How to Make a Monster

I was born thousands of years ago in the time of Merikh’s rule. I was young when my family left the pride and to be honest I wasn’t sure why we left in the first place. One thing I can remember was the fear my parents’ eyes held when the psychic told them my elements were tar and telepathy. They never told me anything that night after my elements had been reveal, they just sent me to the den to sleep with my brother Abanus. I remember hearing their concerned voices quietly whispering back and forth, something about us having to leave the pride because of me. I didn’t understand and I didn't want to, all I knew was I didn’t want to leave. I had friends within the pride and I loved living there though the choice was not mine to make. The next day, shortly after the stars shifted and dimmed my parents grabbed their armor and took my brother and I from the pride lands. The last thing I remember seeing was the Lake of Eternity emitting a dull light and feeling a sinking sadness enter my heart. What were we supposed to do out in the unknown lands? I had heard how terrifying it was out there from other cubs and pride members. The stories of the monsters that roamed the lands and the darkness that took your soul. Fear gripped my heart that night as we walked into the uncertainty that became my home.

It didn’t take long for my family to adjust to the new environment of the unknown lands. Though it took us all longer to get used to hunting, it didn't take long for my family to figure it out. Though I was just a cub I would often try to help my mom and dad trap prey with my tar ability while my brother tried to spit his poison at it, though each time both my parents showcased that they had elements well capable of taking down smaller prey and even the occasional caffer. I admired my father’s strength and how well he controlled his earth element in order to crush or trap prey. My mother was strong too though she wasn’t as capable with her poison element and her psychic powers didn’t help get us get much food. However what she lacked in strength she made up for in her loving and nurturing nature. My brother on the other hand didn't get along well with me. He blamed me for our leaving the pride and he never did forgive me for it. This caused a rift to form between us making it obvious I didn't love him let alone like him. I loved both of my parents more than words could ever describe and they both did everything in their power to ensure I was ready to take on the world. My father often tried to help me with my tar element through examples of his earth abilities, though I struggled greatly to control it. I found it was greatly connected to my emotions and seemed to have a mind of its own if I was upset of scared. Though I know neither of my parents would admit to it I could almost sense fear within them when I used either of my elements. It was as though they saw something dark within me… Though turns out they were right.

The week before my Abanus and I turned 100 years old my parents decided to travel towards the pride lands in order to get within range of the gold dust to help us grow to our adult forms immediately. I never realized how far we were out in the unknown lands until we began our journey. It took almost the entire week of walking in silence before the lake popped into view. It was exciting to see it once more and it was hard to contain all the happy emotions I felt and couldn’t help but let out a little squeak of happiness. My mother quickly covered my mouth with her paw, fear filling her eyes as they darted around as though looking for something. My father took point as we got closer to the lake. Each of their breaths seemed shaky and shallow and I could feel their fears sinking into my skin putting myself on edge too, even Abanus was on edge with his usual cocky attitude. 

The blood chilling roar was the first thing I remember from that day. The alarm of one of Merikh’s followers. Within an instant three warrior lions surrounded me and my family, all snarling and baring their teeth.

“Well well well, look who came crawling back?” the largest male began before is eyes narrowed on me, “It’s been far too long Terran and Iris so glad to see you again! Oh, and look, you brought your son AND daughter to us as well? You’re to kind! I’m sure Merikh will be overjoyed and make good use of the both of them, the girl specifically.” As he spoke a wicked smile grew across his face, his eyes never leaving my body.

“Leave her out of this… We just wanted to use the gold dust so our cubs can reach their adult form more quickly.” Her father’s voice was filled with sincerity as he spoke in an almost a pleading tone.

“So, it has already been almost a 100 years? I suppose time flies when you’ve have to deal with traitors.” Another male spoke up, his words coming through clenched teeth, his eyes fixated on my parents.

“Please we mean you no harm we are just here for a moment and then you will never see us again…” Iris spoke pleading for them to let us all go.

All three males broke into a hyena like laughter before one walked up to my mother snarling, “You truly think you can leave so easily Iris? After the betrayal you two have committed by leaving us? I don’t think so.” 

Within an instant the male opened his mouth and lunged for my mother’s neck. Quick as he could my father Terran shot a wall of earth between my mother and the male.

“RUN!” That was to be the last words I ever heard my father said as my mother picked my brother and I up by our scruffs and began running the only way she could, towards the lake.

