FBN: Chapter 16~ Bitten By Surprise

Lalin gasped and ran over to Korku. "Oh thank you Korku! I'm so sorry, I should have helped, but I was just so scared! And now you're hurt!" Korku turned to her and huffed slightly, "Calm down, Lalin. I'm fine." That was a lie. The bites burned like fire in his blood. Lalin looked him over, not believing him. "But there's so many bites...we have to treat them." Korku rolled his eyes. "Lalin-" Lalin silenced him with a paw. "Korku, I may not be a good fighter, but I can tell when injuries need tending to. Now, we need Burdock root, and that's in the forest." A cold chill ran down Korku's spine at her words. The forest? But if I go back there- He shivered at the thought. But Lalin's eyes were full of determination, and Korku wasn't sure if he'd be able to persuade her otherwise. She nudged him with her muzzle. "C'mon, let's go." Korku reluctantly walked forward, toward the forest. Lalin trotted in front of him and led the way, tail high. I don't think she's ever been so serious. Korku laughed in his mind, his whiskers twitching slightly. They walked until the trees grew thick and the noise of the city faded away. Despite his uneasiness, he couldn't help but feel more comfortable among the plants and wood. Lalin halted near a log and nearly made Korku fall over. "Wait here, and I'll find you some herbs." She padded off, sniffing the air, and disappeared in a clump of fern. Korku sat and waited for what seemed like ages. As soon as the ferns rustled again, he turned his head away from the thrush he was looking at and opened his jaws to speak. But the cat who came out wasn't Lalin. It was a sleek, speckled tom. He stared curiously at Korku for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he meowed, "Korku? Is that you?"

FBN: Chapter 15~ Filthy Rats

Korku awoke to find that Lalin had vanished. Now where's she gone to? He thought irritably. he got to his paws and looked around, sniffing for her scent. Just as he picked it up, he heard a yowl around the corner. He darted toward the noise and saw Lalin trapped against a wall by large rats. There were only about five, but some of them were almost as big a Lalin. But not as big as me. He smirked, and charged toward the rats, yowling a challenge. The rats turned their heads and gave high-pitched squeals of anger. The largest leapt up to meet him and sunk it's razor-sharp front teeth into his shoulder. He growled and and bit down on it's back, throwing it off. Before he could react, another was on him, scrabbling for is throat. Then a third darted up and bit on his paw. Korku snarled and whipped the rat on his paw off, but the one on his back refused to budge. It squeaked defiance and bit down. Korku winced, turning his back to reach at it, but then two more leapt on him, throwing him off balance. He struggled to regain himself, but remained unsuccessful as the last two rats nipped at his hind legs. He toppled over, and the rats swarmed him, biting and clawing his flesh. He yowled angrily and swiped a heavy paw at one of the rats heads, sending it flying away. The others seemed not to care about their fallen comrade and continued to scrabble over Korku. This is ridiculous! They don't know when to quit! He snapped his jaws around a rat's spine, snapping it in between his teeth. he flung the dead rat aside and threw himself to his paws, flinging the remaining rats off. The three of them circled him, their beady red eyes glowing evilly. Korku narrowed his gaze and sprang forward, killing another rat with a powerful blow. This made the last two squeak anxiously, as if they were suddenly considering their chances. They turned and scampered away. Korku stared after them until they could no longer be seen. "Done and done."

FBN Chapter 14~ Sleeping On Cold Stone

After a lot more wandering and hunting, the moon had risen once more over the city. The pair of cats found a place to sleep near one of the walls. Korku rested his head on his paws but couldn't make himself sleep. Too much had happened in one day than he ever thought possible. There were so many thoughts buzzing in his head he couldn't tell which was which. He sighed and shook his head. Stress will get me nowhere, I need to stay focused. His ears flicked and his thoughts switched. Focused on what? I don't know what I should do! I know I can't wander around here ...but where do I go? I can't go home, I never had one in the first place. If I go back to the cave...who knows what people will think? Not to mention I've got Lalin following me around everywhere. Why I'll never know... He flicked his gaze to the small, fluffy she-cat, who was fast asleep. He rolled over and laid on his back so he could look at the moon. Can't see many stars though. He observed. In the forest, there were so many stars, it was like a rippling river in the sunlight. Here, only the brightest could be seen in the black of night. Korku sighed and rolled over again, his cheek brushing the stone. He closed his eyes and hoped that the future would be better than the present.

