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Admittedly, I still need to do some editing and revising and whatnot, but I'll put it up anyway. If you find something that looks glaringly wrong, let me know so I can fix it.

Also, I'm stuck on chapter 3, because I need characters to put in. If you've got a tiger character, and want a cameo, send me a message.

(marked adult for a few deaths and almost rape.)", "writing": "Characters and Story © myself. Don't know why you'd want to steal my work anyway.\n\n\tNot many can last in the harsh environment that is the vast Onai Desert, but that's exactly what makes the fortress there so defensible. The citizens of this fortress, dubbed the Onai, had bodies resembling jackals. Tall, slender, with dense muscles. Eyes built both for the scorching brightness of day, and the bitter darkness of night. Their large ears worked not only as an auditory 'radar' of sorts, but the blood vessels within worked as a kind of temperature control.\n\n\tThey refined their equipment, their society, even their art, according to the barren lands around them. They had a system built specifically for pulling water from the deep underground of which was then irrigated throughout the settlement. However, while their systems were organized, they were not. They did not so much elect leaders, as they simply took command. This is why they do not prosper.\n\n\tImhoru was one such 'commander'. However, he took up the mantle when they were under threat by a large group of traveling warriors. He led his people true, and quickly dispatched the angry bunch, and was just as quickly removed by the next leader to step up in the name of peace. He left the Onai fortress, unwilling to live in the organized chaos any longer. It is here, the story begins.\n\n\tShifting his pack, Imhoru glanced one last time at his home. The armor he'd taken with him was scant, but effective - a single pauldron over his left shoulder, and plates hanging from his belt as a tasset. An ornately etched scimitar hung over his shoulder. He sighed, walking on.\n\n\tImhoru was a black-backed jackal. As his sub-species name suggested, he had black fur covering his back, with a grey transition to the tan fur of his front. As a family marking, he had a pair of red, shark-tooth designs on his cheeks.\n\n\tHe moved steadily, mounting the dunes sparingly, keeping in their shade as much as possible. Just as sparingly, he sipped the water from the leather pouch strapped to his waist. He was well traveled in the area around his home, and respected it all the more for it. He knew the hazards of becoming complacent in such an unforgiving environment. They were evident throughout what history was recorded.\n\n\tIt took him three days traveling Southwest to reach the end of the desert, and when he did, he stood and marveled at the vast expanse of grass stretching out before him. Never had he seen so much green together. Of course, it helps that he'd never been outside the desert. After a few more moments of admiring the view, he continued on his march, trying to take in the many new sights and sounds.\n\n\tAn hour of walking through the grass and listening to the birds, and he arrived at a small village. However, when he walked onto the first street, he immediately felt the eyes of the townsfolk, all wolves, upon him. He kept moving for several steps, watching their reaction, his body tensing of its own accord. He stopped, looked around, then said, “I have just passed through the desert. I'll not be here long, but if you could spare some food and water, I would be grateful.”\n\n\tOne fellow walked up to him as the rest of the people went about their business. “Through the desert? You don't look nearly as bad as some of the other folk that go through there. It's a dangerous place.”\n\n\t“That it is,” Imhoru nodded, “and I respect that of it. I am well aware of its dangers, and have learned how to avoid them. I did not want to say it to such a crowd, but I came from the desert, not necessarily through it.”\n\n\tThe wolf froze for a moment, then whispered, “So you're one of them.”\n\n\t“If there was something done to your people by mine, I cannot apologize for our past deeds. The Onai change quite often, as our leaders change quite often. I stepped down just recently, after only having lead for 5 days and nights.” Imhoru said. The wolf seemed to relax. “And if your people did something to the Onai, we similarly cannot hold a grudge for long.”\n\n\tThe wolf smiled, “Well then, welcome to our humble village of Wolfstan, named after its founder. I am Derrik.”\n\n\tImhoru nodded, “And I am Imhoru Silvine.” They shook hands, and Derrik led him into a building. It was a small bar, with a set of stairs behind the counter. Derrik gestured to a seat, so Imhoru sat down as his host went behind the counter and began preparing something. He looked around at the other patrons, automatically noting their body builds. He determined that each one of them could probably give him a run for his money. He adjusted his posture as though deep in thought, but his ears were perked, and listening to the room like a pair of radar dishes. Most of the others didn't comment on his presence, but those that did sounded older, and were definitely wary of him. He didn't blame them, considering his current attire.\n\n\tDerrik came back, setting a tall glass of water, and a flat plate with a sandwich on it in front of Imhoru. “Come now. No need to be so tense. You've traveled far, and no doubt will be traveling much further.” The wolf sounded a little over-enthusiastic, but he did this for the benefit of the others. A show, as it were, to convince them that the stranger was not a threat. It worked, as normal conversation resumed.