Joat's nightmare

by chaos_trotter

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Tragedy, Adventure, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 5845

Joat can see things that shouldn't ever exist. Now through him they are trying to become real. But he has seen the horrors that will follow and wont let them come to pass.

Joat can see things that shouldn't ever exist. Now through him they are trying to become real. But he has seen the horrors that will follow and wont let them come to pass.
I have never written before and I will almost certainly fail but I will write it anyways cause I can. anyways do what you guys do down in the little boxes, I will take any help I can get. Still trying to figure this whole thing out.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-06-19 09:23:08 UTC

This can't be Real!

*Sigh*

I was board, so extremely Stupendously board..

"What are we gonna do Shadow?" I asked my cloudy friend leaning in the corner of my room. Which at this point was devoid of toys and all things fun. "I don't know. play rock, paper, scissors, maybe you will beat me this time." He taunted. "Well I might win some if you didn't cheat all the time!" I said with a glare. "Me, cheat? wouldn't dream of it." I would have argued the point further if it wasn't for my dad Rex yelling "Your supposed to be grounded young one!"  a dark chuckle came from the opposite side of the room. "shut up." I whispered "You're the reason I'm in this mess in the first place."

"You know.. you could show them I exist." shadow said. "nah, I remember the last time you said that. mom still looks at me weird for that." shadow drifted over to were I was sitting on my bed. "This time it is different." "take my hand, and wish me to exist."

My only response was a rumbling that came from my stomach. He looked serious, but I didn't want to get into anymore trouble. Rolling over in my bed snuggling into my covers I silently contemplated whether or not I should believe him this time. "I.. I'll think about it." I responded after a couple of minutes of silence. What is the worst that could happen, they extend my groundation?

Some time later that felt like hours, but was only like 27 minutes. Mom walks into the room she was wearing a purple gown that covers her blue coat. "Dinner is ready Joat. Come get some before your sister and father eat it all." "Okay mom I will be right there" As mom leaves my room she yells back " Don't forget to wash your paws!"

As I walked down the hall from the bathroom to the dinning room Shadow reminds me he is still there. "Have you made a decision yet?" "What decision?" I asked him. "about you making me able to be seen by your parents." he deadpans. "oh... um I guess so."

"Good, all you need to do is take my hand and wish me real." " that's it?" I questioned him. "yes." was his reply back. Stopping and turning towards him he held what I would only assume was his hands towards me. As I grabbed his cloudy stumps I closed my eyes and concentrated. "Almost there." Shadow says as I start to feel a burning sensation in my left eye that is slowly spreading down my left arm. "It hurts Shadow" "Just a little longer." I start to feel fur in my hands where his 'Hands' are. All of a sudden I get startled by a "FINALY!" letting go and taking a step back I see my friend for the first time. He was tall with pitch black coat that waved in a non-existent breeze. It reminded me of the one time the ruler of the pony nation paid a visit . He had a scar going from his right cheek, over the bridge of his nose and across his left eye. Wearing no cloths he stood there and just studied me for a moment. "you know." Shadow said in a voice that reminded me of when two people say the same thing at the same time, just deeper and a little scary. "I thought you would be taller." He chuckled.

"What's taking so long Joat?!" My father called from down the hallway in the dinning room.

"Lets go meet your parents Shall we." "right this way" I squeak out, still a little afraid of how he sounds. As we continue on down the hall past my sisters room, I thought I heard Shadow mumble something behind me. "What?" I ask him. "I didn't say anything." he mutters out. Passing by mom and dad room I swear I hear him talking but I pursue it no farther.

I enter the dinning room first and yell out "I told you Shadow was real!" everyone at the table turns towards me and my father said "I have had just about enough of this Joat. Your imaginary friend.. doesn't...exist?" He finishes while standing up from the table. "Hello" Shadow says from behind me. "My name is Shadow Blitz, and none of you are leaving this place alive."

