Prologue: The Chase

The only thing that broke the silence of the night was the sound of frantic pawsteps running through the grass.

A gray wolf with blue eyes and white forepaws appeared to be in a panic. He kept running through the night, as if his life depended on it. Crickets chirped as he did, the sky was dark with the stars out, and a slight breeze blew through the area.

"Give it up, you pathetic excuse of a wolf!" sneered a voice near him, making him yelp and jump. Red eyes appeared in the shadows as a black jaguar emerged. "We know who you are and where you're from. Surrender to us."

"I-I can't!" the wolf cried.

"You coward!" roared the jaguar. 

"Now, Fireblade." Another animal emerged from the background - a black wolf. "You're being too easy on the lad." He smirked. "Perhaps we should claw his ears off and then take him."

"Or, Fang, we could rip his tail to shreds," growled the jaguar, Fireblade.

"We could be creative as we want." Fang, the wolf, chuckled, displaying how humorous he found the situation.

"Wh-What do you want from me?" the gray wolf asked nervously. "I never did anything to you!"

Fang narrowed his eyes. "Our leader wants you, kid. He needs you for information. Refuse to cooperate and he will make sure your death is most painful."

Fear surged through the gray wolf and he turned tail and took off once more. If the wolf was good at anything, it was running away from his problems.

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!" roared Fireblade's voice.

The wolf kept running and didn't stop for anything; he didn't even turn to see if his attackers were giving chase. He just kept running for his dear life.

"The gray wolf with the white paws may enter. It's written into his destiny to be here."

"But what purpose does he have in our ancient home?"

"To hide. To learn. To complete his destiny."

The gray wolf kept running until he reached a forest, and even then he didn't stop. He sped into it.

Fireblade and Fang had indeed been chasing, but stopped by the treeline. "We can't go further," said Fireblade.

"Of course we can," snarled Fang, stepping forward.

"No, you idiot!" Fireblade roared. "Going any further may result in our deaths."
The wolf was so scared that he didn't noticed the spirits floating around the forest. He just kept running down the path that went in between the trees, not even bothering to see if Fang and Fireblade had given chase.
Eventually he saw a cave ahead with an entrance to it. He shot inside and stood in there, panting, trying to catch his breath.
He then looked around the room. It was circular, and ahead were two paths. Curiosity overcame the wolf as he looked around. Nothing else was in the room but him.
The wolf decided to explore. He approached the left path and yelped, jumping back as feelings of jealousy, hatred and anger came over him, startling him. The feelings left him as soon as he backed up. I don't think that's the right side, he told himself.
He then tried to right side. Happiness and peacefulness filled him. I like this side, he decided with a smile. He walked down the path, and into another room, which lit up upon his entry. He scanned the area; there were a lot of hieroglyphics and symbols on the wall, a lot that he didn't recognize.
The wolf then looked directly to his right and saw something he did know.
The symbol of Yin and Yang.

Author's Note:
If you read the first series, you may have an idea as to where this wolf is. :3

Book #2: Safety

The first book of the series is

Book #1: Outcast

The second book of the series is

Book #2: Safety

Misty has heard Achak's strange message: "Seek safety". After hearing this, she is lost and has no idea where to turn or who to trust except for her own friends. Anyone could be the enemy, and Yin and Yang's fighting appears to be getting worse...

Liberty has learned the truth about the imposter at The Bending Tower, and her home is in grave danger - so is the world. Liberty has never felt so helpless before as she tries to find out where her leader is, who these "opposites" are, and how the world is going to stay alive.

So yeah, second book is starting! Prologue should be up soon. :)

