Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu (Bret Rudnick) Subject: [VampQ] Sibling Rivalry Message-ID: Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1993 20:22:31 GMT ============================================================= [VampQ]: Sibling Rivalry [Admin]: A side-post to the VampQ thread written by Bluestar Dreamer for Gemini the Cat Synopsis: Separated by a magical storm, the adventurers in search of the Vampire Orchid are attacked on various fronts. This is Gemini's Story. ============================================================= [Rain!] Gemini said mentally, [I hate Rain!] The orange-striped cat crouched under a bush, trying to avoid the damp weather. The drizzling rain had started soon after Bluestar, Gemini's elven master, and the other members of the quest had left the city. The cat started to lick himself clean, but, as if on command, the drizzle turned into a full-fledged storm. The underbrush was no longer an acceptable shelter. [Bluestar!] Gemini called telepathically, [I am cold. I am wet. I am dirty! Can I come back now?] No response. [Bluestar?] the cat called again. Still there was no response from his partner(the cat refused to admit that the elf was in control). [Fine!] Gemini said projecting his annoyance, [Tell me to 'go scout ahead' and then refuse to talk to me. Two could play this game.] A few minutes past and still no thought from Blue came to the cat. That's when Gemini realized something was wrong. Nothing, emotion or thought, was coming from his friend. With a grim thought to the rain, Gemini struggled out from the undergrowth and scampered quickly up a nearby tree. With ears perked in the direction of the party, the feline struggled to hear the adventurers over the howling wind. At first, nothing made it over the stormy weather. Then a stray wind brought the sounds of clashing swords to the cat's sharp ears. Without hesitation, Gemini dove from the tree and shot down the trail he had come by. [I'm on my way, Blue!] the cat called ahead although it went unheard. The storm worsened, threatening to blow the small cat off his trail but Gemini was a sleek arrow now, skimming fast and low over the terrain. Until a black shadow jumped from the woodline, and tripped the bolting cat. Gemini rolled to his feet, and came up with his back arched and a hiss on his breath. Another cat sat facing Gemini, calmly licking its paw. "Is that any way to greet your brother?" the cat spoke in the feline language. "Draco?" Gemini said, suspicious of his older sibling's appearance. A quick sniff of the black-furred, golden-eyed feline told Gemini that it was truly his brother. "What are you doing here?" "Why," Draco said smugly, "I have come to end your play." Gemini hissed at the threat on his life. Draco hated Gemini because out of the entire litter, Gemini was the only one who could, and did, stand up against the bullying first son. "How did you get here?" Gemini knew the cat had not followed him and Bluestar all the way from his home in the realms. "Like you," Draco answered," I have found a wizard-partner as well. When I found out you were in the party he was attacking with this 'storm', I asked him to allow me to handle you personally." Draco did not wait to finish his sentence. The black cat sprung in mid-word. But when he landed, Draco's claws and fangs found nothing but air. Gemini had dodged to the side and stood in a low, defensive crouch. "Don't you ever learn any new tricks, Brother?" Gemini hissed. Draco yowled in anger and dove for the orange cat again. Instead of dodging, Gemini met his sibling in mid-leap. The two cat quickly became a yowling, hissing ball of claws, fangs, and fur. When the two felines separated, Both were covered in blood and scratches. The two eyed each other, exchanging hissed taunts. Then Draco spoke, "I have learned a new trick, Brother...Iesaw!" The word that Draco spoke was not feline, but magic. Gemini watched in horror as the black cat grew, becoming the size of a mountain lion. A curse hissed from Gemini's fanged mouth. "Now, Little Brother. Your play will end." "No!" Gemini hissed, "I still have games to play!" And, like his bigger brother, Gemini did not wait to finish but dove straight at the towering cat. Draco went for the charging cat, but misjudged the orange cat's intent. As Draco crouched to bite at the coming feline, Gemini leapt into over the lion-sized head, found purchase on his brother's enlarged back. Digging his claws in, the smaller cat leapt high into the trees. Draco howled in anger and jumped up after Gemini. Draco made the leap easily, but Gemini knew he would. An orange paw shot out, slashing the enlarged feline's face as it landed on the branch. Blood stung Draco's golden eyes for a moment, giving the smaller cat a few extra seconds as he dived into the underbrush, where his small size was an advantage. Draco pawed the blood from his eye. Seeing where Gemini had run to, Draco went to follow, not thinking of his magical size. The large cat found himself immediately stuck in a thorn bush that Gemini had ducked under. The black feline cursed his luck until an idea crossed his mind. Gemini darted quickly through the undergrowth, staying as low to the ground as possible. His ears were turned back to listen for signs of pursuit. But none came. Suddenly Gemini came to a small clearing. "Damn!" The small cat hissed to himself. His ears perked and swiveled, straining to hear a sound from his brother. Nothing came to him. Crossing the clearing was dangerously open, but going around could give his brother time to catch up. Gemini decided to go for it. "Play the Game!" he mewed to himself as he darted into the clearing. Half way across, a large black shadow landed in front of him. Draco had kept up by going from tree to tree. Gemini tried to dodge, but a big paw slammed him back across the clearing. Gemini's side was nearly torn open by the lion-sized claws. "Good Bye, Brother," Draco purred as he approached his fallen sibling. Gemini struggled to get to his feet but failed. Suddenly the storm that had been raging was completely gone, leaving no signs that it was ever there. Draco looked up at the sky and yowled. Gemini could hear his psychic call. [No, Master! Not Now!] But the call was unanswered, and the black lion-sized cat began to fade from view. Golden eyes cast a scornful gaze at the wounded Gemini. [Next Time, Brother, I will win the Game.] Gemini manage to find some strength and struggled to his feet. Limping badly, he forced himself to find Blue and the others. After traveling what seemed to be too short of distance, although the cat was not conscious enough to notice, Gemini stumbled into the clearing. "Bluestar!" Ja'nis cried, pointing, "Your cat!" Blue rushed to the fallen cat, pushing Ja'nis out of the way, and cradled Gemini in his arms. "Gemini?" he said softly and the mentally, [Gemini?] A sluggish response nudged Blue's mind. [I hate Rain!] ============================================================ -- |----------B. Rudnick -- e-mail: rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu --------| |--------------------------------------------------------------------| | All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream -- E.A. Poe | |--------------------------------------------------------------------|