"I told you he was.. Wait what!?" I stammer out as the front door slams shut and windows lock by themselves. "Not you Joat. You're my friend" shadow says as I spin around to see him sporting a grin that should have ripped his head in two. I don't even have a second to process what he just said before he is standing at my where my father used to be. Spinning around again to see him kneeling over my father with something red dripping off of his hands. "wake" Shadow turns around to reveal it as my fathers heart. "Dad?..." I sob out looking at where his chest used to be but is now caved in showing his fractured ribs and mutilated intestines. "up" My mother runs to the front door trying to break it open. Before lone Shadow is upon her laughing as he grabs her tail and swiftly, but it may as well have taken a thousand years, rips her spine out. "Mommy!!" my sister yells still sitting at the table to scared to do anything but cry. Shadow slowly stalks over to her kneeling down to eye level grabbing the sides of her head. " Leave her ALONE!!" I Plead but it fell upon deft ears. "You know what they say. The younger the melon the more spectacular the splat." "NO!"

"WAKE-UP!" *slap*

Children...why children?

"WAKE UP!" *Smack*

Jolting awake I look up to find my vision filled with black chitin. "Kyrstal?" I questioned the changeling without wings.

"C.n't br..th." She gasped. Quickly removing my hand from Krystals throat " Sorry, you startled me" I apologized.

"It's okay, looked as if you were having a bad dream. Want to talk about it?" she inquired as she caught her breath.

"No" I replied while standing up from my resting spot on a tree. Taking in my surroundings I saw we are still in a open patch in the forest. scooping up my belongings I made a mental check list. Bag, check.. Jacket, already on.. Boots gloves crazed love driven mare.. wait. "umm.. why are you all up in my SHIT?"

Backing away she replies " I have yet to see you without your eye patch, why is your eye" That's all I heard as my hand found its way to my face. " were is it" I thought "they can see me without it" I searched the ground for my patch when I found it were I first awoke. "Must have fallen off when I slept." Quickly strapping it back to my head I turned to face the sound of an irritated Changeling.

"Are you even listening to me Joat?"

" huh what?" I replied "Never mind that, do you hear something?" " Like what the sound of your brain going AWAL." I perked my ears up to try to pinpoint the sounds location. I found it, it was coming from a clearing in the dense foliage. "wait here" I told my companion.

" For what?" Krystal replied as I started towards the sound. Making it to the tree line I could make out the sound now. someone very small was crying. Continuing on through the trees the crying grew, along with a flare of pain in my left eye. "This can't be good." I told myself and started sprinting towards the crying. Coming out into another clearing reviled a small blue Pegasus. Stepping out of the foliage reviled something else. "shit." I grunted as a red tendril made contact with my gut. " soo hungryyy." said a cloud of red to my left. "You loook goood" It rasped out.

"Trust me, you wont like the flavor of 6 days of unshowered wolf" I wheezed crumpled over from the blow.

"...." It just stared at me as it brought one of its long red tentacles down just missing me by inches from my role. Its other tentacle slashed at me and made contact with my thigh. " I should start wearing pants" I made a mental note as I looked over the now gash on my leg. dodging another slash combo I took an opening and lunged at the mist... to pass right through it and slam face first into a tree. "That wasn't there a second ago" I lied to myself. "okay so you want to play that game, I can play it too." I shouted at the cloud as I removed my eye patch and forced myself into the Abyss. As soon as I was there I pivoted and uppercut the now material red being. "I see you too asshat." I regret taunting it as it earned me a blow to the muzzle.

Face down on the ground I brought my hand up to my nose, pulling back reviled blood. "Tasty, Tasty" said a voice above me. Rolling to my right I barley missed getting impaled by two tentacles.

Looking back it had gotten himself stuck in the ground. Slowly I made my way over to him stopping right in front of him. "sucks to be you right now" I replied pulling my fist back. "What is tasty's name?" bringing my spectral charged fist into his midsection and out the other side I replied "Joat"

letting it fall to the floor it started to turn into dust but not before saying "master cannot be stopped." Shocked I looked back to him to find him no more. "that's the first I have heard a shade talk about anything other than itself" I muttered. Looking up I saw the little pegasus shuddering on the ground. " Hey its okay young one, I'm not going to hurt.." Then I stopped cold. Frozen to where I was standing.

