Gee I wonder what inspired me to do this, ha ha. Over 2,000 words. I had fun writing this one. Also, I suppose it's PG-13, technically?

The Pride Clans

The dusty savannah is a harsh and unforgiving place, merciless to the weak and difficult for the strong. In the dry season, the sun bakes the land, free of the clouds that would otherwise imprison it. During the rainy season the tides are changed as life-giving water becomes a torrential terror, sweeping away the unwary and forcing change upon the survivors. Currently, it was sweltering, with temperatures easily soaring upwards in the nineties and the environment beginning its descent into kindle. The middle of the dry season had not yet arrived, but already most of the inhabitants were missing the downpours that had calmed the heat.

It was a relatively peaceful land, free of volcanic uprisings or powerful earth rending quakes. The blood that was spilled was often for survival or in the occasional territory squabbles that arose between neighbors. Very rarely, however, deep seated rivalries formed that shaped an entire region’s behavior, rendering it safer or more dangerous depending on the results. One such bitter clash was between the Firane and the Lighpil clans, nestled in an expanse that was quite large. The Firane had a scarcer amount of trees on their land, but had a large river coursing through its territory to give a constant supply of water. Conversely, the Lighpil only had a stream that frequently dried up in the summer, but they had thick groves of trees through which prey ran year-round.

Between the two territories, in a thin stretch of land that neither wished to own, was a large rocky outcrop that offered a viable vantage point. Within the shading provided by the overhang was a cavern entrance that no one dared to enter. It was not due to fear, but rather caution, for the cave tunneled straight down for dozens of feet. The only way to the bottom was provided by thin ledges that encircled the passageway, and although it was largely unexplored, those that had managed to reach it reported a moderately sized cavern with numerous tunnels branching off in many directions.

The current residence was a female Liepard, a feline with a purple pelt and lengthy tail. The dark fur helped her blend into the shadows while the exceedingly long tail kept her balance, and served as a lethal means to attack. She did not like to fight, really, surviving by scavenging or cleverly luring her prey into traps. Unlike many other creatures, she did not have a name, but others called her “the whisper of the cave”, and so Whisper it became. She was naturally both quiet and observant, spending her time watching the two clans to analyze their strengths and weaknesses in addition to keeping an eye on the welfare of the land. To this end her unusual den had its merits, the various passageways threading into both territories and far beyond them. Watching her neighbors was easy; not getting caught was more difficult.

The Firane were a brutal pride of Pyroar, led by the twin brothers Heetang and Flaymaw. Their manes were crimson red and streaked with gold, warm to the touch when calm yet blazing hot when irritated and a perfect complement to their tawny coats. They had many females within their ranks as well as a few younger males, their manes much smaller and their personalities considerably meeker compared to the overlords. They sparred often, prizing their flames and speed, and made it a rule that might was power. As long as they were strong, they could not be beaten, and this was how they operated.

On the other paw, the Lighpil were an energetic pride of Luxray, following their female matriarch, Eytrik, wherever she went. Their clan was notable not for their blue and black fur, but the pools of amber within red that could pierce objects in their gaze. They were mostly made up of Luxray, but there were a few Luxio as well, not having reached adulthood quite yet. They frequently trained their eyes and senses, taking great pride in their electricity and adaptability. In their gleaming eyes, being able to fight back with as many tricks as possible was the key to victory. They could not be defeated if they could counter every move thrown at them, and this is how they lived.

Not only were they different species, but they had very different styles of living. The two clans fought vehemently, neither accepting defeat for in their pride they could not even entertain the fact that losing was a possibility. Clashes were common and violent with many individuals suffering grievous and sometimes fatal wounds. No one was spared – strangers, kittens, even unrelated species all perished in the battles that took place. It was no longer over territory but over who was better, and since neither was going to give in, there was no chance it was going to end peacefully. The only ones who seemed to be prospering were the Mightyena, their cackling howls a clear sign their stomachs were full.

Whisper tried to end the fighting. She approached Heetang and Flaymaw, asking why they could not see how well their opponents fought, and how neither were going to get anywhere. “Giving up is not the Firane way,” Heetang exclaimed, “and if we give up our pride will forever be tarnished by a loss we could have prevented. We shall continue to fight, and we will win. Our speed and power have no equal, and our flames will cleanse them from our sight!” She could not get through to Heetang, and Flaymaw shared the same mindset as his brother. There was no sense to be had here, and so she left.

The Liepard next tracked down Eytrik, and asked why the battles could not end as both opponents were evenly matched in different areas. “We are not evenly matched in the same areas, however. That leaves room for improvement and victory.” The Luxray paused, thinking for a moment. “My eyes can see them getting weaker. We have to push harder and more often, but they will fall soon enough. We cannot lose.” Whisper realized that she would not listen either, and retreated to watch developments. She highly doubted the female was right, however.

