The vixen curled protectively around her newborn litter of fox pups in their warm and cozy den. ”Lana, I have some food for you.” Said a strong voice from outside the den. The voice belonged to the vixen’s mate, Paco. Lana, the vixen looked back at him. “Paco, come see our pups!” She called in a worried tone. Paco trotted in and smiled down at the pups. There was two normal red foxes with rusty red coats. Paco then gasped as he saw the other two. They were twins. Both had jet black coats with the normal white markings. But as Paco looked closer he saw that one had an white mark on his forehead. The other had a gray mark that’s shape made him shudder. “They are beautiful Lana, but look, this black one has a white marking, the symbol of Seta, the goddess of light, and freedom. But the other has a gray marking, the symbol of Nabol, god of death, slavery and destruction.” Lana grinned with pride at the first comment but nodded gravely as Paco continued. “Yes, Paco. I fear that my little ones are the two warriors that the prophecy told of long ago. After Seta and Nabol had a great battle to see who would control the young earth. Seta’s love had won over Nabol‘s hate but it was said that a pair of twins black as night would be born years later. Each god had chosen one and left their mark on him and when the pups were older the legend said that they would battle and decide which god would rule the destiny of Earth. If Seta’s chosen won then she would keep the foxes and the other creatures free and untamed as they have for generations. But if Nabol’s chosen won the future would be as dark as the twins pelt. Lana looked at her pups. She knew that which ever one gained control of the ancient power, The Fox Fire would decide the future of the world. “I will call you Miiko, meaning playful one.“ Said Lana as she placed her paw on one of the normal colored pup‘s forehead. “You will be Palo, meaning little hunter.” She said placing her paw on the second pup’s forehead in the age old naming ceremony. Paco nodded to say she had named them well. Lana turned to the black twins. She placed her paw on the pup with the white marking. “I will call you Tratto, meaning sender of light and freedom.” The pup whimpered and snuggled closer to his mother. He, like the other pups was blind and deaf at birth and they needed their mother to survive. Lana turned to the other twin with the gray mark of Nabol the evil god. “I will call you Nefero, meaning dark one. Lana looked at Nefero. He was helpless and she wondered if now they should destroy him but Lana and Paco loved each of their pups. “It can not be confirmed that Tratto and Nefero are the chosen.” Cried Lana. My grandfather was a black fox and maybe they take after him. The marks may turn black like the rest of their fur.” Said Lana desperately not wanting the prophecy to be true. But even she did not believe her desperate hope.
The four pups grew and developed over a few weeks. Their eyes opened and they all gazed at the world around them. Lana was relived to find that so far Nefero showed no signs of darkness. He was an odd pup none the less. He would spend hours looking deep in the woods at nothing. Tratto was a brave and courageous pup. He was the first to stand on wobbly legs. He asked questions about everything. “Mother, why are there lights in the sky at night? And why does it grow dark?“ Lana did not know the true answers to his questions. But she did know the stories meant to explain them that her mother told her. “Well, night is dark because that is when Seta, the goddess of light sleeps to save her energy for the next day. Nabol comes out and covers the world in his darkness. Each night the animals thought the day would never come but it always did. Seta came before them and said “I will put small lights in the sky as a promise of the following day. I will watch over all with on eye open.” So she did. The little lights are the light Seta promised. And the large circle is Seta‘s watchful eye. She must sometimes close it to have a true sleep but when she wakes the circle is full. We call her watchful eye the moon. But Nabol would not be out done. He sends dark clouds to cover up Seta’s promise as often as he can. But each morning Seta wakes and chases him and his darkness away.” Lana finished her story and smiled at her son. Tratto’s white spot on his forehead was in the shape of a star, Seta’s promise. But Nefero’s gray spot was in the shape of a dark cloud sent to cover up the promise. Miiko was a playful pup and he would rough house with Paso his father and his brothers. Palo, was true to his name. For even at his young age he had already caught a mouse using the traditional pounce. The pups were starting to look more adult each day. Then Lana and Paso noticed that Tratto’s star seemed to glow and Nefero seemed to draw more and more into himself. He