So Close, Yet So Far 2

By N. "Karmakat" Franzetti

Just when things couldn’t get any better...
Karmakat has settled into a life with his mate and adopted family, wanting for nothing more than a normal life. As normal as it can be for someone in his situation, anyways.
Then something changes.
Can the hope of a new future mend a soul torn apart by its past?
The story of our group continues as they face new trials, encounter new situations and uncover revelations about old enemies and their own legacies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: N. "Karmakat" Franzetti
• Release date: May 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312171473

N. "Karmakat" Franzetti

am grey and black lion that is addicted to tatoos, drawing, writting and music. i read very different kinds of stuff and decided to start writting my own story and some short stories.i can't get on without music and it helps me writting. i even started writting some scenarios and helping other artist with their skill and the skill i have. otherwise most of the time i am mostly drawing or watching movies while dancing on the beats. i just hope you enjoy my works

Book preview

FOREWORD

A few years ago I started this new adventure of writing the stories that run into my crazy imaginations since I am a kid.

Since it I did some short stories, some fan stories, and this is the second novel that I do about my crazy world following this clan I created. As normal to every novel, through time the characters grow and change a bit. So for those that read the first one you will probably notice some differences, and not just in my writing style.

This book explains more stuff that I couldn’t exactly introduce in the first novel, you get to read some part of the past and other surprises. This book isn’t only about fights for survival like the first one but being accepted too for who you are in a way. Or at least that’s how I intended it.

You will also find a bonus story I had promised following the sales of the first novel. In it you will find the answer to the long asked question How did Lukwos and Kat meet?

Since it was too short to be put in paper by itself I decided to put it inside the second novel for people that prefer paper versions.

Since the first books people, at con or friends, keep asking me where I got a crazy story like that. Some even accused me of writing my dreamed life into them. To all of them all I will say is that I read a lot, in various subjects, and watch a lot of TV series, animations and movies. And the fact that I spent a lot of time in bed, I often retired into my imagination in consequence.

Imagination is a muscle like another in a way that just needs training to be used in a good way and share with the world. Although even I couldn’t imagine that a character I created in a MMORPG years ago, would gain a story and such a background.

But I grew fond of that team and keep on imagining their new adventures. Right now I even got a start of ideas for book 3.

In this actual book you will see how through adversity the only real way to lose is to give up. Life has been tough for a lot of people, and yes to me too. But giving up is the worst mistake you can do in those case.

Since the first novel I have been through a lot of disappointments too. It was from the range of losing friends very close to my heart, or other difficulties in life. I just don’t like to give up and the fact that I have some very good friends with me. I have Wuffy, Jake, Matt, Henry (or Ango), Goofbear, Aceofkeys, Zura, Mantitaur, Lilspoon, Sevsquirrel, nexus and they help me keep my heart warm through the bad times. I can’t ever be grateful enough for all of them. It’s nice to have them around to keep my engine and faith going sincerely. Getting some support sure always help for sure.

The first book started as a challenge to myself to give more body to my characters and give them a real story to go with them. At first I had only two characters, it then fanned out to more of them. And I got attached to each of them in their very different ways.

Ways I hope you will also get attached too in your own ways once you get to know them more in depth. Right now I have already ideas for a third book and another kind of series that started in my short story book.

I also really have to praise Ango for his amazing work on the illustrations. He really worked ‘his tail off’ on them even through school exams and it was a GREAT pleasure to see the progress of the book with him. So thank you Ango you managed to put so much emotions in the art I asked you for the second novel that it was unbelievable, it was a damn pleasure to have you as a partner for this book.

Author web pages:

N Karmakat Franzetti

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/karmakat/

http://karmakat01.deviantart.com/

http://karmakat-theblacklionden.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FJS8WBW

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kazenoskara

Ango76

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/ango76

http://ango76.deviantart.com/

INTRODUCTION

As we mentioned last time, our world might not be the only one around, but as any form of life, it can be full of surprises.

We mentioned, more specifically, a particular lion with a destiny different than that of others. He always thought he would die alone and rejected, but things changed in the most surprising way ever.

Little did he know when he arrived in this new city that saving a wolf would set in motion a change for his entire life…

By saving Lukwos, he found a place to live, and people accepted him. It was the beginning of what he could call…a family.

Over time, he learned that he wasn’t only sharing his body with a demon but also a kind angel. Along the road, he made new friends and found help from people who had created their own kind of family. Then he had kids joining him and this gave him another reason to hold on to and appreciate his life.

