Legacy

[Aeria Gloris]

"I don't think it looks that bad," said the broad-shouldered tom when he looked down at his reflection.

Kite turned around, trying to catch a glimpse of the faint scar on his side. It was well-hidden beneath his pelt, but he was still conscious of it. He already thought the rat bite scar was enough, but then the run-in with that rogue happened. He shuddered, remembering his mother's reaction when she saw the blood.

"Dad made sure the scar wouldn't show too much. I asked him to myself!"

[PickeBicke]

The tabby she-cat purred, reaching out to cuff her brother gently behind the ears. Her eyes sparkled as she watched him turn about like a dog chasing its tail. She remembered how wide-eyed Kite had been as their father treated the wound with alder and marigold, certain that his pelt would be marred for life.

"He also made sure that cat wouldn't be able to sit right for moons," Tiger smirked. "Though you're lucky he didn't turn his claws onto you. Upset mom and you incur his wrath!" A laughing purr bubbled in her throat as she padded over to bump her cheek against his chin. "Now stop mooning over yourself like a love-struck kittypet!"

[Aeria Gloris]

Swatting his sister's tail with his, Kite meowed, "Hey, if any other rogue sees a single scar on my pelt, they're going to want to fight. By obsessing over my appearance, I avoid trouble that'll cause Mother any worry. Now wait there while I get a drink, sister."

The tom turned towards the creek, pausing a moment to glance at his blue and green eyes, and began to lap at the cool, refreshing water. He had no idea something massive lurked below.

[PickeBicke]

Cool blue eyes scanned the surface of the slow-flowing creek, a large paw reaching out to sink experimentally into the water. The gentle current tugged at the limb ever so slightly, and the tom smirked as he placed another paw in beside the first. Slowly, the rest of his body followed until he stood shoulder-deep in the creek. The water flowed through his thick fur and made it billow out around him like some strange, wet cloud.

Taking a smooth breath he waded in a bit further and allowed himself to slip under the surface. Curling his claws into the silt at the river bottom he began to pull himself upstream, hardly a ripple betraying him at the surface. He continued in this fashion for a time, occasionally rising to the surface to replenish his air supply before diving back down.

On one of these breathing rounds the tom's keen eyes spotted two young cats moving about on the far bank. A small hint of recognition flit through his blue orbs just before his lips twisted into a terrifying smirk. Without a sound he slipped back below the surface and began to swim with sure, steady strokes in their direction.

Tiger had just been about to sneak up her brother and shove him into the creek when a gigantic white form came hurtling up out of the water in a shower of icy droplets. A pair of steely front paws wrapped around the back of Kite's neck, latching on firmly as their owner gave a triumphant hiss. Before her stunned brain could process what had happened, her brother had been yanked down into the water with a startled yowl.

Even with his tell-tale pelt slicked down against his scarred skin and water dripping into his eyes, the newcomer cut a horrifying figure. "Surprise," Claw growled with a sharp-fanged smile.

(( *le gasp!* CLAW RETURNS?! How can this be?! Also yes, I had permission from Aeria to role-play Kite being dragged into the water. ))

[Aeria Gloris]

Kite gasped when the menacing figure emerged from the once-still pool. Once he felt the massive limbs surround him, he realized it was too late to struggle. His body broke through the cold surface, and he struggled against the cat's grip and the water's pull.

That scoundrel...! I can't...I let my guard down! Oh no...Tiger! He immediately thought of his sister facing off against the tom, and knew she stood no chance. I'm coming...

Kicking as hard as he could, the bi-coloured cat swam through the heavy water and made it to the surface, coughing and sputtering as he tried to breathe normally.

He glared at the white tom, heterochromic eyes flashing with fury. He hissed with rage. "You..." He raised a single paw, a mad grin flitting into his features. Kite was going to enjoy this...

The paw came down.

It splashed onto the water, sending a stinging wave towards the blue-eyed tom. "Hah!"

