CHAPTER 1

The wind careened throughout the valley with such ferocity; indeed no wind had ever passed these parts so harshly before. Thunder parted the night sky, and rain poured down into the frenzied grasslands. The full moon loomed in a cloud ridden sky. The surroundings were harsh and fierce; it was as if god was on the side of evil this night.

Throughout the blustering winds parting the tall grass, a figure darted through the brush, and just like that moved as fast as the bolts of lightening above. It passed through the underbrush, nimbling past loose rocks and sand. In a swift motion, it stopped and stilled in the night.

Its ears lowered against a drenched mane, its long snout raised into the heavens, and an eerie howl sounded from the creatures mouth. The strident noise moved through the pounding rain, and then the figure lowered its head and perked its long ears. It stood as still as stone as rain pounded its mane and hind. Suddenly, from within the grass, another creature emerged with a tiny bundle in its mouth.

They appeared to be tall wolves, with arched backs, long tails, and grand manes. Through the shadows the moon cast their pale coats shined, with painted symbols covering every inch of their skin. They appeared as walking epitaphs, and the leading wolf with piercing along every inch of the ear. Indeed it was a noble site to see.

And it was magical; the frontal wolf looked into the face of the one behind him with firmness in its raven eyes. It spoke to its mate in a deep, soothing tone.

"Sii Prince Beknot?"

As he said this, his ears bolted upright, and he snapped his attention to the back of the other.

"Suki Suki." The maiden wolf replied, through her tiny bundle. She followed his gaze to her flank. She seemed uncertain; hesitation was evident, but in an instant the frontal wolf raced forward, with the maiden keen to follow. They darted past tall grass and weeds, passed through loose roots and sticks, even slid through muddy puddles, caking mud all over their finely painted coat. Their destination was only miles ahead. The ultimate key for the mammal’s survival.

"We must hurry, fastly we go.” Grunted the man wolf. Each ran swiftly, faster than the fastest bolt of lightening; they were indeed a spectacular site to see. The flank wolf bolted through the grass with all of her might; the bundle was indeed very heavy to keep.

Alas, this tiny bundle was the reason they were running; why they were in a fight to survive.

Through one of the holes of the bundle a tiny nose peaked out. Two eyes followed, then a small head with ears on each side. A tiny wolf pup whimpered through the rain, weakly snuffing the air at the feeling of its mother's warm pants.

A new born prince. A new hope for the clan's survival…or an over all defeat.

"Kilune…. we must hurry!", The man wolf exclaimed. His paws were a blur as he thundered through the meadow. His swiftness was unmatched, his body moved with the earth. Kilune was no acceptation, only with the bundle in her jaws it was hard to see in front of her. "Yes, yes Tilune." She raised her head proudly and steadily graduated her pace.

From their flanks two shadows emerged; larger and equally as fast. They had long, whip like tails, long hands with glistening talons, two powerful legs, and sharp teeth with long snouts. Veloceraptors; powerful, keen, agile… they would not give up to anyone, especially not these wolves. Lizoro is the outside world; and the lizards that inhabit it are allowed to do as they please with imposters.

These wolves were no exceptions.

They were equally matched, long and sleek hunters; sliced through their heads were a crown of feathers, running down their backs and ending at their tail with a majestic crown at the tip. They moved quickly through the brush, their shrieks echoing throughout the dormant valley. Intimidating and fierce, they had only one goal; to kill the mammalian imposters.

"Where is it, Tilune? It must be here soon!" Kilune barked. She felt weak; her legs grew feeble. Her mate shook his mane; he hadn't a clue.

"The Lizoro key is coming. Quick! The faster we hurry, the less the trip!"

The lizards were gaining on them. Tilune new this, therefore pressured his wife to hurry and not pace. "Geicknot! Parsho! Parsho!" He barked. Kilune gasped for breath, fighting with all of her might to hurry, just hurry; but it wasn't enough.