\n\n\tImhoru looked at Derrik, shifting his pack off his shoulders and onto the floor. “Thank you. I was beginning to wonder if I were truly welcome here.” Derrik laughed. “But you are right. I have further to go. How far, I know not, and I won't know until I find whatever it is my heart is searching for.”\n\n\tDerrik suddenly got serious. “I see. So that is why you left.” Imhoru simply nodded, knowing that Derrik understood his reason, even before his next statement. “I've been on a similar journey. There is a place I think you should visit. A cave. It is a sacred and magical place. It may be able to help you find what you seek.”\n\n\tImhoru took a large gulp of water, then looked at Derrik. “This place. This cave. Where may I find it? Is it even corporeal?”\n\n\tDerrik smiled, “Yes, it exists in this world. It is in the mountain range to the West across this plain. If you choose to go there, be certain not to lose your way, or you may not be found again.” With that, the wolf stood and left Imhoru to his small meal.\n\n\tThroughout the day, Imhoru interacted with as few of the townsfolk as possible, maintaining his position as simply a passing stranger. He stayed in the small inn, payed by means of trading his spare blade, and was on his way before the sun had cleared the horizon. As Derrik had suggested, he headed West.\n\n\tHe could already see the mountains etched faintly against the slowly brightening sky, and knew he would be traveling a while, so he hunted. The plains were abundant with game: rabbits darting between the low grass; a herd of deer grazing cautiously, snakes and lizards occupying parts of the soil. It wasn't difficult for the jackal warrior to kill a few things and string them up to his belt to cook later in the day.\n\n\tFor hours he walked, paying close attention to the movement of the day star as it made its course through the vast sky above. He thought back to what Derrik had said about keeping his way, and wondered how it might be lost with such a notable landmark as the mountains to keep guide. “Perhaps it wasn't physical direction he was speaking of,” Imhoru thought to himself. “It is not hard to lose the path of one's life.”\n\n\tAs the sun began to set, Imhoru prepared a small clearing for himself, cutting away some of the tall grass, and gathering it into a makeshift mattress. Then, he stood and admired the beauty of nature around him. It was so different from his desert home. The sky shone orange and yellow and blue, the mountains turning purple. To the East, the blue sky was darkening, and stars were beginning to peak through the bright veil of light that their nearest cousin exuded. Imhoru smiled, then arranged his belongings, lay on his improvised bed, and slept.\n\n\tThe next few days went much the same as the first, and it didn't seem that long before Imhoru had reached the mountains' base. They were an impressive sight to behold. The only thing he had to compare it to were piles of stone he'd seen, and even with that, there was no stone that could be stacked so high. It seemed to him that he could feel power, a presence even, radiating from the enormous monoliths that stood before him. He sighed in admiration, but knew he must begin his search for the cave that Derrik had told him of. And so he began, choosing to start by moving South, further away from his familiar desert.\n\n\tAs he progressed along the mountains, he found himself continually astonished at how contrasted the landscapes on either side of him were. Unfortunately, he could not revel in their splendor as long as he'd liked, because he found himself being followed. By who, or what, he couldn't tell, but knew they were there. Imhoru saw a good valley to hide, then intentionally passed it. After about 40 paces, he began stepping backwards, within his own prints, then broke off and took extra long strides and staying low until he entered the valley. Once inside, he set himself up to ambush his followers, but they never came.\n\n\tImhoru was quite bewildered, and crept slowly from his hiding spot. He peeked out of a crevice between the mountain and a rock, spotting a small scout group. They were wolves, and the apparent leader was arguing with the two younger ones with him. He took advantage of their lack of alertness, and crept back into the valley, trekking further into it. After a while, he found a place to rest, and sat, cursing himself. There would be no cave, he was sure. Soon, the scouts would find where he was at, and no doubt lead more to his position to kill him. This left him only to wonder why they hadn't killed him at the village. Perhaps to spare their young from being exposed to such things so early, or maybe these were not from the village and had merely found him by chance.\n\n\tHe sat for a while more, then decided to explore the area. To his astonishment, there was a cave on one side of a small, circular area not much further down the way. Figuring it a much better place to hide, he went inside, setting his pack and armor behind a rock just inside the entrance. Cautiously, he moved deeper, keeping to where the footing was revealed by the light. At length, he came to what he believed to be a hole in the floor. He tested it with his foot, finding only open air. He looked down it, and saw a faint, greenish light coming from the bottom. In fact, he could see a pool of water at the bottom.\n\n\t“How inconvenient, the water is inaccessible.” He commented blandly to no one in particular.\n\n\t“Inconvenient indeed.” The voice startled Imhoru, who looked at the opening and saw a pair of wolves standing there, armed with swords. It looked for a moment as though they would say more, but Imhoru had tripped over a larger rock, and tumbled down the hole.