Kite reached the edge, heaving himself back onto dry land, and indignantly shook his pelt dry. "Oh, you think you're so funny! Don't you, Dad?! Honestly, if it were up to you, I'd catch greencough!" He began to meticulously lick his shoulders dry. His obsession with looking well-groomed was a constant source of amusement for his father and Tiger.





(( http://youtu.be/y8Kyi0WNg40 MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!))

[PickeBicke]

Claw turned his head to the side and chuckled so that his son's splash caught him across the cheek. He allowed Kite to make it back onto dry land despite the urge to drag him back into the deep. Shaking his head and scattering droplets everywhere, the white tom winked at his daughter, who appeared as if her heart had just imploded.

"A little water isn't going to give you greencough," he purred smugly. Raising a paw, he splashed some water at Tiger and had to duck back down when she yelped and sent a wave right back at him. "Besides," he continued when he popped back up. "I didn't think I could get so close without you noticing."

With a teasing growl, Tiger pounced at her father, dunking his head down with her front paws. "Ha!" she said. "That'll teach you!" The current tugged at her paws and pelt, but she peddled strongly with her legs and kept afloat without a problem. Thank the stars he had taught them to swim at an early age!

Claw laughed to himself and swam down beneath his daughter, catching her tail between his jaws and yanking her below the surface. They both rose up together, Tiger coughing and spluttering. Her olive eyes, so much like her mothers, blinked reproachfully at him. "H-hey! That's not fair!"

"All's fair in water-warfare," the white tom retorted.

While father and daughter battled in the creek, the bushes on the bank rustled and a creamy gray tabby poked her head out to examine the scene. Spotting Kite, she fought back a laugh and made a beeline towards him. "Oh, I'm so sorry darling," Anouk meowed. Sitting down beside him she stretched her neck and began to lick his soggy ears. "Your father managed to get away from me!"

[Aeria Gloris]

Kite let his mother lick his ears, giving his battling littermate and father a sidelong glance. "I don't know how you put up with him, Mom. Only good thing I can say is that you never get bored."

He stretched his tail out and shook it dry, aiming at Claw. "Oh, Tiger! When you've quite finished drowning our father, think we can get some actual fishing done? I'd like to try and catch a minnow, if you haven't frightened them all off!" He padded towards the edge again, making sure to keep as far away from the splashing as possible.

"Though, with my mesmerizing eyes, I'll surely lure them back!" Kite batted his eyelids exaggeratedly.

[PickeBicke]

Anouk purred, watching her mate play about in the shallows. Her heart leaped to see him so relaxed and carefree. The image he presented now seemed so much different than the one he portrayed all those moons ago in the cabin. He seemed...calmer? Or, dare she say it, happier?

"He's got more to him than you think Kite," she replied in a soft whisper. With a smile she rubbed herself against his damp side and sat down to watch the proceedings. Her kits learning to fish seemed, to her at least, an interesting endeavor sure to end in a spectacular failure. Not that she'd ever tell them that.

"Just make sure you don't trust those lovely eyes of yours to tell you their position," Anouk advised. "The light creates a sort of ripple on the surface that makes it so that their reflection shows up further down than they really are."

Claw nodded, his front paw holding Tiger away as she continued trying to dunk him. "It takes a lot of practice. Besides, I think we may have scared away most of the fish already." The splashing alone would have frightened most of the minnows further away down the stream.

Tiger however was undaunted by the prospect of failure. "You're welcome to try luring them back with your lovely gaze, however, Kite. I'm sure they'll be so smitten they'll leap right out into your paws," she chuckled. Backing away from her father she swatted him with her wet tail and swam back to shore. Hauling herself out she shook like a dog and settled down beside her brother. "Though I'm sure my astounding beauty will lure them all back faster. First one to charm a fish out of the water wins?