Kilune fell into a heap on the muddy ground. The bundle flew from her mouth and tumbled into a nearby patch of grass. Tilune instantly grinded to a halt. He raced quickly to her side and looked her deep into the eyes. What he found had shocked him; she was barely there, and her mouth was wide open, panting for breath. He nudged her harshly against the muzzle; his forcefulness was evident in his visage. "Get up." Snapped Tilune. His mate stiffened; she prodded the ground with a paw, shifting through the muddy soil. Her flank budged and she stirred… but her struggling soon ceased.

"PARSHO!" Shouted the man wolf! He reared forward and bit, sinking his canines into her shoulder. She shrieked, jolting upright, and Tilune parted, licking his crimson fangs as she stood. He waited for her to settle with increasing tire in his eyes. “Parsho. Keenupdot.” He sneered, darting to the left of her. He nudged her shoulder, as if to calm her feeble self. She wined in return, nudging his flank. Tilune looked to their flanks to make sure it was safe. When he saw no one, he turned to his wife and ordered swiftly; “Grab the prince, we still have time…”

The thick jungles of the Lizoro plains were just ahead of them. If they could reach the tree’s without being caught, it would surely be an overwhelming advantage for them. Just ahead of the jungle was the ultimate key; the Lizoro Key. If they could reach the temple and not get caught…than god would surely save them from this horrific island. It all lead up to them. They were the last surviving wolves of the Dolgluna Tribe. If they could reach the key, than they could save the rest of the lands from the lizards. That was their ultimate goal.

Unfortunately Kilune’s fallen state had spared them no time; the lizards were gaining on them. They would have to make extra haste if they wanted to reach the Key and save their world. It seemed like a hopeless cause…but the Dolgluna was not a hopeless tribe. They had remained on their island for thousands of years… and now that war had begun, it was up to them to save whatever world the Mammal’s still had to offer.

“Tree’s, Kilune! Look, tree’s!” The man wolf cried. Instantly their moral had taken a drastic turn for the best. Kilune’s golden eyes shined in the moon light as she saw the forest ahead...hope! There was hope after all! Now if only they could make it there before the lizards arrived.

Behind them they could hear the ferocious cries of the Veloceraptors. Their shrill howls of terror bedazzled the night air. The rain kept pounding; the lighting kept a strike. With each gasp for breath, the wolves became more and more tired. Kilune’s paws felt like jelly as they ran… she couldn’t keep up for long. They needed to find shelter quickly, very quickly.

They heard the lizards thundering footsteps as the tree’s came into view. The wolves raced on, and in no time the tree’s were looming overhead, and they were caught in the midst of the dense forest. The lizards came to a halt at the opening of the forest as the wolves raced on. Lizards were strangers to forest’s…the open lands of Lizoro were their only homes. Tired, but ever attentive, the lizards stilled in hope that their prey would be forced to come out of their hiding holes.

“Heh…why so scared, Outsiders? We just want to play…” Hissed one lizard, its long tongue sliding across its chops. The wolves watched with apprehension in their eyes. Wolves were no strangers to Lizards… lizards wouldn’t leave on an opportunity to eat. They were persistent…which made them stupid. Tilune turned to his wife as the lizards waited for them. “We must leave… we will rest in deeper ground. Come on.” He whispered. Kilune smiled through her hoarse breaths of air. “Yes…yes.”

As the wolves parted from the underbrush, they left the veloceraptors to toy with nothing.

They were safe…for now. But would they be safe for much long?

o.O.O.o

Meadows. Wide, sweeping hills that careened throughout the vast landscape and valley’s, tumbling grasslands with blossoming flowers and tall tree’s. It was beautiful…it was their’s.

"Hurry, Vansha!" The wolf mother cried. Though her cry was of laughter, as she pranced through the soft beds of Turkey Feet Grass. A wolf pup leapt from beneath the weeds, and joined at his mothers side. There, at the top of a hill they stopped. His mother and himself looked on towards the horizon, where a great ocean spread as far as the eye could see. The great mother wolf lay upon the grass, followed by her young pup. They looked on with happy eyes; the mother with wisdom, and the younger wolf with zeal. Such a blessed sight to see. This sight had remained so for thousands of years… no one had ever disturbed them on these sacred grounds. It was their territory, the Dolgluna tribe's very own land... no one could disturb this peace.

