The outcasts

[Midori]

Midori sighed and walked with the kit while constantly looking to the growing shadows for signs of not being alone. She should have expected him to be thirsty really, any female with true maternal instincts would have known she scolded herself. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the young one would have so much energy either. How many times had she seen the mothers in her pack chasing after their little bundles of fur as if they would never stop and rest? The coyote had always chuckled to herself to see the pups running their mothers ragged but now it was her turn to deal with the boundless reservoir of pep that was a mini creature.

"Alright a drink and then maybe a quick bath before getting you to some place safe for the night. Even tough guys like you need a spot to stay warm when the sun goes down." Midori was more concerned with keeping the little one safe then actually trying to get him to go to sleep. She was no fool and knew she was no match for whatever may come out with the moon. Sure there was the good eating animals like oppossum and raccoon, bit more challenging then the turkeys too as they tended to fight back, but there was also the animals that came out to hunt those delectable tidbits. Whatever there may be around she knew she and the kit didn't want to meet up with it. She did her best to hide her concern however, though not overly successful, and tried to make conversation with the ocelot.

"My name is Midori, what are you called young warrior?"

[Linkk]

As the pair walked along the wetland ground, the kit paid extra attention to the canine, watching her; as if learning, and studying her like a kit to its mother would. Linkk had to make more strides to keep up with the larger canine, but was able to also focus on a conversation between the two.
"My name Linkk. I no have bath before, I'm a warrior!" His life in his face sparked, it was what he dreamed, he wanted to be a warrior. A dreamer he was, and he kept dreaming. He wagged his tail from side to side, watching the canine with his eyes; blue and green they were.
Linkk was also filthy, covered head to paw in mud, whether it was dried mud or fresh; he was covered in it. His spots and patterns were beginning to fade into the mud, with many of his ocelot markings covered, the ones that remained make him look as if he was a baby leopard of some kind. He was small however, and leopard cubs were never this small, especially with his age.
The young kit continued to walk forward, keeping his head high, the dangers and horrors of the world were not definite in him just yet. He was almost as carefree as a canine, he did not know the dangers that could lie behind any corner. He was merely a young kit; with allot to learn.
As they reached a small stream, hidden by bushes and fallen trees LInkk made a hasty run to the water. He pushed his way through a bush and into the stream with his front paws. he lowered his head and began to lap the water up as fast as he could. Many of the streams and water ways he had previously come across were far to big for him to really get into and drink. Linkk drank as if he had no idea what water was and this was his first time ever at drinking water. Water was amazing to him, it cleaned him, gave him life, and was also very fun to play in.
Linkk pulled his back legs in with him and stood in the water, he was only up to his ankles, and could easily handle the water flow.
"I like water." He stated with a smile in his eyes. He felt like he was with his own mother, enjoying a day out between mother and son. No siblings or other children tagged along, just he and his mother. He began to lap at the water once more, and soon found himself batting at his own reflection. Childish he was, and childish he would stay.

[Midori]

So the little one was named Linkk, an interesting name Midori thought as she repeated the name over and over mentally a few times. She wasn't known for her strong memory that's for sure. Well unless you counted her ability to recall the easiest routes to get her from point a to point b. In her mind was a large resource of maps of the land, well at least the canine lands, and no real room for things she considered trivial like names and proper manners. The coyote was a bit of a diamond in the rough among other canines or even other animals in general. She hadn't thought about the size of her stride as she walked or how it was affecting the ocelot. One more reason for her not to be nominated as mother of the year as she made her way towards the watering hole. As she was still unsure just how big Linkk would get or how the whole social structure worked for felines in general that the idea of the kit growing into a warrior didn't seem odd. Therefore she wasn't being sarcastic or crude when she spoke, just trying to encourage the young one.

"Even warriors need to bathe, otherwise their enemies will smell them coming before they can attack." She chuckled before she suddenly felt ill. Midori felt her heart jump into her throat as Linkk tore off towards the water. How hard would it be for any creature to ambush the small one in the space of a blink? Then again should it really matter to Midori if something did gobble up the young one? After all that would divert attention away from her long enough to run to safety, hopefully anyways. But she found herself shuddering at such a thought and couldn't bring herself to be that heartless. The messenger really didn't want to see any harm come to Linkk even if that meant he would grow up someday to a be a canine slaughtering machine.

