*deep breath* okay, here is my story that I have been working on for a bit now. More chapters to come as soon as I get a chance from work to write them. The art above is a picture of Naomi in the story, drawn by the incredibly talented Rhari ( http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rhari/ )

I hope you enjoy! If you have any commments on the story, ideas for its further, or critiques, please share them! I can always improve my writing ^-^



Chronicles of Babylon 1

Alistair groaned as he sat up in his bed, rubbing the sleep from his weary eyes. Once he had regained his vision the Dorukolorukalai looked around his chambers, the early morning light filtering in from his balcony to light up the room. The broad stone walls raised up high into a vaulted ceiling, normally lit by crystals that dangled down on thin threads. The wall across from the balcony was home to a fountain that spilled warm water into the crystal clear pool below so he could wash himself after training. His wardrobe wasn't extensive, nothing more than a few armoires that held a handful of casual outfits. The others were all suited for ballrooms or ceremonies that he often avoided. His balcony looked out over a large portion of the city of Ecselcier. The expansive city was built out of the slate grey stones that adorned the cliffs that framed its back, giving excellent protection from the weather and hostile forces the same. The waterfalls that cascaded down upon the rocks fed their waterways, allowing this bustling capital to flourish with fauna, a number of trees and vines built into the design. It was almost as if the very city itself had grown out of the ground, cementing it's place in the world. It was a symbol of strength for the country, able to withstand siege for months on end. Alistair often sat there, looking out over the sea of stone and wood, over the palace that he had called home for so many years. Yes, the palace.


Although many would have been jealous to be the offspring of a royal, he found it to be much less grandiose than others insisted it was. His father, King Midas, barely spoke to him. One part because of his busy schedule running the kingdom and another part not having anything in common. Well, that wasn't completely true. Both Alistair and his father were gifted in combat. The part that King Midas didn't like was the prince's complete disregard for the authority of his position and his frequent absences. Needless to say, they hadn't spoken in a while.

As for the lifestyle, Alistair found it to be stuffy and boring. Being ushered from one meeting to a party to a diplomatic greeting bored him to no end. He swore that if he had to sit at a table at his father's side while the king recalled war stories he would pluck out his eyes with a fork.

He got along much better with his mother, Queen Juliana. She was fair woman with long silver hair that normally sat braided down the length of her back to her tail. When she wasn't attending those same events that drove her son mad she was in her study, reading about all sorts of different worlds and what was in them. Alistair was sure that she had read more books than he could ever count. Even though, he would often join her to try and learn alongside her.

He sighed and finally wrenched himself out of bed, throwing the sheets to the side in a disorderly pile before trudging across the room to his fountain. His long grey tail trailed behind him, too lazy to bother staying off the floor. As he dipped his black paws into the water a sigh of relief washed over him. Showering in the morning was always the best way to wake up in his opinion. He stepped farther into the pool before dipping his head under the steady stream of water that escaped from the stone faucet above. The pool was only deep enough to reach his knees, leaving the rest of the work for the water crashing down from overhead to yank him from drowsiness.

A knock on the door caused his ears to perk up as he turned, peering towards the source of the disturbance. "Who is it?"

"It's me, young master. I've come to you to offer you a morning meal. I do hope it isn't too early."

It was one of the older servants, a healer that went by the name of Calsephine. She was one of the few Doru servants that worked in the castles, having been there since before Alistair was born. He waved his hand towards the latch, which promptly jumped aside as it were a horse that had just been kicked. "Come on in." He replied. "I'm just waking up."

The female that stepped inside had a deep rose colored pelt, accented by a number of lighter trailed that snaked their way over her entire body. She wore a modest cream colored robe, carrying nothing more than a small platter of various fruits, native to the cliffs around Ecselcier. She kept her eyes down, familiar with Alistair's frequent lack of clothing in his chambers.

He stepped out of the pool slowly and snatched a towel up from the stone countertop before starting to dry himself. Once the prince had finished and had properly secured the towel around his waist he stepped over to her and plucked one of the fruits up with a claw. "Ooh, what a nice treat. Thank you, Calsephine." He smiled down at her warmly before deep blue tendrils slowly slipped out of his back between his shoulder blades, raising up until they were hovering above him like serpents. The older Doru returned his smile as crimson tendrils slipped out of clever slits that had been carved into the back of her robe. "I don't have much, but it should hopefully hold you over for today," she said as her tendrils extended out to meet his.

Both of the Doru's tendrils gripped the others in a motion not unlike a handshake while Calsephine's eyes closed in concentration. Her body was focusing the intense energy it held, passing it through until it made its way into the deep blue tendrils of the prince. Calsephine was sharing some of the energy in her own body and transferring over to Alistair. All Dorukolorukalai fed off of emotional energy from the ones around them to stay alive. They didn't even need to eat food if need be, Instead using the force of emotional energy to sustain their bodies and allow them to perform magic. Calsephine had the special talent of being able to transfer the stored energy inside her into others, a skill that was exceptionally rare.

