Kan crouched in his den. The moonlight washed in weakly through the crack in the boulder cave. His eyes closed, his ears flat, he thought to himself of the battle to come. Claws would clash against fur. Teeth would meet tough muscle. Yowls would fill the air, the battle cries of two forces. Only one of those forces would win. It's a matter of destiny. Kan's breath billowed in the cold air, raising in a misty cloud before vanishing. He opened his icy blue eyes, the pupils dilating, as someone entered the den. Red's silhouette broke the milky light from the entrance of the den. The big tom crouched in front of his leader as a sign of respect. His eyes reflected the moonlight, flashing in the near darkness.
"You said we would attack soon." The tom tried not to sound impatient.
Kan gave a gritty purr, sitting up slowly as he stretched his claws. "I did say that didn't I." He licked a paw casually, his claws still extended. Red watched them carefully. He remembered how Kodiak had been beaten by the fiery ginger tom when he was called into the den. Kan was unpredictable in his temper. "Are the others ready?"
Red stayed in his crouched position, his muscles tense."As ready as they will be. You know the tribe cats will resist fighting." His voice deepened with irritation at the weaker cats. Kan flattened his ears, his tail tip twitching.
"Oh. Yes. I know they intend to resist my intentions no matter what they are. And that could be detrimental to us if they decide to fight on the side of the clan cats mid battle, which I would expect from them."
"So what do we do?"
The air billowed softly, making the cats shake out their pelts. Kan's blue eyes flicked from side to side as he thought, as though chasing an invisible piece of prey. "We'll just have to give them some motivation." His eyes darkened with an evil agenda. Red's ears pricked as he sat up slightly.
"And what could we motivate them with?" Kan explained the plan quietly. Red nodded, his expression grim. The two cats exited the den. Cats were already crowding around anxiously. Kan spotted Sitka in the crowd and pulled him aside. They spoke quietly for a moment, Red watching the scene quietly. Sitka's soft eyes hardened and he looked at his paws before he nodded. Leaving the black and white tom, Kan yowled for the cats to gather. They did so. Kan paced back and forth, resembling a caged tiger as his lips curled and ears flattened with anticipation.
"My brothers and sisters!" He said in a near mocking tone, knowing that was often how the tribe cats referred to each other. The other rouges sneered at the remark as well. "You know the time has come to claim what should rightfully be ours. It's a matter of destiny! We are stronger. We are smarter. We are the survivors. The conquerors!" Cats cheered, while others grimaced at his words.
Hawk stepped forward, seeming to have recovered from their fight remarkably well. "We'll never fight for you!" Kan's blue eyes glowed harshly as he eyed the brown tom. He tilted his head back and mrrrowed with amusement. Hawk looked around almost nervously.
"Oh I know you won't. Willingly that is." His tone was malicious. Kan looked to Sitka in the crowd, who had seated himself next to Cloud. The ginger tom flicked an ear and the rouge pounced on the white she-cat. He pinned her in a second, closing his jaw at the back of her neck.
Hawk yowled, about to come to her rescue, but Kan stopped him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you!" The brown tom glared fiercely at the rouge leader, his brown eyes desperate as he looked to his friend. She mewled in a panic, struggling to get free. "We can all clearly tell a hunter can't defend herself against a trained, battle worn cat, can't we? By the time you get over there, Sitka will have killed her. So, if I were you. I'd sit still and listen." Hawk sat stiffly, ears flat. The other tribe cats looked just as distressed.
"Why are you doing this!?" Hawk demanded. Cloud let out a wail. Kan sighed heavily, his tail tip twitching irritatedly.
"It's quite simple actually. This is your motivation. Tonight, you will go to the clan camp and fight along side us as hard as you can and to your best ability." Kan looked over at the white she-cat as she gave up the struggle, her blue eyes pleading. "And if you don't. You know, I think you get the picture. Sitka and our little Cloud here will stay behind at camp. If any of you disobey me tonight, he will know what to do." The tribe cat's exchanged panicked, defeated glances.
"And..if we fight for you?"
"She will be let go, unharmed. And we can all forget we had this little difference of opinions." Kan thought for a moment. "I'm feeling rather generous. I might even let you all go." This sent murmurs through the crowd. There seemed to be a silent agreement on the deal. There was really no choice. The ginger tom seemed highly satisfied that his plan had gone so accordingly.