The battles continued to escalate. One day, the Firane entered the Lighpil’s territory, mouths ablaze and eyes full of malice. They lit the forest on fire, and in the middle of dry season it was nothing but fuel for the ravenous flames. It burned far into and out of the territory, devastating prey and predators alike, and even clans that had no quarrel with them. There were many casualties, and the Luxray slowly began to starve. Revenge would be necessary.

As the wet season began and the rivers started to flood, the Lighpil pushed into the Firane’s domain and shoved blocks of iron into the river. They proceeded to electrify them for weeks on end, making the river undrinkable and unlivable. It was both due to the currents running through the water, but also the chemicals released from the extreme conditions that the electricity caused. The Firane had no source of water and began to die of thirst. Similarly, many creatures lost their homes or perished as they could not leave the river, and there was much hardship.

The fighting had to stop, and thus Whisper created a plan. She summoned both clans to her den in one final effort to solve the situation peacefully. It immediately devolved into chaos as both sides accused each other of the horrendous crimes, wanting revenge for the lives lost. Both clans were rather feeble now, with Flaymaw having died of thirst along with several others. Heetang was blinded in his fury while Eytrik indignantly refused to apologize in the face of his heated remarks. Whisper’s warnings went unheard as they lunged.

Flames erupted from Heetang’s mouth in a mighty stream of fire that Eytrik tried to counter with her lightning, but the massive Pyroar overpowered her and she burned. She ran through the dissipating embers just a few moments later, electricity crackling around her fur as she slammed headfirst into her opponent and toppled him. All around their clan mates fought, fighting viciously with tooth and claw. Whisper watched from on top of her rock as it all happened, tail curled around her body as a canine figure appeared beside her.

They watched as blow after blow was struck, fangs of fire and thunder bearing down on fragile limbs to break the bones within. A strangled cry ripped through the air as a Luxray was slain, and shortly after the female Pyroar that had killed him was felled by a shimmering tail of steel. The clans were so caught up in the battle that they failed to acknowledge the gathering pack of Mightyena steadily surrounding them. They did not attack for now, but rather watched and waited for them to sufficiently weaken.

The two leaders continued their vicious fight, and by now they both were having trouble moving. Heetang’s muscles were stiff from the latent electricity now coursing through them, and Eytrik’s pelt was marred with singes and burns from the intense heat. They were both weak from lack of food and water, and it was apparent that they did not want to lose. The clash had been going on for minutes, perhaps even a half hour, and only now that they had to pause to catch their breath did they notice the hungry pack around them. There were very few of their respective clans left, and quite a few of the dark canines.

Whisper gave them an ultimatum. Cease the fighting, or they – the Mightyena – would end it. Heetang cried out that he could finish it in one blow, and the female Luxray countered that she would not go down that easily. A ball of orange began to gather in his mouth while a swirling vortex of the same color gathered around Eytrik. The two powerful attacks were launched, and instinctively everyone ducked for cover or threw up shields as they collided. An explosion sounded and engulfed the field.

For a few seconds the world went white.

Whisper emerged, gazing upon a large swath of land that had been destroyed. Her own home was crumbling, and many of the Mightyena lay dead from the massive energy burst, joining the bodies already present from the feuding rivals. The two clan leaders were on their sides, wheezing for breath and barely able to move. Elegantly and carefully the feline leapt down to the ground, approaching them with a somber expression. During this time the alpha male that had been with her rallied the surviving members of his pack in preparation for the inevitable feast mere moments away.

“How pitiful,” she began softly, “that both of you were so blinded by pride, unable to accept defeat or come to amends... You destroyed the land, and affected clans beyond your own borders. Your children are all dead because of your actions. Do you have no remorse? Are you able to see beyond your need for victory to understand the damage you have wrought?”

Heetang’s eyes misted up. “They…they killed my brother…!” He fought back tears as the image of Flaymaw, still as stone in his sleep, floated back to the forefront of his mind.

“You…burned our forest… I watched my clan turn to ash!” Eytrik let out a blood choked snarl in response to his accusation. Heetang tried to get to his feet, hissing, but his legs had no strength left in them. The Luxray was not much better, barely able to breathe.

“Every action has a reaction… Every cause, an effect. You have no regret for what you have done. Even now, in your last moments, you continue to bicker and fight. There is no one else to blame but you. Your fight is not finished, but I am going to end it.” With a flick of her tail she turned and began to walk back to the remains of her cave, the dogs moving as they licked their chops. “May Arceus have pity on your clan, for there will be none given to your souls.”

She slipped into the darkness as the final defiant roars succumbed to frenzied snarling.

Eventually even those faded into silence.