was often out at night and would not do anything during the day. Miiko and Palo were playing in the grass trying to sneak up on their larger black brother. Nefero was laying in the shade looking at nothing when Miiko pounced on him. Palo ran in and leapt on Nefero from the other side. Nefero bolted forward then fangs bearded he ran at his smaller brothers. Tratto looked up from stalking a mouse and ran in between his twin and smaller brothers. Nefero snarled at Tratto and took a step back. The gray cloud on his forehead blazing. Tratto bearded his pearly white fangs at Nefero his star was blazing also. Nefero glared at his twin, Tratto. “You dare to interferer dear Tratto?” Nefero seemed to spit the words out of his mouth. He turned and looped into the trees. Tratto glanced at his mother. She had seen the whole thing. Lana stared at the spot were her son had disappeared. “Paco, we failed to keep him in the light.“ She looked at the sun and said “Seta, please watch over my son.“ Lana lowered her head and watched helplessly as her own pup’s heart grew darker. Paco was stunned. He looked at Tratto and noticed that his forehead star was glowing.
Tratto noticed his mother’s worried look. “I must discover were my twin is going.” Tratto whispered to himself as he put his nose to the ground and started to follow Nefero’s sent trail. The forest around him got as dark and the nose in front of his face as Tratto stubbornly pressed on. The trail grew fresher and Tratto knew he was closing the gap. Tratto then slipped in a bush and glanced out. There, in a dark and lifeless clearing Tratto was shocked to see his brother, Nefero covered form muzzle to paw in red blood. There were dead animals laying around him rotting no doubt. A waste of food and of life. Thought Tratto. Nefero Looked deep inside the dark cave that was large enough to house three fox families with helper vixen. Then Tratto noticed that not a single living thing was within one hundred yards of the cave. “Master.” whispered Nefero as he stared into the cave. Tratto heard sounds of something large moving toward the entrance of the dark cave. Then his blood ran cold as he heard a evil and strong voice called to his twin. “Nefero, the time has come to teach you of the dark powers. Then you will be able to control the ancient power, Fox Fire” A huge black bear stepped out of the cave. Its eyes were glowing blood red. Tratto knew who this was. This was the god of darkness, Nabol in his physical form. Nabol turns and looks at the bush were Tratto is hiding. “Well, we have company.” Nabol grins evilly and Tratto notices that some of the carcass a foxes. Then his eyes meet with his brother‘s. “That is Tratto, the one who is said to deify me in my destiny.” Nefero‘s voice was filled with loathing. Tratto noticed that Nefero‘s cloud shaped spot was glowing. Tratto then saw that his star was also glowing as it did when his feelings were strong. Nabol looked at Tratto with his empty eyes. Tratto was fleeing before he even knew that his paws moved. The image of Nefero’s bloody pelt and the evil lurking in his eyes burned in Tratto’s mind. Tratto just ran faster paws thundering in the soft ground. Soon rich emerald green moss was under foot. The Forest now seemed filled with life all around Tratto. The trees gradually became taller and taller as he went on. Tratto stopped dead at a large cave. This one was dug out of soft earth and was surrounded by saplings. The cave was the exact opposite of the dead cave of Nabol. Tratto found himself walking inside it as if a rope was tugging him. Tratto had no power to resist the straining and for some reason Tratto did not want to resist. Tratto stepped inside the cave. His eyes grew wide as he witnessed the occupant. He gazed in wonder at the white wolf sitting on a small mound of moss. She was surrounded by flowers of all colors. The she-wolf had a large symbol of the golden sun on her forehead. She had stars surrounding her golden eyes. The wolf seemed to shimmer and glow with a light of her own ”I have been waiting for you.” She said. Her voice was deep and rich. Not at all lifeless like the voice of Nabol, the dark god. Then it dawned on Tratto who this was. “You are Seta! The goddess who chose me to be her symbol. The white wolf nodded. “Yes, it is I. You are here for training. I will teach you of the power that dwells inside you. As she spoke Seta placed a paw on his star causing it to illuminate Tratto’s fur. “But my fur is pitch black.” Tratto said amazed. Seta nodded. “It is not the color of your fur.” She placed a paw on his chest. “But the color of your heart that matters.” Seta smiled at the smaller fox pup. “Come to me every day until I say that you are fully trained and then you must go to find the Fox Fire.“ She then ignored him . Tratto trotted out of the cave and raced into the forest.
