Born to Slaughter

By Pogo

## ~ Important Kitties in the Story ~

Agro - He is a black and white tom with striking blue eyes. He is quiet, though he has quite the temper. His mother was Calluna and his adopted mother's name is Kalmia.

Shade - He is a black tom with a white patch on his chest. He has green eyes. He is one of Silent Scream's most faithful servants.

Silent Scream - She is a black she-cat whose pelt is not much more than shadow. When light shines on her, her pelt is transparent. She has liquid, blue eyes that pierce one's core and fills one with dread. Her voice always seems to echo. She is the ruler of the Dark Forest, and she likes to plot. A lot.

Saden - She is a large black and gray she-cat with yellow eyes. She is Agro's only friend. She is ambitious and bossy.

Kalmia - She is an orange and white she-cat with amber eyes. She adopted Agro when Shade killed her kits and her sister, Calluna.

Chase - He is an orange tom with amber eyes. He used to be a kittypet. He is bubbly and, most likely, insane.

Lila - She is a brown tabby she-cat with light green eyes. She is a kittypet and, you might say, Agro's first crush (though it doesn't last long....)

Gei (pronounced exactly like "*Jay*") - She is a gray she-cat with one green eye. She is a rogue who was captured by Twolegs and put in the Catcher's (the pound).

Hawkwhisker - He is a brown tabby tom with green eyes. He was a former HollowClan warrior and now lives in a big cave in the mountains, where the past still haunts him.

Witheredblossom - She is a pure gray she-cat with yellow eyes. She was also a former HollowClan warrior and shares in Hawkwhisker's haunting past.

Bahshun - He is a gray tabby tom with blue eyes. He is a rogue who was a part of Shade's group. Add him to the list of slain victims.

Azure - She is a big, gray she-kit with black and blue-gray splotches covering her pelt. She has a white chest and her two front paws are tan. She has turquoise eyes. She is the One Silent Scream wants more than anything to destroy. She is ignorant of her destiny where Agro is concerned and wishes for nothing more than to be reunited with her older brother and sister, whom Silent Scream had ordered to be killed.

(More cats will be added as the story progresses.)

!...!

## ~ Prologue ~

Night settled on the rogue group's camp. All the female cats who had recently given birth sat before the small cave in a perfect line. The kits snuggled against their mothers' warm fur in an attempt to hide from the cold.

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the cave's entrance. He stepped out of his den, his fierce green eyes scanning the line of queens. He walked over to them and began to study the kits one at a time. He was usually disappointed.

One of the queens, her name was Calluna, watched the black-pelted tom as he neared. Oh, how she hated him! If she wasn't so afraid, she would have attacked right now, and tried to killed him. He had killed Calluna's mate not more than three sunrises ago. The tom deserved to die.

Calluna silently cursed herself for being a coward. She knew she wouldn't kill the black tom. He frightened her to her very core. Besides, she *couldn't* kill him. He was too strong, not to mention clever. She wouldn't have a chance.

She looked down at the kit snuggled against her belly. The kit was a tom and he was only two days old. He was so small; he hadn't even opened his eyes yet. She loved him so much, and her heart ached for his father who would never meet his son.

The black tom, the leader of the rogue group, gazed at the queen beside Calluna. The tortoiseshell presented her two kits to him. He looked at them for a long time and waited. After several minutes, his right ear twitched. "The she-kit shows promise," he meowed.

The tortoiseshell flinched as if she had been struck. "Thank you, Shade," she meowed hastily.

The tom smiled slightly, amused. Then, he moved on to Calluna. Their eyes met. Calluna tried to show him the rage she was feeling through her gaze. But the tom seemed to find her anger even more amusing. "Well," he meowed, "show me your son."

Calluna did not budge.

The leader curled his lips into a snarl. "*Now*," he commanded.

Calluna gently pushed her kit forward so Shade could examine him.

Shade's expression changed almost immediately. He looked at the fragile little creature curiously and he lowered his head and licked the kit's tiny head. Calluna's heartbeat quickened. Shade had never done anything like this before.

The kit mewled and opened his eyes for the first time. Shade took a step back.

Calluna looked at her son's eyes and gasped. They were a brilliant blue and they glowed in the darkness. But that was not why she gasped. Calluna was in shock because her son's eyes looked *exactly* like the eyes of the cat whom she feared more than Shade.

By the light from the moon, Calluna could see a dark mass like a shadow form beside Shade. The form became cat-like and its blue eyes seemed to paralyze her; she could hardly breathe.

**"This is the one,"** meowed the shadow-cat.

Calluna was stricken with fear, but she forced herself to speak. "No!" She cried. "You can't have him!"

The other queens gasped and slowly began to back away. Shade fixed Calluna with a menacing glare. "You don't have a choice. Silent Scream has chosen her successor."

"No!" Calluna shouted. "I will not let him be used for your evil purpose! Never!" She picked her son up by the scruff and turned to run. But Shade pounced before she could take another step. Calluna dropped her kit and he whimpered, frightened, when she was pinned down. "*Please*," Calluna begged. "You can't do this! My kit...."

Shade smiled cruelly. Then, he tore open her throat.

The kit did not cry out when he saw his mother killed. He stared at her, petrified, and he shook from head to toe. Shade picked him up and brought him closer to Silent Scream, the shadow-cat.

**"Does he have a name?"** Silent Scream asked Shade.

"No," her loyal servant replied.

Silent Scream smiled. It was a disturbing thing, and the terrified tom-kit stepped back. **"From now on, little one,"** she meowed, **"your name is Agro, for you were born to slaughter. You**~~---~~**are mine."**

*** Agro
* Calluna
* Shade
* Silent Scream
1/4**
## ~ Chapter One ~

The two cats were posed to strike. They circled around each other slowly, panting. Agro glared at his opponent, his lips drawn back in a snarl. Blood dripped from a scratch on his cheek and also from both flanks. He watched the she-cat's eyes carefully, waiting for them to show how she was going to attack.

*Aha!* Agro quickly rolled to his right as the young black and gray she-cat lunged. He popped back up and raked his claws across her side. She whipped around with a growl. She nipped his ear just before he backed out of her reach. He charged back at her, hitting her in the side, and she stumbled. Agro tripped her and then pinned her to the ground. "Say it," he commanded.

"Never!" She hissed as she struggled to free herself.

After a few more moments Agro held her firmly down. "Say it!"

"No!" She struggled some more but Agro would not relent.

"Say it!" He shouted in her face.

The she-cat ceased her struggling. With her pointy ears pinned against her head, she meowed quietly, "I give up. You win."

Agro stepped away so she could stand. "That's five to two. I'm in the lead," he meowed, smiling smugly. "Saden, I believe you are losing your touch."

Saden scowled, but then she grinned mischievously. "I am *not*. Just wait 'til Wryn comes back. After our next training session, I'll beat you so well you won't be able to stand." She swatted at him playfully.

"Oh, I'd like to see you try! You're beginning to hit as feebly as a mouse," Agro teased.

Saden stood straighter so she could tower over him even more. "Just you wait." She swatted his muzzle again, then quickly scampered off.

Agro watched his friend go. He smiled then went to find Kalmia. He found her fixing up the nests under the holly bush. She was an orange she-cat with a white underbelly and chest. She was rather plump, and her eyes were the color of honey.

Kalmia glanced at him as he approached. "Hey, you." She licked his bleeding cheek, her eyes flicking over his other wounds. "How did your sparring with Saden go?"

"Fine," Agro answered. He puffed out his chest. "I beat her. Again."

Kalmia's gaze darkened sadly and she moved her face away so he couldn't see. "You're getting good," she meowed quietly.

"I know," Agro meowed, not noticing her action. "Shade thinks I'm better than most of the grown toms."

"You... You should be more careful."

Was there a hint of strain in her voice? Agro tried to get a better look at her face, but she kept moving away, pretending to adjust the nests. "Is something wrong, Kalmia?" He asked worriedly.

"No~~---~~No, of course not, dear. I'm just a bit tired today... You should probably go and see Jorro, so he can patch up your wounds."

Agro tilted his head. Kalmia was his adopted mother. She had cared for him ever since Calluna, her sister and Agro's mother, had died. No one was kind to him like she was. Though he would never forget his mother, Agro loved Kalmia dearly.

And he knew when she was lying.

"Jorro can wait..." He paused. "You're not telling the truth. What's bothering you?"

Kalmia's eyes widened, surprised. She looked at him almost guiltily. She gestured with her head for him to come into the den. They sat in their nests, which were in the very back. "I'm afraid," she confessed in a whisper. "For you."

Agro blinked. "Why?" He thought it very strange. Kalmia above all should know that he was perfectly capable of protecting himself; he's proved that multiple times. He was one of the best fighters the group had. Maybe even *the*best. So why be afraid when he was well disposed to protect himself as well as her if or when danger arrived?

"I am afraid because... because the better you become, the sooner your time will come and then, she'll use you."

*Oh... That...*Agro frowned. He had grown stronger, hadn't he? He supposed that it was only a matter of time now before Silent Scream took hold of him and forced him to do her dark deeds. He suppressed a shiver. "I... forgot," he meowed weakly.

"You~~---~~forgot?" Kalmia asked in disbelief. Anger surged in her eyes. "How could you? Did you forget that Shade killed your mother? Did you forget that he killed my kits so I could raise you?"

"No! You know I could never forget those things." He should have been too young to remember the day, but he did. Agro closed his eyes, seeing his mother lying dead in the dirt, a look of pain and sorrow permanently etched onto her face. And there was Shade, who had killed her so mercilessly and smiled as he'd done it.

"Then how could you forget~~---~~Shade's master?" Kalmia demanded.

"I don't know!" Agro meowed, his temper flaring up. "It's been so long since Shade discussed anything with me, and I just stopped worrying." Kalmia's tail twitched and she stared at Agro. *She doesn't believe that was a good enough excuse. Probably because*she *never stopped worrying.*

But Kalmia's eyes softened and she licked the top of Agro's head. "I'm sorry for getting so worked up. It's like I told you. I'm afraid your time is very, very near."

Agro opened his mouth to speak, but he heard pawsteps approaching. Nala's gray head appeared at the den's entrance. "Shade wants you," she meowed. "Now."

Kalmia froze and exchanged a look with Agro. *It'll be okay,*Agro wanted to tell his adopted mother, but a worm of fear began to wriggle inside his belly as he followed Nala out. He doubted anything would be okay ever again.

. . . .

Agro stepped into Shade's den. He could see the leader's green gaze glowing in the dark. Agro lowered his head respectfully. "You wanted me, Shade?"

"Yes." Shade curled his tail around his paws. And waited.

A few minutes later, Saden burst into the den, panting. "I came as fast as I could," she meowed, bowing. "I apologize for the wait."

Shade hissed and the youths quickly stood perfectly straight. Shade slowly padded around them, his gaze never leaving their heads. "That is quite alright. I understand that Mist took you out hunting."

"Yes. We caught several mice and a rabbit," Saden meowed, trying not to look too proud.

"I know that as well." The leader's voice was quiet and cool.

Agro restrained himself from twitching his tail uncomfortably. It still unnerved him to know that everyone in the group was being watched by Shade's most trusted cronies. No one was safe under their watchful eyes. They reported almost everything to Shade, making it impossible to plan anything, such as desertion or mutiny. Agro had witnessed many unfaithful cats die by Shade's claws because he knew ahead of time what they had planned.

Shade circled the youths one last time before stopping in front of them. "I watched you spar this morning," he stated. Agro and Saden exchanged startled looks. "I must say that I was... impressed. You both did very well."

"Thank you, Shade," Saden meowed.

The black tom's eyes glittered, sending a chill through Agro. He knew Shade did not summon them into his den just to tell them that. Everything Shade did seemed to have some sinister purpose. So what was he scheming this time?

The question was partially answered when Shade meowed, "I believe you are ready for your final tests."

*Final tests?*Agro remembered him saying they would be tested at the end of their training. Then they would become true warriors. They would, among other things, protect the group and be granted their own personal servant.

"Since you two are my prized apprentices," Shade continued, "you will be tested differently than the other grown cats. Both of you will battle three of my adjutants. You must kill them in order to succeed."

"And if we fail?" Agro couldn't help asking, though he had already guessed the answer.

Shade smiled unsettlingly. "You will not fail, because if you do, you will be dead."

"I will not let you down," Saden meowed firmly.

"Nor I," Agro mumbled.

"No," Shade meowed, "you will not let *Silent Scream*down. If she is unsatisfied with you and your skills even after you have completed the testing..." He laughed, imagining~~---~~and enjoying~~---~~what would happen to them. "She will torture you in ways you cannot even begin to comprehend."

Agro and Saden tried not to gulp.

"Now go," Shade commanded. "Get some food and rest. The testing begins tomorrow. You are dismissed."

* Saden
* Wryn
* Kalmia
* Nala
1/4
## ~ Chapter Two ~

Saden bounced around in excitement as soon as they were out of Shade's line of sight. "I can't believe it!" She made a noise like a quiet squeal. "Shade thinks we're ready! Agro, we're going to be the best fighters in the group. We'll show *everyone*!"

Saden chattered eagerly all the way to the fresh-kill pile, until she realized Agro had stopped paying attention. She cuffed his ear.

"Hey!" Agro meowed indignantly. "What was that for?"

"You weren't listening to me," Saden huffed, annoyed.

"Oh. Sorry. I was just... thinking." He pawed absentmindedly at a shrew.

"About what?" Saden asked.

Agro met her golden gaze. "Shade wants us to kill his adjutants."

"So?"

"*So,* we've never killed anyone before."

"Oh." Saden frowned. "He wants us to kill... one of our own."

"Three of our own," Agro corrected. "Each."

The she-cat's eyes widened. "Agro, what're we going to do?" Her earlier excitement seemed to have vanished. "We can't kill someone in our group. That's... that's wrong. But if we don't...."

"We fail," he finished. "We're tortured. Then killed." *If we're lucky.*

"I guess we have to then, huh?" Saden's frown deepened as Agro nodded. Saden suddenly stood straighter, a grim determination creeping into her eyes. "Well, I'm not going to let it bother me. The way I see it, it's our lives against theirs. We have to fight to defend ourselves, right? If that's what it takes to move up, then so be it! I'm going to find Wryn and train."

"Wait," Agro meowed. "Shade told us to eat and rest."

"I know, but I can do that later." Saden turned to leave.

Agro quickly darted in front of her. "At least eat first. You're going to need your strength if you're going to train."

Saden narrowed her eyes, about to protest, but then she considered his words and reluctantly agreed to share the shrew with him.

They sat in the shade of an elm tree. Several red, orange, and golden leaves floated down around them. Leaf-bare would be upon them soon, Agro predicted, gazing at the other trees' almost completely naked branches. When he looked down to take a bite out of his prey, he saw four cats padding toward him. Saden rolled her eyes and made a gagging sound when she spotted them.

"What do we have here?" meowed the black and brown tom in the lead. He sneered. "It looks like Shade is feeding his pets."

"Bug off, *Beetle*," Saden meowed. Agro grinned at her joke. "Nobody wants you around."

Beetle perked his ears. "What's this? They can talk!" The three cats behind him snickered.

Saden growled. "What do you want?"

Beetle wrinkled his nose as if deciding if she was worth explaining to. He lifted his chin haughtily. "Word has spread that you two are going to be tested tomorrow."

Saden flattened her ears and snorted. "What'd you do? Hide in the shadows of Shade's den while he told us that? I bet you heard every word. Beetle's not only a pest but an eavesdropper."

"I'd watch your mouth, Saden," Beetle snarled.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. I might have to rip it off your face."

Saden stood up. She towered over Beetle, her lips drawn back in a dangerous snarl. "Try it. I dare you."

Beetle's three friends looked uneasy as he and Saden glared at each other. Agro watched Beetle's eyes; they were calculating.

"Don't fight her," Tear Stream, a Siamese she-cat, warned. "You'll get in trouble."

"Shut up, Tear Stream," a chocolate tom hissed. "You can take her Beetle. You can't back down."

Saden smiled. "What're you going to do, Beetle?" She taunted. "Remember, I crushed you beneath my paw before."

Rage crossed Beetle's face and he unsheathed his claws. As quick as lightning, Agro jumped up and knocked both steaming cats to the ground. Saden popped back up, looking furious and about to attack Agro, but then she settled for just being indignant.

Beetle lifted his head as Agro approached him. An unquestionable fear showed in the black and brown tom's eyes. Agro didn't like that look. "Leave," he hissed. He turned to the other three. "*Leave*."

Quickly, Beetle, Tear Stream, and the brown tom, Fang, padded away. The gray tabby, who hadn't said a word the entire time, remained standing where he was. Agro glanced at him for a moment, then went back to the shrew.

"Well, aren't you going to follow them?" Saden growled at the gray tabby.

The tom blinked. "They *are*my friends." Still, he didn't move.

"*Friends?*" Saden scoffed. "Cowards are what they are." She paused, turning her back on him. She meowed quietly, "You used to be cool, Maverick. But you changed."

Maverick shook his head. "No. It's you two who have changed." Then he padded away. Saden looked back at him, feeling hurt.

Agro shifted, uncomfortable. "Come, Saden. Eat."

She glared at Agro, the hurt deepening, changing to anger. "You shouldn't have intervened between me and Beetle. I can take care of myself!"

"I know," Agro meowed calmly. "It would have pleased me very much to watch you tear him to pieces, but you would have gotten into trouble." Saden huffed. "Shade would have punished you for not obeying orders."

That got Saden's attention. Still looking upset, she slowly lay across from Agro and bit into the shrew. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'm a mouse-brain."

"No, you're too quick to prove what's already been proven."

Saden smiled slightly.

They ate in silence after that. Agro couldn't stop thinking about the way Beetle had looked at him: utterly terrified and helpless. And then, there was Maverick's words. When there was nothing left of the shrew but bones, he meowed, "Maverick was right, you know."

"Huh?"

"We've changed."

Saden frowned. "I don't think so. Besides, I'll never believe a thing that traitor says again."

"Don't be stubborn, Saden. Maverick used to be your friend. He's not a traitor."

"*Our*friend," she corrected quietly.

Agro shook his head. "He never really liked me as he did you." Saden did something Agro had never seen her do: she blushed. Agro blinked, frowned, then pushed her expression aside so he could continue. "Anyway... He was right about you and I. We really have changed, though... I'm not sure it was for the better."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Agro hesitated, not quite sure how to explain. "We've gotten stronger. And Beetle and the others, they~~---~~"

"Are you really letting Beetle get to you? He, Fang, and Tear Stream... and Maverick are just jealous of how much better we are than them."

"No, they're *scared*. Scared, not jealous."

Saden tilted her head. "You think they're scared of us?" Agro nodded. Saden smiled satisfactorily. "Well, they should be."

"No, Saden," Agro meowed, exasperated. *Don't you see?* He wanted to shout. *Don't you see what Shade is doing? We've been blindly training to become cold-blooded killers! We weren't given a choice!*His mind went back to the day Calluna was killed, when Silent Scream had looked into his eyes that so matched her own, and meowed in that horrible voice, **"You~~---~~are mine."**Agro suppressed a shiver. "They're scared of us because of Silent Scream. Because Silent Scream has given us power."

Saden stared at him, confused. "What's wrong with power?"

*Are you okay with being a puppet?!*He screamed inside his head. But he knew, no matter what he said, Saden wouldn't see it that way. She didn't understand. She was blinded by her secret ambition to be even more powerful and feared than Shade. "Nothing," Agro mumbled.

Saden narrowed her eyes. "Agro, what's wrong? Are you~~---~~"

"Nothing," he growled, standing up. Saden flinched, surprised. "I'm going to rest now. You should do the same... or train with Wryn or whatever...." Agro left her staring after him.

He walked to the den beneath the holly bush, his mind swirling with dark thoughts. He knew, to some extent, what he was destined for. He was Silent Scream's successor, meaning that when the time came, he would rule the Dark Forest in her place.

Saden was supposedly another candidate. That's why the two of them had been trained so differently than all the others. She was a few moons older than Agro. She had been chosen in much the same way as Agro, but he doubted anyone had told her why Silent Scream had shown any interest in her. Saden really knew nothing. *But it's probably better that way,*Agro reflected. *We might not have been good friends if she knew the truth.*

Agro sighed. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. Silent Scream had already chosen him among everyone else. Her words on that fateful night proved it. But Agro didn't want her throne; he didn't know what being a ruler would entail. No matter what Shade said, Agro knew that the Dark Forest was not a place you want to be. He had been there, and it frightened him.

*Why couldn't she have been the ruler of StarClan?*He silently complained. From what Kalmia had told him, it sounded like a much happier place.

Agro suddenly halted at the entrance to the den, his thoughts breaking up. He had heard *giggling*. That didn't happen much around here, and it had startled him. It had been happy and carefree, and very few cats in the group could truthfully claim to be happy and carefree. Agro looked around, hearing it again, and he spotted Kalmia. *Did*my *Kalmia really*giggle? It didn't seem possible. But the sound came a third time.

Slowly, Agro approached her. He saw that she was with a tortoiseshell tom named Varrin. They were snuggled so close together, which was probably why he hadn't seen Varrin before. They were talking softly, dreamily. Agro stuck to the shadows so he wouldn't be seen.

"Do you think it will be a tom or a she-kit?" Kalmia asked.

"A she-kit," Varrin guessed in his deep mew.

Kalmia purred. "I have a feeling it'll be a tom. I hope he'll look just like you."

Agro closed his eyes, thinking he might vomit. He had seen enough (and that had barely been gushy). He padded into the light, so both cats could see him. "Kalmia...?" He meowed hesitantly.

Kalmia popped up. "Agro! When did you get here?"

"Oh, uh, just now..." He angled his ears toward Varrin. "When did you two become~~---~~*ahem*~~---~~so close?"

Kalmia exchanged a look with Varrin. "We've been mates for a while...."

Agro's tail twitched. "And you're going to have kits." It wasn't a question.

Varrin stood as Kalmia answered, "Yes. I am. I... I was going to tell you soon, Agro."

"What~~---~~When the kits were *born*? This whole time I thought you were just getting fat!"

"Agro!"

"Sorry," he mumbled. "But you should have told me sooner."

"You're not... mad, are you?"

*Am I mad?*He didn't think so. But he was worried. What would become of him when Kalmia had kits of her own? Would Shade kill them again? "No. Not mad. I'm~~---~~I'm happy for you."

Kalmia smiled. She licked Agro's head. "Thank you. You are still my son, Agro, no matter what. Always remember that I love you."

Agro didn't hear her. "What about Shade?" He asked. "Aren't you afraid of what he might do?"

"Not really," Varrin spoke up. "We know that you will be tested tomorrow. Once you pass, you'll be considered full-grown. Kalmia will have no reason to take care of you anymore."

"Agro, are you all right?" Kalmia asked uncertainly.

"Yes, of course." He smiled for her sake. "Congratulations." Before they could say anything more, he rushed to his den. He curled up into his nest and closed his eyes.

Kalmia was going to have kits. He was going to lose his mother *again*. Tomorrow, when the testing began, she would cease caring for him, and soon she would have a family of her own to occupy her.

What else would the testing change in Agro's life?

* Beetle
* Tear Stream
* Fang
* Maverick
* Varrin
1/5
## ~ Chapter Three ~

Shade stood on the tree stump, looking down at the assembled cats. Agro and Saden sat in the very front. They, as well as everyone else, were gazing up at their leader in anticipation. The sun was high in the sky. Agro shivered, but not because of the cold.

Today was the day. His life was about to change forever. He could feel it in every one of his bones. He took a deep breath as Shade began to speak.

The black tom smiled. "As I'm sure you all know, my two apprentices, Agro and Saden, will be tested today to ensure that they have the skills to become my warriors." With a knowing glance at Agro, he added, "And possibly something more."

Shade flicked his tail. "In order to pass the test, they must fight and defeat three of my adjutants. If they succeed, they will move up in rank and receive a servant of their own. If they should fail..." Shade's smile turned wicked. "Well, then you should say your farewells now." He leaped off the stump, landing in front of his apprentices. "Agro, Saden, fight well and remember, she is watching."

Agro and Saden dipped their heads. They did not have to ask who he meant by "she." Silent Scream was watching and ready to torment them in the afterlife should one or both of them die.

Everyone spread out, making a wide circle. A white she-cat stepped forward. She glanced indifferently toward Saden, who was her exact height, before bowing to Shade.

"For her first test, Saden will fight Illorie," the leader announced. "If anyone should interfere while the testing commences, they will be killed on the spot." He nodded to Illorie and Saden, who padded away from each other, stopping at opposite ends of the circle of felines.

Agro sat by Shade, trying not to worry too much for his friend. *Please, don't die.* He watched Saden and Illorie glare at one another, calculating. They both wore determined looks, as they were prepared to do whatever it took to kill the other.

"Begin," Shade commanded.

The two she-cats lunged at once. Illorie side-stepped at the last second and she raked her claws along Saden's flank. Saden quickly retaliated, batting the older she-cat's face before she could back out of reach. Agro watched them with wide eyes and bated breath. He had never seen Saden look so fierce. She was fighting for her life, and she was attacking Illorie with everything she had.

Agro began to scrutinize Illorie's fight pattern. She used her right forepaw more than her left, and she bit Saden only when she had a clear shot of her neck. She was slow, Agro noticed. At least, slower than Saden. She seemed to have difficulty dodging Saden's blows after she attacked the young apprentice.

And then, Agro saw it: an opening. Illorie had turned sideways, giving Saden an opportunity to throw her weight against her and make her stumble and fall. He screamed at Saden inside his head to take it.

Saden did just that. She did it so quickly that Illorie didn't have time to conceal her shock. She pinned the white she-cat, who immediately struggled, to the ground. But Saden had her good.

*Will she do it?* Agro wondered. He saw Saden's face, saw the hesitation flit across it. She was at the perfect angle to rip out Illorie's throat. *She's afraid*, Agro thought, but in the next second, a dark look clouded her face and she struck. Illorie panicked and struggled more furiously. Saden would not let go and a moment later, Illorie went limp. Saden had done it; she won. She killed Illorie and passed the first test.

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Saden let go of Illorie. She was shaking. Shade approached her with that cruel grin. "Well done," he praised her.

Saden tore her eyes away from the white she-cat's bloody pelt and fixed her yellow eyes on Shade. She looked horrified, but she hid it hastily behind a blank expression. She dipped her head. "Thank you, Shade."

"Jorro!" Shade growled. A small brown tom sprinted to the leader's side. "Take care of Saden's wounds," Shade instructed. "Make sure she's fit for her second test."

"Yes, Shade," Jorro meowed, bowing. He guided the big black and gray she-cat out of the circle.

Agro's blue gaze followed them until they were out of sight. He steeled himself as Shade turned to him. It was his turn. A big, muscular tabby tom padded forward and bowed before Shade, who addressed the crowd.

"For his first test, Agro will fight Farouk." The leader nodded to Agro and the tabby tom. They walked to opposite ends of the circle and then turned to face each other. Agro unsheathed his claws and narrowed his eyes, his lips drawing back into a snarl. "Begin," Shade commanded.

The large tom attacked Agro with a growl. Agro dodged several blows, then struck Farouk hard in the face. It dazed the tabby just long enough so Agro could tear into his flanks.