Sitka felt Cloud's hard breath and smelled her fear as he pinned her down. The black and white tom knew he couldn't lighten his grip, though his teeth and claws slightly pierced her. So he quietly mumbled an apology, guilt sweeping over him. Kodiak seemed proud of his friend for being given such a special task.
"All right then! Now that we are a unified group, let's show those clan cats what true fear and defeat is!" The group roared with excitement, with the exception of the tribe cats, and Kan lead the front towards the clan camp. It wouldn't take long in the silent clear night to make it there. Soon the peace would be shattered with claws, teeth, and bloodshed. There's no way they can win. We are more prepared. We are better trained. Tonight we shall soak in the victory of new territory.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Training
"Wow, you actually caught it." Kodiak's deep voice resonated through the trees as he appeared out of the casting shadows. Sitka turned his head, prey dangling from his jaws as the black and white tom pranced over to his friend.
"Surprised?" He asked slyly, dropping the vole at the tabby's paws. Sitka had been practicing his hunting since Kodiak finally convinced him. He had never needed to hunt, they had always found food by scavenging or Kodi could just catch something for them. Sitka didn't like having to wait so patiently for the small creatures to come out of their burrows and be distracted enough that he could pounce on their unsuspecting bodies.
"A little." Kodi joked, giving his friend a shove before scooping up the prey and dashing off. Sitka regained his balance quickly and bolted after him.
"That's mine!" The black and white tom was nimble on his paws and could run faster than his shorter friend. It was moments like this Sitka could forget where they were. He could forget that they belonged to a band of murderous rouges who selfishly took whatever they wanted, disregarding the lives of the cats they took it from. The trees faded to rocks and Sitka realized they'd ran to the border.
Kodiak stopped, skidding rocks around him and dropped the vole at his paws. "I thought you were supposed to be faster than me!" Sitka didn't stop until he tackled him.
"I am!" The two cats jostled in a mix of black and cream tabby fur. A soft murmur from the trees startled them and they broke apart. Kan had been crouching in the shadows and now padded out of the tree line and through the rocky path to meet them. His blue eyes were friendly and almost amused.
"Having fun? You caught some prey I see." The ginger tom pawed at the vole, bending down to take a bite. He didn't ask. He didn't have to ask. Neither Kodi nor Sitka would dare tell him he couldn't. Sitka watched with a burning feeling in his stomach. It was leaf bare and prey was scarce. That was the first meal he had seen in days and now Kan was gulping it down without having done any of the work. Not to mention that was Sitka's first successful hunt. Kodiak seemed just as irritated and the two tom's flexed their claws but made no movement to stop their leader.
"We were just training..." Kodiak said, shifting uncomfortably. Sitka shared a glance with his friend and they both worried whether this was a punishable offense. We shouldn't be out here playing like kits. Kan sat up, licking his muzzle with satisfaction in his blue eyes. He hoped up onto a boulder and settled down into a crouch, tucking his paws beneath him and wrapping his tail around them.
"Oh, Im sure you were. Training to be kitty pets?" His tone his switched to harsh in the mere seconds that had followed him changing positions. "We don't play fight here. You know that. Or maybe Ive underestimated how mouse-brained you are." Sitka ducked his head, focusing on his paws as the scorn washed over him. Kodiak kept his head up and met his leader's eyes, if a bit unevenly.
"We're sorry. It won't happen again." He mewed, his ears swiveled back as he waited for Kan to unexpectedly pounce. It wouldn't be a surprise if he did, yet it always somehow seemed to throw the tabby off guard.
"I know it won't." Kan said after a moment of staring the two cats down. "It seems I have to remind this group what true training is, huh?" Sitka felt his fur begin to stand on end. Training was the worst thing besides the constant battle about being apart of the rouge group. Kodiak seemed just as unnerved. "Let's get back to camp." The three cats headed back, Kodiak and Sitka trying to ignore their growling stomachs and mounting fear.
