Chapter Text
Taiga hurtled through the overgrown grass of Forestna, maw open and panting heavily. Taiga was an Iriwing, a medium sized creature which shared relations with Irish Setters. Taiga's fur was long and curly, and a resonating chestnut-brown. Her paws, which were just as green as the grass ached, yearning for rest. Her wings flapped, pushing her forward.
Her amber eyes flashed in the decadent darkness, scarce moonlight dotted by trees. She was chasing a morsel of prey, which seemed to be a mouse. Taiga assumed herself to have lost it, so she paused and turned away to drink from a nearby river. The River Ace ran aggressively nearby, water churning against the low banks. She ducked down, drinking up water whilst she used her tongue as a soup ladle.
A twig snapped, breaking the silence. She ducked to the ground, fur bristling. There was no need to be wary, for the noise was merely a piece for prey, not a predator. However, Taiga certainly was a predator. She silently identified it to be a robin, fat, round and definitely edible. Oblivious, the robin pecked away at fallen seeds, probably dropped by a passerby. Remembering what her father had taught her, Taiga stalked forward, tail brushing the ground.
It had been what, two days since she had eaten anything proper? She would certainly be savouring this. Calculating the angle of the wind, she jumped into the clearing, using her wings to propel herself forward. The robin barely had a chance to escape before Taiga's teeth found its neck. It fell limp immediately, eyes glazing over.
“Bravo, bravo…” purred a low voice, mocking praise. She flipped around, eyes darting around to find her challenger. The animal's scent was masked, so she couldn't place where they were. Suddenly, a cat slunk out from the shadows, their back arching in the cold.
“Saph?” Taiga questioned, swearing she recognised the cat. The cat dipped their head, smirking mischievously. Saph was just a little smaller than Taiga, though far bigger than a regular cat. Saph was a blue-ish dark-grey cat with blue paws and stripes fading up her legs. Which appeared again at the tail tip. Her fur had some blue-grey swirls too. Her eyes were deep-blue and almost glowing. On her face were blue stripes which lightened at the fur on her cheeks. Her muzzle was a little long and her pointy ears were angled. “That's me,” she chuckled, stretching herself. “Holy mother of rectangles, it's been a while!” Saph added, lightening the mood.
Dropping the robin, Taiga grinned in reply, “Yes, oh it's been months!” She raised a brow as she noticed another cat hiding behind a somewhat large sapling. “Who's that?” She questioned, using her tail to point.
Saph flicked her tail, “That, who—oh uh, is Robin.”
Pink set across both their faces, and Taiga kicked the robin she had just caught behind her, feeling embarrassed. “Saph! I don't need you introducing me!” Robin yelped, hopping over a bush.
Saph rolled her eyes, “I obviously do, introvert.”
As Robin came into view, she was rather pretty. Her fur was vanilla-white and spiky, with orange stripes running down her body. She seemed to be a tabby, with brown eyes and ears. “Well, my name's Robin, who the hell are you?” Robin pressed abruptly. Taiga, being more polite, spoke softly. “My name's Taiga. Warden of Forestna's greatest landmark, the Grand Willow!”
Robin nodded politely, before Taiga offered, “Why don't we go to my house and have a meal, you two look rather famished.”
They shared looks for a moment before nodding.
It was somewhat of a short but alas noisy trek back to Taiga's house. Through the trees and fallen leaves, the three found themselves at Taiga's pride and joy, her quaint little house beside the Grand Willow. It was a dome made out of mud and bricks (if you could even call them bricks) and was engulfed with moss and foliage, which creeped around the outside. Tired, Taiga pushed the door open which creaked on its hinges, a show of its age.
Inside Taiga's house, it was dazzling. Fairy lights hung from the ceiling, creating a pink, subdued glow. Shelves lined the walls, and on top of which were jars full of oddities. To name a few; rat teeth, dragon breath, lizard tongue, salamander tail and bird beak. Blasting loud pop music was Taiga's prized bone-radio. It was placed on a fine, stone table with four aquamarine renaissance looking chairs.
In the far corner, was a queen-sized bed with a forest bedspread. Acting like the centerpiece of the house, was a small yet suitable sofa placed upon an aquamarine rug—the TV placed upon a neat chest of oak-drawers. ‘Your house is awesome Taiga! If you're not careful I might steal it, heh,’ Robin gawked. Taiga chuckled to herself, ‘Thanks. I'll get to roasting this Rob—bird then?’
Saph and Robin nodded eagerly, eyes fueled with hunger.
With a flick of her wrist, a small flash of green came from her paw, and the television flickered on. Almost immediately she got to cooking, and the sizzle as the bird hit the pan sent a shiver down her spine. She flipped and poked the bird about, tearing away loose feathers.
The news report blared noise about the weather, nothing exactly spe—
ROAAAAARRRR!
CRASH.
All the lights flashed off in seconds, and Taiga yelped out in surprise.
She switched the oven off and called out for Saph and Robin, ‘Saph? Robin?’
‘We’re here!’
One of them managed to find a candle, and a small aura of light burnt on.
Thunder stormed down past the house, and a bashing sounded from the door.
bang
Bang
BANG.
Taiga's stomach flipped with unease, but she braved through it, and wandered to the door.
‘Taiga? What are you doing?’ Robin whined.
She put a paw on the door handle, and pushed the door open. Taiga looked outside nervously and cautiously, before she noticed a flash of hot pink. She locked eyes with the creature.
The moon glowed red.
It bounced towards her. She ducked out of the way, expecting to be attacked. Except the animal paused and kneeled before her. Taiga took in what the animal looked like.
It was a pink bear, and…it was bleeding.
The bear cried out, ‘Please. Help. Me. My name. It is Trixie—’
The bear fell to the ground with a pained thud.
Taiga looked at the bear with astonishment, ‘Guys! Help me!’
Saph and Robin ran outside in silence, thunder still blazing around them, and the three brought Trixie inside.
‘This is a fateful night…’ Taiga barked.
Saph, Taiga and Robin shared looks.
As soon as they got Trixie inside, Taiga got to work. She snatched a green potion with cubes in it, and popped the lid open. She poured out a gooey, gloppy cube and patted it over the wound. She then pried open Trixie's mouth and let her drink the rest.
Taiga then pushed Trixie onto a moss mattress on the floor. She finished off by wrapping a bandage over the wound.
She looked at Saph and Robin through the darkness. ‘Go to sleep, please.’ Taiga dragged her weary body to her bed and flopped onto it, dragging the covers over her. ‘Hopefully goodnight.’
Saph looked at her with two, round, scared eyes. ‘You were right.’
Saph sighed, ‘It is a fateful night.’