~GreatShot

Chapter 57: Achak's Message

The next day Misty was with the others in their den. Everyone was in conversation, except for Misty, who was sitting next to her sister Adele and lost in thought. Adele was looking around, observing the group, her head held up. Misty had her front paws crossed in front of her, trying to figure out all of her confusion on her mission.
"Hey! Misty!" Askook running in made everyone silent. He went up to her. "Achak wants to see you."
"Ah. Thanks Askook," said Misty, getting to her paws.
"Yeah. And hey, I heard the greatest joke! Why the hyena go to the Healer?"
"...Why?" Misty asked.
"Because he was feeling kind of funny!" Askook bursted into loud laughter, as if he just told the funniest joke on Earth. "Get it?! Because hyenas laugh all the time?" he kept howling with laughter.
To Misty's surprise, Tiggerpaka was laughing along with the hyena. "This kid is killing me!" he said, wiping a tear away from his eyes after his laughter died, shaking his head and grinning.
"Ha ha?" Misty said awkwardly. "Well, anyways...see you around, then."
"Oh! Oh!" Askook grinned. "By the way, I tried to catch some fog yesterday. I mist." He then burst into his howling laughter once more, Tiggerpaka joining.
"Thanks for the jokes, man," said Lephos, getting up and walking over to Askook, "but, uh...d'you mind leaving?"
"Not at all," Askook smiled and left, snickering to himself.
"That guy is funny," Tiggerpaka laughed.
"And I have two heads," muttered Rhett.
"Well, I may as well get going." Misty got to her paws.
"Allow me to come!" Tiggerpaka puffed out his chest. "I must meet with this 'Achak' fellow."
"Sure," shrugged Misty, not knowing any reason why not.
Misty looked at her sister, who now had her head on her paws, her eyes closed. She must be so lonely, thought Misty - Adele couldn't talk to anyone, so she didn't have many animals to hang out with.
She tapped Adele on the head with her paw, and Adele looked up at her. Misty nodded sideways, hoping Adele got the message: do you want to come?
Adele got to her paws and followed Misty and Tiggerpaka out.
"I don't know why Achak didn't want to see me," Tiggerpaka sniffed. "I am by far the most superior one here."
"Well, you are more experienced," Misty acknowledged.
"Of course I am! I have slayed many of my enemies, of course," smirked Tiggerpaka.
They arrived to where Achak lived, and Misty saw him out in the sun. He smiled at them upon their arrival. "Ah. Welcome back Misty. I see you have friends."
"Yes. This is my sister Adele, and my friend Tiggerpaka," Misty said, looking at each of them.
"Well, hello," Achak smiled.
"This one can't hear very well," Tiggerpaka announced, pointing at Adele. "So don't waste your time trying to talk to her."
"Deaf, is she?" said Achak. "Poor thing."
Adele looked at Achak blankly before sitting down. Misty sat down as well. "You wanted to see me?"
Achak sighed. "Yes..." He had a bit of sadness to him, but Misty wasn't sure why. "I need to tell you more about Yin and Yang."
Immediately Misty was interested. "What about it?"
"Everything you need to know," Achak murmured.
Tiggerpaka snorted. "I already know everything about Yang and Yin."
"I doubt that," said Achak. "I'll start from the beginning. Yin and Yang were created naturally by the universe itself to keep good and evil in balance. As long as they didn't fight, the earth was okay. Yin was the evil; their side of the Land is dark, there's no sunshine, and it's where the Shadow Trackers lurk: creatures that are pure black with white eyes and can change form. It's also where the evil opposites live."
"'Evil opposites'?" echoed Misty.
"I'll cover that later," nodded Achak. "Yang is the good; their side of the Land is bright, sunny and happy. It's also where the Light Spirits lurk. They're the same creatures as the Shadow Trackers, but aren't evil. That's also where the good opposites live."
"How do you know all this?" asked Misty.
"Yes!" exclaimed Tiggerpaka. "How do you know all of this? Who are you working for? Tiredblade?"
"I lived in the Land of Yin and Yang myself at a young age," explained Achak, ignoring Tiggerpaka. "Anyways, with Yin and Yang fighting, the world is in peril. Grave danger. Those earthquakes that keep occurring? The bigger the quake, the larger the blow that was struck on Yin or Yang. Another side effect of the two fighting, is that borders begin to fade. The Shadow Trackers become free to leave Yin. But the Light Spirits don't leave Yang, as they're satisfied with where they live."
"What about those 'opposites' you mentioned?" Misty tilted her head.
"Opposites," said Achak. "They look exactly like you, but just act completely different. The evil opposites are the opposites of good animals, and the good opposites are the opposites of the evil animals. Pretty chaotic if they get loose. Since borders disappear, they can leave the Land of Yin and Yang. Imagine the opposites coming to where you live..."
Misty imagined it. What if she was out on patrol back at The Bending Tower and her opposite came along, and caused havoc, and it was blamed on the real Misty? The thought scared her.
"So what? Just kill the opposites," snorted Tiggerpaka. "I could slay them; I am a warrior!"
"You can't," insisted Achak. "Not without killing the real animal. For example, if you were to kill Misty's opposite, she'd die with it."
"Of course," said Tiggerpaka. "I knew that."
"When I lived in the Land of Yin and Yang, I was a...Protector." Achak took a deep breath. "In a new program started, I - along with other animals - got sent to places throughout the land to keep watch for any signs of Yin and Yang fighting. I was sent...here." He took a breath once more.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to stay at the Land of Yin and Yang then, if you're looking for signs of them fighting?" Misty frowned.
"Yes, a stupid strategy indeed," Tiggerpaka rolled his eyes.
"I-It was...better...to be sent out to different places." Achak was wheezing now. Fear sparked in Misty's chest - what was wrong with the old tortoise? "The Protectors live...in the...middle of Yin a-and...Yang. We p-patrolled...the...borders."
"Achak?" Misty was scared now. "What's wrong?"
"P-Punishment," Achak gasped. "I-I pr...omised not to reveal my purpose here." His voice was getting wheezy and quiet. "If I did, I'd...have...to die in the worst way I thought."
"You're dying?" Misty murmured. "But you can't die...!"
"I...I'm giving up my...life for the world," Achak hissed. "You must save the world, Misty...you  and your friends, you have to stop Yin and Yang fighting. It's your destinies. Please. Do that...for me."
"I...I will," Misty said.
"Promise?"
"I...promise."
A slight smile came to Achak's face, but it quickly swept away. "Seek...safety."
"What?" murmured Misty.
"This is the message I must tell you," Achak said. "Seek safety...seek safety...seek...safety..."
Achak's eyes closed.
The tortoise was dead.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note:
Last chapter of the first book! Yay or nay?