Farouk whipped around, clearly infuriated, his eyes angry slits. He leaped on top of Agro, whose legs buckled under the weight. Farouk immediately aimed for Agro's neck. Agro's legs were caught underneath him. He struggled, but there was nothing he could do~~---~~

He gasped as teeth met throat. His vision went fuzzy, unfocused. Then, everything went black.

Agro opened his eyes to see Silent Scream's blue eyes and her shadowy pelt above him. Dread filled him. *Am I dead already? I failed so soon... so easily...*

Silent Scream wore a delighted smile. **"Hello, Agro,"**she greeted him. Her echoing voice filled the Dark Forest and rang all around his skull. **"Follow me."**She padded~~---~~floated, more like~~---~~behind some dead bushes.

Agro stood and, hesitating, followed the Dark Forest ruler. She led him silently into a clearing filled with luminous turquoise flowers. They were probably the most beautiful things in the Forest.

Silent Scream stopped in the center. **"Come,"**she invited him.

Agro wondered what she was playing at. He imagined that, if he was dead, she would have started torturing him. Were the flowers part of some evil plan to harm him? What was the reason she brought him here? Agro, knowing he could not escape Silent Scream's wrath, stepped into the clearing.

"If you're going to torture me, let's get it over with," he meowed, sounding much braver than he felt.

Silent Scream laughed; it was a loud, fiendish cackle. She gazed at Agro with her intense blue eyes. **"You are not dead, Agro. You have not failed me. I am going to give you what you need to win. You will be strengthened; you will not die."**

She touched a flower with her ghostly nose. **"Smell the flowers. Let their scent feed you."**

Agro glanced down at the flowers then back at Silent Scream. He didn't like this one bit. But he knew he had no other choice. So, he obeyed, let the flowers' sweet scent bathe his tongue. He felt warmth spread through him; it made him feel giddy. Suddenly, the flowers changed, glowing crimson, and Agro began to feel dizzy. He stumbled. Silent Scream looked like a black blur. "What did you do?" He gasped.

**"I helped you,"**she replied.

The warmth grew hotter until he thought he was on fire. It turned to pure rage; he felt it burning through his heart. Agro cried out and fell to the ground, writhing in agony. He had a strange craving; he was so *hungry*. The thought of it filled every corner of his mind and made his pain vanish. He needed~~---~~

*Blood.*

Agro's eyes snapped open. He was still pinned to the ground, Farouk's jaws still clamped around his throat. How much time had passed? Did it pass at all? *It doesn't matter.*Nothing mattered more than satisfying his craving.

He looked into Farouk's surprised yellow orbs. He sensed fear in them; it gave him great pleasure. The grip around his throat seemed to loosen. It was as if the tabby tom was shocked that Agro was still alive.

Agro couldn't help the devilish smile that spread across his face. Quickly, he pushed himself up, knocking Farouk off. Before the older tom could regain his footing, Agro sent blow after blow to his chest. As Farouk struggled to breathe, Agro pinned him and with one, ferocious bite, he ripped out his throat.

*Blood.*Agro loved the feel of it beneath his claws, loved the taste in his mouth. He wanted more.

He retreated from Farouk's crimson corpse and looked up at Shade, who was smiling with morbid pride. "I'm ready for the next test," Agro meowed. He realized he was breathing heavy, as if the adrenaline wasn't ready for him to stop. *He*didn't *want*to stop.

"That won't be necessary," Shade meowed. "You did marvelous, Agro. You may take a break while Jorro treats your wounds."

"I want to continue." Agro tried his best not to snarl. "*Now*."

No one had openly defied Shade before. The circle of cats looked from their leader to Agro, uncertainly. Shade narrowed his eyes, studying his black and white apprentice. A long silence filled the air, until Shade finally meowed, "Very well."

At a nod from Shade, an orange she-cat, named Peach, stepped forward. She had been a kittypet until her owners left her behind when they had moved. No one would have known unless she told them. Her fur was matted; her ears were torn; her teeth were yellow; her amber eyes were fierce. Shade, as the story went, had saved her life. She was indebted to him. She was supremely loyal.

But, apparently, not a good fighter.

Agro killed her in less than a minute. His desire for blood drove him to victory.

His next opponent was an enormous Maine Coon everyone called Giant. No one knew much about him. Despite his size, he was rarely seen, and he barely spoke.

Giant put up more of a fight than Peach. He actually succeeded in wounding Agro severely on his right side. But you know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Giant was defeated faster than you can say "Timber!"

Agro, breathing heavier than ever, let out a triumphant howl. Shade congratulated him on passing the tests. Most of the cats in the crowd cheered and praised him for his victory. Others were wary, afraid of getting too close lest they become like Farouk, Peach, and Giant.

Now that he was done being tested, Agro was finally able to calm down. He could think somewhat clearer. Shade ordered him to see Jorro.

The small brown tom wasn't much of a healer, as everyone in the group was taught to fight, but he was all Agro had to clean him up.

"You're a fool," Jorro spat.

Agro sat in a daze inside the tom's den. His harsh words aroused him. "Huh?"

"Who do you think you are," Jorro continued, cleaning the blood off Agro, "carrying on the testing without being checked over first? If the adjutants didn't kill you, you're wounds surely will. I mean, *look*at what I've got to deal with."

Agro didn't have to. He could feel it now. He was in so much pain, it was a miracle he hadn't collapsed. He couldn't remember any of the adjutants being able to land a paw on him. He had felt invincible, like he could do anything.

Clearly that had been an illusion. Agro swore as Jorro put marigold on his neck wound. It stung and seemed to increase the pain by ten. When Jorro had just finished wrapping Agro up with cobwebs, Kalmia appeared in the entrance.

"Will you please excuse Agro? I need to speak with him."

Jorro didn't respond but gave Kalmia an annoyed look and padded out of the den.

Agro looked up as Kalmia entered. The emotions on her face troubled him greatly. He felt sick, guilt-ridden. Everything he had done during the testing seemed to crash down on him like a violent wave. He had mercilessly killed three cats~~---~~Shade's adjutants at that, and it had been so *easy*. He'd wanted blood, wanted to spill it throughout the entire camp. He couldn't stop himself. He didn't *try*to. That was the scariest of all.

"Are you all right?" Kalmia asked, her voice shaking.

"Well... I'm alive," Agro replied. *I'm not sure that's good or bad anymore.*

Kalmia stared, searching. She looked so sorrowful it twisted his heart more painfully than any wound. "It's happened~~---~~hasn't it?" She asked, looking into his eyes as tears filled up her own.

"Yes... I suppose it has." If he hadn't been Silent Scream's before, his passing the tests proved that he was. There was no going back now. His destiny was officially secured, bonded forever to the Dark Forest ruler.

"Oh, Agro!" Kalmia moaned. She sat next to him, their fur touching, and wept on his shoulder. "I knew I'd lost you when you were out there fighting," she sobbed. "You weren't yourself at all...."

Agro nuzzled her head, not knowing what else to do.

* Illorie
* Jorro
* Farouk
* Peach
* Giant
1/5
## ~ Chapter Four ~

Saden passed her last two tests. Not wanting to be outdone by Agro, she had moved from her second test to the third without taking a break and refusing to let Jorro check over her wounds. It had nearly cost her her life. For her last test, she had to fight and kill Wryn, her personal trainer, who knew her better than anyone, perhaps even Agro. (Agro had never had a personal trainer. Shade had wished to oversee Agro's training himself.) It had been very hard for her, but in the end, she defeated him, though she had been severely wounded on her right side.

Agro and Saden would become Shade's warriors the next day. It would be a strange, informal ceremony, where everyone congratulated them while pretending to be happy about there being more skilled killers among them. Saden and Agro would then pick their servant. At least, that's how it *should* have gone; Shade had other plans....

Kalmia gave birth in the morning to a small white tom with brown and gray splotches. She, Varrin, and Agro were relieved when Shade didn't seem the least bit interested; he had more important things to worry about. The leader whisked Agro away before he could learn the kit's name.

Everyone (excluding Kalmia, Varrin, the tom-kit, and Jorro) gathered around Shade, who was perched on top of the tree stump, looking as menacing as ever. Agro and Saden sat up front again, and Agro noticed how the black tom's tail kept twitching and how his green gaze kept lingering upward toward the sky. He seemed to be on edge, which was very unusual for Shade, who was always cruel, cool, and composed. With one more nervous glance at the cloudy, blue sea above, Shade addressed the crowd.

"My cats, you are gathered here today to witness my apprentices, Agro and Saden, become warriors. They had proved yesterday that they are quite capable for the new position. But... unfortunately for them, only one of them will attain it."

Uncertain murmurs broke out. Agro and Saden glanced at each other, confused and suddenly very worried.

Shade wore his usual, unsettling smile and he looked once more like his normal self when he continued. "Silent Scream, our supreme ruler and Most Dark One, has made it clear to me that only one of my apprentices will be allowed to become a warrior. It is with some... regret... that I must reject one of them. But I will let them decide who becomes mine while the other~~---~~ah~~---~~is freed." Shade's smile broadened slightly.

Agro's eyes widened. "Freed" could only mean one thing: Agro or Saden would have to die. They would have to fight each other to determine who would get the new position. Shade actually seemed disappointed about not getting two new warriors to do his dark bidding. Silent Scream had tricked them all, it seemed.

Once the news had sunk in and the initial shock had passed, the crowd began to form a circle around Agro and Saden. The two apprentices looked at one another, heartbeats quickening.

"I'm not going to fight you," Agro meowed quietly.

"But you have to," Saden meowed, even quieter, as she cast a wary glance up at Shade. She was shaking.

"Move to the opposite sides of the ring," Shade instructed, "and wait for my command."

Saden slowly obeyed, but Agro remained where he was. He was not going to kill his best friend! *I won't let myself kill her like a did Farouk, Peach, and Giant.* "I am not going to fight Saden," Agro meowed firmly, looking the leader right in the eye.

Shade stared down at Agro from the stump, his eyes glittering between amusement and fury. "You *will* fight her, Agro, and attempt to kill her. It's her life or yours. Neither of you has a choice."

"But we do!" Agro growled. He was done obeying Shade, done pretending to care about what the leader wanted. He'd work for himself from now on. "Saden and I are friends, and we will not~~---~~"

Shade's loud laugh interrupted Agro. "Friends!" The leader gasped through his laugh.

"It's true!"

Shade stopped laughing and smiled. "Is it?"

Agro turned in time to see Saden lunge. She struck him before he had time to react. She tried to pin him but he threw her off. "Saden, what are you doing?" Agro cried.

"I'm sorry, Agro," she meowed, preparing for another attack, "but one of us has to die."

"No, we don't!" Agro dodged her outstretched paws as she sprung. She tried again and snagged his ear and it began to bleed. As Agro was momentarily distracted, Saden took the opportunity to claw his left flank. Angered, Agro whipped around and swatted at her face, narrowly missing her eyes. Saden bowled him over. She pressed a large paw against his face, her claws digging into his head. Agro didn't struggle. He had to talk to her, make her see that what she was about to do was wrong.

"Kill him!" Shade commanded.

"You don't have to do this, Saden," he meowed, loud enough for only her to hear.

Saden lowered her head as if to bite his throat; instead, she whispered in his ear. "But what else can I do?" Her voice was trembling. "I don't want to die, Agro."

"Is being Shade's slave any better? We've been brought up to follow his orders without question. Beetle was right when he called us Shade's pets."

"You're wrong," she meowed, though she sounded uncertain.

"I don't think you believe that."

Agro knew she was thinking hard. If she killed Agro, she would be the one forever stuck beneath Shade's paws. If she didn't kill him, what would happen? Saden seemed to decide to take her chances with the unknown, for she backed away from Agro so he could stand.

"Weak!" Shade snarled, his green eyes livid. "You're both weak!" He leaped off the stump and landed on top of Saden. He raked his claws across her tender side, the one that had been injured during the testing. "Cowardly fools!" The black tom screeched as he pinned Saden, striking her face and finally aiming for her throat.

"NO!" Agro hurled himself at the rogue leader. They collided hard, rolling over and over as they hissed and spat, striking each other wherever they could. They landed with Agro on top and before the older tom could even blink, Agro sunk his teeth into Shade's throat.

*Blood.* He hadn't realized how much he needed it until it hit his tongue. It gave him strength, made him want more.

*Fight it!* Agro shouted at himself. He let go of Shade, who didn't move. The leader's eyes were open, looking at his apprentice resentfully.

"I knew it would come down to this," Shade meowed slowly. Agro realized that this was why Shade had looked so nervous at the beginning of the meeting. The tom sucked in a rattling breath. "Silent Scream... had different plans for me..." He gagged once, coughed up a tremendous amount of blood, and was gone.

Agro stared. He had killed Shade, the cat whom he had thought was almost as powerful as Silent Scream. Agro swallowed. *So what does that make me?* He only looked up when someone shouted, "Our leader is dead!" All at once, Shade's adjutants sprang forward. The first one to reach Agro he killed with one blow.

And this time he didn't fight his desire for blood.

The remaining adjutants pounced as one. Agro took them on without fear. They scratched and bit him, but the pain was nothing compared to his satisfaction of seeing them fall at his paws. One by one, they died, until Agro was forced to fight the normal warriors who had been loyal to Shade. He killed all those who got in his way. Then, there was a pause, when the cats ceased coming, when the fighting stopped completely. Agro was surrounded by crimson-covered corpses. He looked around, breathing hard. Most of the rogues had run away. Others had hid inside their dens, cowering in fright.

Agro looked down. He still had a paw on top of a cat's body. He blinked, realizing it was Beetle. He almost didn't recognize him. His face was frozen in horror, his eyes glazed over with death. His once black and brown pelt was covered in blood. *So much blood....*

Agro recoiled, backing away from all the bodies. The smell of blood was so overwhelming, he thought he would be sick, but not because it was so overpowering. He suddenly realized with disgust that he'd be sick because there was too much for him to *consume.*

Agro turned sharply, hearing something behind the tree stump. A second later Saden poked her head out. Her eyes sparked with fear when she saw Agro. He stepped forward but stopped when she shrieked, "Don't come any closer!"

"Saden... I'm done. I won't... I won't hurt you," Agro meowed slowly and with great effort. Truth was, he *really* wanted to hurt her. He still felt the need to kill, to stain the forest floor red.

*No, I don't,* he told himself sternly. *I don't want to. I don't. I don't. I don't....* He repeated those words over and over.

Saden didn't come out. She watched him like a hawk. If he made one wrong move, she would bolt, or fight him if he caught her. A minute later, Kalmia appeared, supported by Varrin (Jorro was with their kit). His adopted mother and her mate stood frozen before all the bodies and looked at Agro in horror.

"What have you done...?" Kalmia breathed, their eyes meeting. She gaped at him like he was a monster, and that was too much for Agro to take.

He ran and he did not look back. He left the rogue camp, fled past the trees. He did not stop until it was nightfall, until he felt truly alone, where the spirits of the dead couldn't reach him. He collapsed into the hollow of a tree, panting so hard he thought he'd throw up his lungs.

He thought of Kalmia and Saden, their expressions of complete terror imprinted firmly on his mind forever. He had slaughtered so many cats. He'd done it without hesitation, without the slightest feeling of remorse. He still didn't feel guilty. Disgusted out of his mind, but not at all guilty.

*I am a monster.*

**"No. Not a monster,"** meowed a familiar, echoing voice inside his head. **"You are perfect. Exactly how you should be."**

Agro lifted his head, trying to spot Silent Scream's shadowy pelt, but it was too dark. He wouldn't have been able to see her even if she was there. "You're wrong," he meowed quietly. He wanted to shout it but felt too weak.

**"Oh, I don't think I am. You have grown into the perfect weapon for my cause."**

Agro growled. "I don't want to be used for whatever evil plot~~---~~"

**"I don't care what you want. You have a very important task ahead of you. I'm sure you will find it rather... *tasteful.*"** Silent Scream cackled.

Agro did not respond. He knew what the Dark Forest ruler meant: that he had more killing to do, that he will want to do it.

He curled into a ball and closed his eyes. *I am a monster.*

## ~ Chapter Five ~

When Agro awoke the next sunrise, he did not remember why he was huddled inside a hole in the bottom of a tree. But then, as he stepped out into the sun, he recalled everything that had happened the previous day. He had massacred half the rogue group, and Kalmia, the only cat to ever show him a speck of love, now believed him to be a despicable killer.

*She's not wrong,*Agro thought sadly.

He began to walk through the forest, not really knowing or caring where he was going. He'd never been this far away from the group's camp. It was nice being away. He was free to do what he pleased and he didn't have to worry about the adjutants catching him or Shade and his cruel punishments. *I'll never have to worry about the group again.*That seemed to be the only upside to what he'd done.

Suddenly, Agro smelled something strange and he could hear odd noises coming up ahead. The acrid scent grew stronger as he neared its source; he was beginning to feel sick. He halted abruptly at the line of trees and blinked. From left to right, the ground had turned black, and it stretched on like this for miles. The horrible smell was coming from it.

*It's a Thunderpath,*Agro realized. He remembered Kalmia telling him about it once. Giant, strangely colored monsters supposedly sped across its surface. Agro looked both ways but didn't see one. He wondered how awful they really were. *Can't be as bad as what I've become,*he thought sulkily.

Agro stepped cautiously forward. He pressed a paw onto the hard, black surface. He looked left and right again expectantly, as if a monster was about to leap out at him, but nothing happened. He tried another paw. Still nothing. He tried all four paws and still the coast was clear. He crept slowly away from the edge, relaxing slightly.

And then, he heard it. He looked to his left and saw something shiny and silver zooming toward him. It was still pretty far away, but to his utmost horror it seemed to grow with each passing second. Agro knew he should run, but his legs wouldn't work; he was paralyzed with fear. The monster began to screech as the distance between it and Agro decreased and it seemed to be slowing down. The feeling in his legs returned and Agro made a made leap out of the beast's path.

But he was too late. The monster was already upon him when he jumped. As it stopped, it struck his left hind leg. Agro yelped in pain and lay on the hard Thunderpath, dazed. When he came around, he found that two hideous creatures were crouching above him. He hissed and swiped at the closest one's naked paws. They backed out of his reach and stood up on their hind legs. They were tall. Agro was reminded of very small trees. Ugly, disfigured trees. They had oddly colored pelts and the only sign of fur was on the top of their heads. One had short, spiky brown fur, while the other had long, golden fur. The creature with brown fur bent down toward Agro again and made an unintelligible cooing noise. Agro assumed it was trying to communicate, but he did not feel up to chatting, so, as the creature reached toward him, he quickly stood and tried to run. He didn't get far. The moment he put weight on his hind leg, pain shot through it and he winced and fell.

The brown-furred thing gently lifted Agro, who had a surge of panic, up from the ground. Agro thought of fighting it but was afraid of being dropped and hurting his leg even more. He tried hissing again but the creature continued to coo and then it began to pet him.

*Augh, don't touch me! Put me down, put me down, put me down....*

It walked slowly back to the silver monster, opened its side, and climbed into the monster's belly. The golden-furred one entered on the other side. Agro's panic increased. Were they being eaten? Why were the creatures being so calm? Agro squirmed, trying to get the creature to release him but he was only held tighter. Then, he realized they were *moving.*The monster was moving and Agro, trapped inside its belly, had no choice but to allow it to take the three of them wherever it was headed.

. . . .

The creatures were called Twolegs. Agro remembered a couple of cats who spoke about them in the rogue group. He did not recall anyone ever saying how they willingly allowed themselves to be eaten by a monster.

Agro was terrified. Though it was a different sort of terrified than on the day of his testing. When he had tested, he was terrified yet determined. Now there was nothing but fear.

He was not sure what the Twolegs were going to do to him. He was not sure he wanted to know. He could not relax while he was in the male Twoleg's lap. (He assumed it was the male. It had a deeper coo than the golden-furred one.) If they were going to kill him, he wished they'd get it over with.

The monster gave an unexpected lurch and stopped. The female Twoleg opened the monster's side and escaped. The male did, too. Agro couldn't understand why they were still alive; he thought the monster would have digested them by now. But he wasn't going to complain. If only he could escape the Twoleg's hold on him as well.

They entered a tall structure and, after several minutes of waiting, another Twoleg dressed in white pelts took them into a small room. *Great,*Agro thought. *Trapped again.*The male Twoleg put him down on a table. The next thing Agro knew, something sharp struck his neck and he felt instantly drowsy. He closed his eyes and his mind went blank.

When Agro woke, he felt very disoriented. Something heavy and ocean-blue was wrapped around his left rear leg. He didn't like it; it was uncomfortable, but something told him not to mess with it. Then, he realized he was in a cage. The Twoleg in white picked up the cage and brought him back to the two who had brought him here. Agro was then carried back outside... and forced into the monster's belly.

Agro groaned. He just wanted to be free of these Twolegs and left alone! Was that so much to ask?

Apparently, it was. The Twolegs brought him to their den. They let him out once they were inside and he immediately tried to find a way to escape. It was hard work: the strange blue casing around his leg made it difficult to walk and even harder to jump; and the Twolegs kept picking him up and putting him down on some cushiony gray nest. After about a million attempts, he finally stopped and laid on the nest, which smelled faintly of cat. It made him think that they must have kidnapped another cat at some point. He wondered what had happened to it.

*It probably died.*Agro's eyes widened and he looked up at the Twolegs as a great rush of dread settled in his belly. Something worse than death was in store for him.

*They'll turn me into a kittypet!*

*. . . .*

Agro remained with the Twolegs for over a moon. They fed him small round pellets that resembled rabbit droppings. For the first three days he didn't dare eat them. But then he got so hungry that he didn't care what they looked like or why they tasted so bland and stale.

He tried to escape whenever he could. Whenever the Twolegs opened the entrances~~---~~or exits~~---~~to the nest, he darted around or between their legs, but somehow they would always manage to catch him. He blamed his bad leg; it slowed him down.

Since they refused to let him outside, he was forced to make dirt in a strange box near the back exit of the den. The Twolegs would empty it when it got too full.

A few days after he arrived, the Two-legs gave him a bath. He didn't understand why they needed to clean him when he was perfectly capable of grooming himself. He bit the male's paw to show how much he hated it.

Agro didn't know how much time had past. He just knew it felt like an eternity. But one day, the Twolegs brought him back to the one with white pelts, and it took the casing off his leg. His leg felt weak and strong at the same time. He wondered if it had healed enough for him to run. He didn't get to try it out, however; the Twolegs put him back in the cage and into their monster.

They did not bring him back to their den. Instead, they brought him to a place filled with other cats. The felines were all locked in cages. They had filthy, matted fur and they all seemed absolutely miserable. They made such a ruckus with all their mewling, growling, and hissing.

Agro suddenly didn't want to leave the Twolegs. They were certainly better than this place. Was it just him or did they actually look like they regretted leaving him here? The female looked very sad when she handed Agro's cage over to an unfamiliar male in brown pelts.

The unfamiliar Twoleg took Agro and dumped him into another cage along the wall. There were two cages on top of his own, which was on the floor, and several others on his left and right. The cats inside them seemed very disinterested in him and ignored him when he tried to talk to them.

"Will you quit yapping?" A gray she-cat finally snapped at him. Her cage was directly across from his. When she turned to glare at him, he saw that she had only one eye.

"I just want to know why I'm here," Agro meowed, trying to sound calm.

"Yeah? Well, we all want to know why we're here."

"You better get used to this place quick, kit," meowed an orange tom next to Agro. He looked deranged. "No one ever leaves this place alive!"

## ~ Chapter Six ~

"Don't listen to Chase. He's been here too long. Gone mad."

Agro looked up at the cage above him. Though he could not see the she-cat who had spoken, her mew sounded young and kind.

Chase, the orange tom next door on Agro's right, gave a hoarse chuckle. "Not mad," he meowed, though when Agro looked at him, his eyes were looking in opposite directions. "I've eaten more spoons than an opossum gets run over by a monster in the wee hours of the morn'."

Agro blinked, completely lost. He thought it best not to respond, mainly because he didn't know how. *This tom is definitely insane.* He glanced again at the cage above him. "Who're you?"

The she-cat seemed to know he was talking to her. "I'm Lila. And you are?"

"Agro."

"It's nice to meet you, or, at least, your voice."

"Heh. You too."

"Don't listen to me! Don't listen to me!" Chase suddenly howled. He began to run around in circles in his cage.

Agro watched him warily. "W-what's wrong with him?"

Lila sighed. "It's best not to question. He's just repeating what I said. I told you not to listen to him, remember?"

"Why... Why shouldn't I listen to him?" Agro asked hesitantly.

Lila snorted. "Well, *obviously*, because he's crazy. And also because he lied. Some cats who come here do leave alive. It's the unlucky ones who don't...."

You mean, cats have escaped?" Agro inquired, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"No..." Lila replied. "No cat I know has ever escaped. But Twolegs do come here sometimes to adopt us, meaning, they take us back to their nest to live with them."

*Who'd want to live with Twolegs?* Agro almost burst out in shock, but he realized in time that some of the cats in this prison probably used to be kittypets. Then, he began to think. Getting "adopted," as Lila had called it, would most likely be his best chance of escape. There was one problem, however.

"How often do Twolegs come here and adopt cats?" He asked.

"Not very often, I'm afraid," Lila answered sadly.

"More like never," the one-eyed she-cat opposite Agro grumbled darkly.

Agro clawed the silver bars of his cage in frustration. When was he going to be free?

*Never,* said a voice inside his head. *Even if you do escape this prison by adoption, another one awaits. And even if you escape that one, you are still forever enslaved by Silent Scream and there's no chance of escaping her, not even in death.*

Despair gripped Agro's heart. There was nothing he could do, nothing at all. He was trapped one way or another no matter what.

*. . . .*

"I chased a mouse around the world.

It jumped up high an' flew to the sky.

Landed on the moon where I met a magpie.

It looked real bored so I chased it, too.

Before mah eyes, it turned bright blue.

It joined the mouse in runnin' for its life.

Couldn't catch 'em, caused me lots o' strife~~---~~"

Agro lay on his side in his cage, listening silently to Chase singing a ridiculous song with a fast country tune. He'd listened to it practically non-stop for a week now. It seemed to be the orange tom's way of calming himself down. Some of the other cats sang along. Agro had memorized the words quite easily, but he didn't dare join in. He couldn't help noticing that Gei (pronounced exactly like "Jay"), the one-eyed she-cat, sometimes mouthed the words, though she always stopped when she saw Agro watching and she turned her back on him.

In the song, Chase chased a mouse, a magpie, a fish, a lizard, a frog, a dog, a fox, some creature he called a bear (Agro suspected that it didn't exist), a Twoleg, and finally, a monster. The song ended with everything falling into a river and drowning (yes, even the fish). Chase yelled "Beware of the spoon!" each time the song ended. Spoons had absolutely nothing to do with the song; Agro thought Chase just liked the word a little too much.

During the week, Agro became better acquainted with Lila~~---~~well, Lila's voice. She made living in the Catcher's slightly bearable. He learned a lot from her and about her. She had been taken away from her mother and littermates when she was two moons old, and she had been adopted by a female Twoleg kit.

"But one day, they gave me away," Lila had meowed, her voice distant and filled with sorrow. "I still can't understand *why*... I was good. I behaved. *What* did I do wrong?" She had directed the question more toward herself than Agro.

Agro had a hard time feeling sympathetic since he had barely survived a moon with Twolegs and they didn't even have kits. Nevertheless, he faked it pretty well, considering the fact that Lila had called him "a good friend." It felt good to have a friend after being alone for so long.