I hadn't left the Abyss yet.....

One of a kind

Fear gripped me as I watched this little pony curled up on the ground. There was whispering in the darkness inaudible for me to hear.

Flipping the patch back over my eye and forcing myself back to the forest, the little pony was still sitting there. Gathering spectral energy into my palm I slowly made my way over. Standing over it I waited for it to strike. But it never came, just more sobbing.

"Hello?" the pony tensed up. I flipped it over and brought my fist down. Stopping mere inches from her face I realized she wasn't a Shade.

"Please don't hurt me" the little one pleaded. I didn't respond instead I started looking for a sign of possession. When I found none I responded " Why are you out here?"

"I-I was running from Marcus"

"Marcus? Who's Marcus" Looking around I saw the ash pile and it hit me. Looking deep into her eyes I saw it. The same symbol I see in the mirror.

"You're cursed." I told her.

" Wha-What do you mean cursed?"

"You're so called friend was just using you." Standing up I looked around for the way I came in at. "What is your name?"

"Mom said I shouldn't tell strangers anything about me."

"Fine have it your way." I said as I started my way back to the campsite.

"Wait-up!" She yelled "Please help me find my mommy and daddy."

"Listen kid, right now your a walking magnet to shades okay. I have kept myself alive by hiding, I haven't come this far to let someone ruin it now."

Tears started welling up in her eyes again "Please" she whispered "just until I find my family, please."

*Feels right to the heat* "Ugh. Fine just stop with the eyes already"

"Thank you!" She ran up and tackle hugged me.

"oww.. sore ribs please let go." letting go She fell to the ground. "But, you have to tell me your name first."

"Well.. My name is Sprinkler" the little sea blue Pegasus finally murmured.

"Alright then Sprinkler, shall we go find your parents" I said as we started down the path I had came in at.

We walked for about thirty-some odd minutes taking turns asking each other questions like. Favorite color, aquamarine was mine and Sprinklers was grass green. and other things along the lines to get to know one another.

"So" I said "where are you from?"

"I'm from Ponyville" Sprinkler exclaimed

"You are? I guess it is a good thing you tagged along then." I stated while stepping into the clearing. my camp in sight now. "me and my friend are on our way there too."

About 20 feet from camp something small latched onto my back. "What is that thing?" A little voice squeaked out "Is it gonna eat me?"

"That thing has a name, and no I won't eat you!" Krystal yelled from where she was waiting for me to get back.

"Krystal Don't be offended remember when we first met?"

"Yeah, I didn't even get halfway through my life till I was waking up next to a fire with my head bandaged." She glared at me. Then her tone turned to panic "OH MY Your leg Joat!"

"A Minor cut at most." I said casually.

"uh Joat you may want to inspect that again." what is she so afraid of I was wondering. When I looked down I found out why. The cut on my from where the shade had struck me was oozing red slime, not blood Slime.

"That's not good!" I panicked.

"Joat sit down and stay still" I obeyed Krystal and immediately sat down.

"What is wrong" Sprinkler asked now standing next to me.

"I don't know, but that's why I keep Krystal here around." I said motioning to the changeling now eyeing the red goop on my leg.

"This is going to hurt a lot" Boy was that a understatement. It felt like a thousand rusty needles was stitching my skin together with the suns solar flares.

After that I blacked out but not before felling like I was being dipped in magma. I woke to the sound of laughter.

"And then he thought the best thing to do was to pretend like he always greeted someone new by kissing them on the cheek."

"AAhaha you cant be serious haha."

"dead serious, I walked around the griffon empire giving everyone that came up and greeted me a smooch on the cheek."

"Joat!" the little filly greeted me by bouncing on my chest.

