Act 1: Genesis -------------- She was drifting. Like in a dream, the feeling of unreality prevailed in her senses. The voice she heard was distant, but approaching rapidly. "Her pupils are contr..." And Shike was assaulted by a blinding light, not at all like the warmth of The One. This light was cold, and as she became conscious of her cosmos she could see more around her, vaguely. The vagueness was caused not by her clouded thought, but came from the blinding effect of the light. Her eyes closed tight and she turned her head to the side to escape this new and uncomfortable sensation. "Yes, my pupils are 'contracting!' Are you trying to blind me!?" her angry voice shouted, just slightly louder than was necessary. Startling those around her, she took advantage of their surprise to take stock of her situation. She was in her classroom, sitting at one of the desks which were aligned around her in their usual orderly fashion. She glanced down quickly, "Good, I'm wearing clothes," she thought to herself. Beside her she was her boyfriend Jiz whose surprised look quickly turned to concern. She found one of her teachers, Mr. Couvler, to her front. He was a sophisticated glass wearing brown bear, and was shining a light into her eyes. It was the kind police would use to test for the effects of drugs. She apparently fell from her seat onto her knees during a lecture, staring off to nowhere in particular. All attempts to move her, wake her, even harm her yielded nothing. The other students were sent to wait outside of class. Jiz, of course, insisted on staying, and it was he who then took the initiative of asking what had happened. She was still slightly disoriented, but at the sound of the question her memories of the sacred encounter, momentarily forgotten in her confusion, returned to her. "I had a vision.." was her only answer, her weak voice trembling just slightly. Mr. Couvler was no ignoramus, nor a skeptic, he knew that's what had occurred. In spite of this, he couldn't help but be a little surprised at the confirmation of his guess. His decision was immediate: "Go see our counselor and religious advisor, you may have the rest of the day off." Despite his cold tone, there was some hidden concern for her, and just a little envy. Those whose lives were touched by vision, found their lives changed. It was not his place to voice that concern, that was Sidallow Heth's job. Having the word "Sidallow" before ones name is the equivalent of the word "Sister" being used, as it is in the Catholic religion. Shike nodded and rose to leave. Jiz also rose, intent on staying with her through the course of that day, even if he could offer little more than moral support. "Sit down Jiz, I will be calling the rest of the class back in shortly, you will be joining them." Jiz began a protest which was immediately cut short as he saw the look on the teachers face. It was the look that his mind was made, and no mere mortal could do a thing to effect it. It was the look that many students feared, and those that didn't soon regretted presenting whatever challenge they dared to. He merely sighed and sat, knowing no other action would suffice. As Shike left the nearly vacant room she became aware of the people outside. Some were laughing and smirking at her, while some presented the same look of concern Jiz showed when she awoke. None spoke to her directly however, so she passed by equally wordlessly, and slightly embarrassed. As she turned the first of the two corners between her and her destination she heard those students entering back into the class she was freed from. She knew that in a mere five minutes she would have been forgotten about by all in that room. All but Jiz... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As she walked through the empty hall she glanced into the active classrooms. The people there were so blissfully unaware of what was happening, that apocalypse was approaching. "This is odd..." she thought as she passed a mirror hung on one of the doors. She didn't know why a teacher would have a five foot high mirror outside her class, but then, she didn't care so much as to give the question a second thought either. As she gazed at the mirror, she found the depressed look of her other self serve to strengthen her depression. She stepped back a pace, so that she could still see herself, but the people in that class wouldn't be able to through the small window on the door. She continued to stare into her own blue eyes.. Her eyes and the red fur which surrounded them, and her entire body to the tip of her thin tail. Red fur was very rare, and in teen society it was a thing to be ridiculed somewhat, although many didn't care, it still depressed her sometimes. Her clothes consisted of simply a T-shirt and jeans. She was 18, of average height and average stature. Her breasts weren't as large as she'd like them to be, but she didn't truly give this much concern. Jiz thought they were cute, and that's all that mattered to her. It often occurred to her that if it wasn't for the color of her fur, she might have been ignored in a crowd. She forced a smile to herself, perhaps it would help to cheer her. She found it only added bitter irony to her mood. She turned from the mirror with a soft sigh. Continuing down the hall, the soft sound of a padded foot approaching her from ahead filled her ears. She realized somebody was walking on a path that would cause their inevitable meet and would turn the final corner she was approaching shortly. She forced her face from depression to neutrality, as she had learned to do when she was ridiculed. Her heart sank as the person rounded the corner, it was Lara. Lara the canine who plagued her existence. Her icy blue fur matched her personality perfectly. She was bitter and spiteful, however she favored other canines. She'd been known to mate with many, all canine, but not males exclusively. Her markings were of a darker, deeper blue. They were artificial however, designed to emphasize certain parts of her body. She wore clothes, which were required upon school grounds, although very little. Shike found it odd that she would, since Lara didn't place any value in the law, nor did she attend school. Lara was an inch or so taller than Shike, and much more powerful, which was a result only of the difference of species. As Lara saw Shike, her path changed to meet. As she approached Shike, her expression shifted from indifference to bitter, cold, hatred. She stopped directly in front of Shike, forcing her to stop also. Her raspy voice spoke only a single word. "Move.." Shike didn't comply, and instead replied "What are you doing at school?" "I'm meeting somebody, move.." She knew what was meant by "Meeting," and was disgusted by it. She also didn't take kindly to Lara's power tripping, telling Shike to move when she knew damn well it was her own fault where she was standing. Shike found her previous depression being quickly replaced by anger. "You horny bitch! School isn.." and her anger was replaced by pain. Lara brought her hand down hard upon Shike's sensitive feline ear, bending it grotesquely. Her instinct was to roll with the blow, Lara was fast enough to already be pulling in the opposite direction however. She felt the skin break beneath the fur on the back of her ear, causing her to shriek momentarily in pain. She had fallen to her knees from the shock, and out of Lara's way. The icy canine continued by without a word. The pain didn't fade, but Shike felt the anger subsiding, gradually. "Go fuck your tail!" she screeched. "Ha!" Lara laughed, it was a cold, harsh noise.. "Was that supposed to be an insult?" It took a moment for Shike to realize what was meant by this as she watched Lara disappear around the corner she had turned earlier. Although she wasn't above a /little/ self pleasuring, the thought that this dog presented disgusted her now more than ever. She couldn't help but wonder for a moment why the teachers in the rooms surrounding her hadn't taken action. It occurred to her they probably didn't want to deal with Lara, and would likely do anything to avoid having to do so; her reputation was around. Shike glanced into a classroom beside her to find that a large portion of the students were staring at her. She continued on without taking the time to distinguish their expressions, placing a hand upon her bleeding ear. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *