Wegie Chapters 1 and 2 (Anthropomorphic Version)

Chapter 1:

Sannindi sat in the tall grass, staring her best friend who was seated with his back to a tree. The werecat girl was a chocolate calico-tabby, with one gold eye and one blue. Erikson was predominantly black, with white on his muzzle and throat and chest, white paws. She was dressed in jeans and he dark red pants.

“Don't be so nervous,” he told her.

“How can I not be?” she replied to him, “I know what they say, that shes with even one blue eye can be called to the priestesshood.”

“That'd be amazing!” he exclaimed.

“I don't know if I want it,” she told him and added, “And if they're going to take me, it'll be soon! I'm thirteen now!”

Before Erikson could respond, another voice joined them in the form of her father. The chocolate tabby bicolor was also odd-eyed, though his were blue and green. He was dressed in formal attire, a dark suit that was tight over his thick, long furs.

“Sannindi,” he greeted his daughter.

“Papa,” she greeted in return.

He took a moment to sit beside her in the grass. He looked up at the sky while she watched him, wondering what he had to say.

“The big day is coming up,” he murmured, glancing her way, “I think your mother and Priestess Herz will kill me if you run off like Mosi did.”

Mosi. Sannindi recalled the older she who was colored like their father and had two green eyes. Sannindi had loved her big sister, and they remained close until Mosi turned thirteen, Sannindi and her brothers only six, and the werecat ran off. It had been this very holiday.

“It isn't your fault,” Sannindi assured him.

He snorted but said nothing. Erikson was listening in silence.

There was a long pause as clouds passed overhead before Kirkwood whispered to his daughter, his whiskers tickling her ear, “I can see and hear Erikson too.”

He abruptly stood up and began walking toward the house. Sannindi was in shock. Her brothers always teased her that she was insane, and their mother liked to suggest Erikson was a guardian sent by Goddess. Sannindi did not know what he was, and did not care, but she knew she was the only one who could acknowledge him, until now.

“Papa!” Sannindi cried out and climbed to her paws, then raced to him with her arms swinging wildly and her bushy tail flowing in the breeze.

He paused at the door and watched her approach. She threw herself at him and gave him a hug, an embrace that lasted longer than any other they had shared.

A mostly black calico with amber eyes leaned out the window and complained, “Will you two come in already? Sannindi, you must get ready to go!”

“Yes, Mama,” Sannindi sighed, knowing she'd be forced into a dress she would rather not wear.

“Vigr, dear,” Kirkwood meowed to his wife, “Do you want a moment with San before we doll her up and send her away?”

Sannindi did not like the way he said that. She could care less about the dolling up, it was inconvenient but nothing to fret over. But being sent away? That was completely different! She did not want to leave, not in the slightest.

Vigr huffed, “I want to get her into this dress so we can head to church already!”

“Very well,” Kirkwood murmured as he opened the door for his daughter and motioned her through.

Sannindi found her way into her bedroom, where her mother was waiting.

“Come on dear, we don't have time to spare!” Vigr insisted.

“But I don't want to go,” Sannindi explained.

Vigr lightly cuffed her daughter over the ear. “Don't you start that!”

But Vigr would never say why. Or who, rather. Instead she would just tell the she to stop and behave like a proper werecat. She would not dare mention her eldest daughter's name again. Not after what had happened.

“Okay,” Sannindi sighed. She stood in place while her mother pulled out a proper purple garment for the younger to wear.

Following direction, Sannindi removed her jeans and let her mother slip the dress over her head. She found it uncomfortable and obnoxious, but she knew she had no other option lest she turn out like Mosi, who was long gone and mostly forgotten by the others.

Sannindi was strolled into the main room of the house where she met with her father and her littermates. Eng, a primarily black but also white hazel-eyed tom, was wearing a blue suit. And Haukr, the first born of the three, was a black tabby and white with golden eyes like their mother, who was dressed in a green suit.

And together, Vigr in the lead with Kirkwood in the rear, they began walking to church.

The family of five could hear others chattering as they also came to the large building to gather for worship. The priestess of this place stood outside the massive doors, greeting everyone. Her name was Herz and Sannindi had never liked her. She was fluffy (like everyone around here) and white with, well supposedly with, a single splash of ginger. She was also odd-eyed, one blue and one yellow.

She was cloaked in a pale pink garment that had a certain shimmer to it. It was almost mesmerizing.

“Ah, welcome!” she called with her thick, scary accent when she saw Vigr and company.

Vigr and Herz exchanged a traditional greeting of shaking both paws at once together. Haukr and Eng went next, and then it was Sannindi's turn.

As they exchanged pawshakes, Herz flicked her ear at the banner that was connected from the steeple to a pole out front, in the northern direction, and she said, “My dear, why don't you carry the banner to Goddess Pool this year?”

“Me?” Sannindi dropped her forepaws and looked from the pole to Herz with shock.