The white rogue gave a content sigh as he began to swim toward the bank. The forest had plenty of prey, the cabin provided shelter against the worst weather, and his children sat learning happily while his mate looked on. His mate and children. If he had to be perfectly honest with himself, Claw would never have expected that he could have anything like this. An actual family who loved and cared for him and each other.

He still missed Leaf. He could never forget her. Or their unborn litter. But it was a fond ache now, one that he knew he could endure. He dreamed of them, the lovely tortoiseshell queen leading a band of three renegade kits behind her to say hello to him and tell him that they loved him. Leaf did not begrudge him his new chance at happiness. With her blessing, Claw had at last allowed himself to live life to the fullest.

Dragging himself out onto dry land he started to shake himself dry when a sudden instinct made him pause. Eyes narrow he swiveled his ears to pinpoint what had caused his sudden anxiety. A faint scent wafted about on the breeze, but he couldn't place it. Without thinking he placed himself between Anouk and the forest, staring out into the foliage with lips curled.

The queen tilted her head, alarmed by the sudden change in her mate's demeanor. "Claw?" she mewed. "Are you alright?"

[Aeria Gloris]

(( ))

Ears flattening against his head, Kite's pupils turned to slits when he caught the scent that had alarmed his father. He hissed, "I smell it too...Tiger, get ready!" He flicked his tail at his sister, not wanting to let Claw face danger alone.

He heard the leaves rustle to the right, and turned his tense body towards the noise. Glancing at his family, Kite growled, "Might as well come out! If you thought you were being sneaky, you've failed miserably."

Tense moments later, he saw two pelts appeared among the foliage. One as white as fresh snow, the other black as the darkest night. The thin forms circled around them threateningly, and Kite caught the flash of a blue eye. Or...was it yellow?

Suddenly the black cat appeared, a disfiguring scar over one of her bright yellow eyes. Her fur bristling, she was staring at him with an expression of disbelief and rage. Her eyes moved dangerously towards Anouk and Tiger. But when they fell upon Claw there was only mad devotion in her face.

Kite turned to find that the white tom had emerged, hackles raised and claws unsheathed. His eyes falling upon the rogue's face, Kite was surprised to see that he was odd-eyed as well! Just like him!

"Dad..." The bi-coloured tom glanced at the newcomers nervously, though he held his ground against them.

The white tom suddenly growled, his voice dripping with rage, "After all these moons, I've finally found you, Claw..." He raised one of his brows sardonically. "Do I look at all familiar? I should. After all...my sister, Haze, was your deputy."

Deputy...? Wait...Who is Haze?!

"You remember her, don't you? Hopper, one of your warriors, told me everything about that night..." He padded closer to them, eyes on Claw. "He told me about how you murdered her as the dogs came. She looked to you for guidance when they came, and you killed her. Just like that... My sister...the only good thing I had in this forsaken world...You killed her so easily, without a qualm. She's gone, and a waste like you gets to live...Tell me, Claw. Is that in any way fair?"

Kite was breathing fast, everything whirling in his head. What on earth was this rogue talking about? My father would never do anything like that! This is the tom who...who let me play with his tail! The tom who heals every one of my injuries! He's no murderer! He's my father!

The she-cat, meanwhile, gazed at him and his littermate with deep revulsion.


(( ))

[PickeBicke]

Tiger unsheathed her claws and stood from her crouch by the bank. The fur along her spine rose as she padded to stand just behind her brother, eyes following his to a set of bushes. Thin shapes padding about behind them made the leaves rustle and the branches shake ever so slightly. Baring her teeth, the tabby hissed and raked the ground with her front paws.

Just let anyone try to hurt her family!

It was at that point that two forms slid out of the undergrowth, contrasting pelts bushed out to their fullest. Tiger flinched as she saw the pure malice on the face of the black she-cat when it turned to look at her and her brother. The scar across her left eye seemed to make her features exaggeratedly grotesque.

The tom on the other hand made her gasp. His eyes looked just like Kite's! So strange. Why did he radiate such intense hatred, so much anger and pent up sadness? He looked at her father as if he were no better than gunk under his paw. It made her want to tear his tail off. How dare he!

