Vessel and Control
Vessel and Control
Ch.1 The Spark
A Drunken Wolf Production
The day was finally at hand for Orin to get his vessel. Every creature in the village his age recieved an otter at the start of vessel training. He had been so jealous watching his father and his sturdy little otter changing the wooden furniture around or making dinner just by waving a paw. The vessel, or Vespin as he was named, was the source of his dad's energy. The pair had been matched since his father turned 15 many years ago and had never left his side. He learned at school an old otter named Malani discovered the secret of storing energy into himself during the great wars long ago. His ability to store became so great it threatened to consume him if he didn't disperse it. A red husky from the village, now known as Lord Sanji, found a way to control the energy and released it in diferent powerful ways. Together they became known as the Vessel and the Control. The dog was able to move objects by focusing the energy and in time learned how to do the simplist tasks with the use of Malani. The two became legends using what they had mastered to defend their land. They later founded the Vessel and Control Academy teaching the lucky few otters that could learn and the Controls they were matched with.
Orin's stood in the mirror tugging his new battle robe over his head. All students were required to where the protective garment while attending the academy. The black fabric stretched as he pulled it down over his ears and snout. He smiled excitedly fixing himself in the mirror. A red medium sized husky with the same happy face peered back. He was a direct desendant of Lord Sanjin himself and was ready to be a famous Control. By the time the final school bell tolled today, he would be one in the newest group of vessels. He straitened his head fur and grabbed his book bag cramming "The history of The Control" text book into his bag. He had studied well and knew he still had to spark with an otter before he could be like his father. The larger husky decided to become a doctor after finishing the academy. His ability to control the flow of energy, precisly pin pointing its direction where he needed, made him the best person for the job. He could accurately stitch a wound with out looking as long as he knew where to sow. The larger canine was down stairs in the kitchen seated at the table next to Vespin reading a new patient file. With out looking up his father set the table.
The wooden cabinet doors opened as plates, glasses, and silver ware flew across the room finding its designated resting place. A carton of orange juice hovered over three glasses filling them to the top. With out spilling a drop the glases seperated landing infront of them. Bacon, eggs, and toast skidded from the pans and toaster dropping lightly onto their plates as the napkins along with salt and pepper shakers gravitated to thier spots in the middle. The cooking pans slid into the sink as a butter knife dipped its self in butter and bathed across the bread slices. The freezer opened next freeing the ice tray. It floated, bent, and freed six cubes. Two a piece each slipped into their drinks before the ice tray returned and the door shut. Putting the file down and lowering his reading glasses the husky smiled fondly down at him.
"Your mother would have been proud. Today's the big day huh? It seems like it was just yesterday when Vespin and I were matched". "The spark we created when we gripped paws blasted a hole through the side of the academy wall," he said proudly winking at the brown otter.
Vespin nodded with a light grin on his face. The small otter didn't talk much. Orin just figured it took a lot of concenration to focus in the energy his father needed to pull out of him. He munched bacon quietly, his rudder tail swishing behind him through the tail gap.
"I can't wait dad. I hope I get a strong vessel like uncle Darden. I wouldn't mind a focus vessel like Vespin either," Orin replied ruffling the otter's short brown head fur.
His uncle Darden was a pretty cool husky. His green furred otter vessel stored massive amounts of energy allowing his control high volumes of destructive power. Uncle Darden dyed his fur green to match and the two have been called "Green Death" ever since protecting the village against any threats. Vespin may not have been able to give his father large amounts of energy acess but with father's precise control the two could fly. It took great deals of concentration from both vessel and control to flow the energy back and forth allowing them lift. Orin was so jealous. Even as he devoured eggs and toast he was admiring the pair.
The academy rested directly in the center of the village like a perfect pearl on a pillow. As Orin jogged closer he could see the great monolithic black stone building in the distance. Its high carved battlement circled the outside side with a beautiful carved stone parpet lining the inside wall. As he approached he could see a group in battle robes walking towards the building. Recognizing his two best friends Kya and Berry in the group, waved calling out to them.
"Hey guys. Wait up," he called tail wagging fast behind him.
Kya, a slender female silver and black stripped badger, looked over her shoulder wiggling two fingers back. Berry, her twin brother, looked back and waved a stripped paw high above his head.
"Hey Orin, hurry up or we'll be late on the first day," he said jogging in place.
The husky picked up speed grouping in with the others as they pushed into the large academy doors.
They filed into the large building blinking into the feint darkness. They continued staring looking around until an ancient looking white lioness padded down the hall way towards them. Behind her the hall continued stretching back with large doors as far as the eye could see. She was wearing a white version of thier battle robes and walked forward with the aid of a cane. She called them around her ushering them close with one white paw. She looked them over and spoke. Her voice soft as the summer wind.