“Yes, you!” Herz gave a giggle.

“No thank you,” Sannindi replied, shaking her head.

Vigr roughly nudged her daughter, “Now Sannindi, don't be like that.”

Herz eyed Kirkwood, who had his forepaws behind his back, “We don't need another incident, dear.”

Sannindi wasn't sure who the priestess was speaking to. She eyed her father, but he was looking to the clouds as if nothing were happening here.

Haukr spoke, “Do, San, we'll be right behind you!”

Eng nodded, “Yeah it'll be cool!”

Sannindi was not feeling certain but she did not know what to say. And so, Erikson spoke up and let his tail gently brush her leg, “It'll be awesome and the perfect first step to your future!”

Sannindi inhaled deeply before nodding and mustering a small, “Okay.”

Next thing she knew, she was seated in between her brothers in between their parents during the service. The pews were tight and hard, but no one ever complained. They listened as Herz preached in what felt like almost another language.

“As the Day of No Night nears, we come together to reflect over our past year. So much has happened as always. Time continues on, the same but different all at once. And we are stuck in this limbo called life because of the deed of The Great Traitor, Sneypa.”

Every year, when she would speak about Sneypa, Erikson would grow uncomfortable, but Sannindi was not sure why. She hardly noticed this year, as she was too anxious about what was to come. Not to mention, he was hardly there, present in a way that he did not take up space.

Herz was continuing on, “When the Great Traitor led his fellow warriors to brutally murder another third, all against the will of Goddess, that is when we were introduced to the Sea of Woe. And now the Prince of the Sea, Sneypa, and his followers torture those who do not do right by Goddess.”

She was silent a moment to let the words sink in and strike fear in their hearts.

“But,” she broke off the emotion, “Now we come together and gather to worship our ever-Great Goddess! Only She can save us from the Sea of Woe and Sneypa and his fellow fallen warriors. Now let us sing!”

Everyone except the youngest of the congregation already knew the words to the song.

“Goddess is ever-great and loving all the time, forever we cherish her! Together, we find the way to Her Goddess Pool, to send our prayers of pain and sickness up to her above! Tomorrow we shall be in her presence so, one day the Great Garden will be our homes!”

Sannindi could barely pay attention. Her thoughts were rushing like a flooded river after rain. What was going to happen? Would she be taken away? Would the high priestess choose her to become a priestess? She did not want that, she was certain, but if she was chosen, what could she do? She wanted to know Goddess as everyone did, except Mosi; Mosi never cared about Goddess or church or any of it.

The time came to leave the church. Sannindi was pushed and pulled by everyone around her after it was declared she would bear the banner. And so, as Herz instructed, she lifted the pole out of the ground and followed the priestess as everyone else followed her. Together, they would march to the Goddess Pool.

Chapter 2:

Staring into a clear pool, Morginn saw her reflection. Pale blue and cream on top of white fur, green eyes. Her long furs flowed like the dress she wore, which matched her eyes. She blinked at herself, hoping her plan would work, watching as not a ripple interrupted her image. She lifted the candle in her paw toward her muzzle, and blew out the tiny flame. Smoke wafted around her, but she did her best to not cough or sneeze.

It would not be long before voices rang out in the cave. All over, she heard her voice. Morginn, Morginn.

She did not answer the calls, only took a slight breath, hoping no one would hear. Being given away would ruin everything.

But then, the game was over, as firelight lit the cavern in which she sat.

“Morginn, what are you doing?” It was Liv, a priestess who was white with cinnamon spots above her eyes and a cinnamon tail.

Morginn refused to look at the young adult, “Don't tell them I'm here.”

Another sigh from Liv, “Morginn, you have to go. There is no getting around it.”

“No, go away,” Morginn insisted.

Liv put a delicate forpaw on Morginn's shoulder, “Morginn, if you don't come with me, then I'll have to get the others. And if Mother has to fight you, you know she won't be happy.”

Morginn stood silently for another moment, before turning and giving herself up. She followed Liv through the tunnels until they were in the main cavern.

“There you are!” Tungl cried out louder than she meant to due to the fact she was deaf to the earthly world. “We could've been late because of you!”

“Sorry, Mama,” Morginn whimpered but her apology went unnoticed by the pure white, blue eyed high priestess.

A tom approached, his fur red and white, his eyes pale yellow. “What were you thinking?” he hissed to his littermate.

“Shut up, Sixten,” Morginn hissed back.

Their father came up behind them, the blue and white tabby tom had golden eyes which held tears currently. He put his arms around his kittens, and held them close for several heartbeats.

“You two do good out there!” he told them and then quietly added, “I won't forget you.”

Morginn embraced him in return, “Daddy, don't make me go!”

His breath caught in his chest and his heart failed to beat.

The young priestesses-in-training watched as their teacher, the werecat they called their mother, gathered her thirteen-year-old litter.

“Sixten, Morginn,” she called out.

