Fursia

The sun gave its usual golden glow as the two brothers ran, they ran through the long, lush grass that covered the fields on this golden eve, the younger of the two ran ahead his long golden hair and excited amber eyes shone to match the gold of the sun, in this world you didn’t choose how long your hair was, nor your other, unique features, it changed with the seasons for most, being shorter during the summer and much longer during the winter, this day though was the first day of spring, the older brother grinned watching his younger sibling.

“Careful, you might trip!” the elder called though the younger more energetic child only ran faster, before diving into the grass like a cat pounces on prey, golden fur flew and the young boy knew it was his own as a golden tail lay in his now cross-legged lap, a clump of fur had been pulled from the tail, caught on a coarse barbed fence. The boy looked at the tail, his tail, holding back tears, not wanting his brother to call him names. After a moment he lifted his nose to the sky, golden cat like ears dropping low, sadly under his hair, he sat there a while before parting his lips as if to speak but no words dare leave his mouth as a long, pained yowl escaped his throat. He was not like those of Earth, no, he was Furesian, part boy, part animal, or in this case part cat, Fursia is a world far from Earth, where each person is part animal, some cat, some dog, others bird, maybe fish, there are many different creatures on this world, all of which those of earth can only imagine.

 “I warned you” the older one said a smug grin crossing his pale lips, the boys were clearly Tabby cats with their golden fur and amber eyes.

 “I know, I know,” the little one would sob “I am sorry Ryu” he said softly giving his brother an adorable expression, his ears remained drooped behind his head, his tail lay still in his lap.

 “Be more careful Sev, you know these fields are full of old fences from the dark war” Ryu said with a sigh as he helped his brother up “let’s get home” he said simply pushing his brother ahead.

 It was an hour later when the two arrived home, Sev's closed fist rapping at the old wooden door of the ancient wooden house, he looked up at Ryu when there was no answer, Ryu returned the worried look before knocking.

 “MUM, OPEN UP!” Ryu yelled as he knocked, the two stood waiting, five minutes passed and still nothing, Ryu sighed “I’ll be back Sev, you stay here” he said walking around the house and jumping the fence into the back yard. Sev stared at the door waiting patiently when the door finally opened, it was dark and Ryu was nowhere to be seen.

 “Ryu!” Sev called poking his head inside, he reached for the matches and lit the candle by the entrance. Before walking to light the others when he stepped in something wet, he leant down to look at it when Ryu walked in causing him to stand up straight.

 “Mum slipped and spilt some water he said softly, I had to get her into bed, she hurt herself pretty bad” Ryu explained a smile crossing his dimly lit face “go play out back, mow the grass while you’re at it” Ryu said walking to light the candles, Sev was proud of his big brother, so fun and wild yet serious and calm when he needed to be. Sev ran out back and into the shed before returning into the slightly overgrown garden with the lawn mower, it was an old man powered mower not like the motorised ones you find on Earth. He smiled as he pushed the mower along. He pushed the mower toward the house then turned to go back again though he stopped dead feeling a wave of heat behind him. He turned his eyes widening as he saw a fire had broken out in the house. Sev climbed the fence to the front seeing it relatively untouched by the flames aside from the cloud of smoke billowing from the front door. Ryu stood in the door way coughing.

 “Sev, Mum, she, she’s gone, someone must be trying to kill us Sev, I noticed one of the torches laying halfway across the dining room and there was oil all over the place” Ryu coughed before cracking a smile, “do your big bro a final favour, run, get out of here, don’t come back” he said as a shadowed figure appeared behind Ryu, grabbing him by his shoulder and pulling him back into the burning house, Sev knew the face but he refused to believe it was him. Sev stood still noticing an unnatural shadow creeping toward him and creating a shadowed creature only a few metres ahead of him.

 “Sevendar Val’Reath, you will make fun in my game, I, Yami, The Goddess of Darkness, and my contractor, whom you know well, Roku, will let you live for now” the shadowed figure hissed before disappearing, Sev turned on his heels and ran as fast as he could “Tirla san doe te worl til quon, sui til entress ti ell” the voice chanted as he ran the words forcing their way into his mind and swimming there like fish in the ocean, he knew these words, she spoke in the tongue of the gods ‘the end of the world will come, you will witness it all’ the words echoed in his mind, she had even used his full name, he knew how real the goddess was now, he never told anyone his name, only his mother and brother new, now Roku knew the only one who knew, his best friend, his best friend who was bound to go insane.

***

 Sev now lay, sleeping in the grass field where he and his brother ran only the day before. He woke slowly and began naming the shapes he saw the clouds make, though his mind remained confused, his friend, Roku had broken the law and contracted with a god, allowing the god to leave the astral plain and remain on earth, Roku would be gifted with the god’s power and would most likely been driven insane, why would he do that? The thought confused Sevendar, what did the goddess mean, why him? Why?

Tisgrenow twen tirla worl si shold.

Tomorrow when the world is gold.