The Silent Panther

~Chapter 1~

250 years ago...

        Dawken's head hurt. It hurt more than a headache, but less than when he hit his head against a rock. It was worse that he had a meeting with father that morning.

          Father...

          Some father he is.

          Ever since... the day, father had turned insane. Every little mistake Dawken made caused father to be angry. And every time father was angry resulted in another cut to Dawken's back, like tally marks of everything he did wrong. The thing was, father only did this to Dawken, not to his siblings. Father always considered Dawken's siblings, Pandrada and Hastora, to be weak, but treated them like prodigies. Dawken on the other hand was thought of as the strongest, but also treated like a weak link in the family.

        Dawken started walking towards his fathers room, ready for the speech about how he was late and then getting another fresh cut down his back, adding to the tally list. About halfway on there, he started smelling smoke. He didn't know what was causing it, but it originated near father's room.

          Dawken started running as fast as he could. He could feel tears beginning to form as worry took over his mind. He reached his father's room, only to find the door engulfed in flames, the ends licking the ceiling. The worry overrode all other thoughts, as he desperately tried to pry open the door, but it was locked from the inside. More tears ran down his eyes, almost blinding him. Bracing himself, he backed up, running and slamming into the door shoulder first, breaking it down.

          He found the room burning to flames his father was nowhere to be found, but his siblings were there, burning in a pile of wood and what used to be books. Tears started falling rapidly down Dawken's face as he fell to his knees, unable to control his crying. His body shook with every sob.

          Felina. He needed her help. He was a hybrid, after all, inner animals, like Felina, were supposed to be helpful. She never got to actually live, it was Dawken who had the most control over their life. Felina got to live in his head, doing nothing but dreaming of being free.

          "Felina, I need your help."

          "What for?" a female voice responded inside Dawken's head. It was quiet, with a hint of annoyance.

          "It's father! He's in trouble. His room is on fire, and I don't know where he is!"

           "Leave him be. He doesn't care for you, so you shouldn't care about him." Her voice was stern, like a parent scolding their child. It was clear she meant what she said. And she was partially correct. Father never really cared for Dawken at all.

          "Please! If you help me, I'll let you have control. You don't have to be locked inside me. I'll let you live, actually live!"

          "How long?"

          Dawken sighed, thinking his response over. All he wanted was father to be safe. While Felina may not care about him, Dawken did. He loved his father, even if his father didn't love him. He made up his mind.

          "Forever."

          Felina was taken aback by Dawken's answer. She knew he wanted to live just as much as she did. But at the same time, Dawken knew this answer was the only way Felina would agree.

          "Deal."