I know, the book was kind of short. But the second book will be started soon. :3

Sorry if this seemed rush, I hope it didn't D:

QOTD: Favorite part of the book?

Chapter 56: Shell's Story

The next day, Liberty found herself filled with tension for the first time in her life. The thought of Bracken and Ash not really being Bracken and Ash had completely taken over her mind, blocking anything else out of it. Suddenly she had felt as though she had a lot of weight on her shoulders, knowing something the rest of The Bending Tower was apparently clueless to. She walked out to breakfast and joined Starlight in eating a rabbit, both silent with both confusion and somewhat of a sadness. Liberty wondered what this meant for The Bending Tower - what were these Bracken-and-Ash impersonators going to do? What were their plans? Liberty also knew that she couldn't tell anyone in The Bending Tower about this - who would ever believe her? Especially since she was merely an apprentice? The only animals who knew about what was going on was Liberty, Starlight, Audrey, Sirius and Ryker.
"Wonder who Adamu is, anyway," commented Starlight out of the blue. "That...gazelle."
Liberty followed her gaze to look at him. "Yeah," she agreed.
"How did he know about Bending not working?" asked Starlight.
"He said. He tried to and passed out," said Liberty.
Starlight sighed. "He's just...off."
Liberty kept studying the gazelle, but then Sirius walked in front of her line of vision with Ryker, the two bickering over something. "...Just shut up, Ryker! Mirage beat you, fair and square."
"No he didn't. I beat him in that race by a few pawsteps!" Ryker exclaimed.
"Face it, Ryker. You lost. Deal with it," Sirius snapped.
"Will you two stop arguing for two seconds?" demanded Starlight.
"We would, if Ryker could just accept the fact that Mirage is faster than him." Sirius shot Ryker a glare.
"I am the fastest apprentice here, Sirius," Ryker retorted.
 "Quit being a sore loser!" yelled Sirius.
"Both of you, shut up!" snarled Liberty.
The two fell silent.
"Thank you," Liberty glared at both of them.
Sirius and Ryker settled down for breakfast, and they all ate in silence, which surprised Liberty, who had figured Sirius and Ryker would've gone back to arguing right away.
After the rather quiet breakfast, Liberty got up and began walking back to The Bending Tower - to do what, she wasn't sure. She figured she'd walk around.
"Hey." Starlight ran up to Liberty's side, followed closely by Sirius. "Where you going?"
"I dunno," shrugged Liberty.
"You don't know?" Sirius echoed with a frown.
They approached The Bending Tower, but ran smack into black fur.
Liberty looked to see not-Ash standing there. He narrowed his eyes. "Watch where you're going," he spat.
"Will do, Ash," growled Liberty in response, lashing her tail angrily before going around the impostor, Starlight quickly following. Liberty could feel his eyes following her, but elected to ignore him. If he finds out what I know, let him try and stop me, declared Liberty to herself.
"Liberty, if he finds out you - or we - know the truth, I don't think he'll be letting us live very long," whimpered Starlight.
"How can he? He'll blow his cover if The Bending Tower sees 'Ash' murdering an apprentice," Liberty retorted.
Then, Charlotte rounded the corner. "You three." She approached Starlight, Sirius and Liberty. "Look, go talk to Shell."
"Why?" asked Sirius.
"She's probably very lonely right now and would love some visitors," Charlotte insisted. "Most likely she'll be by the stream right now."
"Don't I have training to do?" Liberty demanded.
"Twister is taking a day off. Didn't say why though," said Charlotte. "Now go." Liberty's mother then walked off.
"Well, guess we're going to the stream," said Starlight.


