ORIGIN

The urge grew and grew with her until she could ignore it no longer. She wanted something, something that wasn't hers that she could take. Gems or other things, she didn't care so long as she could have it! From whispers around the cave, whispers that she'd eavesdropped on. The mongoose heard of a place called Canis where a "Bone King" ruled on his hill of bones. While she didn't like to eat bones she had seen a few before and thought they would make a great prize, perhaps even a weapon or trophy.

It didn't take long for her to find the place based on descriptions she'd heard. The place of bones greeted her, proving to be even more magnificent than she imagined. So many bones! So many things she could take! A fiendish glow of joy awoke in her heart as she pondered where she would start. She was still a novice in this craft so she knew not where to begin. Perhaps by checking if there was anyone around? Her silver eyes looked left, right, up, down and it was during this examination that she saw the large lammergeier. He was sitting on high with his nest of bones but behind a stalactite. It obviously obscured his vision so while she had the chance the tiny creature zoomed forward and ducked behind a large rock.

Hardly even realizing it her coat changed color, it's shade darkening to that of a deep brown color while the white of her coat changed to gray. It helped camouflage her better than the normal reddish color of her coat.

None too soon did she duck behind her rock and change her coat did she hear the large bird take a flight from his perch. She prayed that the creature wouldn't see her and he didn't. Sniggering softly to herself the mongoose continued onwards to a large bonepile near the middle of Canis. There she found two things of interest. A rabbit femur which ended in a sharp point where a bit of it had been broken off and a pink gem, her favorite color. She would just swipe both of these things and be gone before the bird-brain even knew what hit him.

Unknown to her when she grabbed the bone and gem it caused the pile to shift ever so slightly. One would only notice if they kept tabs on every part of Canis... a task that the Bone King no doubt did.

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The mongoose inspected the bone and the gem that she managed to procure from the pile. They were gorgeous! Well, the gem was gorgeous the bone just looked distinctly useful. It could be used to defend herself! No sooner had she thought this did she hear the sound of bird wings flapping.

Uh-oh.

The vulture! He must have left his perch! The mongoose put the gem in her mouth to carry while she kept the bone in her paw before ducking underneath the bone pile. She waited for him to come out or attempt to yell at her. But... nothing happened. Nothing at all. Had he forgotten she was there? Did he give up the chase? What would she do? Well... There was only one thing to do! She couldn't wait here all day so she would escape!

The mongoose focused her powers and attempted to dull the shade to blend in with the stone floor. Her coat desaturated somewhat, giving her a grayish color. It wasn't much but it was enough and now with the gem clasped in her mouth and the bone transferred to hold in her tail she bolted from her hiding hole. She attempted to quickly dash the way she'd come in an attempt to escape with her trophies. Going this way would surely get her spotted by the vulture but hopefully she would be quick enough to elude him.

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