Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 31: Something Beyond Our Own Existence

September 14th, YOE 35

7:44 AM Abandoned Stronghold (World Three)

“Point two to point one." 

“Point one here. Go ahead Biff." A grizzled wolf said to his subordinate.

“Sir Wolf, your hunch was correct this was a storage area for that outfit that was providing support to second class citizens."

“Did you find anything?"

“Looper, Dusty, Naka and myself combed the row of businesses on this street including this building. It looks like they cleared out before our arrival; like they knew we were coming."

“Like they are one step ahead of us." Naka said hijacking Biff's transmission to Sir Wolf.

Biff cut his eyes at the junior knight who had overstepped his bounds. 

“Err…. I will double check the perimeter." The maned wolf said walking away.

“This is becoming comical." The senior knight lamented.

“Sir Wolf?" Biff asked.

“It is a game of cat and mouse. We discover, we chase and when we are about to pounce they run and hide only to set up elsewhere."

“We need to hurry up and figure out who 'they' are." Biff replied as he was joined by Dusty and Looper.

“It is a dry well."

“Nothing here."

“Very well grab junior and let's head back." Biff ordered.

Naka made another walkthrough the building except for a small deck of playing cards he had found in one of the offices, there was nothing. Interesting looking deck though.

“Hey junior! Let's go!" Dusty called out to Naka.

“Right! Coming!"

9:30 AM Song's Flower Emporium.

 “And so Biff, Looper, Dusty and I raided the enemy stronghold trying to find…"

“The same individuals that would have taken your life if Song and I hadn't intervened?" The brown haired preteen asked staring down the junior knight.

“Well yes Kiwi. Thank you, thank you for saving my life. You too Song." The maned wolf said blushing.

“You know your life belongs to me now right?" The boy said, staring down the beastial.

Who seemed rather unnerved at the prospect.

“But your friendship is compensation enough." Song said, breaking the awkward moment. “What did you and the other knights find?"

“Only these playing cards." Naka said placing the deck on the counter for the human boy and beautiful chakat to see. 

“Doesn't seem to be anything special about them." Song said as the maned wolf opened up the packaging laying them on the counter one by one. There were six in all.

“Looks like a small deck. I do like the black, white and oval designs though." Kiwi said picking up the one nearest to him. As he did it activated triggering a holo-projection.

07:00:01 Video log begin Riz Site reporting. 

The location: A strange planet near our sector where the days are thirty six hours long. The sky is multicolored for reasons not fully understood and the landscape varies in size and scope from giant forests to arid drylands. 

The mission: To observe a primitive tribal society inhabiting this world. I and my team have arrived undetected and have established a hidden outpost to observe our targets. We hope that it may help us learn more about ourselves before the advent of our technology.

“What is this?" Kiwi asked dropping the card.

“It looks to be some type of video journal." Naka said touching the card adjacent to Kiwi's. Nothing happened. He then picked it up and placed on the boy's palm. The second card activated.

09:05:02 Video log Riz Site reporting.

“We have started observing our targets. They appear to be a race of feline warriors adept at scavenging, tracking and hunting and fighting. The group we have been observing appear to be some sort of tribe an off-shoot of a much larger whole.

We are still trying to decipher their language and writing. If that is accomplished it will allow us to better understand them."

“A video journal from some off world anthropologists." Song said to Naka. “This is a very big find."

“But how did it make its way to Counter Earth?" Kiwi asked.

“Let's keep watching." The junior knight said handing the boy the next video card.

11:29:03 Video log Riz Site reporting.

“Major breakthrough today! We have learned their language! The race of felines call themselves the S'mar and they inhabit this immediate area of the planet they call Chaundoon. They are a handsome group of bipedal felines with minimal clothing, very minimal. They are organized into five tribes. Each inhabits an area. The tribe we have been following calls themselves the Purna."

“Minimal clothing? They might as well be naked." Kiwi observed as Riz inserted a few pictures taken of the tribe in his video journal.

“They are very handsome." The chakat said studying the images intently.

“Moving along." Naka replied.

13:33:04 Video log Riz Site reporting.

“My team and myself were nearly discovered today by the pride. They are expert trackers. We had to use our technology to hide ourselves and our outpost. Despite their looks, the felines are aggressive, barbaric and very war-like attacking neighboring prides for resources they lack. The pride that nearly made us was fighting another for water rights."

“Very tribal." Naka said to Kiwi and Song.

“Sounds like they are just realizing how dangerous their assignment can be." The chatkat said observing the image projected from the card.

15:45:05 Video log Riz Site reporting.

