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Chapter One
War of the Beasts
"20 years ago tonight I found a baby beast, he was so dark I'm amazed I even found him at all. He was a baby panther, couldn't have been more than a day old. He was wrapped up in a blanket just as black as himself, he seemed to be abandoned but I've never found out who left him there. He was too far from any base I knew of to be left there by one of the clans."
"Why were you out so far from base at night?" asked little Eager Beaver
"I was out spying for our leader, Pirate Lion. Then I was second in charge and was sent to see what the fire beasts were up to. I lost my way and," Danger Dog continued to tell his grandson," needed to rest, I saw a dense group of trees off ahead of me so headed towards them. I was too far from the wood base to contact anyone so decided to spend the night there. I was settling down when I heard a twig break. I was up on my feet and ready for battle, thinking I might be closer to the fire base than I thought. When nothing attacked me I searched for what had made the noise. I searched for at least two hours, making sure there was no one hiding in the trees. I finally gave up and headed back to a small clearing I had made. On my way back I almost tripped over a little bundle, it turned out to be the panther. I took the little fellow and make a small bed for him."
"So how did you get him back to the base, and didn't you think he could be a fire beast, or even a water beast?" Questioned Eager, " Or grandpa what if it was a trap and all of the sudden you would be surrounded and taken prisoner, or the baby would blast you with his fire patch?"
"Hehehehe, I wasn't worried about any of those things little beaver, I would wait until morning to see what clan this beast belongs to. When I woke up the baby panther was right next to me same as the night before. I decided to check his patch. When I did nothing happened. The patch didn't show fire, water, or wood, it didn't show anything at all just stayed black, like the beast that was born with it. I just sat there and tried and tried again to see what type of beast he was." Danger Dog starred off remembering that morning.
"Grandpa, Grandpa how did you ever find out what kind of beast the little panther was and was Pirate Lion mad at you when you brought the unknown beast back? Finish please, finish the story grandpa." Yelled the eager little beaver.
"Ok, ok, beaver, I gave up with his sign and headed back towards the wood base. The way was much easier to find with the light. I decided not to tell Pirate Lion about the child until I could see him in person so I shut my communication link down. As I approached the base Rocky Rhino and Armored Armadillo were on guard. Being two of my best friends they let me in without a problem. I went straight home to tell your grandma, Hare Razing Rabbit, about my find before anyone else. She didn't know what to do either but said she would love to adopt the baby. Against her wishes I went to Pirate Lion to tell him of the panther
* * * * *
"Lion old pal my trip to the fire base was unsuccessful, I lost my way in the dark. I camped in a small dense forest for the night and then headed back here." explained Danger Dog.
"Why didn't you search for the base in the morning when you awoke, your mission was to find what the fire beasts were doing." Pirate Lion stated with a bit of anger in his voice.
"I know my friend but while I was in the thicket of trees I found something. Something important, something I might have made a mistake in bringing back here"
"Well what was it Danger, report what you found to me right away, if it endangers the wood beasts I must know what it is. And bring it back here, what is this thing you've found?"
"It's a child."
"A child, of what clan does this beast belong to?"
"I don't know sir, it's symbol would not show, I'm sorry if my judgement of bringing the beast back here was a bad one."
"No symbol.what do you mean no symbol every beast ever created has had a symbol. I must see this child bring him to me at once."
"Yes sir." Danger Dog hurried off back home to get the beast and bring him back to Pirate Lion.
* * * * *
"So I got Black Panther and brought him to Pirate. After he saw that what I had told him was true he couldn't believe it. He insisted on keeping the baby himself in case something happened with the mysterious child. I never saw the child, or asked Pirate about him again. I thought Pirate Lion, although being a great friend and kind beast, had killed the small baby because it was a threat to the wood beasts, who Pirate would do anything to protect. Now today as we both have seen there is a new soldier high up in Pirates army. He is a panther, and has sparked all these memories. I wond-"
"Do you think it's the same beast grandpa, the same panther you found that night? I hope it is, I want to meet him, do you think I could grandpa?"
"I don't know young one, but I do know that your mother and father will be mad at me if I keep you up any longer tonight?"
