"Long ago, before even the oldest of old in Aerisone (the continent), there was a great war that separated all of the DNA kingdoms. You see, Aerisone was discovered by a young sailor who showed it to Elland, which was, at the time, the place where 'mutated' human beings that were infused with animal DNA were kept. They were then transported to the new continent called Aerisone, and all of the DNAHumes, as they were called, were in harmony. Until, of course, the war that divided the friendships for centuries. It began to come that separate DNAHume animal kingdoms were forbidden to see each other or cross into the other kingdom's territory. The territories were marked by giant rivers, so it was difficult to miss. Now this is the story of a young DNA Hume-Fox who decided to cross that river, and fell in love with a DNA Hume-Tiger . . ."
Emmaline stared across the Rhinestone River, sighing. Beyond the river had always been a mystery for her. Ever since the packs, flocks, clans, troops, and tribes got into an intense argument centuries earlier, it was a mystery to most of the DNA Hume-Foxes and other DNAHumes. Their territory was at the very edge of the whole continent, and Rhinestone River separated them from the life across. She, like many of the young, was enchanted by the wonderful river, and was itching to get across somehow. But they all knew that it was forbidden. Now, Emmaline, as a seventeen year-old, was very ambitious and stubborn. She knew what she wanted, and she would get it.
"Emmaline! Emmaline! Come home, dear!" a familiar voice called. Emmaline rolled her eyes and gracefully leaped from the tree, landing on both feet steadily. She then raced to her home, which was on the very edge of the forest, her tail sweeping behind her. She swung open the door, panting.
"Emmaline, there you are. Where were -- oh, Emmaline. Were you in the woods again?" her mother asked with disappointment.
"Only for a little while . . ." Emmaline mumbled. She hated to make her mother sad.
"Please, don't do that again! You know I don't like it when you wander off."
"Okay, Mom. Seriously. Just cool off!"
"Fine, then, be that way. You are FORBIDDEN to go back in those woods."
Emmaline gasped with disbelief.
"Yes. Forbidden."
"But all of the other kids . . . parents let them . . ." Emmaline choked pleadingly. For some reason, she had grown attached to the mysterious woods. It pulled her and tugged her to go inside. It was how she spent her time.
"Well, I'm not like other parents. Hm! I bet the parents don't even know of them going so close to Rhinestone River," she said coolly, "Now go to your room and stay there until supper."
"Yes, ma'am," Emmaline grumbled and stomped up the stairs. She slammed the door to her room and leaped onto the bed, her face buried in her pillow. Pouting, Emmaline rolled on her side and stared out the window. She was not looking at the yard and the dirt path and the foresty neighborhood beyond, however. She was distant, and thinking.
'Well, I'm not for it,' Emmaline thought, 'I am going back to those woods, whether mother likes it or not.'
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was midnight. Emmaline touched her window, coldness seeping into her fingers. She took a deep breath and padded out of her room. Then she sneaked down the stairs, finally quietly opening the door and darting away. Objects were flying past her line of view, but when the air suddenly got fresher and branches were whacking in her face, she knew she was entering the woods.
Sounds were echoing throughout the woods. She had to admit it, she had never been in the woods at night, and it was actually quite frightening. She tightened the cloak around herself and shivered. Maybe she shouldn't have sneaked away, or maybe she should have gathered warmer clothes. But she shrugged. It was too late now -- she had gone far enough, and Emmaline wasn't just about to give up.
The rushing sounds of the river was getting louder and louder as Emmaline waked, as calmly as she could, through the woods. Squawks and hoots came from every corner, twigs snapped, and trees shuddered from the passing wind. Wings flapped suddenly, and Emmaline gasped with fear and fell on her back. Talons were sinking into her skin, what felt like a beak pecked at her forehead, and feathers stung like whips as they swung around. And then, as sudden as it had come, it was gone.
Emmaline shook her head with wonder and straightened out her long black air and clothing. She took a band and twisted her hair into a neat, spiky bundle and continued her trip through the forest.
Soon enough, Emmaline was beside the Rhinestone River. She sat down and stared across as she always had the years she lived beside the woods. Ever since her father died or got lost or whatever . . . well, her mother moved and of course, Emmaline had to come and . . . she couldn't even remember him. Emmaline shook her head vigorously to escaped from the sorrowful thoughts clouding her mind, when she heard a familiar squawk. It was the bird that had run into her halfway through the woods. What was it doing, following her or something?
"Get lost, birdbrains!" Emmaline shouted, her soft gray ears flat on her head.
"Oh, really?" came an amused voice. Emmaline stumbled, shocked. "You . . . you . . . speak?" she replied.
"Of course I do!" the voice seemed rather offended, "What do you think I am, your prey? I'm actually part human, you know."
"And . . . so am I . . .?! You're . . . you're . . . but it's against . . .!" Emmaline stuttered with utter disbelief.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm breakin' the rules. So what?" the squawk shot back. There was a flutter of black feathers and the DNA Hume-Bird(Raven) was on the ground, flashing his teeth and winking playfully. When he opened his eyes, Emmaline saw that they were red. She couldn't quite make him out in the dark, but as far as she could see, he had gray skin, instead of arms he had glossy black wings, and long, feathery black hair. He was wearing dark and colorless garments.
"Well, it's breaking the rules! That's . . . it's . . ."
"Not right? I get that a lot. But by breaking the rules, I get to have adventure and stuff!"
"But don't you get in trouble and . . . stuff?"
"Nah, I try to stay out of sight. Yet I can see that you're the type that breaks rules, too, and of course you would never betray me, eh?"
"Betray . . . --! What?!" Emmaline scoffed. 'How did I get into this?' she thought.
"You need to have a dictionary with you or what?! Come on!" the new guy chuckled, "Either way, the name's Axel. You?"
She didn't know why she told this stranger, but she said, "Emmaline."
"Interesting name," Axel sniffed, "Now, would you like to go with me to the tiger place across this river or what?"
"Well," This was what she wanted, right? But did she really want to get stuck with this Axel-guy? Emmaline couldn't believe that she agreed, but she did, and that was all that mattered.
And then they were across the river.