Slowly Midori checked around the bushes as Linkk lapped, splashed, and played in the water. With her nose almost plastered to the ground she searched for any sign of danger. There were old signs of other animals that had brushed along the bushes or hidden there. Yet they seemed all clear right now. Tentatively Midori moved up close Linkk and took a few laps at the water. It was cool and refreshing as the water went down her throat that she hadn't realized was so parched. Once she was refreshed she sat down to keep an eye on the bathing kit who evidently didn't realize that the big bad warrior was indeed getting clean. With a grin Midori splashed at the kit playfully.

[Linkk]

LInkk looked up from his playground and nodded to the canine.
"Good idea. They can't know where I am." He nods and continues to play in the water, dipping his face and his entire body into the water. The water was not like the muddy ground, it was clear and clean. The water was pure, untouched by human hands, and washed its way down from a towering glacier in the mountains.
Linkk found the water enjoyable, it was cold, but it felt splendid against his fur and skin. With his paws he began to bat at his reflection. Back where the young kit was from, there were not clear streams to play it, there were merely ponds, filled with mud, dirt, and other substances.
The kit was in a playful mood, as any kitten would be before it settled down to sleep. It would not need food for at least 2 days --if he had to-- with the turkey meal. There was something about the coyote that made him feel as if he was in no real danger. The only danger the kit felt, was the idea of being separated from the canine.
he knew inside him that it wasn't right, he should not even be with this canine, but he could not help the way he felt. Yes, he was young, and the ideas of the separated races were not very pronounced in his mind. He looked at the canine as an equal, not an enemy.
As the coyote splashed the kit, he instantly stuck back with a flick of water to the canines face. He laughed, and sent a playful growl at the canine. The kit was filled with excitement, jumping around in the water, splashing and laughing as if he was with another one of his species.
For what would seem like ages, for the first time; two species of opposite sides; appeared to be equals.

[Midori]

Midori enjoyed splashing the youngster and decided to jump in herself. As she did so she felt a rush of cold go along her legs and up to her spine. Involuntarily she gave a shiver before playing with the kit once more. When she was younger she use to love to play, what child doesn't, but her parents were always so serious and focused on survival. Compared to Linkk she had an easy life but when compared to others of her kind she was in a poverish state. There was always love, which Midori and her family always said was enough, and food as well but play was something that just wasn't done. Maybe that's why she enjoyed tricking others, it was an attempt to get them to just relax and have fun. In so rarely worked in her favor though.

Suddenly a movement on the water's edge caught her eyes and she froze stiff. It was only a slight wiggling of branches, probably just the wind, but it still brought her back to reality. They were still away from the safety of any of the castles and on the borders where feline or canine could show up. Suddenly it seemed like a good idea to get to the safety of the spot she had seen earlier. A sigh escaped her as the old arguement of 'it's not fair' that she had used so many time as a youth game to her mind. It really wasn't fair that the two couldn't be out playing like this. Like an echo from the past Midori could almost hear her mother saying her usual answer to that, that life wasn't fair so get over it.

"Okay mighty warrior you seem to be clean enough." She said as she got out of the water. In usual canine fashion she shook herself all over, sending water droplets flying as if in a rain storm, before glancing once more at the spot where she had seen the branches move. There was still no smell of others around but best not to push her luck.

"Let's go dry off and I can tell you a story."

[Linkk]

Linkk laughed as he played in the water, for once he did not have a care in the world. There was a sense of freedom in this kit, something that he did not feel in ages. The sense of care was somewhere that he did not know even existed. This kitten had always been in a world where he could not do anything but serve, and for once; he felt like he could do anything.
He looked at the coyote and smiled. The ocelot was soaking wet from the river, but he was clean. The ocelot did not seem to notice what the canine did, for he was oblivious to any danger. The cat followed the canine, Midori and repeated what the canine did. Linkk shook his fur and attempted to dry his fur just like the older canine had done. The cat shook his fur, which resulted in a fluffy look in his fur. His fur was still damp but the shake worked, something that the ocelot had never tried. This was much faster than licking himself clean like common felines did. The cat smiled and followed the canine.
The young kitten was like a child, following its mother and learning what to do by mirroring their mother. The cat stood at the heel of the canine, looking up at it with a smile.
"I like stories." The cat moved his tail from side to side. This child had missed stories, he had not had a story since he was a young kit in his mothers den. Linkk was one that loved stories, stories of adventures and action; something that he wished he had. Linkk wanted more for himself, he did not want to live his life as a slave, he wished to be more than that. The great ocelot wanted to be a fighter, a warrior to his kind, to grow up to be a character they would write stories about in the future. The kit had high hopes for himself, and he wouldn't let them die easily.

