The fight
Ahm-tut was sick of the desert he lived in, it was too hot for his taste. He had packed up what little he owned, grabbed a cover to keep the heat off of him, and set out on the roads. He hoped to find someplace cooler, nicer, someplace he would be welcomed. Ahms came from a wealthy family, and as much as he loved and respected them, wanted a break from their antics. "Ahm do this, Ahms do that," He always felt like the butt of their jokes just because he was the youngest. He was getting away from it, at last, exploring the world as he had wished to do. It would take a long while to get anywhere, but it would be worth it in the end. Ahms had traveled many miles and many days once he finally reached a change in scenery. The sand had turned to dead grass and small crumpled trees lined the path. At one point, he thought, this might have been a lovely walkway flourishing with roses and beauty. Now it was a gruesome welcome to a better land...
The grass turned greener as Ahms walked, but it was many days before he got to the forest of Journey Town. A dirt path carved through the forest and Ahms followed it, hoping it leads to the city he had heard was here from passers-by. The sun soaked into his black skin like a vacuum devouring dust. This cool air was much more welcome than the desert heat, the shade from the trees made it very enjoyable, almost cold. He put the pack he had been carrying by his side and reached for the canteen he had brought. Out of the corner of his eye, a shape shifted in the tree. He brought his head up following the rustling leaves with his eyes. He hadn't noticed, but he was looking straight up, into the leaves above him when a clawed hand reached out and slowly moved the leaves back. Ahm scrambled away, fearing that they would be violent. The other skeenk's hair blended in with the leaves so when his brown skin emerged from the leaves Ahms joints locked up. Their eyes met and they stared at each other for a minute, in silence. Their skins both dripped with sweat, but for different reasons.
"We don't get visitors out here that often." The brown skeenk finally broke the awful silence that loomed in the air. He began making his way down the tree, using his claws on the trunk. A few shavings of bark clattered to the ground as his feet hit the dirt.
"...That may be true, but that doesn't give you the right to stalk everybody that passes through!" Ahms snapped, out of fear and anger. How long had this bloke been following him? Ugh, that didn't matter. He stood up, dusting himself off and snatched the bag from in front of the skeenk.
"Pshh, no need for that. I'm not one to steal." He stuck his hand out toward the other skeenk. His sharp eyes were serious and felt dangerous. "Th-names Ryder, what's your's stranger?" His claws gave Ahm a bad feeling as if this was going to be a trap. He slapped his hand aside and walked down the path.
"It's none of your business!" Ahms hoped that Ryder would leave him along. He walked briskly, but he heard another set of feet following behind him.
"Oh come on, its just a name. What could it hurt?" The fact that he couldn't see Ryder made him even more uncomfortable so he spun around. Ryder wasn't expecting this so they almost collided, he was following way too close to not be suspicious. "Not like your in the papers for being in debt or nothin'." He gave a slight chuckle when he said that, giving a hint that it was a joke. Ahms' eyes flashed in anger now. Not only was he following behind him but he is accusing him of owing someone money? This bloke probably knew of his family's fortune and wanted it all to himself!
"You think you can just insult me-- not even me, my family line?! For a stupid joke?" He screamed, his face became gold as blood rushed all about his body. Ryder seemed to be taken aback by the black skeenk's response as he took a step back and held out his hands as if to say 'Woah there.'
"Hold up-- it was a harmless joke! I wasn't accusing you of anythin'. Calm down." The black skeenk put his ears back against his head and emitted a low growl. Ryder's body shifted as if he was ready to take an attack from the smaller skeenk. The black skeenk took a step towards him, unsheathing his claws and narrowing his eyes. "Listen it was a joke, no need to fight over it!" Ryder's mind raced to find a solution to the problem that presented itself before him. He reached into his own sachel and held out a canteen towards the skeenk. "Take some water, the heat must be getting to you." Ahms slapped the canteen out of his hand and slashed his hand with his claws.
"I have my own water! I don't need to borrow from a peasant!" He hissed and drew his lip back revealing sharp canines and straight teeth. "Now answer my question! What gives you the right peasant?!" Ryder's demeanor shift as the words 'peasant' came out of his mouth. His whole body twitched. His shoulders tensed and he pulled his arm back, closing his fist as best he could with his large claws. He threw a hardy punch into the black skeenk's face. Blood dripped from both Ryder's palm and the black skeenk's mouth. "YOU HIT ME!!" A soft orange bruise had already begun to form around his right eye. Ahms launched his body at Ryder, claws at the ready. He made contact with Ryder, driving his claws into both of his shoulders. The weight flung Ryder backward and onto the ground. A slew of emotions crossed Ryder's face but ended on pain then rage.
"I ain't no peasant you hear me! I ain't-a peasant!" He shouted into the black skeenk's face, grabbing him around the waist and flinging his body to the ground. Ahms panicked as Ryder now stood over him, teeth bared and claws digging into his sides. Ryder withdrew his hands and began punching the black skeenk in the face repeatedly. He screamed "You! Take! It! Back!" in between every punch. He had completely forgotten about his claws by now, letting them dig into his palms in order to get some solid punches in. Hours seemed to pass as Ryder continuously screamed and punched the black skinned skeenk. At one point Ahms thought he was going to pass out but Ryder stopped himself from punching, holding his fist close to Ahms' face. Blood from his own hand dripped onto Ahms' face. Ahms squirmed out from under Ryder and towards a bush that had started rustling behind him. Ryder left Ahms' on the ground and stalked towards a tree. He looked back one last time "Ain't nobody here a peasant. 'Specially me, you hear? NOBODY!" With that, he launched himself up into the tree and disappeared from sight.
A policeman burst from the bushes screaming something, but Ahms' ears were ringing too much to hear. The police picked up Ahms' frail body and dragged it through the bushes he had come from. "I need backup! Who did this to you, son?" The gruff voice forced its way through the ringing. Ahms' stared blankly, one eye pinned shut from the swelling.
"...He said his name was Ryder..." Ahms managed to whisper through the blood in his mouth. His eyes drifted shut and all was black. Light shining through the window woke him from his slumber. The sheets rolled off of his chest as he sat up. Many more bandages than his decorative ones covered his body, especially his face. A dirty mirror sat at the end of his bed. He lifted a hand and touched his face gently, but then recoiled at the pain. His face looked like a smashed porcelain doll that had been taped up. Tears welled in his eyes, he pulled the blanket over his head and hugged his knees to his chest. He sat there crying for a long time, voices passed by his door from time to time but only twice had he heard the knob twist. It seemed to be a nurse who came in and dropped off a plate of food and left immediately after hearing his sobs. His face was ruined he was sure, broken and never to be fixed. 'What a great welcome' he thought to himself sitting up in the bed and looking at what the nurse had brought. A plate with eggs and a piece of toast sat on the bedside table, a glass of orange juice and a postcard labeled 'welcome to journey town' sat neatly around the plate.
"Journey town, huh... I guess its as good a place as any to start a new" He rubbed his face and the door opened to a police officer.
"My name is officer Derrik and we have a few questions to ask you. You said the skeenk that attacked you was named Ryder? He's a repeat offender... we need as many details as you can give us."
"w-well..." He found it a struggle to speak with the bandages wrapped around his face. The nurse came in behind the policeman and came to tend to some of Ahms' wounds. He began retelling the story as he perceived it. An assault from Ryder, but it was only a matter of time before Ryder was arrested and interviewed and the true nature of the attack was revealed.