Storm Rising [Old Version]

Chapter One

I awoke on soft dirt.

I sat up, examining my surroundings suspiciously. I was in a clearing, surrounded by trees and plants, many green and blue. It mattered not, and I continued to look around with curiosity, excited about finally leaving the all-encompassing darkness.

Looking up, I see a bright blue sky, with small clouds drifting. Two suns shone down on me, one yellow and one, slightly smaller, blue. Blinking, I examined myself. I had four big paws, sharp claws and fangs, and gray and silver fur.

I yawned, feeling my exhaustion return. But I was given no rest. A resounding snapping sound of a stick breaking rang out, and I pivoted towards the noise to see two creatures. They had hind legs like me, but their forelegs were like the elf's, though bigger and with vicious claws. Their fur was a dirty brown, covered in mud. They whined and barked at each other, snapping the air, and it was then I decided to run, dashing away from the monsters as quick as my tired legs could go.

The monsters pursued me relentlessly, their growls echoing through the forest as I desperately tried to evade them. Zigzagging around boulders and trees, my heart pounded in my chest as I searched for a safe place to hide. Finally, I spotted a narrow crack between some boulders and dove into it, scrambling up and around until I felt secure - for the moment.

The monsters' incessant noises grated on my nerves, and I knew I had to find a way to throw them off my trail. Spotting another exit, I stealthily slipped away from the gnolls, as I now remembered they were called. A dip in the ground held a small amount of mud, and with a grimace, I smeared myself with the foul-smelling substance to mask my scent.

Trudging through the forest, a sense of hopelessness washed over me until I stumbled upon a thick bush that provided some semblance of shelter. Curling up within its protective branches, I gazed up at the twinkling stars above, feeling a sense of peace settle over me as the suns set below the horizon. May the stars guide me. I sigh softly before drifting off to sleep, finding solace in the night.