"Surprised?" He asked slyly, dropping the vole at the tabby's paws. Sitka had been practicing his hunting since Kodiak finally convinced him. He had never needed to hunt, they had always found food by scavenging or Kodi could just catch something for them. Sitka didn't like having to wait so patiently for the small creatures to come out of their burrows and be distracted enough that he could pounce on their unsuspecting bodies.
"A little." Kodi joked, giving his friend a shove before scooping up the prey and dashing off. Sitka regained his balance quickly and bolted after him.
"That's mine!" The black and white tom was nimble on his paws and could run faster than his shorter friend. It was moments like this Sitka could forget where they were. He could forget that they belonged to a band of murderous rouges who selfishly took whatever they wanted, disregarding the lives of the cats they took it from. The trees faded to rocks and Sitka realized they'd ran to the border.
Kodiak stopped, skidding rocks around him and dropped the vole at his paws. "I thought you were supposed to be faster than me!" Sitka didn't stop until he tackled him.
"I am!" The two cats jostled in a mix of black and cream tabby fur. A soft murmur from the trees startled them and they broke apart. Kan had been crouching in the shadows and now padded out of the tree line and through the rocky path to meet them. His blue eyes were friendly and almost amused.
"Having fun? You caught some prey I see." The ginger tom pawed at the vole, bending down to take a bite. He didn't ask. He didn't have to ask. Neither Kodi nor Sitka would dare tell him he couldn't. Sitka watched with a burning feeling in his stomach. It was leaf bare and prey was scarce. That was the first meal he had seen in days and now Kan was gulping it down without having done any of the work. Not to mention that was Sitka's first successful hunt. Kodiak seemed just as irritated and the two tom's flexed their claws but made no movement to stop their leader.
"We were just training..." Kodiak said, shifting uncomfortably. Sitka shared a glance with his friend and they both worried whether this was a punishable offense. We shouldn't be out here playing like kits. Kan sat up, licking his muzzle with satisfaction in his blue eyes. He hoped up onto a boulder and settled down into a crouch, tucking his paws beneath him and wrapping his tail around them.
"Oh, Im sure you were. Training to be kitty pets?" His tone his switched to harsh in the mere seconds that had followed him changing positions. "We don't play fight here. You know that. Or maybe Ive underestimated how mouse-brained you are." Sitka ducked his head, focusing on his paws as the scorn washed over him. Kodiak kept his head up and met his leader's eyes, if a bit unevenly.
"We're sorry. It won't happen again." He mewed, his ears swiveled back as he waited for Kan to unexpectedly pounce. It wouldn't be a surprise if he did, yet it always somehow seemed to throw the tabby off guard.
"I know it won't." Kan said after a moment of staring the two cats down. "It seems I have to remind this group what true training is, huh?" Sitka felt his fur begin to stand on end. Training was the worst thing besides the constant battle about being apart of the rouge group. Kodiak seemed just as unnerved. "Let's get back to camp." The three cats headed back, Kodiak and Sitka trying to ignore their growling stomachs and mounting fear.
***
"Thanks to your friends Kodiak and Sitka, I've decided today is as good a day as any to train." Kan sat upon his boulder den, the sun washing over his pelt and lighting up his ginger pelt like a forest fire. His blue eyes scanned over every cat with a harsh gaze. His light mood was gone, replaced with an unpredictable anger. The cats in the clearing didn't say a word, but in a silent protest they all looked down. Sitka felt guilt sear through his black and white pelt. Kodiak was next to him, his expression looking just as guilt stricken.
"Get in groups of two."
Thursday, July 3, 2014
The Target
"It's a matter of destiny." Kan spat to Kodiak, who flattened his ears and cowered slightly. The fiery ginger tom paced his den, which used to be the tribes place to speak with their ancestors. It was a gap between two huge boulders, where the moon would shine through a small opening in the top and light up the grassy den with silver light. Now, the grass was torn up from sharp claws and the sides of the boulders streaked with blood from the battle warn cat coming in and plopping down after a fight.
"I..I don't understand."
"Of course you wouldn't!" Kan lunged forward, bowling the stalky tabby over and pinning him with sharp, curled claws. He knew he could easily kill the other tom, a swift bite to the neck and it would all be over for him. His ignorance would be punished. Kodiak shook as he struggled to get free, writhing and hissing in his effort. His pale green eyes lit with fear as he looked at his leader, the ginger tom's hot breath swirling around his muzzle. "We can't stop with this tribe. We have to continue on and take other lands, other cats!" This time, Kodiak knew better than to respond.