*But it'd be better if you were alone,* the voice inside his head reminded him. *That way you can't hurt anyone.*

He spoke less to Lila after that.

"Beware of the spoons!" Chase hollered after the song was over.

Agro sighed in relief. *Finally, quiet.* But the silence did not last long, for many of the cats began to chat. Agro didn't get why they felt the need to make conversation; it's not like anything new and/or exciting had happened.

Suddenly, a tom in the bottom corner near the door hissed, "*Shh!*" and everyone quieted down. "Twolegs," the tom whispered. "Sounds like more than one."

*More than the one who feeds us?* Agro wanted to ask, but he, like everyone else, was too busy listening.

They could hear footsteps coming their way. Then, the door burst open and three Twolegs entered the room. The male in the lead was the normal brown-pelted one. The other two, Agro guessed by their coos, were male and female. Agro had to press his face against the bars of his cage if he wanted to see more than just their legs. They had stopped right in front of his cage and, as far as he could tell, they were bending over to look at Lila. From their delighted coos, he gathered that they liked her.

Agro felt a great pang of envy. He wished that he hadn't been put in a cage on the ground. He needed to be seen by the Twolegs. He needed them to adopt him so he could then escape from them and be *free*.

The brown-pelted Twoleg stepped forward and unlocked Lila's cage. He took her out and handed her to the female, who cradled Lila in her arms and cooed in a way that can only be described as lovingly. Then, they began to head out the door.

*No! Wait!* "Lila!" Agro didn't realize he had spoken her name out loud until she looked at him. Their eyes met. Lila seemed to make a decision. She began to wiggle around in the Twoleg's arms. The female dropped her and Lila landed gracefully on the hard, gray ground and quickly padded over to Agro's cage. She looked at him thoughtfully, smiling, and pawed at his cage. A purr rumbled in her throat and she looked back at the Twolegs. They looked at each other, cooing quietly. They pointed at Agro and the Twoleg in brown came over an unlocked his cage.

Agro beamed at Lila, his envy dissolving, as he was taken out. "Thank you," he meowed.

"You're welcome," she replied, then added teasingly, "You owe me."

"You got it!"

Agro was handed to the visiting male Twoleg, while the female picked Lila up. They were carried out of the room and were once again placed in cages. Soon afterwards, the Twolegs carried them out and took them to their monster.

"I can't believe it," Agro murmured when they were brought to the Twoleg nest. The Twolegs let them out of their cages once they were inside.

"I know," Lila purred. "I didn't think I'd ever leave that place."

They smiled at each other. They began to look each other over for the first time. Lila was a brown tabby with a white underbelly and paws. She had light green eyes. Agro found his face heating up the longer he looked at her. Quickly averting his eyes, he smoothed down his chest fur.

"Hey," Lila meowed softly, a dreamy grin crossing her face, "you are rather handsome."

Agro, embarrassed and growing hotter, mumbled, "Thanks. You too." When Lila laughed, he realized his mistake and looked up at her frantically. "No! I-I mean, y-you're very pretty."

Lila's smile grew wider. "Thank you, Agro."

Before they could say anything else, a great rumbling came from the floor above them. In the next second, a great flood of Twoleg kits came hurtling down the steps, yelling and screaming excitedly. Agro's fur bristled in alarm, but Lila watched the wave crashing toward them happily. The Twoleg kits circled around the two felines; Agro thought his ears would burst with all the noise they were making.

Lila seemed to enjoy the attention they were giving her, but Agro found the incessant pats on the head and rough strokes along his flanks very irritating. He had half a mind to swat at them all, but before he could, the grown female Twoleg, presumably the mother, began cooing harshly and her kits went away reluctantly.

"I didn't like that," Agro meowed. "I didn't like that at all." He attempted to flatten his ruffled fur.

Lila glanced at him, smirking slightly. "What~~---~~You've never been pet before?"

"No," Agro meowed a lot harsher than he meant. The presence of so many Twolegs greatly unnerved him; to cover it up, he became quite snappish. "I've never had the displeasure of being assaulted by a million Twoleg kits all at once, if that's what you mean."

Lila cocked her head. "You mean you're not used to Twoleg kits?"

"Of course I'm not!"

"I didn't know, Agro, I'm sorry. I just assumed you were a kittypet like me, since those Two-legs brought you in." She paused. "You're a rogue then?"

Agro's eyes darted to the ceiling when he heard a loud *thump.*"Yes."

"Well, we'll make a kittypet outta you yet. Life's pretty nice~~---~~"

"I don't want to be a kittypet!" Agro meowed fiercely.

Lila looked at him, eyes narrowed. "Then, why did you want the Twolegs to adopt you, too?"

"Anything was better than the Catcher's."

"That's true," Lila admitted, but she looked suddenly upset. "But what are you going to do now if you're not going to become a kittypet? You can't leave the Twolegs: it'll break their hearts."

Agro snorted. "Better to break their hearts than be imprisoned here forever."

Lila's fur bristled slightly. "It's not a prison," she meowed, offended. "It's a home. A place to belong."

"Well, *I*belong free in the forest. The first chance I get I'm leav~~---~~"

"Oh, Agro," Lila meowed. Agro was taken aback by the desperation in her voice and the sadness that crept over her face. "I didn't help you get out of the Catcher's only for you to leave me."

Agro blinked; he was at a loss for words. Lila's cheeks flushed crimson as she realized what she said. Then, she meowed, still red-faced and sounding shy, "Well, it's true.... I guess I sorta got... *attached*to you and... hearing your voice all the time...."

Agro blinked again. She made it sound like they were the only two locked in cages at the Catcher's. His heart was beating wildly~~---~~he didn't really like that feeling~~---~~and he felt extremely flattered, which was something he wasn't used to. "Um, Lila~~---~~" He began.

"Oh, please, Agro, you have to stay here with me!" Lila begged. "At least for a little while. To see if you like this kind of life. Can't you at least *try*to like it? For~~---~~for me?"

Agro opened his mouth, about to object, but he slowly closed it. He had no intention of becoming a kittypet, but Lila really seemed to want him to stay. He already knew what life was like as a kittypet: it was very boring, though he had to admit, it was also relaxing. He'd trade in relaxation for freedom any day. But, perhaps, if Lila *really*wanted him to stay, he'd stay just a little while longer, if only to make her happy.

"Okay," he conceded, not really sure of himself. "I won't leave... yet."

Lila beamed. "Oh, *wonderful!*Oh, Agro, I know if you only give it a chance, you're really going to like it here. This is great!"

Lila continued to ramble and Agro listened only partly. He thought it was great to be here with Lila, without having a care in the world, but deep down, he knew he couldn't stay. *Silent Scream wouldn't let me, even if I wanted to.*

And he was right.

* Chase
* Lila
* Gei
1/3
## ~ Chapter Seven ~

Agro barely lasted two weeks as a kittypet. The Twoleg kits drove him crazy. There were just too many of them (eight to be precise), and they would not leave him alone. The smaller ones chased him around the whole nest, screeching as loudly as they could. Sometimes they caught him and refused to let him go. They pet his fur the wrong way, pulled on his ears, and yanked his tail. It took everything he had not to bite them, claw their faces, shred their ugly, little paws to pieces. But one time, he did lose control; his tolerance had run out. He bit one of the wilder kits on its hairless foreleg and drew blood. It ran away howling in pain. Agro felt immense satisfaction. Lila scolded him.

"You can't *do*that, Agro," she growled. "You must be kind to the little ones. Have patience with them."

"*Patience?*" Agro spat as if it were a disease. "The brat sat on me!"

"Even so, there was no need to harm him."

Agro wanted to attack her, too.

If he thought Lila was upset with him, it was nothing compared to the wrath of the Twoleg kit's parents. The male came lumbering at Agro. He swatted the black and white feline on the nose, slapped his rump, and practically strangled him before shoving him inside a portable cage. He spent the rest of the day and all night in it. In the morning, when the female released him, she cuffed him hard around the head, making sure she got her point across.

The older kits, though not as unpredictable or noisy, were just as bad as their younger siblings. They had an awful habit of picking Agro up and cuddling him so tight he thought he'd be crushed. To make it worse, their smaller brothers and sisters tried to imitate them.

It did not help that Agro had been growing *very*hungry over those two weeks. He needed blood; he needed to feel it cover his claws, to watch the ground turn red around his victim. His desire for blood increased tremendously when he had attacked the Twoleg kit and had made it bleed. He began to hate Lila, not only for persuading him to try kittypet life, but also because every time he looked at her, whether she was scolding him, enjoying the attention of the Twolegs, or simply relaxing in a sun-spot, he had the greatest temptation to kill her. He hid from her as much as he did the annoying kits.

Agro found that he was battling, not just the Twolegs and Lila, but himself. His mind was working against him. By the end of the second week, he knew he was losing the fight.

He attacked another kit. For once he was unprovoked. He scratched up the creature's leg so badly that its mother screamed at the sight of it. The male was not at the nest to beat Agro again, but he quickly hid from the female on top of the tall, white box where the Twolegs stored cold food. She wasn't tall enough to reach him and he swatted at her when she tried.

Giving up on Agro, the mother took the injured kit out to the monster, packed the rest of her kits into its belly, and sped off, leaving Agro alone~~---~~alone with Lila.

Agro looked over the edge of the white box to find her staring up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Now you've done it," she meowed, trying her best not to sob. "When they come back, they'll get you down from there and take you away and you won't ever return."

"Good," Agro meowed. His stomach rumbled; he had not eaten breakfast that morning.

Lila swallowed. "They'll kill you."

Agro stared at her, unflinching, his expression blank. "How do you know?"

"I've heard stories... Do you remember Gei? Her mate bit a Twoleg. He was whisked away and never seen again." Her voice had become unsteady.

Agro snorted. "They'll have a hard time killing me."

Lila whimpered and the tears crashed down like a waterfall. "Oh, Agro! I don't want you to die!" She moaned. "I really thought you'd learn to live here and like it! I wanted you to so badly!"

Something twisted inside Agro. He didn't like seeing Lila cry. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but he knew he shouldn't move, he should keep his distance. Yet there he was slowly climbing down from his hiding place as he would if he were stalking a mouse from up in a tree. Hunger flashed in his eyes and he unsheathed his claws, which were already red from tearing up the Twoleg kit's leg. This was the perfect moment. Lila was vulnerable, unsuspecting. There was no one to intervene.

"You didn't even see to *try*!" Lila cried. "You promised you would..."

"Not true... I did try..." Agro murmured quietly, still creeping toward her. His conscience tried to stop him. *Agro, turn around. Don't do it.*

"Really?" Lila suddenly looked angry. "Every time I saw you, you looked like you really wanted to murder them!"

"That's because I really did want to murder them. Notice now how I never did? I didn't because of *you*. I wanted to make you happy." Agro stopped and glared at her. They were only three fox-tails apart. She ceased crying, though her body still trembled slightly.

"If you wanted to make me happy," Lila meowed slowly, "why did you attack those two kits?"

"Because," Agro growled, "I had had *enough*! I am done being pushed around by those Twolegs and their filthy kits. I am done eating those rabbit droppings they serve as food. I am done being trapped in here trying to please you when I would much rather be alone and free!"

Lila flinched at his last sentence. A dark look clouded her face and she turned away. "Fine.... If you feel that way, you can leave. I won't try to keep you here when you so obviously hate it... and me.... You know those clear walls we can use to see outside? Well, I was able to pry one open; it's in the parents' den." She paused, glancing briefly at him. "I did it for you, though if I had known you were mutilating that kit's leg at the same time, I wouldn't have done it."

Agro felt something, possibly a pint of remorse, hit him square in the chest. It was just enough to soften his blue gaze, but not nearly enough to make him change his mind about what he was going to do.

"Well~~---~~get out of here. Go on... leave," Lila hissed, clearly trying not to cry again.

"No... not yet..." Agro meowed quietly. "I have some unfinished business." *Don't! You'll regret it!*

Lila looked at him, confused. Her eyes widened and she screamed when Agro pounced. He knocked her onto her side and before she had a chance to retaliate, he sunk his fangs into her throat.

*Agro, NO!*

A loud, maniacal cackle reverberated around inside his head. It startled him and brought him back to his senses. He released Lila and backed away, horrified. "No," he breathed. "What have I done?"

Lila looked up at him her eyes screaming betrayal. "Why, Agro?" She whispered. Blood pooled around her head. She closed her eyes, took one, last shuddering breath, and was gone.

Agro couldn't breathe. Lila was dead. He had murdered Lila. What kind of monster was he to kill someone he cared about? He was something worse, much worse, than a monster.

He had to get away. He ran from Lila's body, up the stairs, and into the adult Twoleg's den, as if he could leave that sickeningly wretched beast inside of him behind as well. He quickly found the exit he'd been searching for for days, and he leaped out of it like the whole nest was on fire. He jumped from the roof to a tree and after climbing down, he sprinted along the Thunderpath, not really knowing where he was going.

**"Who are you running from?"**A black mist appeared out of nowhere in front of him and he skidded to a halt. Silent Scream's haunting blue eyes glowed with amusement.

"I hate you," Agro snarled fiercely, panting, "for what you did."

**"My darling Agro, I have not done anything. It is you who has been busy...."**

Agro shook his head, still out of breath. "It's all your fault!" He swung at her but his bloody claws merely went through her as if she were smoke.

Silent Scream laughed at his feeble attempt and struck him on the side of the head. He hit the ground face-first.

Agro picked himself up, his head throbbing, and glared at her. "You," he growled. "You made me do it~~---~~made me kill Lila."

**"No, no,"**Silent Scream answered, smiling wide. **"That was all you. You, my dear, wanted to kill Lila. I simply gave you a little nudge."**She paused, looking him over. **"I am very pleased with your success."**

"I don't call it a success~~---~~"

**"Of course you don't. You thought you loved her. But you'll get over it. You have to."**

"I won't~~---~~"

**"Ah, but you will. You will listen to the hunger and kill to satisfy it. There's no going around it, as I am now sure you understand. Since you have killed Lila, I have no doubt now that you will slaughter the other when the time comes."**

Agro froze, his eyes widening. "*What '*other'?"

Silent Scream smiled wickedly. **"You'll know her when you see her. And remember, she's the one that counts. Her death will change *everything*."**

"What do you mean?" Agro shouted, unable to keep the desperation out of his voice.

**"Don't fret about it now, darling,"**the Dark Forest ruler meowed. She began to fade away. **"For the time being, just be happy you are not hungry."**

. . . .

Agro was lost in Twolegplace. He had no idea where he was going. It took him a whole day to finally navigate through the maze of Twoleg nests. He fared no better outside of it however; there was much more than Twoleg nests. A mess of other structures, some small and others tall, were lined up along the Thunderpaths. Monsters were abundant, as were the Twolegs themselves. Lots of them walked on the hard, grayish surfaces next to the Thunderpaths. Avoiding them all was quite difficult, especially when hiding places grew scarce. The only good that could possibly come out of his being trapped in Twolegplace was the fact that he was now a pro at crossing Thunderpaths.

After a couple of days of wandering around, his stomach aching from lack of food, Agro spotted two cats he did not expect to see again. He debated on whether to approach them or not: he did not want to hurt them like he knew he was bound to if he remained in their company for too long; but on the other hand, they might be able to help him escape this wretched, seemingly never-ending Twolegplace.

The thought of going back to the forest excited him, so he made up his mind and quickly but cautiously raced toward the felines before they could get out of his sight.

"For the last time, will you cut that out, and quit singing that song?" The gray she-cat hissed at the orange tom bouncing up and down around her. "With all that racket you're making, we're bound to be caught again! Do you *want* to be caught again?"

The orange tom sobered up at once. "No, Gei, I don't want to go back to the Catcher's," he meowed, frightened.

"Then, please, do as I said and *shut*~~---~~*up*."

At first, the she-cat's words seemed to work, but when Agro finally caught up to them, the tom was singing about the monster he chased and it was so scared it barfed out a Twoleg.

Agro had just halted a few yards away when Chase, spinning around in circles while walking, caught sight of him. The older tom stopped dead. He stared at Agro for a second or two, then, with apparent delight, he hurled himself at Agro. Agro did not have time to move out of the way and the two collided. Chase sat on top of Agro, smashing his face into the ground.

"Agro!" He screeched joyfully, as if they were brothers and had been separated for moons but were reunited at last.

"It's good to see you, too," Agro gasped somewhat muffled. He threw Chase off him and backed away a little so both the insane tom and Gei were in front of him once more.

"What do you want?" Gei growled. Agro blinked, surprised to see her trembling, her matted gray fur bristling. These were not good signs if he was going to get information out of her.

He cleared his throat and meowed calmly, "I need your help."

"*My help*?" She repeated, her one eye widening in shock.

"Er~~---~~yes," Agro meowed, confused by her reaction. "I don't know my way around Twolegplace and I wish to get back to the forest."

Gei narrowed her eye suspiciously. "I see... And you, by any chance, wouldn't happen to be asking us for help because you *rescued* us"~~---~~she said the word begrudgingly~~---~~"would you?"

"Rescued you?" Agro meowed, more confused than ever. "What're you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," she snapped. "I know why you're really here: you want us to repay you for saving us from the Catcher's! But I know better. You're going to keep demanding favors until the day we die!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about! I've been trapped in a Twoleg nest for~~---~~I don't know how long, and I've been wandering Twolegplace aimlessly since I've escaped. I haven't laid eyes on the Catcher's since Lila and I were adopted." A pang of regret sliced through Agro when he said Lila's name. For a moment he saw her again, her light green eyes staring up at him in horror as her throat bled out and made a puddle around her head. Gei's uncertain mew brought him back to the present.

"So it wasn't you?" She asked. "You really don't know what happened at the Catcher's yesterday evening?"

"No. I don't."

Gei eyed him silently for a moment, then opened her mouth to speak. But before she could, Chase yelled excitedly, "The cages exploded and everyone was set free! We all ran for out lives and didn't look back. It was a miracle!"

Agro looked at Gei for confirmation. She rolled her eye and sighed but didn't contradict Chase. Agro's mouth fell open. "The cages actually *exploded*?"

"No," Gei hissed, then added quietly, "Not really..."

Agro waited for her to elaborate, glancing at Chase, who was now giggling about dandelions while trying to pounce on his own paws.

"I'm not really certain what happened, but whatever did, it wasn't normal..." She paused, evidently trying not to sound frightened or excited. "We were just fed our dinner. After the Twoleg left, the door opened back up by itself. A... sort of black smoke began to fill the room."

"Black smoke?" Agro repeated, immediately thinking of Silent Scream.

"That's what I saw," growled Gei, thinking Agro hadn't believed her. "Everything got very dark. One by one, our cages opened and we ran. Since I was on the bottom row, I was one of the last to leave. I wasn't the only one who saw them."

"Saw what?"

Gei stared into his eyes. Her voice was accusing when she meowed, "We saw a pair of glowing blue eyes much like your own."

Agro was silent. *Silent Scream helped them escape? Why? What was the point? Why had she bothered?*

"I heard laughing," Chase spoke up, suddenly looking afraid. "It wasn't the normal one inside my head. This one seemed... *evil*."

For once, Agro believed Chase was telling the truth, and he was now convinced that Silent Scream had helped those cats escape.

"Did you hear the laughing?" Agro asked Gei.

She flattened her ears and stared down at the ground. She nodded.

"Well... It wasn't me," Agro meowed. "Last time I checked, I could never turn into black smoke or magically open cages."

Gei glanced up at him, studying him closely. After a while she meowed, "So... You want to get out of Twolegplace?"

Agro nodded. "Very much so."

Gei turned around and began to pad away. "Then, follow me."

. . . .

Agro thought the forest had never looked so beautiful. Though most of the leaves had fallen off, the trees' branches swayed in the wind as if welcoming him back. The mountains stood behind the trees like a gateway that would take him away from all the awful things that had happened~~---~~that he had done~~---~~in his past. He broke away from Chase's ridiculous ramblings and Gei's irritated grumbles and sprinted into the forest. *Free at last!* He felt his heart soar. He hopped around like a kit, crunching leaves under his paws.

Chase joined him, but Gei remained on the edge and watched, trying to hide her amusement. The orange tom rolled around on the ground and when he stood up, his fur was sticking up and bits of leaf clung to him. Agro couldn't help snorting with laughter.

After several minutes had passed, Gei finally walked up to Agro. She avoided his gaze and glanced around the forest. "Well, I got you out of Twolegplace. This is where we part."

Agro halted midstep, and turned to look at her, astonished. "You mean... you want to go back *there*?"

Gei watched a beetle scuttle in the grass near her paws. She did not have to ask what he meant by "there." "Yes," she answered.

Agro didn't understand, but he didn't argue either. He had gotten used to Gei and Chase by his side, even though it had only been a few hours. Sure, they both got really annoying: Chase dancing around, shouting unintelligible things, and Gei yelling at him to shut up. Agro thought it very strange~~---~~and very worrying~~---~~how much he was actually going to miss these two odd cats.

"Come on, Chase," Gei called. "We gotta find a place to sleep before nightfall."

Chase slowly padded over to her side, looking rather reluctant. "Do I have to go?" He asked timidly.

Gei blinked at him. "Of course you do. You can't stay in the forest~~---~~"

"But I *want* to stay in the forest!" Chase burst out. "I don't want to go back to Twolegplace."

"Don't be stupid~~---~~"

"I don't want to be trapped in a cage again!" The orange tom howled. "I won't go back! *I won't*!"

"Chase, you can't~~---~~"

"Why can't he?" Agro interrupted this time.

Gei finally looked at Agro and gave him a tired, flustered glare. "Because he's~~---~~Well, you know~~---~~He needs~~---~~" she stuttered. "I can't leave him out here alone," she meowed slightly desperately.

"He wouldn't be alone," Agro meowed. "He'd be with me. Besides, why do you care what happens to Chase?"

Gei opened her mouth, then immediately closed it. She glanced at Chase, who was staring at her pleadingly, for once giving his full attention to the matter at hand, but at the same time not totally grasping what they had said. Gei flattened her ears and turned back to Agro. "Where do you plan to go?"

Agro tilted his head. He hadn't really thought about that. He just knew he wanted to get out of Twolegplace... and Silent Scream had never mentioned anything, had she? "I plan getting as far away from this place as I can," he answered at last.

Gei narrowed her eye, her ears still pressed against her head. She sighed, straightened up, and looked at Agro resignedly. "Alright. Then we'd better get started."

"Huh?" Agro meowed stupidly. *Did her mind change that quickly?* "You're coming, too?"

"Well, duh," she hissed, beginning to pad further into the forest.

"Hooray!" Chase chanted. "We're all going nowhere together!"

Agro didn't move and watched them as they padded ahead of him. On one hand, he was glad to have their company; on the other, he knew it was going to turn out horribly. Fighting down sudden apprehension, he scrambled to catch up to them.

## ~ Chapter Eight ~

After about two hours of walking, the ground gradually started to rise as they reached the mountains. The trees changed to evergreens and the small signs of life decreased. Agro began to doubt their decision to go through the mountains. How would they find food? Leaf-bare would be upon them any day now. The temperature fell as they continued to travel up and up. Agro was feeling hungry again....

Agro stopped and glanced back at his companions. He hesitated for a moment, knowing Gei would get mad for asking again. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

As predicted, the gray she-cat growled. "For the last time, I am sure. I've been through the mountains once before. I know the quickest way through."

"But did you make the journey during leaf-bare?"

"*Yes!* Now, shut up! You're almost as bad as Chase!"

Agro clamped his mouth shut before he could make a furious retort and he continued up the incline.

A little after sunset, Gei caught two mice and they split the prey between them. Agro was embarrassed and rather ashamed that he didn't know how to hunt. It was something Shade~~---~~blood-thirsty as he was~~---~~had never bothered to teach him. How was it that Agro could fight like a one-man army but couldn't hunt to save his life? Food was vital for one's survival! How could Silent Scream and Shade be so stupid as to overlook that, to fail to teach him at least the basic hunting techniques? The glare Gei gave him when he told her he didn't know how to catch his own prey made him feel even worse.

After they had finished eating, Chase dashed off into the night with a loud holler. Agro was about to chase after him but Gei stopped him.

"He knows what he's doing," she meowed calmly.

Agro looked at her, surprised; he thought she cared for the strange orange tom. "But," Agro protested, "it's dark and he could get lost~~---~~"

The one-eyed feline gave a loud hiss which silence him. "He'll be back," Gei meowed. She sighed resignedly. "He always comes back..."

Agro tilted his head. From what he could see of her in the darkness, he thought Gei looked like a weary queen who had spent her whole day chasing after her rambunctious kits. A sudden realization struck him. "He's your kit," he blurted out.

Gei glanced at him. "Come again?"

"Chase," Agro meowed. "He's like a kit to you, isn't he? That's why you stick by him. That's why you tolerate his... abnormal ways. You're acting as his mother."

Gei was very quiet and her eye widened. Even through the gloom, which was growing darker by the minute, Agro could see her blush. She turned on him, fur bristling, and went on a stammering tirade. "How did you guess~~---~~What right have you to~~---~~How dare you just assume~~---~~So what if I am~~---~~What's wrong with wanting to be a mother?!"

Agro took a few steps back in case she tried to strike him; he should have guessed she would get very defensive. "Nothing's wrong with that," he meowed quickly before she could start up again. "I... I actually think it's great what you're doing for Chase. He needs someone like you."

Gei blinked, taken aback by his words. After a moment, she narrowed her eye and meowed, "You're making fun of me."

"No, I'm not," Agro returned firmly. "I really do mean what I said."

The she-cat's fur laid flat once more. "You're not just saying that?"

"Of course not."

Gei sat, tail curled around her paws, and stared self-consciously at the ground. Twice she started to speak, then stopped. "I've always wanted kits," she began quietly. "Someone to look after, to take care of... But... I can't." She seemed to shrink in on herself when she said it. "I felt so ashamed. Like a failure. I cried... a lot." She glanced at Agro, as if afraid he would make fun of her and her story when she wasn't looking~~---~~and she was prepared to tear his ears off.

"Then, my mate died," she continued, shuffling her paws. "He was taken away by Twolegs, plucked right off the Thunderpath, after attacking a Twoleg kit. I never saw him again. I know he's gone... I thought I was going to lose my mind. No kits and now no mate; what was I going to do? I had nothing left."

She faced Agro. "But then I found Chase. He was about your age. He had fallen into one of those Twoleg-made holes that let all the water in when it rains. I helped him get out. Showed him how to climb out by using those gray rungs. He wasn't hurt, just ruffled. He said he had been 'following the singing leaf.' I left him right then and there~~---~~thought he was crazy~~---~~but he followed me and he would *not* shut up. Though, the more he talked, the more I realized how young he seemed~~---~~too young for his age. It was like his mind never grew up; it's stuck while the rest of his body grows. I took pity on him and let him stay with me. I know he's really annoying at times and strange and loud but... somehow he grew on me."

"He grew on you," Agro repeated.

A small smile flitted across Gei's face. "Yeah, he did." She sighed contentedly. "He's the kit that never grows up." Her voice grew stronger, firmer. "He's my kit until the day I die."

There was rustling nearby and Chase suddenly appeared, looking excited, and he skidded to a halt in front of Gei. "I found it, Gei," Chase panted. "It's perfect!"

"Good," the she-cat praised him. "Lead us to it."