\n\n\tImhoru woke some time later with a pounding headache. It took him a moment to recognize the green lit room was what he'd looked down upon just before he'd fallen and struck his head. He looked up, and could see the hole he'd fallen through.\n\n\tGroaning, he sat up and looked around. Most of the floor was covered in a thin sheet of water, only about 3 inches deep. In the center, a circular slab of stone seemed to collect the light from a strange, glowing crystal suspended from the roof of the small cavern. Surrounding the center platform were 6 others, all circular, but only about half the size of the centerpiece. He stood slowly, watching as specks of blue light flitted in and out of existence within the glowing green column. Almost entranced, he took a step, but didn't hear or feel his foot touch water. It felt more like stepping on glass. He looked down, seeing his paw suspended on the surface of the water. In awe, he took another step, his other paw now on the surface as well.\n\n\tSkirting around the outside of the area, he examined each of the smaller pedestals of stone. They each had a different symbol. He could what four of them meant: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind. The other two – a sun, and a moon – he had never seen before. Mulling it over, he stepped towards the center, looking at the largest of the stones. He saw the same symbols etched into it, in respective places to the stones around it. He was so focused on the symbols, he didn't notice the blue specs floating closer to him.\n\n\tHe felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, then began to panic as he felt himself rise from the floor. He tried to shout, but found his voice taken from him. He thrashed in the air as blue specs seemed to carry him into the column of green emanating from the crystal above. Each time one of those strange specs passed through a part of his body, he felt a very short, but sharp pain. However, as he was enveloped by the light, the pain ceased, and he felt gentle pushing and tugging sensations all over his body. It was so much like a massage, that he found himself dozing, and was soon asleep.\n\n\tImhoru's dreams were strange. It started out with a quick 'screenplay' of his life up to that point. Then it shifted to his earlier years, just before, and just after his initiation into adulthood. He'd had to survive for 3 days and nights in the harsh environment of the desert. Each new initiate came back with a token. Whatever item they brought back held some insight as to who they were meant to be. He'd always been a little confused about his item – an elongated rock, smooth on all surfaces, with a razor edge on one side. It actually looked like a drop of liquid when looked at from the end. He'd been told first that it represented victory. He'd been pleased with this, but the reader continued, saying it also represented the feminine side of child bearing and raising.\n\n\tWhile outwardly and truly upset, secretly he was curious, even a little happy at the reading. He didn't think it was possible, but it was an intriguing thought to him. On that thought, his dream shifted again. This time, it was of his mother. It was when she was giving birth to his younger brother. He had been present, and watched the whole thing in earnest curiosity. Not understanding the functions of male and female bodies at the time, he had wondered if he could produce life. When he brought the question to his mother when she'd recovered, she had chuckled and told him, “You'll understand why later, but you'll take a less direct role.”\n\n\tFor a moment, he was lucid. Awake in thought, but still not in body. He wondered to himself, “Can that be changed? Can a male gain what makes a female able to produce life?” A moment more in thought, and then he felt darkness.\n\n\tImhoru woke in the center of the column of green light. He was glad to be lacking his previous headache, but now he had another concern. He could feel the breeze coming though the tunnel, all over his body, and it no longer fully felt like his body. It felt somehow more delicate, and there was an unknown weight on his chest. Sitting up, Imhoru realized what the weight was as it shifted down slightly, though remained attached. To verify, he – now shi – looked down, staring at the reasonably sized globes hanging there. Imhoru felt them tentatively, gasping softly. Shi stopped, surprised by the now feminine voice.\n\n\t“What... What happened to me?” Shi asked to the empty air of the surrounding room. Pressing hir breasts in slightly, shi looked down again and saw hir sheath, still presumably encasing hir maleness. Tentatively, shi reached between hir legs, below the sheath and sack, and felt a new opening. Shi jerked hir hand away, suddenly breathing very fast. Without knowing how shi knew, Imhoru knew the prediction from hir initiation had been correct.\n\n\tShi blinked. Just as suddenly as shi'd found hirself unsettled, shi was calm again. A thought had occurred to hir. Imhoru wasn't a feminine name. A new name was needed, but shi didn't want to change it, because to the Onai, a name described a being, and after all, shi hadn't been changed inwardly. Not much, anyway. So, shi merely altered hir present name. Imhara Silvine. Shi smiled. That sounded much better.\n\n\tStanding, Imhara looked around. Shi saw scraps of hir old clothes strewn about, all the pieces somehow landing on the smaller 'islands'. Thinking a moment, shi tied together several of the strips of cloth to make hirself a suitable loincloth and breast cover. Once shi'd done that, shi found hir sword, strapped it to hir loincloth, and looked around for a way out. Shi found what looked to be a passage on the opposite side of the room from where shi'd fallen in from.