In the midst of all the fights and life discoveries, the most unbelievable thing happened to him…something he didn’t even dare dream about.

He found someone he could love and be loved by in return, in a deeper way than friendship.

But of course, life can’t be all perfect and serene.

As they are living in their new place as a new family, dark forces are still gathering outside. And they are still keeping an eye on him…

CHAPTER 0

A Flashback

Lukwos

It had been a damn rainy day and the news advised the whole city that a storm was brewing on us for that night. I was preparing dinner when I saw Kat coming in drenched in water followed by Massak. Once they were inside Kat hugged and kissed Massak while drying both their fur and clothes. I couldn’t help but chuckle seeing that handy way to use his powers while still enjoying it.

Once they are done I tell them So found anything… ‘mildly interesting’ at all during that patrol?

As answer he shakes his head and says I think that the smartest ones will at least be scarce during that storm since I can use it with my abilities. I smile at him and tell him Well why not enjoying a night all together then here? After smiling at me he says It will be safer for all of you if I stay around during this storm anyway.

We all set up dinner together with the kids and eat while laughing and talking all together. Then nearly at the end of the meal the electricity goes off. I see Kat concentrating and then he says seems half of the city got a cut in electricity… all natural from what I can feel. We move in the living room with some cocktails for us and hot chocolates for the kids with some desserts. As we seat Massak and Kat do both some magic to have some flame floating around us providing us with heat and light.

I watch the kid while they laughing together, and on the other side Kat is holding Massak in his arms while nuzzling his neck or nibbling on his ears. Getting some cute whimpers out of Massak with a blush in the process, which is most probably the point knowing him and how much they are in love.

I look around us, and at the floating fires before I say You know guys… this is reminding me my camping years as a pup. When we would be telling each other’s stories by the fire.

Massak smiles at that and says Yeah I understand you, back in my village its Nilak that does the same to us and to explain some stuff to the kids and new generations.

In reaction Kat starts chuckling and says So ‘wolf storyteller’, what story are you going to unravel for us on this stormy night by the fire? I wasn’t expecting it and feel a bit taken aback by it not knowing what story I could be telling.

Then we hear from the corner right next to us Jaky shyly says Well… you both could tell us how you met? If…. that’s not a problem of course. I see Wuffy jumping on his seat turning around to face me with a big smile before he says That’s true yeah, we never knew how you and Kat met. On the corner of my eyes I see Kat rubbing on his loop earing with a chuckle before giving a lick on Massak's neck, getting a shiver out of him, and he says I wondered when they would be asking us that one bro. I guess you are on and I ‘fill in’ some spots if needed?

I rub the back of my head, take a drink, and tell everyone Well I guess that’s me yeah. So the day I had met Kat the first time I was just getting around the end of my first year as a model and was getting my fair success. A brand of street style clothes had asked me to be their model.

I hear Kat chuckling at that, probably remembering the outfits I had to wear and I won’t mention for sure, before he says And of course they wanted it in a ‘proper background’ to have more impact. I give a big smile and say Yeah they had indeed wanted us to use that old warehouse in the suburb of the city that was disaffected and falling apart.

I hold my glass, knowing I will probably need a refill but we got supplies next to us that Kat is keeping chill so that’s all okay on that part, before I say I remember that day I had all kinds of emotions since what I had to do. It was my very first huge brand and I had to make it count. The problem is that also I had an odd feeling twisting my stomach since a few days. I always had them since I was a cub and my parents always told me to take deep breathes that it’s just stress induced.

Kat chuckles as Massak gives a surprise yelp on the corner, making us realize he nibbled his neck by surprise, then takes a drink before he says That was their wishful thinking to a point they couldn’t imagine. I take a sip of mine and nod saying Yeah I always had an odd feeling in the wrong moments or possible accidents around me all my life but wasn’t used to listen to my guts back then. I relax back in my seat and see Kat is refilling my glass because we both know how the events of that day unravel. I give a sigh before I say We had just arrived in the warehouse and my guts were getting their worst since a while. The staff was being worried as hell that I was about to faint or something and I was the only model that the line of clothes wanted for that shoot, they had set other models in other set like ours after all. I just told them I would be okay with some fresh air.