Chase didn't need to be told twice. He sped off with Gei at his heels and a puzzled Agro taking up the rear. Just *what* had Chase found? The orange tom stopped before a large thimbleberry bush which had a hole big enough to crawl through by its trunk. He looked at Gei and Agro proudly.

Gei crawled into the hole and came back out a few seconds later. "It *is* perfect, Chase! Excellent job!" She licked his cheek and he beamed.

The three of them crawled into the temporary den. Agro had to admit that it felt quite cozy and only a little cramped. They'd be warm and he doubted anything would try to get at them.

"'Night," Gei yawned.

"Goodnight," Chase sang.

"Er~~---~~See ya in the morning," Agro meowed.

. . . .

*I WON'T!*

Agro scrambled out as fast as he could. He ran several yards until he thought it safe enough to stop. He looked back at the thimbleberry bush, panting, his eyes wild. *That was too close... Way too close.*

Agro had woken up, his heart racing, his claws unsheathed, his mind screaming for blood. He would have killed Gei if he hadn't realized in time what he was about to do. He escaped the den before he became overwhelmed with his need to kill.

*I cab't let that happen again,* Agro told himself as he slowly began to calm down. He needed Gei and Chase. He couldn't kill Gei: He needed her to guide him through the mountains and to teach him how to hunt; he couldn't kill Chase because there was no way Gei would help Agro if he was the reason her adopted kit was dead. *But afterwards...*

*No, Agro, not even afterwards! I forbid myself from letting the thought cross my mind. I can't kill them after what Gei told me last night. I won't take away the kit from the mother, not the mother from the kit. It would be just as twisted as killing Lila.*

"Oh, Lila," he murmured aloud, "I'm so sorry."

At that moment, Chase and Gei crawled out of the den. Chase bounced around, saying "good morning" to the various trees and other plants, while Gei watched sleepily.

"It's cold," the she-cat complained, bushing out her gray fur. She caught sight of Agro and nodded toward the thimbleberry bush. "Breakfast," she announced.

Feeling wary of himself, Agro padded over to her. *Maybe some fresh-kill will make the hunger fade a bit.* But to his surprise, Gei began eating the thimbleberries off the bush.

"Chase!" Gei yelled. "Get your big, furry butt over here before these berries shrivel up!"

Chase sprinted to her side obediently and immediately ate the berries like a vacuum. Agro doubted he chewed.

"You should eat some before they're all gone," Gei advised Agro as she watched the orange tom.

Agro picked off a thimbleberry and ate it. He made a face, but ate more anyway. The berries were very unsatisfying and barely filled him up. *I need fresh-kill,* he thought worriedly, *or this isn't going to go well.*

"Gei," he meowed tentatively," could you teach me how to hunt?"

The she-cat looked at him in surprise, then, remembering that he had never learned, she narrowed her eyes and shrugged. "Sure," she replied.

"Thank you," Agro meowed, grateful and relieved; however, Gei showed no signs of moving and continued to pluck berries off the bush. Agro's fear made him impatient. "Could you teach me *now*?"

Gei flicked her tail. "I'm eating now. I can teach you later when it's about time for our next meal."

Agro had to keep himself from tearing up the ground in frustration. If only she knew how much he needed prey, something with blood! Keeping his voice as calm and even as he could, he meowed, "Okay," and ate more thimbleberries.

When they had eaten every berry they could find, they began their trek up the mountain. The air grew colder and the trees thinner.

"There should be a path around here somewhere," Gei murmured after a while. "Aha! Follow me now, toms."

Gei took the lead. She seemed happier up front, and nicer, too. She spoke more than Chase, who listened with rapt attention to her every word. She told stories about her early life, about how she lost her eye, and about her mate. She seemed at peace, talking about it all.

Her confession the night before had opened a part of her, Agro realized. She was no longer afraid to show her feelings, though she still felt a little self-conscious. She was no longer on her guard; she trusted Agro now. *And that makes her vulnerable,* he thought, that morbid hunger taking hold of him. *She won't suspect a thing... I've gotta wait for the right moment, when Chase is preoccupied, when we're alone*~~---~~

Agro shook his head vigorously. *STOP IT!* He warned himself. *You have to quit thinking about it! Concentrate on*~~---~~Agro yelped, suddenly feeling himself falling. He hit the rock ground hard, and it drove the breath from his body. He lay there for a moment, dazed. When he began to stir, he heard his name being called. He looked up to see Chase and Gei staring down at him from the top of a rock wall.

"Agro!" Chase was shrieking. "Agro, are you dead?"

"No," Agro meowed. "I'm alive, Chase." Very slowly, his body aching in pain, he pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Great flying squirrels!" Gei exclaimed. "Weren't you listening, you bumbling idiot?" She meowed harshly, though Agro knew he had frightened her by falling and she was upset. "I told you and Chase to be careful. The path gets rougher the farther up we go, and there are a lot of cliffs. You're lucky the drop for this one wasn't long."

"I don't feel lucky," Agro muttered. He looked once more at the wall. He measured it to be at least as tall as two grown male Twolegs. "How do I get back up?"

"Hold on," Gei meowed. "Lemme see if there's a way down to you. Don't move."

"I didn't plan on it," Agro couldn't stop himself from hissing.

"I was talking to Chase," she replied coolly, then her head disappeared.

Several minutes later, Gei squeezed through a crack a little ways off. She padded up to Agro, concern written across her face. "Are you hurt?" She asked.

Agro, who had already tested each of his legs and paws, shook his head. "Nothing but my pride, I suppose."

Gei nodded. "Come on." She led him back up to the top of the wall where Chase was waiting. The tom was softly singing his song, Agro realized. He smiled brightly at Agro and yowled triumphantly, "Beware of the spoon!"

Agro rolled his eyes but smiled back. Gei took the lead again and the trio moved on. Agro put all his concentration on where he was placing his paws.

## ~ Chapter Nine ~

They spent the night in a cave (or, as Agro described it when Gei first announced they'd be staying there, "a big crack leading into the belly of the mountain"). They had to crawl to get into it, but once they did it opened up, the ceiling as high as a tree. It was very deep, and Gei had to tell Chase again and again not to go any farther into it. Agro pestered Gei about food and she promised she would try to catch something in the morning.

It was dawn when Agro awoke. The golden rays of sunlight peaked through the crack, lighting a sliver of the cave. Chase was snoring nearby, mumbling occasionally about how squirrels dance. Agro stretched and continued to listen to the tom, amused.

*Where's Gei?* Agro thought, realizing the one-eyed she-cat was nowhere to be seen. He glanced at the deeper part of the cave, the pitch-black darkness making it impossible to see even a whisker's length in front of him. *Did she go exploring?* Agro immediately cast the idea aside. Gei wouldn't have been so foolish.

Getting up, he padded to the entrance. Gei was lying in the opening. Her tail twitched as he approached.

"Don't talk too loud," she cautioned him quietly. "I think it knows we're here."

"*What* knows we're here?" Agro asked.

"The eagle."

Agro followed her gaze up to the speck that was flying around in circles in the sky. He glanced at the gray she-cat, puzzled. "And the eagle matters, why?"

"I was told they eat cats."

Agro scoffed. "A *bird* that eats cats?" He looked back up at the speck. "I don't think so."

"Believe it or not," Gei meowed a little stiffly, "I'm not taking any chances."

Agro couldn't believe it. A moment ago he had thrown away the idea that Gei was foolish. Now here she was being afraid of a bird that was supposed to eat cats. "You're being a little silly, don't you think?"

Gei growled, forgetting her own words of caution about being quiet.

"I didn't mean to offend you"~~---~~*though I should have guessed it would have*~~---~~"I only meant that, well, you shouldn't be afraid of prey."

"I am not afraid of prey," Gei growled.

"Of course not."

There was a pause; Agro thought he'd drown in its silence. But Gei's eye suddenly brightened as one would when one has just come up with a plan.

"That's not a bad idea," she meowed aloud to herself.

"What isn't?"

Gei grinned mischievously at him. "Do you still want to learn how to hunt?"

Agro hesitated before answering. He didn't like the way she was looking at him. "Um, yes. I do."

"Great! Before I teach you anything, I'd like you to do something for me."

"Okay. What do you have in mind?"

"I need you to go out there and don't move."

Agro though that was a strange request, considering that she was afraid of the supposedly cat-eating eagle. "That's it?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay..." Terribly confused, Agro crawled out of the cave and stood in the middle between the cliff's edge and the cave's entrance. "Like this?"

"Yup. Stay just like that." Her tone grew darker. "Whatever you do, don't~~---~~move."

Agro stood there in absolute silence. After watching the circling speck for a couple minutes, he glanced back. "Gei, I don't see the point of this. Why did you tell~~---~~Gei?" The she-cat was no longer at the cave's entrance. *What sort of game is she playing at?* "Gei!" He called. "Gei~~---~~"

A loud, unfamiliar screech cut him off. Agro look up at the sky. The eagle was done circling around. It suddenly went into a dive. Agro watched in fascination at its speed~~---~~and then in horror as he realized it was coming straight for him. It was growing bigger every second. Agro unsheathed his claws, not knowing what else to do.

The bird was upon him. It tried grabbing him with its sharp talons but he wriggled and claws and it let him go. It attacked again, gripping him firmly around the middle and lifting him into the air. He twisted, clawed, and snapped but the eagle did not release him; it seemed desperate. It let out another ear-piercing screech.

A ferocious snarl sounded even louder than the eagle's call. Something heavy smacked into the bird from above. It and Agro crashed to the ground. The eagle let go of him in order to defend itself. Agro was too dazed from the crash to move. He heard a lot of shrieking and growling. Then, finally, there was silence. He waited a second more before lifting his head. Gei padded over to him, looking ruffled.

"Well, that was scary," she commented. "It didn't hurt you, I hope?"

Agro slowly got to his paws. He looked passed Gei where the eagle was lying. "Is it dead?" To his shame, his voice noticeably shook.

Gei let a smug grin slide over her face. "It is now."

Agro turned on her. "You used me as bait!" He growled angrily.

"Well, that's what you get!" She returned. "You were making me out to be a coward, *and* you didn't believe me when I told you~~---~~"

"So you thought I deserved to be killed?!"

No!"

"What then? *It was going to eat me!*"

"I wouldn't have let that happen!" Gei shouted. She glared at him, panting. "I wouldn't have let that happen," she repeated quietly. "I saw a cat kill an eagle once, so I knew it could be done. I'm... sorry I frightened you."

"I wasn't frightened," Agro meowed bluntly.

Gei rolled her eye. "Yeah, sure. Anyway, I caught more than enough prey, like you wanted, so shut up and eat." She turned and stalked toward the bird.

Agro was about to make a nasty retort when he noticed she was bleeding from her right flank. He took a step forward, then, realizing it would be a very bad idea to get close, he stepped back. "Gei," he meowed tentatively, trying to sound concerned, "you're hurt."

Gei looked at her flank, frowned, and quickly licked the blood away. "It's only a flesh wound."

Chase suddenly exited the cave. His eyes popped out of his head when he saw the eagle. "Wow! That's one big bird! Can I ride it?"

"No," Gei told him. "It's dead. It's breakfast, now eat it."

Chase looked disappointed. "Fox-dung," he cursed. "I wanted to fly! Butterflies are too small. I always crush them...."

Gei and Chase began to eat the fresh-kill. Agro watched them hungrily, but he didn't dare join them; he was afraid he might do something he would regret.

"Aren't you hungry?" Chase asked Agro. He was chomping rather loudly on a piece of meat.

"Yes," Agro replied, his voice strained. "*Very*."

"Then why don't you join us? Eagle's delicious!" Chase meowed enthusiastically.

"I'll just wait a minute or two."

Gei looked back at Agro, scrutinizing him. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Fine. I'm fine."

"You don't look it. Did the eagle hurt you?"

"No."

"Are you sure? You're not hiding anything from us?"

"Yes, I'm sure, and no, I'm not."

Gei's face softened. "Agro, are you really okay? I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't concerned."

Agro backed further away. He couldn't stand the look she was giving him~~---~~the look she often gave Chase, which was full of motherly love. *She's even more vulnerable than I thought. She's making it too easy! I can't~~---~~I gotta get away.*

Agro dodged around Gei and Chase and the eagle. He crawled through the cave entrance as fast as he could, cutting his back as he went. He raced to the deeper, darker part of the cave and hid in its shadow. He listened to see if either of his companions followed him, but everything was silent, except for the loud thumping of his heart, which, to him, echoed around the cave. He laid down against the cold stone floor, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes as if it would block out the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He was glad neither Gei nor Chase had followed him. He needed some peace, some time to control himself~~---~~

**"You had the perfect chance."**

Agro jumped at the sound of Silent Scream's cruel mew. "Go *away*!" He snarled.

**"Tsk, tsk. That's no way to talk to a superior."**

"I don't care. That's how I talk to someone like *you*."

Something hit his cheek and he fell against the stone wall, smacking his head. He could smell blood. Through the daze, he saw a pair of ghostly blue eyes staring down at him.

**"You've become weak!"** Silent Scream hissed. **"You're afraid to do what you were meant to do!"** She struck him again across the face.

"No!" Agro shouted, unable to defend himself physically. "I'm not afraid!"

**"Yes, you are! You're a coward! You desire blood but you can't accept the means you have to go to attain it!"**

"What's it to you?" Agro fired back. He got to his paws. "Why does it matter so much to you if I don't kill someone?"

**"Because I have to keep you alive!"** She snarled. She sighed~~---~~it felt like a small gust of wind buffeting his fur~~---~~and her voice grew quieter. **"Because, whether I like it or not, I must keep you alive. I am stuck with you, and you are stuck with me."**

"Sounds like you are regretting your decision," Agro meowed.

Silent Scream ignored him. **"We are connected, Agro dear. When you are hungry, I am hungry and vice versa. I cannot kill in the waking world; that is one power forbidden me, so you must do it for me."**

Agro looked up into those cold orbs as her words began to process through his mind. She depended upon him to kill, to spill blood that she needed even more than he did. Her very existence relied on the blood others lost. Agro would hate to live like that, and for a moment, he almost pitied her. But his hatred for her overwhelmed him. He knew now why she was so desperate to turn him into a creature not unlike herself. She didn't care whether or not she had an heir; all she wanted was a minion who took after herself. She needed someone worse than Shade, or some other follower, to kill where she could not. If he lusted for blood as much as she did, she would have a continuous supply.

The killing would never end.

Agro heard claws scraping against the rock. His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, saw the devilish grin upon Silent Scream's face. **"You will kill Gei,"** she meowed, her voice reaching the point of insanity, **"and Chase, too. And every other cat that crosses your path. You won't be able to hold back for long. The hunger will consume you."** With a loud cackle, she vanished and Agro woke up.

When he opened his eyes, the cave seemed even darker, like Silent Scream's presence in his mind had reached out and tainted the area around him. He held his breath as the sound of pawsteps reached his ears.

"Agro?" Gei called tentatively. "Please tell me you're there, and that you're not bird-brained enough to run all the way to the heart of the cave. You better not have gotten yourself lost."

"I'm here," he replied, though he didn't reveal himself.

"Oh, thank goodness!" You had me really worried. Chase, too." There was a pause. "Would you like me to teach you how to hunt now?"

Agro was surprised by the request, though he realized she was trying to coax him out of his hiding spot. "Has your... little wound... stopped... bleeding?" He asked. He couldn't smell blood but he had to be sure.

"Oh, it stopped hours ago. I'm fine now."

Agro slowly poked his head out. "Yes, I'd like to go hunting." He hoped it would distract him from his dream and the Dark Forest ruler's words.

"Good. Would you like to eat first? We saved some of the eagle for you. (I hope it's not frozen by now...)"

"Sure... Thank you." He followed her out of the cave. The eagle was a little tough to eat, but that didn't stop him from wolfing it down. He felt better with food in his belly.

"Let's begin, shall we?" Gei meowed when he had finished. She showed him a simple hunter's crouch. Then, she gave him a few pointers, especially want *not* to do. "Remember," she meowed, "the way I'm teaching you is the way I have to hunt because I am blind on my left side. I hunt a bit differently than your average cat. My methods might not work for you as well as they do for me. Sometimes, I don't even use my sense of sight while hunting."

"You mean, you hunt with your eyes~~---~~er, *eye* closed?" Agro asked incredulously.

"In the forest where there isn't too much undergrowth, yes." Gei smiled, pleased that he was impressed. "You learn to rely on your other senses; it'll make you a better hunter. Now, let's walk around. See what we can find."

"What about Chase?"

"He's in the cave sleeping. I told him what we were doing before he drifted off."

Agro followed the she-cat along the narrow mountain path. Gei coached him on a good hunting strategy for the place she was taking him. The path widened up ahead, bringing them to a small area full of wild grass and bushes. Snow lightly dusted the plants and ground. Gei stopped a few yards from this area.

"This is a good place to practice," she whispered almost inaudibly. "Remember what I told you on the way here?" When Agro nodded, she continued, "Alright, then go ahead. I'll be here if you need me."

Agro nodded again. He stalked over to the bushes very slowly and very quietly. He crouched down like she showed him and slunk forward. He could see a scrawny mouse several fox-lengths away. He crept just close enough to pounce on it without it spotting him. He prepared to leap and~~---~~his tail got caught in a bush. Agro yelped in surprise and tore his tail free, which shook the bush. The noise alerted the mouse and it fled before he had a chance to see where it went. He cursed.

"You need to be aware of your surroundings, Agro," Gei meowed, coming to his side. "You were so focused on your prey you forgot to control your tail and keep it motionless." She smiled amusedly, seeing the look of disappointment and shame on his face. "Did you really expect to catch something on your first try?" She asked gently.

Agro's face reddened and he mumbled something about trying again and working harder.

"Let's go down a little farther," Gei suggested. "I don't think we'll find anything else here."

*Yeah, because I scared everything away,* thought Agro as he followed her.

They didn't have to go far before they found another little clearing. Gei encouraged him to try again, and the scent of prey helped bring his confidence back up.

*I can do it,* Agro told himself as he slowly stalked toward the prey. It was another mouse, a bit plumper than the last but not by much. He remembered to keep his tail motionless when he was close enough to pounce. The mouse happened to turn and spotted him as he leaped. It ran and he pursued it, catching it just as it was about to escape inside a hole. He snapped its neck. The fresh blood felt smooth on his tongue; it enlivened him, sent his own blood pumping faster, made his want more.

"Good job, Agro!" Gei exclaimed. "You know, with a little practice, you could be a really~~---~~" She stopped short when she saw the wild look on Agro's face.

Agro was about to step forward but he fought with himself; it took all the strength he possessed to put his paw back on the ground. He dropped the mouse, tore his eyes from Gei's, and the feeling slowly ebbed away.

Gei, not understanding what had just occurred, tried to break away from her shock by teasing him. "You~~---~~You didn't have to look like you wanted to tear me to pieces," she meowed with pretend hurt. "I wasn't going to steal your prey."

Agro took a deep breath before murmuring, "I didn't think you were going to... Sorry."

"Then, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be excited? You caught your first piece of prey! You should be bursting with pride, feeling triumphant."

Agro's mind whirled; he had to come up with an excuse. "It's just... I thought I could do better than this scrawny old mouse."

"Oh, Agro," the she-cat meowed, relaxing. She smiled. "You were expecting too much of yourself. Hunting is hard, even for cats like me who have experience. Like I was going to say: with a little practice, you'd be a really good hunter. It just takes time and practice. I bet you'll be catching rabbits~~---~~no~~---~~*eagles* in no time."

Agro smiled, appreciating her encouraging words. "Thank you," he meowed.

Gei nodded. "You're welcome. Now, let's head back to the cave. It is possible that Chase might freak out if neither of us are there when he wakes up. Hey, aren't you forgetting something?"

Agro had started walking away. He looked back to see Gei pointing with her tail at the dead mouse. "Oh. Right." Agro padded over to the tiny, limp creature, but he hesitated before picking it up. Would that same sensation arise again? Gei was closer than she had been before; he didn't want to attack her. But he also didn't want her to think something was wrong.

"It's dead now, Agro. It can't hurt you," Gei meowed teasingly.

Embarrassed, he quickly scooped it up into his jaws and followed Gei as she led the way back to the cave.

Darkness was descending fast and they still had a bit more to go when Agro began thinking about his whole hunting experience. It finally dawned on him that he had caught his first prey. *I can hunt for myself!* He silently cheered, but his happiness vanished as quickly as it had come. A horrible coldness settled inside of him. He looked at the gray she-cat in front of him. *That means... That means I don't need Gei anymore....* She had taught him how to hunt; her purpose had been served, and that meant~~---~~

*NO! I will not, I will not! Control yourself, Agro!*

He suddenly brightened. But he *had* controlled himself when he had killed the mouse. He hadn't let himself be taken in by his morbid desire. *Perhaps I am overcoming it after all.*

**"I think not!"** Shouted the voice of Silent Scream into his ear.

Agro gasped as pain so deep paralyzed him to his core. He dropped the mouse as a tormented screech escaped his throat.

Gei jumped out of her skin in fright. "Agro!" She screamed, running to him. He fell to the ground as she came to his side. "Agro! *Agro*, what's wrong? What happened?"

He could not reply. Another screech left him and he writhed in agony.

**"Your time is running out, Agro!"** Silent Scream cried. **"It's kill her or die!"**

"No!" He managed to shout.

"Agro!" Gei's voice was panic-stricken. She had no idea what was happening to him and she didn't know how to help him. "Come~~---~~Come on. You'll be okay. We're almost to the cave." She began trying to prop him up, get him to his paws.

**"Kill her, Agro! Do it now!"**

"No!" He shouted again. Then, to Gei, "Run! Leave me!" The pain suddenly intensified. It felt like a raging fire was spreading through him and it was bent on destroying him from the inside-out. He gazed up at Gei helplessly. "Please," he meowed almost inaudibly, "just run."

Gei seemed no longer capable of speech. She met his eyes, terrified and trembling, and shook her head.

Agro closed his eyes. The pain was too great. He had no choice but to give in... "Gei~~---~~I'm sorry," he meowed, finally accepting the inevitable.

The agony ceased abruptly and was replaced with that savage-burning hunger. He struck her, and she stumbled backwards. He staggered to his paws and struck her again. Her hind paw fell off the edge of the cliff, but she caught herself and regained her balance. As Agro prepared another attack, she quickly lashed out and hit him on the muzzle. He met her confused, green gaze.

"Knock this off," Gei hissed. She attempted to calm herself. "Now, *what* happened to you? And why did you attack me? I almost fell over~~---~~"

Agro snarled and shoved her against the rock wall. She was dazed for a moment, and Agro swiped his claws down her face. She screamed and lashed out wildly, her paw connecting again with his muzzle. She dodged another of his blows and sprinted down the path. Agro gave chase.

"Why are you doing this?" Gei shouted over her shoulder.

She halted abruptly, and Agro, unprepared to stop, slammed into her. Gei hit something soft, yet ice-cold. Agro pinned her against it. They stared into each other's eyes, unblinking and panting. He hesitated even now to deal the fatal blow.

"Agro," Gei meowed gently, knowing her life was at stake, "please, don't do what your about to do. I~~---~~I don't understand what's happened to you, or why you~~---~~why you want to kill me, but~~---~~Oh, for all the stars above, think of Chase! *My* Chase!"

"You should have run!" Agro yelled at the top of his voice. Then, in a much quieter tone, he repeated, "You should have run. Why didn't you listen? You might have escaped. Now... Now it's too late for you..."

"Agro!" Gei meowed desperately, the betrayal on her face growing with each passing second. "I trusted you!" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "I let you *in*!"

"I know," he murmured. "I know. And I wish you hadn't." He opened his jaws and bit her throat. Gei struggled. She scratched at his face with her claws and tried to throw him off, but he refused to let go, barely feeling the small wounds she was inflicting. When she finally ceased, he released his hold. Her gaze rested on his; slowly, it moved, looked beyond him, and she whispered, "Chase." The next moment, blood gushed up through her mouth and the last of the light faded from her eye.

Agro backed away from her body, breathing heavy and trembling, as the hunger faded and the guilt sunk in. Soon, she would be as cold as the lifeless eagle she had fallen onto. And it was his fault. Agro turned away, unable to look at what he'd done any longer. He froze, his forepaw hanging in the air.

Chase stared at him in horror from the cave's entrance. "You killed my mother."

## ~ Chapter Ten ~

It was stated as fact, with no emotion of grief, rage, or disbelief. Only the sickening expression of horror showed that the orange tom fully comprehended what he had witnessed. With that simple statement, he left no room for denial. Agro could argue all he wanted, but it wouldn't change what they both knew, and could plainly see, to be true.

Agro could feel the weight of guilt descend upon him like an eagle, and it snatched him away, ready to devour him without a second thought. He felt the worst part, almost as bad as the murder itself, was that Chase had acknowledged Gei as his mother. It proved that he knew what he meant to Gei and understood all that she had done for him. He loved her as any kit would love its mother.

Chase was strange and unpredictable. Agro stared back at him, unsure of what he would do, of what he was capable. Agro was on his guard, prepared for an attack, but he doubted if it would ever come.

Chase took a step forward: it was hesitant but not afraid. Agro moved away from Gei's body. The farther he got, the closer Chase approached. He watched the orange tom look Gei over. It was a slow process, as if he was trying to memorize every piece of fur before he had to leave her behind. Then, he slowly began to push her and the eagle nearer to the edge of the cliff.

Realizing what he was doing, Agro became alarmed. He blocked the tom's path. "Chase, what~~---~~why are you~~---~~" He ducked quickly and retreated as Chase swiped at him and hissed.

"Because, Agro, Gei deserves to be buried." He looked distressed. "And I can't dig through stone. Can you?"

It took a moment for Agro to realize it was a legitimate question. He shook his head.

"Then, she shall be buried under snow, where she'll be warm."

"But there is no snow," Agro pointed out.

Chase gave Agro a *look*, which clearly said, as if Chase had spoken the words aloud: "How stupid can you be?" "I *know* there's no snow now," Chase huffed. "But there will be soon. I feel it in every one of my bones."

"Right," Agro mumbled, "of course."

"You don't believe me?" Chase meowed indignantly and loudly.

Agro restrained himself from rolling his eyes. He felt silly trying to explain himself to this mad tom. "I just... don't understand."

Chase's gaze turned icy and they struck Agro as deeply as his words. "Gei would have." He proceeded to push the corpses to the edge. Agro broke down and helped him.

Chase dragged Gei off the eagle and the great bird was pushed over first. Chase paused before Gei's body. "Thank you," he meowed, gazing down at the she-cat with misty eyes. "I love you." He glanced at Agro and together, they sent Gei over the edge.

Agro watched her fall. He couldn't tear his eyes away. It was such a long fall; it seemed to last forever. He sucked in a deep breath when, at last, she hit the bottom.

Chase stirred beside him, took a few steps backwards. "So, what now?"

Agro willed himself to move, to look away. He turned and met Chase's cold amber eyes. "What do you mean?"

"What do you plan to do now? Are you going to kill me, too?"

"No. No, Chase, I~~---~~" Agro stopped. Silent Scream had said that he would. Chase will die by his claws, just like his mother. The question now was *when?* "I... don't know."

"Are we going to stay in the mountains?"

"No."

"Are we going to start traveling again?"