"Welcome back pansy" Krystal greeted while stepping into my range of sight

"You need to work on that spectral magic of yours. I'm not sure if that was worth it"

"well sorry that my magic is fueled by caring not Anger." Krystal said very annoyed.

"What is spectacle magic?"

"Spectral not spectacle, and it is a type of magic that Abyss Lookers can use cause of their ties to the Abyss." I told the little filly "Which reminds me."

Picking up my bag that my head was resting on I dig through it. "no" "no" "didn't even know I had that anymore, but no"

"AHA" I yell out suddenly while pulling a mist like object.

"What is that?" the filly asks

"This I harvested from the Abyss before they could find me, It conceals your presence to shades."

"What is the Abyss?"

"the Abyss is the realm in which shades lie in wait." I replied

"Wait for what?"

This filly has a lot of questions for a.. a "How old are you?"

"twelve"

"Ahh, Shades are waiting for someone like us that doesn't know any better to let them manifest in our realm."

"Ooo, like Marcus did with me?" Sprinkler said

"Kinda. He wasn't able to fully channel himself into our world. If he was able to I would have been more injured than that."

"so how does the ghost chalk work?"

"well we need to find something to put the symbol on and you will have to wear it at all times."

"I don't have anything to put it on"

"I have just the thing!" Krystal reminded us she still exists. she ran over to her bags to dig something out of them. When she came back over she showed us bracer. "do you like it Sprinkles?" Krystal asked the filly.

It was a simple and plain steal bracer with gold circling the edge of it.

"It looks nice are you sure I can have it?"

"of course but you have to wear it at all times ok." Krystal said whilst handing the bracer to me.

Taking my time to make sure each curve and edge had flawless detail put into it I hadn't noticed it get dark and the other two were making dinner. Smelled like mushroom and leek soup. by the time I was done Sprinkler was trotting over to me with two bowls balanced on her back.

"I brought you some dinner." exclaimed Sprinkler.

"Thank you my dear, and its finally done here you are." I proclaimed taking the bowl from her and giving her the bracer.

"but I think dinner will have to wait." I told her while getting into a defensive pose over the filly.

"Joat what's wrong?" Krystal teleported over to me taking a defensive pose of her own.

"Sprinkler has been to long without a Shade looming over her, and to long without being able to hide."

"what's happening?" Sprinkler cried out as I gripped my eye patch and discarded it off to the side.

"FOUND YOU!!"

Finally Found

~~~~????~~~~

Burnt......Chained.......Caged....And humiliated!

"I was going to rule that world, I was going to show them what a real god is...."

"I was going to show them How beautiful your art was!"

"I Showed you how powerful you truly are!!"

"You wanted help"  "I wanted a vessel"

Struggling against the bonds that held me I looked up to the to the blackness of a sky that I hated. I was incarnated here accepting the power that was offered to me.. I saved the people of this wretched place.... They flocked to me, to my power when I first looked upon a world of happiness and hope! But that's all I could do was look... that was until one heard me.

She sat upon the floor in sorrow. Sorrow for the people the choose to ignore just how beautiful her art was. "I love your work. Please don't be sad" I had told her, not expecting what came next. "I wish others would see it the way you do" the pony had told me.

" I can help you" I replied. "but, you have to trust me"

So I helped her. I forced them to look at your ARTWORK I showed them your BEAUTY!! we could have beaten her if you stopped resisting so much. You got us IMPRISSONED!!

We had gotten another chance, AND you ruined that TOO!! WE held the only power strong enough to beat us. and you didn't DESTROY IT!!!

"........Now your free to have a life while I am stuck in this prison..." Just then a group leader walked into my cell.

"Sir. we have reported that the one known as Peace Treaty, has been located but.."

"but what sliver? are you and your men not competent enough to handle it?"

"n-n-no sir I can handle it, it's just she is being guarded by a lost one. he killed my entire unit s-sir." I nodded my head towards sliver.

"come here my child." as I say this he runs and bows before me. I rub my cheek to his. "then why are you here before me if your dead." his skin turned to ice as his head separated from his body in a smooth *plop*. the herald picked his axe off the ground and walked away leaving me to my dinner.

" Viktor, Peace, Joat, Maku, Rebellion, and Blackheart"

Once I find the last two and devour their power I will finally be strong enough to break the accursed prison of colors. "and then HAHAHA I am going to have my revenge on you." Jerking my head up to the sky I seethed with rage.

"LUNA!!!"