“Something bizarre happened today. Our research was interrupted by two bi-pedal caprines a male and female. First bipedal felines now caprines? The universe is indeed strange and bizarre! Anyway, they seemingly appeared out of nowhere! They claimed they were time travelers from afar trying to avert some apocalypse that had happened to their planet Counter Earth. We offered them food, water, shelter and supplies. We listened to their story and it was fantastical."

“Time travelers from Counter Earth?" Song interjected.

“Trying to avert an apocalypse what apocalypse?" Kiwi said moving on to the last card in the set.

“Perhaps it was averted?" The junior knight theorized.

17:55:06 Video log Riz Site reporting.

“We should have never trusted these time travelers. Time pirates would be a more accurate description! They rewarded our kindness and charity with deception and treachery. They stole our technology, exposing this outpost to the S'mar tribe we have been observing thus destroying our research project!

Many of my staff are dead, the feline warriors are moving in now to finish off those who are left. I managed to affix a tracer orb to them as they departed. If I manage to survive this I vow I will follow those two Hell for what they have done!"

“Riz! We have company!"

The log ended as these lion/tiger/jaguar/panther warriors with weapons in paw converged on the remaining scientists in the research station. One in particular loomed over Mr. Site who was heard saying “Um, hi!" Before the video log abruptly ended- violently.

“What did we just see?" Kiwi asked the maned wolf and chakat.

“I don't know." Naka replied.

To Be Continued….

[MEANWHILE]

September 14th, YOE 35

7:44 AM Sky City?? (Chaundoon)

“Happy birthday Kiwi." A brown haired woman in a full length bodysuit said greeting the brown haired preteen in his bed.

“Mom?" Mr. Goodfellow said stirring.

“Hey happy birthday slugger!" A brown haired man said joining the woman.

“Dad?" Kiwi said groggily rubbing his eyes.

“Are you going to lie there in bed all day?" His mother asked. “On your special day of all days?"

“Um…"

“Hurry up and get dressed! Everyone is downstairs and waiting!" His father added.

“Everyone?" The boy asked confused.

“EVERYONE!"

Kiwi jumped out of bed, ran down the hallway and peeked into his living room. His parents were right! His best friend Joey was sitting on the couch, their mutual friend Sarah was there. Next to her was Siroc that tiger girl he could never beat during track. But wait, why was Mooga the school bully here? The hippo always went out of his way to pick on Kiwi.

“Well if it isn't the birthday boy! Late for his own party too!" Mooga shouted singling out Kiwi who was still in his pajamas.

“Hi everyone!"

“Come here, I have a special present for you!" Mooga said ushering the boy forward into the room. 

*ULP*

“What is that Mooga?"

“HEAD-CRUSH!" The hippo shouted as he put the preteen into a headlock.

Everyone present started laughing, much to Kiwi's embarrassment. 

“Ouch, quit it!!" Kiwi shouted as he was spun around. He watched all the smiling laughing faces being entertained at his expense. How embarrassing!

As the humiliation continued Kiwi tried to turn away from it but he couldn't he watched as the faces of his friends started dissolving. Wait, what? Sarah, Joey, Siroc their faces, no their bodies started melting into… multicolored gumdrops like beings- large ones. They looked like something between a gel and slime. But with a single eye, small antennae and goopy, gloppy limbs that could retract and disappear within their bodies and then reappear. 

“AHH!!!" Kiwi screamed.

“Alright Song this is the proper way to construct a garden." A distinguished grey chakat wearing a green shirt with a yellow bonnet announced to his daughter. “You dig a hole, say this deep- then drop a seed in it, cover it with soil then water it."

“Ok daddy." A very young chakat responded to the older.

“Repeat this procedure row after row column after column and with a little love and a little time you will have a garden."

“Right!" The youngster said.

(Wow, my first garden. Thank you daddy.) 

“Don't forget to fertilize it every now and again." Her father advised. “I will make a gardener out of you yet."

“How did you learn to plant plants?" Song asked the grey chakat.

“You see, it was them."

“Them who?" The young chakat asked looking at the elder chakat whose fur seemed to be melting. “Those guys over there." 

Song looked at who her father was pointing to. She noticed these five muliti-colored gum drop looking beings- with a single eye, small antennae and goopy oozing limbs watching them from the neighboring yard.

“Oh dear it looks like I am one of them!" 

Song's gaze returned back to her father as his fur melted off, he became a yellow gum drop looking being with a single eye, small antennae and goopy limbs.

“Aiee!!!!" Song screamed.

“All right Naka have a seat." The grizzled old woof ordered.

“Wow this office is small." The maned wolf said sitting down in front of the brown mahogany desk. On the other side was his supervisor.

“Junior knight Naka." Sir Wolf began.

