RENEGADES - Horizon's Story

[MysteriouslyMaple]

RENEGADES

CHAPTER ONE

    Horizon was jerked awake from his nap as he felt a paw slam into his side. The tasmanian devil shook his head as he tried to get air back in his lungs before he glared up at the person who woke him. Oh. He cowered back at the sight of Dante, a large cat hybrid with orange fur. His pelt was dotted with white spots, almost giving him the appearance of a whale shark. Or at least that's what Dante told him that's what the pattern was, since that's what he was a hybrid of. Something like that; Horizon didn't remember the specifics.
    "Hey, Dante," Horizon said, trying to give the hybrid a smile. He tried to sit up as much as he possibly could with Dante looming over him, trying to remember how his father told him to respond if one of his higher ups came after him. Sit up straight. The devil told himself. Look them in the eyes. Show no fear. That was a little bit hard, considering how massive and intimidating Dante was, but Horizon forced himself to swallow back his worries as he stared up at the hybrid.
    "Emperor Caesar requests your presence." Dante's voice was rough and cold, just like the gaze he was giving the small tasmanian devil at his paws. Horizon couldn't help but feel a prickle of fear at the mention of that.
    "Did-did I do something?" The little devil asked, frowning at Dante. The strange creature only shook his head and turned around, clearly not in the mood for questions. Horizon bit his lip slightly, although he was careful due to the venomous fangs that were starting to grow in. They actually had been growing in for a while, ever since he got weaned. They weren't quite fully grown yet but he still had a feeling they held venom in them. Tasmanian devils didn't naturally have such things and Caesar had said that it was a mutation. Horizon didn't entirely mind them though, and in fact, he was glad he got a mutation. It meant he was special!

    Horizon followed after Dante, waddling as fast as he could to keep up with the much older male. Thoughts were swirling in his head as he tried to come up with reasons his father would want him, but he couldn't come up with something that would ease his beating heart. I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything wrong, Horizon thought to himself with a frown. Caesar usually didn't request his presence like this and usually visited at night whenever he didn't have meetings to attend to. But with it being around sun-high, Horizon didn't know why his father would want him. Horizon let out a huff as he ran into Dante's shark-shaped tail, shaking his head again as he recovered from that brief moment of air being forced out of his lungs.
    "Wait here." Dante spoke, his torn left ear flicking as he stared down at Horizon with one eye before he entered Caesar's Throne Room. Before Horizon could try and peek into the room, his father appeared before the door, his black eyes shining with happiness as he looked down at his son.
    "Ah, Horizon, my boy!" The purr Caesar let out was a little awkward-sounding, but Horizon didn't mind it too much. He knew his father didn't really feel this much joy a whole lot, not with dealing with the issues of being King. He hasn't been the same since Mother died, either. Horizon thought. His mother was a tasmanian devil like him, unlike Caesar, who was a feline. But Horizon knew his father was a demon and therefore had strange abilities like shapeshifting. Horizon didn't understand why Caesar just didn't stay as a tasmanian devil, but that was mostly because he was comfortable in his body. Besides, there were way too many cats in the Kingdom! Horizon wasn't sure if he would want to became a cat if he had the ability to.

    Horizon's thoughts were interrupted as Caesar nuzzled his cheek, and the little devil pulled away, sticking out his tongue at his father. "Dad!" Horizon whined. "I'm too old for that!"
    Caesar chuckled at this, the corners of his lips curling to form a small smile. "Oh? Is that so?" He said, his whiskers twitching. Horizon gave a stiff nod in return, glaring playfully at Caesar.
      "And how old are you, Horizon?" Caesar tilted his head, though Horizon knew that he was only joking around. What father wouldn't know how old their child was? Horizon rolled his eyes before he answered, "Six moons, Dad."
    Caesar's eyes widened and his ears pricked at his son's answer. "Six moons!" He let out a fake gasp, which only made Horizon shake his head in amusement. "Do you know what what means?"

Horizon blinked in surprise at the question, a wave of confusion flooding over him. Six moons... He didn't become six moons today; it wasn't his birthday. "No?" His answer was a question rather than a statement, since he truly had no idea what Caesar was getting at.
    "Why, that means you can attend my Trials!" Caesar responded, looking excited at this announcement. He had a wide grin on his face now, his tail waving back and forth on the ground, almost as if he was a dog. Horizon perked up at his father's reply, his red eyes shining. "Do you really mean it?" He asked, practically shaking in excitement now. He's heard of his father's trials before and how his father never lost one. "Can I attend the Arenas, too?"
    Caesar tilted his head at this question, almost as if he was considering it. "Do you think you're ready for one?" He asked, his grin slowly moving to form a concerned frown. Horizon was shocked by his response but he wasn't going to let his father's worry bring his happiness down. "Yes, I do!" He exclaimed, which earned that smile back on Caesar's face.
    "I think you should experience a trial first." Caesar responded with a chuckle. "So whaddya say, Horizon? I have a trial coming up in about ten minutes, do you want to attend?"

    Horizon nodded quickly to answer his father, who once again chuckled and shook his head in amusement.
    "Go get ready, then. Meet me back here as soon as you're ready. Make it quick, though." Caesar told him. Horizon didn't need to be told twice, and the devil quickly whipped around and raced back towards his room, barely dodging those who were passing by. Horizon's heart pounded in his chest as he ran back to his room, excitement filling his entire body. He couldn't wait to be apart of one of his father's Trials! Caesar had never lost one, according to rumors and Horizon was absolutely honored to be invited to one. Maybe he could eventually help out, like Dante does! I'll be the best prosecutor there ever was! The devil thought to himself as he made a sharp turn into his room. I'm sure of it.