After a few moments of concentration Calsephine straightened and took a deep breath. She was tired. Giving up her energy like that always did that to her.
Alistair plucked another berry off the platter as his tendrils quickly retreated into his back. "Thanks again, Cal." She nodded in response before stepping back towards the door. "There is no thanks needed, my prince." She turned to leave, pausing in the broad doorway. "Oh! I almost forgot. Your mother requested that you meet her in her study after you were finished in here," She informed him before closing the door.

Malik groaned, raising his hands to rub his temples, trying to massage away the headache that he was sure would come from this. "Alright... I'll meet her there." He muttered before heading over to dress himself. He contemplated what he should wear for only a few moments before deciding on his favorite pair of pants, ones that were baggy and breathed well with a few deeper brown tones mixed in with their otherwise khaki color. He added a vest, not because he really minded walking around without one. After all, most Doru did. He however, knew that it would make his mother happy. Something about "Appearing more presentable to others."

He made his way to her study, his eyes idly running over the ornate open-concept palace walls. There was an abundance of balconies and overlooks along with roaring waterfalls from the cliffs above, part of a water system that supplied nearly the whole city. There was a wide assortment of fauna that adorned the halls, vines that hung down from above archways, bushes and trees that reached for the heavens, giving shade to the gardens and walkways that they called home.

Before long he arrived at her door, not bothering to knock before peeking his head in. This room was actually one of his favorite in the whole palace. As you walked in, the far wall held a huge window, made from colored glass. His mother had come up with the design, immortalizing the scene of a strange looking creature with holes in his hands and feet. He looked sad, not because of the pain that the others around had caused him but as if he had somehow caused them pain. When he first asked his mother about it she said that it was a story of love from one of her favorite books. Alistair had tried to read it, but a lot of the words felt like riddles to him.

All the other walls were lined floor to ceiling with books. Massive shelves housed hundreds, if not thousands of literature from not only their world, but many others. A lot of his time was spent lounging in here, enjoying the company of a book. The area in the center had a number of different tables and benches for one to sit. Personally, Alistair preferred those closest to the window for the better lighting.

As he walked in he heard a step overhead, no doubt his mother on the overhead walkway putting some books away or retrieving them again. "Mother? You called for me?"

The footsteps overhead paused before traveling the walkway over to the spiral staircase at the end. "Ah! Alistair! It's good to see you," Queen Juliana replied. She was wearing a long ornate gown that kissed the floor, a number of tiny crystals imbedded in the fabric to make it sparkle brilliantly in the morning light. Alistair smiled across the room at her as she approached, trying to keep from being pessimistic about whatever she was planning on asking of him.

"It's good to see you too. What can do do for you?"

"Oh, come now. Do I need a reason to ask to see my son?"

Alistair's look of doubt caused her to sigh and raise her hand in defense. "Okay, okay. Your father has called for another war council due to the growing threat of ogres in Elysmirra." She paused for a moment to clear her throat, wringing her hands together as if the rest of her statement could somehow be squeezed out like water from cloth. "I was hoping that you would attend-"

"Not happening." The grey Doru replied. He knew what would happen at the council if he attended. After all, his father didn't think he had a place at that table; not after what happened last time.

Juliana sighed as she reached out with a comforting hand, trying to persuade him into the idea. He shrugged it off and explained to her quickly that there was no way he would attend. After all, he hadn't even received the king's invitation.

The prince turned to stalk across the room. One of his beep blue tendrils lashed out of his back, slipping between the cleverly stitched slits in the back of his vest to snatch a book from the shelf. He did t really care what he read, just that he had an excuse not to talk for the moment. He dropped into one of the seats near the expansive window, cracking open the book to skim its pages absentmindedly. The queen sighed and rubbed her temples much in the same way her son had only a few moments ago. He had surely inherited his father's stubbornness. The queen raised her eyes to look over her child's hunched body once more before turning to exit. Perhaps she could speak to her mate about this.

Alistair watched her go before looking back down at the book he had plucked off the shelf. The more he thought about the situation, the more anger bubbled up inside him. He began muttering under his breath unsaid arguments that he would surely win. After all, he won all the arguments in his head. After a few deep breaths he decided that the best way to take his mind off that depressing subject would be to actually process what he was reading. It turned out that the book he had snatched was a guide to many of the other dimensions and worlds know to the Doru. Many of the more dangerous locations held a number of warnings not to even attempts travel there. Others, sounded peaceful and serene from their description. They promised relaxation and an escape from troubles, a utopia that was in reach for anyone with the means to get there.