Liberty, Sirius and Starlight had been cautious with each pawstep since the big hole in the territory was still there. No one had decided yet what to do about it, however.
They made it to the stream and spotted the old lioness laying right next to it. She lazily swatted her front right paw at the stream, as if trying to catch something but not fully being into it.
"Hi Shell," Starlight greeted the lioness.
Immediately the elder perked up, and a happy look came onto her face. "Ah, such lovely young pups!" she exclaimed. "What are your names?"
Liberty hesitated. "Uh..." She knows me. Shouldn't she know me? "I'm Liberty, these guys are Starlight and Sirius?"
"Oh, such great names!" Shell said. "What are you three doing out here?"
"We wanted to see you," said Sirius, looking confused.
"That's lovely," smiled Shell. "Seeing you young pups reminds me of my childhood."
"Really?" said Starlight.
"Yes!" exclaimed Shell. "It was a long time ago, and I didn't live at The Bending Tower."
"You didn't?" Sirius looked interested.
"No, no! I came here later, near adulthood," Shell smiled. "It was many, many moons ago..."
Shell then launched into a story.


A young lioness was among a group of animals in a lit-up cavern. Torches were on the walls, and a balcony sat near the ceiling with big teeth decorated on the sides of the balcony. There was an opening in the ceiling, revealing the left side of the sky to be bright and the right to be dark, as if the cave was in between two worlds. The cavern was loud with conversation, animals all murmuring to each other, except for the lioness, who sat there with a serious expression on her face, watching the balcony as if waiting for something.
"Hello, Shell," said a young tortoise, who had slowly pulled up to her.
The lioness - Shell - nodded. "Achak," she acknowledged.
It wasn't much later that a big wolf came up to the edge of the balcony, and a hush naturally fell over the crowd. The wolf lacked a left eyeball, and a huge, ugly scar was in his left eye's place. His right eye was a bright yellow. Half of his face was black, and the other half - along with the rest of his body - was brown. "You all know why you're here." The wolf's voice was incredibly deep. "You have all been selected for a new program that has been suggested to us - to watch the land."
The crowd remained silent as the wolf scanned them with his one good right eye, and then continued. "You also all know the consequences. Any revealing of who you are or your purpose, will result in your worst fear of death. For those of you who aren't aware of how this will happen...you will each receive markings on you. These markings will lock you with your own stone that is located in the Stone Chambers. Your stone will know when you break the promise, and it will self-destruct, causing your worst fear of death to happen immediately."
Shell stiffened slightly, but kept her eyes locked on the wolf. She wouldn't break her promise with the wolf; she knew she wouldn't. Revealing why she was where she'd be going, for her, would result in memory loss - dementia. She feared losing her loved ones. If she died with dementia, then she'd completely forget everyone around her, and die a hollow animal, forgetting everyone she'd ever known. Shell couldn't stand the thought.
"The last time Yin and Yang fought was horrible, and we can't have it happen again." The wolf looked down on the crowd, his eye narrowed. "Remember your duty: watch for opposites, Shadow Trackers, any signs of Yin and Yang fighting again, or anything related to them throughout the land.
"Now, listen for your name and your assigned place. A Light Spirit will take you to outside of where you're assigned. There, you can plan out how to live there."
A pure white fox with blue eyes stepped forward to the wolf's side. Standing next to it, the fox looked a lot smaller than it already was. "Rip; Earth Kingdom."
A badger stepped forward in the crowd, and black streaks quickly formed across his back, over his current, natural streaks. In the balcony behind the fox and the wolf, an intensely-white colored creature approached. Shell recognized it as a Light Spirit, as she had learned about them during training. The creature glowed a brilliant white from its already-white pelt, and had golden yellow eyes. Shell recalled what she had heard about Light Spirits: they lived in the Land of Yang, and the Land of Yang only. They only listened to Yang, and the leaders of the Protectors. They were also the opposite of the Shadow Trackers, which lived in the Land of Yin. Light Spirits were thought to not have a mind of their own, and their authorities pretty much told them what to think; they also were able to shift form. Usually, the Light Spirits would select a random animal to appear as. This one had apparently chosen the form of a horse.
The horse reared up and whinnied, then leaped off the balcony and landed next to Rip. In a flash of white, both the Light Spirit and Rip were gone.
Shell could hear murmurs in the crowd, but they didn't last for long; the Protectors were taught not to disrespect their authority figures, and speaking when not told to was a form of disrespect.
"Achak; Amorache Tribe," said the fox.
The tortoise pulled himself forward to where Rip had formerly been. A Light Spirit in the form of an eagle came forward, then darted down to Achak. In another light flash, Achak was gone.
"Shell; The Bending Tower."
Shell's stomach lurched. Nervously she walked forward to where Rip and Achak had stood. She looked up at the balcony. A big male lion appeared. With an incredible roar, it jumped down at Shell, and Shell gasped as it collided with her. Whiteness filled her vision and then it turned black as she became unconscious.


