soraawoolf Thanks so much for the Ref Buddy I owe you lots of hugs.

Zack Back story was created by my good friend  Wallaby_Jango

There are legends told of an anger, an anger so strong and great that the ground would break under it. Much like a tsunami it sweeps over lands and swells canyons, like the gale winds it cannot be contained and will topple mountains themselves. That anger, that force, resides inside of one dwelling. A vessel if you will.

It resides in that of a child.

Zack was at first glance a normal 10-year-old giraffe, he was a little on the broader side than his classmates but he seemed normal on the outside. But on the inside, that's where the difference was. Easy to anger, he was always looked at with a bit of fear from his ex-classmates and even the teachers were afraid of him. Why? Because this was a child who was expelled from school for fighting. Typically fighting at such a young age would result in just a suspension but typically a student wouldn't have tried to beat a water buffalo that had stolen his lunch with a merry go round. It was after that moment that Zack's father decided to keep him out of school and keep him home for his studies. His father and mother knew about his anger problem, the slightest thing would set his son off into a fit of rage and the only thing the young giraffe could do to express himself was with violence. He had moved all of his belongings to the basement, the only spot of the house that could sustain the constant damage and abuse from his fists, elbows, feet, knees, and the occasionally head butt.

"I DON'T WANT TO BE DOWN HERE ANYMORE!!! IT'S BORING! I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!" Zack screamed from the basement floor looking up at his dad who stood at the top of the short staircase. Even just him screaming was enough to set off the car alarm outside...three doors down. "I know you want to go back to school but you can't. You tore out a playground toy Zack" his father replied holding his hands up as if trying to calm him down from a safe distance. "HE STOLE MY LUNCH! HE MADE ME MAD!!" was all the young man could say. Zack clenched his fists thinking about the bully who took his lunch. It seemed that the harder he tried, the more Zack fought. He loved his son, he loved him so much but the constant anger was taking its toll on him mentally. They tried therapy; Zack threw the sofa through the wall. They tried hypnosis; he made the watch a permanent part of the floor. They even tried extreme measures with medication....the news couldn't report it due to the damage done and censors claimed it too graphic for public.

Zack continued to yell how he didn't want to be down in the basement, he stomped his feet which caused small imprints from his feet into the concrete floor, he yelled about how he wanted to go back to school over and over and over again. When there are desperate times, you call for desperate measures. "Fine Zack. If you calm down we'll go somewhere far away, not school, though. Some place much better." he moved down the steps a bit as his son looked at him, teeth bared like a feral animal almost as if growling at him. His father kneeled down and placed his hands on his son's shoulders looking at him as his eyes welled up with love, and just the slightest twinge of fear. He wasn't afraid of his son, rather he was afraid that if he didn't help him that his son would succumb to the fears of society and would be taken from him.

The day started off somber, even as the smell of a freshly cooked breakfast filled the kitchen. Zack sat at the table across from his mother, even though he was upset he was leaving his home he was happy cause he wouldn't be stuck in that god forsaken basement anymore. His mother smiled at him over the quietness of breakfast, the only sounds that broke the silence were the clinking of silverware on the plates until she spoke "Zack I hope that when you and your father see your uncle that he can help you. We know that we love you dearly and only want what's best right?" there was a softness in her voice as she reached across the table touching his hand lightly. The giraffe's eyes fell to it as he slowly moved his hand over clasping them softly "I know mom, I'll try." his reply was short without even the slightest twinge of anger. He knew that his parents meant well but having to go so far wasn't what he thought was needed, even though he was going to meet an uncle he had never met before. Couple that with the fact he was a monk was something that interested him and he wanted to learn what they did, the internet could only show him so much since there was that infernal parental lock on so much of it.

The flight to the country where his uncle lived was a long trip, over sixteen hours, and set them in the middle of some country that Zack may have never gone to had he not been taken by his father. The young giraffe didn't get to enjoy the sights from above due to mostly sleeping on the way over but as they took a cheap taxi from the airport he scanned through the photos his father had taken with his camera. There weren't many photos but enough to keep his attention for a short bit before he looked out the window as they bounced around a bit. 'These roads are complete crap!' just the road being bad started his frustration while his eyes took in the sights. Looking all around he could see the everyone that was walking around, some of them held large baskets on the their head full of clothes or fruits, others kicked a battered soccer ball around, and even a few he could spot dressed in the garbs of the monks. Those caught his attention most of all.