Lana and Paco watched over their pups as they grew to their full size. “The twins are always elsewhere don’t you think?” Asked Paco. “Yes but now is the time we chase the pups away so they can find their own territories and start their own families.” Said Lana. They looked at the full grown pups. Tratto and Nefero were a bit larger and sleeker then the other two pups Miiko and Palo. Tratto heard that his parents were going to chase them away so he left on his own to go live at Seta’s garden. Miiko and Palo left their home together. That left Nefero. Nefero did not wish to leave. The only good part left in his soul was his love of his parents. That bit had kept him from going totally evil. But Paco and Lana did not want a full grown pup near them when they had their next litter. Both their parents had run them off and both agreed that they would have to chase Nefero when he came home at dawn. Nefero came back that morning ready to sleep. But instead of the kind greeting he normal got he met his parents and they had their teeth bared. “It is time for you to go now.” Snarled Paco as he approached his son. Male foxes were starting to get interested in females now and Paco did not want an active full grown male in his territory to threaten his mate and territory. Lana came forward too. She did not want him there for her own reasons. Once awhile older pups would kill younger ones if they stayed. Lana also knew that he must find his own life. Both of Nefero‘s parents started to chase him. Nefero turned and ran. His parents snapping at his heels. Tratto watched from a distance as Lana and Paco chased a terrified Nefero off their territory. Lana and Paco stopped at the boundary and re marked it. They then went back to the den. “What ever goodness he had is now gone.” Tratto twisted around to see Seta. “Now he has a personal reason to hate.” She turned to Tratto. “You will have your own den at my garden wonder around as much as you like but remember to be back for your lessons.” Seta then vanished leaving Tratto alone. Tratto started to head towards another nearby meadow. Buy Tratto was not the only fox who wished to relax that day. Kaja, was an unusual vixen. She was the same age as Tratto but Kaja was a cross fox. Cross fox’s fur is a mixture of red and black. Kaja lay down in some flowers and spree out her black and red body in the sun. Tratto trotted into the meadow and stopped dead when he saw the vixen. Tratto just stood there with his jaw hanging open feeling like an idiot. He then slowly walked up to her. “Hello, oh.” Tratto did not know what to say after that. “Kaja, my name is Kaja.” She said chuckling at the black dog fox.
From the bluff above Seta sat watching as Tratto fell head over paws over the vixen. “Now Tratto knows what love is first hand. Though the mating season will not be for a another month” She thought. Tratto came back to Seta’s garden later. He was confused over his feelings and had made a friend in Kaja. “Seta, why did you want me here at night?” Tratto asked as he entered her den. “It is time Tratto, time to test what you have learned.“ Seta said calmly. Tratto lay in his den thinking as the night fell. When the stars came out Tratto crept silently out of his den and to the top of the nearest hill. Seta was waiting for him. “Your test is to create a star in the places of Polaris, the north star for now we are seeing only the light but the source is dead. Your task is to give it life.” Seta told him. Tratto walked to the top of the hill and focused his power just as he had been taught. The star on his forehead started to glow. It illuminated the whole hill in a golden light. The star started to glow with new life as Tratto using his inner power rekindled the light and gave it strength.