"That's it!" He exclaimed as he hopped up from his place on the chair. "I just need a vacation from all this!" He began flipping though the pages of the book, searching for a destination that promised him some excitement.

After a few minutes he paused on a page describing a world of endless exploration. A world covered in mostly water with endless islands that were linked by natural land bridges and sand bars. There was no record of any intelligent species, only a number of feral beasts that lived in a stable environment. He figured some time away from the palace would let him stretch his legs, relax, and get away from things.

Little did he know how much things would change for him.

The prince finished reading the description of the world he was to visit before setting the book down on the cushion next to him. He took a quick look around to ensure there were no witnesses before drawing his tendrils of and extending them forward. The blue coils of energy reached out as if they were gently parting a curtain. As the press apart a crack of light appeared in the space, widening at his touch until a full ovular hole had been torn open. He gazed into the swirling tunnel of light before him before smiling broadly and stepping inside. This was going to be fun!

===========================

It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust as the Doru prince stepped out from the shadows where he had emerged. It was dark, the stone ground beneath him wet with what he hoped was water, with large pillars of steel extending on either side of him. An alleyway of sorts, it seemed. His nose turned up as the smell hit him, urging him to leave as soon as possible. Alistair gagged as he ran out of the musty alleyway. He took a moment to catch his breath, glad that the scent didn't linger too long. His eyes refocused on the neglected road that wound between massive pipes and foundations of dark steel. Much of it was rusted, left to rot like the bones of a once vibrant town. As his eyes raised up he was met with a sight that made his head swirl.

The city he found himself in stretched up high into the sky blocking out a vast majority of sunlight. Any that remained was drowned by the thick fog of unclean air, reducing it into a melancholy gloom. There were bridges and roads that connected many of the gigantic structures, along with railways that rattled every time a shuttle raced along it. This made Alistair pause, wishing he had brought that book with him. This technology wasn't something he was used to. After all, the Doru kept their lives simple, using their magical abilities in place of gadgets.

"This is not...what I expected." He said aloud.

He cursed at himself for not practicing dimensional jumps more often. To be frank, his accuracy was piss poor. He figured that he either jumped to a different world, or that the book hadn't been updated in a few centuries. He began to wander, hoping to at least discover some semblance of life around him. After all, he was on vacation, right? He might as well try to enjoy it.

The Doru prince made his way along the discarded levels of the futuristic city. It became clear that he was underdressed as the wind howled around him, robbing the warmth from his body and causing him to cross his arms over his chest. His mood was quickly souring as he trudged along, trying to find somewhere to ascend out of the dreary scenery. To his misfortune, it was at least an hour before he found a service stairwell that carried him upward. He legs burned by the time he reached a level that he could spill out into a rail station. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw actual furs standing before him, waiting to board the train or having just departed one. They didn't have nearly as much diversity as the mortals back in Elymirra. For the most part, they were all either canines, felines, foxes, or some mix between. This wouldn't normally be an issue but with his Doru blood making him closely resemble an otter, he stuck out like a sore thumb. He hoped that he might be able to pass as a canine as he stepped into the crowd, quickly getting swallowed by the sea of bodies.

He was quickly ushered toward one of the closest shuttles, unable to fight the overwhelming tide of people trying to rush for a spot aboard. The seats disappeared quickly inside, leaving only rails from above to hold on to. He found a spot in front of an old feline lady, who gripped her purse a bit tighter at his approach. The world around them lurched as the shuttle began pulling away, leaving the crowded station behind.

Alistair's nose wrinkled as he noted once more the smell that the fur's around him produced. He wondered if they lacked proper hygiene in this world, or perhaps he was just unlucky with where he landed?

The train stopped in a few locations that appeared far too rough for Alistair to bother stepping out. However, after a while longer the crowd started to thin a bit and the stops seemed to grow proportionately nicer with each stop. Before long he finally decided to step out into the platform, a few others throwing him odd glances as they passed. He wandered outside, overjoyed to see how much brighter this part of the city was compared to the others he had seen so far. The platform he was on was at least a few hundred feet higher than the ones he had been level with a few hours before. The smog was much thinner, and it appeared that the wealth at this level was at least improved upon what he had seen before. He pondered if the even higher levels of the city continued to grow in wealth this way as he made his way down the wide walkway.

He was gladly surprised to see a few businesses nestled into the sides of the buildings, along with full shopping areas. There seemed to be places for customers to store and retrieve their money, using small cards that glowed with a peculiar light. He wondered briefly if these cards were similar to the crystals they enchanted with magic back in Elysmirra.

Alistair's paws started to hurt after a few more hours of blind wandering, prompting him to find a place to rest. Perhaps he could even procure a drink from this world? That is, as long as it didn't taste like the sewers he had first entered from. A shiver went up his spine as he lifted his eyes to a glowing neon sign above the door before him. It was a dull pink, sporting an image of two lightning bolts behind the words "Terkaan's Pub". He smirked at the odd name before causally making his way inside.

