Unknown

CLAP

My life living in the Green Grass Field was uneventful. Predictable. I always knew what was going to happen. In other words, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. But, little did I know, that was about to change.

I stand up from where I was eating a mouse I'd caught a few minutes prior and I arch my back in a stretch. My claws dig into the grass as my tail flicks, the metal plates at the end sliding smoothly over each other, and my jaws part in a lazy yawn.

"Clap!" I perk up at my adoptive mom's call.

"What i-is it, Brook?" I reply. Brook, a blue unicorn with a violet mane, has been my mom for as long as I can remember; I can't remember anything about my real mom or dad.

"Get back. Someone's here." The first visitors in, well, in forever. Her ears are pricked, and they swivel around.

"Back t-to where? There's nowhere to h-hide." I exhale as I stutter over the words.

"Behind me, please," Brook replies.

I only get a glimpse of the visitors, or four visitors, before Brook's hooves are pounding against the grass as she charges towards the group. That oughta be intimidating- Brook's strong. I probably wouldn't be quite as much, though. I mean, I'm lean- built for speed.

"Hey, hey, hey! Please just stop for a second! Give me a chance to explain!" One of the two humans- the taller one- holds up his hands. Well, I'm assuming a he, but you can't really ever know until they tell you, right?

Brook doesn't respond and instead chooses to lower her head in an attempt to impale him. The pink ribbons in her mane and tail flutter in the light breeze and the thundering foot, or hoof, steps that she takes. The human takes a few quick steps to the side to avoid Brook's horn.

"Stop! Please! Just let me have a minute to speak!"

"Dove!" This time, it's the other human who speaks, and the taller one narrowly misses Brook's next attack. But my adoptive mom doesn't make another one; she pauses, narrowing her eyes.

"Are you letting me speak?" the taller human, perhaps Dove, asks cautiously.

"Yes," Brook replies, just as cautiously. She keeps her voice tightly controlled.

"First off, we don't mean any harm; we simply wanted to see what was in this portal after we discovered it. I'm Dove, and this is my sister, Wolf." Dove points to the other human.

"I'm Phoenix," the black cat says.

"I'm Ky. It's nice to meet you!" Now it's the tan cat.

"So you said you're names are Wolf and Dove, right?"

"Yeah, they are. They're the ones who will bring KG14's reign crashing to the ground," Ky replies. His eyes are bright.

"Prove it," Brook snaps.

"Ok." Dove immediately shifts into a monster-sized grey bird with ease. The final flight feather on each wing is a bright white. Wolf takes longer to change forms; she takes a few deep breaths as she closes her eyes. But, a moment later, she explodes. Fur bursts from beneath her skin as her bones snap. A black mane of fur runs down her neck and shoulders, like raised hackles. Dove shifts back.

"Are you convinced we're Wolf and Dove?"

"How long have you been alive?" Brook doesn't reply to Dove's question.

"Wolf, shift back. Let yourself freeze." Wolf nods to Dove's command, and she shifts back.

"How long have you been alive?" Brook repeats.

"I don't remember the exact number of years; I lost count a while ago. It's well over a hundred, though. Time kept resetting every time Wolf found out who she was and started transforming. Well, she wouldn't just die; she'd be killed by someone somehow."

"Well, it appears Wolf is fully able to transform to and back from a wolf. And she appears to be very much alive," Brook says bluntly.

"I wish I knew why... What is your name?" Dove frowns.

"That is-."

"Isn't it obvious?" Ky interjects.

"Is what obvious?" Phoenix blinks slowly, turning his gaze to who I believe is his brother.

"Wolf hasn't died because this is the life, I guess, when Wolf and Dove will kill KG14!" Ky's brown eyes are bright.

"But what is your name? And who's she?" Phoenix asks Brook, and he nods his head towards me. Brook looks over her shoulder, and the look in her eyes says, come here, but slowly. Emphasis on slowly. I nod in reply, trotting down the gentle slope towards Brook and the group. Goodness, gracious. I hate going slow.

"What's your name?" Phoenix asks, his voice a bit harsh.

"I-I. Uh. My n-name is Clap." I try to stop the stutter, but I'm unsuccessful.

"You?" Phoenix turns to Brook.

"What about me?" She replies, matching Phoenix's tone.

"Do I need to repea-."

"What Phoenix is trying to say, is what's your name?" Ky interrupts Phoenix, finishing the black cat's sentence quickly.

"My name is Brook. Now, if you'll leave, that would be great." Brook starts to herd the group towards the barrier.

"We can't get out though," Ky says.

"Sure you can. All you have to do is walk. Do you think you can do that?" Brook snorts.

"Yeah, but I thought the rainbow kaleidoscope portals were the ones you can't get out of." Ky ducks away from Brook's hoof as she tries to kick him forwards.

"No. You're wrong. You can escape, so long as you weren't the ones who were meant to be trapped and were therefore the ones who got the spell cast upon you," Brook hisses. Her ears are drawn back to the sides of her head.

"Really? Huh, I thought you couldn't escape fr-."

"You can't. Now, please leave, and never return."

"If King Garonda XIV put you here, can we help you escape?" Dove runs in a circle around Brook to evade her attacks. She's never going to win like that. Four against one? Two of which could be Wolf and Dove, whatever that means. I mean, just look at the sweat shining on her fur and her sides- she's panting.

I pace back and forth, debating as to what to do. "Hi." Phoenix stands beside me.

"Hi," I reply. Flames flicker and crackle across his black pelt.

"Why are you here?" He asks.

"Because i-it's wh-where I live." I frown.

"You are aware you're living in a sort of prison, right?" The prickle of annoyance ripples through me.

"No. Th-this is my home." How dare he say my home is a prison!

"Brook's never going to win. Any one of them, Ky, Wolf, or Dove, could defeat her. She lacks the fi-."

"D-don't insult Brook!" I snarl, baring my teeth and fluffing up my fur, however short it may be.

"Just watch her. Look at those sloppy moves. I'd be shocked if she could even land one blow." Phoenix chuckles, turning his head to look at Brook.

That's it. He's dead. 

Well, well, well. What did you think of the first chapter? Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter!

What do you think of Clap?

What about Brook?

Why is Phoenix egging Clap onto anger? What could he possibly be doing that for?

-Werewolf14-