Kan let him up, sheathing his claws and shaking out his pelt. His mood immediately changed, as wasn't surprising. "You've been in this group long enough to know this, c'mon don't be a mouse brain." His tone was humorous. Kodiak stood on shaky paws, bumping his shoulder in his quick effort to stand. Blood dribbled from his shoulders, matting up the fur there.
"Sorry...I understand, its..its a matter of destiny." He didn't understand, but he repeated what his leader had said to appease him. Kan turned, licking a paw with his bright blue eyes focused on the other tabby tom.
"Exactly! Now you're getting it kid. So, we attack this Twilightclan next. They have a nice forest to live in with plenty of prey and they're strong cats. I want them and their territory." Kan licked his muzzle as if he was thinking of a satisfying piece of prey, his blue eyes staring past the other cat as he day dreamed about it. He'd be leader of more land and more cats. The swelling ambition in his chest never seemed to be satiable.
"But, if they're strong cats won't they be hard to conquer?" Kodiak asked, careful not to sound too questioning or undermining. Kan shrugged, unnerved by the thought of battle against powerful opponents.
"I like a challenge. Now, go tell the others. And Kodiak," Kan set his paw down, sweeping his tail around them. "You are a good fighter and a good member to this group." Kodiak lit up with the praise. "Don't question me again." Again, Kan's tone quickly changed to a threat. The stalky tom nodded earnestly and bound out of the den before he could take another beating. Kan was left alone in the den to day dream about his kingdom. The kingdom that would be his, filled with vast territories and loyal followers. He would be unbeatable and it was his right. The fiery ginger tabby crouched down, looking outside the cave with his blue eyes just slits. The moonlight broke through the gap above the den and washed over his muscled silhouette. It's a matter of destiny.
"I..I don't understand."
"Of course you wouldn't!" Kan lunged forward, bowling the stalky tabby over and pinning him with sharp, curled claws. He knew he could easily kill the other tom, a swift bite to the neck and it would all be over for him. His ignorance would be punished. Kodiak shook as he struggled to get free, writhing and hissing in his effort. His pale green eyes lit with fear as he looked at his leader, the ginger tom's hot breath swirling around his muzzle. "We can't stop with this tribe. We have to continue on and take other lands, other cats!" This time, Kodiak knew better than to respond.
Kan let him up, sheathing his claws and shaking out his pelt. His mood immediately changed, as wasn't surprising. "You've been in this group long enough to know this, c'mon don't be a mouse brain." His tone was humorous. Kodiak stood on shaky paws, bumping his shoulder in his quick effort to stand. Blood dribbled from his shoulders, matting up the fur there.
"Sorry...I understand, its..its a matter of destiny." He didn't understand, but he repeated what his leader had said to appease him. Kan turned, licking a paw with his bright blue eyes focused on the other tabby tom.
"Exactly! Now you're getting it kid. So, we attack this Twilightclan next. They have a nice forest to live in with plenty of prey and they're strong cats. I want them and their territory." Kan licked his muzzle as if he was thinking of a satisfying piece of prey, his blue eyes staring past the other cat as he day dreamed about it. He'd be leader of more land and more cats. The swelling ambition in his chest never seemed to be satiable.
"But, if they're strong cats won't they be hard to conquer?" Kodiak asked, careful not to sound too questioning or undermining. Kan shrugged, unnerved by the thought of battle against powerful opponents.
"I like a challenge. Now, go tell the others. And Kodiak," Kan set his paw down, sweeping his tail around them. "You are a good fighter and a good member to this group." Kodiak lit up with the praise. "Don't question me again." Again, Kan's tone quickly changed to a threat. The stalky tom nodded earnestly and bound out of the den before he could take another beating. Kan was left alone in the den to day dream about his kingdom. The kingdom that would be his, filled with vast territories and loyal followers. He would be unbeatable and it was his right. The fiery ginger tabby crouched down, looking outside the cave with his blue eyes just slits. The moonlight broke through the gap above the den and washed over his muscled silhouette. It's a matter of destiny.
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