The room that he entered wasn't grandiose, but it held a certain charm in the air that kept a smile on his face. There was a bar on the far side of the space with stools lined before it like weary soldiers standing their post. There were other tables spread throughout the main areas of the room, with a silent stage off the right that stood as a testament to the merry times that had happened here. The opposite wall held a staircase that let to the top level, a walkway that framed the walls to allow patrons to see the stage and people below. This pub was by far the cleanest building he had yet to visit in the city, but that wasn't saying too much at this point.

It didn't appear to be overly busy, a few lonely furs huddled over their drinks alone or otherwise pretending the rest of the world didn't exist. There was a couple of big canines over in one of the booths that spoke in a hushed tone, no doubt to shield their conversation from prying ears. The Doru prince hesitated for a long moment, taking in the scene around him before deciding on the bar. It wasn't until his rear touched the cool metal of the bar stool that he remembered an important detail. He didn't have any of their currency and didn't know how to use it even if he did.
His mind began working quickly, thinking of what his excuse for not paying would be. He was yanked from his thoughts as a melodic voice sounded in front of him.

"Well good afternoon, cutie. What can I get for you?"

Most people would have seen it as a typical greeting for a bartender in this world, but Alistair wasn't used to such open flirting. His ears fell back as he looked up to see the fur before him.

She was a lithe fennec with fur the color of sand flowing smoothly over her form. Her hair was a fiery peach color that poured down from her head like liquid fire. Her outfit seemed to be typical of someone in the city, a low cut aviator jacket with a simple skirt hanging down from her hips. Her lips held a playful smirk, shrouding any other emotions that might hover just beneath it. However, it was her rich forest green eyes that caught Alistair the most. He was captivated by them, hopelessly ensnared by their influence over them.

He gulped and coughed and tried to speak all at once, resulting in a pitiful sputter before he managed to grasp at some real words. "I-I'm Alistair, nice to meet you,"

Smooth.

She giggled as she straightened herself, the long tail behind her swaying back and forth playfully. "It's nice to meet you, Alistair. My name is Naomi."

His ears fell back at the sound of his name rolling off her lips, affection threatening to make his eyes bulge out like an old age cartoon. He just barely managed to keep himself from purring as he sat there wishing he could think of something clever or useful to say. Luckily for him, she took that task promptly.

"Now that we know each other, were you planning on ordering?" She questioned.

He straightened himself in his chair a bit more, determined that his next response would not be a repeat of the first.
"What would you recommend?"

Naomi began listing off enough alcoholic drinks to put an ogre to sleep, not bothering to pause as she snatched up a metal board about the size of a dinner plate. She set it in front of him to reveal that the opposite side held a flat piece of glass. When her finger touched it the glass burst to life, displaying pictures of food and different drinks that all appeared wonderfully delicious. Being a Doru, he didn't need actual food as long as he had ample amounts of energy stored inside him, but it was a delicacy he had enjoyed from time to time. After all, many of the servants in the palace weren't Doru and required multiple meals a day.

He was fascinated by the technology, wondering in the back of his mind what types of magic must have been used to enchant such a useful piece of equipment. When she had finished her list and looked back up to meet his eyes he froze, wondering in what was would it be best to let her down. His mouth opened to speak but he was quickly interrupted by a sound at the other end of the bar.

"The hell you think you're doing?" Bellowed the huge canine standing there. He must have been close to 7 feet tall, towering over the others around him with his commanding presence. He stunk of booze and body odor, a combination that was arguably worse than what Alistair had already sampled earlier in the day. He stalked toward the pair as Naomi stiffened, sticking one of his meaty fingers out towards her chest. "You didn't finish cleaning the back this morning. If you keep up your piss poor work around here I'll sell you to the foreman, then you'll be begging to come back! He grimaced before turning a dark eye towards the Doru sitting across the bar from him. "You gonna order somethin'?"

Alistair cleared his throat, trying his best to straighten himself in the stool as he replied. "Sorry, I just came in for some water. I left my money at home."

A snarl was the hounds only reply, peering down his snout at what he deemed a nuisance.

"If you ain't payin', get out." With that, he turned to stalk back through the door where he entered. Naomi let out the breath she was holding, her hand lifting to rub the stress out of the back of her neck. "I'm sorry about that I... I'll have to go."

She turned to follow the large male, leaving Alistair sitting there dumbfounded. He stared at the door, willing her to return to him, but no such wish came true. He reluctantly stood from his chair and headed for the door, his mind still swimming with questions that had yet to be answered. Who was she? Why was she being punished? Maybe it was his nature, or maybe his desire to learn more about the other worlds, but he was sure now that his visit to this strange city would need to be extended.

Damn she was beautiful...