Post by frosty on Jul 13, 2010 17:55:47 GMT -5
You find yourself lost in a spooky forest. The tree trunks are thick and smooth, their branches too high to reach. No sun shone above the branches, instead a colorless light permeated the woods like water flooding through a reed bed. The frigid, damp air tasted of decay. The grass had thinned to leave a moist ground, where little undergrowth grew. Your paws are wet and cold as you pad over the sticky earth. Thick fog rose from out of nowhere, shrouding the base of the trunks in its creepy essence. Not far away, water murmurs in front of you. You bend down to take a drink, when you realize the river was sluggish and lifeless, heaving through the woods until the gray liquid was consumed by the mist. You recoil in shock and look around. The entire place is extremely eerie, and terror and panic are threatening to seize you.
Then, rustling in the dank foliage makes your ears prick up and sends a shiver down the length of your body. Your pelt ripples in fear, but you are too afraid to unsheath your claws. So, you crouch in fear and wait for the feline - or whatever it was - to leave its hiding place. And sure enough, it was a cat indeed. A massive dark ginger tom with burning orange eyes crossed the tree that spanned the half-dead river. He looks like something drawn up from hell with his rustic face and messy fur. He bears his teeth at you and let out a ferocious yowl and sprints forwards, closing the distance between him and you.
He demands who you are. After giving him your name and Clan, you tell him that you are lost. Emotionless and with a straight face, he tells you that you are in the Endless Forest. He continues to say that this is just a dream, and he is merely visiting kin. He himself is not dead, which is obvious now that you realize he looks vibrant and full of life in comparison to the forest all around you. You ask him about himself, now completely calm and comfortable around the tom who seems to stand with a mountain-life affirmation. He locks eyes with you, and stays silent for a few heartbeats. Blinking slowly, he tells you that his name is Gravity and to listen carefully. He says that this is a story that is closely guarded next to his heart and that he will not repeat it.
~
She threw me down too hard.
I was so young. So young.
I landed with a thud. By now, my thin kit fur had been pierced by twigs and I was covered in forest debris.
I was hard to believe that just a few minutes before, I had been safely tucked in the curve of my mother's belly with my siblings pressed up against me. I had felt safe, secure, but I guess my assurance was all just a lie.
She had snatched me from my nest. Picked me up by my scruff and dashed off. Snapdragon didn't even notice. I felt betrayed. So betrayed.
Now I know better.
~
The fox's growling was overwhelming. Iris had left already, leaving me alone to deal with a savage animal five times my size. As it rounded the corner, it's eyes lit up. A pink tongue swirled around jaws that housed razor sharp teeth. It snarled, and then it leaped.
The last I remember of that fox was claws. Large black claws.
I shut my eyes just as a gray blur leaped out of what seemed nowhere. For a split second, I thought it was a rock but my simple mind couldn't process my thoughts quick enough. My eyes opened slowly. The living rock landed heavily on the fox's back and dug his claws in. The fox howled in pain as it tried to shake the rock off it's back. With a quick move, the rock sank his teeth into the back of the fox's neck. The ferocious creature collapsed to the ground, dead. The living rock turned out not to be a living rock after all. It was a cat, just like me.
He was so, so big. His fur was short and dark silver in color. There was not even a trace of another color on his pelt. His eyes were hard and dark gray. It was hard not to flinch away from his gaze. He was muscular, and had big claws that were now covered in blood. He had a well shaped face and a pointed muzzle. His tail was short, as were his whiskers and ears. He towered over me.
He looked at me, and his eyes turned warm. I assume he smelled Snapdragon's scent on me. "No need to be afraid, little one. I will not hurt you," he promised. His voice was deep, as deep as the Pool on DustClan territory.
It turned out he was my kin. His name was Valor. He cleaned me up and took me back to his den. I liked his den a lot. It was in what he called "Twolegplace". I was confused until he showed me the rows and rows of boxes with see-through squares in them. He called them buildings, or something like that. He also told me to stay away from them. Which I did. They scared me anyways.
