Tales of Yibixus: Otto (Patreon)

Another 'kitty cat' story Y'all.

I promise I won't do too many more of these. I'm just doing some backstory for the release of the Grimalkin Saga eBook part 1.

Any thoughts on these are more than welcome. Plus, I'm trying to practice action writing as that's not something I'm good at. (any feedback on my 'action' writing?)

Tales of Yibixus

Otto

Clutching his satchel tight, Otto treads carefully down the dirty rundown street.

He’s been told to meet his ‘contact’ in an abandoned building nearby. Having never ventured past the outer ring of Vastin, the Grimalkin Captial city, he’s on edge. The Royal Guard barely patrols these areas—mostly leaving it to the local gangs and thugs.

As nervous as that makes him, he knows being in this desolate place will be an opening door to a better life. As a Grimalkin male, his options are limited. The most he can hope for is making his way up to a low-ranking Knight.

He has dreams of being much, much more. If anything, he wants to make his family proud and not be the black sheep anymore. That look of disappointment in his mother's eyes almost brings him to breaking point. It’s not his fault!

Following the map he’s been given, he stands between two large buildings. Both are empty and look like a single gust might cause them to come crashing down. This area is a testament to how Selee energy has changed Vastin forever.

Looking over his shoulder, he checks that no one is following him. He’s in luck. The area is mostly deserted—apart from the odd miner who are coming home from off-world duties.

Checking his map once again, he shifts his satchel strap further onto his shoulder. It’s full of geld. Geld that he’s saved and stolen to make his dream come true. It’s a risk—but it will be worth it.

Looking down the path in front of him, he breathes in to steady his nerves.

What he’s about to do is highly illegal in Grimalkin society. However, he sees no alternative. It’s not his fault he was born male. It’s not fair that he doesn’t get the same opportunities in life as others. His sisters lord it over him on every occasion they can get.

Stepping into the alleyway between the buildings, Otto looks around as the eerie silence unsettles him. Eventually, he comes to a dead end. A solid brick wall with no sign of any type of entry.

Otto checks his map. Confused, he frowns. He knows this is the right place.

Looking at the solid walls around him, he notices a small circle and another image graffitied onto the wall.

“A portal?” Otto says to himself, inspecting the image.

Male Grimalkins are forbidden to learn how to summon portals. A tradition that Otto hopes his people will one day break. However, having grown up with six older sisters, Otto was able to eavesdrop enough times to learn on his own.

In fact, he’s almost a natural at it. Without any tuition or anywhere really to practice—Otto is able to summon and hold several portals at once. They even seem somehow brighter than his sisters—almost like they are different in some way.

Otto studies the other image next to the circle painted on the wall. It appears to be an orb of some kind, or perhaps it represents a landmark location.

“Is this where I’m supposed to go…?” Otto thinks out loud, touching the wall with his paw. However, he doesn’t know its location and is unable to open a portal.

A noise then spooks him. Stepping instantly away from the wall—like he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t—Otto looks up the path to see several people glaring at him.

Three dangerous-looking Grimalkins stand at the entrance to the ally. Their clothes are tatty and worn. Their fur is matted and unkept. The look in the tallest one's eyes is almost enough to freeze Otto to the spot. She’s clearly the leader.

He knows he’s in trouble.

“Hello, little kitten,” the tallest laughs, stepping towards him. “You shouldn’t be here alone at this time of night…”

Otto reaches for his satchel. He doesn’t own a sword, but he’s fashioned a knife from spare metal he’s found and molded it into one. Slowly sliding his paw into the satchel, he wonders if brandishing his knife will only make things worse.

“What's in your bag?” the leader asks, reaching for the handle of her rusted sword. “I hope you’re not trying to threaten us…. Little Kitten.”

Otto shakes his head but holds on tight to the handle of his knife, still hidden in his satchel. If only he had a sword—he could create a portal and save himself.

“L-leave me alone…,” Otto squeaks—his voice stained with fear.

“Seems you are lost? Do you want us to help you get home?”

Otto stands as tall as she possibly can. His ears point up to the sky. Something he’s learned, being the youngest in his family. He’s always had to fight for everything he’s ever had.

“No, thank you,” Otto replies politely.

“Oh, little kitten,” the leader smirks, making the Grimalkins behind her laugh. “I think you are lost.” Unsheathing her sword, she wafts the chipped and rusted blade in Otto’s direction. “I tell you what, my sweet little Kitten. How about we help you home, and you pay us for the privilege of protection in what's a very dangerous district for someone like you.”

Taking that as a threat, Otto begins to shake as the three Grimalkins close him off. He’s no escape. Her rusted sword ahead of him, and solid walls behind him. In reaction, he swiftly pulls the makeshift knife from his satchel.

“Leave me alone!” Otto hisses, holding the knife out toward them. His hands trumble, and the knife looks tiny compared to her much larger claymore.

“Wow,” the leader scoffs in reaction. “What are you going to do with that little Kitten? Are you going to make me a wurstbrot?”