Agro didn't like all these questions. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to go. Gei had been their guide. With her gone, how were they going to get out? And why~~---~~*why* was Chase acting to calm? For someone who had just witnessed their mother being murdered, and then to push her body off a cliff, Chase was much, much to calm. It drove Agro mad that Chase was doing nothing but coldly staring at him. There was no other trace of emotion. He didn't seem to hate Agro, but he certainly didn't like him either. "Do you even want to travel with me anymore?" Agro asked.

"I do."

"Even after..." He trailed off, not being able to finish.

Chase glanced toward the cliff's edge. "Yes. Even after you killed my mother."

Again, he said it so plainly. "Why?" Agro asked.

"Gei wanted to travel through the mountains with us. So that's what we'll do." He rocked back and forth on his paws. "She didn't tell you this~~---~~you weren't around~~---~~but she told me. She said she couldn't wait to get to the other side. She was going to show me her old home, where she used to live as a kit." Chase paused. "I'm going to bring Gei to her old home. She's still with me. And I'm going to find her home and bring her to it. With or without you, I'm getting out of these mountains."

Agro just stared. Chase was a wonder. A strange, mad, dedicated, random, annoying yet lovable wonder. Agro couldn't believe he was thinking it~~---~~actually, he could~~---~~but he wished he was more like Chase.

"Alright, Chase. Let's bring Gei home."

. . . .

They left in the morning. Agro caught a mouse and he and Chase shared it. They stuck to the path; otherwise, Agro had no idea where he was going. He wondered if the path even led out of the mountains.

Chase took to humming his song. He told Agro how much Gei loved it, and also how much she hated it. "She called it my lullaby, 'Chase's lullaby.' Sometimes she would sing it with me. Other times, she would tell me to shut my trap. That always made me giggle." He paused, sliding deep into his memories.

Agro sighed, finally getting a moment of peace. He could finally think for himself. But it was gone as quickly as it had come.

"You don't like my lullaby, do you, Agro?" Agro opened his mouth, but Chase didn't give him any time to respond. "I know you don't. You never sing along. You always look annoyed." Chase didn't seem offended. It was just another sentence he stated as fact.

Around midday, Agro realized the ground was sloping upward. *We're supposed to be going down, not up!* He fought back his panic and halted, telling Chase to stop. Somewhere they must have made a wrong turn. But where and when? Something white and wet fluttered onto his nose. Agro looked up at the sky, dread settling in his stomach. It was snowing, just as Chase had predicted. But he hadn't predicted the angry gray clouds that were quickly rolling their way.

"Come on, Chase," Agro meowed urgently. "We have to keep moving. We need to find shelter."

Chase's eyes brightened. "Shelter! I can do that!" He pushed past Agro and bounded away.

"Wait! Chase!" Agro ran to keep up. Chase went around a bend and out of sight. Suddenly, Agro heard a gasp of surprise and then a yelp. Coming around the bend, he found a muscular, brown tabby tom, who had Chase pinned to the ground. He looked up at Agro, his face slack with shock.

"Is this yours?" He asked.

Agro glanced at Chase, whose face looked ridiculously smooshed. "Yes, he's mine. I mean, no. He's not *mine*, but he's with me. We've been traveling."

The tom stepped off Chase and helped him to his paws. "Sorry about that. You came out of nowhere. Spooked me."

"That's okay," Chase meowed. He shook out his fur and turned to the tom. "Are you Shelter?"

The tabby's brow furrowed. "Um... No. If you mean, 'do you have shelter,' then yes." He addressed Agro. "Seems you two found me just in time. The sky looks mighty ugly."

"You mean you're going to take us to wherever you live?" Agro meowed in disbelief.

"Well, sure. Unless you would rather freeze to death." He started heading down the trail. "I'm Hawkwhisker, by the way. We're going to have to make a detour to where I stashed my prey." Chase promptly followed the tom, and Agro hesitated only a moment before running to catch up.

Hawkwhisker was definitely too trusting. *Two random cats pop out of nowhere and he thinks it's safe to bring them to his den? He also told us he had prey. How does he know we're not going to steal it once he shows us where it's hidden?* And another thing, his name was strange.

Hawkwhisker came to a halt. He stuck his paw into a little hollow in the rock wall and revealed two mice. He picked them up by their tails and resumed walking. A few minutes later he brought them to a cave. It had a big, yawning mouth and was very deep. The three of them hurried inside, for the snow was coming down even harder.

The brown tabby dropped his mice on top of a rabbit. "I see my friend already made it back." He looked worried when he gazed back at the entrance. "She better hurry from her second trip." He turned to Agro and Chase, smiling. "I don't believe you introduced yourselves."

"I'm Chase," Chase meowed, "and that's Agro. We're traveling through the mountains."

"Oh, are you? That's a pretty rough journey for a couple of..." He eyed Chase, not knowing what to call him. "Kits," Hawkwhisker meowed at last.

"I'm not a kit," Agro and Chase meowed together, though Chase's reply was polite, Agro's was indignant.

"Right, right. Sorry," Hawkwhisker meowed, chuckling. "No, I suppose you're about apprentice age, Agro, and he... er... *looks* full-grown."

"I am full-grown," Chase meowed proudly.

"Right, right." He did not laugh this time.

Agro felt a spark of anger at the way Hawkwhisker was treating Chase. He might have done something about it if the word "apprentice" hadn't caught his attention. Agro had been Shade's apprentice, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Did Hawkwhisker belong to a group of some kind that had apprentices, too? "What do you mean by 'apprentice age?'" Agro asked.

Hawkwhisker stared at him for a moment, his expression suddenly guarded. He turned toward the entrance to the cave, watching the snow fall, his back to them. "Six moons," he meowed. "I meant that you were about six moons."

"Did you belong to some group?"

Hawkwhisker's fur bristled, but he forced it to lie flat. Agro was impressed by how calm and steady he kept his voice. "Used to." He let his words hang there for a minute. He looked back at Agro out of the corner of his eye. "No doubt you've heard about clans?"

Agro nodded. It had been common knowledge that Shade had once been in a clan. No one knew why he'd left, but he had brought some clan traditions, like apprentices and warriors and the belief in StarClan and the Dark Forest. Chase did not respond to Hawkwhisker; the orange tom's eyes were glazed and unfocused, and his tail twitched as he hummed softly.

The tabby sighed, resuming his watch on the snow.. "My friend and I used to belong to a clan... HollowClan." The name slipped from his mouth like a falling knife, quiet, sharp, and fatal. "Something happened. Something... unimaginable and horrible. A nightmare come true."

"*What* happened?"

Hawkwhisker whipped around, teeth bared, claws extended. His eyes were wide and his voice rose to a roar. "Everyone was massacred! Witheredblossom and I alone escaped! We were singled out, left to live and remember the horrors!"

Agro did not realize it, but he had taken several steps back and had unsheathed his claws. Chase had awakened from his stupor by Hawkwhisker's roar and was now cowering behind Agro. Hawkwhisker reminded Agro of Silent Scream at her worst. The only major difference was that Hawkwhisker couldn't even begin to produce the same amount of fear in Agro as the Dark Forest ruler could. Agro was prepared to fight if the tabby dared inch forward.

But there was no need. Movement at the cave's entrance distracted Hawkwhisker. A snow-frosted feline had charged inside, a mouse and rabbit hanging from her jaws. She dropped the prey and shook violently, snow flying everywhere.

"I'm n-not s-sure you n-noticed, Hawk~~---~~Hawkwhisker," she meowed, teeth chattering, "b-but it's s-snowing out th-there."

Hawkwhisker immediately went to her side and cleaned the rest of the snow off her. "You should have stayed here when you got back the first time," he scolded gently.

"We n-needed p-prey."

Chase came out from behind Agro and very slowly approached the she-cat. He tried to warm her up like Hawkwhisker by licking her fur in the wrong direction. The she-cat flinched away from him. With an angry growl, she swiped at his nose. "W-who are y-you?" She demanded, her apparent coldness forgotten. Then she spotted Agro. "A-and y-you!"

"They're guests, Witheredblossom," Hawkwhisker meowed with a slight edge to his voice, which indicated he had not forgotten their conversation from before his friend's arrival. "This is Chase and Agro. I was just telling them about HollowClan."

An unrecognizable glint flashed in the she-cat's yellow eyes, and she immediately ceased shivering and stiffened. Agro thought she had frozen inside and out, but then she spoke. "Did you now? Did you tell them everything?"

"No, of course not," Hawkwhisker replied as if that idea was absurd.

"I see." Witheredblossom relaxed slightly. She looked back and forth from Agro to Chase, considering them. She smiled, though it was rather sickly and clearly fake. "Are you two going to stay with us until the snow stops?"

"Yes," Agro meowed, eyeing her warily.

She nodded. "That's wise." She gestured toward the prey with her tail. "I'm sure you're hungry. Help yourselves." She took a mouse for herself and padded to the far end of the cave.

Chase grabbed a rabbit and dragged it by the ear to Agro. Hawkwhisker approached them and asked if they would share. Agro nodded once and the tabby settled down and took the first bite.

"I apologize for my little outburst," Hawkwhisker meowed. "HollowClan is a... *touchy* subject."

"That's alright," Agro mumbled.

"So, is this your first time trekking through the mountains?" The warrior inquired.

"Yes," Chase meowed. "For the both of us. Did you know that this is the first time it's snowed since we've been here?"

"Really? That's interesting. It snows quite often up here. Now tell me, what made you decide to travel alone through the mountains? Don't you think you both are a bit... young?"

Agro saw what Hawkwhisker was doing. *He's trying to weedle information out of us! But why? For what purpose?* Before he could give a vague reply, Chase answered.

"Oh, we weren't alone. We had a guide. She had already been through the mountains once before."

Hawkwhisker's ears perked up at the word "she." "Is that so? Where is she now?"

"At the bottom of a cliff," Agro answered first. He wanted to spare Chase, but he also wanted him to stop talking. "Dead."

Hawkwhisker looked surprised. "Dead? Well, that's too bad. How are you~~---~~"

"What was her name?" Witheredblossom interrupted. Her mew was fierce.

Agro looked back at her, her gaze burning into his. "Her name was Gei."

"What did she look like?"

"She was gray and had one eye."

"What color?"

"Her eye? It was green." Agro looked from Witheredblossom to Hawkwhisker, suspicious. "Why?"

Witheredblossom glared at him, then went back to eating her mouse. Hawkwhisker smiled disarmingly. "We're just curious about who comes into our~~---~~the mountains," he meowed.

"Sounds like you're looking for someone to me."

Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom exchanged a meaningful glance. "Yes..." The tom meowed slowly. "An old clanmate in fact. But Gei doesn't sound like her at all."

"Gei was good," Chase meowed suddenly. "She was nice to me. She was my mother."

Hawkwhisker stared at him for a moment. Then he gave a sympathetic smile. "Then, I am sorry for your loss."

* Hawkwhisker
* Witheredblossom
1/2
## ~ Chapter Eleven ~

Agro didn't trust them. He knew they were keeping secrets. Sure, they had told him a lot about their past already, but Agro was positive that there was a lot *more* that they weren't telling. He believed Hawkwhisker had only confessed what he did because he was tired of keeping his fury locked inside. It was a moment of weakness, one Hawkwhisker would not allow to happen again. He was already putting on a different face: He was cheerier, more hospitable; he even seemed to stop judging Chase every time he looked at him. He was talkative, *too* talkative.

Witheredblossom, on the other paw, was nothing of the sort. She listened and observed, much like how Agro was, only speaking when directly addressed or when she felt the need to comment. While Agro didn't trust Hawkwhisker's jovial green gaze because it was hiding who he really was, he didn't trust Witheredblossom's because a fire brewed in them with open hostility. Her mouth might say pleasant, friendly things, but her eyes said otherwise. Agro got the feeling she didn't just hate his and Chase's presence in the cave, but their very existence. If it wasn't for Hawkwhisker, she probably would have snuffed their lights out the first time she saw them.

So, Agro was constantly on his guard. The thought crossed his mind that he should just kill the former clan cats and be done with them. Though he had eaten prey a couple of hours ago, that familiar, savage hunger was already starting to kick in. It was slight yet noticeable enough. But a voice in his head told him to be patient. *They'll get what's coming to them. Don't you worry.* He tried, unsuccessfully, to relax.

The snow outside had quickly turned into a blizzard. It was piling higher and higher right outside the entrance, which was also the only exit.

"What happens if it snows so much that it blocks our way out?" Agro asked. He was closer to the opening than the others, who had moved deeper into the cave. "We'll be trapped."

Witheredblossom rolled her eyes as if he was the biggest idiot she had ever met. "We'll dig our way out."

"But we are very near a cliff," Agro pointed out, trying not to lose his temper. "What if we dig a little too far?"

The she-cat shrugged, unconcerned. "*Splat*."

Hawkwhisker, overhearing, laughed heartily. Agro narrowed his eyes. He didn't think falling off a cliff was funny, especially after pushing Gei's corpse off one.

Agro didn't say another word for the rest of the day; neither, he noticed, did Witheredblossom.

That night, Agro barely slept. He was too wary of the former HollowClan warriors to let himself fall asleep completely. But he knew he needed to be well-rested for the day ahead. He and Chase were leaving the cave and its strange, unpredictable occupants behind, snow or no snow. And if either Hawkwhisker or Witheredblossom tried to stop them, then they would suffer the consequences. So, Agro slept far away from the warriors, who were snuggled close together at the back of the cave, and he dozed in and out of sleep, prepared for almost anything. Chase slept in the middle of the den, snoring like a bull, which was another reason Agro couldn't sleep peacefully. He felt an odd mix of gratitude for and irritation at the noise.

Morning couldn't come soon enough, but eventually it did.

Agro woke with a start. He looked alertly at the back of the cave, thinking he had heard something. Neither warrior had moved. Chase made another thunderous snore and Agro relaxed. He got up and stretched. He turned toward the entrance to see how much snow blocked it now. It was at least another cat-length above his head.

*That's doable,* he thought determinedly. *The real problem is walking along the path through snow I can't see above.* He sat there for several minutes, trying to think of ways to solve the issue.

*We could just clear it away as we go, but that will probably make our journey ten times as long. We could wait for it to melt. No, that's a terrible idea. That would take even longer. Besides, it could snow again while we're waiting. We could dig a tunnel through~~---~~No. Not smart. What if we dug too close to the cliff? It's too risky. What if we~~---~~*

"Goo' mornin'," meowed a sleepy voice next to Agro's ear.

Agro jumped and whipped around, claws unsheathed. Chase stood there smiling slightly as he gazed at the small wall of snow. He was definitely not fully awake. His eyelids slowly drooped closed and he fell back on his rump. His eyes shut tighter, his tail stuck straight out, he opened his mouth, and sneezed.

Agro rolled his eyes as his heart began to beat again. "Bless you."

Chase's eyes popped open. He seemed wide awake and full of energy now that he got that sneeze out of his system. "Thank you."

Agro glanced back at the sleeping tabby and she-cat. *Still haven't moved.* He cursed himself for not paying better attention. He hadn't even noticed that Chase's obnoxious snores had stopped. What if Hawkwhisker or Witheredblossom attacked him while he was so absorbed in his thoughts? He would have been killed for being an idiot.

"Chase, could you watch those two for me?" Agro asked hesitatingly. He wasn't sure he trusted the tom with the task, but he wanted to start digging right away. *If we don't get out of here soon....*

"Sure," Chase meowed. He turned around, his back to the entrance. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to start digging a way out of here." He stuck his paw in the snow and began to remove some. He tried not to think about how cold it was.

"Why? Don't you want to stay in here where it's warm?"

"Because we need to start on our journey again." He ignored the other question.

"Oh, okay. Can we wait to leave until our friends wake up, so we can say good-bye?"

Agro paused for a split-second, then resumed his digging. "No. And they're not our friends."

"But they helped us."

"Yes, but~~---~~"

"They found us, brought us to their den, fed us, let us sleep here~~---~~Doesn't that make them our friends?"

"No. Just because some cats are nice to you and they help you a little, does *not* mean they are our friends."

"Oh." Agro glanced at the orange tom. He had that look he rarely got that meant he understood you completely. He gazed at Agro coldly. "So *you* are not my friend, even though you've helped me a lot. *You* killed my mother."

Agro's heart dropped down into his stomach as guilt took over. He forced himself to continue his task. "Yes," he murmured. *And I'm still so sorry...*

Chase shuffled away from him, but he didn't stop watching Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom. He was eerily quiet after that.

Agro got to thinking about friends. *Saden. The only one I've ever had.* He wondered where she was and what she was doing, whether or not she was still alive. Though he doubted they would ever see each other again, he hoped she was okay and could find a way to put her past behind her. She could start a new life. *Both of us shouldn't have to live as Silent Scream's murderous slave. She chose me to be her successor, so Saden should be able to live her life freely... unless Silent Scream* does *have some plan for Saden but she hasn't told me about it.* He *really* hoped that wasn't the case.

He wondered if Saden even thought about him. He still hadn't forgotten the horror on her face after she had watched him slaughter nearly half the cats in Shade's group. *How does she remember me: as her friend or a monster?*

The question made him shiver. He felt cold inside as well as out. Chase broke through his thoughts before he could dwell on them any further.

"They're awake," Chase whispered.

Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom were both yawning and stretching when Agro turned around. He caught the gray she-cat's eye and she glared at him. He resumed his digging.

"Planning on going somewhere?" Hawkwhisker meowed sleepily as he sauntered over.

"Yeah," Agro meowed, trying to sound polite and nonchalant. "I thought Chase and I should continue our journey as soon as possible."

"You're going to trek through the mountains after the blizzard just coated the ground in all this snow?"

"Yes."

"Uh-huh... May I ask why this journey is so important that you~~---~~a kit~~---~~should be risking his life out in the cold?"

"I'm not a kit," Agro meowed without stopping. He glanced at Hawkwhisker. "I thought we already established that."

The tabby's face darkened. "Right, right..." He smiled as he turned to Chase. "So, why are you making this journey?"

"At first, I think we wanted to get away from the Twolegs," Chase replied, scrunching up his face in thought. "But now, Agro and I want to bring my mother home to her birthplace."

Hawkwhisker tilted his head. "You want to bring Gei, the dead guide, to her birthplace?"

"Yup. Agro promised. After he killed her. Didn't you, Agro?"

Agro refrained from wincing; there was a slight edge in Chase's voice. He felt Hawkwhisker's eyes fix on him and he continued to dig like nothing was wrong.

"*You* killed her?" Hawkwhisker asked, surprised.

Agro didn't respond.

"Was she old and frail?"

"No...."

"Sick and weak?"

No."

"Was she healthy~~---~~well-fed?"

"Enough."

"You killed a full-grown cat?"

"Yes!" Agro meowed, exasperated. "Now will you please shut up?"

Hawkwhisker's eyes narrowed and he didn't speak for a couple minutes. "Aren't you a little young to be killing other cats, kit?"

"I had to learn to survive at an early age."

"Who taught you?"

*Why does it matter?!* Agro faced the warrior. "His name was Shade," Agro growled. "He taught me everything I know. And when I no longer needed him, I killed him, too, among others." He hoped that would shut him up.

Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom exchanged a glance. Both looked shocked. Fear crossed the tom's face, but it was quickly washed away by a smile. He turned to his friend.

"Let's help Agro clear the snow away. Shall we, Witheredblossom?"

The she-cat nodded slowly, and she and Hawkwhisker padded to the wall of snow. They dug faster than Agro had all morning.

. . . .

The snow outside wasn't nearly as high as the snow that had blocked the mouth of the cave. The wind had blown the snow up against the stone walls of the mountain. The snow on the path still rose to Agro's belly, making his fur wet and the rest of him freezing cold. It was hard to move his paws~~---~~he thought they might already be going numb~~---~~but he refused to stop; the more distance he put between himself and the former HollowClan warriors the better.

Agro and Chase would have left as soon as the warriors cleared away the rest of the snow from the entrance, but Hawkwhisker had insisted they eat before they go. So Agro and Chase had both eaten a mouse.

Witheredblossom had followed them out and gone with them till the edge of the territory; Agro assumed she wanted to make sure they really left. When they had crossed the faint scent markers, the she-cat turned to Agro and hissed, "We know what you are."

"What?" Agro had meowed stupidly.

"We know what you are," she had repeated. She glanced over her shoulder, as if afraid someone would overhear. "Shade. Forgotten," she continued, spitting out the names. "We know who they serve. And we know what that makes you~~---~~what *she* made you."

Agro had stared at her. Witheredblossom and Hawkwhisker knew who Shade was. *They know about Silent Scream. They know I'm her heir. They might even know what I've done.* "How" didn't seem to matter: the fact was that they knew.

*But who is Forgotten?*

Witheredblossom had started to back away from him. She snarled. "Don't come back. You're not welcome here. Stay far away. If we see you again, we'll kill you." With that, she'd turned and sprinted back up the way they had come.

"This is fun!" Chase squealed now, in the present, tearing Agro out of his thoughts. He blinked. Chase was ahead of him, hopping all around in the snow, frequently coming too close to the edge. Agro wished he'd stop.

Several hours later, a forest began to pop up around them, and Agro realized the path sloped steeply downward. At least, he thought this was the path. It was hard to tell when everything was blanketed in white. He was grateful for the trees. Because of them, the snow on the ground wasn't as high.

"Agro," Chase meowed, "can we rest?"

Agro suddenly felt like his legs would snap. He was *so* tired. Walking through all that snow was hard work. He nodded and Chase meowed a quick "thank you" before flopping onto the ground. Agro wished he could do the same, but he was more dignified and simply sat, trying to catch his breath and rest his weary legs.

"Agro?" Chase mumbled tiredly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think we'll find Gei's home?"

Truthfully, Agro didn't think there was the slightest chance they would stumble upon her birthplace. But after promising Chase they would, he couldn't tell him that it was very nearly impossible. At least, not now. Or so bluntly.

"Well," Agro began, "It's not going to be easy. And it is going to take a very long time, but I think eventually we will find it. I mean, we have to, right? For Gei?"

Chase purred. "For Gei."

After they had rested enough, they continued down the mountain. The forest became denser the farther they went. Hours passed by and darkness was falling. Agro heard Chase's stomach growl and was surprised that his own wasn't feeling those familiar, dreaded hunger pangs. In fact, he wasn't feeling hungry *at all.*

*What gives?* Though he was very grateful, he was also very confused. Shouldn't Silent Scream be hungry by now? Gei was the last cat he had murdered and that was a few days ago. Perhaps Silent Scream was waiting longer for her next blood meal, though time never bothered her before. Usually she'd order him to kill every cat within his vicinity no matter how long it had been since she had last eaten. Right now, Chase was the only cat near him and Agro didn't want to kill him. He wasn't ready. Not after Gei. Did Silent Scream know that? Is that why she was being... patient?

*Or has something happened? Has one of her other minions made a really big kill?* The thought relieved him and angered him. Then he felt ashamed for feeling either of those emotions. He really needed to take his mind off these dark thoughts.

"Hey, Chase," Agro meowed suddenly. "Could you find us some shelter for the night?"

"Of course, Agro!" The orange tom bounded away and out of sight. Agro waited a few minutes before following him. He wondered how Chase was so good at finding a place to stay. Following his scent, Agro discovered that he went from bushes to trees to holes in the ground, sniffing around the ones that had potential and completely ignoring the ones that didn't. He seemed to travel at lightning speed. Finally, Agro caught up to Chase when he was scrutinizing a hollow in the base of a tree.

Chase looked up at him, smiling as he approached. "How's this one?"

"Just fine. Thanks for~~---~~"

"You're welcome," Chase meowed, diving inside. "I couldn't find any moss on my way, so it might be a little uncomfortable."

"That's alright." Agro entered. Chase was already curled into a ball. "'Night, Chase," he meowed, lying down.

"Good-night, Agro."

Sleep came quickly for him. It didn't seem to take long, however, before he was pulled into wakefulness by the sickening sound of insane laughter. Agro opened his eyes reluctantly, knowing he would see Silent Scream's blue orbs above him. Instead, he saw the ugly, rotten trees of the Dark Forest. He got up and shook out his pelt. He flinched as the laugh came again. He padded toward its source, the sound growing louder with each pawstep. Pushing past the dead undergrowth, he could just make out Silent Scream's shadowy pelt. She turned to face him, still laughing, her haunting eyes sweeping over him.

**"Welcome, Agro! How nice of you to show up on this glorious day!"**

The Dark Forest ruler sounded too happy for Agro's liking. Something really good~~---~~according to Silent Scream's definition of "good"~~---~~must have happened. Agro wanted to know, but he was afraid to ask. "Hello," he mumbled.

**"I am a genius!"** Silent Scream cackled. **"What I have just accomplished will be remembered forever!"**

"What~~---~~what are you talking about?"

**"I have just discovered a new way of manipulating others: mind control!"**

Agro's jaw dropped in horror. Oh, the damage she could inflict by controlling cats' minds....

Silent Scream's smile suddenly vanished. She looked irritated, the beginnings of an angry fit. **"The only thing that sucks is that I can't use it myself... No, I have to train other people, teach them how it works. They get to play around inside cats' skulls while I get to watch. That's not fair! *I* should get to do whatever I want, but for some reason I can't summon the power~~---~~"** Her gaze slowly fixed on Agro again as she put two and two together. **"Ah, yes... You would be why... I should be furious, but I'm not. If everything works out, it won't matter."**

"What are you talking about?" Agro tried again. He was so very confused and the sudden mood change frightened him. She was staring at him so intently, he felt glued to the ground.

**"Look at your face! Such terror! Such beautiful terror! I love it! Why don't you look like that more often in my presence?"**

Agro took a deep breath and almost coughed; the air was like poison. He tried again to regain composure. As his heartbeat returned to normal (or normal enough), he forced himself to take on a blank expression. He swore his face would stay that way no matter what came out of Silent Scream's mouth.

The she-cat tilted her head, looking disappointed for a fleeting second. She smiled. **"You can't fool me. I know you are afraid."** She looked him over once more, then suddenly, she vanished before his eyes.

Agro didn't move. He remained perfectly still and looked straight ahead. *She will not scare me. She will not scare me.* He felt her presence beside him before he heard or saw her. The laugh came, right next to his ear, gently at first, but it soon grew to an ear piercing shriek. Agro was forced to back away, pawing at the agony in his ears. Silent Scream reappeared and pounced. Before Agro could react, she struck him, sending him flying into a tree. Dazed and bleeding from his head and chest, he struggled to get up. Silent Scream attacked him again, raking her claws furiously along his side. And all the while, she was laughing.

Through the pain, Agro was feeling something he had never felt before in Silent Scream's presence: *rage.* It grew with his pain, consuming him like a fire. With a roar, he threw Silent Scream off. She looked surprised, but when she saw his face, she broke into a broad grin.

**"Now that is what I like to see. That is how my heir should look. Doesn't it feel good?"**

Agro answered by lunging at her. He brought his claws down on her muzzle~~---~~and drew blood. *Both* of them were shocked by that. They froze, staring at each other with wide eyes. Agro, panting, trying to swallow his anger, watched the scarlet liquid fall from her face. It was like a waterfall; more was coming out than usual for a wound on the muzzle. It was strange how a shadow could bleed.

**"You shouldn't have been able to do that,"** Silent Scream meowed, dangerously quiet. She licked the blood from her face; it wouldn't stop flowing out. Agro could see the anger boiling in those cold, blue eyes. She snarled. **"How is it that I grow weaker as I grow strong?"** With lightning fast speed, she struck Agro across the face. Agro prepared himself for another attack but it didn't come. Silent Scream sat down and breathed in and out, a pulsing shadow. The blood from her wound slowed immensely to a drip.

