FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The village was empty, luckily for me. I had seen a patch of forest nearby when moving to the elder's hut, so I made for there, as it seemed like a good place to hide. Thanks to the feast, I had - so I thought - disappeared into the night. Once in the woods I began to first look for a nearby river, or stream. I had just begun to despair, and to tire, when I heard the sound of rushing water. All my energy restored, I ran and ran until I came upon a large, clear river, rushing merrily through the small bit of forest around me. I knew that the hunters from the village would likely be after me, and they would check the area near rivers, because any normal creature under the sun needs water to survive. I decided I had time to look around and try to find some of the plants my mother had shown to me, because for a while they would likely be my only source of food. I managed to grab a few cattail roots before suddenly I heard noises. I ran quickly to a tree and climbed it, using my small claws to help grip as I scurried up the decent sized tree. I pulled myself up to the lower boughs as I heard voices approach, and pressed against the tree, hoping the shadows and the leaves would hide me. Two tall lithe figures with spears came within sight, they caught up to me quicker than I thought they would. They bent down, and I realized in shock and horror that I had completely forgotten about the tracks I'd leave behind, leading... straight to the tree I was hiding in. I pressed even further into the tree, hoping against hope they wouldn't find me. They walked up to the tree, and glanced at each other, then I heard them talking, one saying he wasn't going up there, and the other saying he wouldn't either. Then one of them called up into the tree, saying, "We know your in there! If you come down now it'll be all the easier for you!" I didn't move, because they didn't want to climb, which likely meant they wouldn't look very hard. One of them grumbled to the other, then started climbing fairly easily despite his earlier protest. I curled up into a ball, hoping against hope he wouldn't find me. "Aye!" The other hunter called up, to my delight. "He's probably gone through the treetops, they seem thick enough." The other nodded, took one last look, and climbed back down. "Well, he'll have to get down somewhere, he's not a bloody squirrel. We will head deeper, one final patrol circle, and then call it off, nobody has to know it came from our village." The other one shrugged, and they started walking further into the trees, out of my sight and eventually my hearing as well. I slowly uncurled, half-choking in a sob of relief. I decided to stay in the tree a bit longer, then move north-east, instead of due north like I had been. About an hour passed before I finally got enough nerves to get down from the tree. I grabbed a few more cattails, made a quick meal, and started moving, this time remembering to brush away my tracks with a leafy tree branch while continuing. I wondered why they were chasing me, and why they hated me, mother had always looked away sorrowfully whenever I asked why I couldn't go outside. Well, here I was, with many people chasing me. If they hadn't been half-hearted about it I don't think I could have escaped even the first bit.

From here, there isn't too much to tell. I headed deeper into the forest until finally I broke free, wandered for a while, hiding from towns and villages for years, running from anyone who saw me, training my body and my mind for running, and firing a small shortbow I managed to make. Until I had found a nice spot, a river going through a small forest, around which the occasional hunter passed, but otherwise it was quiet, and I built a shelter there, a large wooden platform in one of the biggest trees. It's peaceful here, and I've managed to make trips to nearby human towns, where they don't understand the curse of the black cat. They've taught me a few things, including about clothes, money, and a few weapons, as well as teaching me how to read! Oh yes, I almost forgot about Landon. Landon is a tabaxi hunter who managed to stumble upon my platform. He was startled at first, but calmed down after a bit. He asked which village I was from, and told me about the one he was from. It sounded nice when you weren't cursed. He said his village didn't believe in that, and that their elder believed it was all falsehoods for idle hands. So I got lucky that the one tabaxi who stumbled upon me was the only one who didn't believe I was cursed. He comes by whenever he winds up hunting in this area, and we help each other. He supplied me with an actual hunting bow, capable of taking down a boar if shot correctly, and I showed him all the good hunting spots I had found. Only other things that happened is I bought two scimitars, which I practice with regularly, as well as my bow, and I bought a journal! It's been... interesting, recalling everything that happened over the last twenty-one years, but I've finally finished.

Miros stood up, and closed the journal, breathing deeply. He really had come a long way in twenty-one years. He wondered if his mother would be proud of him now, and what happened to her after his escape. Suddenly, he heard a voice, "Hey! Let down the rope, you lazy bum!" And Miros walked out to let Landon up, excited to see his friend again.

END OF PROLOGUE