As We All Fall From Grace

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

Is this only entertainment
Pull the curtains, places please
We've learned to sing and dance and cry on cue
But this is more than entertainment
In a world so sick with pain
This is the only thing that's real or true

We've all made petty fortunes but we can't afford a life
Confined to pull-out quotes and hotel rooms
They all scream bloody murder over graves already dug
But can't you see the end

~Rise Against

A cool breeze swept through the world of cats, Clan and loner alike. The sun was setting, cutting the sky and forcing it into a blood red coat. The great Clans would be running dusk patrols, remarking their borders to warn out others. Loners would be in their homes, resting, waiting for the night to become reality at last.

A silhouetted figure suddenly slithered silently from hiding. He was calculated, knowing that his scent would not carry to his destination, concealing his presence. No one was to know that he was approaching.

Exiting the shadows, one could drink in the newcomer's appearance. He was golden brown, with dark tabby marks tearing through his pelt. His hardened eyes glowed with a remarkable yellow. His muscles slid smoothly under his thin coat, proving that he was not a cat to mess with. Not a single scar touched his pelt. Not a single blemish. No, this cat relied on his master's training to keep him safe, and it had done just that for a long time.

Extending his muzzle to the air, the tomcat took in a deep breath. Hunger filled his eyes at the scent of what he was looking for: His son.

A wicked grin parted the tom's lips, his shoulders hunched and shook as he laughed quietly to himself. Oh, how he had longed for this day!

"Come, Persephone," he meowed, still chuckling. His meow was incredibly deep, "my son lives just up ahead."

As his lean body slipped down the hill, the tomcat, addressed as Kahl, did not look over his shoulder to see if his travel companion was following. If she didn't follow, it wouldn't matter, and if she did, good for her. All Kahl wanted now was his son, Bleak. He could feel the young cat's heartbeat, thumping in time with his own.

Ready or not, my son, here I come...

[*Beechstar*]

A bengal cat followed behind the dark tabby. Her amber eyes stood out from the darkness, but her pelt blended in. Persephone glanced around the forest, not liking the eerie silence. She could hear the river named Battle River trickling not far off. It was enough to give her the chills. When Kahl spoke, she almost jumped out of her skin. He had been silent the entire day, and had started acting strange. The days before he had been fine, but as they neared his son's cave, he grew more anxious with every second. She had ignored it though, staying silent because he didn't seem in a mood to talk. She crept up next to him, wanting to feel more secure. Every once and a while, though, she would look around, making sure they were safe.

OOC: It's clear that Persephone has a crush on Kahl, right?

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

OOC:: Yes....

"Calm yourself, Persephone." Kahl's deep voice sounded only a heartbeat before his golden head turned and his yellow eyes met the Bengal's. "They'll smell your fear if you don't." His voice was quiet, but it held great dominance. "There isn't anyone that's going to hurt us."

Rolling his eyes, the golden tabby just ignored the she-cat and quickened his pace. Persephone should know by now from their days of travel that when Kahl sped up, you either sped up as well or backed out and stayed out.

Bleak wasn't calm, Kahl noticed with a frown. His son was uncomfortable, fidgeting, unable to sleep. That just means it's either a nightmare or he's apprehensive. No matter, all we have to do is remain on our toes.

Allowing his senses to drift forward further, the tomcat examined the other two cats. Both were dark in color, a she-cat and a tom. The she-cat was a tortoiseshell, and there was something about her spirit that made Kahl's mouth water for a fight. The tom -who was sleeping too close to Bleak for Kahl's own comfort- was solid black, lean yet muscular. Bleak's mate, Scratch, without a doubt. Kahl had seen his face, the glow of his eyes, when he was violating Bleak.

Kahl was so sickened by the memory, he let out a shiver of disgust.

The she-cat. She was strong-willed. But Kahl was almost certain that Persephone could take her on. Scratch and Bleak -even combined- wouldn't but so much as a scrape on Kahl's pelt.

[*Beechstar*]

OOC: So Bleak's 'team' is going win, right? And I don't want Persephone to die...

The Bengal she-cat took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She would do anything to stay with Kahl. But the breath was shaky. She shook herself mentally, wondering what was wrong with her. She then looked around, and seeing nothing confidence filled her. When Kahl sped up, she jogged to catch up to him. She wasn't just going to leave him.

OOC: Sorry so short... no muse...

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

OOC:: Kahl's team will retreat eventually.... No one has to die.

Kahl

Kahl's eyes gleamed with satisfaction to know that Persephone was sticking to his side. Lowering his body to take on his family's trademark run -close to the ground with quick and silent stride- the golden tabby felt the suspense in his belly to finally claw deep into the flesh of his son and the one who violated him.