Sixten sighed and moved to his mother's side.

Morginn was not ready to leave yet. She refused to let go of her father, which led to Tungl grabbing her by her scruff. Tungl dug her claws into Morginn's neck fur, but the younger she refused to leave her father.

“Morginn!” Tungl hissed.

“Daddy, please,” Morginn begged her father.

Colby gently pushed Morginn away from him and murmured, “I'm sorry.”

Morginn grabbed onto Tungl as soon as the elder let go of her daughter. Tightly holding her arm, Morginn began the walk down the mountain with Tungl and Sixten.

It was bright outside, the sun was high in the sky and the Goddess Pool was in sight, as always. Coming down the mountain, which was fairly bare, Morginn could see that many groups of werecats had already gathered. The congregations had each brought a pole from their church to set in a place where it was put every year, and had been for many generations. All churches faced toward the Goddess Pool, which was the northernmost point in the world.

The werecats were all crying out.

“Meow, meow!” what did it mean?

“Meow, meow!” Goddess forgive us!

“Meow, meow!” Goddess grant us grace!

Morginn gave a cry, “Meow, meow!” Mother doesn't care for me!

And another, “Meow, meow!” My brother doesn't care!

And finally, “Meow, meow!” Father can't help me!

Tungl yanked on her daughter. Morginn looked to her beautiful mother with wide green eyes. The white high priestess hissed, “Shut up!”

“Mama,” Morginn stopped walking and forced her arms around her mother, “please!”

Sixten rolled his eyes and growled, “Stop it, Morginn!”

Tungl flicked an ear, “You knew this was coming from the day you were born!”

“I don't want to go!” Morginn cried, tears streaming from her eyes and staining her fur.

“You have no choice,” Tungl rumbled and pulled the cat she gave birth to further down the mountain.

They were coming up on the first congregations now. Cats lunged to touch the high priestess. She held out a forepaw to let them know she recognized them and their neediness. They all looked up to her, for she was their closest link to Goddess. Tungl heard the word of Goddess and spoke the words she was instructed to preach.

Morginn shied away from the strangers. She had known her elder siblings to be given away in years past. That was the way the world worked: all high priestesses would give birth to litters only to give the offspring away at age thirteen years. They would be exchanged for special young shes who harbored powers similar to the high priestess'.

Maybe, Morginn hoped, she wouldn't be given away. Maybe no one would have a blue eye and she and Sixten would not have to leave and be separated.

No. It was not to be, this year was going to be the same as all years prior.

Tungl found the first priestess to train. Morginn prayed she was the only one and Sixten would be sent away, not her. Her hopes were soon destroyed.

Tungl took the young calico-tabby's forepaw and raised it in the air. “Our first new priestess-to-be!”

The crowd cheered, the tortoiseshell behind her gave a small leap of joy.

Morginn shook her head as she was moved from where she held her mother to near the tortoiseshell and her chocolate tabby mate. The tortoiseshell grabbed her paws and Morginn looked at her amber eyes with fear, only to look back and see her biological mother leaving with the other thirteen-year-old she.

For a moment Morginn's green eyes met the other's odd eyes.

Fear flashed between them, a sense of yearning for a simple life and also the need to go back to their fathers. Morginn did not know they wanted the same things. Instead, an anger rose in her stomach. Flames burned inside of her, her heart beating faster than it ever had.

“No!” Morginn shrilly shrieked.

“It's all right,” The tortoisehsell tried to calm her, though her grip on Morginn was strong.

“Mama!” Morginn yelled.

The tortoiseshell was still calm, “I'm your mother now.”

“Never!” Morginn hissed at her as she pulled, trying to get away.

But she couldn't.

“Mama, come back for me!” Morginn pleaded into the air.

Those around Morginn were glaring at her.

They mumbled and murmured and some outright scolded her.

“How dare you try to go against our ways!”

“You were destined for this!”

“What an ungrateful brat!”

But she didn't care.

“Mother!” she screamed with all her might. She used muscles she wasn't aware of and an amount of breath she did not know she could hold. All for a last cry to a she who did not care. A she that never loved her.

The tom put his forepaws on her shoulders. His muzzle near her ear, he told her, “I know this is hard for you. But please, we will not do you wrong.”

That was the first time Morginn began to imagine how this must feel for him. And for her father, she thought back to his last words to her.

“I'm Sorry,” had been the final thing Colby managed to express to his daughter. She would never hear from him again.

And now, here was this tom offering to help her. Because he just lost his daughter the way Colby had lost his own. Morginn understood they both felt a sadness. She did not want to be here, but she no longer felt the need to fight back. She resigned to her fate. Whether or not she liked it, this was her family now.

“It's okay,” A young tabby and white tom meowed. His black and white brother stood behind him, watching with green eyes.

“It's not,” Morginn whispered.

He gave her a hug, “It will be. My name is Haukr and that's our brother Eng.”