I've been sitting on it a LONG while, but now I have an opportunity to post it! :D

Hope you enjoy it as I post the chapters finished over time :)





Outside a small house, a lone figure stood, sword held tightly in his paws. The figure, a light green tiger with dark brown stripes, draped in light leather clothing, swings his sword slowly, practicing his combat stances as his tail lashes from side to side, subtly helping his balance. His preferred armor, hardened black obsidian over steel lamellar plate, lay in its separate pieces on the ground behind him. A light but rather large scimitar served as his practice weapon, his strong, lithe form moving quickly with his attacks, his spiked, medium length hair shaking slightly with his spins.
“Tyrong!” his master called, the voice echoing in the night, emanating from the house. “Come here child, I have something to show you!”
“Yes master!” Tyrong answered, sheathing his weapon. In a fluid motion, he lifted up his strewn about armor pieces into a bundle, hoisting them over his shoulder effortlessly before strolling up to the small home.
Suddenly, a plated foot swings for the tiger's sword arm. Tyrong swiftly dodged out of the way, dropping his armor and sword at the door.
"For Light's sake, Riku, you couldn't wait til I was inside for once?" he laughed, his tail lashing to his side as he responded with a spinning kick to his attacker. The kick connected, knocking the yellow spotted brown cheetah attacking him flat onto his rump. The cheetah reeled in shock, as the tiger's fist stopped in front of his face.
"Ow.... Can't you EVER take it easy on me once?" the beaten cheetah asked sadly, slowly standing up again.
"Oh come on Riku, you started that, and besides, you KNOW I hold nothing back in any spar!" Tyrong laughed, patting Riku on the shoulder. "Now come, Celan wanted to see me, you can come. If you behave, that is."
Nodding, Riku quietly followed the green tiger, their tails waving slowly behind them.
They entered their master's room, a lightly decorated area lit by a large fireplace on the far side. A large, well muscled blue panther sat at a wooden armchair, tapping his fingers as the two felines walked in, watching the tiger intently.
"You took your time, Tyrong. Surely, practice didn't take THAT much time."
"My apologies, master," Riku spoke up. "I was the hold up. I, more or less, requested a sparring match, which I lost."
"Another loss? My, Riku, you just cannot best Tyrong in a fight." Celan chuckled at the cheetah, Riku staring down at his feet sadly. "Anyhow, this was not to have a small laugh at Riku's expense, this was for Tyrong. And I have something he'd like to see." Celan pulled out a long, oddly shaped package from behind his armchair, covered in red velvet cloth.
"Is that...." Tyrong started, hand reaching out for the box.
"Yes, young tiger, it is, the sword you commissioned a month past, the lizards delivered it today while you were repairing your armor, I kept it secret all this time. Go ahead, take it!" The panther handed the excited Tyrong the covered package. Tyrong eagerly opened it, gasping at the sight of his new weapon.
His new blade was one of many fables and legends. The blade had a gentle yet prominent curve, like that of a saber, but a slightly shorter curve, and a longer handle, obviously for use with both paws. It was expertly sharpened both on the outside and inside of the curve, the guard inlaid with gold and silver, a finely crafted etching of two feral tigers, comprised the mass of the guard.
"A katana..." Riku gasped, awestruck. "I've heard about it, but never seen one."
"Specialty of the Eastern Continent, and the first blade strong enough to stand against the first Blight King without shattering. No wonder you wanted one, Tyrong." Celan smiled, nodding in approval. "Plus, with the rise in Blight attacks, new weapons are great for the land's warriors." Tyrong smiled as he lifts his new sword, standing at a safe distance to give a few practice swings.
Tyrong smiled. "Nicely weighted, everything I imagined of the design, but it's missing something...." The tiger's fingers lightly trace over the flat of the blade, his eyes glazed over, his naturally violet eyes now a blood red hue. The blade began to brightly glow a fiery scarlet, the element of flame softly imitated by its shine, but remaining as an inner glow within the steel.
"Ah, the Blight-bane Flame, as you dubbed it." Celan chuckled, nodding softly.
Riku scowled. "No fair. I wanna be able to do that."
Celan's eyebrow raised to Riku's statement. "But Riku, you have access to holy power. Twice as effective against the undead Blight."
"Well yeah, but flame is more fun," Riku pouted.
Tyrong laughed, his personal enchantment completed. "Well, you little pyro, maybe you should've convinced your father to marry a flame-mistress and have her give birth to you, then you could do this too." Giving Riku a fast punch to the shoulder, he turned to his teacher. "Thank you, Celan, for giving me this."
Celan nodded, smiling brightly. "You have earned this, my student, it was my pleasure." He sat back in his chair, leaning back. "The townspeople wanted to throw a party in celebration of your guardian training being completed. I wonder how they learned this." He glanced at Riku, who immediately averted his gaze. "At any rate, you might as well go join in."
"Yes, thank you master," they both replied. The tiger and cheetah bowed and turn to leave, but as Tyrong reached the door, he asked, "Wait, Celan, aren't you coming master?"
The panther waved his paw, chuckling. "Town festivities were never my place. Go, have fun, you earned it. I have things to finish here anyhow."
"Yes master."
Tyrong turned and walked out, shutting the front door behind him, his new weapon now strapped to his back. Joining with Riku down the road, they walk down to the small town, to join the festivities just starting.

***

Celan turned his head softly, his smile slowly fading. "You can come out now, my old friend."
A large, dark furred wolf emerged from the shadows, his left paw exposed from the front of his robe, the arm slung under it, the unused left sleeve strapped to the side. A large axe rested on his right shoulder, supported by his right arm.
"I was beginning to think I had gone unnoticed," he said in a gruff voice, his teeth flashing in the low light.
"You could never hide well, Wolfclaw." The panther laughed loudly, eyes shining with memories of long ago. "Especially not from me and Maxian."
"So, that boy is his kid, huh?"
"Yes. As skilled as his father, even without knowing the full extent of his abilities."
"So he doesn't know?"
Celan sighed. "Thankfully, no. Until Maxian reveals himself to the boy, I doubt he ever will."
"You're sure Maxian knows."
"That he exists? You forget, he was around for his first few years of life." Celan smirked softly. "He wouldn't have ever admitted it, but that little cub was his pride and joy."
"But it's possible, after the-"
"I know." The panther frowned. "After the merge, maybe the memories from his previous life were forgotten. But then, he was always a strong willed warrior. More than the rest of us. It's just as possible he was able to hold onto them."
Wolfclaw grinned, walking to the door, but stopped. "That boy's story has just begun."
Celan laughed again. "You and your stories. Well, you might as well join them at the party."
The scarred wolf shook his head. "I have other plans. Have to be ready to play a part in this, after all. Did promise Maxian, same as you" He smirked, teeth glinting. "Don't die too fast, feline."
Celan smiled. "You either, canine."
The wolf stalked off, and as Celan heard the door shut, almost immediately, he hears the faint, low yips and growls of the Blight, steadily growing louder.
Slowly grasping his halberd, he smiled faintly. "Now it begins."