"Ok grandpa, but how about telling me more about the panther."
"Not tonight, now back home you go."
"Goodnight grandpa"
"Goodnight Eager Beaver." The little beaver headed home with his head filled with his grandpa's stories. He wondered if Black Panther, the one had seen today, was the same beast and if he still had no symbol that showed. He thought about it until he drifted off to sleep, and probably kept on dreaming about it.
* * * * *
The next day was a beautiful one. All the wood beasts were up early starting their work for the day as always. Pirate Lion was cleaning his sword when his adopted son came running in.
"Father now can I go explore the rest of the base, and meet some beasts, and make friends with them. You said I could today now that they have seen me in your front lines they would trust me. Can I please go father." Black Panther was very excited about his first venture of the base during the day. His father had only allowed him to go out at night so other beasts wouldn't question where he had come from. Black Panther was a powerful warrior, the best one his father had ever seen. He learned fast and excelled at most everything he was taught. Pirate lion couldn't believe what a warrior he was. Black Panther learned from the best and now could even beat his father in a fight. He was to be a great leader and fighter.
"Well son I know I promised you but it won't be that easy. No beast whether it's wood, fire, or water trusts another unless he knows who the beast is and that they're a friend. And that's a problem with you." Pirate looks at the empty black patch on his sons chest. Black Panther too looks down at his patch.
"I wish I had the wood symbol right there. I know it will be hard but I've waited a long time to go out there, I must do it." Black Panther goes to the side of the house and looks out the window, he wishes he could be among the other beasts right now with nothing to hide from them. "I'll go now father."
"If anyone give you a hard time just let me know son, I'll deal with them accordingly."
"I shouldn't have too much trouble." With that the panther ventured out into the town of the wood base, anxious and worried at the same time. He saw mothers feeding their children breakfast, fathers polishing their weapons and getting the supplies for the day, young warriors practicing battle, and many other things that the other beasts did every day.
Black Panther went towards two beasts about his age working on their fighting skills, hoping to join the army soon. This was a mistake but Panther wanted to show them what he knew and join them. "Hello there you two," he addressed Leapin Lizard and Killer Koala," would you mind if I joined you?"
Leapin Lizard responded to him "Yes we do mind, we're training to join the army and don't need the help of you. We are warriors and you better leave us alone before we start practicing on you." He turned to Killer laughing.
"Yeah little panther out of our way," Killer Koala held his axe in the air pretending to attack Black Panther, "I'll show ya." Black Panther didn't take it as playing though and quickly disarmed Killer Koala and Killer found himself bleeding from the nose and mouth lying on the ground.
"Hey, what are you doing you stupid panther, he was just joking. Who are you anyway," Leapin Lizard questioned Panther "I've never seen you around here before. Maybe you're a spy and are attacking us. You're a fire beast."
"No I'm not," Black Panther tried to defend himself from Leapin's questions, "I hate the fire beasts."
"Oh yeah, well then prove it, show us your wood symbol." As he said this the patch on his chest started to glow and showed a log the wood symbol. Panther was now terrified, right away he had run into trouble and now was faced with the thing he feared most.
"I can't"
"See you are a fire beast, Killer call the guards, it's an intruder."
"No, don't I'm not a fire beast, or a water beast, I'm not even a wood beast, I have no sign. But I am with the wood army and Pirate Lion is my father." Black Panther let out his secret, he could think of no other way to save himself, if they called the guards soon everyone would know about him and his missing symbol.
"What no symbol, that's impossible," Killer Koala still aching in pain sat up to put in his two cents to Panther. "and Pirate Lion doesn't have a son, he doesn't even have a wife, you're a liar." Just then three more beasts the same age as Killer and Leapin came along the road. They were Zealot Zebra, Harrier Hawk, and Antic Anteater.
"Hey guys, this beast won't show us his symbol and says Pirate Lion's his father," Leapin shouted to his friends," and look what he did to Killer. Let's get him and turn him in, it will look good for us when we try to join the army." The four beasts surrounded Panther, Killer was still too weak to stand, their weapons were drawn and their wood signs were glowing. Black Panther didn't know what to do, he didn't want to hurt his fellow beasts but didn't want to get beat up. The four beasts stood ready to attack and raised their weapons to strike-
"What are you doing?" Demanded Pirate Lion, "This is my son and you attack him, you five will get just punishment for this."