[Midori]

Midori looked over her shoulder and at the rest of the area, all seemed quiet, so it seemed like they wouldn't be followed. Gently the coyote nudged the ocelot forward with her right paw to a spot where she could see him the best. Mentally she began to scold herself as she noticed she had become attached to the little fuzzball. It wasn't like the two could wander all over the place togethor and there was going to be deep heartache when it did come time to seperate. She could already hear the crying and wailing, problem was she knew it wouldn't just be the kit who would be bauling like a baby. As much as it made her mad at herself she knew she had become at least fond of Linkk though the feeling was deeper if she admitted it to herself.

"Alright then let's get to the safe place I saw earlier. We will pick up some soft grass as we walk and it will make a nice bed for you." Did feline's like such bedding Midori wondered. Well of course they did, they didn't want to sleep on rocks or other hard objects any more then he did. Midori nudged the young one forward once more to show she was ready to go and headed out to relative safety. Along the way she noticed some tall reeds and she picked a bouquet worth with her teeth. Once they returned to the rock grouping Midori carefully laid down the soft material and formed a pad for Linkk to lay on.

"Okay lay down and I shall tell you the story of Snaks, the roly poly fox who went searching for adventure and treasure." Midori was actually full of different stories. If given the chance she would make a fine bard for the royal court but that was never an option really.

[Linkk]

Linkk followed the 'yote with high hopes. The kitt felt as if this little broken piece he called a family could last a life time. It was not normal for a feline like himself to feel such a bond to a coyote, but he didn't care at this point; he was happy, and more than thrilled to have a mother back. Linkk listened to Midori with a smile and a high and almost perky attitude. Every time the young one would see a piece of soft looking grass or leaf, he would jump on it like it was a prey item. The feline took it in his best interest to not dampen the material any more with his saliva. As the kit walked, everything that seemed to be made of soft looking material found its way into the kits mouth. He attempted to carry more then his small mouth could even attempt to carry.
The kitt nearly looked like a small rodent, its cheeks packed full and its eyes wide. He followed intently to the march of the coyotes foot prints, wanting to pick up every leaf or bundle of grass he could find.
The mouth of the kit begged not have to carry any more, as he still attempted to grab more and more bundles. He wanted this bed to be soft, felines loved nice and comfy places to sleep.
He was like a big house cat, he wanted nothing more than to cuddle up next to someone and sleep the night and half of the day away. This kit was not only looking for a playmate, he found one. He watched the coyote walk; watching it with interested eyes, wondering how such a kind creature could be his enemy.
Once they reached their hide away, Linkk bolted into it and laid his reeds and bundles of grass down onto the ground. It wasn't as damp in their safe place as it was out in the open. The young kit curled itself into the home made bed and looked up at the coyote. Its fur looked warm, and he would love to use it as a pillow, to cuddle up to his new found friend and sleep the night away.
"What's a fox? Are they felines too? I like stories." The young kit tilted his head to the side, watching the 'yote from his new bed, he was but a young child; wanting the attention from its mother; getting it, but not enough.

[Midori]

Midori watched as the kit made his soft spot to lay down. Casually she patrolled the small area inside the cave like rock grouping, seeing nothing except for a few spiders and a small snake, and then placed the clippings she had collected on the ground. In a curious manner she tilted her head as she was surpised at first that the kit didn't know what a fox was. Then she reminded herself that she was a small creature, a feline one at that, and wouldn't have seen as much of the lands as her older counterparts. The coyote moved the foliage around a bit before she was content that all was well and laid down next to Linkk. With a yawn she cirled herself into a crescent shape, laying her head on her forepaws, and wrapped her tail around her body before speaking once again.