Agro took this time to calm himself. The fiery rage inside him settled down. Like embers, it was cooling down, but could be sparked to rise into a fire again. For several minutes, Agro simply watched Silent Scream breathe and her blood drip onto the red puddle at her paws. Suddenly, running pawsteps came from his right. A tom burst through the trees. He halted before the Dark Forest ruler, panting severely, and bowed.

"I'm... here," he managed.

**"It's about time,"** Silent Scream hissed. Without another word, she shoved him into the ground and sunk her teeth into his throat. Agro watched the tom withering, desperately trying to fight. Then, his body went limp. Silent Scream let go and straightened up. She stretched as if she had just woken up from a nap. Agro noticed her muzzle was no longer bleeding; the wound had vanished completely. She turned to him, looking refreshed. She studied him. **"If only you could kill that idiotic orange friend of yours like I just killed that tom, things would be so much easier."**

"I am not going to kill Chase," Agro growled firmly.

**"Yes, you will,"** the she-cat meowed matter-of-factly. **"Soon, you won't have a choice. You'll become so hungry for his blood you won't even have control over your actions."**

"You're wrong," Agro meowed, though his voice wasn't as confident as before.

**"Don't try to deceive yourself, Agro. That creates problems, obstacles. It's getting annoying."** She paused. **"Since I will be busy perfecting my new skill, I will try very hard to control my own desire. I will give you some time off from killing. A vacation, if you will."**

"Why?"

**"I already told you why. It is going to take some time to teach Nightmare and Shade how to control someone's mind without any resistance. They need more practice. Do not believe I am being merciful,"** she added, spotting the doubt on Agro's face. **"I am merely allowing your hunger to become so strong you won't be able to stop yourself from slicing open his throat. I don't see why this is so hard for you. You killed Lila easier than this."**

"I loved Lila."

**"No, you only thought you did. Your heart has no room for love. Get that into your head before I beat it into you. Lila was merely a test. You didn't need *her*, you needed her murdered blood."** Silent Scream rolled her eyes. **"The first female cat that showed any interest in you and you were hooked. Pathetic."**

"That's not true!" Agro protested. "My best friend is Saden. We've been friends since we were kits."

Silent Scream laughed. **"Saden never truly liked you. She was only using you."** Agro opened his mouth to object, but she continued before he could get a word out. **"The only reason she stuck by you was to learn your weaknesses. She knew Shade and I preferred you over her. She was always trying to prove herself, but you triumphed over her every time, even when she thought she had beaten you. She's been doing a lot of killing since you've left, did you know that? Yes; she took over Shade's group. She is doing a grand job leading it. She is feared by all. They've relocated somewhat closer to the Thunderpath. It's one of the borders of her territory now. The only thing she's done terribly wrong is that she has let a few kittypets join."**

"I don't believe you."

**"Suit yourself. You're going to see~~---~~"** Silent Scream stopped, her black ears pointing straight up. Her head whipped around to the north. **"She's here,"** she whispered. **"Near the border. I can feel her power...."** She shuddered. **"Her mind will be *mine*."** She looked ready to sprint away, but Agro quickly blocked her path.

"Who are you talking about? It isn't Saden, is it?"

**"No, of course not. Get out of my way, fool, before she gets away!"** Silent Scream swiped at him, but he dodged it.

"Before who gets away?"

**"The one with the power of the stars at her paws!"** She growled, frustratedly. **"If I can gain control over her as well as her older siblings~~---~~that would just be marvelous! StarClan wouldn't have the slightest chance!"**

Agro realized who she was talking about. *The she-cat that I'm going to have to kill someday. The one I will have to fight.* He had a sudden, fierce desire to see her. Silent Scream tried to get past him again, but he batted her back. "Wait! Let me come with you!"

Silent Scream looked at him in surprise, then anger. **"No! Do you want to ruin my beautiful plans? Go back to that moron in the waking world and stay out of my way."**

"No~~---~~"

**"That was an order, Agro. Don't make me tell you again. You better spend as much time with him as you can before he dies."** Silent Scream vanished.

Agro spun around as if he could spot her, but she was gone. He cuffed the ground in frustration. Silent Scream was going to attempt to gain control over the she-cat's mind; she said Saden had only ever used him; and Chase was going to die very soon.

Agro found he did not want to wake up. He did not want to go back to Chase. It would be better for all those cats he will kill in the future if he never opened his eyes again.

But, where Silent Scream was concerned, since when did he ever get what he wanted?

He woke up in the hollow of the tree. Chase was still curled in a ball. The sun was just beginning to rise. Agro quickly left the den.

*There was nothing easy about killing Lila,* he told himself. *The only reason I haven't killed Chase is because I've already murdered his mother. Guilt is weighing me down like boulders.* He sighed. *What am I going to do?* He gazed back at the den and the small form huddled inside, asleep.

*I should leave him,* he realized. *For his own sake, I should leave him. He'd be safer without me. He would* live. *Silent Scream would be proven wrong and I wouldn't have to become the monster she wants me to be.*

Movement came from the tree. Chase poked his head out, staring at Agro groggily. "Are we leaving already?" He asked through a yawn.

Agro found that he couldn't move. Abandoning Chase would be like abandoning a kit. *Would* he survive on his own? He couldn't hunt. The only thing he was good for was chatting Agro's ear off and finding shelter.

Chase would die with or without Agro.

Silent Scream kept her promise. For a little over two weeks Agro didn't feel those murderous hunger pangs. He had no desire to kill another cat. He and Chase simply continued on their journey. They traveled in a tight zigzag rather than a straight line, so they didn't make much progress. Chase claimed that if they didn't zigzag, there was a chance they would miss finding Gei's birthplace.

Agro started to think of Chase as a little brother; it was hard *not* to. Chase was such a lovable cat and he acted so young~~---~~naive. He lived in his own world. Sometimes, Agro thought Chase had forgiven him for killing Gei, and it made his heart swell. It was the closest he ever was to true happiness. It felt good.

But all good things must come to an end.

## ~ Chapter Twelve ~

It happened so quickly.

One second he was laughing, the next he was choking on his own blood. The life was ripped out of him in the blink of an eye. He was dead, but the claws and teeth were not finished with his corpse.

It was almost past sunset when Agro came back to himself. He stood there, in the small clearing, panting heavily. His blood-lust had suddenly vanished, his head had cleared, and the hunger had been sated.

The strong smell of blood flooded his nostrils; it was overwhelming. He looked down at the source and gasped. The eyes that stared up at him were glazed with death and the shock of betrayal. Agro staggered back in horror. His paws slipped and slid and he nearly fell, but he caught himself. He gazed down at his paws, realizing they were coated in dark crimson blood.

He looked up and saw that it was *everywhere.*

The dirt, the grass, the tree roots, the bushes~~---~~it seemed nothing was left untouched, uncontaminated. Agro's gaze drifted back to the eyes of the dead. He almost didn't recognize his victim: The orange pelt was so red and torn. Agro traced the large gashes, remembering the savage joy he felt inflicting them. Now, he felt sick. The tail was barely hanging on by a slim piece of skin; one ear was torn, the other a bleeding hole; a couple of the paws and legs jutted out at odd, unnatural angles. More than just blood spilled from the wound in the stomach.

Chase had been brutally mutilated. As if murdering him hadn't been enough to satisfy Agro's desire to destroy.

This had been one of his most merciless killings.

Agro turned away and vomited. When he was finished, he looked up to see Silent Scream standing over Chase's body.

"You get away from him," Agro rasped.

Silent Scream did not move. Those blue eyes took in every single wound, from gash to scratch, with an unnerving interest. The wind blew and Silent Scream's pelt shifted; it was almost transparent in the dying light of the sun. **"I wonder,"** she meowed, without looking up, **"would you have killed him earlier if you had known this was going to happen? Would you feel the same as you do now?"**

"Yes," Agro whispered, almost inaudibly.

**"He's still warm, you know."**

Agro inhaled sharply, and Silent Scream smiled cruelly. She shook her head.

**"I will never understand why you resist."**

"I don't ever want to be like you."

**"Well, not everyone gets what they want."** She tilted her head, her eerie blue orbs boring into him. **"Don't you love the power~~---~~the way it feels on your claws, the taste of it on your tongue? Don't you want more?"**

Agro shook his head vigorously. "No!" His voice was too forceful to be convincing~~---~~and Silent Scream would have caught the lie, anyway.

She laughed, long and hollow. It reverberated off the trees, singing searingly through Agro's head. **"Have you not learned that everyone you meet will die? Face the fact, Agro! It's time you've accepted it. You make everything harder by reaching out, opening your heart. Close it. Freeze it so no one will get in the way~~---~~"**

"No!" Agro cried. "Can't you see that I can't do it? I've tried! I don't want to feel, but with every kill, there's this *pain* that never leaves. I'm not like you! I *can't*."

A fire sparked in the she-cat's eyes, her voice filled with anger. **"No, you haven' tried hard enough! You continue to resist! You haven't accepted your fate~~---~~your destiny! And it's about time you do, because soon you will meet her."**

"*What?!*" Agro's mind both froze and panicked. His heart soared with anticipation and fear.

**"You must go back to the mountains. She will meet you there. Then, you will take her to the lake, where the clans have made their home. That is where you will fight her, where you must kill her. You do not have any other option. I have made sure of that."**

Then, she was gone. The sun disappeared and Agro was left alone with a corpse in the moonlight.

He broke down and wailed in anger, frustration, and sorrow.

. . . .

Without all the mindless zigzagging, Agro traveled back to the mountains within eight days. It was lonely without Chase. There was no one else who could talk your ear off like him. No one else could dream up the most random scenarios that never actually happened. Agro missed him; his brother was gone.

Once he made it back, he started trekking around the mountain. It was Silent Scream's idea; she seemed to know where Agro would encounter his destined enemy. (Though he was not pleased, he was also not surprised by this realization.) She told him when to stop, where he must wait. Before she could disappear on him, Agro hastily called out one last question.

"You'd said I must travel with the One to the lake. What's to stop me from killing her on the way there? I won't be able to control myself if I'm... hungry."

Silent Scream laughed. **"Oh, you don't need to worry about that."** She gave him that unnerving, knowing smile and winked. **"Meals will be provided along the way."**

Agro scowled, not liking at all what that implied, and she cackled as she faded away.

A few days later, Agro stumbled upon someone he once knew from Shade's rogue group. The tom's name was Bahshun, and he was one of those many cats who followed Shade out of fear. He always made sure to stay out of Agro's way. As a result, they had only spoken a few times. So, Agro did not recognize the gray tabby when he spotted him coming down from the mountain. Curiosity at finding another cat who had trekked the mountains made Agro look for him.

Agro climbed down the tree~~---~~he had been chasing a squirrel without much success~~---~~and padded off in the direction in which he had seen the cat. He got sidetracked by the smell of prey. He caught a squirrel, making up for the one he had missed earlier. His ears suddenly perked straight up when he heard a twig snap. It was faint, so Agro assumed that whatever-it-was wasn't close. The squirrel hanging from his mouth, he cautiously slunk forward and peered around the dormant trees and leafless bushes. He caught sight of a gray pelt and slow movements. Agro wasn't sure what to do. How do you go about talking to a cat without startling him? Now that he was closer, he could tell this feline wasn't expecting to find any creatures in this forest at all: The noise he was making seemed magnified throughout the quiet trees. Was he really that stupid to not worry about predators? And how did he expect to catch any prey with all that racket?

Agro crept toward him. The tom's scent wafted around his nose. It was familiar and strange all at once. Agro was near enough now to be heard and the tabby turned his tired blue eyes on Agro.

*Bahshun?* Agro thought, surprised. *All the way out here?*

The tabby had frozen in place. His muscles tensed, his fur bristled, and his expression was a combination of astonishment and fear. They were only a couple of yards away from each other when Agro greeted him, dropping the squirrel.

"Hello, Bahshun. Strange to find you here."

"I can't escape them, can I?" Bahshun murmured to himself, though it was just loud enough for Agro to hear. He blinked several times, sighed resignedly, and meowed, "Hello, Agro... If I'm honest, I had thought I had seen the last of you when you killed Shade and nearly everyone else."

Agro shuffled his paws. "Yes... Well..." *How do I respond to that?* "I never expected to see anyone again anyway after I left."

"Hm. Seems we were both wrong."

"Indeed." There was an awkward pause, in which Agro watched, while pretending that he wasn't, as Bahshun forced his fur to lie flat, though fear and distrust remained on his face. His eyes kept flitting to the squirrel at Agro's paws.

Agro cleared his throat. "So, why did you decide to travel across the mountains?"

"Oh~~---~~I~~---~~uh~~---~~" Bahshun stuttered, growing uncomfortable and awkward. He stopped as something occurred to him. "You, uh, couldn't have known this, but soon after you left, Saden took Shade's place as leader. She~~---~~er~~---~~I mean... I-I ran away."

Agro feigned shock, since he already knew what became of Saden, and tried not to overdo it. He couldn't help noticing how distracted the tabby was by the squirrel; it was rather amusing. He tried to ignore it and focus more intently on the conversation. "Is she... anything like Shade when he was leader?" He thought he'd rather hear what she was like from a witness from the group, instead of from Silent Scream, who lies as easily as she kills.

Bahshun seemed reluctant to answer, but then his shoulders sagged in submission. "It's almost like Shade is still alive. She's made a few changes, like moving out camp somewhere else and bringing in a new deputy, but other than these.... To make this short, Shade and Wryn trained her well. She's cruel. Very cruel." He was afraid to let the last two sentences out, but when Agro did nothing to defend his friend, Bahshun relaxed slightly.

"So life hasn't gotten better for anyone?"

"No one but Saden, I suppose."

"How's Kalmia?" Agro asked suddenly. If Saden was a merciless tyrant, he worried then how his adopted mother was being treated, and he feared the worst.

Bahshun opened his mouth, closed it, and tried again. "She had her kits early. Only one survived birth. He's small but... active. Lively."

"You know that's a terrible thing to be in that group," Agro growled.

Bahshun flinched. He nodded slowly. "He's going to learn very quickly how things work around there...."

"Is Kalmia okay, though? She's alive and as well as she can be?"

The gray tom was looking reluctant again. "As far as I know," he mumbled.

"As far as you know!" Agro growled, alarmed and angry. Bahshun shrunk before him. "You mean you don't know? How was she *before* you ran away?"

"She wasn't there when I ran away!"

"*What?*"

"I-it happened a little while after she had her kits. It was Saden~~---~~she killed Varrin. No, I don't know why!" Bahshun added quickly when Agro opened his mouth to interrupt. "Kalmia was devastated. Her mate killed so soon after losing most of her litter. She began to make trouble. She spoke out against Saden a lot. So... Saden banished her."

"What happened to the kit?"

"He was alive when I left but... he wasn't being treated very well."

Agro cursed as anger boiled inside him. He wished he was back at the rogue group, so he could give Saden a piece of his mind. When he was done with her, she'd be as meek as a leaf. No spine left in her. He'd make sure she wouldn't harm anyone again.

Agro shook himself. He was about to speak when he noticed that Bahshun had fallen back on his haunches and he was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he crumbled to the ground, unconscious. Agro sprang to his side, alarmed. He checked all over Bahshun's limp form, but there was no sign of a wound. During the quick examination, he realized how skinny the gray tabby was; his coat hung off him and desperately called for a grooming, and Agro could count every one of his ribs. Agro took the tom's scruff and began dragging him toward the big holly bush that he had made his temporary home. Because of Bahshun's light weight, the task was quick and easy. Agro remembered his squirrel and ran to fetch it. When he returned, Bahshun was still unconscious.

*Now what do I do?* Agro stared blankly down at the tom. He had no idea how you went about caring for someone who was sick and starving. *I suppose a hungry cat needs food....*

He licked Bahshun all over his face until he opened his eyes. His gray-blue orbs were unfocused. He seemed disoriented when he lifted his head. "What happened? Where am I?" His voice quickly rose to a panic and his paws kicked about. Agro put a paw on him so he wouldn't get up.

"Calm down, Bahshun. Everything's okay. You just... passed out. You need food. I caught a squirrel that you can have."

"Oh... Thank you...." He sighed and closed his eyes.

Agro swatted him and his eyes flew back open. "Do *not* go back to sleep!"

"I'm not, I'm not! I just... need a moment to recover.... I don't feel like I have the energy to move."

"You certainly had the energy when you started to panic."

"That was before I thought I was safe."

Agro grunted in response. *I know you still don't believe you're safe. And, honestly, you never will be in my presence.*

And that was when it occurred to him the reason why he had bumped into Bahshun. It was no accident. Silent Scream's words rang inside his head: ***"Your meals will be provided."***

Bahshun was his first meal for the journey.

Agro slowly crawled backwards out of the den, trying to remain calm.

"Agro? Are you okay?" Bahshun's voice was laced with uncertainty.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm going to hunt again. The squirrel is yours. Make sure you eat it slowly."

He padded away before the tabby could respond. When he was far enough, he scratched the ground in frustration. Though he had never really known Bahshun, or really liked him, Agro didn't want to kill him.''

All these senseless killings~~---~~*when* were they going to end?

Agro knew they never would until he himself was dead. He felt something dark and hollow inside him, different from that savage hunger. He didn't like it but knew he would be nothing without it. Perhaps it was something new, or perhaps it had always been there and he had never acknowledged its presence. It made his anger soar and his muscles alight with power. He could sense the shadow resting in his soul.

"When do you want it done?" He asked quietly.

**"Now that's more like it,"** Silent Scream meowed triumphantly, with a smile. **"Hold off until the One draws nearer. I don't want you being hungry when you meet her. It would not do for my plans if you killed her on sight."**

Agro nodded once.

And the shadow left him for the time being.

. . . .

It was a particularly cold day. Agro forced his fur to lie flat despite the freezing wind. He had to be subtle while hunting; he couldn't let himself be discovered by blowing up like a giant puff ball. Prey would flee in terror before he was close enough to pounce. It had taken him a while to realize why prey kept evading him. When the light bulb went off, he felt like an idiot. In order to catch anything he must suffer through the cold and keep his fur down; otherwise, he was not stealthy enough with his fur puffed up to keep warm. Hunting was a learning process, and he *hated* it. Gei had taught him all she could, but he was still terrible. *Especially now that I have to hunt for two,* he thought sullenly.

If there was anything he had learned about Bahshun in the past week, it was that the gray tabby was *lazy*. And he complained a *lot*. He acted like a kit who could never be satisfied. There was no pleasing him. It didn't help that he jumped nearly every time Agro spoke to him when his back was turned. Agro knew Bahshun had a right to be wary~~---~~Shade did train Agro to be a killer~~---~~but cowering away from the one bringing you your food every day was a bit too much. Agro found himself wishing he was back in the mountain cave with Witheredblossom. She, though fierce, was quiet and kept her distance. Bahshun was a loud fool. Even Chase's senseless babble was more welcome than the tabby's irritable whine.

Hours went by when Agro finally surprised himself by catching two voles. He took them back to his den, prepared for Bahshun's provoking complaints about how long he took. But when he arrived, the tom, for once, was ready for him. He sat just outside the entrance of the holly bush, waiting with apprehension as Agro approached. Agro could tell by that partially reluctant look that he had something on his mind.

Agro dropped the prey at Bahshun's paws. He took a vole and stepped back.

"I must speak with you, Agro."

"Oh?" Agro dug into the vole, trying not to smile. Bahshun's fear amused him. It was the only thing that kept him sane when Bahshun was being an annoying piece of fox dung. "And what must you tell me?"

"I, uh"~~---~~there was that usual, familiar unwillingness~~---~~"I wanted to tell you... I... I'm leaving."

Agro stopped chewing. He looked up at Bahshun in astonishment. He was not surprised the tom was leaving, for he always suspected Bahshun would want to leave, but because he had the spine left in him to confess to Agro that he was going away. Agro thought he'd leave silently during the night, if he left at all. That way he'd have a head start in case Agro came after him. The tom was predictably mistrustful.

Agro slowly and deliberately chewed the rest of his food and swallowed. When he spoke his voice was calm and even. "When do you plan to go?"

Bahshun's eyes widened, puzzled and shocked that Agro hadn't objected. "T-tomorrow."

"You do realize you're going to have to hunt for yourself? I won't be there to wait on you." He let a quiet growl escape his throat.

"Y-yes. I-I am aware. I've recovered now and I won't starve like before. The mountains had been... tough."

Agro remembered his complaints about the mountains. Bahshun claimed he couldn't find any food because of a blizzard. "Where are you going to go?"

"Oh... You know... wherever my paws take me."

*So, he* is *afraid I'll come after him! I wonder if he will really leave tomorrow... or if his nest will be cold by morning.* Agro smiled, trying to be friendly. "I wish you luck while you travel."

"Yes~~---~~Thank you." Bahshun shuffled his paws, uncomfortable.

Agro grew tired of his distrustful glare. He nodded at the vole at the tabby's paws. "Are you going to eat that before it freezes, or shall I?"

Bahshun looked down, his ears flattening. Quickly, he began to eat.

That night, after a short, mild conversation, Agro announced he was going to sleep. He padded to the den, saying over his shoulder, "Good-night, Bahshun. See ya in the morning," he added with a smile.

"Er~~---~~yes. Good~~---~~good-night, Agro," Bahshun stuttered.

Agro curled up in his nest, head facing the entrance. He laid his fluffy tail across his eyes, so when Bahshun looked in, he wouldn't be able to tell if Agro's eyes were open. For several minutes Agro focused on slowing his breathing and keeping absolutely still, so as to feign slumber. Then, he listened carefully for any noise outside the holly bush. Now all he had to do was wait.

It seemed like hours had gone by when a shadow finally crossed the entrance, blocking the moonlight from shining in. Agro's heart immediately began to beat faster in anticipation. Hunger coursed through him as he tasted Bahshun's fear. *Go on. Run!*

As if he had heard, the tabby quietly slunk away. Agro waited a few more seconds before getting up. His bones cracked and his muscles strained from remaining in the same position for so long. He crawled out of the den and stretched leisurely. He yawned once, then took off after his prey.

Tracking Bahshun wasn't hard; his fear-scent stained the earth and everything he swept by. Soon Agro was close enough to hear him. Agro picked up speed, moving as stealthily as he could. With the help of the glowing moon, he spotted the gray tom up ahead, running as if a whole pack of dogs were on his tail.

*No, something far worse is chasing you,* Agro thought, his eyes glinting malevolently.

A small hill came up, and Bahshun charged right over it. Agro skirted around, flying like a lightning bolt, and came to the bottom just as Bahshun was making his way down. Agro waited behind a tree and as the tom came passed, he pounced. Agro landed squarely on his back. Bahshun yowled in shock and pain as Agro sunk his sharp claws into the feline's back. Bahshun managed to throw off his attacker. He staggered, glancing wide-eyed at Agro, and then he fled, knowing he didn't stand a chance in fighting.

Agro sprinted after him, a savage laugh escaping his throat. He caught up quickly and the two ran side-by-side. Agro threw his body into Bahshun, who stumbled and fell, and had him pinned within a few seconds. Bahshun panted heavily, his eyes so wide Agro could see the ghostly white of his sclera.

"Hello, *friend*," Agro sneered. "Taking a nice walk in the moonlight, were you?"

"Agro~~---~~"

"Why did you sneak off? You'd said you weren't going to leave until tomorrow. As far as I know, tomorrow hasn't happened yet."

"*Please*, Agro," Bahshun pleaded. "Don't kill me!"

Agro growled menacingly. "Don't tell me what to do. I've had enough of that this past week." Bahshun struggled, but Agro held him firmly down. "You're an idiot, you know that?" Agro continued. "Have worms eaten away your brain? If you had any sense at all, you would have left the moment you were better. And by the shadow below, you wouldn't have *told* me! Such stupidity."

"I know it was stupid," Bahshun hissed, stalling for time. "I thought by then you trusted me enough not to question my word. I thought you wouldn't be suspicious enough to wait for me to leave."

"*Trust*," Agro spat. "You *are* more of an idiot than I thought. You really believed I'd trust you? When every day you jumped when I spoke to you? You were afraid I'd kill you on the spot! But no.... No, I had to wait for the right time."

Bahshun struggled a little more. He gave up with a gasp when Agro struck him above the eye. Blood dripped from the cut, making Agro's hunger surge.

"Silent Scream's got you wrapped around her tail, doesn't she?" Bahshun meowed. "Do you find joy in being her slave?"

"Fortunately and unfortunately, I am much more than her slave." Before the hunger could overwhelm him, Agro sunk his teeth into Bahshun's throat, and he didn't let go until all the life leaked out of the gray tabby.

And this time, Agro was fully aware of ripping the corpse to shreds.

When he was finished, he stepped back and surveyed his work, his breath ragged. Shame, loud and forceful, threatened to overtake him, but he squashed it quickly and padded away. The body, unrecognizable for all the blood and gore, was left to rot alone in the cold forest.

Agro walked aimlessly along the forest floor, with his head down and tail drooping. *Have I really accepted what I am? Have I really fallen so far that I enjoy the hunt and, even more so, the kill? I am some disgusting beast with a blood-lust that can never be satisfied. Despicable. I have less of a right to live than the lives I take away.*

Agro halted and turned his blue gaze to the moon. *What happened? When did I let her get to me?* Why *did I let her get to me? Why am I not strong enough to resist? I didn't even try....*

He continued on his way back to the holly bush. Clouds covered the moon, draping him in darkness, and he soon found that he was lost. *I wouldn't have wanted to stay in the bush anyway*, he reflected. He moved on slowly, not caring where his paws took him. By dawn he was exhausted in mind and body. He barely looked at his new den~~---~~a big, prickly bramble thicket~~---~~before he dropped beneath it, eyes closed in sleep.

Agro did nothing the next day but lounge around. By late afternoon he began to feel hungry, but he was not in the mood to hunt. He preferred to sulk while he had the chance.

The next morning he woke to the sound of his stomach grumbling. He shifted and lifted his head and his stomach growled again. After a few minutes, it did it a third time.

"Alright, alright," Agro meowed, pushing himself up onto his paws, "I hear ya." He shook his head as he came out of the den. *So, this is what you've come to~~---~~talking to your stomach like it's another cat. It's official, Agro: You're mad.*

He walked on silent paws a little ways from the den. He opened his mouth to scent the morning air. It was cold and it stung his throat but in a way that made him feel alive and energetic. He padded through the forest aware of anything that moved. He heard the chatter of squirrels and crept forward. Stopping by a bush, he didn't find a squirrel but a thrush. It jabbed at the ground with its tiny beak. So intent on the bird, he didn't notice anything else. He crouched low and readied himself to pounce on his unsuspecting prey. It turned its head and he leaped~~---~~only to give a sharp yowl as his tail got caught in the bush. The bird flew away and he cursed.

The sound of laughter made him jump. He looked up; it sounded as if it was coming from the trees. The *trees* were laughing at him! But then he found the source and his blood froze in his veins.

Sitting on a branch in a tree, with a limp squirrel between her paws, was the most beautiful she-cat he had ever seen. He had to blink a few times to make sure that she was real. Her pelt was long and gray with black and gray-blue splotches. She had a white chest and her two front paws were tan. Her eyes were a unique turquoise; they sparkled like a river in the sunshine. Her laugh was musical and sweeter than catmint. Agro was struck dumb; he would have liked to stare at her forever. A strong force emanated from her like nothing he had ever known. It was strong and immensely powerful.

