Haunted by what she might become and on the run with her brother and an ex-Calloustrich soldier, Malice continues her quest to find Jeremy and discover if he truly is what her mother had said about him or a kind hearted ostrich like how Azeal said. She is the only daughter of Melody and Shabedoom, but she isn't like her parents. She is the exact opposite. Currently resting in the forest, Malice will come face to face with a mysterious figure and her name change.
Chapter 1: How to survive
"Is there anything in this blasted forest that's not resembling fruit?!" complained Shredder. He, his sister, Malice and ex-Calloustrich soldier, Azeal were resting in the forest. They had been on the run for 5 days from Railroad Prison Camp. All they could find in the forest were berries and nuts on bushes. But Shredder was tired of it. He liked that the forest had plenty of bushes and trees with empty hollows. But he didn't like to eat the fruit that was there. He wanted to eat meat. "I don't want to eat fruit!" he complained. "Do you, Malice?!" Malice was chewing on a berry. "I don't mind eating berries," she said. "They're pretty good once you get used to them."
Azeal had swallowed a stone that was on the ground. Malice and Shredder watched as the ostrich swallowed the stone. "Why did you do that?" Malice asked him. "You don't want to eat berries?" "Well, I don't know if you know, but ostriches swallow stones to help grind food when it reaches their gizzard," said Azeal. Malice and Shredder looked at each other in confusion. "It's a specialized stomach to help grind food," said Azeal. "I love berries too. But stones are where it's at."
"What about anthros with teeth?" asked Malice. "Anthropomorphic ostriches also have gizzards despite having teeth. But they still have gizzards to help digest food that hasn't been properly chewed." "That explains a lot," said Malice. "But what are we supposed to eat?" whined Shredder. "I don't want berries!" "Don't complain!" said Malice. "Eat whatever is here!" Shredder growled at his sister and then spotted a squirrel climbing up a tree. He climbed up the tree and caught the squirrel with his claws. "Let it go!" cried Malice. "Malice, we're quolls!" Shredder said to his sister. "We're supposed to eat meat! What's come over you?!" "It's innocent!" cried Malice. "I don't want to see any violence!" But Shredder ignored her and killed the squirrel.
"How could you?!" cried Malice. "I had to," said Shredder. "I was hungry." "But it did nothing to you!" cried Malice. "I don't understand!" "We're predators and we need to eat meat in order to survive," said Shredder. "Consider this to be my first kill. My mother was teaching me how to hunt. But she killed that mouse that was my best friend. That wasn't a mouse I just killed, it was a squirrel. We do need protein to help us survive. Now I'm going to teach you how to hunt."
"I don't want to hunt," sniffed Malice. "I prefer to eat berries. They're juicy and delicious." "You're beginning to talk like a vegetarian," sneered Shredder. "Well maybe I am a vegetarian," scoffed Malice. "We're quolls and we eat other animals," hissed Shredder. "Now I've got another squirrel to kill. I don't know about you but you're not eating right."
"Fine you win!" sighed Malice. "Teach me how to hunt." "That's better," said Shredder. "First, you stalk the prey. Wait for it's head to come up. Then launch the attack by pouncing on your prey and execute a killing bite to the skull. If it's large prey, aim for the neck."
Malice pounced on the squirrel and was about to bite the squirrel's head, but it looked at her and Malice realized that what she was doing was wrong. "I can't do it," she said, releasing the squirrel and she watched as it scurried away. Shredder angrily looked at Malice. "What are you doing?!" he angrily asked her. "Just a bite to the head and you've could've had dinner!" "I don't eat meat like you and the other quoll species." said Malice. "My own sister doesn't want to eat meat," complained Shredder. "I can't believe it! You're not going to survive like this. You're not going to live long."
Malice sighed and looked at Azeal. "Do you think I can survive without meat?" she asked him. "As long as you eat, you'll have energy," said Azeal. "But if you don't want to eat meat, it's fine. Just find food that will satisfy you. Now I'm going to rest. I'm very tired from all that walking." He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
"I'm going to have more berries," said Malice. She went to the bush that contained more berries and began nibbling. "I don't understand my sister," grumbled Shredder. "She loves berries," said Azeal. "Let her eat what she likes. Even I like the berries. They're actually pretty good."
"Look, you guys are herbivores, but I prefer to be a carnivore," said Shredder. "I'm sure a little bit of berries would go well with that squirrel." He joined his sister at the berry bush and began munching on berries. "They're not that bad," he said, eating some more. "It's nice to see you eat fruit," Malice said to her brother. "Yeah well, that makes me an omnivore," said Shredder. "I'll hunt again."