Liberty was left confused. "You lived at the Land of Yin and Yang? You were a 'Protector'...?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Shell cheerfully. "Actually, I lived in the middle of Yin and Yang, with my fellow Protectors. That's where we patrolled the borders and trained. However, the program we did of watching the places was shut down. I was never called back to the Land...I wonder if Achak or Rip or the others were."
"Uh, Shell..." Sirius said. "So what happens if Yin and Yang fight...?"
"If one of them dies, the world goes with it," Shell smiled. "Thankfully, though, I don't think they'll be fighting anytime soon."
"She said that...wolf had stated a side effect of them fighting was...opposites coming out. And those 'Shadow Trackers'," muttered Starlight to Liberty and Sirius. She then raised her voice for Shell to hear. "What else, uh, happens if the two fight?"
"Oh, earthquakes. Every time the two land a blow on each other - like if Yin were to bite Yang's shoulder - an earthquake occurs. Depending on how bad the blow is, is how big the earthquake will be," said Shell. "Shadow Trackers come out, too, but not Light Spirits - the Light Spirits are content with where they are, because they live in the Land of Yin, and are happy there. Shadow Trackers are unhappy with where they live and want to get out."
"And what was that about...opposites?" asked Sirius nervously.
"Every animal has an opposite," Shell explained. "Your opposite looks exactly like you, but is not like you at all. For example, if a good animal were to have an opposite, their opposite would be evil and live in the Land of Yin when they two aren't fighting. But if they do start fighting, then the opposite is free to go wherever they please; borders sometimes disappear if the two are fighting, because that means Yin and Yang aren't keeping the borders."
Liberty's mind was full of confusion - it was so much information to take in. "What will the opposite do?" Liberty asked.
"Opposites have minds of their own, and they're aware that they were only created because the original animal was born," Shell explained. "I don't know what an opposite would be like. Never met one before."
"Well, uh...thanks for the story," Liberty nodded. "We'll get going, then."
The three of them began to pad away. "That was insane," said Sirius as soon as Shell was out of earshot. "Was she telling the truth?"
"She's old. She probably thinks is true, and perhaps it isn't," murmured Liberty.
But in the back of Liberty's mind, something told her Shell was completely right - Liberty just refused to believe it.

Author's Note:
So sorry for not updating!! Hope this makes up for it. c: School has been in the way a lot, haha.
But yeah, check out my other blogs please! I just made a new one. Link in my Blogger profile. :)