Felion: The Eve of Freedom (Chapter One)

CHAPTER ONE

~Ingrid~

I clambered among the rocky shallows of the stream, searching. It was close. It had to be close. The cold, numbing pond water trickling over my paws, scraped by jagged stones, I grimaced. I raised a leg and wiped off some blood on a nearby bed of moss.
Then I saw it. The Evealot Training Court. It was close.
Ignoring the sharp, spreading pains, I eagerly trudged along. My legs became stiff and I waddled into the glassy-watered bay and out of the stream.
I spread my numb legs apart, bowed, and shook my wet pelt. After proceeding to roll in the grass a bit (giving me a "fresh" scent), I stretched to relax my aching muscles. My silky, dried coat waved to the golden-pink sky as a sweet evening breeze blew past.
I dragged myself up a hill, where the tall foliage bent the horizon's light into my sensitive eyes. "Ack!" I cried, drawing myself back. I avoided the sunset's death glare and plodded on.
Then I heard a voice from above. "Hey there, Princess."
I smirked back. "Hey there, Storm."
A silver-blue tom slunk down from a tree to greet me. We rubbed noses and laughed. "So... where ya headed this time??"
I grinned at him. "You know, that knight place."
Storm sighed, slowly wagging his head. His tone was warning and reluctant."Don't do this, Ingrid..."
"Chillax! I'll be fine."
"But what would the queen-"
"Hey!" I interrupted, my fluffy tail covering Storm's mouth. "Mother won't know."
"You've got a disguise?"
"Sorta."
I bounded ahead, pelt brushing against shrubs and thistles. Soon my coat was dense and tangled. "Perfect," I mewed under my breath, pleased. "Mother will never know."

The knights were performing the art of pouncing in a royal tournament when I appeared. The Evealot Training Court was crowded at this time of day, and Storm had to cower in the bushes to watch me.
I lunged into the arena like a raccoon chasing trout upstream. No one saw me coming... except for Sir Malfus, my favorite knight, whom I slammed into while in mid-air. We both crashed to the ground.
I rose shakily out of excitement, trying to keep my muzzle from forming a smile. I stared down at Sir Malfus, who snarled at me. His alarming amber eyes were threatening indeed.
The crowd gaped in astonishment. A chorus of whispers broke out among them. I was panting from the pounce, and Sir Malfus took this short rest as his cue to pin me.
We both tumbled around in the dirt, hissing and nipping at each other, and just as he had a firm grip on my ear, a muddy white tom padded up to us. The stout, tangle-furred knight eyed me curiously yet cautiously. With my hind legs I pushed Sir Malfus off of me, and he released my ear.
"What is the meaning of this!" huffed the fluffy white tom. "Who are you?!"
Three more knights, who I recognized as Sir Sallivus, Sir Arabus, and Sir Lagrabarus padded up to the three of us. Hackles raised, Sir Sallivus growled at me. He stepped closer and closer until I could feel his hot breath on my face. "Yes. Who are you?"
It was time to straighten up and tone down. Deepening my voice, I puffed out my chest and declared, "I am Sir Maragrabarus!"
Then I took a quick glance at the bushes, where I saw Storm frowning in disgust.
"Sir Fallus. Sniff him," commanded Sir Sallivus.
The muddy white knight crept closer to me, closing his eyes to catch a whiff of my freshly-cut-grass scent. He backed away suddenly, turning his nose up.
Sir Arabus sneered at me. "So... he is a knight." The silver tom poked my matted chest with his dark grey left paw. "So, Sir... Maragrablahblahblah... what kingdom do you originate from? Are you traveling? And why be so disrespectful as to interrupt a seasonal tournament such as this?"
Again, I was ready.
I drew myself up, tail swishing gracefully in the air. Nobly I stepped forward and answered:
"I was once a fugitive, exiled from my own Mutiny, roaming the faraway islands of Nya, when I happened upon Sorceress Nymph's Tears. Nymph has trained me well and sent me to the lovely kingdom of Evealot in hopes of completing my fulfillment as a full-time knight."
Sir Arabus rolled his glassy azure eyes at me, but Sir Malfus nudged him aside and turned to me. "I see you would like to join our band. Are you worthy of this position?"
I nodded eagerly. "Nymph definitely believes so."
"Very well then," said Sir Sallivus, stepping in. "We will just have to see what the queen thinks."
My eyes widened and I froze until turning to the bushes, where I caught Storm gaping at me with that "you-are-in-so-much-trouble-and-I-told-you-so" look. I grimaced slightly, looked back at the knights and nodded slowly. "Yes! That's... perfect..." I giggled nervously.
My mother could not know I, the princess of Evealot, was disguised as a royal knight! The kingdom may have been fooled but my mother knew my ambitions. She knew my yearning for an unladylike position well, and was nothing but against it.
She also did not know of my friendship with a member of the Mutiny- Storm.

~Storm~
I felt empathy for my struggling friend. I knew she would be in deep toadcrud if confronted by Queen Sapphire. I needed to help her somehow.
Then I thought of the perfect idea.
"Everyone! Over here!!" I hollered, making myself as noticeable as possible. The crowd stared at me and everyone began hissing at once. Some began to chase after me as they realized I was part of the Mutiny. It was time to disappear, and the last thing I saw was Ingrid's blushing face.
Priceless.

~Queen Sapphire~
I nervously glanced around the cave, gnawing at my lower lip. Where was Kara? And more importantly, where was Ingrid??
Oh dear... nothing was going well. After Ingrid had disappeared this morning, I began worrying myself sick. She usually sped off on her own adventures in the glen on brisk evenings such as this, but something told me she was getting into trouble today.
The knot of anxiety sitting in the pit of my stomach caused me to hack, so I decided not to attend the tournament. No... too much noise. And Ingrid enjoyed it! Ah, such foolish behavior for a lass. Ladies were too fragile for that sort of rough-housing. At least Kara had turned out a normal princess.
Not that I didn't care for Ingrid. She was strong and clever and beautiful and imaginative... but still clumsy, reckless, and tomboyish. Difficult, you could say.
Suddenly the knights barged into my cave. I stiffened in shock, hackles raised, but I was soon calmed by Sir Arabus's sweet and gentle voice (I always thought he would be just perfect for Ingrid, but unfortunately my oldest daughter is not seeking her paw in marriage just yet).
"Queen Sapphire, there is a new knight waiting for your approval to join our company. He was trained by Sorceress Nymph's Tears, and has come a long way to prove himself worthy."
I nodded daintily, straightening myself. "Yes. Do bring him in."

~Ingrid~
I was forced into my mother's den by surrounding knights and guards.
I knew my plot would fail...