Amaris's Eternal Night

In this terrain, the rainfall has summoned a lupess of lunar soul.....and it is here she calls home, in this stormy place somewhere near Terror Mountain. The cold rain drops are like needles, piercing whatever it falls upon with icy chills. To some, this place would be a horrible place to even visit, seeing as how the sun never shines, and it is so incredibly stormy and dark that it is sometimes called an "eternal night." The moon is said to be bright all the time, for the dark clouds and stormy atmosphere keep the sun out of sight. The lunar lupess that calls this place home, seems to keep the moon here, for the sun brings nothing but light, and destroys the privacy and shelter of it all.

So here, she lives in this rainy atmosphere, alone, as she prefers. Her name means child of the moon, which some would say somehow summons the moon to be visible 24 hours a day. Amaris, Lunar Lupess.

She was a lunar lupess, quite rare. Her sister, the opposite, a solar lupess. Her pelt was marked with white and gold, and a sun imprinted on her stomach. Her tail was tipped with sun-gold, as was her ears. Her eyes were light amber, with a faint tint of blue. Their brother, celestial, deep blue-black pelt marked with stars and moons. A star was imprinted over his right eye, and his eyes were brilliant star-silver. Their parents, Mora and Taku, Mora white with large golden-tipped blue wings. She was a bit solar, which would explain how the pup was solar. Taku was stormy-grey, and was a little lunar, which explain the lunar and celestial pups.

It was at dawn that the pups were born. The solar pup almost immediately tilted her head heavenward to feel the warm rays of the rising sun. The lunar pup sank into the shadows, letting out a small mimic howl. The celestial pup crawled into the soothing darkness of the den. Mora and Taku took all of the pups into the den, though the solar pup, whom they called Kianga, for Kianga meant sunshine, often tried to get out of the cave and into the sunlight. The celestial pup was named Artemus, meaning of the moon. The lunar pup was called Amaris, meaning child of the moon. She acted nothing like a pup, fore she hardly ever played, she seemed quite serious all the time. She never tackled her brothers or sisters in a form of play, or anything of the sort. She lay in the shadows during the day, and ventured the forest at night once she had learned how to walk and her eyes had opened. She had brilliant green eyes. She was black, with white on her chin, neck, chest, stomach, ear tips, and underside of her tail. A silver crescent moon was imprinted on her right shoulder. Blue flames crawled up her back right leg, her back left paw was tipped with white, and part of her front left leg was white. Three diamond imprints were near her right eye. Kianga relished the sunlight, and was always found outside as soon as the sun came up, and inside the den as soon as the sun went down. When the moon could be seen, and the sky was full of stars, Artemus's howl could be heard for miles. He loved the night, like his lunar sister, and he often spent many hours of the night just watching the night sky. Amaris did this sometimes, but most of the time she did so when she was alone. She prefered to be alone, for some reason. She and Artemus were quite close, despite Amaris's need to be a loner. Kianga and the other two were close as well, but definately not as close as Artemus and Amaris. Kianga stayed near her mother at nighttime, loving Mora's warmth, like the sun's ray's warmth. It was quite comforting to the pup.

Taku began teaching Artemus to hunt every night at dusk. He had offered to teach Amaris as well, but she declined the offer, explaining that she'd like to take a shot at teaching herself how. She was a quick learner, and taught herself many things. Sometimes Amaris questioned Taku, needing some assistance. Artemus eventually learned how to hunt qite well, and hunted for the family many times. Amaris did teach herself to hunt, and learned faster than her brother, too. A few minutes before the moon disappeared and gave way to the sun, she always went to hunt, then ate in the shadows of the den. At nightfall, she was out again, traveling through the forest, letting the darkness fall over her and the moonlight consume her soul.

