, trying to suppress the pain to no little effect. It was then she heard the song once more, speaking louder to great effect. She had thought it was the red cloak that spoke to her back at the prison cell, but it seemed a far more, terrifying creature still lurked within the gemstone.
While the fox was in the most dire of pain, the red-cloak was seem to be unfazed by the event and instead make a studious approach of the choice the Fire had pick. “Hmm, yes, I can see." He said, rubbing his chin. “You are more perceptible to infiltration rather than the direct approach, and seem to understand the benefit to your surrounding to hide yourself among your enemy. You are not as useless as I thought."
“What? H-how did…you--"
“Know? You are the living extension to this realm and the keeper of the pendant. The Fire had pierce to your very thought where it had seen every deed that you commit and done. Since I am part of this realm I too share this similar benefit." The red-cloak couldn't help but to laugh. “Oh the things that I have seen in your mind. You've been a naughty girl…Rose. Georgi. Sharina. All those second-guesses and worries. All those lives lost because of hesitation and weakness. This…civil war has tested you to be resourceful and efficient, but when it comes to the big deal you couldn't save the ones that you love. What would 'he' think of you now?"
Even in pain, Sharina could feel a gush of rage against her face. She made a high kick towards the red-cloaks' face, but it suspected her move and grabbed the leg without a flinch.
“Bad move, little sprite." The red-cloaked stranger then pushed her leg away, forcing Sharina down to the ground.
Shrugging off from the pain and the humiliation, Sharina resumed the assault with a feral haymaker.
The red-cloak sighed and blocked her pitiful swing. He kept on with defensive until the fox was too tired to move. “Are you done yet?" It asked with a bored look upon his face.
Sharina struggled to stand, but the song in her head prevented from moving. Utterly silent, she could only stare at the creature, sapphire eyes ablaze and vicious intention .
The red-cloak took notice of the hate in her eyes. It silently admit that the animal had shown some form of spunk. “I can see why the Fire had chosen you. To think, that you'd be dead back at that forest if not for my intervention.
It took awhile for Sharina to figure it out before her expression changed with mild shock. “You? You! You were at the forest…and you saved me. Why?"
“If you think I rescue you from death's door cause of my willingness then you are sadly mistaken. You are but a necessity and an excuse for the Fire to extend its survival. Nothing more and nothing less."
“S-so what? Am I just a vessel to some…parasite?" Sharina asked.
“Judge on what you may, but do not dare to insult this gift. The Fire had chosen you for one purpose and one purpose only." The red-cloak pointed its finger at her. “To expand and grow. You…the new blood of the Flame…have been accepted to join the rank of a prestigious group.
“To this day until you are educated enough the basic, I, Trevor Collin Dawn Pascal, Defender of the Last City, Shatterer of the Storm and Survivor of Burgundy, shall hereby dubbed you, Rose Georgi Sharina, as my apprentice from this point and onward."
“Oh, what have I got myself into?" Sharina said out loud, dumbfounded.
Pascal smiled. “The good kind, fragile ears. The good and only kind…"