I see the kids drinking their chocolates very slowly while Jaky tries to take a bite of his cookie without making a sound and that makes me smile before I go on I was going outside the warehouse set with some stuff to chew on and a water bottle when I saw some of the staff in the corner of my eyes trying to move a ‘huge slumped figure’ that was trying to hide under a big long cloak near a trashcan. I remember how funny it was that they were both getting excited in front of it to try to make it move while it wasn’t giving any reaction to their presence in anyways. I sip some more and say Then I saw one of them giving a kick in the shape and I couldn’t stand there anymore just watching. My parents are very religious and charity been taught to my family as something that should be done when we can. So to my point of view, even IF he was a homeless, we were the one invading his space not him. So I started walking toward them and realize my stomach was starting to feel better as I got closer to them. I get near them and tell them to leave him alone.

Kat lays his muzzle on Massak’s shoulder and say He had actually managed to scare them away from the ‘said slumped figure’ and then started talking to it.

I take a big sip of my glass while he talks before I give a chuckle. I then add I then spent the next 10 minutes talking to it, trying to excuse their behaviors, without getting barely a reaction in return. The thing is I didn’t want to get away from him yet because my body and stomach was relaxing in his presence. After a few minutes I think he just considers me same as the others and worries I am going to kick him or something too and that’s when I hear something…

The kids gasp and tense up waiting for the rest while I give a smile … his stomach gave a big rumble and I couldn’t help laughing. So I ended up offering him the cereals and chocolate bars I had on me with the water bottle and had to coerce him into taking them. Both Kat and I chuckle knowing what I am going to say next Imagine my surprise when I see that giant grey hand with markings on it coming out slowly from the cloak and gently grabbing what I was offering him.

Kat laughs and rubs his cheeks on Massak, while the sweet husky says I can imagine that’s it’s not something you imagine… especially with the size of his hands. Kat gives another chuckle before he says Especially snowflake because back then my size was slightly smaller too. Then it was time for another surprise.

Everyone turns to me and I say He wanted to get up to thank me properly for my small gifts and I nearly gulped when I realized he was a head taller than me even if not being aggressive at all. Kat gives another chuckle as Massak says I bet you said something along the line of ‘my god you are huge’ at that point? I nod at Massak before I say More or less on the mark mister, but then I just started talking with him and he seemed surprised I wasn’t running away from him.

I gulp more of my glass, see Kat and Massak do the same, before I add I had started to get a very good feeling for that ‘big lump’ that barely talked and his voice just kept helping me relax. So when the staff called me to start the photo-shoot I asked him if he would agree to wait for me and I could treat him with better food that chocolate bars if he agreed.

I chuckle and say Boy wasn’t I expecting that deep voice say ‘Why would you be doing that for me?’ and I had just chuckled and told him it was as a thank you for helping me calm the bad feeling I had when I arrived in this place and, in that benefit, not make me screw up my chance. I look down in my glass remembering the feeling at that moment and add That’s when I realize that he changed his posture and behavior… he wasn’t scaring me at all still. I was just feeling… safe in his presence, like he had just silently vowed to keep me safe no matter what.

We all finished our drinks so Massak goes quick to get more hot chocolate for the kids while Karmakat and I make more cocktails. As we are both at the table I tell him I hope you don’t mind reliving those times. To that he turns his head to me in a big smile No I am okay with that… this is how I met my crazy wolf of a best friend that changed so much in my life. And he grabs me in a tight one arm hug in result.

We all seat back in our spots and see the kids are just impatient for me to go on. So we all get set up, Kat grabbing Massak on his way to have him in his arms again and telling him Sorry snowflake but I ‘need’ my fluffy plushy to go through this story. And he gave a chuckle as Massak rubs the back of his head on Kat’s muzzle. I give a smile at them before I go on The moment I was walking back toward the warehouse I felt my stomach starting to twist again. I was taking deep breath and keeping in mind the feeling of safety he had given me to keep going. I drink more of my glass and look toward Kat when I say Regularly I had feeling going through my body that made me wonder if I was going to pass out. And I remember they kept being chased away by a ‘gentle breeze’ finding his way toward me. I kept looking at the sky regularly and sending my thanks for this support coming from nature. I take more of my drink and say That’s when I realized things were going south as some of the staff members had disappeared. I keep my eyes on Kat and say Of course everyone was saying they probably been mugged by the guy that was outside and I started to defend him for whatever reason going through in my heart.

We were nearly done with the shoot when it really hit the fan this time. As I was walking back a big metallic pole started to fall on the cameraman and I barely had the time to push him out of the way. Then everyone started to panic saying a group of monsters had EATEN one of the staff members. We all finish our glasses so we use the pitcher to refill it when I say I thought they were going crazy from stress… until I saw them too.