"We almost there dad?" he asked slightly agitated it was taking so long, he figured it would take time but not this long. Leaning forward some his father looked out of the windshield and was able to see the temple in the distance up on the hill top "We're almost there son" he replied pointing to it. Zack looked where his father was pointing and gasped slightly, even in the distance the temple looked massive and he could see the decorations that adorned it.

It took about another hour to arrive there, the whole while Zack was told about his uncle from his dad. How he viewed the world, that even as a young man he saw through people and was able to help them. That was the whole reason that they were going there in the first place, to seek help for Zack's continuous anger. The cab pulled up to the steps of the temple and the cabby turned in his seat telling them how much they owed for the ride and informed the driver to send another in a few hours if possible. His father set some bills in his hand before getting out to grab the bags from the trunk, the only ones brought were for Zack. They looked up at the temple and at the top of the short staircase they could see four monks waiting for them. Placing his hand on his son's shoulder they started to ascend the staircase one step at a time, each one brought Zack closer and closer to the monks, and oddly enough his anger was building slowly instead of raging like before. But it was there, it was the only constant in his life.

"Greetings. Your brother spoke of your impending arrival, we are most pleased to have you" one of the monks, a tall slightly pudgy beaver spoke bowing his head a bit. The smaller one, a very lean and much younger looking panda bowed as well to the visitors to which Zack's father returned the gesture. He looked out the corner of his eye and spoke quietly to his son watching as his son bowed his head but only a little, not from lack of respect because even though he was very young he read about the monks but out of not wanting to lose sight of anything. Once the respectful gesture was giving the to monks held out their hands and took the bags from the two and lifted their hands "Please. Come with us, we'll take you to your brother and the young one can come with us and we will show him our training area." the monks began walking with them taking them to the temple, so many adornments inside that depicted monks from past years and various poses of martial arts. It was a short walk before they came to another door and a hallway leading in two different directions. "Through this door is the garden your brother tends to. Young Zack please follow us, a teaching of the martial arts is almost ready to start and we think you will enjoy it very much" the short monk spoke to the two before she smiled at Zack and took his hand pulling him away from his father.

The other monk bowed his head and left his father to stand before the double facing doors with serpent dragon handles. Reaching down he grabbed the cool golden handles and pulled them open slowly revealing a massive garden filled with flowers, a small stream that cut through it with several small bridges that would allow you to step without breaking your stride at all. Walking in the doors slowly closed behind him the light clack of the metal could be heard as they shut fully behind him. Taking his steps forward he could see his brother sitting in the middle of it with a small tea set beside him, the whole scene so tranquil it felt as if from some far off dream.

"My brother it has been far too long. I know why you're here and the reason saddens me. I wish it were a happier occasion that brings you to my home."

Zack's father walked forward walking over the small wooden bridges with barely a break in his stride. The small butterflies in the garden fluttered lightly through the air as if guided by the winds until they made their way to some of the flowers to drink the sweet pollen from them. "It has been a good while. I need your help with my son...he...he can't control his rage and I'm afraid that he may kill someone by accident," he spoke to his brother as he sat down across from him. His brother sipped lightly from his cup before setting it down on the small wooden table. Zack's uncle may have been several years older but by appearance, one wouldn't know. His spots were symmetrically perfect in a sense and his eyes shone with the wisdom of someone who was in their golden times. "Have you ever thought that maybe you just haven't been disciplining him like the world wants you to?" the question sounded snide and had the twinge of insult in it. Zack's father balled up his fists slightly as he listened to his brother insult his parenting skills, he may not have been the perfect parent but he tried as hard as he could to provide for his son and wife and the rage that his son felt had pushed him to his breaking point several times.

"I didn't fly halfway around the world to be insulted by you! I haven't seen you in what? Ten years if not more and that's what you have to say to me?" he glared at his brother who just sat there stoic and calm before he continued "Your the one who left to find something better and this is what I find you doing?" he snarled at him as he could feel the blood in his body boil. His brother just stared at him, his eyes half open as he lifted his sleeve a bit to grab the teapot pouring another cup for himself as well as his brother. Once both cups were filled he lifted one and set it gently down in front of his younger brother before lifting the other to his lips taking a long slow sip of it. Several seconds passed as the wind blew softly causing the little bit of hair on his uncle's head to sway lightly in the breeze "I apologize if you took my comment as an insult. I was merely stating that in the world of today's time it seems like many would rather you strike the child with violence rather than compassion" Uncle spoke softly letting his words slide from his mouth moistened by the tea. Again his father looked at him glaring this time practically leaping to his feet "Stop speaking like that! You have talked like that since we were young boys! If you're going to help me then just say so!"

