The Thylacine (Pending title)

Author’s note: I have been a large fan of the thylacine since I first read about it in a Kratts Creatures book about endangered and extinct animals. This beautiful animal so heavily misunderstood, hunted into extinction. But sightings have been reported for several years, yet no full confirmation that they still exist. So, in a fantasy style, I bring you a reason sightings are being reported.

~Prologue~

    During the early 1800s  and ending in the mid 1900s, the Tasmanian tiger, a highly misunderstood carnivorous marsupial, was hunted into extinction by European settlers in Tasmania. Benjamin, the very last Tasmanian Tiger, died in the Hobart Zoo in 1936. It was then, in 1986, that the Tasmanian Tiger was declared extinct by international standards, or so they think.

    It’s 1918 in Tasmania and the Tasmanian tiger is nearing extinction. Dogs can be heard in the distance, barking as they run toward their target. A small family of four thylacine, the last four in the area after the entire clan was killed by hunters and their dogs, are on the run from them. The mother is carrying her pups in her reverse pouch, trying her best to keep up with her mate. The pups stare in fright and confusion, wondering what they are to do now. The mother begins to tire, the sounds of barking getting louder. “Bon,” the tired mother yells out, slowing a little. “I-I can’t go any further. T-the mutts and hunters are catching up to us much too fast.”

    Bon, the mother‘s mate, stops and looks back at his frightened lover and mother of two, once three. He looks around a bit then races toward a tree where there is a small opening for them to hide. “Ava, you and the pups hide in here,” Bon says lowly, nudging his love into the small opening. “I will hold them off long enough for you and the pups to escape,” he says with a mouth full of fallen, wet leaves and sticks. He places the wet leaves and sticks in front of the opening, hoping to hide their scent from the hunters. Ava stares in fright, watching her love run off out of sight to ward off the hunters.

    The barking turns to violent snarling and sadden whimpers then ending in a single gun shot. Ava looks through a tiny opening between the leaves to see what is going on, only to find her lover in the hands of a hunter holding a rifle. The lifeless corpse of the young male sways as the hunter begins to walk off toward the edge of the forest, dragging the body by the tail. One of the dogs follow with pride as another slowly makes it’s way toward Ava and her pups, sniffing the ground and following their scent. The hunter yells in an unnatural language to Ava and the dog runs off to follow the other two. The two pups climb out of the pouch and cuddle up to Ava, whom of which curls up a little and silently mourns the death of her beloved mate.

    It’s the middle of the night and a rustling sound is heard. Ava’s ears perk a bit and she looks up, seeing the sticks and leaves moving. Ava pushes the pups behind her and she stands a little, her fur rising as the pile is pulled away from the opening. Sniffing sound is heard, followed by low growling, waking the pups and scaring Ava. A loud crackling sound is heard and the unseen animal runs off, whimpering in pain. Ava stares, wondering what is going on, then stares in shock as the small opening widens on its own. Brown and green hair flow easily in the wind, soft and bright. A human-like hand reaches out, no weapons in sight, greeting Ava with gentleness and kindness.

    A gunshot is heard and the hand lowers, the wind stopping. Ava stares, seeing the fading smile on the figure, her eyes glazing over as she falls. The pups yelp for their mother, watching her bleed out, her breath fading. The figure turns quickly, shouting is heard, then more gunshots. The young female thylacine pup closes her eyes tightly, burying her head as the conflict continues outside the tree. The young male looks down at his frightened sister then up as a figure appears, overcastting the moonlight. A gloved hand reaches in, grabbing the pups from their safety and carried off. The female stares at the motionless body of the figure that tried fighting back. The male tries reaching for his sister, the two whimpering for their mother. The hunter stops and stares at the two pups then down at his hungry looking dogs.

    The pups are dropped to the ground in front of the dogs and the hunter, in a language the pups cannot understand, speaks to the dogs. The dogs growl and snarl a little at the pups then slowly back away with their tail between their legs. The hunter looks back, yelling out to his dogs, flashing his lantern in their direction. As he approaches, he sees two small children, cold, naked and scared, huddled together, staring at him for hope. The hunter looks around, trying to find the two pups then takes the children inside. The little girl looks back, watching a figure disappear into the forest. The little girl closes her eyes.

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Hello everyone, Artist Chibi here. What do you all think of the prologue? I'm hoping to find the rest of my story and post more up onto here as time goes on. Sadly, the other chapters are in my old PC. The motherboard fried and it is not known whether the hard drive is safe to use or not, if it can be used at all.

Also, have you all noticed the new logo and contact me icons? Yup. I have been pretty busy, prettying up the site so let me know what you think of it so far.