HOME | DD

Description
Commission for Cheetahs of his character Verksha, who is one of a fantasy panther species from his story-verse I love her colours!

Here is an excerpt written by him:

With every stiff, uncertain step Aros took towards the flickering light in the distance, the knot in his stomach tightened more and more. Nerves swarmed him like a pack of jackals, devouring what little self-control he possessed, exposing fears so deep they nauseated him upon emergence.

“You did… well, Verksha,” he attempted to distract himself from his inevitable fate by talking to his four-legged hunting companion. “Better than me. At least you have hunted something, while I…I’ve got nothing to show Father. Well, aside from the rabbit you carry in your mouth,” Verksha’s growl prompted him to correct himself.

He didn’t trust her. Then again, Aros’ suspicions encompassed every member of his family, their pets—such as Verksha padding beside him—included. Nevertheless, a cripple such as him could hardly hunt on his own, and now that Verksha’s jaws were busy carrying their quarry, he no longer feared her fangs that much.

Right now, the true source of terror loomed before him, an almost indistinct flicker of light accompanied by the occasional thunderous outburst of joy. It was, after all, a celebration!

Aros’ balance wavered, his vision dimming. He leaned against a tree for support, taking in deep breaths through his nose and exhaling his pent-up tension through his mouth. It was a simple but effective exercise, its effects amplified by the shadows the great oak cast upon him. Darkness comforted him; it banished the sources of light and their meaning, giving Aros a much-needed moment of respite.

It’s madness to go back, cowardice struck him for the fifth time tonight. You know what awaits you; what you will have to endure. Spare yourself the pain, the humiliation, and do the smart, reasonable thing.

“If we make it through the night, it’s thanks to you and your catch,” Aros said to the panther, her presence once again reminding him of the impossibility of running away. Father would give up on him without a second thought, but never on her. Not until he bred several litters worth of profit out of her. In that regard, Verksha’s gender made her indispensable to him, while the same couldn’t be said for Aros. He already had an older, more skilled, and far better fit son to inherit his rank and land. What need had he of a cripple?

At least I have a catch to show him, paltry as it is, Aros thought the final part, eying the limp rabbit hanging between the panther’s jaws. It wouldn’t do him any good to appear ungrateful before the only creature who stood by him. She was his only hope at actually contributing to his father’s hunt with his—their—own kill. Still, the knowledge that she could do better forever taunted Aros from the back of his mind. She had to, given her heritage, her price, her intelligence, her…everything!

That had yet to happen. Just like him, Verksha boasted potential, only to provide great disappointment to everyone around her later in life, when the promised late bloom failed to manifest. Aros’ weak, spindly constitution offered ominous warning concerning his future capabilities, but Verksha…Verksha had no such conspicuous flaws, other than the name given to her kind.

Within the borders of New Hynrath, everybody referred to her as a Dim panther. Rather than marvel at her abilities, Aros’ kind forever dwelled on the past, always comparing her species to her great and magnificent ancestors from time immemorial, the Empyrean panthers. Compared to them, her species grew small and stunted. She lacked their magic, as well as their ability to bridge their minds together and communicate as if human.

Compared to them, she was Dim.

12.5 hours
Character design and story excerpt © Cheetahs
Artwork by Sidonie 2018

Description
Commission for Cheetahs of his character Verksha, who is one of a fantasy panther species from his story-verse I love her colours!

Here is an excerpt written by him:

With every stiff, uncertain step Aros took towards the flickering light in the distance, the knot in his stomach tightened more and more. Nerves swarmed him like a pack of jackals, devouring what little self-control he possessed, exposing fears so deep they nauseated him upon emergence.

“You did… well, Verksha,” he attempted to distract himself from his inevitable fate by talking to his four-legged hunting companion. “Better than me. At least you have hunted something, while I…I’ve got nothing to show Father. Well, aside from the rabbit you carry in your mouth,” Verksha’s growl prompted him to correct himself.

He didn’t trust her. Then again, Aros’ suspicions encompassed every member of his family, their pets—such as Verksha padding beside him—included. Nevertheless, a cripple such as him could hardly hunt on his own, and now that Verksha’s jaws were busy carrying their quarry, he no longer feared her fangs that much.

Right now, the true source of terror loomed before him, an almost indistinct flicker of light accompanied by the occasional thunderous outburst of joy. It was, after all, a celebration!

Aros’ balance wavered, his vision dimming. He leaned against a tree for support, taking in deep breaths through his nose and exhaling his pent-up tension through his mouth. It was a simple but effective exercise, its effects amplified by the shadows the great oak cast upon him. Darkness comforted him; it banished the sources of light and their meaning, giving Aros a much-needed moment of respite.

It’s madness to go back, cowardice struck him for the fifth time tonight. You know what awaits you; what you will have to endure. Spare yourself the pain, the humiliation, and do the smart, reasonable thing.

“If we make it through the night, it’s thanks to you and your catch,” Aros said to the panther, her presence once again reminding him of the impossibility of running away. Father would give up on him without a second thought, but never on her. Not until he bred several litters worth of profit out of her. In that regard, Verksha’s gender made her indispensable to him, while the same couldn’t be said for Aros. He already had an older, more skilled, and far better fit son to inherit his rank and land. What need had he of a cripple?

At least I have a catch to show him, paltry as it is, Aros thought the final part, eying the limp rabbit hanging between the panther’s jaws. It wouldn’t do him any good to appear ungrateful before the only creature who stood by him. She was his only hope at actually contributing to his father’s hunt with his—their—own kill. Still, the knowledge that she could do better forever taunted Aros from the back of his mind. She had to, given her heritage, her price, her intelligence, her…everything!

That had yet to happen. Just like him, Verksha boasted potential, only to provide great disappointment to everyone around her later in life, when the promised late bloom failed to manifest. Aros’ weak, spindly constitution offered ominous warning concerning his future capabilities, but Verksha…Verksha had no such conspicuous flaws, other than the name given to her kind.

Within the borders of New Hynrath, everybody referred to her as a Dim panther. Rather than marvel at her abilities, Aros’ kind forever dwelled on the past, always comparing her species to her great and magnificent ancestors from time immemorial, the Empyrean panthers. Compared to them, her species grew small and stunted. She lacked their magic, as well as their ability to bridge their minds together and communicate as if human.

Compared to them, she was Dim.

12.5 hours
Character design and story excerpt © Cheetahs
Artwork by Sidonie 2018