Otto stands firm, but he knows he can’t win.

“Leave me alone!” Otto screams, baring his fangs to show he means business.

“How rude!” the leader teases, doing the same. Her fangs are much larger and darker. “Are you trying to upset me, Kitten? That attitude will get you stabbed around here.”

Deeply scared for his own life, tears well behind Otto’s eyes. He doesn’t want to die. The leader can see just how scared he is. He’s barely able to hold up his tiny little knife. She steps close enough to be in striking range.

“Kitten,” she sighs, indicating that deep down, she doesn’t really want to hurt him. “Just give us what’s in your bag. Let’s not get silly. You can’t win.”

In Otto’s satchel is all the geld he’s worked so hard for. It’s the compensation for access to a Formador. He can’t give it to her. His dreams of becoming a respected officer in the Royal Guard will go up in smoke.

Defiant, Otto raises the knife in his hand. He places its rough metal blade against that of her rusted claymore.

The leader of the three is not impressed. Her expression turns sour as Otto prepares to defend himself. Gripping her sword tighter, she shifts her weight and prepares to strike him down in cold blood.

Otto looks into her eyes, and he’s seen that look before. His sisters, having served for the Royal Guard, have the same emotionless look. The look of a killer—detaching themselves from their actions.

“Last. Chance.”

His heart thudding wildly in his chest, he’s barely able to hold the knife in his hand still. Tears flood from his eyes and roll down his face.

The leader looks him dead in the eyes. “Fine,” he sighs.

The next few moments for Otto play out in slow motion. He first hears the gravel below her feet crunch as she lunges toward him. She’s quick, and he can barely see her swinging the sword at him.

Instincts take over, and rather than trying to defend her sword strike, Otto jumps back and finds himself pinned against the brick wall. As the sound of her powerful strike echoes off the walls around them, Otto feels the pressure wave against his fur.

If he’d not moved back, she would have cut him clean in half.

Having missed, the leader swings wildly and her sword strikes the ground with a savage metallic ring. It’s made obvious to Otto why her blade is so chipped. She’s strong but doesn’t possess the precision needed to be a knight in the Royal Guard.

Annoyed, the leader resets her stance and points her blade directly at Otto’s heart.

“Lucky,” she growls. “Next time, you won’t be.”

Otto doesn’t get another second to think as the leader swings her sword for another powerful strike. Slow motion once again as he watches the rusted blade slash the air towards his neck. He closes his eyes tight and thinks of home.

However, the sound of her blade carving the air is different somehow. It’s quieter, almost like it’s been sharpened. It cuts through the air without resistance.

How can that be? Her sword is so broken and chipped. It doesn’t have the elegance of a sword crafted for the Royal Guard to cut the air so cleanly.

Moments pass, and Otto is still standing. He feels the gust of air of a sword swing against his fur, but no pain. Did she miss?

Slowly opening one eye, Otto finds it hard to focus through his tears. He can make out the three figures in front of him, but they aren’t moving. Only silence and the gentle humming of Selee energy.

Confused and still scared, Otto fully opens his eyes.

“What the!” he gasps, watching blood dribble from the leader's eyes and mouth.

Heart beating like crazy, Otto pushes himself flat against the wall. As he does, the heads of all three of the Gimalkins threatening him slowly slide from their neck. Like slabs of thick meat cut perfectly in half, their heads slide and tumble to the floor, hitting the ground.

Like balloons filled with thick, viscous liquid, blood is thrown in every direction. Blood splatters Otto’s face and all around him. He screams out in fear.

So incredibly scared and confused, Otto looks down at the lifeless face of the woman just about to murder him for money. Her still-open eyes look just as confused as he is, giving an indication of her final thoughts.

As the three bodies that remain standing and headless fall on the floor like sacks of rotting meat, a strong figure can be seen standing behind them. The shine of their armor is almost blinding. It’s a knight of the Royal Guard. They’ve rescued him!

“Otto…?” the knight asks, flicking her sword to remove the excess blood still attached to the blade.

Feeling an incredible amount of relief, Otto begins to uncontrollably sob in their presence. He thought he was about to die, yet this hero has saved him!

“Y-yes…,” he whimpers, dropping his knife to the floor

“Sorry about that,” the knight says, sheathing her sword. “The doctor is very interested in meeting you. Come, come.”

Otto looks up into the knight's blue eyes. Even though she’s just saved him, she also has that dead look in her eyes. He’s too scared to move. This knight killed all three of these attackers with one single strike.

Who is she!?

“Don’t be scared,” the knight says, reacting to Otto’s obvious fear. “My name is Lina. I work closely with your contact. We’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Lina holds out her paw toward Otto in a sign of trust.

“I hear you’re a natural with portals,” Lina says softly. “You’re just the Grimalkin we need. Greatness awaits you.”

Otto slowly lifts a paw, and Lina smiles.

“We aren’t going back on our promise, child,” Lina continues. “Your wish to be female will come true. Come, come.”

Otto takes her paw.