Claw meanwhile bristled in shock when Scar stepped boldly out into the open. "Scar?" His voice echoed his confusion. Last time he'd seen her she'd been strolling away through the forest while he lay injured to look for some decent prey. She'd never returned.

His gaze narrowed as he saw the look she threw at his family. As if she wanted to clear them from her sight. A growl bubbled low in his throat, warning her off.

But the tom confused him. Since when did Scar play nice with others? Keeping his body poised toward the black she-cat, he began to trace the tom's movements. Something felt...familiar...about him. Those eyes...he'd seen them before.

"Dad..." Kite's voice rang with nerves. The young tom still held his ground against the two rogues, and somewhere in the back of his mind Claw felt a jolt of pride for his son. But he couldn't afford to take his sight off of the two cats before him.

Those eyes... The answer came to him in a flash. The same white pelt, the same odd-eyed stare. It had been so long, and he had put her out of his mind so forcefully that she had almost been forgotten.

"Do I look at all familiar?" the strange tom purred sarcastically. His brow arched. "I should. After all...my sister, Haze, was your deputy."

Ah, so that's why, Claw thought to himself. Even in death she taunts me. His lips twitched but he remained silent. He could hear Anouk's quiet gasp as the other rogue continued his tirade. His heart clenched to think of the pain she must be going through.

He had never chosen to reveal all of his past to her. Or his children. He had offered to explain it to her once, but she had simply pressed herself against his chest and whispered that it didn't matter. That she would help him create a better future and leave whatever skeletons lay in his past behind.

Anouk...I'm so sorry.

"...told me everything about that night..." The tom padded closer, and Claw automatically moved to block him. Another warning growl rumbled from his throat. As the odd-eyed tom continued to speak he glanced at Scar and mentally sighed in thanks when he saw she hadn't moved.

But the truce wouldn't last long. It never did. Sooner or later one of the two would attack...and he would be ready for them. For now he remained ready, standing between his family and this looming threat. He only hoped he could stop the anger and hatred festering in these rogues' hearts from hurting them.

"...You killed her so easily, without a qualm. She's gone, and a waste like you gets to live...Tell me, Claw. Is that in any way fair?"

At first Claw considered not saying anything. It would be so easy, to pretend as if he didn't understand what was being said. But he owed his family the truth...one way or another.

Slowly, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head. His shoulders sagged as he whispered, "No...no, it's not."

(( ))

[Aeria Gloris]

Before his father replied, Kite blurted out, "You're lying! My father would never--"

"No...no, it's not."

The words stuck in his throat, making him freeze on the spot. He turned to his father, his eyes wide with disbelief. "...What...?"

He...he couldn't have just admitted to what the rogue was saying. "Dad...what are you saying...? What he's saying isn't true! Is it...?"

But the odd-eyed, white tom seemed to do a double take. His pupils narrowed as he stared at Claw. "So, you admit having killed her...And judging by your kits' reaction...they had no idea of all the sins you've committed all those moons ago. All of those other cats you killed. The young ones too."

He looked as though he was enjoying revealing everything. "Hopper mentioned one of your victims by name. Who was she...of yes...Tabbypaw! Only nine moons old when you cut her down, wasn't she?"

"SHUT UP," Kite yowled. "Just who do you think you are?! How can you accuse my father of all those things?!"

The rogue tom eyed him briefly before saying, "I am Bane. Haze was my littermate. We were separated during a flood when we lived in the east. I hoped to find her alive, but instead...I hear of her death."

The black she-cat's shoulders shook erratically until she let out a cackling laugh. "I in no way accuse your father, little tom. After all, I did follow him loyally when he was leader of BoneClan..."

Kite whispered to himself, "BoneClan...?"

But Bane suddenly flattened his ears and turned to Scar, his eyes filled with shock. "...You...followed him...?! You told me you had no idea what BoneClan was!"