"Ahh, sorry sir, we didn't know he was really your son." Harrier Hawk stated very nervously, "We thought he was lying and was an enemy. He didn't show us his sign and attached our friend Killer Koala. We're all very sorry sir, it won't happen again sir."
"Yes we're very sorry sir" said the rest of the group almost at the same time.
"I suppose you didn't know what you were doing. Run off now but next time you won't get away too easily. Now go on." The five beasts ran off, even Killer Koala ran pretty fast, though Leapin had to help hold him up. They were too scared to even look back, Pirate Lion was the strongest wood beast and the leader of the whole clan. "Are you alright son?"
"Yes, they wouldn't have hurt me but thanks." Panther looked down upset by how the five beasts he had hoped to become friends with treated him. "I just wish I could be their friends." The two walked back home. They talked for awhile when Prickly Porcupine came with a message.
"Sir, King Cobra is at the front gate. He demands to see you.," Prickly gives the message sounding a little nervous, "Sir, he's a fire beast. He is the only one but still poses a threat to us. What shall I tell him sir?"
"I will go and see what he wants, stay here son, I'll be back in awhile after I deal with this slimy snake scum." Pirate Lion and Prickly leave and head towards the front gate.
* * * * *
The enormous front gate of the wood base opens and Pirate Lion with weapon in hand following by Prickly Porcupine, Major Moose, Musky Ox, Armored Armadillo, and Deer Stalker walk out to meet a sinister looking King Cobra. There was many more beasts on the wall ready to attack if necessary. He was an old beast, probably near the end of his life. He had a long scare across his face crossing a hole where his eye had once been. He leaned on a crooked cane and seemed as if he would fall over at any given time. The fire emblem shown very lightly on his chest.
Pirate Lion didn't like the beast or trust him in the least. "What do you want and why have you come here?"
"I come with a message and a warning for you Lion. I have been thrown out of the fire base. They said I'm too old and a useless fool. But before I was exiled I came over some information that would be very useful to you." The snake pointed his cane at Pirate as he said this.
"And why would you give this information to us?" Pirate knew King Cobra was up to something but if he did have information Pirate wanted it badly.
"I am in need of food and water, if you give me the supplies I need, enough for a month I will give you my information." Cobra smiled deceitfully as he said this.
"How do we know this isn't a trap, what would stop us from taking you prisoner right? I don't trust you or any fire beast. Tell us what you know and we will let you go unharmed, if not you will die in our jail." Pirate didn't mean to be too mean to the old snake but he truly hated fire beasts. As a child Pirate Lion and his mother and father were out for some fresh water. Pirate was only 5 years old but the memory still lives fresh in his mind. As his parents knelt down to fill the jugs of water from the stream four warriors jumped out of the trees and attacked them. His father was a supreme fighter but he didn't have a chance to fight back. The four patches on the beasts began to glow and an enormous fire blast came rushing out of each of them centered on his parents. Being wood beasts they were struck down without being able to even stand up to see the attackers. They were slaughtered right in front of Pirate Lion and since then he has hated fire beasts more than any other beast could. After his parents were dead three of the beasts were gone just as quick as they had come. But one who had heard something else turned in the direction of Pirate. He saw the young child and ran towards him with his weapon raised. Pirate Lion just starred at his parent's lifeless bodies. The fire beast slashed down on Pirate Lion cutting him across his right eye. Three wood beasts came suddenly upon the scene and killed the remaining fire beast. They took Pirate Lion back to the base and buried his two parents. Now Pirate Lion where's a patch on his eye and the extreme hate for all fire beasts. He remembered this moment again as he stood in front of King Cobra. "Tell us now or I'll cut your slimy head off right now."
King Cobra expected the anger and that Pirate wouldn't bargain with him. It really didn't matter to him anyway, it was all part of his plan. He continued to act his way through his meeting with Pirate Lion. "No please spare my life good lion I only wanted food. I will tell you what I know just please don't kill me. It's not just the supplies I do it for anyway. I hate my own kind for what they did to me and this is how I will repay them. The whole fire army plans to join with the waters and attack you on the morrow. You must prepare for battle and meet them half way so that your homes are not destroyed."