“This is not going to be a routine evaluation is it sir?"

“Don't interrupt."

“Sorry sir."

“Your performance over the last quarter has been below average. At this point you should have leveled up to performing at the very least."

“Oh." Naka sighed.

“You seem to be competent, but over eager. You follow orders- mostly. But your work quality is very shaky. That causes me to wonder is there something wrong in your life? Perhaps at home?"

“Sir?" Naka asked for clarification from the grey grizzled wolf whose fur seemed to be shedding. No, he was transforming!

“Is there some type of disruption in your work-life balance?" Sir Wolf asked.

“Well no, there is no mate or cubs if that is what you mean sir." Naka responded noticing that his superior did not look quite right. He blinked, one time, two times and even three times. It wasn't getting any better.

“That is the problem, you don't have any balance." The grey goopy gum drop replied. “This job can take a lot out of you and then some. You need to find a counterbalance on your downtime."

Naka just stared at the thing talking to him on the other side of the desk.

“Junior knight Naka? Is there something wrong?" The gum drop creature asked.

*GASP*

The maned wolf was awakened by the screams of Song and Kiwi.

“Song, Kiwi are you there?" The wolf called out.

“I am stuck." The chakat asked. “Where are we?!"

“The place I told you about." The couple's preteen said quivering.

“You were right it is cold and dark." The knight replied. “But different this time."

“How so Naka?"

“We are together." He replied.

“But elevated." Song observed. “It is like we have been glued to a wall."

“Song, Naka I am scared."

“I know Kiwi. We all are." The chakat said to her boy. “How long have we been like this?"

“I don't know Song." Naka replied.

“We can also move. I couldn't do that my first time here." Their boy observed.

“It has something to do with the power bracelets we are wearing, they counter-acted the globs immobilization. But the rest of this is different."

“What do you mean Naka?" Kiwi asked.

“Lady Ursa and Alex reported being stripped naked and placed into some sort of sphere- I am still clothed."

“As am I." Song observed. “I still have the knife you gave me."

“Naka do you still have your sword?" Mr. Goodfellow asked. 

“Yes. What do you say we make sure that those who are responsible for the abductions can never abduct again?" Naka said as he started to cut through the brown gunk that had affixed him, Song and Kiwi to the wall.

After freeing himself, he moved onto the chakat and then Kiwi.

“Naka… Song…" Their boy called out to them. “It is so dark."

“Here." The chakat said offering her paw while the maned wolf was determining what direction they should go. There were tunnels everywhere.

“It's okay Kiwi I am going to make sure this doesn't happen to you or anyone else ever again." The wolf growled.

“I don't think this is the right call Naka." Song whispered. The comment brought the trio to a dead stop.

“Why Song?"

“We don't know where we are." The female beastial observed.

“Sure we do. We are in the enemy's stronghold."

“We don't know how many there are or what they are capable of. Perhaps a better plan would be to flee?" The chakat suggested.

“I disagree Song. You saw what they did to our boy and many others. Hell, they re-abducted him again for what? A follow-up visit?! What if they do it again? When does this end?"

“I see your point, but we are just three against how many? And remember our boy is with us!"

“Lady Ursa and Alex Winter said that the globs inhabited a city in the sky, one that none of the knight core was able to find again after they escaped." Naka said thinking out loud. 

The former leader of the nomadic colony considered his former second in command's counsel very carefully for the moment.

“I see a light up ahead." He said deciding for the three of them.

“That makes one of us." Kiwi said trembling.

“It is alright." Song said trying to calm her preteen down.

The trio emerged from a tunnel into a central cavern.

“This does not look like any city I have ever seen." Kiwi observed.

“We are in some type of cave system." Song whispered. “One with a platform in its center?"

“That looks familiar… like the one for the space gate near the central hanger in World Seven." The maned wolf observed.

“There's more space gates?" Kiwi asked his guardians.

*WUUUUUUUUUUUUD*

The trio watched as something materialized on the platform.

It had a large mouth with big lips, red eyes, pointed nose, green skin, suction cup paws and wore black bottom-were. “It is one of those walking leech creatures that attacked the sand folk's village." Kiwi gasped.

“Judging by it's height a youngster." Song observed. “Probably not much older than you."

No sooner had it appeared on the platform three Chado appeared behind it, taking it away.

“Finally some friendly faces!" Kiwi shouted approaching the black creatures.

“Kiwi no!" Naka said trying to grab his boy. The wolf beastial was too slow. He and his feline watched as the preteen approached the three Chado only to be taken and carried off as well.

“Naka." Song said quieting her beau.

The preteen's guardians found him and the walking leech plastered to a wall of an adjoining cave.