The bi-colored tom glared at them intently. Were they turning against each other?

Scar turned her disdainful stare to the white tom beside her. "If I had told you, would you have let me live? I left him behind to hunt for us, intending to come back. But I lost the trail after lightning knocked some trees down." Her yellow eyes went back to Claw, and Kite could've sworn there was some sort of twisted desire in them.

"For all these moons, I endured this tom's touch, even became pregnant with his kits. But I took care of them soon enough. It was all in the hope of finding you again, Claw." Her eyes darkened and her voice lowered to a growl. "But what do I find? Some...scrawny alley-cat and two WEAK kits! Do they really mean more to you than I? The one who told you about Haze's betrayal?"

Kite felt as though he walked in a nightmare. Suddenly he feared the she-cat more than the white tom. She "took care" of her kits...? Oh stars...

"WHAT?!" Bane rounded on her and roared, his haunches raised. "You were one of them all along?! You betrayed Haze to him!? And the kits..." There was a flicker of pain in his odd-eyed gaze. "You...you killed our kits...?"

Scar kept her own gaze level, nose wrinkling as she hissed, "Two were stillborn. That much is true, and I made sure of it while I was pregnant. But I had a third, still alive. I took it to RiverClan territory and put it near the edge. No doubt it fell in and drowned..."

Nausea rolled up and down Kite's throat, and he swallowed thickly as he watched Bane's eyes convey more pain than he had ever seen in his life. As though the heavens and the stars had fallen, leaving him in complete darkness.



(( ))

[PickeBicke]

Claw stood by helplessly as Bane recounted some of the more heinous crimes he had committed in the past. His mind shot back to the day he had found a young she-cat chasing a rabbit across the road. She had wreaked of the clans, and his thirst for vengeance had been insatiable.

Yes, he had killed her. He had enjoyed it. Felt pleasure in how his claws raked through her skin until blood welled up between his toes. Relished the terror on her face as his strong jaws cut off her airway so that she couldn't breathe.

But he would never forgive himself for it. For all the souls weighing his down and the lives he had ruined. How could he not feel remorse after all Anouk had taught him? She had shown him trust where he only knew greed and suspicion. Taught him kindness when he only knew cruelty. Shown him joy when he only knew sadness...and love when he only knew hate.

He could feel her now, stock-still behind him. Her breathing came rapidly and her legs shook as if she were on unsteady ground. Which, in retrospect, she probably felt like she was. All she had believed about him...was a lie.

All Claw wanted in that one moment was to turn to her and beg for forgiveness. To prove that he had changed, that it wasn't all a lie, that he still loved her with all the pieces of his shattered heart. He wanted to tell her and his kits that he was sorry for deceiving them. For them having to find out what he'd done in such a cruel fashion.

But he never got the chance. At that moment Scar gave an insane cackle before admitting something that caused his heart to skip an entire two beats. This she-cat had killed her kits? The massive rogue's head began to spin in disbelief. He knew Scar's cruelty understood no boundaries...but he would never have expected something like this, even from her.

This, more than Bane's words, shook him. Claw remembered his first unborn litter, and shuddered to think of any kits suffering from such treatment. His body pulsed with disgust, confusion and hatred. "H-how...could you?" he whispered. His blue eyes spat frost at her as he hissed angrily. "What kind of...monster...could harm unborn kits? You think that would endear me to you?"

His lips curled into a sneer. "You should know better than to admit you caused deliberate harm to unborn kits around me.”

It was then that his young, strong mate stepped up beside him with her jaw set and shoulders squared. Eyes flashing she let her pelt brush his and glared at Bane with such a look of scorn it would make the strongest tom's ears curl. "My mate...may have done what you say..." she began. Her voice soft, Anouk stood firm against the accusations. "But yours is no better. We all have things in our past we're not proud of. At Claw has found it in himself to feel remorse."