"Foxes are smaller canines, close to your size but maybe a little bigger, and come in a few different colors. Most of them are red and white though I have seen some that are all white or grey instead. They are very smart, fast, and quite sneaky. They don't howl like I do but their sounds are sweet to listen to anyways." The last tidbit of information was probably more personal than factual. Midori enjoyed listening to all of her 'cousins' sing and thought it was one of the greatest gifts that her kind had been given. Whether that gift came from some higher being or just nature was up for debate in her opinion. Gently she licked the top of Linkk's head as her mother use to do when it was bed time though she was unsure why she thought to do it before she continued on.

"Now Snaks, the hero of the story, was a red and white fox who loved adventure. His parents and littermates always made fun of him as he was always getting himself into trouble. Some days he may get his head stuck in a beehive, the next day he may fall down a deep hole, and still another day he may simply get lost. Others would tell him to stop being such a pest and do something for the pack, like hunt or help with the younger pups, but Snaks was stubborn and would always ignore what they said." Midori stopped and gave a large yawn before standing up to check the entrance to the cave once more. She kept thinking she heard noises outside and it made her nervous.

[Linkk]

Linkk snuggled himself deep in his little make shift bed. He was comfy, and he felt like he was with his own mother again. the young kit purred. Was it really that bad to be friends with a canine? What was the difference between a canine and a feline; was it their fur, their way of life? What was so different between the two that they had no hope to be friends. The young kit wondered; if they could be friends, then could the kingdoms be friends as well? This canine, Midori, did not seem like a threat, this was not the evil canines that he was told about in bed time stories. Were all canines like this; perhaps they were misjudged.
Linkk listened to the history lessons, foxes sounded strange to him; they sounded like fantasy characters; and yet, so did equines but they existed.
"Foxes sound strange." Linkk muttered to himself. It was the truth, this kitten found these fox creatures strange. It was not uncommon to find this kitten being blunt.
Linkk curled himself up into a ball, a small fluffy ball with his head and ears up, listening to the story. The images of who the snaks was filled his head with ideas and images. This creature seemed to be a hero in his mind, a creature of small size, being of importance.
"Is Snaks brave? Is Snaks a warrior?" Linkk asked with big eyes, he wished he could be a warrior one day. That was his dream, a warrior. To fight along side his heroes in battles and serve his tribe. He listened to the story, watching like a cub and its mom. He couldn't be happier.

[Midori]

Midori checked the area once more though she heard what Linkk had said. Owls hooted not too far off as they hunted the mice who dared to skitter from their deep burrows. The coyote could only assume that the big cats and dogs were out there hunting as well, preying on the bigger rodents or even a few of the deer and elk herds depending on just how many were hunting togethor. She kept her eyes on the horizon as she continued the story.

"Snaks was not a warrior though he wished with all his heart he could be. He felt so small being so young but knew he could do great things if he was given the chance. One day his mother told him to watch his sisters and brothers while she went out hunting. But Snaks didn't like to listen to his mother and instead he went off to the cool lake to paw at the fish. While there was no one to watch the little ones an evil creature came to eat the pups." Midori turned around and got a wicked look on her face, closing one eye tight while opening the other wide. She walked towards Linkk with a limp, her back hunched, and her tail puffed out and held high. She was imitating the next creature that made it's appearance in the story to help make the tale more interesting.

"Along came the one known as Ankst, a large lion that loved to eat little foxes whenever he could find them all alone as the littermates were. He dragged himself into the packlands, hiding in the shadows until he could get close to his next meal, and scooped them up into his mouth to carry them away." Next Midori got as long as she could but crouched down to make herself more foxlike. Her tail was still bushy but now she wagged it happily. She changed her voice too to a more child like tone to help imitate how Snaks might sound.

"When Snaks came home he had caught two big fish for supper and was so proud of himself. He called for his siblings and his mother but no one was around. Snaks was so scared and sad until he saw Ankst's pawprints. Then he wailed, figuring his family was all dead and that his mother would be so sad. Though he was frightened he knew he had to rescue his brother and sisters so off he went to chase down the mean evil lion." Midori stopped for a moment and looked back at Linkk. She had been so engrossed in telling the story she hadn't thought that mentioning an evil lion as part of it might hurt his feelings.