All three males roared furiously and began to chase us down before another wall of Earth came up between them and us, separating all three of us from my father. Though I couldn’t see anything from behind the wall I heard enough to know what had happened to my father. His screams, his bloodcurdling yelling filled my ears and in that instant, I knew my father was dead. My mother looked around, a muffled wail escaped her fur filled mouth realizing her mate had died. Though now was not the time to stop and mourn. All three males rounded the corner of the rock wall with blood dripping from each of their mouths. They scanned the area before quickly spotting my us and gave chase. As my mother ran we began to run out of places to go, the lake getting closer and closer with each step. Soon my mother slowed her pace as we reached a cliff next to the lake. All three males surrounded us, there was nowhere to go.

“Give us the girl and we promise to make you and your son's death quick and painless.” The large male began taking a tentative step closer to us.

As my mother backed up one of her back paws broke off a small piece of the cliff-side we were standing on. Panicking my mom looked into the lake, thoughts swirling in her eyes.

The large male took another step forward, his voice now sounding genuine, “Please Iris your daughter has special gifts that could help end this rebellion. So, step away from the edge and we can talk it out.”

My mother furrowed her brow obviously not believing the male and gently set me and Abanus down to speak, “Marikh is a tyrant, you and I both know he will use Kiora as nothing more than a  puppet, no a weapon for this war. She won’t live a life worth living. She’ll be locked up like the dream lionesses…” As she spoke Iris’s eyes filled with pain, “It isn’t a life I want for my daughter… My sweet little daughter…” as she spoke she gently picked both of us up into her mouth only to turn towards the lake and launched all of us off the cliff. 

“NO!” All three males called out and rushed towards the edge to watch us all splash into the lake.

I will never forget the feeling of the lake on my skin. The instant my body touched the water it ripped all the oxygen from my lungs and pulled me into its depths. My entire body was washed over with an intense burning sensation and as I opened my mouth to let out a cry of pain the liquid entered into my lungs, scorching them as well. Slowly the pain seemed to fade as I began drifting in and out of conciseness until everything went black and the spirits of the lake pulled me to the deepest depths. 

I don’t know how long I laid on the lake’s floor unconscious. It seemed like I was only under the waters for what felt like seconds before I reawakened to my lungs screaming for air. I quickly pushed myself off the lake floor desperately clawing through the spirit filled water trying to reach the surface. I felt as though I was swimming through sand, each kick towards the surface only moving me inches at a time. When I finally broke the surface, I gasped for air frantically looking around to find the direction of shore only to realize I was no longer in a lake but instead a small black river. I paddled over to the shore ripping through the waters that were trying to keep me in them until I was finally able to hoist myself onto the nearby shores. I coughed up what felt like gallons of water and breathed with sharp shaky breaths. My entire body was steaming from the water still on my soft pelt and I slowly felt the intense burning sensation begin to fade. Being out of the waters I raised my tired eyes to look around to ensure I was alone before letting out one last shaky breath and falling to the ground. 

I think I was out for only a few hours before I reawakened. Slowly I propped myself up until I was sitting. My breathing had gotten much more stable and though I felt better everything that had happened before I plunged into the lake felt like a dream. Slowly I looked at my paw realizing it was much larger than I had remembered. Suddenly I remembered it had been my 100 year birthday around the time of the incident and figured I must have grown while unconscious within the lake. Slowly I got to my feet and took a weary step forward into the world. A loud scraping sound made me flinched and I turned quickly to find the source of the sound. In utter shock I glanced back at my two tails which were now nothing more than skeletal remains covered in tar. A gasp escaped my mouth and I realized that my tails had been the first thing to hit that water. Another thought hit me as the dream like memories became more real. My mom, my dad, Abanus, where were they?

I quickly ran on the shores of the river, tears running down my face calling her name over and over again, “Mom! Mom where are you! IRIS!” 

As my legs swiftly carried me along the shore one gave out and I fell to the ground with a thump. I didn’t try to get up, how could I? I had lost everything I had ever cared about and for what? This was all the prides fault! They took everything! I cried out as all the emotions and realization hit me at once. I lost it all and was now a wanderer in the unknown lands. All that mattered to me now was my own well being and protection. I wasn’t about to go crawling back to the pride, their pointless fighting was the cause of this… Maybe my parents were right when they saw the darkness within me… But they are gone now and so I will no longer hide what I am, a monster without a heart.