He knew she was the One.

* Bahshun
* Azure (the One)
1/2
## ~ Chapter Thirteen ~

But then, a shadow crept in front of her lithe form, silencing her energy; it was as if a veil had been thrown over Agro's eyes, and he saw her for what she really was: a tall kit whose dirty pelt needed a serious grooming. Her laugh seemed more like an immature giggle.

Yet her eyes kept him enchanted.

"Do you need some help?" She asked, her turquoise orbs still twinkling with amusement.

Without thinking, Agro ripped his tail out of the bush, leaving behind several pieces of fur. "Does it look like it?" He hissed unkindly. He felt hopelessly embarrassed and he was growing angry for allowing himself to be mesmerized by this kit. (*And what a kit she was!* He thought, remembering his vision before the spell was broken.) With all the strength he possessed, he forced himself to turn away and walk in the direction of his den.

"H-hey, wait! Where are you going?" He could hear the she-kit scrambling down the tree. He considered running, but she appeared at his side with the squirrel dandling from her jaws before he could decide.

"That's none of your business," he growled, looking straight ahead. *Maybe if I'm hostile, she will~~---~~*

"Cool. Do you mind if I come?" She meowed around the prey.

Agro stopped and looked her sternly in the eye. "No."

She dropped her squirrel, looking a bit bashful. "I-I'm sorry for laughing at your mistake.... We can share my squirrel, if you'd like."

Agro stared at her. *What is she playing at?* The smile she gave him was too sincere, too kind. *Is she only acting? Does she really not know who I am?* Thinking it over, he realized it would make sense for her to be ignorant about their intertwining destiny. How would he convince her to travel with him otherwise?

He also realized how powerless he felt under her gaze and knew at once that he could not kill her~~---~~would not kill her no matter what Silent Scream did to him. It was almost unthinkable.

"Go pester someone else, kit," he mumbled finally and padded away.

"I was only trying to be kind," she huffed. "And you don't look much older than me!" Once again, she was at his side with the fresh-kill.

*If you can't be hostile, Agro, at least try to be unfriendly....* He stopped again and rolled his eyes. "You clearly don't know what 'no' means."

"And you don't know a free meal when you see one," she retorted.

*Fox dung! What do I do now?* His ear twitched~~---~~the only sign of his frustration~~---~~and he sighed. "Alright.... You can tag along." *Though I believe this "free meal" will cost me more than either of us knows.*

The she-kit's ears perked up. "Really?"

Agro nodded reluctantly and together they walked on. *Brilliant, Agro, just brilliant. Bringing the enemy right to your den. How stupid can you get?* He chanced a glance at the she-kit. She padded on with her chin up, eyes slightly narrowed in thought. He recalled what the HollowClan warrior, Hawkwhisker, had said about Agro's age and thought the she-kit looked about apprentice age~~---~~six moons~~---~~too. *She's young to be out on her own, though, with a destiny like hers, she's bound to be more than capable.*

"My name's Azure, by the way," she meowed, her mew muffled.

Agro was about to introduce himself in return but remembered in time that he was not suppose to be nice. "I hope you know that I don't care. Just because I'm letting you come does not mean we are friends."

She responded with a simple sigh and remained silent as they reached the den. They both crawled inside. Azure set the squirrel down and took the first bite. An awkward silence followed. Agro had no idea what to say to her. What *do* you say to someone you know you're going to battle one day and probably kill? How does casual conversation even apply?

Eventually, they finished their meal. Agro, suddenly reluctant to see her leave, meowed, "So, why are you out here on your own, kit?" *It's important to know your enemies,* he thought as an excuse for detaining her.

"I could ask you the same question," the she-kit returned. "And I already told you, my name is Azure."

"Did your parents die or something?" He knew it was terribly blunt and rude, but he needed to know if he was going to rip another family apart, as he had Gei and Chase.

Azure glared at him. "Yes, actually, they did," she growled.

Agro looked at her, at her eyes. He could read them as easily as he could breathe. Like him, she had known pain and heartache; circumstances forced her to grow up quickly~~---~~too quickly, for she still had so much to learn.

Just so the silence wouldn't envelope then again, he meowed, "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No, I'm not," she replied icily. "And by your hunting skills, I'd say you aren't either."

His anger flared as she struck his pride and he looked away. *Unfriendliness is definitely working....* He took a deep breath and murmured, "Cats make mistakes."

"Obviously," Azure huffed. She turned and crawled out from beneath the thicket.

*Agro, do not get up. Do not follow her. Stop! Listen*~~---~~Agro ignored the buzzing in his head and crawled out behind her. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"I'm continuing my journey," she meowed over her shoulder. She did not pause in her step, forcing Agro to follow her. "There's still plenty of daylight left and I would like to get to the mountains as soon as possible."

Agro's eyes widened. *She won't last a day!* "You're going to the mountains *alone*?" *Is this where I'm supposed to step in and accompany her?*

Azure stopped abruptly on the word *alone*, her fur bristling momentarily. She took a deep breath and turned to look at him, her face and voice calm. "That's what it looks like, doesn't it?"

"Well... yes..." Agro shuffled his paws. How was he supposed to introduce the idea of his coming along? He regretted being unfriendly. Trying to make amends, he meowed, "I want to thank you for the meal."

"Don't mention it." She began to pad away.

"My name is Agro," he blurted.

Azure turned around, tilting her head in confusion. "Right, well... Good... Good-bye, Agro."

He dipped his head, attempting to hide his smile. Even in her uncertainty, Agro liked that she had spoken his name; her innocent voice made him seem less like a murderer.

"Good-bye, Azure, and good luck on your journey."

She nodded and padded away in the direction of the river. Agro looked after her, longing to follow but afraid of what would happen if he did.

He watched until the beautiful colors of her untidy pelt could no longer be seen, then he headed back to the lonely bramble thicket that was his den. He crawled inside and sat on his nest. He gazed around, unsure of what to do with himself. His eyes landed on the spot where Azure had rested while she had eaten the squirrel. Even though it had been unbearably awkward, he wished she was sitting there again, staring at him with those gorgeous eyes. He wished he hadn't been rude but knew it had been for the best. *I had to get her away.... What if I had harmed her? What if I had lost control and killed her right then?*

He dwelled for a long time on these "what-ifs"~~---~~and all the others that popped into his head~~---~~until he finally paused and took a deep breath. He realized none of those things would or could happen because they were not a part of Silent Scream's plan. He knew she would do everything in her power to make things go the way she wanted them to. She wanted Agro to accompany Azure on her journey to the lake where they would fight to the death. But Agro already knew he would not lay a paw on Azure. He thought even drawing the tiniest drop of blood from her body was the most heinous crime he could ever commit. To strike down an angel was extremely wicked and repulsive. Agro had done a lot of terrible deeds but he could never do that.

With more willpower than he knew he possessed he swore he would do whatever he could to thwart the Dark Forest ruler's schemes. He stood and looked up as if he could see her through the thicket.

*You do not control me, Silent Scream. I am not yours and I will never carry out your orders again.*

As soon as he finished, he felt an ice-cold presence flow through him, darkening his heart; it made him want to claw at his chest and tear the organ out. Then, he heard Silent Scream's voice reverberate all around his head, pounding like a drum.

**"We shall see about that."**

"*Get out!*" Agro snarled. He felt his rage take a great leap, increasing with each breath, as he attempted to push the shadow cat out.

**"It's a battle of wills now, isn't it? *Make* me get out."**

Agro's anger reached boiling point as she taunted him. With a roar, the presence was evicted. His heart was light and he was triumphant. But then the shadow trickled back, slow at first and then stronger, stealing his every breath until he was left hollow.

**"You play a very dangerous game, Agro dear."** Silent Scream cackled. **"A game you are sure to lose."** Agro fought not to pass out, and she released him slightly so he could breathe.

"I will not... stop fighting you," he panted.

**"Do you think you can really get rid of me? You are my heir. We are joined together by greater and darker powers than you know; nothing can separate us until we die for good."** With that, she left him.

Agro felt that familiar shadow reside in him with a stronger flurry of activity, as if it were preparing for him to attack, to wipe himself out. He accepted its existence truly and without any struggle, remembering what he felt the week before he had killed Bahshun. But he would not listen to its whirling, violent whims again.

. . . .

Agro watched from the darkness of the cave as Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom approached the shaking, cowering figure that was Azure. The two warriors blocked the only exit of the cave, so the she-kit had nowhere to run. Azure's face revealed pure terror. She was at the mercy of these skilled fighters, and they would give her none.

Azure cried out as Witheredblossom pounced on top of her, sinking her sharp claws into Azure's flesh. Azure struggled beneath the gray she-cat, clawing and tearing with all her might, but to no avail. Witheredblossom, angered by the pitiful strikes, struck Azure across the face. She did it again and again.

"Stop!" Agro cried, his eyes alight with horror, but no one seemed to hear him. *How could she do that to a kit?*

Witheredblossom stepped back, picked the she-kit by the scruff, and swung her around violently, like a dog would a chew toy. She let go and Azure flew into the rock wall of the cave. With a gleeful laugh, Witheredblossom pulled Azure's head back and slammed it into the wall. Azure's whole body went limp.

"*Enough!*" Agro snarled. He leaped at the gray HollowClan warrior, claws extended. But Agro dove right through her like she was a ghost. He hit the wall with a *thud* and gasped. *What just happened?* He picked himself up and faced Witheredblossom. He sent a blow directly at her skull... and the she-cat rippled as if Agro had disturbed a pond, his paw passing swiftly through her head. The she-cat went right on beating Azure as if nothing had happened. Agro struck over and over again, but Witheredblossom was immune and continued to shimmer like water. Thoroughly confused, frustrated, and angry, he gave up, howling, "Why can't I stop you?!"

He was not answered, but Hawkwhisker finally meowed, "That's enough for now, Witheredblossom."

His friend halted, panting. Fixing him with those blood-thirsty yellow eyes, she meowed, "Why can't I kill her now? The brat deserves to die!"

Hawkwhisker gazed back at her calmly. "Indeed she does, and you are free to kill her in the near future. But right now, we need her alive. How else will she pay for her crimes if she is dead?"

"You are right," Witheredblossom conceded with a nod. A horrible grin danced upon her face. "We can't hurt her too badly now or else she'll be too broken to play with later."

Hawkwhisker returned the grin. "Yes. We must be careful with our prey. Go find some moss to cover her wounds, so she doesn't bleed out."

Witheredblossom left the cave immediately, leaving Azure to lie in her own small pool of blood.

Agro crept forward. He tried to nuzzle Azure's head but he couldn't touch her; she rippled like Witheredblossom. He sat next to her, feeling like a weak, helpless guard. "It's okay," he whispered. "You'll be okay, Azure. I won't let them hurt you again. I'll protect~~---~~"

He gasped when he awoke, his eyes snapping open. He sat up quickly and blinked several times as he tried to remember where he was. *I'm in my den... and I'm alone. It was just a dream.* He breathed an enormous sigh of relief.

Uncertainty suddenly crept into his gut. *It sure didn't* seem *like a dream.... I really thought I was there....* But it *must* have been a dream. He had woken up beneath his bramble thicket, hadn't he? He remembered Witheredblossom raking her claws against Azure's muzzle, and the she-kit going unconscious when her head hit the wall. Most of all, he remembered the hot, crimson blood that escaped Azure's wounds. Agro was filled with a deep-burning anger and he felt a strong pull that urged him to rescue Azure from the cave and dispose of its cruel, demented inhabitants.

And he almost did.

What stopped him from charging out of his den right then and there? He was still not convinced that what he saw wasn't a dream. He was not afraid of the HollowClan warriors, but he had been warned by them to not step onto their territory again. So what would happen if he went to the cave and Azure had never been there? What if she had passed by them unharmed? He would be following Azure, just like Silent Scream wanted.

That decided it for him: He would plant his butt on the ground and not move, for his vision was just a hoax Silent Scream had laid inside his mind to get him to go. And he would not listen. *I am in control. You cannot make me follow her to her death.*

Instead, he would follow his nose in order to find some prey. It was still dark when he exited the bramble thicket, so he knew that some creatures would still be asleep. Leaving his den behind, he padded deeper into the forest. He opened his mouth and let the scents bathe his tongue. Catching the scent of a bird, he followed the trail on swift and silent paws. It led him to a skinny thrush, which was jabbing its small beak into the ground in the hopes of finding some prey of its own. Agro was reminded of the thrush he had failed to catch when Azure had been watching from the tree. He smiled slightly, feeling embarrassed all over again, and he shook himself. But just to be sure, he peered up into the trees that were beside him and then he tucked his tail between his legs to avoid any bushes. Feeling secure, he readied himself to pounce; the thrush was still pecking away.

Suddenly the bird tweeted triumphantly and, when it struck the ground, its head came back up with a beetle in its beak. Agro leaped before it had a chance to fly away. But as he sprang, he remembered the One's sweet, musical laughter and he nearly missed the thrush. He was able to get a paw on it, but it struggled, flapping its wings and chirping hysterically. Quickly Agro snapped its neck. He lifted the bird with his jaws and walked back to his den, his chest fur puffed out in pride.

He crawled beneath the bramble thicket and, lying down, he let the dead thrush rest between his paws. A sense of loneliness swept through him as he stared at the bird. He wished Azure was there to share his prey; he wished she had seen him catch it, even though he had been quite ungraceful and he did almost fail.

*But I didn't! I caught it and I'm proud. I wish she had been watching. I bet she~~---~~*Agro paused abruptly. He blinked down at the thrush then wrinkled his nose, frustrated with himself.

*What is wrong with you? Stop thinking about Azure! You* can't *think about her, you blind, smitten fool! She's left you for good, and you will not see her ever again, so it would be best if you just forgot her.*

Agro tore into the thrush and attempted to keep his mind on his meal. It was one of the most difficult things he had ever done.

He kept thinking about how foolish he had been during his hunt: mooning over Azure though she wasn't even there; letting himself get distracted by something as silly as her laugh. Then, he began to wonder why he felt the way he did. It felt so different than what he had felt about Lila. With Lila, all he'd wanted was, well, *her.* He hadn't cared about what she wanted or what interested her. He hadn't understood her nor did he try.

With Azure, he carried that same possessiveness, but her free spirit~~---~~along with the fact that she was the One who could gather the stars in her paws~~---~~made him want to let her go, so he could stand back and watch her soar. She was something amazing, even if she didn't know it, and mysterious, which caused him to want to know everything about her. He especially desired to know why she was traveling to the lake, since she apparently did not know that her destiny was to fight Agro to the death.

Then there was that question: *why?*

*Why* did he love Azure? He was sure love was the way he felt about her, but he couldn't fathom how she had enchanted him so. He had merely *looked* at her and had been almost completely subdued; he would have stared at her forever if it hadn't been for that strange shadow. And *why* couldn't he hate her? According to Silent Scream, he and Azure were supposed to be bitter enemies. But he didn't feel hate when he thought of her. Why love then, when he was more accustomed to rage and pain and fear? Kalmia had given Agro what love she could, but in the end, it hadn't been enough. Shade's teachings had sunk in too deeply, and Silent Scream's soul had plagued him with her power. He had hardly known what love was. So how could he, a mad, blood-thirsty murderer, become ensnared in love's warm embrace?

Agro continued to think about these things for a long time after his meal, becoming so engrossed in his thoughts he was being rather obsessive. The sun was high in the sky when he finally realized if he didn't stop soon, he could very well go truly insane. He ran out of his den and rammed his head straight into the nearest tree. His plan~~---~~if you could call it one~~---~~was to hurt himself so his mind could focus on the pain instead of Azure. In short, it worked: his thoughts scattered and he was left with a pounding headache that made him temporarily immobile. He lay on the cold forest floor feeling as if his brain was beating the inside of his skull with a big, hard log.

And the rest of the day zoomed by like a hummingbird's wings....

That night Agro dreamed about Azure again. She was still trapped in the cave, a prisoner to Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom. Fresh and dried blood splashed across her dirty pelt. She was lying on her side near the far end of the cave, and Agro was once more hidden in the shadows. He called her name to see if this time he was really there, but he was not; Azure didn't budge. However, when someone else called her name, she visibly shuddered. With a small groan, she lifted herself up and turned to face her female oppressor.

Witheredblossom appeared, carrying a rolled up bundle of moss between her jaws. She stopped a couple yards before Azure and dropped the moss at her own gray paws. "I have something for you," Witheredblossom meowed in a sickeningly sweet voice. "I brought some wet moss. Com on. I know you're thirsty." With her nose, she unrolled the moss.

"Don't, Azure," Agro warned.

But she couldn't hear him and she didn't see the mischievous gleam in Witheredblossom's eyes. Hesitating for only a moment, Azure slowly approached the moss. As she lowered her head, Witheredblossom struck her in the face. Azure stumbled to her left and the gray she-cat hit her again, laughing as she did. Azure fell and covered her face with her paws. Witheredblossom unsheathed her claws and dragged them down the she-kit's flank. Azure cried out in pain and blindly lashed out. She caught the warrior's muzzle, drawing blood.

Agro could have cheered. *She fought back!* But his excitement was short-lived. Witheredblossom's yellow orbs blazed furiously and Agro barely had time to blink before she assaulted Azure with a new wave of agony.

Hawkwhisker had to stop Witheredblossom from killing Azure right then and there.

Agro could still hear Azure's screams when he woke up. Though it had been slightly different, it was the same dream that he had had the night before. Azure was being abused, tortured. It filled Agro with a fury so strong he was overwhelmed and for a moment he couldn't breathe.

When his anger subsided a bit, he realized he had shot out of his den. Some fur on his back was missing from catching on the brambles, and his shoulders and back were bleeding. He dug his claws into the dirt as he waited for himself to calm down.

*Two dreams almost exactly the same.... Is Azure* really *in trouble, or is this just a trick of Silent Scream's to make me go?*

If Azure was truly in need, Agro knew he could save her. But what if she wasn't? He tore at the ground in frustration, cursing Silent Scream for making him question what to do. He knew what he *should* do, what would be the right thing to do. He could just travel to the cave, check to see if Azure was there, and turn right back around if she wasn't.

But what if he didn't come back to his bramble thicket? What if he couldn't stop himself from chasing after Azure?

The dark thought crossed his mind that it would be better for Azure to die at the paws of the HollowClan warriors than by his own. Or was it?

Agro was greatly troubled, his mind growing ever darker. And his next dream did not help in the least.

He walked into the cave. Witheredblossom was nowhere to be seen, but Hawkwhisker was there, grooming himself near the entrance. Azure was at her usual place at the back. Agro quickly padded over to her and for a moment, he thought she was dead. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted~~---~~though it was hardly visible~~---~~the rise and fall of her chest, and the slow movement of her jaws as she whispered to herself.

Agro moved closer, leaning so his right ear was near her mouth, and listened to her quiet pleas.

"You'd said you would be there for me.... You'd promised. I need help. I'm all alone." Tears leaked from her closed eyes. Then her voice rose, sounding not only desperate but angry. "Where are you? Onyx, Ebonydusk... you told me you'd be with me, even though I wouldn't be able to see you. Well, my faith in you is running out. I... I can't do it anymore." She began to sob freely. Agro stood up and saw her whole body shaking with what little strength she had left.

Hawkwhisker paused in his grooming and looked over at her. "Shut up," he growled. When she continued to cry, Hawkwhisker sighed and stood. "You haven't learned anything, have you?"

Azure didn't seem to hear the brown tabby. In between sobs, she called on someone named Forgotten. "It's your fault they've done this to me! You're who they really want! What did you do? Why have you left me to bear your punishment?" She suddenly gasped in pain as Hawkwhisker slashed her side, opening a wound that had only just begun to heal.

"What have I told you about saying her name?" The warrior hissed. Azure didn't answer; Hawkwhisker clawed her again. "They can't help you~~---~~your ancestors. They don't care about you, or anyone. Why should they when they're free and happy being dead?" He grabbed her scruff, lifted her off the ground, and was about to toss her aside when she spoke.

"You're wrong."

Agro stared. She couldn't have said anything worse. He saw her eyes: one was black and purple and puffy; but the other, which had a dried cut an inch above it, was perfectly clear. It meant her mind was clearer than Agro had thought, when she had been speaking to cats that weren't there.

Hawkwhisker allowed her words to sink in, then he promptly threw her against the rock wall. "I'm *wrong*?" He asked with a sneer.

Azure stirred. She struggled to stand up and face him. With a great effort, but a determined face, she meowed, "Yes. You are. My ancestors are doing everything they can; I was wrong to think they'd abandon me. They are facing a battle of their own against someone very powerful. They are fighting for me. I *know* it."

Hawkwhisker's sneer widened. "You are just trying to find excuses for their complete indifference toward your suffering. You are one stubborn and stupid kit."

He pounced. Agro did too, but he flew through the tom, whose body rippled like the surface of a pond. "Don't touch her!" Agro shouted, whipping around, but Hawkwhisker was already tearing at her pelt and flesh as if they were nothing more than blades of grass or a pile of dirt.

Agro awoke abruptly, yelling "Stop!" and he leaped to his paws. Outside his den, a few birds flew out of their trees because of the noise. Realizing he had been dreaming again, he sat back on his rump and tried to calm his breathing.

With his heart no longer pounding, he lay down and rested his head on his paws. His eyes slowly drifted closed. *Three dreams in three nights. Either I'm having visions or Silent Scream has gotten desperate.*

*But that's not her style,* he reflected. She was more of a "if it doesn't work the first time, then immediately switch to Plan B" kind of cat. *If she couldn't convince me to go by sending the first dream, then she would have met me in the Dark Forest to convince me with her claws instead.... Unless that's what she wants me to think and she's trying out a new manipulative approach.*

"Oh, for crying out loud!"

Agro's eyes popped open and he jumped up, claws unsheathed. He winced as something struck his head, dazing him.

"You are the most *idiotic* piece of fox dung~~---~~"

The something struck him again, harder this time, and he was sent backward into the thorny wall of his den. He realized what had hit him was a paw. When his vision cleared, he saw a glowing she-cat standing in front of him. She was tall, her ears touched the top of the den. Her pelt was dark gray with black stripes and was covered in blazing stars, which lit up the space around her. Her golden orbs were masked in fury. Agro saw in her a strong fighter who knew little of mercy.

This was no Dark Forest cat, of that he was sure, and he could not help feeling slightly afraid. Where on earth had she come from?

"You stupid fool!" She snarled.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Agro demanded. "Why'd you hit me?"

She ignored his questions and growled, "Do you know what it has cost to send you those visions? To sneak around Silent Scream's barriers? Are you that~~---~~"

"Wait!" Agro interrupted. "*You* sent me those dreams of Azure? Are you... are you from StarClan?"

"Yes!" The starlit she-cat shouted, exasperated. "*Now* he uses his brain."

"I thought StarClan cats would be all nice and happy and... and maybe a little stuck-up and giggly. But you've done nothing but insult me this entire time," he meowed, pulling himself out of the brambles.

She looked ready to call him "stupid" again as well as several other things; instead, she visibly forced herself to relax, taking a deep breath and then exhaling it, and meowed, "StarClan cats are fierce warriors and"~~---~~her eyes sparked and bore into his~~---~~"we do all we can to protect our own, that is, those who are still living."

Agro tried not to flinch at her gaze. "So... is Azure one of your own?" *That would explain her power.*

"Yes... in a special way." The she-cat paused, looking him over. "I don't know what your master was thinking, picking you. I guess it goes to show that she isn't as clever as she would have everyone believe."

"Silent Scream is not my master," Agro meowed, growling low.

An ounce of approval flickered over her expression but it quickly turned into skepticism. "Then what would you have me call her? Your predecessor? Ah, but she is not dead yet. Your mentor, perhaps? Dark Mother? The Shadow in your heart?"

"None of those," Agro meowed, becoming angry. "She is nothing. Nothing but evil."

She nodded once. "So you are learning. Maybe, if there is a next time, you will learn the difference between a dream and a vision."

"Why did you send me those dre~~---~~visions?"

"*Because*"~~---~~he could tell she struggled from insulting him~~---~~"Azure is truly in danger and she needs your help."

Agro gaped at her. *I could've rescued Azure this whole time!?* Then he remembered his reasons for not going and shook his head. "I can't. I may end up hurting her later."

"You will not."

"Don't you know who I am? I am destined to fight Azure and possibly kill her! I'm her greatest enemy!"

"I know all that, flea-brain," the she-cat huffed. "I also know that you will not kill her."

"How can you be so sure?" He challenged.

"You love her."

Agro blinked once. Twice. She stated it like a fact. *And I suppose it is.*

The StarClan cat's gaze darkened. "Love is a powerful thing...." She shook herself as if ridding her fur of a pesky bug. "Silent Scream overlooked that when she chose you. Even she could not foresee the deep effect Azure would have on you." She stamped a paw into the ground and lifted her chin, looking more imperious. "Until the destined day comes, you shall be Azure's protector. She needs you, and you her. You will help each other on your journey to the lake."

"But what if~~---~~"

"Agro." The she-cat's voice had softened, as did her face, like she was looking at her own kit, and Agro was filled with a brief peace. "I have seen and heard your efforts to thwart the Dark One's scheme, and I will admit, I am pleased." Her features turned stern once more. "I must warn you Silent Scream knows of this meeting. She will try to do whatever it takes to have Azure killed. She has grown desperate and impatient and she cares less and less about who kills Azure as long as she is eliminated. But Azure is precious, as I know you've noticed, and cannot die. StarClan's hope and the fate of all cats lies with her. You must protect her. She is young... and can easily shatter."

The she-cat's voice grew more urgent. "Go now. Save Azure from Witheredblossom and Hawkwhisker, for they do not plan to keep her alive much longer."

Agro dipped his head. "I will do as you say."

"If you make it to the clans, seek a medicine cat called Scarletlily; she may help rid you of the shadows in you heart."

"You mean, I could be... free?" Agro tried not to sound too hopeful but he could not stop the awe from creeping into his mew.

The she-cat smiled for the first time. "Indeed. Free and happy. It may take time, but as long as you put in the effort, it will work."

Agro nodded vigorously, excited by the prospect that he could be free of Silent Scream and his unquenchable blood-lust.

"Oh, and one more thing...." The she-cat had the same dangerous look about her as when Agro had first seen her. "When you rescue Azure, you are not to kill Witheredblossom or Hawkwhisker. They still have much to answer for and they will not escape their punishment by dying. If you want to change, then you can start by proving that you are better than your hunger. Wound them however you like, but do not kill them."

"I will try," Agro promised.

She narrowed her eyes. "It is important that you not only *try* but *succeed*."

Agro dipped his head again. "Understood."

"Good. Now I must go. We've wasted enough time talking."

"Wait. Before you go..." He hesitated. "What is your name? I~~---~~I would like to know in case I ever need a StarClan cat's help."

She began to fade away, her pelt turning transparent, and she shook her head. "Let me be forgotten. It does not matter *who* I am but *what* I am. And that is someone who was lost and who has found her way back home. I am making a lot of amends...." Her eyes briefly filled with sorrow, and it was gone before Agro could process what it meant. "Go! Azure needs you."

With that she disappeared, seeming to wink out of existence, and she took all the light with her, leaving Agro in darkness.