As the pups grew, lunar, solar, and celestial lupines became even more rare to find. Dr. Death's greed forced him to attempt to capture their family many times, though he always failed. Mora decided it was too risky to stay there, and the family moved quite far away. They traveled to Terror Mountain, and found a den near a forest---it had plenty of sunlight, and plenty of darkness. It'd be alright for each of the pups. Artemus developed quite a fondness for snow, and found his playful side. He was always frolicing in the snow, beneath the shadows of the forest's trees. Amaris still had no playful side, and watched her brother with amusement often. She'd roll her eyes, and pad away, lying in the shadows and awaiting nightfall. But with nightfall came immense cold, too cold for even her pelt to shelter her from. This sent her back to the den, where she lay with her head on her paws. Kianga sprang from the den when the sun began to rise, and wandered through Terror Mountain. She later met a small pack of lupes, and brought them to us. One of them, Kapu, had quite an affectionate liking toward Amaris, while Tempest, liked Artemus quite a bit. Artemus's seriousness began to fade a bit, and his personality grew more and more like Kianga's each day. He still was celestial, and still loved the night, stars, and moon. He was frisky, though, like Kianga. Kapu was always tagging along near Amaris, though more than half the time she ignored him. Yet another, Kumoke(koo-moh-kay), enjoyed Kianga's company a lot, and they spent every waking moment of the day together.

Artemus eventually liked Tempest, too, and they became mates. Tempest was very kind, but Amaris missed her brother since he didn't talk to her much anymore. Tempest too liked shadowy places, and didn't enjoy sunlight at all. Artemus and Tempest were together all the time, and Amaris didn't get to spend much time with him. She did enjoy being alone, but she still loved spending time with her family. Kapu was like her shadow, talking constantly, and trying to get her to like him. Amaris no longer could be alone, because at night, the minute she set foot out of the den, he was there. He padded alongside her everywhere she went. She was fed up with it, but being as quite as she was, she didn't say anything about it.

Kapu talked and talked and talked for what seemed like forever. Amaris sometimes hid from him in an attempt to be alone, but he always found her. Finally, she'd had enough. She snarled as soon as he came near her, and wouldn't allow him to come any closer. He didn't quite understand, and Amaris had to have her father explain it to him. To Amaris, Kapu was more dense than anyone else she'd ever met. When Taku told Kapu that Amaris liked being by herself, Kapu wouldn't take a hint, and went after her. Amaris had given up. She allowed him to follow her, and was quite miserable. She didn't have her brother anymore, and her sister and her weren't that close. Amaris tried spending time with Artemus, but Tempest would always come the minute Amaris arrived. Tempest was very kind to their family, but Amaris couldn't help being angered that she no longer had her brother to confide in.

Amaris couldn't live here anymore. The night got too cold, and she couldn't go out because the temperatures were unbareable. Kapu was driving her insane. He was sweet, but he was around too much. Artemus hardly talked to her anymore, and Kianga and her just didn't have anything in common and would have nothing to talk about if they spent more time together. Mora and Taku were growing old, and Dr. Death had found them yet again. Kapu was always saying that if Amaris wanted any protection from Dr. Death, he'd be there. Sweet, but Amaris could take care of herself. She didn't need some lovestruck tag-a-long to protect her.

Amaris explained to her family that she needed to get away from this place. She was leaving. She had to. She told Mora, Taku, Kianga, and Artemus that she had discovered a place somewhere not too far away, and that they could visit anytime. Mora and Taku were upset, but they understood. Her brother and sister said they'd miss her, and said they'd tell Kapu for her if she wanted them to. At this, she immediately said not to tell him where, 'cause she didn't want him following her again. Artemus grinned, fore he had only been joking. They would miss her quite a bit, but at least she'd be nearby.

She bid them farewell; they wished her a nice trip, and she padded outside. She glanced around, thinking about how she'd miss them. She difinately wouldn't miss this place, but she'd miss her family. She padded to forest on the opposite side of the one she usually went to, and left.

