The Fracture - Chapter 2: Of The Burrow
#2 of Fracture
Far to the east in the land of Furrani, in a corner of the Highpeeks moutain range, was a valley of rolling green hills, as far the eye could see, with trees tall and proud scattered across the vast expanse of the Burrow, the birthplace and first land in Furrani to ever be a land of peace and prosperity, a land where blood was never shed, or wars and conflicts never fought. Peaceful inhabitants were the rabbits and lapins of the Burrow, a interconnected community and a pleasent land for wandering travellers, traders, or lost anthro's. Surrounded was the settlement with a great river that flowed along the far border of the burrow, with arcing bridges of chisled and finely crafted stone stretching out over the body of water to connect the further lands.
The small individual burrows of the many families dug into the rolling hills, beautifully constructed homes of comfort and warmth, fine wooden walls and doorways that spaciously accomodated the small inhabitants and their belongings. Intricately carved into the walls were patterns and decorations, an alluring addition for wondering travellers to visit and admire the hidden beauty. Linked where the burrows to eachother by cobblestone pathways that stretched across the length of the Burrow, converging together at the centre, they formed a large open area in which many anthro's made their trades in the Market, from food to gems brought in from the Mountain Dwellings, and other resources traded by different wanderers.
Tall trees stood proud around the heart of the Burrow, their leaves and branches providing much adored shade from the burning sun above - the golden glow of which descended over nearly every inch of the great land, the warmth welcomed heavily after the recent Winter and its accompaning Blizzards from the Frostborne Mountains of the Northen region. Wandering across the expanse of the Burrow were it's inhabitants - rabbits or all different fur colours, patterns, sizes and the like - walking to and from their homes or the centre market place, friendly greetings exchanged constantly as they passed each other. Laughter, jokes and stories were told between friends as they gathered around one of the many benches and tables, intertwined also were words and curious comments about their most frequent visitor, a Giftsoul member of the Canine family whom frequented their homeland with wonderous trades and items in store.
Separated from the crowds, a young male stood perched up atop a branch of a smaller tree closer to the bridge into the Burrow, electric blue eyes scanning the land for any sign of the Giftsoul, whom in recent visits he had grown into a friend with. With a creamy white muzzle and underside, and matte grey fur, the rabbit idled against the branch, clearly bored out of his mind as he juggled a small pebble between his paws, occansionally allowing a small yawn to escape his lips as the day rolled by. Few hours past since he climbed up to his perch, but still longer was he waiting here today than past visits of the Magic wielder.
As minutes lolled onwards, time silently ticking by, his ears naturally perked up at the sound he had accompanied to the arrival of any entering their land; the wooden gate that was watched by the local Hyena's of the Packwill - protectors and watchers of the forest and woodlands. For many years these Hyena's have protected the Burrow and neighboring settlements of the woodlands and fields, coupled with their Jackal companions, ensuring the saftey from the threats of the DarkLurkers; dragons long told over centuries, the stories and tales used to frighten the children of the lands. Borne from the first Fracture were the DarkLurker's, feralised creatures of a forgotten breed of anicent Furrani.
Lost track of time had the rabbit, for what felt like mere seconds - when the reality was minutes - the Wanderer appeared over the bridge - a German Shepherd male whose features were easily recognizable. A snout much shorter than any other member of his kind, and a tail much longer and fluffier. Held under his left arm was a chest much like those in the houses of the Burrow, silver and covered with a ornate design pattern; while equipped in his right paw was a magical staff of metal with intricate engravings - symbols of the Order etched perfectly into the reflective metal - and the tip of the staff housed a crystal as clear as glass and smoothly crafted into the opening of his staff - the end of which appeared like his symbol of the Order - four spines jutting equally from a metal ring that held tightly onto the crystal.
"Celos!" As he called for his friend, he dropped from the branch and landed flawlessly on his bottom paws, running to embrace the other male in a long-awaited hug. As best the hug could be returned, the German Shepherd responded in kind with a greeting of his own.
"Greetings Ashear."
"Where have you been? I've been waiting here for so much longer for you to turn up.. You're really late." Ashear looked up at the taller male, eyes filled with curiousity.
A chuckle left the canines maw as he patted the rabbit on his head. "I arrive when I mean too."
"If you say.. So what news?" Questioned the rabbit as they walked the path to the Burrow.
"What is there to tell? Furrani is not much different than last I visited here. Trades are still made between the Canidaen and Felinel empires, peace still upheld. Not much has changed, even Packwill haven't had to deal with DarkLurkers for many months now. For which I am very grateful to the Aetherial for."
"You know Celos, a trader, when she first visited our homeland - she believed that the natural beauty and the peace here was influcenced by the Gods and Goddess'. You think she has a point?"
His face dawned into a thinking expression for seconds before he utilized his vocals. "Perhaps, in my many years of wandering all over Furrani, no land has ever seen even half as much peace as the Burrow. Did, by chance you happen to catch her name? And of what breed was she? I may have met her at some time along the roads."
"She was a Jaguar.. I believe she went by the identity of Celeial. Does that reflect?"
"Celeial?" Celos tasted the name on his tounge, thinking for some short seconds before he came to a conclusion, his expression saddening notably as his eyes drained slightly of their glowing colour. "Celeial... Her name is familiar..."
Noting the change in his tone and expression, Ashear was instantly aware that her fate wasn't a good fate to endure - if it was the same girl he was thinking about. "What happened?"
"...DarkLurker's caught her before me or Packwill could do anything... She was the last catch they got before they disappeared from Furrani."
With a noticeably shudder the rabbit moved closer beside his Giftsoul companion, the mere mention of a DarkLurker clearly an uncomfortable thought process for the young being. "Poor girl.." He muttered, clearly pitying the unfortunate female's fate. Tales foretold about what the victims of a DarkLurker endured, brutal dismemberment and excruciating pain - the screams of which could be heard echoing in the night, so faint and distressed. Many a night had Ashear laid asleep, tossing and turning as the stories of the DarkLurkers flashed false images into his closed eyes.
"Packwill tried to find her, they never did. No more of this talk, how has the Burrow been since my last visit?" Noticeable was Celos' desire to revert from the topic of the DarkLurker's, with reason good and clear regardless of the spoken words.
"No, since your last visit nothing has changed.. Well.. Nothing massive."
"By that you mean?" Celos pursued the topic of change, curious as to the changes the Burrow had seen in the months of his parting from, what was effectively his second home.
"Ahh, there was a Wanderer who entered here not a month after you left Celos.. He was... Strange.. To say the least."
"Strange in what manner my friend?" His ears perked up, signalling the rabbit of his full attention to the words he would share.
"He dressed all in black, I believe the cloak he wore, draped in DarkLurker scales, as black as the night was his outfit. Across his chestplate I do recall two small axes, and he spoke so softly and smoothly."
"What words did he say?"
"I don't recall exactly, but it was something of the lines to do with the DarkLurkers, something about their God.. Do they even have a God or Goddess in the Aetherial?" Taking on once again a contemplating expression, Celos silently recalled the tales of his Order and the other Order's of Magic and other craft, recollecting on the Gods and Goddess' of the Aetherial in hopes to come across one that may be deemed the DarkLurker's God or Goddess, but from all the names and their titles in the Aetherial, noting that none held the power to control the feralised creatures of the Woodlands.