Valor said his den was in an alley. I didn't know what that was. It turned out that an alley was a dark place between two boxes, err, buildings. It smelled funny, like something was rotting. I eventually got used to the smell, but it took me a long while. Valor's den was a box too, but it was way smaller and light brown, and there was no see-through squares. I liked it. He told me that there was a small community of cats that lived in this alley, but there was no designated leader. He said everyone were equals. But they were all fierce, and didn't take to outsiders too fondly. But since Valor told them I was his kin I got off lightly.
~
I eventually met a pretty black she-cat named Petra. Her eyes were a pale gold color, they were always so intimidating. She was a kit too when I first arrived. We became friends. Best friends.
She was really small. She told me that her mother told her that she was born early. But I told her I still liked her just the same. I think that made her happy because we became really close.
We used to play jokes on some of the older cats. It annoyed them, but they didn't get too mad because we were "adorable and innocent kits". That made me frown and Petra blush.
One night, I decided I wanted to be friends with Petra forever.
She had a different idea.
~
It was a bright morning. Bright and warm. The new leaf wind even found its way into our alley, ruffling our fur pleasantly.
By now, we were about twelve moons. Petra padded up to me, her eyes alight with an unreadable mixture of emotions. She stared deep into my eyes. I felt slightly uncomfortable, as if the sky just fell on my shoulders.
Her tail curled. "Gravity, I have something to tell you," she started.
I told her she can tell me anything.
She looked ready to burst. "I'm going to have kits."
By now, I was sure the sky had fell after all.
I told Valor. He was happy for me. He told me I would have to have my own den with Petra. I couldn't live with him if I had a mate.
I had never previously thought of Petra as a mate, only a best friend. But somewhere along the line, I guess she got stuck on me.
I contemplated loving. I wasn't particularly fond of the idea. But I knew I had to be there for Petra. I would not let m kits turn out the way I did.
~
About a moon later the kits were born. I felt as if I wasn't ready for them. By now, Petra and I lived in a den much like Valor's but ours was bigger and somehow less welcoming. I didn't speak to Valor as much as I used to and I felt lonely.
There were three of them; all she-cats.
Cosmica was born first. She looked exactly like Petra with her thick black fur that was so soft to the touch. She had dark gold eyes with flecks of dark brown in them. She had a tumultuous, tempestuous, and truculent personality. But we couldn't help but love her. At an early age, she took to mashing bugs which eventually turned into breaking the necks of mice. Petra and I both knew she would turn dangerous, but we couldn't help but feel proud.
Next was Verity. I named her after Valor. She shared his wise and protective personality. But she was also fierce and easily provoked. She had coerce appearance with gray tabby fur. All four of her paws, up to about her knee, were white along with her muzzle. The rest of her fur was stormy gray with jet black tiger-like stripes running through it. Her eyes were a harsh yellow.
My youngest kit is Oakley. She had the same harsh yellow eyes as Verity, with extremely long feathery whiskers. She was a spotted tortoiseshell tabby, with an unusual coat. There were patches of orange, gray, and white that were all spotted with black. Oakley was unlike both her sisters with a careful personality. She was so insecure for the longest time, and Petra had no patience with her. I assumed Petra had high expectations of Oakley that she couldn't meet.
My three daughters grew up quickly. I knew what I did next would shatter their lives.
~
"I have to leave."
I was seventeen moons now, my kits five moons.
Petra stared at me in disbelief. She stepped back.
"Gravity, why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. I knew I had deeply hurt her.
I stared at her with my hard orange-yellow eyes. "I have to find my aunt. And my mother. It's been so long since Iris attempted to kill me. I haven't even met my mother. Or any of my siblings. Petra, I have to do this."
Her gold eyes lost their intimidation and became hollow. "B-but... Gravity, you have Valor. Isn't he enough?"
I shook my head. "Valor is my mother's father. I appreciate what he did for me, but he can't take the place of my mother," I tried to explain.
Her eyes were suddenly ablaze as raged pulsed off her in waves. "You are so selfish!" she mewed with her cracked voice. I think she was more upset than angry with me. "We have young kits and while they're in the middle of their kithood and you decide to leave. I can't believe you." She hissed at me, and brought her unsheathed paw down on my face hard. She raked her claws across my nose, and pain instantly shot through me. I still have the scars.
But I refused to fight back. I turned around without looking at her. The cat I thought I loved hated me.