~~~~~Joat~~~~~

"FOUND YOU!"

Three. I counted three around us. They are all a dull gray mist, indicating that the three are just normal shades. The only problem was they would act as a beacon for others.

Without wasting any time I crossed the line between reality and the abyss. I could see them clearly now. hairless bipedaled creatures, two arms, two legs, and a really bad case of *Please wear some pants man!* syndrome. One of them looked confused the other two started wailing.

"Have to end this fast!" I thought to myself. I sprinted after the closest shade with my magic focused on my feet. covering the gap between me and them in short time, the first confused one stepped between me and the wailers. letting my body fall and the momentum carry me I went straight between his legs. stuck my left heel into the ground, pivoting and extending my right leg I took the head of one of the shades clear off. With my momentum still carrying me I brought my right leg down and brought the right leg up. Intent on ending the second wailer in the same manner.

To be stopped mid flight by a punch to my back from the second shade with such force I changed direction strait into the ground. Back aching, ribs sore, and a possibly broken arm I rolled away and got to my feet. he started wailing again and my vision went dark after a fist said hi to my face. stumbling as my vision came back I turned around narrowly avoiding another fist from the first one.

"your next then." I said to the shade

"Master will be happy to have your head" It replied back.

With no time to question I quickly found myself on the defense dodging hooks and crosses. after he landed two successful hits, one to my ribs and another to my now definitely broken right arm. It overextended a hook that allowed me to knee him in the abdomen, griping his head with my left arm I gave it a quick jerk. A *crack* was my reward as he fell to the ground exploding into gray smoke and soot.

Turning around I came face to face with the last one who quickly blew my eardrums out with its horrendous wail. Quickly jabbing it in the throat I stumbled and toppled over. Shade, quickly regaining is balance jumped on top of me grabbed my head, and started to pull. feeling around I grasped a stone bringing it up to smash into the shades face. It fell to the side of me and I got on top of it, repeatedly smashing the stone into the shades face. Bringing it up one last time I clenched the rock with both fists bringing it down instantly turning the shade to smoke and soot.

Standing up was a chore itself as the adrenaline wore off I could feel every cut scrape bruise. I started hobbling away towards the incoming changeling horn already pulsing with magic. "good" I said as I noticed the ground getting closer before I passed out.

I woke up and immediately regretted it. Pain was my current life, it was all I could feel I couldn't tell exactly what hurt cause it was EVERYTHING!

" OHOHO no you don't, back to sleep." a voice said as I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness again. But not before muttering "Thank you, my merciful god"

An old friend.

'Sun, go away please' was the first thought my groggy migraine tortured mind could think up.

"Fine." I grumbled whilst rubbing my eye "lets get this over.... Where did the sun go?" Opening my eyes reviled another horror altogether.

"HI JOATY!!" screamed a white griffon with grey highlights , and patches of black littering her body.

"AHH!!" Yelled my war cry, that totally didn't sound like a little girl screaming. Meanwhile she lunged at me wrapping me in a crushing bear hug.

"Joaty I was so worried you would never wake up!!" She yell while attempting to turn my bones into mulch.

"Pl..Cnt...Brth" she got the hint and stopped squeezing me like a tube of toothpaste, but still hung to me.

"Well that's nice to know but what are you doing here Peace?"

"Hmft" came a muffled voice from behind me. It came from Krystal who was currently bound and gagged to a tree, along side a teary eyed blue Pegasus. next to that was a person donned in a deep sea dive suit, not only that but held a anchor casually over its shoulder.

