(REMASTERED VERSION AVAILABLE AND IN PROGRESS: "Broken Horns - Remastered!") During one of the last afternoons on their home snowy island, the chieftain of the Yakistini Tribe chooses a large selection of Nichlings from the newest generation to carry on the lineage to a new snowy island. Usually, it is all said and done, and the lineage simply carries on. But some may wonder... what happens to those Nichlings left behind? What thoughts go through their minds as they realize that they'll be abandoned without any help to survive? That maybe tribe life was only cushioning their lives in a world where everything is out for your blood? That maybe the reason they left them behind was because inevitable death and destruction lurked only a few days away? (This story was inspired by gameplay on Niche - a Genetic Survival. I do not claim to own Niche nor am I linked to any of its associates.)

The Yakistini Tribe was already falling apart: countless Nichlings had died, the food count was at an all-time low, and land was being lost to rogues with every passing season. But as if that wasn't enough, now another impending threat lurks beneath their paws, destined to destroy the entire island and everything that calls it home. Only a select few Nichlings are able to escape the island by way of a mystic set of stepping stones, leaving everyone else doomed to die an inevitable death. Sikola is one of many Nichlings left behind, and must push aside the grudges of her past if she is to find a way to escape with her life. Preview: ~~~~~~~~~~ "It's about time you made it, Yakistini. I knew your kind were slow, but really? I could have killed everyone here and been on my way by the time you arrived." A sudden snarl erupted from Chestnut's throat and he primed into a fighting position, his scales flared and hammertail curled. Hekala bared her huge white fangs, and Twigfoot started to brandish his torch. "Now, now. No sudden movements, or I might have to take... drastic action." A Nichling holding a large burning branch then sauntered up the boulder, puffing out his chest with pride and smirking a toothy grin. As he reached the edge of the boulder's jagged tip, the rogues below him began howling and barking a gruff applause. The Nichling was black with pure red splotches across his chest and paws, as if permanently stained with blood. His three gems and eyes were a dark orangey-red, and seemed to glimmer in the firelight. "Black Dusk..." Twigfoot mumbled under his breath. ~~~~~~~~~~ (This story was inspired by the character design and gameplay of Niche - a Genetic Survival. I do not claim to own Niche nor do I am affiliated with the developers.) (Please do keep in mind this is a WIP, and is highly subject to frequent changes.)

He lunged at her and socked his gauntlet forearm into her stomach. Sakura recoiled and hissed in pain, grasping her abdomen, and tried to dash away as she heard chains rattling behind her. It shot out before she could react and nicked her across the back. Without missing a beat, the ninja shoved her to the ground and pinned her against the dirt, ominously cold metal pressing against her cheek and left shoulder. An unknown chakra rushed down her left arm, which covered her forearm in white feathers and turned her fingertips into wicked hooked claws. Sakura panicked and reached for his neck to immobilize him, but hadn't realized she had claws instead of fingers. Blood splattered everywhere as black talons plunged into the side of his neck. His entire face was filled with shock as he clutched his neck, choking on his own blood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spirits: Extremely powerful masses of chakra, and are considered to be the 'opposites' of the nine Tailed Beasts. A group of them called Dragon Spirits came to Earth to live peacefully among humans. But after accidently showcasing their power in an effort to stop a war, they were seen only as killing machines and causes for more conflict. They were sealed up in scrolls, distributed across villages, and forced to seal themselves inside of humans. One of those humans just happens to be a young girl with an abnormal hair color of the Haruno Clan. She befriends the Spirit, and they become the best of friends. What's going to when a young clan girl befriends a powerful spirit? Well, basically anything could happen - that's the mere fun of it. This is a story of a girl who strives to become the most powerful Kunoichi in existence. And she is no ordinary girl. Her name is Sakura Haruno. (I, sadly, do not own Naruto; Kishimoto does.) (Updating each chapter MAY take up to a week or more to finish. The story is edited by my beloved sister, @Craftedbird. )

Samantha is your typical high schooler. She's just trying to get by with as little slip-ups as possible. She wants people to see her for who she is. Smart, intelligent, and nice. But there's something that makes her a bit difficult to get along with. She's deaf. No not death, deaf. She can't hear one bit, and she's scared that's what's going to define her at her new school. "The deaf girl, followed around all day by someone who speaks for her." But that's not her at ALL. She isn't "the deaf girl", the girl who can't hear, the girl who can't speak well, the girl with the weird things in her ears. No. She is SAMANTHA.