The Scratazon Chronicles Origins

Chapter 1

'An ancient forest home to that furred race, the many proud scratazons of the heart-shaped face. Wenjalbas, Sootizilas, and of course Udammask. Tyttos all, in case you asked, roost in the hollows of these verdant towers, cozy shelters amidst leafy bowers. Game is here aplenty, but fearsome predators, too. to Live and Let Live is so often hard to do.'

(☝Excerpt from A Gazetteer of the Scratazon Kingdoms by Laze of Kaal)

A long time ago, on a planet far from earth, there were intelligent rodent-like lifeforms called scratazons. They were diverse in species like owls of today, except for the fact that they had the ability to make homes, tools, weapons, armor, et cetera. But, unfortunately,  they were at war with each other. Two different clans fought for different reasons. One clan called themselves the Pure Ones. They believed in tytto scratazon superiority over all other species. The led crusade against their own kind. Their aim: to take control of all the scratazon kingdoms. The Pure Ones' methods were harsh and unyielding. What they didn't take, they burned to the ground. Those they couldn't enslave, they destroyed. All would've been lost to the Pure Ones but for the other clan of scratazons who rose from the mists of the Sea of Phoolimere and from the Great Tree itself. A group of warriors, selfless and courageous, who had sworn an oath to make strong the weak, to mend the broken, to vanquish the evil: The Guardians of Tortuga'hoole. They followed their leader, Laze of Kaal, to meet the Pure Ones and their leader, Malachityrannuss, in a great and final battle which in turn devastated the local village. A battle that has been known as: The Arachnid Clan Massacre. Both sides fought fiercely. Malachi's forces were greater in number and the Pure Ones seemed to gain the advantage. As the battle grew desperate, an unlikely ally had gained the upper hand: a Pure One by the name of Wildcat. After the battle, it was later discovered that Malachi assassinated Wildcat's mate and queen of the Arachnid Clan, Blackarachnia moments before the battle, so Wildcat killed Malachi in retaliation. But before he could be rewarded for his heroics, Wildcat left the ruins of the Arachnid Clan's village with his firstborn daughter, never to be seen again. But little did he know was that he had left his second born son by mistake. The Guardians took him back to the Great Tree to raise the orphaned child as their own. Neither Wildcat nor his daughter has been seen ever since.

(☝prologue)

Sorrenn's POV:

It was just another day for me and my brother as we play-fight with each other, our wooden swords clashing like we were having a duel.

"My blade is upon you!" I said in a tone that sounded heroic. "Your days of terrorizing the scratazon kingdoms are numbered!"

"Not so fast!" Klludd said with a false maniacal laughter. "You're no match for my phenomenal cosmic power." We kept on fighting until he started getting tired. As did I.

"Whew! Quite a workout, right, Klludd?" I asked.

"Yes, it was." My brother gasped. "Although, you did say that I could be the hero."

"Right. Sorry I forgot." I apologized, knowing that I made a promise before our play-fight. "Maybe on the next go, all right."

"Well, you might want to tell that to her." Klludd explained, pointing at a charging Egllantiine, our little sister. She rammed at my stomach before I softly pushed her away. Then our father, Eriiksonn Titanis, came in, chuckling.

"Okay. Enough, younglings. Time for bed." He reminded us. Then Klludd sighed in exasperation.

"Yes, please. Enough stories about the guardians." He complained. He believes that the Guardians Of Tortuga'hoole were nothing but legends and folklore.

"Now, Klludd, stories are part of our culture and our history." Pa explained. "You know, we learn from them."

"Even after the 700th time we hear them?" Klludd asked.

"Yes, even then." Pa answered. "Unless, son, you already know all there is of our history." I didn't say anything, for fear that i might start up an argument. Klludd sensed it, so he decided to say no more.

"Now, that's enough for one night, dear." Our mother, Ellitaa Titanis, said. "Tomorrow's a big day." And so we went to bed.

Before we fell asleep, Klludd asked me, "Sorrenn, what is it about the 'Arachnid Clan Massacre' of which you speak?" I wondered what he was asking about, but then realized that earlier, I was talking about a clan of scratazons that were destroyed in a great cataclysmic massacre.

I answered, "Well, Klludd, The Arachnid Clan were no ordinary scratazons. They were a clan which had an incredible connection with the local Spiders and Scorpions native to their lands. The females, queen Blackarachnia included, had the ability to create webs that had special healing properties unlike anything ever seen before. The males, meanwhile, had tails that they used like stingers for defense purposes. The Pure Ones' leader lord Malachityrannuss wanted that power all to himself. What was given could also be taken. Wildcat, grieving over the death of his wife, the aforementioned Blackarachnia, had to stop him. The battle that followed shook the heavens themselves, right up Until Wildcat finally struck Malachi with one fell swoop. All thanks to him, the Guardians were victorious, and the scratazon kingdoms were free once more! But Wildcat fled from the remnants of the battlefield in fear of being imprisoned or executed for his past actions. No one has seen him again ever since. Some say he still lives to this day, but is in self isolation. Others believe that he leads the Pure Ones after his ill-fated triumph. But one thing's for sure, ever since the Arachnid Clan Massacre, he wore a metal prosthetic to replace his upper jaw."

"Woah." Klludd said, utterly shocked by my story and the fact that the Arachnid Clan had powers beyond comprehension. He looked like he could have some nightmares. He quickly shook off his shock and asked again, "Where there survivors of the Massacre?"

"Well, if there were, they're all probably in hiding far and wide throughout the scratazon kingdoms." I answered. 

"Alright, then." Klludd said. "Well, I must get to sleep. Goodnight, brother." And he went to his bed. I, however, had to stay up because I had night guard duty. Mrs Featherstone looked at me with pity.

"Sorrenn, your brother will be okay." She reassured. Just five or eight scratazonian years ago, I had a traumatic vision about a darkness in Klludd's heart that would consume him and cause him to lay waste to the scratazon kingdoms. I had told no one except my nurse-maid.

"Thanks, Mrs Featherstone." I said, wondering if I she's right. "But a part of me still feels the darkness inside him." Because of that, I spent many sleepless nights hoping the darkness doesn't grow. For 5 to 8 scratazonian years, I never told him about the vision, and for 5 to 8 years, it still scares me. I felt guilty for not telling him and it really hurts. Emotionally.