Kito's Story - Chapter One
Kito may have wondered about the world outside his small desert village but nothing more. Born a rare white color for a Fennec Fox he more concerned with trying to fit in until his home is raided, his family and friends killed, and he is taken and sold as a slave in the city of Sarra. His new Master is a pampered and arrogant Black Jackal, a member of one of the most influential families in the Upper Caste, and is quite popular and handsome too. But as the little white Fennec Fox soon discovers that he's more then just a working slave for his Master and that puts him in all sorts of dangerous situations... especially with others who would gladly see his Master more dead then alive.
Author Notes:
This idea for this story just popped into my head so instead of sleeping...I spent about 7 hours writing it out. I got a basic idea of it in my mind. But I'm still not too sure. I've never done any adult material before...so we'll seen. Next chapter probably be up in a few days if not next week. Title is still a work in progress. XD
Any CC or suggestions/help is appreciated, also any love too!
Chapter One
"Sweetling, it's time to get up." Mother's voice sounded and the blanket was pulled back. Kito yawned loudly, rubbed his eyes sleepily and blinking looked up at his mother's smiling green eyed golden face.
He smiled back up at her and wiggled his ears. She gave a gentle chuckle.
"It's pass the last hour of morning my son. Come get up now and eat. You're wasting daylight."
And with that Kito's mother disappeared from his view. He quickly sat upright and stretched before looking around him. The tent was empty save for him and his mother who was sitting in the center, by the small hearth and the tent entrance was wide open. The rest of the village was alive, and the clamour and noise of busy people, and work could be heard clearly. Kito glanced to his parents side of the tent where their bed was and to the side of it; he noted that his father's dagger, spear and satchel that were hung on the wall were gone. He got up on all fours and gave himself a quick shake before bounding off his bed and over to his mother. She was busying herself, cutting up some plants, humming gently as on a grille over some hot coals, in a round pan some meat cooked.
"Where is father?" He asked as he popped down beside her, his nose twitching at the smell of cooking meat. His tummy gave a low growl. It smelled pretty good. "What are you cooking, mum?"
"Chicken, my kit. And you father went with some others on a hunt. They left quite early but should be back any time now."
Kito nodded unhappy at hearing that. He wished he could have went along too. But he never was let to go anywhere. At least not with his father. His mother would take him along when she and other women would go out gathering foods or on a couple occasions to the nearest villages to buy or trade. He had been eight for a couple months already and he was hoped that father would have let him tag a long but no. It had never once been brought up. It now made him the only child in the village to not have gone on one hunt.
Sensing her kit's unhappiness Kito's mother reached out and rubbed the back of his left ear. She gave him another smile.
"It will be alright, my Sweetling. I did tell your father that he should take you out the next time."
Kito perked up immediately. He smiled openly and his tail wagged eagerly. "You did? What did he say?"
His mother laughed. "Kito! Careful, your tail is make my herbs fly around." She quickly grabbed at the ones that had been tossed by the air from Kito's tail. "And he said, he would think about it."
"Oh." Kito said. His eagerness suddenly gone and he looked away dejectedly outside of the tent. "That means no."
"Oh my Sweetling. No it doesn't. He's just being careful. A hunt can suddenly turn very dangerous."
"I'm too small. And I'm too white. I'll just be in the way."
Kito laid his ears back sadly. Unlike the other Fennec foxes in the village who were various shades of yellowy, golden, or sandy brown with lighter markings; he had been born all white. A bright white too. The only other color on him was his shiny black nose and paw pads, the insides of his ears were a pale pink and his eyes were a yellow color; the Cheetah of the village said they looked like amber stones. He had never seen one before though.
His mother didn't reply back. For a couple moments there was a quiet between them, then he heard the rustling of his mother's robes as she got up and moving about; Kito turn back to look. She had tossed some cut up herbs into the cooking pan. And had pulled a small clay plate out of a small wooden rectangle box which held most of their cooking and eating utensils. She then turned and returned back to hearth and after poking the meat around in the pan, cutting off a couple small pieces, placed them on the plate and then with a encouraging smile held it out to him. He took it from her, and gave a tiny smile back.
"Have something to eat now, my Sweetling. Then you got off outside. I'll send for you when it's time for dinner. Your aunt and her family will be joining us for the evening."
Kito nodded as he started to eat but didn't reply.
After done eating Kiyo went to back of the family tent. It was a fairly good size, circular in shape, rounded on top with opening in the center of the ceiling and it was big enough for four people. But only him, his father and mother lived here. The front entrance was large enough for even two Cheetah to walk through side by side. The door was two curtains of brightly colored fabrics, which were right now, pulled up and out of the way, pinned to the outer sides of the tent. At night before sleeping the curtains were unpinned and let to fall down. His parents bed were to the left side, with a couple rounded seats and a large wooden chest. Kito's bed was across. It was much smaller compared to his parents and he had couple small weaved baskets next to it which held his various items. His clothes and some toys. There was various trappings and items hung on the wall and hanging baskets from the poles that made up the tent that were visible over head. The back entrance was similar to the front only much smaller. Only one person at a time could come through it and the curtain wasnt as colorful.