FBN: Chapter 13~ Wandering The Streets

Korku flattened his ears at all the noise. This is ridiculous! I can hardly hear myself think! He turned around and went back to alleys, relieved when the noise diminished. Lalin sighed. "So now what?" Korku threw her a glance. "How would I know? I've never been here before." Lalin dropped her gaze. "Sorry, I know. But surely you must have something in mind?" Korku snorted. Going back to the forest sounds nice. But..I can't do that. He looked around, thinking about somewhere to go, when his belly rumbled. Lalin tipped her head to one side, but Korku looked away, scowling. I need to eat something. He padded around a bit, sniffing the air with partly open jaws. Soon, he heard scrabbling nearby. Flicking his tail to tell Lalin to stop, he peered around a corner. Near a few shiny stumps there was a scrawny, but still edible, mouse. Crouching down, he crept forward. I suppose there are a few advantages of the city. Here, there's no sticks or leaves to give me away. Slowly he got as close as he could to his prey. Before the mouse could realize it was being hunted, Korku pounced, snatching the mouse tightly between his jaws. it wasn't as rich as he was used to, but he would have to get used it at some point.

FBN: Chapter 12~ City Bustle

The pair walked in silence fro a long while until Korku reluctantly asked, "What is this place anyway?" Lalin replied with haste, "This is the city. There's a lot of dangers here; twolegs, monsters, rats-" Korku cut her off with a flick of his tail. "Stop a minute. What are twolegs and monsters?" Lalin stopped and stared at him in shock. His neck fur fluffed up indignantly. "What? I don't know what they are!" He grumbled. Lalin jumped and meowed, "Sorry, I just thought everyone knew what they were. Monsters are these huge, shiny, vicious creatures that live on thunderpaths, which are really hard paths. Twolegs are these big, hairless creatures that walk on two legs and occasionally ride in the bellies of monsters."  Korku became more and more confused as Lalin continued, then finally just gave up trying to understand and began to walk again. The loud noises he had heard on his arrival grew stronger, and soon enough he began to see movement ahead. Lalin began to grow uneasy, and Korku stopped once more. "What is it now?" He flicked his tail irritably. Lalin's gaze flicked back and forth nervously. "There's a lot of twolegs over there, and I usually stick to the alleys.." Korku groaned. "Look, if you don't want to come, then don't, but I'm curious to see these twolegs and monsters." He turned around and kept going, not surprised to hear Lalin's soft pawsteps still following behind. He stepped out of the alleyway and nearly got stepped on by a large foot. He jumped out of the way swiftly, it only missing his tail by a whisker-length. A few paces away, large metallic beasts roared down a large black path. This is the city? Why would any cat want to live here?

FBN: Chapter 11~ Trust Is A Virtue

Korku stared at the she-cat, confused. "Saved you? How did I save you?" Lalin took a step forward, eyes glowing. "Had those cats caught me, they most likely would have killed me. Thanks to you, my life is safe...at least for now." Korku tipped his head to one side. I don't know about this cat. She seems..different somehow... He narrowed his eyes. "Here's a question for you: Why were they chasing you in the first place?" Lalin dropped her gaze. "I...I'm not normal. They don't want me near them because I'm different." Behind Korku, the sun began to rise, turning the sky light blue and making the stars vanish. As it slowly rose higher, more of Lalin's features began to show. Her eyes were very light in color, almost white. She had a large, fluffy tail. her pelt had a strange look, it was black with red tabby markings on one side, and white with swirly golden markings on the other. Korku looked down at his own dirty, bloodstained pelt disgracefully. "You're hurt." Lalin mewed quietly, noticing the bruises and cuts. Korku looked away. "I'm fine. There's nothing to concern yourself with. Now, it was nice to meet you, but I have to leave." He got to his paws and began to walk away, when he heard the exclamation, "No please! Wait! I don't want to be here by myself anymore! Let me come with you!" Korku stopped and closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. He turned his head and looked over his shoulder, then meowed gruffly, "Fine, since I don't know where I'm going anyway, you might as well come."

FBN: Chapter 10~ Chasing The Moon

"I haven't seen ya here before, where'r ya from ya pest?" The first cat growled, a strange accent changing his words. Korku lifted his head up. "It's not your concern." The second one growled in the same accent, "Well ya pelt's stained with blood, 'n that raises some questions." Korku glanced down at his dirty, bloodstained fur. Dang it. Dead giveaway. He looked back to the pair of cats. "Maybe I've been fighting, what's it to you?" The first one snorted. "Ya think ya can jus' come in 'ere and stop us from-" He cut off when the other shot him a look. Korku flicked his gaze at both of them. "Stop you from what? From chasing that cat? Maybe it's about time I ask you some questions." He tried to make his voice deeper, and he unsheathed his razor sharp claws. The cats exchanged a glance. "We don't ave to tell ya nothing!" The first hissed, while the second just nodded. Korku smirked, "Then why should I tell you about me. Go away you fleabags, before someone gets an eye clawed out." The two cats exchanged an anxious glance. "Fine, we'll leave, but not cause ya told us to!" The second meowed, and the two cats sprinted away. Korku waited until they were gone until he relaxed and sheathed his claws. He was licking the drying blood off his fur when a soft voice meowed, "Thank you for sending them away." Korku stopped and turned mid-lick to see a she-cat silhouetted against the setting moon. "Hello, my name is Lalin, or moon, and I would like to introduce myself to the cat who saved me."