"What, we will prepare and be ready, THOSE FIRE BEASTS WILL SEE THERE LAST DAY TOMORROW!!!!" Pirate Lion had lost his reasoning, he hated the fire beasts too much and saw this as a chance to gain vengeance on them. "But we shouldn't wait until then, lets attack now and get them while they are not prepared. Wood beasts back into the base we must prepare."
"No wait lion, if you attack them now they will have their full force and all of their weapons and vehicles ready. They are already prepared well for the battle tomorrow you are not. You must meet them in the middle when they don't expect it so you can crush them." King Cobra saw his plan might have a problem but tried his best to keep it as he wanted it to go.
"Fine, you know the fires better than us, let us go prepare beasts we will destroy the fires tomorrow. After they are gone we shouldn't have trouble with the waters and this land will finally be ours, we can live in peace." Pirate was too caught up in it to see the many flaws with what the snake had said. He and the other beasts with him marched back into the wood base ready to prepare for a huge battle. King Cobra slithered away laughing to himself. Strangely he headed towards the water base, not the fire or neutral area.
* * * * *
As his father left with Prickly, Black Panther was in a very dreary mood. He so badly wanted to be a normal wood beast and have some friends besides his father. He waited until his father was out of sight and busy with the snake to leave the house again. He went on down the street looking for a kind face. Instead he ran into one of the worst group he could have. The same one he had come to earlier.
"Hey look there's that wimpy panther, lets get him, Pirate Lion won't be able to help him this time." Leapin Lizard felt new confidence now that his gang of friends was all there and his older brother was with him. He looked up to his brother who he idolized because he was in the army and was a good fighter. "He's the one I told you about." Leapin said to his brother.
"So you're causing my brother trouble eh?" Leapin's brother felt no fear and was over confident in himself. "I'll teach you to mess with my family." He then drew his weapon and came at Black Panther.
"I don't want any trouble and didn't cause you any." This was all Black Panther could think of saying. He wasn't sure what to do. The charging beast was about to strike when Panther dodged the attack with little effort and ran away from the group. Had Leapin's brother been an enemy or Black Panther was in a different mood Leapin would have no brother anymore.
Black Panther easily out distanced the group of troublesome beasts and headed for the back gate of the wood base. He knew he wouldn't be excepted by the woods or any other beast. He had to get away and think everything through. His only friend was Pirate Lion. Black Panther made it through the gate with no questions only because most of the guards and attention was directed towards the front gate and King Cobra.
As he ran Black Panther took what he thought would be his last look at the wood base. He planned to live on his own for the rest of his life.
* * * * *
The sun was just coming up as the wood beasts prepared to leave for battle. Pirate Lion as well as most of the army had stayed up the whole night planning their attack and preparing weapons and vehicles. Humungous Hippo, Rocky Rhino, Roamin Buffalo, War Weasel, and Major Moose road in the Wood Beetle, the wood beast's most powerful weapon. Pixilated Pointer drove the big horn battle chariot. Armored Armadillo and Prickly Porcupine also drove two more chariots identical to Pointer's. Six more beasts rode on the side of the 3 chariots. The rest of the wood army were on foot, but it didn't matter because that's where the beasts main strength came from. The whole army was ready. Wife's, mother's, and children cried thinking this was the last time they would see their loved ones. Dragoon Raccoon was left in charge of about ten other beasts which would guard the wood base. He was in a bad mood because he would be left out of the battle and the action. The army, made up of over 150 beasts, (some of the same animal), made their way out of the gate led by Pirate Lion running as fast as he could on foot, he refused to be in a vehicle.
Pirate Lion hadn't even thought of Black Panther once, he hadn't even been home since his meeting with the cobra. He was too obsessed with destroying the fire beasts and a few waters if necessary.