[Linkk]

Linkk was an attentive listener, for he soon became engrossed in the story. It almost seemed as if this Snaks was like himself, a brave young kit--well, fox-- that was a soon to be warrior. Linkk's eyes were huge as he listened to the story as it came to life right in front of him. This feline was a listener by nature; always wanting to be doing the right thing--or in some cases, the wrong thing--. Linkk fluffed his fur as interesting moments occurred in the story, especially as it became to come alive with Midori's acting.
As the coyote became an evil lion, Linkk began to shrink back in terror at one point, for these giant creatures were a fear of his. Of course, warriors did not have fears, but these were one of his that he kept hidden. Midori's actions caused the feline to make a motion backward, and hide in the leaves. The sound of moving leaves came from behind the kit; his tail moved from side to side, causing them to make noise. This noise made the kit jump back forward and he smiled, watching Midori act out the part of the evil lion. Linkk smiled listening to the story, even though the sadder parts of the story he found it amusing, for the idea of a little warrior made him feel empowered.
The more child like voice of Snaks make him smile, and his big multi colored eyes glimmered with excitement. His ears were up straight and his fur stood on end; what happened next in the story completely engrossed him.
The idea of an evil lion was not insulting to him at all. This cat had grown up with the ideas in his mind that lions were greedy and lazy creatures. These creatures were fowl to him, they were disgusting in his eyes. He grew up with stories that these beasts were horrible, and that they did not hold any value. In no way was this little feline insulted, he did not know any better; in his eyes, lions were evil creatures.
"And then what happened? Did they die? Did he save them? did Snaks get eateded too? What happened, what happened??"

[Midori]

Midori was glad to see that her story wasn't cause any problems for Linkk. She wasn't use to telling stories that were age appropriate, or for that matter species appropriate, and was unaware of the stigma around the lions in the feline social structure. It was nice to see such an interest in something that she was saying instead of having her words just ignored or stomped on just because she was born a coyote. Then again she wouldn't trade who or what she was for anything and in someways reveled in the simplicity that was her existence.

"Well if all good little kits sit quietly maybe I can finish the story." She said with a grin and a lick to Linkk's head. Outside she thought she heard the distant rumble of thunder and she shuddered out of reflex. Tales of fire caused by the lightning that followed the rumbles were as bad as an horror story she had ever told or heard. Midori continued acting out the characters, changing her voice here and there, and waving her paws around to emphasize a point when nothing else seems to fit.

"Snaks traveled for days which turned into weeks which then turned into months. Along the way he saw many horrible and wonderful things. There was the the three headed dragon named Timmobulus that he met on his fourth day as he traveled across the hot desert. This dragon, which looks like a really big lizard that breaths fire and flies, was going to gobble him all up. Thankfully for the fox none of the heads could agree on how to eat him. One wanted him on a salad, another in a soup, and the other wanted him raw. While they argued Snaks was able to run away."

"Then there was the gryphon called Styphonus. Gryphons have feline bodies with bird heads and they can fly." She paused for a moment and chuckled to herself knowing that she had probably just given the kit way too much to digest at once and he most likely had questions.

[Linkk]

Linkk was baffled by all of the large words that the canine used. He listened intently, not wanting to interrupt the story; it was something of beauty, something he had never heard of. This kit was never used to hearing such fantastic stories of such creatures. These monsters that painted the story seemed as if they were fairy tale, but then again; they could all be true, and he would have not known.
The cat began to calm his nerves, the energy from the day and all that he did started to catch up with the kit, as his eyes began to shut every now and then. The cat purred in a nature that made him feel relaxed, it soothed him to hear his own pur. The cat hugged itself into his own fur and began to drift to sleep.
The words were alive in his head, and he could see the story come alive in front of him. Images and words began to blend into visions of dreams. Dreams were upon the kit and he would soon be in a place of slumber. He purred to himself, as his tail flicked constantly here and there to scatter bugs. His ears were awake for a majority more of the story, for he soon drifted off to his own dream land.
He was at peace in his mind, no one to tell him what to do, no one to hurt or harm him. It was a beautiful place, a place where he was the ruler. A place where he could finally be a warrior.
The cat shut his eyes for the last time that day; before drifting off to the lands of dreams and fantasy. The kit had already began planning what the pair would do the next day, they could fish, and play, and run through the wetlands. The cat seemed to have found his missing link.
The cat was fast asleep as his breathing slowed to a gentle pace, he breathed silently, and a purr escaped his muzzle for the last few moments. The cat was well asleep, planning his next activities for the next day. He had the wonderful hope that the canine would be there when he woke; this kit did not expect any more, and if the canine was gone when he awoke; then he would be convinced he was having a nightmare.