Closing his yellow eyes, Kahl cast his soul out to greet his son.

Bleak

A wail broke out from the inside of the cave that homed three loners. A small golden tabby began to writhe wildly on the ground, scattering his bedding and pulling apart his nest.

"Scratch~!" The wail came instinctively. "Mother~!"

"He's here~!"

The Siblings

Owl materialized first, followed by his brother and sister. "Calm!" Owl snapped, a light blue color flowing from his pelt. Bleak suddenly began to glow, and his wails eased into small whimpers.
"Get ready," the tomghost ordered in a growl.

"Right," Twig murmured. His translucent figure flowed easily over to his mate's side. "Ash, be careful tonight. Our father doesn't fight fair and he'll use every opening you have against you."

"You ready?" It was the most serious tone that Shrill had ever taken on in English. Her pale yellow eyes were set on Scratch. She had not trained with him, but it seemed like she knew him somehow.

[{Lunarstar}]

OOC: What's up with Bleak's posts going "somethingoranother~?"
The ~ thing?

Ash jumped up instinctively at Bleak's cry. Her black tortoiseshell fur bristled at the neck and tail and her navy eye's narrowed. She faintly heard Twig and his siblings speak, the blood pounding in her ears drowned out the sound. Her adrenaline started to race through her veins and her pelt seemed on fire. She wasn't expecting this so soon. Too much had happened. She'd gotten a mate, made amends with Owl, and faced the Disturbed with Shrill. Bleak or Scratch could die at any moment...and so could she...

[*Beechstar*]

OOC: Yeah? I was wondering about that too

Persephone ran next to Kahl, keeping the same speed as his. She admired the way that he looked as he ran. With each stride, his muscles could been seen. And were they ever big. She noticed that the way he ran had changed, and it looked unique. She ignored it and kept running the same way.

Scratch jumped to Bleaks side as he yelled his name. When he heard what Bleak had to say, he gasped inwardly. His blood ran cold and his thoughts overwhelmed him. He didn't think that Kahl would have been here this soon. He was scared that Kahl would kill Bleak. Not that Bleak was weak, but his father probably knew all of his moves, and many more which he could use on the little tom. When Shrill asked Scratch if he was ready he nodded determinedly. He turned to Bleak who was still worrying and meowed, "Snap out of it!"

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

OOC:: It's to show that the call is drawn out. Rather than typing say "Scraaatch!" I can just put "Scratch~!" and it means the same thing, keeping the spelling correct without just saying the name... Get it?

Kahl felt every one of his hairs lift at the wailing of his son. Yes, he hissed inwardly. Wail, my son, fear me. And your little friends should do the same. A grin split over his face so wide that it was scary. "I smell fear!" he yowled. "Come out and play, kitties!"

Bleak thrust his nose up into Scratch chest as his mate calmed him. His father's voice rang in his ears. He could scent them all. All of their fear was drawn to him like flies to rot. The golden tom's eyes locked onto Owl's. "Why is he here so soon? You said three days, not two!"

Owl blinked slowly. "I know. He traveled faster than thought would." The mostly white cat turned, padding closer to the cave mouth. Forcing himself into complete invisibility, the tom looked out. There, on the hill, came two figures, one taking on the family run. Kahl. The other had to be a she-cat; her frame was slender and Owl could even smell the distinct scent of she-cat on her.
Two against six. Fair enough. Trotting back to the cave, the tomghost materialized. "There's two of them, six of us. I have a feeling that we might lose. Life-walkers, brace yourself. Twig, Shrill, and I will hold him off best we can."

Twig stepped away from Ash's side. "Hopefully we both make it through this," he meowed softly, before joining his brother's side.

Shrill bounded up to her brothers. Her eyes shone oddly, with a dark realization in them that no one but herself and her brothers knew. This could be the end...

Owl nodded at his siblings. "Let's go."

With blinding speed, the three sped out of the cave mouth to greet their father...

OOC:: I'm gonna stop there for now...

[{Lunarstar}]

OOC: Yes. Thank you.

"WHAT?!" Ash spat as the cats left. "We're just supposed to sit here without knowing what's happening? Seriously?" Ash hissed, neck fur bristling, claws sheathing and unsheathing. She stalked from side to side in the cave's entrance, tail whipping through the air with audible whoosh sounds. Her mind was racing, too fast for thoughts, only images. Images of the ghosts being...what? Killed? Images of Kahl stepping past them and into the cave, killing Bleak and Scratch...then her.

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

Kahl vs. Owl

Kahl's eyes narrowed. So, his dead children were actually ghosts, and they were helping their murderer. "Persephone," he growled to the silent she-cat, but not in anger, just with such a deep tone that it was a growl. "Here comes the welcoming committee. Ready to fight? They aren't easy to get."