Cosmica, Verity, and Oakley were outside the den looking up at me with wide eyes. They didn't have to say anything. They knew what was going on.
I stepped forward. "I have to go." Was all I said to them.
Cosmica was furious, Verity was shocked, and Oakley's emotion was unreadable. Through her anger, Cosmica stepped forward. "I want to come with you." I looked at her carefully. I mewed agreement.
I licked Verity and Oakley's foreheads, in turn, and told them to take care. "I'll come back for you. I promise. I will not leave you." I meant every word.
I turned back to Cosmica and nudged her along. Heavy-heartedly, I looked back at my den. Petra had not come to say goodbye. I couldn't have cared less. I would never love again, I swore.
~
Cosmica was difficult to raise alone. But I coped. She grew into a beautiful full-fledged cat. I was overwhelmed with pride.
We headed back to the forest I was born in. We made a den and settled in happily.
My happiness would not last long.
~
When I was nineteen moons, I became somewhat depressed. Every little thing reminded me of my aunt Iris, leaving me to die.
I felt so angry I attacked anything and everything.
I remember lunging once at Cosmica. I regret it everyday. She began to turn on me after that. Eventually, she left my den and found her own way.
I knew what I had to do to heal my anger.
~
Thunder crackled and wind lashed. Rain pelted from the sky in a frenzy.
It was dark. So dark.
The night couldn't have been more perfect.
I tracked her down. I would never forget her scent.
I followed a rough forest path for what felt like forever. I pushed through a curled fern and saw her sitting in the middle of a clearing washing her paws. I don't think she recognized me. My fur was bristling and my eyes were like flame.
Iris looked up, and her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" she hissed, unsheathing her claws.
I was smarter than that. I padded forward, until I was nearly nose to nose with my aunt.
I reminisced.
She threw me down too hard.
I was so young. So young.
I landed with a thud. By now, my thin kit fur had been pierced by twigs and I was covered in forest debris.
I was hard to believe that just a few minutes before, I had been safely tucked in the curve of my mother's belly with my siblings pressed up against me. I had felt safe, secure, but I guess my assurance was all just a lie.
She had snatched me from my nest. Picked me up by my scruff and dashed off. Snapdragon didn't even notice. I felt betrayed. So betrayed.
Now I know better.
This was that cat. The source of my misery, pain, and anger was right in front of me.
"You don't remember me?" I hissed. "I'm the kit you tried to kill. You threw me to a fox the day after I was born. You snatched me from my mother and launched me into a life I did not want. A twisted kithood laced with love deep within an alley. I did not need what I got. And it was all because of you. I hate you Iris. I hate you so much." With that I bent my hind legs and prepared to leap at her.
Valor had taught me to fight. He was so strong, I trusted him so much. He taught me everything I know now.
My forepaw flashed out, catching Iris across her nose. Blood spattered onto the grass. My lip curled and my eyes alighted with both humor and anger. Iris looked me right in the eye. I bared my teeth; a ferocious sight.
She leaped first, but I out sized her. She knocked me onto my back and was trying to dig her claws into my belly. I rolled to my left and slammed her to the ground. Now I pinned her to the ground, my forepaws holding her forepaws down. Somehow, she managed to tip me off balance with her hind legs. I staggered back a few steps and she bowled me over. I used the exact same move again. I grabbed Iris with my forepaws and flipped her over. But this time, I held her tight. She would not get away.
I bent down close to her ear and hissed, "That is what it feels like to be thrown down when you're helpless, staring into the face of death."
I didn't hear what she said next because I took my unsheathed forepaw and slashed her neck horizontally. Blood gurgled in her throat and I heard her cough frantically. I raked her flanks with my hindpaws in a flesh ripping frenzy. I wanted to hurt her. I wanted her to die.
Iris pushed herself to her paws, giving me a deathly glare. She didn't have to say anything; a thousand words wouldn't have said what her expression told me. I leaped again and grabbed her muzzle between my forepaws. I yanked my paws backwards, shredding her muzzle. Iris shrieked and collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.
I sat down, content. I drew my tail around my forepaws and watched Iris die slowly and painfully through the night.
And in the morning, I smiled.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/font]