Uncle stood up slowly taking a deep breath as if he were sighing "I would love to help you but you seem to be angered by just me speaking. This has been a fine visit my brother but since there is nothing for us to discuss further please let me tend to more important things like my sand garden." he slowly motioned to a small section of the garden filled with white sand, a plain looking wooden rake set angled on a rock awaiting to be used. As Zack's uncle started to walk away his father held out his hand looking at him "Wait! Please, I'm sorry. I need your help with my son. I don't want to lose him." his words came out pleading to him "I've tried everything in my power, your the only one I could think of that could help." he waited for his brother to turn around. Uncle turned after a few moments nodding his head and motioned him to the door that he had come through. Walking together they spoke for a bit as they came up to a group of monks all in a tight circle yelling and being pushed back "LET ME GO! I ONLY WANT TO FIND MY DAD AND LEAVE HERE!" Zack yelled out as a couple monks tried to restrain him but found themselves thrown several feet landing at the feet of his uncle. The young giraffe looked up at his uncle, a man whom he'd never met before and who had his hands hidden in the large sleeves of his clothes. Zack took a stance and lunged full force and head on at his uncle. Nothing would keep him where he didn't want to be anymore.

The attack only remained for a few seconds and Zack found himself on the floor unable to move his limbs. He hadn't even seen his uncle strike him and the only evidence there had been a defense was the straight fingers on his uncle's left hand. Zack twitched a bit as he struggled to move, the sensation in his body felt like he had just been hit by lighting but without the pain "Wh...what did you do to me?" he looked up at the monk as his limbs tingled. Kneeling down next to him he tapped his forehead, chest, both arms, and his snout before holding out his hand to him "Its a pressure point attack. It causes the body to go numb and renders it useless." he informed him as he moved him to a sitting position "Zack, I am your Uncle. Your father has brought you here and I intend to help you quell that fire that burns inside before it consumes you whole."

Zack listened to him feeling no anger but instead confusion, he hadn't known of his uncle until just this second. He looked up at his father who explained as much as he could to him. It was several hours later and Zack had learned as much as he could from his father about the monk, and it was quite a tale to be told. It was almost late into the evening before Zack's father departed to make the long plane ride home. The farewell was a bit sad as he hugged his father not knowing when he would see him again, it was the first time since Zack was a young boy that his father had received a hug from him like this one. The night was not an easy one and it only got rougher from there. He had gone through several months of training in various martial arts, most of which involved using your opponents power against them and finding ways to end the fights quickly. During one exercise Zack had become enraged after one of the students hit him with a illegal kick to the groin, he snapped the students leg at the knee and when the monks attempted to calm him by dumping a bucket of cold water on him, a trick that had worked on several students in years past he either dislocated their shoulders or broke their forearms. All these actions were met with a ferocity of hits from his uncle that he couldn't defend against. The much older monk knew several points on the body that made fighting useless nd no matter how angered he was when the use of your legs and arms are removed it makes combat difficult.

From that attack on the monks and onward his Uncle took over his training and made sure that he was never too far from his sight. Zack spent many years under the watchful eye of his uncle and had learned many techniques. His body had changed from the lanky young child to a broad young man, and with his new body came new challenges in containing his anger. During his tenth year Zack had to undergo something that caused him much pain but it was something he was told was needed. His tattoos. It took several months to complete and each time they started the pain burned and it had been like he never had them before. The tattoos on his back started at the base of his neck and went down the middle of his spine to the base of his tail. Each one circular in design but went from complex designs to simple. They had been done the old way with a bone handle and were 'tapped' into his skin and even showed on his fur. He was told by the zebra doing it that the ink was special and would never leave his fur no matter how short he cut it.

His uncle had noted that during many of their exercises that while he showed promise in so many things he was easily distracted and the tiniest thing, even a insect on the ground could draw his mind away. After several years, thirteen in fact his Uncle had one last exercise for his nephew. Enlightenment.

"Zack, this room i had specially constructed for you. It took the monks several years to make it special for you." his uncle opened his hand showing him the room. It was fairly large, about twenty foot by twenty with hard oak walls and a dense floor. The roof concaved upwards to the point that the top couldn't be seen. Zack looked at his uncle as he stood in the middle of the room "What's this place for?"