At that every instant, Owl's muscular figure exploded before Kahl. He lunged, taking precise aim at his father's throat.

But missing. As the mostly white tom sprang, Kahl lunged as well, dealing the blow that he should have been taking. With his teeth sinking into his son's throat, he could feel the blood running around his mouth as Owl's body was forced to materialize.

Owl screeched in agony, writhing in his father's grip to free himself. He was failing, and fast. His screams were growing weaker, his body becoming limp.

Kahl tossed his son's fading body to the side like a bit of useless prey, zooming past to keep searching for his son.

Bleak

"Ash, just relax, Owl--" the small golden tabby broke off as Owl's pained cry cut the tense air like a talon. "No," he breathed, his body beginning to tremble. How could he have attacked Owl? This isn't right. Owl said that they... oh, no...

Twig vs. Kahl

"Owl!" Twig screamed, watching in utter horror as his big brother -his idol- was tossed like a forgotten piece of moss by a bored kit. "No!"
Fury boiled in the smaller tom, and -without thinking- Twig flung himself at his father.

"Next!" Kahl yowled playfully, wheeling around to face Twig. He threw out one paw, slamming it over Twig's head and knocking him down. Lunging, the golden cat gripped onto the spice-colored cat's throat with a powerful hold.

Twig fell, dazed, unable to stop the too-quick motions of Kahl. Yowling in pain as his throat was bit, his head tilted back, blood rushing from his lips. His legs thrashed wildly, tearing into the air with powerful swipes that swiftly became weaker.

Kahl released Twig's neck, knowing that he wouldn't have the energy to get up. Spinning away, the gold tiger pelted downhill, his paws working skillfully over the grass towards that cave...

Shrill

Shrill broke away from her brothers, knowing that Kahl wasn't their only focus. The she-cat couldn't be weak. Snarling, the white she-cat hurled her body at the other, crashing into her chest. "Intereo!" Shrill yowled the word for die. Latin took over in her fury. Even if this cat had no idea what the word meant, she could get a good estimation by Shrill's actions that she was going to have murder attempts thrown at her.

Bleak

Oh, dear Lord! Bleak cursed. Pulling from Scratch, the small tom stood in front of Ash, blocking her. "Don't," he warned, hearing Twig's yowl of pain, "you'll only be killed."

[{Lunarstar}]

Ash growled at Bleak as he predicted her next move. She was a momment away from hunting down Kahl in an attemt to kill him. Which, in turn would have killed her. Then she remembered how shocked Bleak had seemed, so she sat. "Bleak? What's wrong? Something's wrong with Owl, right?" she meowed, peeking over his short shoulder into the night. Her paws itched to run out there, to see Twig was alive....well uninjured.

OOC: It's night, right?

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

OOC:: Yes. Kahl can only be out at night.

Bleak

Bleak swallowed roughly. "They're ghosts. How can my father attack them when they're ghosts? How did he--?" the tabby cut himself off, scanning the outside world. Kahl had already taken down his two brothers, Shrill going for the other. The build tom's figure was barely able to make out, thundering down the slope. "I've never heard Owl scream like that. Only once, when I..." the tom's voice trailed, 'killed him,' remaining unspoken.
"He's too strong for us. We can't win."

Kahl

I'll leave you to my daughter, sweet Persephone. Now, all I want is those three.
Kahl could almost taste his son's blood, feel the satisfaction of tearing him to bits, watching as he bled his life out miserably. But first, the assassin would take out his beloved companions. Which one first, he didn't know. Maybe it would be Ash, Bleak's adoptive mother, the one who's a hotheaded she-cat. Or maybe Scratch, Bleak's lover, the one who turned the tabby soft.

Satisfaction tingled through Kahl's pelt as a memory hit him for a heartbeat.

"Bind your mother's paws. That's it, ignore her questions. Says it's a game you want to try. Good, now, make sure they're nice and tight. Perfect... You know what to do now; attack Owl, bite his shoulder, claw his throat! Don't let go! Now, do the same with Twig! Drown your sister! Push her into the river! Hold her down so she can't resurface. That's it! That's it, my boy! Take their lives, ignore that wretched mother of yours, make your father proud..."

Kahl chuckled. Oh, yes. That had been the day.

He reached the cave mouth. Stopping at the entrance, the tomcat took in the faces of the others. "Well, well, sohn von Kahl*, you sure do have quite the party here. Too bad your brothers couldn't stop me, just like they couldn't stop you." The male flexed his long, already unsheathed claws, grinning viciously.

"So, are you kitties ready to play? I know I am."

OOC:: *son of Kahl. It's German. I think we should wait for Beechy to catch up...
You better have a long post to make up for allllllll of this, Beechy!!!