The giant took its 'eyes?' of the two and slowly turned to me. In the second or two it looked at me its visor turned red, then slowly looked back at the two tied to the tree.

"Umm... Peace why are my friends tied to a tree?"

"Friends?" Peace pondered the thought for a moment. "but why did the changeling use magic and nock you out then. That's not what friends do."

"Maybe because I was in a lot of pain and she was still healing me." I stated with a blank face.

"And what's with deep sea 1 over there?"

"Who? are you talking about Mr. Bubbles?" She said while making a hand motion at him.

Grunting I got to my feet fighting of the light headed feeling threatening to send me back. The giant known as Bubbles released my companions from their confines.

"What the Tartarus Joat! You know this Crazy mare?" Krystal yelled at me.

"Yes and owe your to loud. Krystal Clear Peace treaty, Peace treaty Krystal Clear." I said while pointing towards the named persons. Thing suddenly got quit and the tension was starting to choke me, or It could be the death glares I was receiving from both parties. Well It would have been quit had a giggling quickly took its place. Spinning around I eyed the goliath as he spun Sprinkler around with one hand.

"Look Joat, I'm Flying!" She squealed with unbridled joy like she had never flown before. Bubbles just stared at her While she giggled and flew around, his visor a soft blue. He must have seen me staring cause his visor turned yellow and shifted her to his shoulder as he stared back at me. His gauntlet never leavening the anchor.

"Strange, he is usually only that cautions when a shade is nearby." Peace stated swiveling her ears to and fro.

"nah, I just think he doesn't like me to much."

"Who are you, and what are you anyways?" I ask the titan.

"......." nothing changed he just continued to stare at me. Nothing was said till peace cut in.

"Joat He cant answer you... Even if he could I doubt he remembers."

"What are you-" She cut me off

"He's a lost one Joat.." she looked towards him with sadness in her look and tone.

"Lost one?" Sprinkler asked from his shoulder.

"There like us, was like us. The lost themselves somewhere in the Abyss. Caused by a unforgettable act of horror." Walking up to the titan, I stared hard into his visor which now glowed blood red and his grip on the anchor tightening.

"The shade responsible for taking their lives away from them haunt and torture the mind into submission." Reaching up I put my hand on his shoulder, his visor dulling back to yellow.

"And then they keep going, eventually convincing you it was your fault. That you had cause the catastrophe. That you weren't strong enough to save them, to save your family." he dropped the anchor and his visor dulled to a cool blue.

"But, no matter what they do. They can take you family. Take your name. Even take your soul. You have to be strong enough to keep ahold of your memories, For some of us-" his visor went out and I could see his face. Black tendrils surrounded his eyes as the oozed a red liquid.

"-Our memories for our loved ones are strong enough to keep a grasp on reality lest we be swallowed whole by the Gap. Our hope to see them again one day, and the knowledge that they are waiting our embrace when we do."

"IT"S WHAT DRIVES US FORWARD." Was a hulking reply from the titan as I was swept up into yet another bone crushing hug. "ACULUS... NAUTALIS" and just like that he let me go.

"How do you know so much about the process?" Krystal questioned almost afraid of the answer.

Looking down at my left hand I removed my glove and rolled up the sleeve of my jacket to show them my tattoo.

"Because me and father found him on the edge of becoming one..." I was suddenly hugged from behind, more softly mind you, by Peace Treaty.

"I got this to cover my scarring." Flipping my hand palm side up they could see the same black tendrils pulsing with my heartbeat, scattered across it. "I left this visual to remind me of what I had to overcome and who saved me."

Rolling my sleeve back down and putting my glove on I finally realized something I had overlooked during my initial inspection, and I solemnly said "But most of us this happens to.." I looked up to make eye contact with Sprinkler. "Never recover."

There it was, I cant believe I was so stupid to overlook the signs. "It's a good thing I found you when I did Sprinkler."

