Between Two Worlds

We are different. No one just has the guts to say it. We aren’t special. Just… unique, I guess, in a more almighty way. We can do things no one could ever achieve. We are powerful. We are intelligent. We are nimble. My name is Duma. And this is my story. ———————————————————————————————————————————————— “You’re doing it wrong. No, no, no.” I took a huge gulp of air as I collapsed on the silky bloodstained grass under my fur. Staggering to my paws, I lifted my head hurriedly, and darted my eyes from one massive tree to the next. Where is he? Another blow aimed at my back, and I crumble to the ground, clenching my teeth together as I let out a long sigh. My muscles burned, my eyes glazed over, and my head was throbbing. This time I didn’t get up. “Get up, Duma. We are not finished yet.” The massive white wolf was slowly creeping toward me, with such a fierce look in his eyes I flinched. My father’s piercing blue gaze could send shivers down anyone’s spine. I scrambled slowly to my paws, wincing when my hind paws added pressure to the soft earth. My long, exhausted tail splayed out next to me. My ears started ringing, and I struggled to meet my eyes with my father. “I-I’m sorry,” I sputtered, and I pulled my ears back and lowered my head with the greatest respect. “I tried to remember that move you taught me. I-It was kinda di-difficult to keep my paws up…” I look a deep breath and shot my head up, straightened my back, and lunged for the far-reaching sword near my father’s abnormally bushy tail. With a snarl, he raised a massive white paw and slammed it on my tail. Too late. I grabbed the sword with my paw and twisted around, bringing the point to his neck right at the exact time he brought his jaw to mine. He towered over the lower part of my body, prevented me from lifting myself completely up. My head was above his neck, and I held the sword without hesitation. Suddenly he flopped back, and let out a bellowing laugh. In alarm, I leaped to my paws, grasping my sword and holding out in front of me. I relaxed after hearing my father’s laugh, and I dropped the sword. He walked up to me, and rested his muzzle on my head. I laughed softly. He leaned back and sat down, waving a paw as he spoke. “You’re learning well, Duma. You’re assessment will be complete soon, and one day you will walk the earth of the people. You’ll soon leave The Oasis and maybe lead an adventure of your own.” I lifted my ears, smiling with a grin so wide my ears hurt. “Really? I’ll be able to go on missions, just like Thorn and Mwanga?” My father heaved his muscular body off the red stained grass and started to blow powerful jets of water from his mouth to attempt to wash the blood off. He took a pause. “Yes. Just like Thorn and Mwanga.” I watched him continue cleaning the training area, and I left him to it. I prowled through the thick, dense undergrowth of my forest home, taking in the wonderful scents of the flowers and the moss. I walked carefully through the thorn bushes, making sure my fluffy tail didn’t get caught. I’m half red-panda, and having a massive tail like mine can get in the way. A lot. I’m something “special,” Father tells me. He has been training me for something big since I was 6 moons old. From running with the gazelles (and my best friend Thorn), flying with the falcons, and fighting with the wolves and the bears, I have been trained to kill. I’m not a killer. I’m a defender. Father says there’s this place very far away from here. It’s called Earth. He says animals there don’t have amazing abilities like us. He says they need out help to defend them. He’s told me it’ll be my duty to lead them in an upcoming war. I am a shapeshifter. This ability allows me to change into whatever animal I want. A thick, luminescent crystal grows out of my chest. It contains my powers. If it breaks, I die. Father says my condition is rare. We barely have any shapeshifters in my pack. It’s just Mwanga, Silver and I. We are treated better than anyone in my pack. There’s one problem, though. We’re shapeshifting cheetahs, not wolves.We may be special, but my packmates assume we’re different. Not in a good way. My father met my mother when he went to Earth. My mom was an ordinary wolf until she married my father, the Alpha. She was immediately respected by my packmates after she received her Gifting Ceremony (I’ll talk about that later). Then they had me and my younger brother Thistle. However, Thistle was killed with the Outsiders attacked our camp. Outsiders. Possessed animals with a dark color and white, diseased eyes. They’re so scary they can give you nightmares. With long teeth, a crazy glare and wild attacks, they were creatures who were to be feared. They were the creatures I was trained to kill. And I’m ready.