His army was to split into three groups once the enemy was seen. 50 beasts would attack the water beasts with one of the battle chariots. Armored Armadillo lead this group into battle. Wood beats water so Pirate didn't see this as much of a problem. The wood beetle and the two other chariots with 25 more beasts on foot would circle around and hit the main part of the fire army. This group was lead by Prickly Porcupine and their main job was to take out the blazing eagle and the fire chariots. They were also meant to cut off any fires trying to retreat from the battle. The rest of the beasts would be lead by Pirate Lion and attack the front ground troops of the fire line. They were to kill as many beasts as possible and when that was done join Prickly and his group to help take the rest of the fires. After this was done Pirate planned to regroup and have every last wood beast left to turn and take the fire beasts base, obliterating the rest of the fire's race.
Pirate ran fast and hard thinking of his great plan and how great it would be once his revenge was complete and all the fire beasts were gone. He didn't care about the fire children or families. He touched the patch over his eye and ran on even faster.
* * * * *
Black Panther kept walking as he had done the whole night. He was thinking of Pirate Lion and what he was probably thinking right now. Panther didn't have a clue as to where his father really was and what he was thinking. Black Panther thought of the wood beasts and his symbol that was never shown. Late the night before a thought had come across his mind. He thought of the story he had heard from his father about how Danger Dog had found him. He had forgotten to go and see the aged Danger Dog and thank him for saving him. Black Panther was saddened even more by this and was mad at himself for forgetting. But that lead him to think of where he was found. He then decided he would find this place to find any clues as to where he came from. All he knew is that it was a dense group of trees, a small forest. He went on hoping to find the place thinking of the past and present. He started to run slowly in hopes it would bring him to the place faster.
Awhile later Black Panther came to a wide field he was now walking slowly again he couldn't find the place and had given up most hope of finding anything. When he was about in the middle of the field he laid down in the tall grass. He must have dozed off because the next thing he remembered was a noise that suddenly awoke him. He sat up to find in mid-day. He looked around himself.
All of the sudden the forest began to charge towards him, the sky lit on fire, and a huge wave of water rushed forward. He thought he might still be dreaming until he heard the shouts of war. The field happened to be the place where the three battle beast armies would meet each other. The Blazing Eagle in the sky, the Wood Beetle to his left, and the Shocking Shark almost straight in front of him. The beasts were charging ready to fight to the death. They were unable to see Black Panther because of the high grass, it really wouldn't have mattered anyway.
Black Panther turned to see his father running faster and more ferocious than any other beast. He was almost at Black but still didn't see him. Black panther hadn't eaten anything since the day before and now his stomach started to rumble. He didn't know what to do with what was happening around him and now his stomach was aching. It was as if something was all of the sudden coming to life right within him. The pain moved up and for the first time ever his patch on his chest began to glow. It glowed brighter than any other beasts symbol ever had. Black Panther couldn't even look at it without hurting his eyes.
The beasts were still charging towards battle with all of there might, no one seemed to see Black Panther even with the enormous light pouring out of him. Now Pirate Lion met Gruesome Gator, leader of the fire army, they were battling hard and Black Panther could even feel the vibrations of the clanging weapons. Another group of wood beasts now reached the waters and Killer Carp was shouting out orders to his army and beasts. The three leaders Pirate Lion, Gruesome Gator, and Killer Carp were battling extremely viciously and were closest to Black Panther. Already there lay on the ground injured and killed beasts.
Black Panther couldn't stand to see what was happening. Even though he knew his father's anger towards the fires and the constant battle of all battle beasts he felt something was not right. The light shown even brighter and suddenly exploded. Black Panther was amazed of the power of the explosion and he seemed to be the cause of it. He wasn't hurt but felt more powerful and better than he had ever felt before in his life.
The power of SunBurst had been released and shown brightly in Black Panthers chest. All of the beasts of the three armies fell to the ground from the blast. Some injured badly some fine but all felt the blast from Black Panther. The beasts closest to Panther were hit the worst. Pirate Lion was face down in the tall grass not moving. Gruesome Gator and Killer Carp seemed to have disappeared. Maybe vaporized by the blast.
"NOOOOOOOOOO, what have I done." Black Panther screamed in awe "Father you must survive, you have to live." He ran to Pirate Lion to help his father.