\n\n\tHeading into the tunnel, shi heard voices coming down from the hole. Shi hurried along, placing hir hand along the wall as it swiftly became too dark to see clearly. Luckily, shi turned a corner fairly quickly, so shi was confident that shi could outpace the wolves if they came down into the tunnel. Only a few more turns and shi saw light. In fact, shi found hirself back at the entrance, almost. Shi was actually closer to hir pack than the wolves, who shi could see now had gotten a rope, and lowered one, maybe two of their group into the hole.\n\n\tMoving quietly, shi grabbed hir pack and armor, trying hir best to keep the tasset from scraping against the rocks, or itself. Shi managed to creep out of the cave, and went a little bit deeper into the valley. After just a few minutes, shi found hirself in a place so serene, shi couldn't bring hirself to pass through it, and risk disturbing the residents. Hearing a noise, however, shi spun around to find hirself face to face with one of the wolves.\n\n\tHe grinned, “Well, hello there, missy. You wouldn't happen to know an Imhoru Silvine, would you?”\n\n\tImhara backpedaled, setting down the pack and armor slowly. Shi thought for a moment, then said, “Not anymore, I don't.”\n\n\tThe wolf raised and eyebrow. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”\n\n\tShi grinned, drawing hir blade and saying, “You are speaking to the Onai warrior formerly known as Imhoru. My name, is Imhara Silvine.” Shi rushed the wolf, not giving him time to ready himself. Unfortunately, shi didn't take him out fast enough, and he let out a quick howl of both pain and warning. Imhara ran back in the direction of the cave, passing just as the other wolves came out. Shi didn't slow down, but they were more used to the terrain, and caught up easily, surrounding hir. Imhara growled, eying the wolves, three of them in total, blade still out, the blood from their other member still on it.\n\n\t“Who's this bitch?” One of them asked.\n\n\t“Don't know. She looks related to that Imhoru guy, though.” A second said.\n\n\tThe third grinned. “I say we have some fun with her.” The first two agreed wholeheartedly.\n\n\tImhara felt a stab of fear shoot through hir. The wolves approached slowly, drawing long daggers from just above their tails. As they got within 8 ft of hir, they began feinting. Imhara, having been trained well, didn't fall for them, keeping hir focus up. One of them struck, apparently signaling to the others simultaneously, because as soon as shi blocked, shi had a pair of wolves on hir back, pinning hir to the ground. Shi struggled, but shi couldn't fight their combined weight.\n\n\tThey managed to keep hir restrained as they turned hir over, all three of them sporting a menacing grin. Imhara was just shaking hir head, trying to jerk free. Hir sword was only a few feet away. If shi could get hir arm free, shi could get it easily.\n\n\t“Aw, she's frightened.” The one not holding hir down said this, stepping up and putting a paw on hir belly. “This is what you get for killing our friend, bitch.”\n\n\tThe only word shi could manage was, “Why?”\n\n\t“You damned Onai didn't show any respect to our women or children. Why should we show you any?” The one on hir left spoke. Then they took their knives and cut off hir makeshift clothing. They recoiled slightly seeing shi wasn't completely female, but one of them, the one on hir right, reached between hir legs, feeling just underneath hir malehood, Imhara struggling the whole time, tears beginning to stream down hir cheeks.\n\n\tHe looked up to the others. “Shi's a herm. Got both parts.” They nodded to each other. The two holding hir shifted, pulling hir legs apart despite hir efforts. Shi sobbed as the one standing, which shi presumed to be the group leader, undid his own loincloth, revealing a growing erection, which he only helped along as he stroked his own length.\n\n\tThe leader grinned, “We're gonna make sure you can't walk, then we're gonna take you with us. I'm sure the chief, and some of the males without mates would like a turn with you.” Imhara whimpered as he lowered himself. As he was preparing to penetrate hir newly gained sex, Imhara felt a surge of power, a blast of green energy launching all three of the wolves away from hir. Shi was floating again, watching as green arks of electricity danced around hir body. Shi found that any bruises shi had before were gone, and hir cheeks were dry. Shi alighted softly on the ground, hir assailants glaring at hir.\n\n\tThe wolves gave an angry snarl, all three of them charging at once. The power that shi'd been granted lanced out, shocking them again, though with more ferocity. Imhara took the chance to grab hir scimitar. Shi walked up to the leader as he stood up, hir blade going to his throat.\n\n\t“We Onai hold no historical grudges. If you want to talk about what warriors did in the past, find the supporters of the leader of the time.” Imhara said, “Though you won't get the chance to, now.” Shi snarled, slicing the wolf's throat open with a swift movement, and turning to face to other two. They backed up. “If you wish to live, go now...” Shi didn't even get to finish hir statement and they were running for their lives. Imhara sighed, dropping to hir knees and crying a while. Shi had been scared. Legitimately afraid of what could have happened to hir. A feeling shi'd never had in hir life.\n\n\tAfter a while, Imhara stood back up, going back and retrieving hir belongings, then exiting the valley, and heading further South along the mountain range. Shi still wasn't sure what shi was looking for, but shi knew shi wouldn't find it in these mountains, and shi felt certain shi had what shi needed to be happy.\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Characters and Story © myself. Don't know why you'd want to steal my work anyway.