Night fell, darkening the path ahead. It was much darker than the other places she'd lived, and the trees hid the moonlight. A rustle of leaves made her stop abruptly. Her pinna flicked. She needed to get to more light. If something attacked her, she wouldn't be able to see where they were, and she'd be killed. If they were following her, then she needed to get out of the forest, so that she could see better. She glanced around uneasily, then took off.

Amaris knew they were still there. She was almost out. Just a little more..... Something tackled her from behind. A sharp pain shot through her muzzle, cheek, and front left shoulder. Her attacker snarled, claws digging into her shoulder, fangs scraping into her face. She tried desperately to throw them off, but whatever it was was too big. With all of her strength, Amaris sprang forward. Something crashed down onto her head, and she collapsed, unconcious.

Cold water on her face made her eyes flicker open slowly. The sun's rays made her close them quickly with a groan. An immense need to have the moon there made her shake violently. She winced and her stomach churned. Then it was over. "You okay?" A worried voice asked suddenly. Her eyes opened and she sprang up, only to fall down again. "Watch it, you're in pretty bad shape. I'd just lay there if I were you." She realized that it was dark all of a sudden. Moonlight streamed down on the face of a blue-flamed fire lupe. His muzzle was white, as was a small spot on his chest. Concern flickered behind his blue-green eyes.

Amaris was silent for a while, then asked, "Who are you?" He reclined, tail flicking slowly. "Okoth. What happened to you?" (oh-kawth) Amaris winced as pain shot through her shoulder. "I don't know, it was too dark to see...." Okoth watched her silently. "Well, whoever it was tore you apart."

"Oh, you noticed," Amaris replied sarcastically. She tried to sit up, but her her whole leg hurt every time she put weight on it. She glanced at her shoulder and sighed. It'd been wrapped with a white bandage. A scar crossed her muzzle. "What were you doing in that forest? Everyone knows not to go there alone----especially so late at night," Okoth inquired.

Amaris rolled her eyes. "Wish somebody had told me that before I got the tar kicked out of me. I'm not from here...just moving. I'm Amaris." She replied. "Where'd you move from?" He looked pretty interested, though she wasn't exactly sure why moving was so interesting. "Terror Mountain." She glanced at the sky-filled stars and a confused look crossed her face. "Why are you not surprised at how the sky changed dramatically in so little time?" Okoth raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. "Obviously you don't know what lunar lupines are capable of...." This confused Amaris even more, and she snapped, "What the heck does that mean??" Okoth laughed. He shook his head slowly. "You're a lunar lupess, are you not?" She paused, then nodded. "Alright. Put two and two together." Amaris growled. "Tell me what's going on!" He stared at her. "You honestly don't know?" Now he looked confused. "If a lunar lupe allows the moon to completely take over their soul, then they gain the ability to make it nightime anywhere they want." Okoth replied. "I can't believe you didn't know..." Amaris stared at the sky for a moment, then shifted her gaze to the lupe. "You're kidding, right?" He shook his head. "Not at all."

"So I can make it nighttime anywhere at all, and whenever I want?" He nodded. Amaris chuckled. "Neat....." Okoth shrugged, then glanced at her shoulder. "Your shoulder should be alright in a day or so...but lunar lupes heal faster. It'll be okay by nightfall---real nightfall, that is." He smiled warmly.

During the night, she must of let go of the moon, for beams of sunlight danced upon the ground. Okoth had pushed her under the trees to sheild her from the morning sun. Her ears perked and she stood. Her shoulder didn't hurt, and she yanked the bandage off with her jaws. She padded slowly forward, then glanced up at the sky, wanting darkness again. Slowly the sun fell, and the moon rose.

She smiled, satisfied. Amaris tilted her head skyward. A low howl crawled through her throat and emitted, growing higher-pitched, then ending. Thunder boomed, and she perked her ears as a raindrop fell on her muzzle. Soon more followed, splattering on the ground and soaking her pelt. "Is your shoulder better?" Okoth's voice was cheery, and his tail swished back and forth slowly as he padded toward her. Amaris nodded. "Mmm-hmm."