The mother smiled at her young pup, her golden eyes shimmering like that of the great ocean beyond. She eyed him as he played with an innocent cricket that darted along in the grass; such a cutie he was. And how powerful he would become.

"Laylune." She cooed, nuzzling his white tuffs of fur just below the ears. The pup whimpered, lowering his head. "Yes, ma'am."

Such a beautiful sight it was...

Was.

o.O.O.o

"We are almost there, I can smell it."

Tilune ran ahead of her and his pup. He smelled the rancid air, smelled that sour odor of rotting corpse. In no time they would arrive to the sacred Lizoro Temple, and they would finally find the key. He could see its shimmering tower over head... it was coming closer...and closer!

"Come, Kilune." He paused briefly and looked past his shoulder, his ears arise as he found his maiden wolf close behind. They had stopped briefly for only a moment in the safety of the under brush; he had noticed her tiredness earlier and had decided to make her feel comfort through her feeble attempt to flee the lizard troops. He had also noticed she was in a world all of her own, lost in a dream gaze. Maybe the ancients were trying to tell them somthing... day dreams were good omens.

"Let us rest here." Tilune ordered, curling into a ball near his wife. He panted heavily, and perspiration formed against his brow. His ravenous eyes scanned the leafy atmosphere...they were alone. For now.

"How is he?" The man wolf asked. He curiously peaked into the small bundle that Kilune carried in her jaw. Tilune smiled; she set the bundle down onto the leafy floor and let it loosen. There, in the middle of the white parchment, the tiny wolf pup inhaled his hoarse breaths; so much excitment for the young prince. Kilune could feel tears of joy in her eyes; She lay a paw against her husband's own. Tilune smiled with pride; "How strong our son will become." He said breathlessly. Kilune smiled as well.

"He is certainly a grand prince. He will grow big and become powerful...just like us."

"If we even make it out of this island alive..." Kilune whispered, choking on her tears. Her husband's ears perked and he saw a single tear drip down her cheek; he became angry.

"Do not think of such harsh things, Kilune. We WILL make it off this island..." He stood, and looked up to the heavens. He spoke, words calm and translucent; "And he WILL become the greatest prince this world has ever come to know."

Suddenly there was a rustling from within the brush. Their eyes darted to their hinds, towards a rustling bush behind Kilune. Quickly she grabbed her bundle and darted to her mate's flank. She whimpered as her mate bellowed a low, threatening growl.

"What is it?" Asked Kilune as she huddled closer to his side. The wolf sneered, and barred his sharp fangs. They glistened in the moonlight; powerful jaws capable of immense pain. "Show yourself!" He sneered, rearing back for an attack.

In an instant before either of them could react, a powerful tail lashed out from the side and slammed against their sides! Tilune yelped, falling into the underbrush. Kilune fell near him, and the bundle slid into a bank of mud and leaves. Tilune reared and pounced out of the way as two powerful jaws of a veloceraptor snapped in the position he first lay. The lizard withdrew, its eyes darting to each of its prey item's, focusing in on a next attempt... it hadn't even seen Tilune until his powerful canine's sunk deep into the lizards scaley flesh. The veloceraptor roared, trying to shake the wolf off of itself. "Why not fight like a REAL animal!" The lizard cried, and in a sweeping motion threw Tilune off of its back.

The lizards were too much for the wolves... Kilune was becoming ever aware of this. As they cornered Tilune and herself, she couldn't help but start to cry.

This was how it was going to end...

This was how they were going to die.

"Fight back!" Tilune cried, snapping at the lizards approach. But even through his pride, Kilune could tell he was giving up hope.

"Its no use." Kilune whispered. She peered up at him through hazy eyes. "Darling...we must think of the prince."

Tilune followed her gaze to the tiny bundle that had rolled away into the mud. As the lizards came closer, he inhalled deeply and began to think.

She was right...they had to save the prince. Their attempts had been futile...how could they even believe they could make it off of this island...

"Mellowdinya. Parsho." He whispered. Kilune closed her eyes; "Parsho..." She said breathlessly.

The lizards pounced.

And than...everything was calm.

o.O.O.o