I hold my glass with both hands and say They had blood dripping from their claws and they really were… nothing of ‘normal’ for sure at this point. I sigh and say I had grabbed a pole and tried to hit them with it while the staffs were trying to get one of them from the floor away from them. I shake a little knowing what comes next in the story and I feel the hands of both Wuffy and Jaky on my legs as support while getting a smile from Massak and Kat. I take a deep breath and say Whatever I tried they were just toying with me and even killed two more of the staff in front of my eyes. Then one grabbed me by the leg and was holding me upside down saying ‘You are the tasty snack we smelled that came into our perimeter aren’t you?’. I didn’t know at all what he meant and I just kept trying to squirm my way out of his grasp. I get a shiver and say He was lifting me up and opening his wide toothy and slimy mouth to make short snacks of me. I was getting desperate and I had yelled at him ‘Don’t confuse me with a pussy that is going to take it laying down bastard.’ And I had hit him with the staff on the head finally managing to hurt him. I look at Kat making him understand he is going to have to add his two cents soon and say While I was falling I realized the staff in my hand was glowing and the demon was screaming but still trying to kill me before I fell. That’s when something happened again a big cloak landed on the demons head and I found myself landing in some big strong arms.

Kat then chimes in saying And a big voice saying ‘normally I would resent that comment but you really are someone interesting since what you did’. Your face when you realized it was me bro that was cute and funny.

I chuckle before I say Well until now all I was seeing is your big cloak and I wouldn’t have known it was you if it wasn’t for your hands holding me up, which was the only part of your body I had saw before. I then grab a cookie to snack on and say He then had put me on the floor and stepped in front of me. He was showing so much confidence that I was feeling safe once again. I had started looking at him more in details. I was watching his tattoos, that were way different back then, and was wondering how his pants weren’t falling apart yet. Everyone chuckles or laughs at that and I say Well yeah fashion was already my passion back then, I couldn’t help it.

I realize that Hikari and D are right next to us and that Hikari is chewing cookies slowly while looking at me with big curiosity in his eyes. I smile at them all and say I had then put my hands on his shoulder and tried to get him to get away with me. He had just given me a tired smile and walked toward them saying out loud ‘I am Karmakat Silverwind and I won’t let you touch more innocent souls be it the last thing I do on this life.

Everyone gasped and turned toward Kat for explanations about why he said that. So he gave a sheepish smile and said Well sincerely I had no idea how much strength I had left at that point. I was starving and had not a whole lot of real sleep. I see Massak holding Kat’s hand tighter and giving him a sweet kiss on his cheek before they all waited for me to go on.

I look at them all and say During my growing up years, and in the hope of being a model as I dreamed, I had gone through a lot of different classes. I had taken gym, yoga, different martial art to keep working my body fit and ready for any kind of contract. But what I saw next I wasn’t expecting at all.

I take another sip and say The demon in front of us had gotten his face free from the cloak and was running toward us while screaming. Kat had just side stepped the fist coming at him and then jumped on the demon head ripping his head off by spinning his body around him.

I know they are all waiting for the rest of the story, so I go on promptly Of course the rest of the demons arrived to try to kill us. I looked as Kat was just jumping around, hitting them at any chances he had and I was enthralled by the movements he had, so far I had only seen those in movies. I grab another cookie and say Then I was brought ‘back down’ by the scream of the make-up lady that was about to have a panic attack. At that moment I knew mine had been a lucky shot earlier and all I could do to help him was to get the people away.

Then Kat get his muzzle away from Massak's ear and says While he was gone I was able to try to finish this faster by using some magic, problem was I was really tired and it took a lot out of me. But not just that… he gives a big sigh and finishes his glass and while Massak refills it he says It made the demons realize who I was and they decided to just try to kill me at whatever cost. The last ones started gathering energy to make themselves explode and normally I could have taken care of that even tired.

I heave a sigh and finish my glass too before I say I walked back in to see if I could do anything to help him. Kat reacted right away by pushing me outside with a big gust of wind and step in front to take the worst of the explosion on him and save us all. I look down at my glass while Wuffy refills it for me, probably feeling like I needed it at this point, and I add I was outside and out of my mind… the building had exploded and collapsed on Kat. He had risked his life for me just because I had ‘given him chocolate bars and a bottle of water’… I couldn’t accept that. I started yelling at the staff to call 911 and help me try to dig him out from the rubbles. At first they hesitated but I was barking so much at them that they promptly reacted after a minute.

