Paws of Vitality

CHAPTER 2

Domino

The sun was starting to creep through the canopy, showers of light spraying down upon the forest. Domino had been walking for a couple hours now. Trudging through miles of bramble and bushes did not go easy on her.

Sometimes she wished she had inherited dragon wings along with her tail and claws. Then she could just fly through the entire forest in the blink of an eye.

Thanks dad. She thought. I'm so grateful.

Domino finally arrived in the village, there were skull beings everywhere. The skull wolves and felines stayed in the tree houses, while the Wendigos normally settled in the cabins along the ground.

There weren't too many wolves living here, as they mostly traveled in packs, never settling or staying in places for too long.

As for the hybrids, including her, there were only 3 of them. Yes, she didn't enjoy people staring at her and asking her brash questions, but what was she gonna do?

"Domi!"

She immediately whirled around, that nickname ruffled her feathers. And only one person called her that.

"Hello Satis."

The skull cat beamed up at her, her fluffy white fur bouncing with excitement as she ran up to Domino.

"Did you find her? Did you find my sister?"

Domino shook her head.

"I'm sorry Satis, I couldn't. But I'm trying really hard."

Satis nodded gloomily, her ears drooping.

"But uh- , I got a few Saffron leaves, some Rubusberries, oh and this neat bird skull- I think I might turn it into a necklace."

Satis nodded excitedly. "Can I look?"

"Last time I showed you a dead animal you passed out. I think it would be best if you didn't." Domino walked on through the pathway, nudging her out of her way.

"Aww. I promise I won't... but okay." She wandered off back to a huge crowd of skullcats.

Domino climbed up the wooden ladder that led to the village and pulled herself up. The structures blended seamlessly into the terrain, bridges connecting them so the residents could easily move from one to another. In the center of the village, there was a giant pavilion, with a great oak tree in the center. Sometimes the younger animals would climb around on its branches, playing hide and seek.

And in the far north, there lay the encampment of the Paws of Vitality, a secret organization that was known for maintaining the safety of the forest. It was never really that secretive, because apparently the whole world knew about it now. As for the dragons, if they dared to take a step inside their land they might as well disembowel themselves. Not that they would know where the village or the encampment was, as they were both exceptionally hidden.

Luckily for Domino, the Paws of Vitality chose her to be one of their little lookouts. She didn't hate it, it was at least something to do. But why her of all animals? She wasn't seemingly important in any way. In fact, she preferred it if everyone would just leave her alone.

She went into the communal market, dropping off the herbs and berries she had collected.

"Would this be enough for a mountain goat?"

A shopkeeper regarded the items with fondness, poking at the berries with a grin on his face.

"I could give you a small hen for both."

"Really?" She glared. "Why would I want a stupid bird? They're barely half a bite."

The shopkeeper sighed, "You don't eat it- you wait, and you'll have a treasure that is much more valuable than meat."

Aha. Eggs. I've only had a few in my life, but I didn't hate them.

Domino lashed her tail. "Fine, TWO hens for my stash. Or no deal."

The shopkeeper shrugged and gave in, sliding two tawny colored birds across the table.

Domino picked them up daintily- not sure how to hold them.

I wonder what Crimson is doing right now.

She stopped herself. Why was she thinking about that awful dragon? She certainly didn't care what he was doing, but why did he cross her mind?

Did he follow me? And find our village?

Domino involuntarily looked around, as if trying to find him.

She shook her head and kept walking along the bridge. She passed by a few young skull wolves, who stared at her tail for longer than she was comfortable with.

. . .

Domino loved nighttime infinitely more than the day. She loved the crispy coolness to the air- with the only sounds you could hear were crickets chirping.

But the sky was a different story. The endless amount of stars spread out across a black canvas, like paint splatters. She could sit out on her roof stop and stare at them for hours if she could.

Maybe if mother wasn't always out on her hunts then we could do this together. Not like we do anything together. She sat up and stared down at the forest floor.

I wonder if dad is still alive. Wherever he is.

A few hushed moments passed, and she decided to climb down from her hut, going down to Calidum lake. She liked watching the moon glisten off the surface, it helped her take her mind off things.

Domino sat on the edge of the beach, clawing at the sand.

Tomorrow I have that meeting with Lapis. Lovely.

She laid back against the rocky shore, staring up at the vast night sky. She wanted to disappear into the shadows, never to be seen again. Then no one would stare at her. She wouldn't exist. Did she really want that?

I don't know. I just want everything to go back to normal.

Old memories flashed through her mind, of her parents getting along. Of her making friends easily, and everything was perfect. She had no idea why she wanted to be grown up so badly as a child, when now she would give anything to go back.

A branch snapped and she quickly sat up, surveying the trees.

"Who's there?" She growled.

No response.

"I said, WHO'S THERE?"

She hoped that she didn't sound crazy just now. If people saw her shouting at trees then they'd definitely stare at her more.

Suddenly two glowing eyes shot open in the distance, and she let out a gasp of surprise, jumping back.

The creature didn't say anything. It just stared with its pale white eyes and small black pupils.

"Who are you?" She asked.

It blinked. And leaned forward out from the darkness.

"I was wondering if you saw my time watcher? I just had it on me but I think one of the chirpers stole it."

Domino gawked. It was a wolf. A basic black and white wolf. Why was he not with his pack? And here of all places? It didn't add up.

"S...sorry. I didn't mean to disrupt the quiet. I'll leave now."

He drew his head back into the shadows, and disappeared.

Who the hell was that?
She blinked, trying to make sense of what just happened.

For a split second, the light of the water reflected off into the forest and she caught a glimpse of his body. As he retreated into the forest Domino realized he didn't have a torso. Instead, it was replaced with an entire rib cage.

He's a hybrid.