"Welcome my children. This is the Vessel and Control Academy. I am your headmistress Lorena and the current nurse of this academy. The eight of you have reached the age where you will be given your life vessel to train with. The otter you spark with will be your companion for life, so learn well young ones," she finished as a tall grey furred female otter approached.
Her battle robe was diffrent than thiers. Instead of being black or white and stretchy, hers was dark blue and denser looking. She stopped beside the elder who patted her head lovingly.
"This is my vessel, Sarah. She has been with me through many tough battles. Thanks to her concentration, we've been able to use her stored energy and flow it to heal wounds and injuries. I hope to see you all train hard helping your land," she said making sure Orin and the twins in particular were listening to that part. "Follow me."
She marched them down the long stone hallway lit by decorately carved wooden otters acting as torch holders. Tapestries on the walls were beautifuly sewn together with great detail depicting the faces of some of the greatest Vessel and Control groups. Turning a hallway they stopped behind the lioness as she pointed up to a larger well stitched work of art. A large red husky and his vessel a blue furred otter, could be seen fending off a small armed armry. Underneath the description "Lord Sanjin and Malani against the west". This was his ancestor he thought looking proudly up at the red husky. One day he would be just as famous as him.
"These our are founders Lord Sanjin and his vessel Milani. Together they carved this building and layed the foundation so you can build upon it in the years to come. Shall we", she said turning and continuing down the arching walk way.
They reached a fork in the hall way leading up to three large chambers. She raised a paw to the door and it slid open slowly. They marched behind the lioness into the chamber single filed as the door slid closed behind them. Inside the chamber a large desk sat far back against the wall along with the desks leaving the floor looking oddly bare. Over head, a wooden hanging candle chandelie. It flickered brightly casting shadows against the dark walls. The walked to the middle of the room, Orin a little nervous, as the door opened again. Walking quickly inside followed by nine diferent furr and sized otters, a large black wolf padded in. The wolf bowed to the head master who smiled sweetly bowing back.
"I leave you to Master Frell," she said resting a paw on Sarah's head. They padded out quietly and the wolf pushed the door closed with a paw.
He looked at the new group and pointed a finger at Berry. The badger dumbly pointed at himself getting an angry nod from the wolf. The badger nervously stepped forward twiddling his index fingers together. The group of otters sat down leaving only a red one standing beside the black wolf.
"I'm your teacher, Master Frell first years. I dont repeat myself. If you study hard you can do all sorts of things. This being one of them," he said raising a paw lifting the badger off his feet into the air.
Berry yelped flailing his arms and legs as the crowd wowed and awed. He spun his finger causing the badger to twirl in the air like a spinning top. He flew the badger around the room before dropping him softly to his feet. Berry wobbled a little catching his balance giving the thumbs up to his sister. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the teacher. The wolf stepped forward and summoned the otter's forward.
"You three from our village and you five from the south village will be getting one of these eight vessels. These are the only eight vessels not bound to a control. Each is a year younger than you. They are not your pets. You only control the flow of energy from your vessel. Once you spark you are bound for life. There are no do overs," Master Frell said spreading the otters out. "Line up and grip paws with your life vessel."
Kya stepped forward first walking forward infront of a strong looking red female otter. She extended her paw as the otter extended hers. Thier paws clasped together and they waited.
"Try again. The spark is instant. Everyone try," he said coaxing the others to try.
Orin excitedly walked up to a green otter and extended his paw. He hopped the otter would be a vessel just like his uncle's. They clasped paws but nothing happened. A blue female otter tapped Berry and offered her paw. He blushed red and shook his head.
"I'm kind of hoping for a male partner. No offense," he said scratching the back of his head.
"You don't get to choose by gender. Grab her paw," The wolf ordered.
There was a loud bang behind them as Kya locked paws with a silver furred male otter. Thier paws glowed brightly as the connection of Vessel and Control was made. The remaininng seven cheered as the light faded from the area.
"See, that was cake wasn't it," Master Frell laughed surveying the rest.
Orin kept clasping paws in turn but was getting no where. Bangs and glowing was starting to go off all around him as the bind between vessel and Control was made. Berry went through all the males failing to bind and relunctantly clasped paws with the blue female otter. His fur stood on end as thier paws met like lightning had struck him. The spark vibrated the floor as thier paws glowed linking their destinies. Orin watched as the second to the last free vessel, a strong looking orange male clasped paws with the last member of the south village. They sparked and glowed getting a happy clap from the crowd. The last otter left stood infront of Orin. A caramel colored male extended his paw. Orin was ready to reach his destiny and obtain fame. He clasped paws with the otter and closed his eyes.
