Destiny
Welcome to Ardan a bustling town of spiritually enlightened/magical folk with a diverse population blending human and furry cultures. No one person has the same exact ability, or shall I say while some share abilities, all abilities are used in unique styles by their owners. Through the streets we see people shopping, conversing, and performing feat of magical and spiritual prowess. Adults laugh and carry on conversations as kids run carefree around the streets. Ardan is one of the safest towns in the surrounding area and the trip to get there is called a wonder on the eyes. It is a town of beautiful flower fields, protected and surrounded by beautiful willow trees.
“HEY, LOOK OUT!” a voice calls from behind a group of kids playing at a park. The kids look behind them to see Matt, a Maine Coon, running at them at top speeds. The children part letting Matt through with a wave as Matt in turn waves back at them with a glowing smile. Heading for a hill Matt disappears over the horizon line picking up speed. The momentum of the hill carries Matt down faster causing him to lose balance sending him rolling. “Myahhaahahah!” Matt screams as he soon hits the bottom of the hill. Matt rubs his head and his butt as he stands up dusting himself off. He looks down at his left arm to notice a small cut. With his right paw Matt emits a green healing pulse as he holds it over the cut. The wound begins to close as he mews happily.
Matt begins to run as he passes a pristine lake surrounded by cherry blossoms. Ahead of him lies the gate to the neighboring town Forestia, a sister town to Ardan. Forestia, like Ardan, is surrounded by trees but of a more diverse variety and is also the bigger town. Matt puts on his cloak walking past a couple of homes as few humans and furries stare. Matt rolls his eyes and sighs with a bitter smile. You see while Matt is in a male body, he prefers the comfort of the more feminine.
He is currently wearing a short cut white shirt with red trim and a black skirt with a sporran on his left hip. “Are you okay Matt? I’ll jump on em!” a tiny voice squeaks from inside his sporran. “I’m fine Ba’ul” Matt reassures with a smile, “I’m just trying to go a day without any unwanted attention is all”. A ferret pops its head out from the side of the sporran. She is a dark mossy color with black streaks leading to a bright mossy tail. Ba’ul looks up at her partner and smiles. “Are you sure? I know you enjoy when I bite someone” she squeaks.
Matt giggles donning a hood and then pokes her nose pushing her back in the pouch. “I know you will, but not right now Miss. Besides I’m the only one who can understand you so me talking to my squeaking bag doesn’t help my cause” Matt replies picking up speed. Matt continues quickly as his tail curls around him. Near the edge of town another being, a black wolf is getting ready. “So, todays the day!” the black wolf says putting on a black tee-shirt looking at his reflection in a pond. In his reflection is him and another who only he can see.
A silver wolf who stands next to him in his reflection shakes his head “Yup, but why are you so excited not like you can't just game on your own. You are literally going to do something you do already”. The black wolf kneels down and checks his teeth. If anyone was around, he would look like a wolf talking to the air as if holding a conversation with a ghost. But there is someone there or more so something.
“Because Oo’kami” the black wolf begins, “I rarely get to go out and actually hang with people. It’s always work then someone fucking up and needing to be dropped. But mostly because work”. Oo’kami grins “that and everyone else is afraid to approach Joel, Terror of Forestia” he pokes with a wag of his tail”.
Joel looks up with a frustrated smile “And whose fault is that”? Oo’kami looks down at him “You wanted to see justice done and you have done well so far, even without my strength. But you can't say that the added boost doesn’t help”. Joel sighs and looks at himself in the pond then his paws “But why do I have to be a terror. I’m just trying to help people”.
Oo’kami puts his paw on Joel’s shoulder “Fret that not. One day someone will understand... For now, we are off on our next venture”. Joel nods and stands as Oo’kami’s reflection disappears into him “Oh right I gotta get moving. It’s a long way to the center of town”. With a quick splash of water to the face Joel wipes his paws on his dark blue jeans, turns and runs into town.
Meanwhile in the center of town Matt slowly approaches his destination. He strolls up the walkway to a house, removing his hood and knocks on the door. As the door opens, he is greeted by a human of African American decent. He has on a gray plaid shirt and black jeans. “Hey, you made it!” the male responds. “Hey Tminus” Matt mews giving him a hug. They head downstairs into the basement where a couch, a dresser and a large tv surrounded by multiple video game systems rest.
Matt jumps over the couch and plops down in the center as Tminus joins to the right of him. They turn on a popular fighting game and begin to play. “So, how’s it been?” Matt inquires as he focuses on the match. “Not much just working and you know... beating ass online” Tminus replies throwing Matt’s character over the stage. “Anything new?” Matt inquires as his character dodges an attack then recovers from the stage throw. “OH! I forgot I have a friend from work coming over today” Tminus exclaims with excitement.
Matts ears perk up, “Tell me more! A friend of Tminus is a friend of mines!” he squeals excitedly. “He is amazing, he is knowledgeable, and for some reason he can't stay out of a fight.” Tminus begins.
The two begin to talk for an hour as they continue to play. Suddenly there is a loud knock on the door as Matt jumps and Tminus bolts for the stairs. “He’s here” Tminus exclaims excitedly. Matt waits in the basement and dons his hood once more. As he hears the doors close and the sound of footsteps, he shakes his head and prepares a greeting. As Tminus comes around the corner of the stairs he stops.
