Thunder crashed and lightning flashed overhead as the rain poured down on the old bramble den. Inside, a trickle of water made it's wet way down through the roof, dripping on the heaving flank of a red, brown, and white she-wolf. The she-wolf's golden eyes rolled in her head and her breath came short and fast. Her legs twitched and her tail flopped nervously against the floor. This she-wolf was in the worst of labor: her pups would be arriving soon. Two of them, although she did not know it yet.
Outside, a shape moved fluidly through the darkness, entering silently into the Den, which was no small feat considering the rabbit he was carrying in his jaws. He flopped down the rabbit and padded over to his mate. "How's it going, Scarlett?" he asked.
Scarlett's eyes rolled to her mate. "Fine, just fine," she gasped.
The male wolf, who's name was Morpheus, resisted the urge to shake his black and white pelt. Scarlett gave another sigh and her sides rippled. A pure white pup slid onto the floor. Morpheus instantly dragged the pup away from it's mother and began to lick it the wrong way to keep it warm.
Scarlett's flank heaved again and the white pup was soon joined by another, this one jet black. Scarlett lifted her head and turned around to lick this pup as well. A few minutes later, both female pups were nursing at their mother's bellies. "What shall we name them?" Scarlett asked. Morpheus studied the pups. "You name the black one, I'll name the white one." The she-wolf, too tired to argue, watched the black pup. "Ataxia," she said at last.
Morpheus nodded, then looked at his elder daughter. "Light," he finally answered.
Suddenly, all was quiet. The sound of the rain and thunder ceased, and a voice was heard by every wolf in the room.
The children of the red will be adorned with black and white. The twins are the key to each other's downfall, for as long as the live they shall oppose their other half. Only one shall triumph, and the other shall perish.
The silence that followed this was so quiet you could have heard a twig drop. Morpheus and Scarlett stared at each other in horror. Ataxia and Light, oblivious, were now curled up by their mother's belly.
Finally Scarlett broke the silence. "One of them needs to go." Morpheus nodded in silent agreement. "I'll take Ataxia. I know a rouge--she can help. With a little persuasion, of course." His mouth curved into a toothy smile. "She'll raise Ataxia like her own. With luck, no one will make the connection. We'll tell Anubis that you gave birth to two, but Ataxia died and we buried her on our own."
"Excellent," Scarlett said. "Take Ataxia." Morpheus scooped up the pup from her mother. Tiny Ataxia cried out in indignation, opening her mouth to reveal the minuscule beginnings of teeth. Morpheus trotted out of the den with the pup swinging in his mouth. His trek through the forest was cold, dark, and erie. It didn't bother him, but Ataxia was beginning to become cold. He would have to hurry, or the black pup's faked fate would become reality. 'Where was Velika's Den?' he thought. The storm had rendered his senses useless. With a sigh he trudged under a rocky overhang, and curled Ataxia close. A crack of thunder caused Ataxia, and yes, at the same moment Light, to jump to her feet. Brilliant, but sinister wings unfurled from Ataxia's back. She was graceful, but icy cold, golden eyes like chips of stone. Morpheus was confident she would prevail as the survivor of the Prophecy, but only for a second, because a voice whispered in the wind. Chaos in the wind, struck down not by the other half, but by the darkness in the heart of one alone...
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