Rasvata Jungle Cats

In a time of many centuries past, a tribe of humans lived in the dense jungles of Kidun. They were experts at climbing trees, swinging from branches, and hunting with spears and bows since their prey was even more agile in the treetops than they were. However, they noticed that the small vegetation had begun to wilt. The small game was more thin and even the predators had less meat on their bones. The tribe went to their shaman, Rasa. She heard their pleas of help and had already been researching the failing health of the jungle since her own people were becoming sick and weak as well.

Rasa left the village with the promise to find the root of the sickness of the jungle. As the weeks passed, the jungle trees slowly shriveled and quite often Rasa would find small game that died of sickness or starved to death. With only the dead animals and steadily dying jungle to guide her path, she left the heart of the jungle. It was not for another few weeks that she came across a dying tiger. It was weak and starving, barely with the strength to breathe. As Rasa went to touch the tiger, she heard a weak, quiet voice in her mind, 'Little human with the energy of the jungle, aid me. Help me save my jungle.'

Rasa was surprised by the voice, but she could tell by the look in the tiger's eyes that it was him who spoke to her. 'What must I do?'

The tiger managed to move its front paw and placed it on her lap. 'Make a pact with me. You will be able to use my power and I will be able to use yours. There is a vile group of creatures that are stealing the life force of the jungle and using the blood of the animals for their twisted magics.'

Rasa thought for a moment before she nodded. 'I will aid you.' As she took a hold of the tiger's paw, the light shined around them in a whirl of green and white. Once it faded, the tiger again looked strong. A powerful beast that very few would ever approach. Rasa tilted her head in confusion before she felt the top of her head to find small, furry ears. 'I… have ears?' She looked behind her to a sleek white and black tail. 'And a tail? What is this?'

The tiger seemed to smile in amusement. 'It will allow you to use my powers. We are bound now. If you die, so will I, but I have no intention of doing so today. Now come. We must teach these intruders the law of the jungle.'

Rasa gave a slowly nodded and followed after the tiger as he walked forward. 'May I at least know what to refer to you as?'

'I am Vati, guardian of the jungle.'

Rasa immediately bowed low to Vati. 'I apologize for not recognizing you sooner, Lord Vati!'

Vati looked back to Rasa. 'Pay no need to such formalities. Come. We must go. The creatures still believe me to be weak after the ritual they did. I shall prove them wrong.'

Rasa quickly followed after Vati. 'Of course!'

As their journey continued, Rasa found that her senses and her claws had become much sharper than before. She could hear the birds in the trees high above and the small game scuttling in their burrows down below. Her sight could now clearly see many times farther and she no longer had an issue seeing when the light was low. She now had fangs, slit pupils with golden irises like Vati, and hard claws that could easily leave marks on the trees they passed. Her sense of smell could pick up faint traces of whatever had been there before then with ease, including an unfamiliar stench that made her regret her heightened sense of smell.

Vati sniffed the area and his nose wrinkled as well. 'We are near. That is the stench of those creatures. It is as unmistakable as they are vile.'

Rasa covered her nose and held back a dry heave. 'What is their goal? Even a child could tell what they are doing is wrong. It goes against nature.'

Vati sighed then continued through the dying trees. 'They are trying to harness the power of which sleeps in the mountain.'

Rasa tilted her head. 'The power that sleeps in the mountain? I can sense a strong earth magic from the mountain, but I thought it simply a natural font?'

Vati shook his head then looked up the the sky. 'Your magic sense likely also developed further after our pact. Close your eyes and let the magic flow through you. Sense the magic, its origin, and its reach. That is what they are trying to harness.'

Rasa's brows furrowed a little before she closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink into the flow of the magic. Her eyes snapped open and she put her hand to her heart as she panted. 'What is that! It covers the entire jungle!'

Vati chuckled softly. 'He who made this jungle sleeps within the mountain. He assigned me as the protector before his slumber.' He looked towards the mountain. 'This jungle used to be nothing but endless sands. He came here and created the jungle. When it came time, he laid down to sleep and the earth rose to cover him. The earth that encases him is what became this mountain range at the end of the jungle.' Vati looked back to Rasa. 'I refuse to let this jungle die and I will not tolerate these creatures disturbing his rest.'

Rasa stared at the towering peaks in awe. 'I had always seen the mountains from the heart of the jungle, but I never would have guessed there would be such a story behind it.'

Vati continued forward again. 'Now we must make sure the story does not end there.'

Rasa nodded and quickly followed after Vati. 'That we must.'

Rasa and Vati reached the edge of the jungle where there was not an animal or speck of life to be found. They went to the mountain range that cupped the end of the jungle and discovered a cave with blackened stone and ominous energy. The cave reeked of blood and decaying corpses, but Rasa and Vati pressed on into the depths. The sights within the cave would have made a veteran gag and turn away. It was neither for the weak of mind or heart.

Rasa and Vati fought together to defeat the foes along their path and arrived in a large cavern that thrummed with energy like a heartbeat. At the far side of the cavern was a group of men lost in a trance as they chanted. Vati nodded towards the chanting men. 'They are trying to harvest the magic. We must disrupt them. Once their ritual is broken, I can give the energy back to the jungle and the one who sleeps.'

Rasa nodded with confidence as she readied her staff. 'Ready when you are, Vati.'

It was a fierce battle, especially when the chanting mages continued their chant despite fighting. Once the last mage was dead, the injured Rasa held her stomach as she went to the also injured and now half blind Vati who was trying to reign in the magic that now burst forth. Rasa placed her hand on Vati's shoulder. 'I will help you release it. Take what you need from me.'

Vati shook his head. 'It will kill you if I do that.'

Rasa gave a content smile. 'I am ready for that. Save my people and the jungle.'

Vati looked at Rasa then nodded. 'I shall. I thank you for all that you have done.' Rasa gave a weak nod before her eyes closed. Vati dispersed the magic throughout the entirety of the jungle, bringing the trees back to life and having the side effect that all of the humans in the jungle had a set of ears and a feline tail appear on them along with a companion spirit that appeared by their side.

Rasa and Vati were never seen again, but the humans of Rasa's tribe knew the sacrifice she made and their new animal companions knew of the sacrifice of the one who created them, Vati. From then on Rasa and Vati were hailed as heroes and the jungle was called Rasvata out of respect for their sacrifice.