• Chapter 1 Steiner's Story



    Why they chose to spare me that night, why they let her go, it all reminds me why I'm here. Why I'm one of them. Still, it's all so different. It's re-making me. I really am becoming a monster. Aren't I?

    "Steiner, Steiner!" A voice was ringing in my head. The little girl's voice that could only belong to one very colour-happy hellhound, Klye. I opened one eye to gaze upon the she-hound who was now eyeing me happily. Her colorful markings were bright to my dim eyes.

    "Steiner, sir, sorry to interrupt you but---" I cut her off by standing up and reaching out to smack her with my paw. She didn't seem fazed but stood quietly. sweatdrop I nodded to her and slunk my way out of my dank, dark cave into the mountain's summit. It was high up and easy to see everything going on in the Wasteland. I spotted Harmora, staring at me from down below. Her golden eyes reflected the hate she had for me. Or, that's what I thought at least. She took her glare off me and shifted uncomfortably on her hauches. Tyruo was approaching me from my side.


    "Ah Steiner! Just the pretty boy I wanted to see!" He bellowed. I hated when the big lug called me that. While I understood it's unusual for a hellhound to have a silver pelt, sky blue eyes, look like a wolf and not a monster, it didn't give him the right to call me a "pretty boy" because I certainly didn't think of myself that way. "How's the old leg?" He asked. I glanced down to the injury I'd forgotten. That's why Hyper Dr. Klye probably paid me a visit this morning. rofl It had become a scar already. So I didn't worry.

    "I'm fine Brother Tyruo." I said. He laughed and glanced down at the Wasteland. Then he pointed to Scorne and Harmora who looked like they were having quite the converstation.

    "Steiner my bro, methinks it's time to get you a mate." He said. I growled at him.
    "Oh, you mean like your wonderful relationship with that hellwhore Myora?" Tyruo snarled at me. His face clearly said "say anymore and I'll rip you to shreds, ol' buddy ol' pal." I didn't argue any farther. Then I thought more about what he said. I looked back at the two she-hounds. They didn't notice us looking, but I gulped. Harmora and Scorne both hated me. I knew they did. In fact, most she-hounds didn't like me. Mainly because of the fact I'm a wolf. Well, mostly. The only thing Caaraas changed is the fact my bones and teeth are iron clad and I'm able to control water and wind. It's nothing compared to a poison breather like Harmora, or a nature freak like Scorne. Or especially a fire hound like Tyruo. I sighed and went back into my cave. Klye had left. I looked at my reflection in a puddle on the floor. Just enough light had flooded in to let me see myself. Staring back at me was a sad looking wolf. His fur as sleek and silver as moonlight. Eyes as blue and light as the sky used to be in the Human Times. Then, another image appeared. It was a monster, a wolf like one, with huge yellow fangs that dripped with the blood of many an unlucky human. It's eyes glowed a bright yellow, they burned like anger, greed, nastiness, it...it was me. What Caaraas could have made me. But chose not to for some out of my head reason...did I really deserve to be here? I slapped the puddle with my paw, hoping the image would fade. A million tiny drops of water crystalized around me, like they always did when my aura was sad. They fell to the floor after staying in the air for about 5 seconds. The puddle was rippling. The only thing visible in it now was the darkness of the cave. I turned slowly and climbed back on to my bed rocks. I fell asleep to the sound of dripping water. It sounded exactly like me. Fading, slowly...

    Memories of old times flooded into my dreams. Sunshadow, my beloved friend, my old pack, my mother.... All came back to me in a rush of dreamland bliss. I remembered the good times, the hard times, everything. Then, the night my mother died by the fangs and claws of the hellhounds. They destroyed her, and came for the rest of my pack. I and Sunshadow were spared. Only because we looked strong to them. They offered, I joined and told Sunshadow to run....

    I woke up in panic. I sat up and shook. It was nighttime. I had slept all day. Again. I heard shouting, it was distant, faint. The battles were happening. Always at night. Glancing around, the cave was cold and silent. No one was here. Usually Tyruo woke me up for the night matches. I had to supervise those. I wondered for a moment then sprinted out of my cave and to the arena. I could here the raucous cheers, boos, and shouts of other hellhounds thirsting for blood to spill. I entered the brightly lit arena. The fire breathers had done their job well tonight. I looked up at where we sat. The leaders of all these creatures. Tyruo sat with an unamused look on his face. He was quietly watching the battles with pure uninterest. He hadn't spotted me yet. I looked to see the challengers. Wait, I thought as I looked closer. Is that...?