Kito stepped through. There was wooden drying rack a foot away, some dried meat was hanging from the top pole. He looked to left of him and there was a large basin, already filled with water. Kito went over, looked down into it, staring at his reflection and frowned. He dunked his hands into it and his reflection rippled away. He splashed some water on his face and started to rubbed, first his face, neck and then ears. When done he gave himself a good shake before turning trotting on all fours back inside to his bed. He stood up, pulled a towel off a hook on the wall and dried off the remaining water off his face especially his large ears. He tossed it on his bed when done then dug into his clothes basket. He pulled out a pair of knee length soften leather pants and a simple sleeveless sage green shirt that had a wide rounded collar. He pulled them on and then dug back into the basket pulling out two small rolls of fabric. He jumped backwards on his bed, sat and crossed one leg over and unwrapped one of the rolls. Kito heard of other people wearing things called shoes but those were quite expensive and very hard to come by especially in the desert. And the way putting them on was described Kito thought leg wraps were much more better. The wraps were made of tough but finely weaved hemp and one started at the base of the toes, wrapping upwards to end mid-calf were it was tied off and the ends slip inside to not show. It had taken him a couple tries to get right when his parents had given him his first pair last year.
When he figured they were done well enough he hopped off his bed, back on all fours and bounced to the entrance only to stop suddenly. He had almost forgot. Kito turned around and hurried back to his bed, jumped on it and went to where his head laid and hanging on the wall, there was a necklace. It was made of simple leather with woven throng from where a shiny black claw hung from. It was bigger then his index finger and curved smoothly to a dull point. Kito's godmother, a tall and lovely Cheetah named Kimbi had given it as a gift to him before moving away with her new mate and his family to the city just before his birthing date. They were going to set up a trade shop there. The necklace was Kito's most prized possession. He slipped it on, carefully and then turned and bounced off back to the entrance. Behind him; he heard his mother call out happily.
Kito bounced through the village. The roaming chickens clucked loudly, flapping their wings as he passed them. There's was someone busily doing something outside or inside their homes by their entrances as he passed by. He yipped greetings as he passed them. There was about fifty tents in a square formation, most of the tents were similar in structure to his own home, some smaller but there was about ten much larger and brightly colored tents off to the right side. They were also longer in size. These were the Cheetah homes. Behind them he knew there were the horses and pens for some cows, goats, and sheep. They were the only ones who owned such livestock but they shared them openly with everyone in the village. The horses were kept tied up when not used, but the other animals were often led loose to wander on the outskirts of the village, feeding off whatever greenery they found. Most kept by the small oasis where everyone got their water from but every evening often after supper hour they were all rounded up and bought back to the pens. The Cheetah always made sure to have every animal back home. Unless otherwise but they seldom lost an animal for no good reason.
The village was made up mainly of Fennec Foxes, but the Cheetah often lived along side his kind, the two races got along quite well. The Cheetah were open in nature, calm-minded and had showed great loyalty, with those they set up with but they were also quite skilled hunters and could be quite ferocious when needed. Kito's people, cause of their small size compared to other people they would often move around to keep out of the way and safe, living off mainly chickens sometimes sheep or goats if you could even afford to buy one, hunting wasn't something they could do well so any items not made from clay were rarely owned. That included any weapons expect for maybe a harden wooden tipped spear or two. Kito had heard pently of stores of bigger races who bother or rightout attacked all Fennec villages with sometimes deadly results. So pairing up with a Cheetah family or more was always seen a great advantage to accomplish for any Fennec village.
Kito had heard of other villages that were only made up of only the same types of people but they weren't friendly to other races. But there wasn't only just Fennecs and Cheetah in his village, there was Jackals . One family were Golden, parents and their new litter of six kits and the other two, mated couples who had no kits were Black-backs. Kito found them exciting and fun. They were quite music-inclined. His village was according to his father was set up with the Cheetah by his great-great grandfather and was settled near a towering pile of rocks that faced the South. A huge dune of sand semi encircled the village and less then half mile behind the Cheetah tents was the oasis. Further South of them, on foot a day's walk, he knew laid another couple villages, slightly larger and way beyond them, according to Kimbi, almost a month trip even with horses was the great capital city of Sarra. Kito had heard many a stories about the city and it often dreamt of going and seeing it. But he highly doubt he would. He was small, white Fennec Fox. He had a hard enough time finding himself comfortable in this small village. What would he do with himself in some great far away city?
Up ahead of him Kito saw the weather worn 10 foot tall stone pillar which was the marking of their village, it stood alone in a rather open area. The Cheetah tents were the nearest to it and they were the first to greet any passing outsiders. Kito's family tent was in the back, center of the other Fennec tents. This place also served as a meeting place for everyone. Banquets were held here during special events and holidays. Kito yipped loudly a greeting and to catch the attention of a group of mingling Fennecs and Cheetah youngsters. Among them he spied his older cousin Abel and slid to a stop beside him, panting and he sat up to look up and gave a toothy smile.
"Hey Abel! What are you doing today?" He asked hopeful.
