A short work of fiction
This is the first part of a story I wrote about anthropomorphic animals (cats and mice) at war.
A golden light washed over the Nara Fields as the sun crept out of its mountain resting place. Bodies, dressed in the finest, most protective battle armor available, were scattered across the ground, some intact, some disfigured horribly. Blood and gore stained the wheat grass. Swords, axes and spears of all kinds lay next to their owners in a heap. One figure, however, was still standing. A mysterious stranger from the East, dressed in a black gi with a red mask covering his face. His eyes were sharp and yellow, predatory and serious. Black pointed ears and a tail gave his race away: he was a Neko, one of the enemies of the Mau Empire of the West. He walked along the dirt path, stopping every once in a while to inspect the bodies of his fallen comrades to pay his respects. The Mau are excellent fighters, he remarked on his way to the border. I must find out the secret to their technique.
He had heard of a certain temple the Mau used to train fighting monks that could destroy even steel with their bare hands. Razing it to the ground would put a real dent in their morale, and would please the Shogun as well. He smiled as he marched towards the tollgate. A Mau guard came out, holding out his paw to halt him. “Hey you! Toll is 10 silver pieces. You don't look like you have enough to pay.” The mysterious man laughed and took off his mask. “Oh, that won't be necessary. I am an ambassador from Kai, the East country. I have total diplomatic immunity during our countries' ceasefire by order of your Emperor.” He handed the guard what looked like official documents stating what he had told them. “Yeah, bullshit! Who do you think you are, anyway?” “I am Jago of the Moon Clan. If you don't step aside to let me pass, I will have to use force.” “Well come on then, tough guy!!” The guard rushed at him with a spear, but Jago did not flinch, he merely swatted it away with metal claws that came out of his sleeve. His other clawed hand stabbed right through the mouse man's exposed neck, spraying blood everywhere, causing his eyes to grow large and his pupils to shrink as he fell to the ground with a most horrible look on his face. The other guard standing by saw this and in panic, raised the gate. “If you tell anyone about this incident,” the cat ninja warned, “Your death will be even more violent.” And with that, he covered his face one more in the red cloth and wiped the claws off, then walked into the bustling market city of Maukensten undisturbed.
A golden light washed over the Nara Fields as the sun crept out of its mountain resting place. Bodies, dressed in the finest, most protective battle armor available, were scattered across the ground, some intact, some disfigured horribly. Blood and gore stained the wheat grass. Swords, axes and spears of all kinds lay next to their owners in a heap. One figure, however, was still standing. A mysterious stranger from the East, dressed in a black gi with a red mask covering his face. His eyes were sharp and yellow, predatory and serious. Black pointed ears and a tail gave his race away: he was a Neko, one of the enemies of the Mau Empire of the West. He walked along the dirt path, stopping every once in a while to inspect the bodies of his fallen comrades to pay his respects. The Mau are excellent fighters, he remarked on his way to the border. I must find out the secret to their technique.
He had heard of a certain temple the Mau used to train fighting monks that could destroy even steel with their bare hands. Razing it to the ground would put a real dent in their morale, and would please the Shogun as well. He smiled as he marched towards the tollgate. A Mau guard came out, holding out his paw to halt him. “Hey you! Toll is 10 silver pieces. You don't look like you have enough to pay.” The mysterious man laughed and took off his mask. “Oh, that won't be necessary. I am an ambassador from Kai, the East country. I have total diplomatic immunity during our countries' ceasefire by order of your Emperor.” He handed the guard what looked like official documents stating what he had told them. “Yeah, bullshit! Who do you think you are, anyway?” “I am Jago of the Moon Clan. If you don't step aside to let me pass, I will have to use force.” “Well come on then, tough guy!!” The guard rushed at him with a spear, but Jago did not flinch, he merely swatted it away with metal claws that came out of his sleeve. His other clawed hand stabbed right through the mouse man's exposed neck, spraying blood everywhere, causing his eyes to grow large and his pupils to shrink as he fell to the ground with a most horrible look on his face. The other guard standing by saw this and in panic, raised the gate. “If you tell anyone about this incident,” the cat ninja warned, “Your death will be even more violent.” And with that, he covered his face one more in the red cloth and wiped the claws off, then walked into the bustling market city of Maukensten undisturbed.