"What do you mean?" Krystal, Peace and Sprinkler said at the same time.

""out of all the ones I have seen, Never have I stumbled upon a case like yours." Taking Sprinkler off of Aculus's shoulder I stared into her eyes.

With a Pained voice I asked "How old are you Sprinkler?"

"I told you before I'm Eight years old." A soft gasp could be heard from behind me.

"Sprinkler...."  My eyes started to water. "The last time I asked you that.... You were twelve."

"What are you talking about?" She started looking worried.

"I'm So sorry.. I should have realized it sooner. Sprinkler.. Wings on a pony don't fully develop until they are at least Fifteen years old"

She looked behind her and spread her wings, along side loose feathers waiting to be preened was black tendrils that pulsed every so often. Turning back she looked at me eyes already red and tears already trickling down her muzzle.

"I'm scared."

"Don't worry I wont let you go anywhere."

This poor girl was already in the final stage. I hugged her as close to my chest as possible while she bawled into me.

"Don't worry no more waking up having forgotten another day, Its all over." Her grip tightened as Aculus walked over and picked us both up in a massive yet comforting hug.

Most of the day passed making idol chatter, catching up, and some cheering up until it was time to light the campfire. I had insisted the two of them stay for dinner, but Peace said she needed to get to her dad before daybreak. It sounded urgent so I pushed the issue no farther. We exchanged our goodbyes with some quick hugs a 'good luck' and a wave from the ever so quiet Aculus, before they disappeared into the dense forest. We chose to meet up at Peace Treaty's father's house when we got to Ponyville.

We sat in silence while we ate, what a surprise, leek soup.

"when we get to town I am buying a sack full of oranges." My mouth watered at just the thought of fresh oranges. Sprinkler had hardly eaten a spoonful of her food when I tried to talk to her she just looked at me and said "Fifteen" jumped into my chest and started crying again.

I feel for this girl half of her life so far has been slowly whittled away. Seven years she will never get back.

When she finally calmed down it was way past dark. Unfolding my sleeping bag I rested against the only tree in the clearing. On the edge of sleep I felt fur and feather lean into me. sliding down I wrapped my arms around Sprinkler and held her close.

"you wont let me forget, will you Joat?"

"No I will never let you forget, and I will never let you slip away."

"Joat?"

"Hmm?"

"How...How old are you?"

"Hmm? why would you want to know that?"

"Because... I don't know.... I don't look to you as a father.... but I like it when we are close."

"...." My cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red.

"Joat?"

"Listen you shouldn't waste your time on me. you can do a lot better than me."

"you never answered my first question..."

"I-I'm Seventeen."

"..."

"...."

"hey Joat?"

"Hm?"

"Will you go out with me."

"hehehe, sure Sprinkler. I'll take you somewhere nice when we get to town."

It was meant only as a joke but what came next mace me realize I may have royally bucked up.

She kissed me full on the lips, and then wafted her tail.

That's when I knew for sure I was more than just Bucked.

"Your in heat...."

Prologue

Hi, you most certainly don't know me. My name is Joat, its pronounced Joe-t. I'm a Runewolf... don't know what that is, it is basically a wolf version of a diamond dog just without the freaky long arms, or the dumb grins I've seen on most of them. I stand upright on two legs at about 6'3. I have a brown coat with a fur tattoo on my left arm of a green chain that wraps around starting at my shoulder, and going down to my wrist. I wear a dark red duster coat with black leather knuckle gloves and brown rawhide boots. My right eye is aqua marine, while my left eye is covered with a patch the same color as my coat to blend in.

Behind that patch is my own personal hell. the ability to seen into a different realm. One at which nightmares you couldn't possibly imagine fester. I have come to call it the abyss. At first I thought I was hallucinating, but one of the creature I saw seemed nice so I befriended him. That's were I made my mistake. My parents called him my imaginary friend but I knew he was real. I just didn't know how real he was till he asked me if he could meat my parents. I don't remember much from that night, I don't want to. But it ended with me alone.