Abel was sixteen years old. He was quite large for a Fennec Fox honestly. Most only stood between four-foot to four and a half. He was closer to five-feet tall. He was slightly built and good looking, a sandy golden color with almost white markings, black tipped ears and tail. He was dressed in similar pants and a deep green shirt like Kito but they were much nicer, better quality. He also sported leg wraps but on his arms he wore leather gauntlets. And on his left ear he had a shiny silver ball earring.
"Hey look, it's the cottenball."
A mocking voice said loudly for everyone around to hear and laughter quickly sounded. Kito laid his ears down. He hated the nickname he had been given by the other kits and cubs which they used to tease him with when he was with them.
"Shut up Simms!" Abel barked, frowning slightly in warning at the other male Fennec Fox, who was yellow color but around his same age. The laughter quickly died down. It was quiet for a few moments before simple chatter started up amongst the group. There was about twenty young people gathered together, an even mix of Cheetah and Fennec but Kito was the only young one among them. He honestly preferred to be around them then those his age. They teased him for sure but they knew their limits. The other eight year olds didn't and they proved on a few occasions to be very cruel in their comments at him.
"Hey Kito. Finally awake I see. I was almost going to leave," Abel said to him friendly. "Me and a few of the guys are going to head out on the rocks for a while."
"Really? Could I come with you?" Kito's ears perked up tall and alert.
"Aw Abel, he's just going to fall behind and get dirty if he comes along. Let the cottenball stay home, he can play with the girls. I'm sure they won't mind dressing him up in some colorful robes."
It was Simms again. Some young people laughed. A few of the girls giggled loudly. And Kito felt his ears start to get hot.
Abel frowned again at him and let out a growl and he looked threateningly as to move towards him."I said shut up Simms. My cousin keeps up better then you. You always start panting your tail off before we even get to the first ravine, you fat furball."
A loud burst of laughter and a couple hoots came from those sitting beside Simms as they eldowed him. He was cleared peeved off by that retort. But he fell silent. Abel gave a snort then stepped forward to his left, held out his hand to a male Cheetah sitting who without a word quickly passed to him a long metal tipped spear. He then got up to his feet.
"Alright, let get going," Abel turned around without a warning and strided away towards the large dune and towering rocks. Kito hurried after after him, the male Cheetah followed behind along with two others and three Fennecs including Simms.
A few girls shouted out sweetly sounding good luck wishes to Abel while others yelled out simple ones before going back to conversation.
Kito hurried to trot beside his cousin's left side. He was young enough to still get around on all fours comfortable, adults only went on all fours when they had no real choice but too like during a hunt chase (if they had no horse) or fighting. The male Cheetah had taken up matching Abel's stride on the other side. Kito recognized him as Kaleb, his cousin's best friend and son of Abasi, the Cheetah leader. Abel's father was Kito's uncle, Asim by marriage to his aunt, Eda his mother's eldest sister. Asim was the Fennecs leader. Kito's father would often share leadership duties.
Kaleb was taller then Abel, a good foot taller with a lean taut body and was almost eighteen. Adult Cheetahs were more six and half to seven feet tall. He was the first born son and very much prided by his father. He was bright yellow with black spots allover him, expect his forehead, back of his neck to in-between his shoulders and to his mid-back the spots had turned into stripes. He has a white lower muzzle, hands and paws and had markings that looked like 'eyes' on the back of his ears. Unlike the adult Cheetahs wore long colored flowing robes that completely covered them from head to tail end, often only their eyes and/or ears showed unless comfortable enough to remove their head covering; Kaleb wore a pair of long leather leggings, a simple embroidered vest and couple pendant necklaces. He carried in his right hand in a loose comfortable grip a spear, probably his height in length put together twice, the metal head that took up the last half gleamed in the sunlight. There was a few nicks on it. And wrapped around at the start of the metal spear tip was a bright braided rope. Only Cheetahs who have been a part of a battle had thoses, each red braid represented a single battle fought in.
Kito often wondered when Kaleb got his red braid, he remembered seeing it for much of his life but never got the nerve up to ask him. He could have asked Kaleb but he didn't want to bother his cousin with his curiosity. The other two Cheetahs who followed were from what Kito could remember were sons from Abasi's trusted friends but not their names. The Fennecs were Abel's friends, Sage, Marc and lastly Simms.
The eight of them started up the sand dune, it got a little harder to walk as they got closer to the the top of it. Kito started to pant as he trudged through the sand, no one really spoke, just some grunting and some grumbled until they reached the top and then after a brief pause slowly made their way down the other side. Kito passed longer at the top, looking back behind him, the village to him from this point always looked smaller and so far away. Was this how it felt when one left home, knowing they might never see it again? Did his godmother Kimbi feel this way when she left for the city?
"Kito!" A voice shouted behind him and it broke Kito out of his thoughts, he turned to look, the group had made it down the other side of the dune, and were standing around looking up at him. Abel waved at him before shouting again. "Hurry up!"
And without another look behind him; Kito half ran and slide down the dune to rejoin them, and any more thoughts on his home village were completely gone from his mind.