Back at the dead den Nefero and Nabol watched as the star was reborn. “Now, prove your training, create a large black cloud to block out the star.” Hissed Nabol. Nefero got to work building and gathering particles and a huge dark could was formed and started to block out the new star‘s light. As the cloud grew thicker the star grew brighter as Tratto made the star shine through the cloud, cascading its light to earth. The brothers each gave more strength their creations then a flash of light and both fainted dead away. Tratto woke with the sun dancing on his fur. “You have shown that you are ready.” Tratto jerked up and saw Seta watching him. “What is the Fix Fire?” He asked. “The Fox Fire is a new god. New gods are pure energy and they must be shaped by shapers. The shapers must show their power and the god will chose whether to be light or dark depending on wish shaper it chooses to shape its self after. Tratto, you and your brother are the shapers.” Seta explained. “But the legend.” Tratto stammered growing confused. “The legend means that the new god will tip the scale over power. Whichever side the god chooses is the side that will decide our future.” Seta hauled Tratto up. “Come the ceremony of the new god approaches.”
Seta led Tratto to the hollow hill. The hill was reeking with power. Tratto could feel it in his bones and in his soul. They went down a long winding passage way with white walls and exotic carvings. Once Tratto thought that they must have reached to planets core they were in a huge chamber one half was pure jet black the other was pure milk white. Nefero sat on the dark half he watched Tratto’s every move. Tratto sat on his end just as watchful as Nefero. In the middle of the chamber suddenly appeared a bluish bubble of power. The shaping began.
The fox twins both gathered their power. Their foreheads glowed like stars themselves and the light and dark began the battle. Nefero gathered the memories of hate that he had stored. Images of his parents choosing him and his brothers mocking him fed his power like wood feeds fire. Tratto gathered his own power and fed it the memory of his mother telling them stories when he could not sleep and his father teaching him to hunt. But just as the dark started to grow stronger Tratto thought of Kaja. Her face filled his mind giving him straight he never knew he had. The blue power bubble fed of the growing power forced at it. It read Nefero‘s hate like a book but Tratto’s love flowed through it. The bubble began to take shape. It writhed and withered changing its colors from dark to light and dark again. The bubble burst knocking the shapers off their feet as the bubble started to turn into a glowing golden form. The form hardened and became solid. In the place of a bubble of pure power stood a pure white arctic fox. She had chosen Tratto. The moon was engraved in her forehead and her fur shown like a new crystal. Nefero stood on wobbly legs and ran out of the chamber in shame. Tratto gathered his straight and looked at the new shining god next to Seta. “I am Lorcha, goddess of the moon.” Her voice reminded Tratto of his mother, Lana. “You have given your all and now it is time for you to begin your lives journey. In a flash of light Tratto was in the wild flower field and so was Kaja. For the following days Tratto tried to find the garden of the goddess but that was the end of his story. Tratto‘s children, part red part black now carry his and others legacy on their heads and in their hearts to this day. But Tratto was still young and his story was far from over.
Tratto looked around after waking up. Everything was gone nothing but a diry street. He looked down to see that to his horror he was in a humanoid form. He had on a black bikeing suit and had a star on his fore head. His hair was jet black and he had Coriean fox ears and tail. He thought of being a fox again and was back in his normal body. He though of humanoid and turned humanoid again. Tratto was still comfused. A black vixen humanoid walked up to him. Behind her was a young scaly green/black dragon. “My name is Tavi. I’m like you but our origian is diffrent.“ The dragon snarled at Tratto. “I am taking you to the healing den they are in need of canidates and in that life that I took you from you would have done nothing but grow old and useless but in this you can impress a dragon and fight to protect worlds of all kinds. Its your choice” Taiv smirked as she leaned on her dragon. Tratto stood up still in humanoid form. “I’ll do it but only if I can stand in my fox form.” Tavi nodded and both shapeshifters loaded up and betwened to the healing den.
Tratto is standing at The Healing Den.
Stats:
Name:Tratto
From:Earth
Species:Black fox shapeshifter.
Personality:Loving, loyal, cougages and very reckless.