Malice was relieved to see that her brother was back with her and was eating the berries from the bushes, but she didn't like the fact that her brother still preferred to eat meat.
Chapter 2: The fox in the forest
"That's enough berries, Malice," Shredder said to his sister. "You're going to get a stomach ache if you eat a lot." "I love fruit," Malice said with her mouth full. "You do too." "Yeah, but I hunger for meat now," said Shredder. "Shredder, can I ask you a question?" asked Malice. "If it has to do with me being a herbivore then you can forget it," said Shredder. "No, but does my name sound violent?" asked Malice. "So what?" asked Shredder. "My name is violent too. Our mother named us that." "We don't have a mother anymore," said Malice. "Besides, I don't like my name. I doubt anyone would accept me in a family with a name like this." "You want your name to be changed?" asked Shredder.
Malice looked at her paws and saw how sharp they were. "I'd like my name to be changed," she said. "But I don't think it will be easy."
"Oh but it is," said a voice behind her. It wasn't Azeal. He was sleeping. It was a creature wearing clothes. Malice gasped at the creature as it was looking at her and her brother. "So you want your name to be changed, eh?" it asked Malice. "Yes I do," said Malice. "Who are you?" "What are you?" asked Shredder. "Why do you want to know?" asked the creature. "I'm just curious," said Malice.
"My name is Gabe," said the creature. "I'm a gopher. This is my forest! I was born here! You may notice this raincoat. It was left here by someone and I decided to keep it all for myself. Sure there are other animals in this forest, but I still say that it's my forest! And I suppose you're new here? Who are you and what do you want?!" Malice took a step back from the raincoat wearing gopher and said in a small voice; "We're just staying here for a while and we'll be on our way."
Gabe mumbled something to himself. He didn't like Malice being in his forest. "I heard you talking about changing your name," he said to Malice. "And indeed she will," said a voice behind Gabe. "Who's there?" asked Gabe, frantically. He looked behind him to see a white fox with nine tails.
"Oh, Kuni, it's just you," sighed Gabe. "I thought it was a predator or something." Kuni didn't say anything to Gabe. She saw Malice, her brother and Azeal who just woke up from his nap.
"So you're the one known as Malice? She asked the little quoll. "I am," said Malice. "Who are you?" "I am Kuni," said the creature. "I am a Kitsune fox. I heard you want to have your name changed. Is that right?"
"I don't want to have this name anymore," said Malice. "You don't deserve to have that name," said Kuni. "You are a kind and caring little creature." "I am?" asked Malice. "I saw you eating berries and sparing the usual prey that animals like you eat," said Kuni. "You realized that what you were doing was wrong and you released the creature."
"I'm not a predator and I'm not like my mother," said Malice. "I just want to be a good person. But I look like my mother and anyone who knows my mother will fear me or even kill me. I don't want to be affiliated with her anymore! I have freewill!"
"So you are all outcasts?" asked Kuni. Malice, Shredder and Azeal nodded. "You are very brave to venture out here in the forest at night," said Kuni. "You love to eat the berries of the forest. I understand that you don't like meat. You choose what you want to eat. Be your own you." "I appreciate that very much," said Malice, who was chewing on another berry.
"I believe that you truly deserve to have your name changed," said Kuni. "What?!" gasped Gabe. "She can't have it changed right away! It's too soon!" "So you want her to wait?" asked Kuni. "Nonsense, you wanted your name changed right away. Don't you remember?" Gabe said nothing.
"Now, Malice, how about that name change?" Kuni asked Malice. Malice nodded and followed Kuni. Azeal, Shredder and Gabe followed them.
Chapter 3: Name change
"I have done this before with Gabe," Kuni said as she tore off pieces of bark from a tree. "It's like paper. I don't know if you know but paper is made from trees." I didn't know that," said Malice.
"My life hasn't been the same ever since I found out the truth about my mother. She's a cold hearted murderer and she is going to turn my brothers into killers. My father who was a black dragon was just as bad as my mother. I didn't know my dad but someone told me about him."
"You were born into a cruel and callous family whose main purpose is to kill and destroy people," said Kuni ."But one day things are going to be very different."
"Just change her name already," muttered Gabe. Kuni placed the tree bark against a rock. "Now what do you want your new name to be?" she asked Malice. "I'll be using my claw as a pen."
Malice thought really hard. "I'm not really sure." she said. "Something that doesn't sound violent. It's a nice name." "What about Monica?" asked Shredder. "That sounds like a good name," said Azeal. "I don't know," said Malice.