\tNot many can last in the harsh environment that is the vast Onai Desert, but that's exactly what makes the fortress there so defensible. The citizens of this fortress, dubbed the Onai, had bodies resembling jackals. Tall, slender, with dense muscles. Eyes built both for the scorching brightness of day, and the bitter darkness of night. Their large ears worked not only as an auditory 'radar' of sorts, but the blood vessels within worked as a kind of temperature control.

\tThey refined their equipment, their society, even their art, according to the barren lands around them. They had a system built specifically for pulling water from the deep underground of which was then irrigated throughout the settlement. However, while their systems were organized, they were not. They did not so much elect leaders, as they simply took command. This is why they do not prosper.

\tImhoru was one such 'commander'. However, he took up the mantle when they were under threat by a large group of traveling warriors. He led his people true, and quickly dispatched the angry bunch, and was just as quickly removed by the next leader to step up in the name of peace. He left the Onai fortress, unwilling to live in the organized chaos any longer. It is here, the story begins.

\tShifting his pack, Imhoru glanced one last time at his home. The armor he'd taken with him was scant, but effective - a single pauldron over his left shoulder, and plates hanging from his belt as a tasset. An ornately etched scimitar hung over his shoulder. He sighed, walking on.

\tImhoru was a black-backed jackal. As his sub-species name suggested, he had black fur covering his back, with a grey transition to the tan fur of his front. As a family marking, he had a pair of red, shark-tooth designs on his cheeks.

\tHe moved steadily, mounting the dunes sparingly, keeping in their shade as much as possible. Just as sparingly, he sipped the water from the leather pouch strapped to his waist. He was well traveled in the area around his home, and respected it all the more for it. He knew the hazards of becoming complacent in such an unforgiving environment. They were evident throughout what history was recorded.

\tIt took him three days traveling Southwest to reach the end of the desert, and when he did, he stood and marveled at the vast expanse of grass stretching out before him. Never had he seen so much green together. Of course, it helps that he'd never been outside the desert. After a few more moments of admiring the view, he continued on his march, trying to take in the many new sights and sounds.

\tAn hour of walking through the grass and listening to the birds, and he arrived at a small village. However, when he walked onto the first street, he immediately felt the eyes of the townsfolk, all wolves, upon him. He kept moving for several steps, watching their reaction, his body tensing of its own accord. He stopped, looked around, then said, “I have just passed through the desert. I'll not be here long, but if you could spare some food and water, I would be grateful.”

\tOne fellow walked up to him as the rest of the people went about their business. “Through the desert? You don't look nearly as bad as some of the other folk that go through there. It's a dangerous place.”

\t“That it is,” Imhoru nodded, “and I respect that of it. I am well aware of its dangers, and have learned how to avoid them. I did not want to say it to such a crowd, but I came from the desert, not necessarily through it.”

\tThe wolf froze for a moment, then whispered, “So you're one of them.”

\t“If there was something done to your people by mine, I cannot apologize for our past deeds. The Onai change quite often, as our leaders change quite often. I stepped down just recently, after only having lead for 5 days and nights.” Imhoru said. The wolf seemed to relax. “And if your people did something to the Onai, we similarly cannot hold a grudge for long.”

\tThe wolf smiled, “Well then, welcome to our humble village of Wolfstan, named after its founder. I am Derrik.”

\tImhoru nodded, “And I am Imhoru Silvine.” They shook hands, and Derrik led him into a building. It was a small bar, with a set of stairs behind the counter. Derrik gestured to a seat, so Imhoru sat down as his host went behind the counter and began preparing something. He looked around at the other patrons, automatically noting their body builds. He determined that each one of them could probably give him a run for his money. He adjusted his posture as though deep in thought, but his ears were perked, and listening to the room like a pair of radar dishes. Most of the others didn't comment on his presence, but those that did sounded older, and were definitely wary of him. He didn't blame them, considering his current attire.

\tDerrik came back, setting a tall glass of water, and a flat plate with a sandwich on it in front of Imhoru. “Come now. No need to be so tense. You've traveled far, and no doubt will be traveling much further.” The wolf sounded a little over-enthusiastic, but he did this for the benefit of the others. A show, as it were, to convince them that the stranger was not a threat. It worked, as normal conversation resumed.

