FBN: Chapter 21~ Fighting Dirty

Grif stepped forward, despite Korku's protests. "Leave. Now." He snarled, sliding out his claws. The tom laughed. "Careful, you might pull a muscle. You think I'm afraid of you? Really?" He smirked, lashing his long black tail side to side. Grif growled, eyes blazing. "Maybe not, but you will be." Without warning, he tackled the tom, ripping his claws into his fur. The tom snarled and bit down on his shoulder. The two cats tumbled in a mess of fur and dust, and Korku's paws were itching to join, but the look of fear in Lalin's eyes rooted him in his place.  I need to make sure that tom keeps away. Lalin is not the kind to fight. Dang! Why can't she defend herself? His thoughts were broken off by Grif's yowl. He was skidding across the ground, a long scratch running down his face. The tom was stalking towards him, dark fire burning in his eyes. Alright, that's it! Korku flung himself in between the tom and his brother, spine arched and hissing. The tom smirked, blood glistening on his muzzle. "You want to fight now huh?" He crouched down. "That's fine, I wanted to fight you more anyways." Korku narrowed his eyes. "Then stop talking and let's just do it already." The tom hissed and charged toward him. Korku readied himself, facing his attacker. Another day, another danger. Well, that's fine by me. Bring it.

Delays

Hey readers! Um... well first off sorry I haven't posted for a while. School started up and I haven't been able to get on the computer as often as I'd like to, but I will try to get more active from this point on! I'll post the next chapter of the story as soon as I can okay? Thank you for listening. Bye!

FBN: Chapter 20~Shadows In The Trees

After one day had passed, Korku, Grif, and Lalin were continuing their quest through the woods. It was about sunhigh when Korku felt his neck fur prick. It feels like someone's watching me. He thought anxiously, his gaze flicking from tree to tree. Then his eye picked up a shadowy figure, which immediately darted into the bushes. "What was that?" Lalin whispered, her fur begin to fluff up. Grif's ears swiveled around, listening intently. Korku crouched down, narrowing his eyes. "Stay alert." He growled. Another rustle in the bushes, another shadow flashing past, and Korku whipped around. "Come out coward! Show yourself!" He snarled aloud, then waited. A few heartbeats later, the bushes rustled again, but this time, the shadow stepped out. As it entered the sunlight, Korku could clearly see it's features. It was a tom, thick-muscled and tough. His pelt was a light gray, with a black tail and black patches along his spine. Korku puffed up his chest and approached the cat head on. "You, what do you want and why are you following us?" The cat smirked and stared him down. "Why should I answer to you, little cat?" His voice was eerily smooth, with a slight emphasis on the s. Korku's gaze didn't falter. "You will tell me. Now." The cat laughed darkly and unsheathed his claws.  "Or what?"

FBN: Chapter 19~ A Walk In The Woods

"Whoa, whoa whoa. Slow down little brother." Korku halted as Grif stood in front of him. "How do you know they're not miles away from where I left them? They could be anywhere by now." Korku huffed. "I realize that, but that's a good of a place to start as any. Don't you want to see them again?" Grif rolled his eyes. "Of course I do, but Korku-" Lalin stepped up. "Now hang on, are you protesting to finding your own denmates?" Grif turned to her, fur fluffing up slightly. "Well, I- no, of course not!" Lalin nodded and padded to stand beside Korku. "Then we should do it. Besides, anywhere Korku goes, I'll follow. Not like I have anywhere else to go anyhow." She added more quietly. Korku tapped his tail to her shoulder, then quickly moved it away. "Look, Grif. I really want you to come. Please?" Grif looked at his paws in thought, then looked back up, laughing slightly. "There's no stopping you is there. All right then, let's go." Korku brightened and nodded, continuing on his walk. Lalin and Grif followed close behind. Korku breathed in deeply, relishing the forest air. This is what I should be doing. He thought. This is what I'll continue to do for as long as I can.

FBN: Chapter 18~ New Traveler

"Lalin, this is-" Grif slapped his tail over Korku's mouth before he could say anything else. He dipped his head in respect. "Greetings, I am Grif, Korku's brother." Lalin looked to Grif, then to Korku, then back again. "Brother? If that's the case, then I am sorry for snapping." Grif lifted his head and grinned. "Nothing to apologize for, I assure you." Korku rolled his eyes and swatted his brother's tail away. "Stop flirting will ya?" He meowed in a fake annoyed tone. Grif chuckled and stepped away so he was behind Korku. "Alright pushy paws. Calm down." Lalin chuckled slightly, then picked up her herbs. "Now then, time to fix you up!" she chewed up the root and spread the polituce on his cuts. Korku hissed slightly at the burning it caused, but soon relaxed when it faded away. As soon as Lalin was done, Korku rose to his paw and turned to Grif. "Right then. Where's the last place you saw Lach or Iblis?" Grif blinked his eyes wide. "Uh-I don't know. Longs ways from here. Quite a few days away. It was at a...I think it was a twisted oak tree..." Korku nodded and looked around. "Which direction?" Grif flicked his gaze around, confused. "Aw..I don't remember. Toward where the sun rises I guess." Korku turned to the direction where the sun had risen earlier and began to stride off, Grif and Lalin soon scrambling to catch up with him. "Korku, where are we going?" Lalin asked. Korku's eyes glowed with determination and certainty as he meowed, "We're going to find my kin."

FBN: Chapter 17~ Family Reunion

"Korku?" The tom asked again, but Korku just stared uneasily at him. "Do I...know you?" He growled. The tom tipped his head to one side. "I should think so." Korku's mind was blank. "Really? Are you sure you don't have me mistaken for someone else?" The tom circled him, sniffing. "Nope, I know exactly who you are. You surely can't have forgotten me?" Korku sighed and rolled his eyes. "I really don't know." The tom sat in front of him, a bit of hurt showing in his eyes. "I can't believe you could forget your own brother!" Korku froze, memories rushing back from his kithood. Wait..wait...yes! He was there! How could I not recognize him? "Grif! Is that you?" The tom perked up and nodded. "You remember! Korku! I can't believe it, I thought you were dead!" He purred, licking his younger brother's face. Korku laughed and pulled away, flicking his ears with his tail. "Grif, I've missed you and Iblis and Lach! Have you seen them? Recently?" Grif sighed and shook his head. "No...we got split up about...maybe 6 moons ago. I don't know where they are. Hey..Korku.." He sniffed again. "You're bleeding! What happened?" Korku shrugged, wincing slightly. "Rats. I handled it though." Grif laughed, his tail whipping back and forth. Korku's fur bristled. "What? What's so funny?" Grif laughed more then said, "Nothing, just- last time I saw you you were the runt. Now you're bigger than I am! How'd that happen?" Korku grinned and chuckled. "I don't know, maybe I was never the runt in the first place." Grif opened his jaws to speak, when Lalin pushed through the bushes. She dropped the burdock root she was carrying and meowed calmly but accusingly at Grif, "Who is this??"

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?"