"I like Melanie," said Shredder, dreamily. "Sounds too much like Melody!" complained Azeal. "Nevermind!" said Gabe. "Her name is Meadow!" "Nah! That's a dumb name!" complained Shredder. "Does her new name have to start with M?!"
"Then call her Maddy, alright?" said Gabe. "Mad is in the name," said Malice. "But it's a cute name," said Shredder. "Aw I actually like that name," said Azeal. Malice had decided to keep the name since it actually sounded cute not menacing. "I guess it's fine," said Malice. "I shall be Maddy!"
"From this day on, you will be named as Maddy," said Kuni. As she said this, the name Maddy appeared on the piece of bark. "Cooool," Maddy and Shredder said in awe.
Maddy was happy with her name change. She was no longer Malice, but was now the cute little Maddy.
"So your name is Maddy now," Gabe said to Maddy. "Now you can leave this forest and find your destination! Now get!" "We better do what he says," Shredder said to Maddy. "Nonsense," said Kuni. "You can stay in my den if you want."
"Actually we have to go," Shredder said to Kuni. "Thanks for the offer. Come on guys, let's get to where we're supposed to go."
"Hold on!" Maddy said to Shredder. "Kuni, do you know where we can find Jeremy? He's a white ostrich who lives in an apartment." "I'm afraid not," said Kuni. "I haven't seen any ostriches in the forest. Unless we're talking about the masked ones." "You know the Calloustriches?!" gasped Azeal.
"So that is their name?" asked Kuni. Azeal nodded. "There have been many of them coming here lately to search the woods of some ostrich they call 'Jeremy.' Is he the one you're trying to find?" "Yes it is," said Maddy. "Well, I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck to you all. Even you, Maddy."
As she watched Maddy, Shredder and Azeal leave the forest, she looked at Gabe. "I'm worried about Maddy," she said to Gabe. "She's so young so be without her mother or father. I just hope she's alright. And who is that Jeremy she was talking about?" "Some bird I suppose," said Gabe. "But in case those Calloustriches or whatever they are called, keep my rain jacket in your den. I'm going to hide underground. After all, I'm a gopher."
"Do what you want," Kuni said as she held the jacket in her paws and watched Gabe enter an empty hole in the ground.
Chapter 4: Azeal's story
Maddy, Shredder and Azeal had kept walking through the forest, while taking short stops. They had been told by a crow that they were almost out of the forest and that they were getting close to their destination.
Maddy was curious about Azeal. He was originally a Calloustrich member but he was calm and nice to her. She wanted to know more about him. "Uh, Azeal?" she asked the ostrich. "How come you're not as mean as the other Calloustriches?" Azeal looked a little surprised. "Not all Calloustriches are like that, Maddy," said Azeal. "I never knew why those monsters at that place would do such horrible things. But me on the other hand, I used to live in this forest."
"You used to live here?" asked Maddy. "Me and my parents used to live here," said Azeal. "It's an unusual place for ostriches to live. They tend to live in Africa or on farms. Anthros tend to live in houses and apartments. Now about me, I was a young lad who never had that many friends. These creatures are recent in the forest, but the ones before..."
"I'm guessing they weren't your friends," said Shredder. "They said I didn't belong here," said Azeal. "They said birds like me should live in Africa or on farms. But I always ignored and instead ate the berries on the bushes. These were blackberries, not the blueberries you see today. I did attend school and so did the other woodland critters, but even there, they refused to be my friend.
"Growing up, I only made one friend which was a rabbit named Hazelnut. We didn't last long since his family had decided to move to a bigger warren. Hazelnut and I were really close friends and we did things together. We talked, we skipped stones, and took naps together. We did other things too but I would ramble on too long about it. But when his parents decided to move, he was heartbroken to leave me and I never saw him again."
"Tell us about icrostrich," said Shredder. "I was getting to that part," said Azeal. "Years later, me and my parents had decided to leave the forest in search of a new place to live. We later settled in an old tool shed. It wasn't much but at least we had a place to stay. But then I realized that we made a huge mistake. We had found out that patrols had been picking up dozens of ostriches from this area and others. Somali ostriches, South African ostriches, White ostriches and other species related to them. The horrifying truth was that they weren't parents like moms and dads but they were teenagers and ostriches that were becoming adults! Sons and daughters have disappeared by the mysterious patrol.
