Chapter II of "A Darker Story"

 Appropiate for all ages.

Chapter II

            “Razafrazamagaloobleblahblo…” Thorn grumbled. “I never realized the town was this far away…”

            It had already been five days and Thorn was still trampling through the dry weeds, trying to find even the smallest glimpse of the town. But he wouldn’t have to look any farther, for when he trekked up a spiky hill, he could see cottages off in the distance. The excited snow leopard picked up speed, trying to propel himself faster into civilization.

            He soon skidded to a halt, panting in front of the entrance to the town, guarded by fierce-looking, pitch-black, scar-ridden guards.

            “Er, hi!” Thorn’s words where met with hostile glances.

            “Halt, stranger! State your business!” One of the guards snarled.

            “Citizenship.” Thorn said simply. The guard inspected him and nodded. “Where do you come from?”

            Thorn hesitated. What should he say? “I-I was a foolish loner who desires nothing more than to be a humble citizen of this amazing kingdom, loyal to none other than the superior, feared, strong, and absolutely worthy King Malicis, who trains his guards and soldiers in the way of the fierce and merciless so this kingdom may stay the most respected as it should be.”

            The guard seemed flattered and impressed. “You seem like you really want to be a citizen,” the guard growled. He flashed a glance at his fellow guards. “Let him in. He will become a citizen.”

            Thorn guessed the guard he had talked to was the head guard of this group. He almost threw his fist in the air and shouted out, but didn’t want to make a fool out of himself. Fancy talking and flattering, Thorn thought. Works all the time on the stupid brutes like these guys.

***

            Thorn threw his satchel down onto a chair and yawned. It had been a long day. He had no idea becoming a citizen of this kingdom took so long. He was too tired to take a tour of his new accommodations, so he found his way to his room and blew out the candle.

            Needless to say, sleep came upon him almost immediately.

***

            Thorn whistled as he trotted down the brick path towards the village market. He had a few gold coins in his satchel, but seeing as how most forms of payment where silver, he was guessing he could purchase more. As he approached the market, the sounds, sights, and smells became overwhelming. The market was bustling with activity even so early in the morning. It seemed like the whole village was here, adults purchasing food, cubs scurrying around, the elder leopards selling homemade jams and cookies. Each new smell brought joy to his sensitive nose, and he could take it no longer. He ran into the market, about to burst into a cheesy song, when he noticed that everyone was looking at him.

            Thorn shrank down, not used to having all these eyes on him. The villagers mumbled, and Thorn was able to catch a few words.

            “Who is he?”

            “He’s not from here.”

            “I think he’s dangerous.”

            “He seems strange.”

            Thorn’s eyes darted around the crowd, feeling uncomfortable, wondering how they could tell he was from somewhere else. Maybe they where such a close-knit group-wait, no. At this point, he noticed something strange, something he had never noticed before: They all had black coats. Thorn swallowed and quickly thought of something to calm the villagers.

            “I was just a foolish loner who-” Before he could finish, a villager grabbed him by the neck and held him up.

            “Look, Mr. Fancy Words, that may have worked on the guards, and you may be a citizen according to them, but we don’t like outsiders. Especially you. You’re different. We don’t trust those kinds of animals. If I where you, I’d stay far, far, far away from us. You’ll never fit in. We’ll never accept you. Got it?”

            Thorn nodded furiously, and the leopard dropped him. “Good. Now leave and never come back-if you know what’s good for you.”

            Thorn didn’t know if the villager meant to leave the kingdom or just the market, but he wasn’t going to back down that easily. However, he didn’t want a fight and make a big scene on his first day, so he scampered off to his cottage on the edge of the village. Now he realized his mistake. He should have never come here. With his dark red coat, he would never be one of them. He sighed and waited for the inevitable.

            Ha! It came at him laughing. That was some display out there. Ya know, ya can make them like ya. That’s what you want, don’t ya? Come on, ya know ya want to!

            Go away, Thorn responded. I don’t need friends like that. I need real friends, not ones who are forced to like me.

            Come on! Ya’re just acting like a wimp!

            Thorn shook his head. I was given this gift for a reason. I’m not going to misuse it.  I don’t know why you won’t leave me alone.

            Think about it. Ya know ya want to. Just think about it. Just like that, the voice was gone. Thorn sighed. He would never be free from the voice, he knew it. But he wasn’t going to misuse his gift, not matter what any voice said. He dug around in his satchel for his plant seeds and walked off wearily to the backyard. Looking around at both the inside and the outside, he realized… it needed something.

            “I know just the thing!” Leaving the seeds on a chair, and grabbing an ax, he headed out to the small forest a little ways behind his cottage.

***

            A few months later

            “Ha! The only thing that isn’t thriving in my life is a good relationship with the villagers!” Thorn exclaimed. He had planted a garden, which was turning out to be successful, found out he was good at wood carving, and furnished his almost empty cottage! Not bad for an outsider like me, Thorn thought.

            As he stood back admiring the bedside table he had just finished carving, he jumped as he heard a sharp rapping at the door. He rushed to grab the doorknob and yank it open. Standing in the doorway where a pawful of menacing guards.

            Thorn straightened up. “What can I do for you?” He asked confidently. (He had also been working on overcoming his nervousness in front of others.)

            “Royal Soldiers. In a completely random lottery, you have been chosen to serve in the fierce protectors of the Cold Heart Kingdom. In other words…”

            Another guard finished the sentence for him. “You’ve been drafted. For the Royal Cold Heart Army.”

            Thorn gulped.

            Life just got much more complicated. 

End Chapter II

-Frost