"It is your final test Zack. The only enemy that you must fear is the one that resides inside you. Conquer that and your rage will be with held." his uncle spoke as he pointed to a small pillow in the very middle of the room. In front of it was a small incense burner that was adorned in ancient writings and designs. His uncle walked him to the middle of the room and motioned for him to sit down, once he was cross legged on the pillow his uncle sat in front of him lifting the top of the iron and copper lid lighting a couple of the small cones inside. The lid was set on top with a small clank as the little whiskers of smoke drifted from the holes in the top and swirled about "Just breath in deeply Zack. Let all the thoughts in your mind drift away slowly. The smoke will enter your body through your snout and pass through your very soul." he spoke softly letting his words drift through the air lazily. Zack breathed in deeply smelling the odd mixture of scents from the incense as he closed his eyes.

Listening to his Uncle's voice he slowly drifted into a state of complete relaxation, a state of mental and physical bliss. The words washed over him like the slow rising waters of the river until he opened his eyes. He felt odd, he felt lighter. Looking around he seen his own body sitting there, legs folded one over the other, his eyes closed, his arms sat on his thighs with his hands set one on top of the other palms up. "What in the world is going on here?" he asked himself as he waved his hand in front of his body's face. No reaction. He snapped his fingers by his ears which looked to be as relaxed as his body was. Still nothing. "Ok....this is weird." he thought aloud as he began to walk away from his physical form. As he walked he could hear the soft crunch of what must've been sand under his large feet. All around him everything had a strange glow to it, the trees in the distance seemed to stretch in an odd way. The world around him seemed skewed, angled, odd.

Zack continued his trek until he came upon a small area, this was vastly different then the rest of the world. The ground was charred black and streaked with deep hues of purple and seemed to look like roots from trees, the air seemed heavy, thick and the pressure of it felt like you had dived into deep water. Sitting in the middle of it he could see a giraffe, but he looked familiar and yet not. "Hey! Hey who are you? Where am I?" Zack asked as he approached the sitting figure who seemed to be stoking a small fire. The figure didn't answer him. It merely stood up slowly letting the top of his outfit, a kimono almost identical to Zack's fall showing his back to him. Zack looked at him confused, from the size and the slight angle it stood at he could tell that it was a male but the markings looked just like his. And he had tattoos just like Zack's.

"Silly stupid child. You ask where you are. You are in your own mind." the voice was deep and resonated in Zack's ears loudly as if he was yelling. "You ask who I am. I am Zack" the figure turned around and Zack could see it was him....at least it kind of looked like him.

The giraffe stood before him sticking his thumbs into the waistband of the pants looking at him cocky. The horns atop his head weren't as small as Zack's instead they swept backwards and had a demonic look about them, his eyes were a deep green but there seemed to be a offset red inside them as he stared holes into Zack. "Come on, don't you recognize me? You know who I am." he spoke almost in a taunting manner as he approached him slowly. It didn't take long before he was in front of Zack just mere inches away from him. "I don't know who you are." Zack's voice came out a bit shaky but there was still the sign of confidence and the sureness that he could take on anything. The other Zack walked behind him his fingers lightly trailing over his shoulders making Zack move away quickly "Oh you know me Zack. I'm that little voice in your head that tells you to fight. I'm that rush you get in your veins when you throw a punch. You see Zack" he pointed at him before holding his hands out to this side "I'm you. Well the angry part of you anyway. The part that makes people afraid of you. The part that everyone has tried to lock away" he laughed a bit as he spoke to Zack.

Zack looked at him shaking his head "You may be me, but you aren't me. My uncle is going to show me how to control my anger, and that's what you are. I can control you" he said through gritted teeth. The anger that stood before him went from a cocky attitude to the enraged one that Zack had known most his life. Seeing the physical embodiment of his rage, he was finally able to see what it looked like. "YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTROL ME!? NO ONE CONTROLS ME!" the angered spirit lunged at Zack throwing a massive right hand that connected with Zack's jaw knocking him to the ground. Before he could react the other Zack was on top of him gripping his kimono top tightly growling at him. Zack's lip bled a bit and he could see that the spirit had begun bleeding from his lips "You can't control me! I am like an inferno! I destroy all in my wake and I will destroy you too!" his words, nothing more than hissed whispers as he spat them out. Zack tried to pull the vice like grip off of him but it was fruitless, the anger had ahold of him now like it had for so many years.

