Black As Night
Prologue
Something awful. It was out there. No one knew what. But something was out there. And they knew. The chattering of the forests has ceased over the years. No great ones of the sky flew above. None of the mountains beasts let out their glorious sounds. The yammers of the plains, no longer. Not a breath stirred. No life. For something terrible had swept over these grand lands. A disease, a sickness. An epidemic. It coursed through the land, like poison. Sweeping over the forests and casting its shadow over the mountain, touching the skies and reaching the plains. Contaminating everything it could find and touch. This poison took over the body and mind. Not only that, but the soul as well. Driving the strong mad and killing the weak instantly. No cure was found for this poison. This epidemic. It took over as silent as a mountain breeze that traveled across its home. It was as fast as the chasing wind of the grand plains, striking like a venomous snake injecting it's poison in a large dose and let it slowly consume the animal.
The madness, it easily consumed the beast it was injected in, adding more and more fuel to the fire that burned. Casting it's grand coat across the beast until it had control. It had no conscience once consumed by the madness. It went on, no longer a beast of the lands and skies, but a monster. The demon within. Once consumed by this demon, it was impossible to come back. The life of that beast was taken over. And over time it just killed it. Dropping dead or tearing it's own self apart.
Were there any heros that could stop this? Strong enough to withstand it? Or would all the beasts, of sky and land, die? Those remaining, would they just perish as well? No, this could not happen. Who would tend the earth? Keeps it's lands rich with life, no life no soul. This madness could not devour it. For it was too great. Something must be out there, something to save it. Something to save themselves.
Raise there head, high above, soaring the skies as if they had wings. Prowling the grounds as if they had a body. Running the plains as if they had legs. Climbing the mountains as if they had balance. Hunting as if they had strength. Gathering as if the had a mind. Living as if they had a soul. Something had to be out there. The saviors, from this epidemic. Black as night.
Chapter 1
Night
A howl bit deep into the night. Many joined, singing fine notes into the air. Though, it was much less then before. Only three sang, what was left of the great Northern Forest pack. Slowly, they were dying off, one by one, the madness consumed them, swallowing them whole. Then the death. The horrid death. Dropping dead. Gone. They didn't want to see at anymore, the beasts were tired of it. Among their sorrowful howls, a loner almost a mile away joined them. It's howl long and deep. Full of memories and hurt. And hatred.
This ceased the packs howling, mourning, for their dead. They had believed they were the last of their kind. That deep impression they had, it shattered and for a moment, they were joyful, glad they weren't of the last. But a ravenous bark came after the deep howl and the joy shattered. Could it be another victim of the madness? They prayed it wasn't. But, most likely, it was, and they'd have to fight it if it came. Snapping it's neck as its venomous eyes looked into theirs with no soul, no show of living. It tore their hearts to see their loved ones no longer there. Just emptiness left.
With a bark of orders from the leader, worn with battle scars, they ran off, away from the lonesome howl and the ravenous bark that terrified them so. That madness. They knew the madness was after them now, hunting them down like it was just a fun game. Playing with their fragile minds. It laughed. They could hear it. In the wind. It's maniacal laughter. It shook their very soul and felt contaminated. They bit back their screams to the night as they ran, never stopping until they knew they were safe. But, when would that be? When would they ever be safe? What was safety?
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How could they? Think he was of the madness? Ha! The madness could not have affected him. Well, his body anyways. The great dark wolf raised head to the moon and stared at hit, his amber eyes bright and menacing. Deep within them there was sorrow. A sorrow he wished to not relive. It was wrapped around his heart, but was in the far depths of his brain, never wanting to be reached. Never wanting to be pulled to the surface of his consciousness.
His tail brushed across the ground as he sat. He didn't want to admit it, but, he was lonely. His grand head rested upon his thick paws, strong enough to knock down tree. A bit of an exaggeration. His hind legs sprawled across the dirt, powerful enough to launch him up a mountain with great bounds and leaps.
He let out a yawn and soon, speech came to his giant muzzle; "What has become of this world." It was very short and it would leave a deep impression on whoever heard it. The feeling was in his voice, almost as deep as his howl. "Why is it this way."
As the wolf tried to get sleep these questions remained on his mind, stirring things he wished not to be stirred. Pulling at things that did not want to be tugged. A soft whimpered echoed from him as the brightness of his amber eyes closed, almost shutting out all light surrounding him, except for the gleaming half moon above his head. His glorious head.
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The night dragged on, the wolf, unable to sleep. His mind whirred and buzzed. It felt like he was being targeted for something. Something awful, or good. He had no idea. It drove him just a bit mad. But not madness mad. Just, curious mad. What a strange thing to think. Was he part of some bigger picture? He just felt... important some how. He wasn't normal. Once upon a time, he was leader of a grand pack. He controlled the whole forest. And one day he had just... left. He felt as if it were the right thing to do, as if something had told him, a whisper among the wind, has told him to leave. And he had listened and followed without a word.
He felt at home where ever he was. As long as he was with the wind beside him and the moon protecting him. Upon this thought, it brought peace among his mind. The moon was watching over him. That's all he needed to know to fall asleep. And with that, not long after, the beast was soothed, a light snore rumbling through him like ripples in a river as he slept in a deep sleep.
