Thursday Prompt

In the Old Days

By: CJ Wolf

Shawn grinned evilly under the hood of his overcoat, “Actually I was I was hoping you’d say that.”  He stated; his words colder then the heavy rain that was falling, as he jumped down from the branch on which he’d been perched.  The lightning flashed and a horrible scream split the air only to become lost in the thunder.

Inside on the couch Katie covered her ears with her paws and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the screams from outside.  She hoped Shawn would be alright, but she also didn’t really want to know exactly what was happening out there.  A few moments later there was another flash, but this one seemed to come from inside the house.  Katie looked up to find a tall black panther standing just beyond the other end of the couch.  He held out a large paw, “Come with me miss.  I assure you I mean you no harm.”

Katie retreated back as far as she could on the couch, hugging her knees and curling up as small as she was able.  “Shawn, Help.” She cried in a loud voice, she whimpered slightly as the panther took a step towards her.

The front door flew open as Shawn charged through it, leaping over the back of the couch he brought the glowing blade of his ion sword down in a powerful overhead strike. Sparks lit the room as his blade met unexpected resistance, the air cracked and hissed as the two ion swords pressed firmly against each other.  Shawn glared into the eyes of his opponent, the rage and wrath burning in his pupils.

But behind the anger in the human’s eyes the panther saw something else, something very familiar. The large feline pressed his arm out and around, bringing the crossed blades lower to allow him a better view.  “Shawn Daniels?” He said quietly, as if he was almost talking to himself.

The burning in Shawn’s eyes vanished almost instantly, replaced by a slightly puzzled look, that voice was known to him, it was different then he remembered, but it was still similar a  voice from his past. “Daren?  It can’t be, Lieutenant Daren Star?” Shawn stepped back, lifting his blade before deactivating the weapon.

“Actually it’s Lt. Commander now.” The Panther replied as he deactivated his sword as well.

Shawn practically jumped forward wrapping his arms around the larger feline.  “I didn’t think I’ve ever get to see you again.  You’ve changed a bit since I left.”

Daren returned the embrace of his old friend.  “You look like you’ve been keeping well.”

“Shawn, what’s going on?” Katie said from her curled up position on the couch, a look of complete bewilderment on her muzzle.

Shawn steeped back from Daren and reached out his hand to his girlfriend, “it’s alright Katie, those people outside won’t ever bother you again.”  He said softly as Katie placed her paw in his hand and he pulled her slowly from the couch.  “Daren here is a very good old friend of mine from back in the old days.”

Daren smiled and put a paw up to his ear, “Yes I just figured that out too.”  He said into the microphone tucked inside his collar.  “Speaking of those people outside Shawn, you know Captain Wolf is going to want to speak with you about it.”

“Yes,” Shawn said at length, placing his arm around Katie’s shoulders and rubbing her softly, “I’m sure he will have a few choice things to say as well, but it couldn’t be helped.”

Shawn looked into Katie’s eyes, “Come on hun, we’ll go with Daren; you can have a nice hot shower and get changed out of those wet clothes while he and I sort out this mess.”

Katie wrapped her arms armed Shawn’s chest and laid her head against his shoulder, nodding silently.

In a flash the three were gone.

The End…