"If you destroy me then you can't live." he responded as he looked up at him. The spirit lifted himself up and pulled his arm back folding it tightly dropping his right elbow hard and fast, Zack seen the move and moved his head letting it hit the ground cracking the charred area. The giraffe rolled himself as he grabbed one of the demonic horns switching positions until he was atop the spirit. Zack himself threw the same move, mirrored though since he dropped his left and brought it crashing down onto the spirit's snout cracking it. "You can't beat me. I am in control. You are just an emotion!" he yelled at him as he dropped another elbow onto him. The spirit did nothing but laugh at him even as Zack rained down hit after hit. Each time he connected he felt a twinge of pain "Don't you see fool? You can't hurt me! The more pain you deal to me the more you feel. The angrier you get....."he stopped his sentence short as he grabbed the arm before the next hit "The stronger I get."

The spirit Zack shoved as hard as he could throwing the giraffe off of him causing him to hit the ground rolling almost to the edge of the charred area. The spirit Zack stood up and dusted himself off cracking his jaw a bit as he sauntered over to the fallen Zack chuckling a bit "I told you Zack, you can't control me. You can't even contain me. You can only hope to hold me back, but rage always wins."

He reached down grabbing Zack by the hair before striking him hard in the face with a straight right hand. Zack could feel the hit vibrate through his whole head making it seem like his own skull rattled. Zack looked up at him before he took a fifth hit "I can control you. You are me, and I can control me" he locked his eyes on his anger spirit and could feel them changing as he spoke. He could feel his body becoming lighter as he spoke "You are not in control anymore, you are part of me and I control me." Taking a step forward he began to glow with a light hue around him. For the first time in his life he felt the presence of utter peace in his body. The spirit Zack took a step back before jumping throwing his foot out for a massive roundhouse. It connected squarely with Zack but only moved his head to the side. Zack continued forward moving the angered spirit back to the middle of the charred area. "YOU CAN'T BEAT ME ZACK!" it screamed at him as he planted his feet firmly into the ground and threw a massive haymaker towards his face.

Zack lifted his hand quickly catching the fist "You're right. I can't beat you." he held the fist in his tight grip before pushing the spirit backwards letting it go. The angered Zack hit the ground looking up at him as he moved into a crouched position his hand flat on the ground. "I will end you and take your body Zack! The world will learn to fear anger!" it screamed at him and went to lunge. Zack merely stood there as he watched the spirit. The anger was stuck. The charred black land had pulled back its stretched out 'roots' and it now held the angered spirit in what looked like thick tar. The more it struggled to get free the more tangled it became as the mass around it rose lazily and wrapped around him creating a prison of rope like tendrils. "WHAT IS THIS? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"

Zack walked forward, again the soft crunch of sand beneath his bare feet "You are right. I can't beat you. But I can contain you. You are anger incarnate as I am and I must live with that fact. But I don't have to let it define me." he knelt down and placed his hand on the cheek of the spirit, just feeling it made his hand warm "Anger fights against itself. Anger is nothing but a never ending cycle of pain not only onto others but onto one's self. And I forgive you, but you will listen to me." he spoke softly to it as it fought against its bindings trying to reach Zack but to no avail. The more it fought the tighter the bindings became and the more they held him down. "I accept you for what you are. But I am the one in control. You no longer have a say in the matter." as he finished his sentence he leaned forward touching his forward to the angered spirit of himself. The moment didn't last long as Zack stood up and began to walk away, leaving the spirit to fight against it's bondage trying desperately to reach him.

Zack opened his eyes, they felt heavy, so heavy as he groggily looked around the room until his eyes fell on his Uncle who sat in front of him smiling. "So Zack. Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked his young nephew. Zack nodded his head slowly as he moved to stand up his joints cracking a bit from sitting for who knew how long. "I feel lighter, calmer." he answered once he was on his feet while he waited for his uncle to stand with him. His uncle moved gingerly to his feet the joints popping some from lack of movement. "You have conquered your anger my nephew but your journey to full enlightenment is still a vast path ahead of you with many pitfalls and walkways." He walked forward placing his hand lovingly on his nephew's shoulder "You can leave here now and live out your life the way you choose. But never forget our teachings to you." he smiled up at him as Zack smiled and bowed deeply to his uncle showing much respect. He knew that the rest of his life would mean him having to find a way to conquer his anger, but he was ready for it.