Eclipse Event Stories (NOT CANON)

The sun is setting over the trees and dips the forest in golden glow. Since dawn had disappeared the world of Ibea had changed, as every simple minded creature seemed to have turned savage and wild, especially the birds. Many have left their tribes and homes to find the source of that plague but until now only few have returned alive. No one knows what happened to the rest, but the hope that they come back alright has been dwindling more and more as the days passed by.

From the tiniest sparrow to the fiercest saw beak, it’s as if someone or something had flipped a switch and they now fight for their lives with everything they have. This strange predicament has even influenced the rest of the environment and the life of everything in it. The woods are always in eerie silence, like nothing living there dared to make a sound. While trying to survive, the wildlife adapted and everything that hadn’t turned crazy yet now tries to keep down, close to the ground or hidden under trees and in caves to avoid the feathered beasts which haunted the area. Most creatures only dared to leave their shelter during the night when the birds were asleep. There have even been incidents of Salikos getting badly injured from the birds, some getting carried away and a few dropping to their death or getting torn apart from the talons and sharp beaks. But as if that wasn’t enough already, there were some rumors about Salikos turning just as insane as the birds, getting red glowing eyes, drooling uncontrollably and snapping at everything that’s in their way, which is why no one went out alone anymore. Except one lone Mayur.

With slow, confident gait it struts through the undergrowth, looking for its next kill. Whenever a few sun rays manage to get through the canopy of the trees and reach its fur, it lights up bright like a ruby, shimmering beautifully. He was the only Saliko around that enjoyed the way everything had deteriorated lately. While he had always loved a good fight, it was much better now that even the birds have become strong, so every hunt is a challenge. But never did he get hurt enough to hide like all those cowards, praying to whatever they believed in, hoping everything would turn out alright. But no god, above or below, would possibly intervene in this cleansing. If they existed at all, then they are the reason why this is happening in the first place, the Mayur is sure about that.

The past couple weeks he had become so cheerful that his smirk never quite left his face, no matter what happened. The Salikos that were unlucky enough to meet him, but lucky enough to tell about it, now rather wish for a rabid hawk to attack them before crossing paths with the Mayur again. Still there is always gonna be some poor bastard that doesn’t know that yet and is going to find out sooner or later.

The caramel colored monster, Makuta, keeps looking for fun, listening and sniffing, looking for a careless Saliko or prey to ruin its day…or life. He already caught a couple frenzied magpies, tikries and fang-faces that day, which all tried to peck his eyes out, even after he had slashed their throat. The only thing stopping those rabid creatures is death and the male was going to be merciful enough to grant it to them. If they like it or not, he was gonna be their deliverer, turning them back to the bones that nourish the earth.

It’s getting more and more dark now, the sun had disappeared behind the horizon and the cold started to creep up on the world. Despite that, Makuta isn’t tired enough yet to find himself a place to sleep and so he’s still trying to find something interesting that would occupy his mind for the rest of the night. The blood-red color of his fur turns almost black in the darkness, with only his green spots shining as bright as ever. Like eyes they look in every direction, often hypnotising prey and attracting females alike. The male knows how handsome he is and makes no pretence of that fact. Some call it self-confidence, some call it arrogance, but in the end it is just the same to him - jealousy.

Suddenly, he hears a rustling in the bushes ahead and ducks down, hiding in the shadow of the undergrowth. Only his orange eyes are visible now, shimmering out of the darkness and eager to locate anything that moves. His posture is prepared to attack, to pounce on the unaware creature which made the sounds. But for a minute nothing else happens.

Suddenly a loud call cuts through the heavy silence. Some Saliko screams for help, panicked and desperate. How dare someone else bully that creature other than him? Makuta turns blind with rage and dashes through the trees, towards the cry. When he gets mad like that he blocks everything else out, which makes him such a dangerous enemy. It’s his greatest power to be so focused, so keen on reaching his goal, that nothing’s able to stop him. He’s a natural disaster, coming forth from the shade to wreck havoc.

«Please, stop! I swear I didn’t do anything! Someone, help me!»

«Shut up, I SAW you with that bird, so tell me the truth about what’s going on! Where did you take my friend??»

A small, brown Tatra lies on the ground, the paw of a strong Mayur on its chest, keeping it down.

The red one, still running at full speed, headbutts the Saliko on top, away from the helpless Tatra and pins it to the earth, his claws at its throat.

«I think I finally found someone to play with. Who are you, daredevil, and why are you torturing my future victim?»

«What? What, for mother natures sake, are you talking about? GET OFF ME! Are you mad??»

«Yes. But I was asking you something first, meat.»

«I’m Cuvrar. Now let go of me before that weirdo escapes! He needs to own up to what he did!»

Makuta examines the stranger to his claws and releases him reluctantly. Then he turns around and faces the Tatra that had not only gotten up but also tried to sneak away. Like a furious bull, the red Mayur charges at the small one and stops only a whiskerlength away from the stranger. They’re so close now that he can smell the fear of the other one and looks deep into its eyes. The pupil is dull and light, obviously showing the disability of the Tatra. Still, for some reason Makuta feels like the stranger is looking back at him. Like the blind Saliko sees him somehow and can return the look into his eyes as well. But it doesn’t matter. He’ll make minced meat out of the small one and battle the Mayur to see how capable it is to survive, the question was just what was gonna happen first.

«Th…thank you for getting that evil Saliko away from me» the Tatra says anxiously.

«I didn’t want him to hurt you. I don’t like damaged goods. Now stay put or I’ll have to deal with you right away.»

The green Mayur comes up behind him and sternly looks at him, wondering what he’s gonna do next.

Makuta steps back from the Tatra and chuckles to himself, then exposing his white teeth to the strangers in a wide grin.

«You know, I’m not sure what I just walked into but I’m gonna be the only one walking out of it unharmed, I can tell you that for free. Now, who of you twerps wants to try to mess with me first, huh? My claws are itching for your throats.»

Both other Salikos set back their ears, clearly not keen on having their fur ripped to shreds.

«I told you», the Mayur tries to reach out to him once more, «this one is in cahoots with the birds.»

«Wait, really? I thought you were joking before. Well then, tell us your secret, Tatra. How does one befriend the wild birds?»

«I…my name is Minas and I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, just let me go. I won’t bother you again, I swear.»

«No no no, I’m not bothered, not right now. But I will be if you don’t talk. NOW.»

«I can’t…I’m not allowed to tell you about this…»

«Well then…I’m going to have to make you talk, If you like it or not.»