Orin blinked for a second opening his eyes. There wasn't a spark or a glow. Orin broke his grip staring at his paw. He shook it and clasped the otter's paw again. Nothing.
"Wow, who would have thought the son of Julius the village doctor and a direct desendant of Lord Sanji wouldn't be a control," the teacher said shaking his head in disbelief.
The room fell silent as all eyes stared at the husky. He stared at his paws as if they were defective then hung his head. He had failed to become a control.
"Come, we need to see the headmistress. The rest of you familiarize yourself with your new companion," Master Frell said heading to the door with his red otter in tow.
"He sat outside the headmistress' door listening to his father and the lioness talk. "Maybe he's a late bloomer headmistress," his father said on the other side.
"Every Control on record was bound to his vessel within the first day. You know that Julius," whe sighed.
Orin put his head in his paws tearing up. He would never be famous like his ancestors. He stood up and sighed walking down the hallway to the front door. If he wasn't going to be a Control, there was no need to be there. He winded the dark hall so depressed he walked right into his would be vessel otter knocking him down. He mumbled his apoligies reaching down and helping the otter to his feet.
"Master Frell says i'm supposed to be your vessel. We have to stick together," he said dusting off his blue battle robe.
"I'm not a control. You'll find one or something," the red dog said opening the large front and sliping out.
The husky sighed laying in bed holding his paw up staring at it. His whole life he wanted to be a control and be like his family. He wanted to be a famous defender like his uncle Darden and his vessel getting a cool nick name. Every villager in the four cirlce nation knew of his family due to Lord Sanji being his ancestor. He would shame his family if he was the first in the line to to fail. The sun was starting to set slowly changing the colors in the sky from blue to orange, purple and pink. It was eight pm and he knew in four hours he would miss his chance forever to form a bond. He didin't have the heart to face the twins earlier as they stopped by with thier otter vessels.
Tap. Tap.... Tap
The husky sat up angrily and looked out the window. He had already sent Kya and Berry home. He didn't want to see thier proud faces. Down below the caramel otter stood holding pebbles. The husky opened the window sticking his head out.
"Leave me alone will ya," he yelled slamming the window down.
He heared the front door open and close. The husky rolled his eyes and sat up hearing the dual paw steps up the stairs. A knock came at the door and he pretended he wasn't there. The door pushed up and his father's fluffy red head peeked in. Floating above his head was a stack of files he was working on.
"Orin, son," Your vessel is here to see you."
"I failed dad. We didn't bind. He's not my vessel," he said rolling over showing his back to the pair.
The husky smiled lightly and pushed the otter into the room closing the door behind him. Orin sighed turning over eyeing the furry creature in front of him. He was a little shorter than him and looked too small for the large battle robe that he was wearing. The husky sat up and placed his paws on either side of him.
"I'm sorry, I guess its not your fault. I'm Orin," he said extending a paw.
The otter padded forward and shook it. "My name is Riley," he said sitting on the floor. He looked around the room seeing the fan made tapestries of the famous Vessel and Controls of the past.
"Why do you want to be a control so bad," the otter asked sitting indian style.
"I want to be famous like my dad and our ancestors. I want everyone to know my name," he said with a smile.
The otter looked offended crossing his paws. "That's awefuly selfish," he said simply. "I became a vessel to help a control save people and do great things to help our village. Fame from strength dosen't make a person loved."
The husky sighed scooting to the floor. He understood what the otter meant and sighed softly. He was glad he wasn't the otter's control now. He really was selfish thinking of fame. The whole point of being a control was to protect the village and make it safe for everyone to live in peace.
"I guess wanting to be strong so i could be famous cost me my dream. I'll try to be less selfish in the future. I'm going to head to bed now. Let me show you out Riley," he said standing up and heading to the door.
The otter nodded rising to his feet walking behind the dog through the door down the stairs. Vespin and his father were sitting at the table going over up coming precedures they had to perform as the pair passed. Orin escorted the otter to the door and leaned against the open post.
"Maybe will see each other around. You better make a good vessel some day," he said extending a paw.
"Of course," the otter said shaking his paw.
The spark of thier paws meeting was so massive every window in the vicinity shattered to the floor. Both thier fur stood on end as thier paws glowed blindingly bright binding the two together. He could feel Riley's enourmous energy slowly circle him as the bond was made. Julius stuck his head out of the front door, his lenses missing from his frames. He smiled as Vespin stood beside him. He had done it. He was finally a control.
Vessel and Control
Ch.1 The Spark
A Drunken Wolf Production
Lonewolf- I forgot to have Rego proof read. I was 5% sober when i finished the last draft last night