\tImhoru looked at Derrik, shifting his pack off his shoulders and onto the floor. “Thank you. I was beginning to wonder if I were truly welcome here.” Derrik laughed. “But you are right. I have further to go. How far, I know not, and I won't know until I find whatever it is my heart is searching for.”

\tDerrik suddenly got serious. “I see. So that is why you left.” Imhoru simply nodded, knowing that Derrik understood his reason, even before his next statement. “I've been on a similar journey. There is a place I think you should visit. A cave. It is a sacred and magical place. It may be able to help you find what you seek.”

\tImhoru took a large gulp of water, then looked at Derrik. “This place. This cave. Where may I find it? Is it even corporeal?”

\tDerrik smiled, “Yes, it exists in this world. It is in the mountain range to the West across this plain. If you choose to go there, be certain not to lose your way, or you may not be found again.” With that, the wolf stood and left Imhoru to his small meal.

\tThroughout the day, Imhoru interacted with as few of the townsfolk as possible, maintaining his position as simply a passing stranger. He stayed in the small inn, payed by means of trading his spare blade, and was on his way before the sun had cleared the horizon. As Derrik had suggested, he headed West.

\tHe could already see the mountains etched faintly against the slowly brightening sky, and knew he would be traveling a while, so he hunted. The plains were abundant with game: rabbits darting between the low grass; a herd of deer grazing cautiously, snakes and lizards occupying parts of the soil. It wasn't difficult for the jackal warrior to kill a few things and string them up to his belt to cook later in the day.

\tFor hours he walked, paying close attention to the movement of the day star as it made its course through the vast sky above. He thought back to what Derrik had said about keeping his way, and wondered how it might be lost with such a notable landmark as the mountains to keep guide. “Perhaps it wasn't physical direction he was speaking of,” Imhoru thought to himself. “It is not hard to lose the path of one's life.”

\tAs the sun began to set, Imhoru prepared a small clearing for himself, cutting away some of the tall grass, and gathering it into a makeshift mattress. Then, he stood and admired the beauty of nature around him. It was so different from his desert home. The sky shone orange and yellow and blue, the mountains turning purple.  To the East, the blue sky was darkening, and stars were beginning to peak through the bright veil of light that their nearest cousin exuded. Imhoru smiled, then arranged his belongings, lay on his improvised bed, and slept.

\tThe next few days went much the same as the first, and it didn't seem that long before Imhoru had reached the mountains' base. They were an impressive sight to behold. The only thing he had to compare it to were piles of stone he'd seen, and even with that, there was no stone that could be stacked so high. It seemed to him that he could feel power, a presence even, radiating from the enormous monoliths that stood before him. He sighed in admiration, but knew he must begin his search for the cave that Derrik had told him of. And so he began, choosing to start by moving South, further away from his familiar desert.

\tAs he progressed along the mountains, he found himself continually astonished at how contrasted the landscapes on either side of him were. Unfortunately, he could not revel in their splendor as long as he'd liked, because he found himself being followed. By who, or what, he couldn't tell, but knew they were there. Imhoru saw a good valley to hide, then intentionally passed it. After about 40 paces, he began stepping backwards, within his own prints, then broke off and took extra long strides and staying low until he entered the valley. Once inside, he set himself up to ambush his followers, but they never came.

\tImhoru was quite bewildered, and crept slowly from his hiding spot. He peeked out of a crevice between the mountain and a rock, spotting a small scout group. They were wolves, and the apparent leader was arguing with the two younger ones with him. He took advantage of their lack of alertness, and crept back into the valley, trekking further into it. After a while, he found a place to rest, and sat, cursing himself. There would be no cave, he was sure. Soon, the scouts would find where he was at, and no doubt lead more to his position to kill him. This left him only to wonder why they hadn't killed him at the village. Perhaps to spare their young from being exposed to such things so early, or maybe these were not from the village and had merely found him by chance.

\tHe sat for a while more, then decided to explore the area. To his astonishment, there was a cave on one side of a small, circular area not much further down the way. Figuring it a much better place to hide, he went inside, setting his pack and armor behind a rock just inside the entrance. Cautiously, he moved deeper, keeping to where the footing was revealed by the light. At length, he came to what he believed to be a hole in the floor. He tested it with his foot, finding only open air. He looked down it, and saw a faint, greenish light coming from the bottom. In fact, he could see a pool of water at the bottom.

\t“How inconvenient, the water is inaccessible.” He commented blandly to no one in particular.

\t“Inconvenient indeed.” The voice startled Imhoru, who looked at the opening and saw a pair of wolves standing there, armed with swords. It looked for a moment as though they would say more, but Imhoru had tripped over a larger rock, and tumbled down the hole.

\tImhoru woke some time later with a pounding headache. It took him a moment to recognize the green lit room was what he'd looked down upon just before he'd fallen and struck his head. He looked up, and could see the hole he'd fallen through.