As he came near him, Pirate Lion rose up "I'm fine son, I feel better than ever, I see you have found your symbol. I read the ancient scrolls and suspected the power of the sun. It has finally been released." As he said this all beasts able to stand around him stared at his chest, his patch. When he saw this Pirate Lion too looked down to see his symbol was now also sunburst. He became the sunburst lion.
All of the beasts of the armies were lost and didn't know what to do. Most of them were too injured to fight. The wood beasts looked to Pirate Lion to see what they should do, keep fighting or help the other beasts. The fire and water beasts were extremely lost and confused, they didn't have a leader to look to. Both of their leaders were gone.
"Attack the woods and waters, kill them all they are the cause of this." This command came from Icky Iguana, second in command of the fire's, "I am leader of the fire's now, Gruesome Gator is dead. Attack fire's ATTACK!!!!!"
"No, stay where you are," the voice of Gruesome Gator came from no where, "we will not fight. Don't you see we have been decieved."
"What? My leader where are you, are you a ghost?" Icky Iguana's voice quivered as he said this.
"I'm not a ghost you fool, nor am I dead. Can't you see me, I'm right in front of you." As he said this the outline of himself appeared where Gruesome had been, then slowly the rest of him filled in and all beasts could see him once again. "I don't know what has happened to me, but it seems I can not be seen when I don't wish to be."
Another voice came from no where, "Gruesome we are the same now, how do I come back into view?"
"You just have to want to be seen, it's like walking. We all have to learn to walk but then it's a normal part of us. Now this is a normal part of me and you, just think you can change." Gruesome sounded different somehow to Pirate, he sounded like a friend instead of an enemy.
Killer Carp began to reappear and then became normal again. The two ghost like beasts tried to understand what had happened to them.
"The power of SunBurst from this panther has made us three into something different. Black Panther was my son and wanted someone to be like him so I became a SunBurst beast. You carp and gator were our enemies and Black Panther wanted you to be gone, so you became clear. We all benefited from the SunBurst." Pirate Lion realized what had happened and could see that he was tricked. "A cobra beast came to the wood base and told us that the fires and waters joined to defeat us. The slimy beast tricked us into attacking you as well."
"The same beast came to our water beast's base. He told us the same story only that the woods and fires were attacking us." Clear Killer Carp's water symbol glowed brightly with anger as he realized the trap. "That despicable beast, if he was here now, I would kill him in a way where he would suffer the most."
"The cobra tricked us fire beasts as well. I'm with you on that carp, I say we group together and find that vermin." Clear Gruesome Gator became engulfed in flames at the thought of someone deceiving him.
"No, we can find the cobra later, first we must find why he did this." Pirate looked farther than the two other leaders and asked why. "He obviously wanted all beasts to be destroyed, but he is a beast himself why would he want that? For now as much as I hate fire and water beasts we must join together. We must form an alliance. I do not believe the snake was acting alone and there is another thing that the ancient scrolls speak of."
"An alliance with you and your woods, we would never trust you or the waters." Icky Iguana had to say what he thought. "We'll face the snake on our own."
"No lizard, none of us can face what is out there alone, an alliance is the only way. We are all battle beasts, we must stick together before we become extinct." Pirate thought of the scrolls and what could be somewhere in his land.
"I'm beginning to doubt you as well," Killer Carp opposed Pirate as well. "this could be a trap to destroy us. We do not know what you speak of, prove it."
"Yes wood tell us what is so horrible out there, I do not trust you either." Gruesome starts to turn clear, ready to attack. "I was tricked once today I will not be again. Fire beasts!! Prepare to resume the attack."
"Waters go for the woods, we'll deal with the fires later." Killer Carp started a new attack as well. These woods are deceitful creatures, let us wipe them out completely!"
"No, we must stick together." Pirate Lion tried desperately to stop the approaching battle, "They are out there, otherswe are not the only ones. The scrolls were right about the SunBurst beast, were they not. They also spoke of a great danger. A danger to follow the release of power SunBurst. The scrolls said that the battle beasts would be destroyed. Would be destroyed unless they joined forces. They would be destroyed by the--"
"AHHHHHH" Icky Iguana fell dead from a blast. The Battle Beasts turned towards where it had come from. A great battle was upon them.
End Of Chapter One
