What is a Juggalo?
This story takes place millennia after the Crumbling; man-kind has just regained steam-punk level technology.
What is a Juggalo?
The Day Log of Grimm
The blade has bitten deeper than I originally thought; I fear I will not make it back to Shangri-La, so in haste I make this my deathnote.
I don't know how went so awry, one minute; I am going about my day, the next people are trying eviscerate me, while I escaped them, only to find the others laying in a pools of there own blood; We were betrayed; I realized. At that moment a dagger was plunged up under my right shoulder blade, I rolled into the blade surprising my would-be assassin and allowing my escape and sealing her fate. I will try to recount all that has happened up to now.
SHIT!!! They are right outside, I fear that they will find me if I make ANY noise at all I will try to finish later.
Grimm of the Black Flame
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-Seven Weeks Earlier-
This is a farce!
The "special" mission The Seventeen have given us is nothing but a death trap, and the only reason we were given it is because we hold to Lord Canti, not them. I mentioned this to him and he said he knew, and there was nothing he could do to stop them, because they fear him, not him personally but what he stands for, the old ways of the Hatchet. So to prevent him from becoming too powerful, they have decided to rid him of his greatest allies, we seven.
What's more he wants me to bring Itsuki with me on this mission. Like I don't have enough to worry about on this job. When I asked him why all he would say was it would be better for us if I did. While its true furs are not well like among most human; especially the Sukanku, the skunk people. But those who formed the Hatchet were the unwanted ones; therefore we treat everyone the same, or so I was taught and told. Just what is really going on?
Grimm of the Black Flame
"Grimm"
"Grimm!"
"What?" I ask as Itsuki glares at me,
"Guess what I heard at the market today?"
"What"
"You know what I'm talking about."
-Sigh- "No I don't." I stated
"I heard you went to the slave quarter today, well?"
"Well, what?" I ask
"Well, did you? You know how I feel about slavers." she asks
"No, I went to an auction house; I've been looking for something and I got a line on it, OK?" I respond
"Oh! Well, did you get it?"
"No, it was the wrong item."
"I'm sorry, did you do any thing else interning today?"
I sigh real big and just start in on what The Seventeen has done; and what Lord Canti said and trying to decide how to pull and get us all back alive; since, I was made ringmaster for this mission.
"What are you going to do?" Itsuki asks
"If I can get that item; that would solve at least two of my problems."
"I meant about us?"
"I know, that's what I'm talking about."
***Two Days later***
Your "Item" has come in at last, Master. The auction master says.
"We put it in the back room here, sir"
"Thank you, you can leave now."
"But Master, your item is rather dangerous."
I turn to look at him and say "Do you think I can not handle it?" I ask dangerously
"N-N-no S-Sir I-it just took five of my best men to get it in there."
"Really?" I ask interested
"Yes, one got a broken arm," he states "the others were scratched to all hell."
"I will be fine, thank you, you may leave."
"As you wish." He says as he turns to leave, as I walk in the room.
My "Item" is chained to the wall across from the door.
"You know who I am?"
"My new master."
"What is your name?"
"What?"
"What is your name?" I ask slowly.
"Yuna" She states.
"Well than, Yuna I have a question for you; Do you know why I am here; and didn't just have you delivered to my crypt?" I ask
She stops glaring at me and cocks her head to the side in thought; after about five minutes she asks "Why?"
"I have a offer for you." I state
"What is it?" she asks with a curiosity that belies her feline heritage.
"My offer is this, I need someone that I can trust to protect someone; is that person you?" I ask
"...What do I get in return?"
I look her straight in the eye and say "your freedom."
****Two Hours Later****
"So we're agreed then; in return for your freedom you will swear featly to me, and in doing so allows you to carry out my wishes and protect my mate."
"You are mated to a fur?!" she asks incredibly.
"Do you have problem with that?" I ask angrily
"No, It's just rare to see that's all."
"Very well, let us leave now." I say
"That might be a problem."
"Why?"
"Well one, I'm still chained to the wall; and two, I'm nude."
"Yes, I forget about that, sorry; and two won't be a problem." I say as I unchain the manacle from her neck.
"So shall we go than?" I ask
"Lets." She says as we walk out of the auction house.
We have been walk for about ten minutes.
"You are a Lion, yes?"
"No, I'm a Puma."
"Oh, forgive my mistake."
She just waves it away, and keeps walking.
"What is your preferred weapon style?" The Master Weaponsmith asks.
"I don't know, what do you think Lord Grimm?"
"Well I would start with a pair of Deer Antler sabers, and a hand-axe."
Yuna nods at the weaponsmith to get the items I mentioned, I pay him and we walk out.