[Aeria Gloris]

Bane did not even turn to look at the others, still dumbstruck as he stared at Scar. She...she'd killed his kits. Made sure they were stillborn. And the one that survived...she'd gotten rid of it.

Back when she had been pregnant, Bane actually managed to forget his revenge and looked forward to having little ones. Two would have been alright. Even one. One cat out there that would have truly been a part of him, just as Haze had been.

She was his twin--no, more than that. They'd shared a womb, shared sadness when their mother died. They mirrored each other almost so perfectly, they might've passed for each other.

Hearing that she'd died made him feel as though he'd lost part of his soul. How could he not even feel her death? Where she was? Who had killed her?

And now...finding Claw here, with his own family. If anything, it made Haze's death all the more unfair. Why did Claw have everything when Bane had nothing? Not even his so-called mate.

Scar twitched her whiskers at the gray tabby she-cat, meowing sardonically, "Little mouseling. You have no idea what Claw is capable of. His power, strength, intelligence...They all go to waste on a mousehearted thing like you."

"Watch it," Kite growled warningly.

The black she-cat went on. "Claw...Who else knows your drive as well as I? I kill those in my way, just as you did. You tore throats open, you left scars on their bodies! I saw the pleasure in your eyes when you did it all. You loved it. Come with me, and we can have that together! We'll make them all fear us! I can give you kits you deserve, not these over-fed kittypets!"

Kite snarled, enraged at everything the she-cat was saying. Every word out of her mouth made him sick, but he had to admit to feeling confused. Moments before he was ready to kill Bane. Now he felt sorry for him.

Had his father really killed this Haze?

Bane's eyes flashed with sadness, betrayal, and the urge to destroy. He never tore his gaze away from Scar as he growled, "Claw...you stand before me, with the kits you wanted, and the mate you love. Yet I stand here...without a sister, without a mate...and without my own kits. You're there, happier than you ever thought possible! But...you never paid. No one has EVER made you pay for all you've done! The cats you've killed! Do you even know which cats were responsible for wronging you!? Was it worth all that bloodshed!?"

"You don't know anything! In this world, blood is the only way to survive! Only the strongest, most ruthless deserve to live!" Scar's eyes blazed with fervent belief.

The white tom shot back, "SHUT UP! I don't want to hear anything from you!" He padded threateningly towards her. "You're no longer my mate...Never again will I look at you with anything more than pure hatred...I should kill you for what you've done..."

Scar chuckled, enjoying herself, and hissed, "That's where you've always failed, Bane. You don't act fast enough!" She suddenly leapt towards Bane, catching his belly off-guard. Throwing him onto his back, the she-cat raked her sharp claws over his belly, making him caterwaul furiously. While he was down, she jumped towards the brown tabby and white she-cat, claws stretched out and jaws wide open as her fangs flashed.

Bane was doubled over with the pain, both the physical and the mental. How had everything gone so...wrong...?

"No! Haze, he's dying! Our father's dying!"

...What...? Who...who is that?

"Bane! Brother, you have to stop her! And stop trying to avenge me! Claw has changed, and he's punished himself enough! Save yourself, and help him save his family!"

Haze! But...he killed you! He took you away...

"I forgave him long ago. Listen to me, Bane! If not for me, then for your daughter! She's alive!"

Wait...I can't hear you...

A third voice cried out, "The one Scar left by the river! She never died! She's alive, and she's with...!"

He opened his eyes, his head back on earth and back on the burning pain of his wounds. The voices weren't through, obviously, but he at least heard something.

He thought spirits and afterlives were merely stories, but...he'd heard her so clearly in his heart, in his very being.

And he knew something else. He had a daughter. And she was alive. Somewhere.



(( ))

[PickeBicke]

Claw pulled his lips back even further, a rasping hiss burning his throat. "Never!" he snarled. His ice-cold eyes flashed with utter conviction. "I never want that life again. My past may be filled with darkness and blood and vengeance, but I refuse to let my future go the same route. If anything..."