“So, Matt this is my friend Joel” Tminus introduces making way as the black wolf rounds the corner. As Matt’s eyes meet Joel’s almost unreadable face his heart stops. He is scared but he doesn’t understand why. Joel looks back observing the cat and sighs. Tminus looks at the two as the air hangs with an awkward silence. “So, Joel do you play fighting games?” Tminus ask?
Joels ears perk up as he gives a smile “I love fighting games”. Tminus walks over to the couch as Matt scoots over to the right. “Well then pick up a controller and join us” Tminus offers sitting in the middle of the couch. Joel walks around the back end of the couch and sits on the left picking up a controller. Looking at the screen Joel gets excited as Tminus scrolls to the fight menu. “I didn’t know you had this game” Joel exclaims in a calm yet excited demeanor picking his character.
“Yeah. Do you have it, or have you never played?” Tminus ask picking his own character. “No, I don’t have the system or the game so this would be my first time playing” Joel explains as Matt finally chooses his character. “Well in this house there is one common rule” Tminus retorts as he chooses what would be considered a serious fight stage.
“Yeah, and what’s that?” Joel question lightly glaring at Tminus. As the match begins Tminus delivers the first blow to Joel’s character “There is no mercy in this dojo” From the right of Tminus comes a giggle as Matt’s character throws Tminus character away from Joel’s. “You should at least explain the button controls to him first” Matt silently mutters. Tminus rubs his head sheepishly and chuckles “Yeah I guess you’re right”.
After a quick button explanation from Tminus the match is on with four lives each. As the match progresses Joel and Tminus hold conversation as Matt simply listens while they talk of home life, of work and other rather lewd thing. A non-visible blush takes Matt’s face as his ears twitch along with their conversation. As the trio get down to last stock the air of the room is almost competitively suffocating.
In Joel’s mind Oo’kami cheers him on wildly, narrating the plays as they happen. As Joel begins to lose focus Tminus deliver the final blow knocking Joel’s character out. “Aww man good match” Joel sighs as Oo’kami still continues his hype. “Yeah, for your first game that was pretty hard” Tminus replies flexing his fingers. “Oh you're not done just yet~” Matt interjects. “Oh yeah...you.” Tminus looks at Matt’s character 0% damage and then his own damage giving a sigh. Without words the characters clash and after a few short decisive moment Tminus walks out the victor.
A phone rings as Tminus picks it up, standing in the process. “Uhh huh on my way” Tminus finishes as he hangs up. “Hey guys I gotta go run and do a thing. I will be right back.” Tminus explains donning some sneakers and running off. The awkward silence that once filled the room returns. Matt’s heart races as Joel simply stares forward. “Come on say something, you’re the friendliest feline in both towns. So why can’t you say anything” Matt thinks to himself.
As Matt’s mind races a voice breaks the silence “So for my first fight that was pretty fun. You guys are tough opponents.” Joel begins with a cheery tone. “T-thank you. I learned everything I know from getting my ass beat in this game since we were kids” Matt softly replies. “Also thank you. I might not have known the controls, but I was willing to learn the hard way if push came to shove” Joel says with a smirk.
“Do you like shooters?” Matt asks gleefully, slightly turning his head to Joel, but not enough that the wolf can make anything out. “Yes I do, what do we have?” Joel questions intrigued. Matt gets up making sure not to uncover himself and goes to pick out a game. Kneeling next to a shelf the kitten scrolls through list of games until he falls upon one of his likings. “How about this one?” Matt questions showing off the cover.
“Never played it but I defs played the previous ones. I’m down to play but I have a question.” Joel inquires. Matt places the disk in the system as the game starts “ummm I don’t mind answering” he replies. “Why are you so covered up? Like I know you’re a cat but a that’s no reason to cover up” Joel begins. Matt simply smiles, giving a small sigh as he adjusts his cloak revealing his outfit.
Matt prepares for the worse as Joel raises an eyebrow. “Not a bad ensemble you got going on” Joel compliments. Matts cheeks turn bright red as he covers his face with is hood and walks back over to sit down. Joel having noticed simply snickers as Matt scrolls through the game menus for multiplayer. “So, tell me about yourself?” Joel asks as Matt hands him the spare controller. Matt smiles again “Well I’m Matt Credo and I live one town over in Ardan at the eastern edge of town alone. As you can see, I am a grey with black stripped Maine Coon.” he finishes while showing himself off.
Matt smirks now looking at Joel “What about you wolf boy”? Joel looks down mustering a weak smile “Let's just say I’m a wolf who lives at the northern edge of Forestia alone and I think your pretty unique”. Matt’s heart jumps again as he turns away “T-thank you kindly. I appreciate it... really, I do”. They load into a lobby as the round begins. The two continue to converse as stomach growl comes from Matt’s sporran.
“Maaaatt feed me...” Ba’ul ask sleepily as she pokes her head out from the sporrans side. Ba’ul looks around as her gaze rest on Joel. She sniffs his way a few times then gives a loud squeak. “EHHHHHH! IT CAN’T BE!” Ba’ul cries as if having seen a ghost. “I don’t get it. Ba’ul, explain please?” Matt begins but then he feels it, a shift as if Joel isn’t the only one who inhabitant his body.
Then the kitten notices Joel’s left silver eye has turned red. Joel looks at Ba’ul who has made her way onto the couch. As they stare each other down Ba’ul breaks the silence. “Oo’kami you crazy bastard I didn’t know you made it out the Reckoning” Ba’ul squeaks climbing up to lick the wolfs face. Joel and Matt look at each other confused as the left half of Joel’s face smirks. “Nice to see you as well Ba’ul” Oo’kami’s deep voice replies.