“I thought the Chado were our friends! They allowed us to emigrate to Chaundoon!" Kiwi protested.

“I don't know, perhaps they were just using us." The maned wolf said as he started cutting his charge down from the brown goo that he was affixed to the wall in. “I thought the globs Ursa and Alex saw were behind the abductions."

“It doesn't add up." Song said hugging Kiwi after he was cut free. “Let's get out of here."

*scree*

“Naka, Song." Mr. Goodfellow said motioning to the young walking leech next to him.

“What of it?" The knight said.

“He is just as scared as I am. If we leave him he will be alone as well."

“Do it." Song ordered.

“Sh… be quiet." The brown haired preteen said as he freed the terrified leech.

The creature hugged Kiwi upon his release.

“Whoa easy there!" The wolf growled. “You better not be draining him!"

“It's alright Naka." Their boy advised he was just happy to be free.

“You know those things suck the moisture out of their victims like some sort of vampire right?"

“Reports from the attack on Duchess Jua's village?" The chakat asked her beau.

“Yes."

“Remember the stone folk were under the effects of the dark moon. I suspect the leech folk were too." Song surmised.

“Okay change of plan." Naka said scenting the air. 

“We escape and report this?" The beautiful chakat asked.

“This way." Naka said, guiding his family. 

“The Chado are going to have a lot of explaining to do." The preteen grumbled.

As they made their way through the cave system towards the exit, they saw many of the planet's species who had become the Chado's victims marsh folk, mud folk, tree folk, stone folk, mer folk and even a tribe of what appeared to be half ogre half lion creatures all plastered to the walls of the cave.

“A lot of explaining." Kiwi said under his breath.

The four continued down the cave tunnel where they felt the wind coming from the outside as they approached what they thought was the exit; the walking leech came to a dead stop.

“What is it?" Naka asked. 

“Cli- Cliff." The creature responded.

The maned wolf peered over the edge. This stronghold was in some high mountainous range that neither Song, Kiwi or Naka were familiar with.

“Well that is a dead end." Song said.

“How useful are those suction cup paws of yours?" Kiwi asked the leech.

It looked at its paws and foot paws and shook its head.

“I think the only way in and out of here is that platform we saw." The maned wolf grumbled.

“Naka?" Song asked, reaching for his arm.

“He means to use it to get us out of here." Kiwi added. 

“It is going to be dangerous, but I think we have an advantage." The maned wolf said looking at the young green humanoid leech.

9:30 AM S'mar Nation (Three Rivers Pride's Territory)

Personal journal. It has been six months since I became a member of the Three Rivers Pride on some distant planet elsewhere in the universe… became being a relative term. The leader of said pride declared that my life was his then captured and made me his slave. 

Well at least I have a roof over my head, water, four meals a day and protection from all the bad nasty stuff out there that would have ended my life shortly after my arrival on this world… But then again I and my coworker perform menial tasks that the others in the pride would rather not do.

I suppose I could have made a run for it and left this tribe of savage warriors at the first opportunity I got, but it was because of a rash decision- trying to leave Counter Earth for what I thought was a better Counter Earth that I wound up here in the first place. I guess I need to stop doing that. Besides, this planet is so bizarre and weird I wouldn't be able to survive on my own.

There are some other perks though, my master the leader of these lion/tiger/leopard/jaguar felines is vicious, diabolical and calculating but also so damn hot!

One of my duties is to bathe this magnanimous feline, touch his ripped abs, rub all of his spots, feel his soft fur, stroke his tail, pet his cute ears and grope his magnificent ass! If that isn't all, I get to sleep with all that every night! I guess I am falling in love.

Anyway, conditions on the planet have been going downhill ever since. No one knows why. It seems to have gotten worse in the past few weeks. The Three Rivers Pride, my pride was not immune; we have lost warriors to disease, fantastical creatures that we thought were myth, other prides and warfare and then there was the chieftain of an enemy pride that showed up on our doorstep….

“Naomi, how long are you going to play with your bracelet? We have chores to perform!" The female with the big breasts and wide butt announced to her freckled co-worker.

“I was just recording my thoughts." The teen announced.

“Is that safe? What if you can't get them back?" Annette asked.

“It is not what you think." Naomi said following her friend to visit the hut where the acting leader of Kenja Pride was being held.

“I swear one of these mornings I am going to put a little something extra in her food just to spice things up."

“ANNETTE! It would look very bad if Bow was poisoned on our watch."

“Who said it had to be poison?" The female feline with a flower in her hair said slyly.

Naomi just face-palmed. Although she understood the rivalry between the prides of the S'mar nation, the fact that they all couldn't live in peace was still something she couldn't entirely wrap her head around.