Here, he turned to Bane. His voice dipped low but held its truthful tone as he meowed, "I wish to make my amends. You're right Bane. I never knew...which clan it was who caused Leaf's death. I let blind hatred fuel my rage and attacked them all indiscriminately. Efficient, yes, but not fair. Haze...Haze saw the fault in what I had ordered her to do and she tried to stop it.

But I was too blinded by my anger to see that. It wasn't fair...what I did to the clans. What I...did to her." Boneless with grief and weighed down with guilt, Claw dropped into a sitting position and retracted his nails. A bad position to catch an attack in to be sure, but one that he couldn’t avoid being in right now. “I’m…I’m sorry…”

Bane’s snarls at Scar drifted into the background. He didn’t care what they thought anymore. He had stated his feelings, his reasons. Had told them he apologized. Now, the only thing the tom cared about was how his family saw him.

Turning his head, he watched Tiger’s face as she noticed him looking at her. A spark of disbelief hung in her eyes and her expression was one of horror. His heart crumbled even more. What must she think of him? She, who had adored him and urged him to play with her and teach her to swim and fight and hunt? Would she hate him now, turn on him?

And Kite…his poor son, so valiantly defending a father who should have no one vouching for his purity of heart. He could see in his son’s eyes how the entire world had shifted and made the bi-colored tom feel as if he were free-falling.

It was then that he felt a soft nudge to his cheek. He flinched before recognizing Anouk’s touch. Her warm, gentle scent washed over Claw’s senses as she pressed herself against him, leafy-gold eyes seeking his blue ones. “I love you anyway…” was all she said.

He had no warning when the black rogue turned on Bane, leaping and catching him unaware low in the stomach. His ears shot up and his pelt bushed out in shock, mind caught somewhere between relief and horror. He…had done something similar once…to Haze…only he’d needed one gigantic paw to do it.

Before he could make a move to help, the odd-eyed tom screeched in pain as blood began to well up across his abdomen from a set of vicious rakes. Scar then turned her mad yellow gaze around to hone in on someone just behind him.

“No…Tiger! Kite!”

As the black she-cat pounced, Claw stood and moved to intercept her.

The reaction seemed instant. One moment, Scar hung in mid-air, leaping toward Tiger with a vengeful snarl on her face. The next, a petite cream and gray form barreled into her with a screech of fury. "Leave my kits alone you mange-pelted rat!" Anouk's claws latched onto the sleek black fur and sought to slice through skin. Her teeth snapped inches from Scar's neck. Though inside she shivered with terror, the queen would never allowed fear to keep her from saving her kits.


(( Battle on! ))

[Aeria Gloris]

Kite yowled with horror, "Tiger! Mom! No!" His eyes darted around, finding his mother thrashing against the rogue she-cat. Bane lay in a bleeding heap near the foliage, surprised by Scar's sudden attack.

He couldn't just watch the she-cat harm his beloved, tender mother. Anouk never wanted to cause any harm, and Kite could not bear to think of her trapped in Scar's fangs.

Rushing past his father, Kite let out a furious caterwaul as he threw himself onto the she-cat. He latched his claws and fangs onto her pelt, biting down as they slammed onto the ground.

Scar yowled violently, kicking the tom with her hind legs. One caught him in the belly, making Kite double over as the air left him. But as she was getting back up, the tom reached out with his front paws, getting ahold of her with his claws and raking them down slowly. She screeched and writhed in his grasp, and Kite saw it. Her eyes were bright with bloodthirst, and if he failed she'd never stop until she killed them all.

Swatting at her face to distract her, Kite ran towards one of the tall trees surrounding the place. He clambered up, trying to get her to follow him to the nearest branch. Come on...Get up here. Follow me!

She did, rage flowing from every muscle in her body. She snapped at his tail as he swiftly swung upright onto the branch. Kite nearly lost his balance as she neared him, but he kept his tail straight, staying on the branch.

