Celestial Souls: Shadows of Change [1]

Prologue II

A beast swiftly navigated through a twisted-looking dimension. The atmosphere was dark and glitched with many streaks of white, and seemed to be constantly whirring. That beast was quickly leaping from one piece of land that seemed to have been ripped from the ground that would have probably been from the land FAR below the beast, to another. The beast who is hopping from one piece of debris to another is me.

I am a mottled, brown, bear-and-wolf-like beast with a dark, plumed tail. I also have long, sharp, blueish-white horns and claws with dark brown swirls around my eyes. My bottom canine teeth protruded from my mouth, giving me a threatening-looking jaw.

As I lept from piece to piece, it felt as if the ground shattered beneath me, so I couldn't stop moving. If I stopped moving to catch my breath right now, I'd probably fall into the deep, dark abyss.

I pant heavily as my body swiftly tries its best to guide oxygen to my lungs to provide support to the rest of my body to keep me going. My heart was beating rapidly, in both exhaustion, and anxiety about what will happen next.

As I kept leaping from one piece of debris to another, the portal at the end of this eerie-looking dimension looked like it was getting closer and closer to me. Finally! I sighed in my head. Freedom and a place to rest at last . . .

Motivation rushed through my body as the end of this dimension got closer and closer. My legs carried me faster and faster to get out of here quicker.

My jaw dropped in anticipation and a wide smile spread across my face as the end of this seemingly endless dimension was coming to an end.

Suddenly, a large, wide piece of floating debris was the only piece of land left until I got to the end of this endless vortex of glitchiness. But realization struck me, the portal was slowly closing!

Fear shot through my body as the anxiety of being trapped in this hellhole forever flooded my brain. No! I exclaimed from my head. This can't be! I must escape this place, this is the only place I've seen for basically my whole life, and I want to see something new!

I sped up my pace as I quickly made my way toward that huge, floating, piece of land.

I can't be stuck here for the rest of my life! I've spent too much time here already, and I want a new experience! I want to see what lies beyond that portal, and I'll finally be free! I whispered to myself in my head. Today is my only chance, and probably my only chance until I live all the years I've already lived, SO DON'T LET THIS SLIP, TATSU! I scolded myself.

I finally landed on the large piece of land that was the last obstacle left until I'd get to the portal. Finally!! I exclaimed to myself. I caught my breath as I saw that the portal looked as if it was getting slower and slower to closing as I got closer to it.

I panted heavily as I caught my breath and tried to stop my muscles from throbbing in pain. I'm so glad I made it here in time. I sighed to myself.

Suddenly, a low rumble occurred beneath my feet. The ground shook, nearly knocking me off my feet. My fur started to prickle in anticipation.

A low, scaly, growl faded into earshot, followed by huge, loud, wingbeats.

Soon, a huge, white, purple, and green dragon appeared in front of the portal, blocking my only exit.

I bared my teeth at the horrifying dragon. I lashed my tail and unsheathed my claws to seem threatening, even though I can't and haven't really fought anyone in my life, but I don't even know how old I am, how long I've been here, or where I'm from!

The dragon snickered cunningly. "Why hello, Tatsssu." They spat. "It'sss been a while, old friend."

I didn't know what to do at that moment. I was so confused as to why this dragon already knew me, even though I have never seen the dragon in my entire life.