"Well now what? I got cloths, my mask, my weapons, is there anything else?" Yuna asks
"Now we head home; for you to meet your ward."
"But I don't know how to fight with weapons." She worries.
"You will soon enough.
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I spend the next fifteen minutes teaching Yuna our history as we walk back to my wagon.
"So what your saying is you knew about this "crumbling" of yours before it happened?" Yuna asks angrily.
"In a way yes, but we didn't know when it would happen." I explain to her.
"So why didn't you tell anyone about it; or, try to stop it?"
"Right, would you believe that time was going to crumble in to nothingness?" I ask.
She looks at me for a few seconds and replies "No" dejectedly.
"But you still could have done something." She insists.
"OK, Then how would you stop a being that exist both outside time AND death?" I queried.
Her ears slump back "I don't know but, I would have tried something."
"And that is precisely why I bought you; you don't give up. But enough of this we are almost there."
"I have one more question, is that ok?"
"Well you just asked it, but go on."
"How is it that you survived in large numbers but others didn't?"
"One our founder was visited by the Wraith in a dream and was told of its coming; and, of the lotus pod were we would be safe." I say as we come within earshot of the wagons.
"Stay here." I tell her as I walk into my wagon to see if Itsuki is inside.
"Well Itsuki not home, I so might as well start dinner, come help me." I tell Yuna.
"You do the cooking?" she asks amazed.
"Is that a problem?" I comment dangerously.
"No, It just cooking is female work, that all." She states.
"Yes, well I can't cook that well; so he does it." Says a figure just is the shadows of the forest.
Yuna jumps a foot in the air while spinning around to face the person behind her.
"Itsuki, there you are I was wondering were you went off to." I state.
"Sorry, I had Cid take me to the herbalist; I should have left a note. So who is this, finally decided to replace me, huh?"
Yuna looks from Itsuki to me worried then back to Itsuki. "N-N-NO!! I-I -I am j-just-"
We both roar with laughter, while Yuna looks like she is getting more confused by the second; all the while I am rolling on the ground.
"It was just a *snicker* joke, calm down *snicker*Yuna." I tell her as she is at the point of hyperventilating.
"Itsuki this is Yuna, Yuna ditto, she is going to be your bodyguard for now on." I tell Itsuki.
"But I like Cid, he is funny." She whines.
"I know, Cid has other work to do too, you know he can't look after you all the time. But Yuna can." I explain to her.
As I am doing the dishes, after dinner Itsuki and Yuna get to know each other better.
"So" Yuna asks "How did you two meet?"
"Well, Grimm has been with the Black Flame for fifteen-eighteen years now, so about fourteen years." Itsuki answers.
"I get him, but why aren't you living with your own people?" Yuna asks.
Itsuki sighs and says "When I was a child my village was struck with the Green Cough plague; I was sick with it, by the time I recovered I was blind and as the elders put it "useless as a female" and banished me to wander 'til I died. I was eight at the time, I wandered for two months before I ran into people; They were slavers." she says with such disgust in her voice it made me sick to my stomach.
"Do you mind if I ask you what you are? I have a cold so I can't smell anything."
"Master Grimm! Lord Canti wants to speak with you." Alex, Lord Canti's aid tells me.
"Thank you, Alex, tell him I will be there in a few moments."
"Itsuki, Yuna I have to go see Lord Canti, go to sleep in a bit we are leaving soon, OK?" I yell at them as I change to go see him.
"Yeah, sure." Itsuki answers back.
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"OK, let's go to bed." Itsuki says.
"Sure, do want me to help you inside?" Yuna asks.
"Thank you that will be helpful." Itsuki says as Yuna takes her by the hand and guides her to the wagon steps and in.
"Is there any thing else before I leave?" Yuna asks.
"Were are you going?!" Itsuki asks.
"Just sleep under the wagon that's all." Yuna tells her.
"Oh, Nonono you are going to sleep in the bed with us." Itsuki states.
"But its-"
"NO buts" Itsuki interrupts, "you are going to sleep in the bed."
"Yes, Mistress" Yuna says as she slips back in to her slave training; as she slips in to the bed.
"What was that mistress crack about?" Itsuki demands.
"Grimm didn't tell you?" Yuna asks.
"No, he did not." Itsuki says wearily.
"I was a slave; until he bought my freedom."
Itsuki give a shrill growl and says "Oh! He is going to get when he gets home. "
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"Are you sure that is wise?" I ask
"The Seventeen may have sent you on this mission but they don't need to know your route there, nor do I." states Lord Canti.
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I am new at this, so please be gentle and please no flames. If you want to flame just remember I am a Axe-murdering clown