[*Beechstar*]

OOC: I hope it is... and that I have enough muse...

The Bengal she-cat backed away from Kahl as he fought his sons. All of her senses were aware for the she-cat that Kahl had told her she would have to fight. She figured that it would probably be one in the field and another she-cat in the cave.

When something crashed into her chest, she was knocked over. She heard the yell, "Intereo!," as the ghost appeared before. She recognized the word. She quickly got back up on her feet.

She had seen Kahl injure the other two by biting their throats. She jumped at the ghost, and landed squarely on her back. The she-cat below Persephone was knocked onto her stomach, much to the Bengal's delight. She then moved to the side of her and raked her claws against the others stomach. Never reveal your stomach fool, she thought to herself.

She then went to to stand in front of the she-cat. Scratching her across the face, she took advantage of that moment to bite her throat. She tore it open enough so that it would bleed a lot, but not enough to kill her right there.

Persephone then padded in the direction Kahl had gone, and met him at the front of the cave in time to hear him say, 'So, are you kitties ready to play? I know I am.'

OOC: Sorry Hawky that I like MAJORLY power played. You can write that she got a bunch of scratches in if you want.

Scratch ran his paw up and down Bleaks back when he cowered into his chest. When Bleak just started rambling on about what he could see happening, the black tom listened intently.

When Bleak said that they couldn't win, he almost slapped his mate. "Yes we can. We can out smart him."

And just as he stopped speaking, he heard a strange voice say, 'So, are you kitties ready to play? I know I am.' He jumped up and stood in front of Bleak. He could see a larger version of Bleak, which must have been his father, Kahl. He could also see a Bengal standing beside him, a she-cat by the scent of her.

OOC: Sorry that I didn't have much muse for Scratch.

I was just wondering, is Kahl going to die? If he is, I think him and Scratch should battle, he hurts Scratch bad so that he can't continue fighting, and Bleak finishes him off. Just an idea.

[{Lunarstar}]

Ash's neck fur slowly stood up, but she stopped the rest of her pelt from following. That would be fear in a beast's eyes, and Kahl was a beast. She registered him coldly with narrowing navy eyes, then his companion. A scrawny little she-cat. Her lip lifted, just enough to reveal one sharp fang, and her claws unsheathed. Ash knew she should probably have kept quiet... but when has she ever listened to herself?

"You know it." She growled, allowing her lips to bare in a full snarl that was almost half smile. She'd heard the ghosts cries. She'd learned what he could do. And she didn't like it.

Then she turned her attention back to the she-cat. Both eyes locked on the Bengal she-cat, watching Kahl just as clearly in his peripheral vision. A trick she'd been practicing for a long time. She didn't know Kahl had a mate, she also thought he'd have better taste than that. She looked almost too weak to swim in a river, let alone help him kill six cats. That's when Ash remembered, the most clearly assessed cats are the most deceiving.

Then, once again not listening to the warning bells blaring in her head, she spoke again, this time to the she-cat and Kahl. "What did you have to do to make him bring you along?"

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

OOC:: No, Kahl isn't going to die, but you'll all know when he's gonna split... He's just really hard to cut open.

Bleak

Bleak had shrunken away as his father's figure appeared. I'm not your son anymore, you monster, he wanted to scream. But, his senses, and his manners -since Ash was speaking- told him not to. Sticking his head out from behind Scratch's shoulder, the little tom watched and listened to Ash, and he waited calmly for a reply. Kahl would not fight in the middle of a conversation, unless he was attacked by the other. He would allow them all some comfort until he was done speaking.

Kahl

The golden tabby's eyes locked onto the dark she-cat that was dumb enough to speak. "Persephone offered to join me on my quest to visit you all," he meowed coolly. He gestured towards the Bengal with his tail. "But, when I told her no, she just tagged along anyways. When we were attacked by a dog, she proved herself to me by showing remarkable fighting skills. I told her that she could come with me, and here we are."

Kahl smiled, a slight sign of warmth in the gesture. But, it eventually dropped and his eyes drifted over to the one called Ash. "Does that answer your question, Ash? Or, should I say, love? You're my son's new mommy?" Laughter erupted from the large cat, so violent that his shoulders trembled and his head swung back. "Pathetic, Bleak! Is this really what you pull out in your desperate search for the love of a mother? Maybe if you hadn't spoiled it with your real mommy, you wouldn't have to be in this situation." The laughter had by now ebbed down to a chuckle.

Bleak

"Shut up!" The small tom screamed, shaking his head to drone out his father's voice. "It's all your fault! You made me do it! You told me to! I only wanted to make you happy; I didn't know it would cost me my siblings' lives!" The tabby's fur bristled in every spot imaginable, making him look twice his size.