\tGroaning, he sat up and looked around. Most of the floor was covered in a thin sheet of water, only about 3 inches deep. In the center, a circular slab of stone seemed to collect the light from a strange, glowing crystal suspended from the roof of the small cavern. Surrounding the center platform were 6 others, all circular, but only about half the size of the centerpiece. He stood slowly, watching as specks of blue light flitted in and out of existence within the glowing green column. Almost entranced, he took a step, but didn't hear or feel his foot touch water. It felt more like stepping on glass. He looked down, seeing his paw suspended on the surface of the water. In awe, he took another step, his other paw now on the surface as well.

\tSkirting around the outside of the area, he examined each of the smaller pedestals of stone. They each had a different symbol. He could what four of them meant: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind. The other two – a sun, and a moon – he had never seen before. Mulling it over, he stepped towards the center, looking at the largest of the stones. He saw the same symbols etched into it, in respective places to the stones around it. He was so focused on the symbols, he didn't notice the blue specs floating closer to him.

\tHe felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, then began to panic as he felt himself rise from the floor. He tried to shout, but found his voice taken from him. He thrashed in the air as blue specs seemed to carry him into the column of green emanating from the crystal above. Each time one of those strange specs passed through a part of his body, he felt a very short, but sharp pain. However, as he was enveloped by the light, the pain ceased, and he felt gentle pushing and tugging sensations all over his body. It was so much like a massage, that he found himself dozing, and was soon asleep.

\tImhoru's dreams were strange. It started out with a quick 'screenplay' of his life up to that point. Then it shifted to his earlier years, just before, and just after his initiation into adulthood. He'd had to survive for 3 days and nights in the harsh environment of the desert. Each new initiate came back with a token. Whatever item they brought back held some insight as to who they were meant to be. He'd always been a little confused about his item – an elongated rock, smooth on all surfaces, with a razor edge on one side. It actually looked like a drop of liquid when looked at from the end. He'd been told first that it represented victory. He'd been pleased with this, but the reader continued, saying it also represented the feminine side of child bearing and raising.

\tWhile outwardly and truly upset, secretly he was curious, even a little happy at the reading. He didn't think it was possible, but it was an intriguing thought to him. On that thought, his dream shifted again. This time, it was of his mother. It was when she was giving birth to his younger brother. He had been present, and watched the whole thing in earnest curiosity. Not understanding the functions of male and female bodies at the time, he had wondered if he could produce life. When he brought the question to his mother when she'd recovered, she had chuckled and told him, “You'll understand why later, but you'll take a less direct role.”

\tFor a moment, he was lucid. Awake in thought, but still not in body. He wondered to himself, “Can that be changed? Can a male gain what makes a female able to produce life?” A moment more in thought, and then he felt darkness.

\tImhoru woke in the center of the column of green light. He was glad to be lacking his previous headache, but now he had another concern. He could feel the breeze coming though the tunnel, all over his body, and it no longer fully felt like his body. It felt somehow more delicate, and there was an unknown weight on his chest. Sitting up, Imhoru realized what the weight was as it shifted down slightly, though remained attached. To verify, he – now shi – looked down, staring at the reasonably sized globes hanging there. Imhoru felt them tentatively, gasping softly. Shi stopped, surprised by the now feminine voice.

\t“What... What happened to me?” Shi asked to the empty air of the surrounding room. Pressing hir breasts in slightly, shi looked down again and saw hir sheath, still presumably encasing hir maleness. Tentatively, shi reached between hir legs, below the sheath and sack, and felt a new opening. Shi jerked hir hand away, suddenly breathing very fast. Without knowing how shi knew, Imhoru knew the prediction from hir initiation had been correct.

\tShi blinked. Just as suddenly as shi'd found hirself unsettled, shi was calm again. A thought had occurred to hir. Imhoru wasn't a feminine name. A new name was needed, but shi didn't want to change it, because to the Onai, a name described a being, and after all, shi hadn't been changed inwardly. Not much, anyway. So, shi merely altered hir present name. Imhara Silvine. Shi smiled. That sounded much better.

\tStanding, Imhara looked around. Shi saw scraps of hir old clothes strewn about, all the pieces somehow landing on the smaller 'islands'. Thinking a moment, shi tied together several of the strips of cloth to make hirself a suitable loincloth and breast cover. Once shi'd done that, shi found hir sword, strapped it to hir loincloth, and looked around for a way out. Shi found what looked to be a passage on the opposite side of the room from where shi'd fallen in from.

\tHeading into the tunnel, shi heard voices coming down from the hole. Shi hurried along, placing hir hand along the wall as it swiftly became too dark to see clearly. Luckily, shi turned a corner fairly quickly, so shi was confident that shi could outpace the wolves if they came down into the tunnel. Only a few more turns and shi saw light. In fact, shi found hirself back at the entrance, almost.  Shi was actually closer to hir pack than the wolves, who shi could see now had gotten a rope, and lowered one, maybe two of their group into the hole.