"I was out one night, past my bedtime and I had no idea that a patrol was out. I wandered far away from my parents and came across these birds known as the Calloustriches. There was a whole flock of other ostriches, presumably young teenagers and adults. I was hesitant in joining but when I heard that it was a place where they would train to become soldiers, I decided to follow them.
When I got to that place, I learned that they were selecting some ostriches for certain jobs like slave labor and Calloustrich training. I did say that 'We don't want to serve Calloustriches!' But to my surprise I was selected to be in a training program along with Jeremy, Ruddy and Iris. I was glad to be in the training since I learned new things about our kind, even though Ruddy answered the questions right.
"Ruddy was one of the worst ostriches I've ever met. Iris and Jeremy were kind and caring. But not Ruddy. He's just as bad as your mother. I don't know his story, but all I know is that he's competitive, rude and callous. He's perfect for icrostrich. Gygar wasn't as bad. I felt bad for him, seeing that he lost his eye to your mother and during the war that happened, he had a change of heart after Jeremy rescued him from your father.
"After the war, icrostrich went through a strange change. It became worse and it was all because of that parasite, Ruddy! It was getting so bad that I decided to leave with you and your brother away from that place. Other ostriches that were in the war, left as well and are currently residing with Jeremy and his friends. I just hope we find him."
"I can't believe Ruddy would do those terrible things," sniffed Maddy. "It is getting worse," said a voice behind Maddy. "Who is that?" asked Maddy. "It is I, Gygar," said the creature. "And I've brought some ostriches with me." "Gygar?!" gasped Azeal. "What are you doing here?" "I've left that place," said Gygar. "What's happened?" asked Azeal. "Things have gotten a lot worse since you left icrostrich," said Gygar. "Ruddy became the leader and he has a mate named Crystal! They've completely taken over icrostrich! He hates Jeremy so much that he's forcing young and weak ostriches to cosplay as him and have them killed by his selected army of Calloustriches! He's using them as target practice!"
"That's awful!" gasped Maddy. "Maru, Skylar, and Jaren have joined me," said Gygar. "We're trying to find sanctuary where Jeremy lives. "And so are we," said Maddy. "And you are?" Gygar asked Maddy. "I am Maddy," said the quoll. "I am the daughter of Melody and Shabedoom. I'm nothing like my parents and neither is Shredder. My other brothers are still with her."
"Oh I see," said Gygar. "You were smart to leave that place at a very young age. It takes guts, kid. And you've got them." "I don't mean to interrupt," said Skylar. "But are we even close to the apartment?" "I don't know," said Azeal. "I do know that there are two places we can go. Jeremy told me that he has an apartment and his parents' place." "When did he tell you this?" Skylar asked Azeal. "He told me before he got corrupted," said Azeal. "When we were on break, he told me about it. Not many people know that we had a secret conversation."
"Does Ruddy know about this?" asked Maru. "I think Iris, but other than that, no," said Azeal. "It was a short conversation." "He's probably at his parents' place," said Skylar. "Probably," said Gygar. "Is it okay if we join your group?"
"Of course," said Maddy. "You and your friends are more than welcome to join us. We'll find him together. But just be prepared when we have to stop and rest. Me and Shredder are still young." "Oh no hurries," said Gygar. "We can rest here if you want. Me and the others have been wandering the forest for hours."
"More outcasts," said Shredder. "We're not the only ones." "We're all trying to find Jeremy and a place to be safe," said Azeal. "Who would have thought that Gygar would join us?'
So the gang had decided to rest in the forest. Seeing that Gygar and a few of his Calloustriches were also trying to find Jeremy, Maddy was glad to have them be part of their group. Once she and the rest of the gang find him, they would finally be safe from the evil Calloustriches.
End of Outcasts
Characters of Regular Life Outcasts
Malice: tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) The daughter of Melody and deceased Shabedoom.
Shredder: tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) son of Melody and deceased Shabedoom and Maddy's brother.
Azeal: Somali ostrich (Struthio camelus molybdophanes) An ex member of icrostrich. Maddy's best friend
Gabe: pocket gopher (Geomyidae) A grumpy pocket gopher who dislikes new people that are in the forest
Kuni: (Kitsune fox) A mythological creature that lives in the forest
Gygar: white ostrich (Struthio camelus) The original leader of icrostrich
Maru: white ostrich (Struthio camelus) An ex Calloustrich soldier of icrostrich
Jaren: white ostrich (Struthio camelus) An ex Calloustrich soldier of icrostrich
Skylar: white ostrich (Struthio camelus) An ex Calloustrich soldier of icrostrich