It was a risky move, but it was something Claw and Tiger could use to their advantage. Just as Scar slunk onto the branch, Kite rushed her. He pinned her to the trunk for one moment, her surprised shriek making his ears sting.

Now! I have to do it now!

He stepped off, pulling her down with him and turning them around so she would land first. Air rushed through his ears as he fell, and Kite saw Scar's yellow eyes widen as she stared at him.

They crashed to the ground, Kite hearing a wet crunch as Scar's neck broke. The force threw him off, and he landed on one of the tree roots, hitting his head.

His vision went bright before he moaned softly and lost consciousness.




(( ))

[PickeBicke]

"Kite!"

Claw knew that if his heart hadn't stopped, then his lungs must have instead. His mind seemed to see the fall in slow motion, rooting him to the spot. He never expected his son to do something so fool-hardy. Served him right to hit his head like that, though the rogue immediately began to assume the worst. The sickening crunch Scar made as she landed made it clear that she had broken something vital.

He prayed with all his heart that Kite hadn't suffered the same. Forcing his paws to move he rushed with Anouk to their son's side, bending down and laying and ear to the young tom's muzzle. "He's still breathing," he said with relief. Tiger almost collapsed behind him. "But that bump on his head is pretty serious." Moving aside to let his mate take a look he quickly examined Scar's body. Dead, as he had presumed.

Anouk crouched down and pressed herself against her kit, nudging his cheek with her muzzle. Her heart beat out a rapid rhythm like mice scattering across the forest floor as she took in his expression. "Kite? Kite, please get up darling. Show us you're alright." She gave him a gentle lick between the ears and flinched when she felt the large bump above his right temple.

Claw sighed, glancing over to where Bane still lay bleeding. "We have to get him somewhere safe and let him rest for a few weeks. Tiger, help your mother get Kite to the cabin. I'll get that sorry lump of flesh over there and see what I can do for him." His daughter's eyes seemed about to pop out of her skull at this revelation, but she kept silent. Sliding around him she helped Anouk prop Kite up and began to march on through the forest.

Unwilling to waste anymore time, the white rogue walked up to his nemesis and stared down at him with a blank gaze. He seemed to weak to put up much of a fight, and had lost a lot of blood. "Fight me all you want," he growled as he bent over and grabbed Bane by the scruff. "But if you want to get better you'll just have to shut up and endure my help." The other tom was surprisingly easy to drag despite his large size.

He must not have been eating well, Claw mused as he began to follow his family.

[Aeria Gloris]

Slowly regaining consciousness, Kite looked up and waited for Tiger's faces to stop spinning. It was disorienting. His head throbbed as he tried to focus the images, realizing that his sister was sideways. Or was it upside down?

Something important had happened, and it involved him. Hang on, who was carrying him?

At least his nose worked. It was his mother.

"Ma...Maaaaa...Is the fight over? Did we win...?"

Bane let Claw move him, wincing when he came into contact with his wounds. Out of the corner of his eye, he recognized Scar's useless corpse lying by one of the trees.

He said nothing, merely closing his eyes and wondering if he was not going insane. No, he couldn't have a daughter. It was his shock and anger that had made him hear those voices. Haze was dead, and he would never hear her again. Life ended. Surely that was it.

But her voice echoed in his heart and soul, so clear. It did not feel like a hallucination. Haze...was it really you talking to me? Do I have a daughter out there? Is she safe?

[PickeBicke]

Anouk felt boneless with relief as Kite opened his eyes and spoke to her. Nuzzling his cheek gently she whispered, "Of course we did, kitling. All thanks to you. But we have to get you back home, ok? That's it." Tiger smiled at her brother as she propped him up a bit better.

"Yeah, thanks for saving us Kite," the brown and white tabby purred. Glancing back, she saw her dad dragging Bane like an overgrown kit and almost laughed aloud. As it were she had to turn away quickly before she lost control.

(( To the cabin! ))