\tMoving quietly, shi grabbed hir pack and armor, trying hir best to keep the tasset from scraping against the rocks, or itself. Shi managed to creep out of the cave, and went a little bit deeper into the valley. After just a few minutes, shi found hirself in a place so serene, shi couldn't bring hirself to pass through it, and risk disturbing the residents. Hearing a noise, however, shi spun around to find hirself face to face with one of the wolves.

\tHe grinned, “Well, hello there, missy. You wouldn't happen to know an Imhoru Silvine, would you?”

\tImhara backpedaled, setting down the pack and armor slowly. Shi thought for a moment, then said, “Not anymore, I don't.”

\tThe wolf raised and eyebrow. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

\tShi grinned, drawing hir blade and saying, “You are speaking to the Onai warrior formerly known as Imhoru. My name, is Imhara Silvine.” Shi rushed the wolf, not giving him time to ready himself. Unfortunately, shi didn't take him out fast enough, and he let out a quick howl of both pain and warning. Imhara ran back in the direction of the cave, passing just as the other wolves came out. Shi didn't slow down, but they were more used to the terrain, and caught up easily, surrounding hir. Imhara growled, eying the wolves, three of them in total, blade still out, the blood from their other member still on it.

\t“Who's this bitch?” One of them asked.

\t“Don't know. She looks related to that Imhoru guy, though.” A second said.

\tThe third grinned. “I say we have some fun with her.” The first two agreed wholeheartedly.

\tImhara felt a stab of fear shoot through hir. The wolves approached slowly, drawing long daggers from just above their tails. As they got within 8 ft of hir, they began feinting. Imhara, having been trained well, didn't fall for them, keeping hir focus up. One of them struck, apparently signaling to the others simultaneously, because as soon as shi blocked, shi had a pair of wolves on hir back, pinning hir to the ground. Shi struggled, but shi couldn't fight their combined weight.

\tThey managed to keep hir restrained as they turned hir over, all three of them sporting a menacing grin. Imhara was just shaking hir head, trying to jerk free. Hir sword was only a few feet away. If shi could get hir arm free, shi could get it easily.

\t“Aw, she's frightened.” The one not holding hir down said this, stepping up and putting a paw on hir belly. “This is what you get for killing our friend, bitch.”

\tThe only word shi could manage was, “Why?”

\t“You damned Onai didn't show any respect to our women or children. Why should we show you any?” The one on hir left spoke. Then they took their knives and cut off hir makeshift clothing. They recoiled slightly seeing shi wasn't completely female, but one of them, the one on hir right, reached between hir legs, feeling just underneath hir malehood, Imhara struggling the whole time, tears beginning to stream down hir cheeks.

\tHe looked up to the others. “Shi's a herm. Got both parts.” They nodded to each other. The two holding hir shifted, pulling hir legs apart despite hir efforts. Shi sobbed as the one standing, which shi presumed to be the group leader, undid his own loincloth, revealing a growing erection, which he only helped along as he stroked his own length.

\tThe leader grinned, “We're gonna make sure you can't walk, then we're gonna take you with us. I'm sure the chief, and some of the males without mates would like a turn with you.” Imhara whimpered as he lowered himself. As he was preparing to penetrate hir newly gained sex, Imhara felt a surge of power, a blast of green energy launching all three of the wolves away from hir. Shi was floating again, watching as green arks of electricity danced around hir body. Shi found that any bruises shi had before were gone, and hir cheeks were dry. Shi alighted softly on the ground, hir assailants glaring at hir.

\tThe wolves gave an angry snarl, all three of them charging at once. The power that shi'd been granted lanced out, shocking them again, though with more ferocity. Imhara took the chance to grab hir scimitar. Shi walked up to the leader as he stood up, hir blade going to his throat.

\t“We Onai hold no historical grudges. If you want to talk about what warriors did in the past, find the supporters of the leader of the time.” Imhara said, “Though you won't get the chance to, now.” Shi snarled, slicing the wolf's throat open with a swift movement, and turning to face to other two. They backed up. “If you wish to live, go now...” Shi didn't even get to finish hir statement and they were running for their lives. Imhara sighed, dropping to hir knees and crying a while. Shi had been scared. Legitimately afraid of what could have happened to hir. A feeling shi'd never had in hir life.

\tAfter a while, Imhara stood back up, going back and retrieving hir belongings, then exiting the valley, and heading further South along the mountain range. Shi still wasn't sure what shi was looking for, but shi knew shi wouldn't find it in these mountains, and shi felt certain shi had what shi needed to be happy.

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