*Flops in like a fish* Here's my own take on Bonfire Island because asdfghjk))
Vess, a young, and rather skinny Cheetah, stirred slightly and raised his paw. "If you'd like, I have a bit of a tale of my own to tell." He paused and gave a quick glance around. "This was an old story my Grandfather used to tell me. It's about Bonfire- I know, I know, That place isn't really known for its... Intelligence.. However, it wasn't always such a mundane and daft speck in the ocean."
The lanky Cheetah took a breath. "Long before your time, or your Father's time, or even your Father's Father's time, Bonfire was ruled over by beautiful winged creatures. Some sporting the strong, willful physic of a Canine, and others had the elegant, agile body of a Feline. But, despite their physical differences, they both were blessed with two grand, colorful wings planted upon their backs, and their pelts flashed with glorious colors, each hair gleamed as if lined with a rainbow, and their fur sparkled in both the light of the Sun and the glow of the moon. These magnificent creatures were dubbed 'The Beasts of the Light' in honor of their radiance."
"These 'Beasts of the Light' were highly revered leaders, nurturing young Bonfire with good heath, prosperity, and strong leadership. The most renowned of all of these creatures was a winged Lion known as Haffiner, whose pelt shone bright with vibrant oranges and reds like a flickering flame, and his mate Fadin, whose wings gleamed like the stars themselves. They carefully guided our dear Bonfire, and its visitors grew happy and thankful for their glorious leaders. Years past, and Fadin birthed a cub, who she named Ficho. The other 'Beasts of the Light' rather distraught by Haffiner's new son, as Ficho's pelt was not beautiful and perfect like the everyone else. Instead, little Ficho has splotched with horrid reds and greens, and his fur was patchy with specks of blue springing up like sores from a plague. Haffiner insisted that his son should not be judged, for 'My dear Ficho may not be perfect, but that does not make him any less than us. He is still a a child of the Light.' Haffiner spoke with wisdom, but Ficho's torment continued."
"As a cub, poor Ficho was constantly avoided. His ghastly pelt driving away anyone who was near him. Cut off from any attention, even refusing to talk to his own parents, the little cub shattered inside. Anger warped his vision, his view of the world. Hate crushed his feeling, his ability to love and to bond. As Ficho matured, he began conducting a few... Experiments. As a cub, he would slice open frogs, choke and die. Scarring and warping their faces, making them into grotesque rag dolls. Then, he moved up to squirrels, then fish, then birds, even playing with his food. The very prey that gave their life to sustain his, he would torture, beat, and break. Haffiner and Fadin were worried, their son would leave for days on end, not returning. His obsession grew, moving on to new subjects day after day, night after night until.... He did it."
Vess closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Ficho. Dear, little Ficho, kidnapped a pup... A defenseless child, taken from its family, to be broken and suffer the wrath of a scarred... A scarred Monster.... This time, Fadin and Haffiner heard the screams. They confronted Ficho, who stood over his 'handiwork': a crunched, battered pup. Haffiner was furious, Fadin was in shock. Ficho's father gave him a swift cuff to the side of his head, he didn't want to hurt his son, but Ficho had made a dire mistake. Fadin scooped up the broken pup and flew away as Haffiner interrogated his son who he had loved all these years. Ficho's only reply was, 'I am ugly. So I made them ugly too.' and the hideous beast flew from his Father's grasp. As time ticked on, Ficho's motives shifted from causing pain to ruling all of Bonfire himself. He would show them that he is powerful enough to strip them of their freedom, and seek revenge for the years of torment they caused him. Ficho gathered a group of followers, a cult if you will. Each member painted themselves with bright yellows, deep blues, and neon greens to match Ficho's horrendous fur. They layed low, trying to draw as little attention to themselves as possible, slowly excavating a complex tunnel system directly beneath Bonfire. That tunnel became known as Ficho Tunnel, after the one who declared its construction. I take it some of you may reside there?"
The Cheetah looked around, noticing a few nods from his audience, and continued. "Anyway, dastardly Ficho hatched a plan. At the dawn of the first full moon, he and his followers would attack. Dethroning his parents, and creating a new order. and Order of which he would rule with iron claws. They readied themselves, prepping for the grand battle. Upon the the dawn of the first full moon, a mighty roar rung out across Bonfire island, and from beneath the spiraling mountain, Ficho and his followers ran out, smashing through the weakened stone and leaving a gaping hole in there way. Canines and Feline alike, all of them had hideous, color-splotched coats, reflecting their leader."
"Old Haffiner rallied his own troops, trying to fend off Ficho's rather impressive forces, despite how ragtag and ill-minded they seemed to be. At last, Haffiner faced his own son, twisted and shattered, his grotesque pelt now slicked with deep crimson and sooty black from the battle. Ficho immediately launched himself at his Father's leg, in an attempt to cripple him. Haffiner rose into the sky with one swift stroke of his wing, Ficho following close behind. They fought above the Island, which was snow raging with full on war. Jaws snapping and claws slicing. Haffiner finally grabbed his dear son by the paws, locking their feet together, and whipped around, smashing Ficho's head into a rock. The impact killed him, falling limp in his Fathers grasp. Haffiner let out a roar, signaling that the war now had no purpose, as the opposing partie's leader was defeated. Ficho's remaining cult were either exterminated or had escaped, avoiding the victors grasp. Haffiner, however, could not bare so see Bonfire again. The destruction and hatred that his own, dear son had spread as too much for him. He, and a small group of his subjects, left the island permanently. To where, no one knows for sure, but he swore to never return. 'The Beasts of the Light' soon lost their respect, being called out for leaving their post. They were rejected, even called 'Sparkle Critters' as a mock name. Without a solid rule, Bonfire Island slowly slipped away, becoming a gaudy, mundane landscape compared to the prosperity it had felt before. Slowly, it became the Bonfire Island we know today."
With the final words of the story said and done, Vess bowed his head and left quietly.
Oh my, that was a novel, huh?))