I gulp more of my drink before I add The whole time I was praying for him, calling to god to let me save him. I knew, at that moment that, if it wasn’t for him, I would have probably blown my biggest chance in life for that job, and worst… would have probably died that day. I drink some more, then I feel the kids coming to seat on each sides of me on the sofa, so I smile at them and add I was digging like a lunatic everywhere. Refusing to stop until I had found him and done everything I could for him. It took us time but with the firemen and all we had finally found him in a pool of his own blood. I give a look toward Kat and say The paramedics were surprised he even still had a heartbeat even if in a coma, and they told me something that pissed me off at that moment. I hold the glass tighter and say They dared to tell me ‘are you sure you want to put his life in debt since what he is going to need to have a chance to survive? I literally screamed at them that I would pay for him, that I owed him that much for saving our lives and risking his and how could they even dare just talk about money in moments like that."

I drank more of my glass and then said They got right away at work on him, took him to the best clinic they could and I was filling papers. I then rub the corner of one of my eyes and say For years I kept going to see him every time I could, not wanting to give up on him as he didn’t even needed machine to breath anymore but was just not waking up. Then I smile from a corner of my mouth and say Imagine my surprise when one day the nurse staff called me in panic mode telling me there was a TORNADO inside his room and they weren’t sure if he was okay. I thought the demons were coming for him again and I made my way toward the clinic giving up everything I was supposed to do. I chuckle remembering the next events The nurses were hysterical and trying to stop me from going inside his room. When I finally made my way inside I saw that soft green glow emanating from his body as the tornado kept speeding up. I got myself close enough to realize that his tattoos were ‘redrawing themselves’ on his body as I was holding onto his bed to not be sent flying away. I then throw a cookie toward him that he grabs on the fly and adds And when FINALLY the storm stopped you wouldn’t believe what were his first words. He told me ‘any chance you would have some real food with you this time… I am starving’. I swear I exploded laughing and started ordering take out for him in results.

Kat starts munching on the cookie, and feeding some bites with Massak, before he says And that was the day I ended up with that crazy wolf that really stuck into my life in a way that I can’t even thank him enough still at this point.

We all chuckle, before Massak adds Well you did stuck in all our lives too babe you know? And, still in this day, you still keep risking your life for us every time without hesitating. To that Kat smile and give a soft lick on Massak’s nose before saying Yeah, I will admit to that but… if I was any other way I wouldn’t be this happy now in my own family don’t you think?

And I chime in saying I wouldn’t have you any different way, even though the regular worries you give us, than the way you are now. Same as I wouldn’t do anything differently what I did for you and since I met you. We then all chuckle together when I see a more serious look on Kat’s face.

We all stand up, having a pretty good idea of what it could be, and after a minute he says I feel a big energy a few blocks away guys… guess they really don’t know better after all. So we all three get up and dress up before I say chuckling Time to get soaked. Getting a smile from Massak and a laugh from Kat in return. as we head out I realize, once again, how he changed my life and how much I am grateful for that in some many ways. I really wouldn’t have done things any differently.

CHAPTER 1

Nightmares…

It’s dark. I can’t see anything. I don’t understand…this feels nothing like the astral plane.

I am not even feeling my own body; I don’t know if I am moving or not. I understand less and less what is going on until I start smelling a scent that I know way too much, and that I hate. This iron-kind of scent—the kind that turns my stomach into a loop—is so thick that I am scared to know from where it’s coming…the scent of blood.

Slowly the scenery changes, I see the pool of blood surrounding me. It’s literally everywhere, and even if I don’t feel my body right now, I know I am on the edge of a panic attack. I try to look more closely, and I start seeing shapes appearing. Suddenly I realize that the shapes are bodies…piles of them. I should be hyperventilating, but my body isn’t reacting at all.

Then something attracts my attention, two blood-red eyes floating in the darkness and showing a smirk with sparkly, pointy teeth. The strange face is looking at me, without moving. I start wondering if he is going to attack me. Did he trap me? Am I next? What is going on? Then the shadows around him dissipate, and I see more bodies right next to him. Except I know these bodies perfectly…they are my friends, my family, the most important people in my life. I want to scream, I want to yell at him and insult him. I want to beat him into a pulp…but my body doesn’t move, and I just feel despair.

At that moment, I wake up in my bed panting in the middle of the night. Massak is still asleep in