The sky was a multitude of colors that morning, yellow, red, orange, very strange even for Chaundoon. Very weird even for Chaundoon.

As Naomi and Annette approached the hut where the Kenja Pride chieftain was being held, they noticed that there wasn't a line. Perhaps the tribe's males had finished with the prisoner? 

As they reached the door and prepared to walk inside, they realized not everyone of the tribes males was done with Bow, Pestle the tribe's witch doctor was conducting a very personal examination right at that moment.

*UNFF* *UNFF* *UNFF* *UNFF* 

Naomi watched with perverse fascination as the thin male's butt gyrated with his thrusts deep within the bound prisoner.

*NGHFF!!!* He snarled as he ejaculated hard into the feline female who could do nothing but accept it.

“We should come back later." The bigger slave, said to the smaller.

“Aw, but I like to watch!" The smaller protested.

“That was simply wonderful." Pestle said laying his head on Bow's chest.

“Your interpretation not mine." The female hissed at her seductor. “How much longer am I to remain here?"

“Until you are pregnant." The witch doctor replied. “Then you will be released."

“How long will that be?"

Pestle lifted his head and moved his paws to feel the female's breasts. They were firm, but supple. “Not for a while you are not even in season."

“I don't have time for this!" Bow growled.

“Quit complaining and be grateful Kenja Pride, you are only being detained." Pestle observed.

“And violated daily you forgot that part!" Bow shot back.

“Well you got off easy."

“How so?"

“Saber wanted your head on a platter- initially. He was convinced otherwise."

“Hmm…. I also see that the line of males has drastically decreased to just you. Decided to keep me all to yourself today Three Rivers Pride?"

“Why not? You are quite a lovely, attractive and beautiful female Kenja Pride." The young healer blurted out stupidly. “I see it in the way you carry yourself- self assured, bold and confident."

“I will keep that in mind after I cut off your balls." She hissed.

“Sorry, but I am only following my chieftain's orders; here his words are law." Pestle said trying to justify his actions.

“Yes and your duty is to your pride which will mean little to anyone after the planet is lost."

Pestle looked at the female feline he had penetrated and in fact was still inside of. 

“I know that he has been having trouble sleeping as of late- something about seeing dreams of the planet's destruction? I think there is a reason for that."

“Which is?"

“The same reason I have been too." Bow said rolling over- now the tribe's witch doctor was on his back underneath her.

Meanwhile at the three rivers….

“That takes care of the village's water for today." Naomi said, wiping her brow.

“Now all that is left is laundry, the master's hut, the master and feeding the prisoner." Annette announced.

“UGH!!" The freckled teen announced bowing her head.

“Don't complain we are compensated for our labors." The barren female announced. “Very well compensated."

“You mean the four square meals a day, a roof over our heads and protection from creatures that wouldn't hesitate to eat us?" The brunette teen asked.

“No, the other compensation…" Annette replied making a wide smirk.

She was referring to the daily bathing of their master, being in his personal harem and being screwed stupid by him.

“I can see your point." The teen said trying not to blush as they entered the river and started washing shawls, arm pads, and leg pads. Annette would scrub, Naomi would rinse and fold.

As the two went about their labors, Annette's ears started twitching so much that her co-slave noticed.

“What's wrong?"

“I hear a rumbling." The feline warrior said as she stopped what she was doing.

“Where is it coming from?" 

“Everywhere!" Annette replied as the multicolored sky turned to night.

That was followed by cold howling winds.

“The hell?!" The teen exclaimed in sudden shock. To add insult to injury, it started snowing!

“What is this white stuff?!" The female with the big breasts and wide butt asked as she started shivering- a lot.

“SNOW." The teen said pulling her friend from the river.

“What is snow?"

“Proof that something is definitely wrong with Chaundoon." Naomi as she started running back to the village.

Meanwhile….

“I suppose if it had to be someone, I am glad it was you." Bow said candidly as she lay on Pestle. “I am still going to cut off your balls though."

The two warriors from opposing tribes enjoyed the warmth of each other for a moment longer before the weather took a turn.

“What is this?!" Pestle asked as he started to shiver.

“Proof that the fighting between our tribe and all tribes is meaningless. The situation is dire, Three Rivers Pride, I need to continue my quest before it is too late!" Bow shouted to the slender male inside her.

The witch doctor paused. He thought about Three Rivers Pride, Kenja Pride, all prides, the S'mar nation, their lives, all lives on the planet.

“Ok I will help you." Pestle announced. “Maybe two warriors from different prides may have a better chance unifying the prides then just one."

To Be Continued….