Agro awoke, his heart racing. He didn't waste another second and sprinted out of his den, shooting toward the mountains like an eagle dive-bombing its prey.

*I'm coming, Azure.*

## ~ Chapter Fourteen ~

Once he was in the mountains it was easy for him to find the HollowClan warriors' territory. He remembered their stench rather well as he crossed the scent markers. It was dark when he reached the cave. He waited several yards away from the entrance, trying to come up with a decent plan that didn't involve charging in and wrecking havoc, though that was what he did best. *Is there a way to rescue Azure without fighting?* He wondered. He doubted very much that there was, but the StarClan she-cat had asked him to keep Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom alive, so Agro knew that he had to try.

He immediately discarded the idea of talking with them. Convincing others to do what he wanted had never been a skill he possessed, especially without getting angry and yelling. Also, by this point, the two warriors were far beyond reason; words would have no effect on them.

Agro despaired slightly as he realized fighting was his only option. Normally, using his teeth and claws would not have bothered him, but he had become accustomed to killing his opponents. What if he injured the warriors fatally? Agro could feel himself craving a battle for the chance of spilling blood. He knew it would be very hard to keep himself from slaughtering the HollowClan cats once first-blood had been drawn.

Hawkwhisker suddenly exited the cave. He sniffed the chilly air and fluffed up his fur. "It's a cold night," he murmured.

Agro slowly crept forward. *Now would be a good time as any.* The tabby tom was unaware of Agro's approach and sat down. He looked content as he gazed out toward the dark horizon.

Then, Agro heard a pained cry escape the throat of the cave and it seemed to echo deeply in his ears. Her cries were so much worse in person.

Rage quickly developed inside him and boiled over. All thoughts left Agro except the abused she-kit trapped within the great stone prison.

Hawkwhisker noticed Agro only as the young tom pounced, and he had no time to defend himself before Agro was upon him. Agro let a furious snarl escape his throat as his claws met the warrior's face. Hawkwhisker shrieked in agony and he stumbled backwards out of Agro's reach. Agro lunged again. They collided and tumbled toward the cave. Agro heard an angry growl as Witheredblossom spotted them and raced to help her friend.

Agro detached himself from Hawkwhisker and, as the warrior got to his paws, Agro rammed into him and sent him flying into the cave's wall. Agro quickly ducked as Witheredblossom swiped at his face. He maneuvered around the she-cat and raked his claws across her shoulder. He moved out of the way again as she twisted to strike him and he kicked as hard as he could at her left back leg. She stumbled. With a gleam of triumph in his eyes, Agro struck her in the chest. She fell back, her head lying over the edge of the cliff. She scrambled to get away from the edge, her eyes filled with horror, but Agro gave her a strong shove... and over she went, yowling in terror.

Agro watched her body fall, her gray pelt fading into nothing the deeper she descended into the darkness, until Agro couldn't see her at all.

"You killed her!" Shouted a terrified Hawkwhisker.

Azure cried out and Agro whipped around to see the HollowClan warrior pinning her to the floor.

"You killed Witheredblossom," Hawkwhisker hissed dangerously with his eyes narrowed to slits. "I know why you've come, and you won't save her." He clamped his jaws around Azure's throat.

Agro ran so fast he looked like he was flying and he launched himself at the tabby tom, ripping him off Azure. He wasted no time tearing through Hawkwhisker's pelt; blood splattered the already crimson-stained stone floor and the nearest wall.

Agro paused, hearing claws scraping the ground. He turned and saw Azure stumbling as fast as she could~~---~~in her state~~---~~toward the cave's exit. Worried, Agro went after her. She made it outside and began to tip over, but Agro caught her scruff before she could plummet to her death. He gently laid her on the ground. Her eyelids fluttered and then she gave a small sigh as she went unconscious.

As benignantly as he could, he dragged her back into the cave, where it was a little warmer. He looked over the new wound in her throat and was appalled by all the blood. *She could die if she loses any more.* Quickly, he went around the cave, snatching all the spiderwebs he could find that clung to the stalagmites, the stalactites, and those that hid in various holes. He used the cobwebs to cover the wound and reapplied and doubled the amount when blood soaked through the first. He then covered her other wounds that were still bleeding with cobwebs. When he finished, he stood back and surveyed his work. He frowned.

*I need to find some herbs.*

He padded over to Hawkwhisker, made sure the warrior was still unconscious, and then left the cave, heading for the forest. He hated to leave Azure, especially with Hawkwhisker alive, even though he was out cold, but Agro knew Azure needed herbs if her wounds were to heal without getting infected. *Just make it quick, Agro, so you can get back to her and so she won't be vulnerable anymore. It's your job to protect her now, just like that StarClan she-cat said*~~---~~

He stopped abruptly, remembering that the she-cat had told him to keep the HollowClan cats alive. He flattened his ears against his head. After seeing in person what they had done to Azure, he only felt slightly guilty for not obeying orders.

"Sorry," he meowed to the sky or wherever the starlit she-cat was. "Witheredblossom is dead.... It couldn't be helped. Will Hawkwhisker alone suffice?"

The stars twinkled in response, but he didn't think it was because they approved. However, the moon seemed to brighten and when he looked down, a path was faintly lit through the forest. He gazed at it warily, then chose to follow it.

It led him so deeply into the forest he began to wonder if it was a path at all. But he had not been deceived, for the light guided him to a small patch of marigolds. He sniffed the flowers, trying to recall what Jorro, the healer in Shade's group, had used them for. He guessed he found them just in time: what were supposed to be red, orange, and yellow flowers were now brown and wilting. Another snowfall or even colder weather would certainly kill them.

He gazed at the flowers doubtfully for a minute more, then began to pick them. *Well, the mysterious moonlight seems to think they're useful. I just hope they work.*

He followed the path out of the forest and back to the cave. As he stepped inside the light went out. "I guess their job is done," he muttered around the flowers. He glanced at the moon and found it obscured by dark clouds.

He hurried over to Azure, dropping his bundle near her head. *Now, what would Jorro do?* He tried to remember what the brown tom had usually done when Agro had needed a wound treated. He remembered a lot of chewing and uncomfortable stickiness.

He took a deep breath and picked out two flowers. He began to chew petals, stems~~---~~everything but the roots. He wrinkled his nose, trying not to gag; the herbs tasted quite nasty, worse than he had expected. As he chewed, he removed the cobwebs from Azure's injuries. Fortunately, the blood had stopped. When he thought he had chewed enough, he spread the poultice on the wound on her throat and then gently applied some fresh cobwebs on top of it. He repeated the process until all of her more dangerous-looking wounds were covered. He made sure to save at least three flowers to reapply to her wounds if need be.

Then, he checked to see whether or not Hawkwhisker had stirred. He hadn't, so Agro left the cave again. He thought Azure would appreciate some food when she woke up, and decided to hunt. He didn't know what he would find this late at night, but he knew he had to try. Over an hour passed before he caught anything. Though they were clumsy kills for lack of light, he succeeded in catching two mice. It had gotten so dark he could no longer see a mouse-tail in front of him. He made his way slowly out of the forest and went even slower when he began to climb the rocky path he thought would lead him back to the cave. He kept his right side pressed against the mountain wall at all times, so he would not drift too close to the edge. He did not want to meet the same end as Witheredblossom....

Soon the dark clouds were upon him and it began to snow. First, little flakes descended from the black sky, but then they gradually increased in size, making it harder for him to progress. By the time he reached the cave, his fur had turned completely white, as covered as it was with those delicate crystals.

He set the prey by Azure and stepped away to shake out his fur as best he could. He suddenly found himself very exhausted. He had run the whole way to the cave that morning; fought Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom; searched for herbs and treated Azure's wounds; hunted; and walked through the beginnings of a blizzard. Agro plopped himself on the ground, curled into a ball, and fell asleep.

Several hours had passed when he woke up. The sun was rising, brightening the sky with its colors of fire. The snow outside the cave was not as high as he had expected, though it did reach passed his belly. He thought he'd attempt to catch more prey, but after a few minutes of walking, he turned around: The snow would have kept him from catching anything.

"No use freezing to death without getting anything out of it," he mumbled as he reached the den. He went over to Azure. "Looks like she moved some time during the night," he continued to talk quietly to himself. "Cobwebs fell off... rubbed away the poultice." He chewed one of the remaining marigolds ("Still tastes terrible," he grumbled) and spread the new poultice on the wound on her hip.

"Hey! What did you just put on me?"

Agro jumped, nearly hitting his head on one of the longer stalactites, and his fur bristled. "Y-you're awake!" He gasped. Embarrassed, he gave his chest fur a couple of quick licks. He hastily tried to compose himself, then when back over to her. "It's about time."

Azure lifted her head, her eyes round with surprise. "A-Agro?"

"Hiya, kit," he meowed, giving her an awkward smile. He tore a few of the marigold leaves off the plant and began to chew them.

"Y-you're the one who saved me?"

Agro's pelt grew hot. He spread the poultice on another row of her wounds. "Yes... though, it seems I cam a little late."

"They were going to kill me soon. I'd say you came just in time." She smiled at him gratefully.

He gave her a small smile in return. Then, there was the faintest moan coming from the back of the cave. Agro growled and meowed, "Excuse me for a moment." He padded over to Hawkwhisker, grabbed him by the scruff, and dragged him outside. Once they were far enough away from the cave so they would not be overheard, Agro let go of the older tom.

"Please..." Hawkwhisker begged hoarsely. "Don't kill me."

A new wave of anger assailed Agro and he growled. "I bet Azure had begged you not to hurt her. But you beat her again and again. She is just a kit! I thought clan cats treasured their kits."

"*Kits*," the dying warrior meowed with contempt, saying the word like it was a curse. "I... *hate* kits."

Agro smacked him. "Why? What did they ever do to you? What did Azure do?"

Hawkwhisker didn't seem to hear him. "No, don't kill me. Don't..." He fought to keep his eyes open, to remain conscious. "If you do... she wins."

"Who wins?" Agro demanded.

Hawkwhisker coughed harshly, spitting up blood. "Forgotten," he gasped.

Agro's eyes blazed. "You've *forgotten*?!" He growled. He tore open the tabby's throat with one stroke of his claws. Hawkwhisker was no more, and Agro pushed his body over the edge. He looked away before the body hit the bottom. Then, he walked back to the cave, his blood-lust sated for the time being.

Azure stared at him as he padded in.

"Sorry about that," he apologized, thinking fast. "I thought I had killed him." He laughed awkwardly, realizing too late that that was probably not the wisest thing to say.

She didn't respond and her eyes grew wider.

"Uh, how are you feeling?" Agro asked, trying to divert her attention on to a different subject. He shuffled his paws. She was looking afraid~~---~~afraid of *him*~~---~~and he didn't like it.

Azure finally dropped her gaze. "I'm much better... now that those two are gone. Th-thank you."

"Are you hungry? I caught a mouse a while ago." Though it was already beside her, Agro nudged it even closer with his nose. "I know it's not very fresh anymore, but at least you'll have something in your belly."

Azure nodded, smiling politely. "Thank you, Agro."

He settled down a few fox-tails away, curling his black tail over his paws, and watched her eat. She ate slowly at first, but upon realizing how hungry she was, she devoured the mouse in under a minute. When she finished, she ran her little pink tongue over her lips and then looked at Agro with a curious expression. He was glad to see her face devoid of fear.

"How did you know I was here," she asked, "that I needed help?"

An ear twitched on Agro's head. He felt sheepish. "I had a dream. About you."

"*Me?*" Azure inquired, her eyes widening.

The memory of his visions made him angry, and he curled his lip back in a snarl. "I saw them hurt you.... At first, I ignored it, thinking it was, ya know, just a dream. But then I had it again and again. I didn't like seeing them beat you. It made me feel awful... and angry. So, I did the only natural thing a cat would do if a dream haunted him every night: I investigated. I traveled into the mountains and found the cave, and well, you know the rest."

"Wow," she breathed, impressed. "Do you think it was a dream from StarClan?"

"What?" Agro blinked, startled. *How could she have guessed?*

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that some cats don't know about them. StarClan is a group of ancestors who live in a beautiful forest beyond the stars. Every clan cats' past family is up there. I-I'm not a clan cat though," she added. "I figure I'm just a descendant from a clan cat...." She drifted off, her gaze growing very thoughtful.

"Well, um, that's nice...." Agro meowed, attempting to be respectful. *Is there a special place for rogues when they die?* He wondered, thinking of his real mother Calluna. Was she happy wherever she was? He tilted his head and looked at Azure skeptically. *Why should the dead care about the living? Why do her ancestors want her to go to the lake, where she could potentially die? How much does she know?*

"So," he meowed, "why are you going on this journey? You're just a kit and you're by yourself. Seems like a stupid decision, if you ask me."

Azure flattened her ears indignant. "No one asked you," she retorted angrily. "I'm just doing what I was told. My ancestors said I had to travel through the mountains to~~---~~"

"Your ancestors want you killed?" He blurted. As he said it, he realized that wasn't true. The mysterious StarClan she-cat wanted him to save Azure. And that starlit path had helped him find marigold for her wounds. So they did care. But to what extent? She was still a sheep being sent to the slaughter.

"No!" Azure meowed, exasperated. "They just know what's best for me. After I get out of these mountains and to the lake, my journey~~---~~as far as I know~~---~~will be over. My brother and sister will be somewhere over there and... and everything will be... fine. No~~---~~perfect."

There was a great pain and longing in her voice, but Agro ignored it. "You trust yourself that little? You can't decide for yourself what's best for you?"

"You don't understand!" She hissed and stomped out of the cave. She went unsteadily, so Agro followed her.

"You're a touchy one, kit."

She glared daggers at him. "My name is Azure. Now, will you let me be?"

Agro ducked his head, feeling ashamed. She was hurting and he wasn't making anything better. He avoided those pretty, angry eyes and stared off toward the horizon. "I-I know what your name is," he stuttered, "a-and I know you don't like being alone."

She said nothing and continued to stare at him for several more heartbeats. Then, she slowly went back inside.

Agro stayed put. *That did not go well.* He swatted a patch of snow. *Idiot!* He silently berated himself. *You are supposed to be her protector now. You can't go around criticizing her ancestors, no matter how much you want to. Now how are you going to convince her that you should travel with her? You've made it harder for her to trust you.*

*That's probably a good thing,* he conceded. Agro still had that uncontrollable hunger; he was still dangerous. It was better that Azure remained on her guard. He couldn't allow himself to get close to her, or she to him. They had to remain something less than friends. Perhaps acquaintances, or merely traveling companions, and nothing more.

*This is going to be difficult.*

He returned silently inside the cave. Azure had fallen asleep. He followed her lead and lay down. Shivering from cold, he closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, it was dark and ugly, decaying trees towered over him. *Why do I have to dream so much?* He complained. His ears suddenly perked up as he heard the familiar echoing voice of Silent Scream. Slowly he crept toward the sound~~---~~or to where he thought the sound was emanating from. Finally, he caught sight of the shadowy Dark Forest ruler and hid behind a tree. Silent Scream was talking to two cats who were lying on the ground. They were convulsing as if in pain, but Agro couldn't see a scratch on them. One of them looked like Shade.

**"Oh, hush, you mewling kit. It won't last forever,"** Silent Scream meowed, circling the two. Then she mumbled, clearly irritated, **"Why is it that every slave whines~~---~~"** She suddenly stopped. Agro saw her nostrils twitch and she turned toward some prickly bushes.

*Azure!* Agro thought in horror. *What is she doing here?*

The she-kit had hidden herself in the bushes but Silent Scream had caught her scent. The shadow cat snarled and prepared to pounce.

"No!" Agro cried. Quicker than lightning, he dashed out of his hiding place and leaped at Silent Scream. She twisted just in time, and he caught a sharp blow to the head. Before he could turn around, she had him pinned firmly to the ground.

**"You!"** She roared in his ears. **"I have just about had it with you!"** She struck him. **"That flea-bitten brat could've died, but because of your complete idiocy, *she lives*!"** She delivered another blow.

**"And I know StarClan spoke to you! What did they tell you? Lies! All of it, lies! They can't help you! No one can. You are mine. Mine! And I won't~~---~~"**

She had started to hit Agro repeatedly on the head with both forepaws while she spoke. Agro was able to slip a paw free and he clawed her nose. With a ghastly shriek, she staggered backward. More blood than necessary poured from her wound.

Agro didn't think twice: He fled before she could attack him again. He looked back, making sure he wasn't being pursued, and he stumbled. He yelped as he fell into a ditch.

His eyes popped open and he found himself staring into a sea of blue-green. Azure blinked at him. He flattened his ears, feeling uncomfortable as he realized she had been watching him.

"Why were you stalking me?" He growled.

"S-stalking?" She stuttered. "I-I wasn't stalking you! I-I saw you fidgeting around in your sleep, a-and was curious."

Agro smiled. *She's pretty when she's embarrassed.* "Sure, kit, sure."

Azure lashed her tail, huffing as her fur bristled. "Will you quit calling me that? I understand that I am a kit, but I have a name, and you should know it by now!"

He rolled his eyes. "You sure take things seriously."

"And you sure are annoying!" She retorted.

Agro changed his mind; she was prettiest when she was angry. Those eyes seemed to flash and glow, a marvelous sight. He would have loved to make her angry some more, but decided it would not help his case. He stood and stretched. "Are you feeling better?"

Although she answered calmly and her fur laid flat, her eyes still burned with indignance. "I feel great, actually." A smug smile grew on her face. "Great enough to continue my journey."

"That's good news," Agro meowed happily.

"Mhm," she agreed as she padded toward the exit. "In fact, I'm going to start right now. It's a beautiful day~~---~~"

"Actually, it snowed a while ago," Agro interrupted, but she continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"~~---~~and I could use a peaceful walk."

"I didn't know walking in snow above your head was peaceful."

Azure didn't respond. She twitched her tail, glanced around, and started walking confidently along the ledge. Agro couldn't tell if she held her head high because she was proud or because the snow was too lofty for her to see otherwise. He assumed the latter and quickly followed her out before she misstepped and plunged to her death.

"Wait, Azure!" He called. She did not stop, so Agro increased his speed and caught up to her as she rounded a corner. "I'm coming with you."

Azure halted so abruptly Agro was in danger of crashing into her. He stopped himself in time, though he slipped slightly on the cold, snowy stone. Azure whipped around, a fierce glint in her eye. Agro knew he was going to have to be *very* persuasive.

"I'm coming with you," he repeated.

"No," Azure meowed firmly, without hesitation. "I can do this on my own. I don't need your help."

"But can you?" He questioned stubbornly. "What will you do if you meet cats like those who imprisoned you?"

For a moment, Azure seemed to consider his words. As she thought of the possibilities, she looked less confident. But then the moment passed and she shook herself. "I'll be okay," she meowed. "I thank you for your help earlier with Hawkwhisker and Witheredblossom, but I don't need your assistance anymore. I'm free and healed. Your job is done."

*But it's not!* He wanted to yell. *I have to protect you!* "But you don't know what you'll have to face out there. What if you're attacked by a dog, or a fox, or a badger? You'll need someone to help you then."

"I don't want to wonder about 'what if,' and I doubt any~~---~~"

"But it *could* happen," he insisted. "And when it does, you'll need someone to fight them off. You know I can fight and well, too. I can do the fighting and you can do the hunting." Then he added in a very quiet mumble, his pelt growing hot, "'Cause you also know I'm not very good at that."

Azure stared at him. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she meowed, "I guess... I guess it wouldn't hurt to be careful.... You can come."

Agro grinned triumphantly. "Glad you have some sense. Now, let's get going."

. . . .

He did not enjoy protecting Azure as much as he'd thought. He didn't understand: She argued over everything! She argued when he suggested that he should walk in front to push the snow out of her way; she argued when he wanted to scout ahead for danger; and she argued when he said it was time to rest. Why did she have to make things so difficult? He knew she was eager to reach the lake, but she was in pain; she hadn't fully recovered from her wounds~~---~~he could tell she was tired~~---~~yet she insisted on continuing when a rest would do her good.

When she wasn't arguing, she was quiet. Agro was used to cats who would talk his ear off, so Azure's silence seemed unnatural. He knew that he himself was quiet, but Azure was *too* quiet. She always wore a thoughtful expression (unless they were arguing, then she was annoyed), and Agro desperately wanted to know what she was thinking. *What* could possibly be going on in her head right now? But she was still rather hostile and Agro was tired of arguing. He didn't know what to say to her. Thus, a silence grew between them, making them both uncomfortable.

She also argued about which way to go. She kept saying they needed to find the river, but Agro hadn't seen a river when he first traveled through the mountains with Gei and Chase. He worried they would get lost. And she just *wouldn't listen*.

*Forget it!* He thought, after he failed to convince her that they were going the wrong way. *Let's just get lost then. We'll freeze or starve to death, or both, and whatever stupid prophecy there is about us won't come true. Perhaps it will be for the better.* He sighed, his frustration ebbing away. *At least, we'll die together.*

But die they would not. A valley appeared below and there was a forest beyond it. Azure turned to him, opening her mouth to speak, but their stomachs growled simultaneously. They gazed at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"I think that means we should stop and hunt," Agro meowed, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

"What do you mean by 'we'?" Azure asked with a twitch of an ear. "Didn't you say before we left that *I* would do the hunting?"

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot." He smirked mischievously, glad to get out of that job.

Azure narrowed her eyes. "I'm beginning to think you just said that so you could get out of hunting your own meal." When he didn't respond, she cuffed him over the ears. "You lazy mouse-brain!"

"H-hey! I'm not lazy! Just... strategizing. We'll be more effective as a team this way, if you hunt and I fight."

Azure rolled her eyes, but Agro could tell she wasn't really angry.

After another mile or so, they finally reached the valley. Agro sat in the sun, resting, as Azure scampered off on her own to hunt. Agro closed his eyes, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Not soon after, he heard a noise. Something was charging right at him! He opened his eyes in time to see a white-gray blur slam into him.

## ~ Chapter Fifteen ~

Agro yowled as he and the squirming creature rolled together down the hill. He landed on top and held it in place with a paw. He was dumbfounded, looking down at it; he didn't know what to do with the rabbit as it struggled to get free. He was too surprised to think.

Azure came racing down the hill. She stopped beside him, panting. Agro looked at her dumbly. They stared at each other for several minutes, then Azure finally meowed, "You can kill it now."

Agro blinked and looked down at the prey. He bit its neck until it went limp, then gazed back at Azure. "You have a funny way of hunting."

She smirked. "You caught it, so it seems you can hunt after all."

Feeling self-conscious, Agro stepped away from the rabbit and smoothed out his fur. "Well... It *seems* like it, yes. Though, I would prefer if we never hunted like that again." Now that his heartbeat was returning to normal, he could feel a sharp pain in his jaw when he spoke. He tested it out, moving it all around.

"What? Did the wittle bunny-wabbit hurt poor Agro?" Azure asked mockingly.

Agro stiffened as his fur bristled indignantly. "You don't know how it felt getting kicked by a rabbit!" It took a great effort not to sound too upset.

"Okay, okay. Don't get your tail in a twist," she laughed. "Let's just eat."

Agro was in no mood to eat, though Azure tore into the rabbit with gusto. He couldn't help noticing how smug she was about humiliating him. It made him more upset.

Not knowing when they were going to eat again, he forced himself to choke down the prey.

After their meal, they continued to travel through the valley. The rows and rows of hills seemed endless. By midday the two young felines made it to the forest. Azure purred, happy to be under trees again. Suddenly, their ears perked up and they glanced at each other. Azure's eyes filled with joy and she darted deeper into the forest.

*Could it really be...?* Agro wondered as he sprinted after her. They stopped at the edge of a slow flowing river. *She was right about the river,* he thought, awed that it had not yet frozen over.

He bent down to get a drink. Azure hopped right in, despite its freezing temperature, squealing with delight and getting Agro all wet.

He growled softly as she splashed him a third time. "Will you quit, please? I'm wet enough as is!"

Azure giggled mischievously, but wisely stopped drenching him in river water and padded to shore. She stepped far enough away, Agro was grateful, and wrung herself out. Then she flopped onto the ground, sighing contentedly. "Aren't you just happy to be back by the trees?" She asked.

Agro didn't answer. He had heard something. He narrowed his eyes as he gazed around the forest, trying to find the source.

Azure lifted her head to look at him. "Hello? Are you still there, rabbit hunter? I asked you a~~---~~"

"Azure, shut up!" He hissed quietly. *Where are they?* He recognized those gleeful chittering sounds, and his fur stood on end.

He and Azure saw the bright-colored pelts at the same time. "Twolegs!" They exclaimed.

"Agro, what are we going to do?" Azure asked in a frightened voice.

Agro was quiet, trying to assess the situation. They weren't too close and they weren't very tall. "They're just kits," he meowed at last. "We should try not to get too close. They're more likely to bother us if they spot us, so keep your distance and stay out of sight." He glanced at Azure. Her eyes showed how terrified she was, making Agro wonder if she had met a Twoleg before. "Uh, just follow close behind me." *I won't let them hurt you.*

Azure nodded and they began to pad as silently and quickly as they could through the snow. They were cautious, moving from cover to cover, one of them always keeping an eye on the Twoleg kits.

Agro didn't understand. They were louder now that they were closer; they made strange shrieks as they balled up snow and threw it at each other. What was the purpose? It made no sense. Why would they *want* to get hit by a ball of cold, wet snow?

Agro suddenly realized that Azure was not beside him anymore. He turned around to see her poking her head out from behind a tree and watching the Twolegs. Panic seized him. "Psst, Azure!" He called, trying to get her attention.

She half-jumped and turned to him, blinking. "Oh. Right. Moving on. Let's go."

They resumed their strategy of stealthiness and soon they were clear of the Twoleg kits.

Agro turned on Azure, scowling. "What were you thinking?" He hissed. "Why'd you stop? You could've been spotted! You shouldn't have stopped at all! I almost left you!"

"Chill out, will you? I've never seen a Twoleg before. And I was being just as careful as you were, so I was *fine.* No need to scold me for being naturally curious."

"Your curiosity could have gotten us caught! Do you know what it's like to be in the paws of Twolegs?"

"I just told you I've never seen one before, so obviously no," she responded with an eye-roll.

"Well, it's awful." Memories of his imprisonment with Lila in the Twoleg household washed over him. "The kits never leave you alone. They lift you from the ground and squeeze you 'til you can't breathe. They have no respect for your personal bubble. And the full-grown ones, I might add, are cruel."

"How would you know? Were you a lazy kittypet once?"

Agro snarled. "Why you~~---~~No, I wasn't, but I know how they act. You can't just~~---~~"

"Alright, I get it," Azure interrupted, annoyed. "I made a mistake. Can we move on now?" She didn't wait for him to reply and padded passed him with an exasperated shrug.

Agro grumbled to himself and followed her. Suddenly, he heard a voice, and then another. He glanced at Azure; she hadn't heard. Thinking they were in danger, he tackled Azure and pinned her behind a tree. Azure yowled in surprise and alarm.

"What is your *problem*?!" She demanded, getting ready to tear his pelt off.

"Shh! Shut up and listen for a second!"

Thankfully, she obeyed and they listened for the sound. The voices were louder this time. Agro could see a large Twoleg structure through the trees.

"It's coming from over there," he whispered and he let her go so she could see. "That's where the Twoleg kits must've come from."

"But the voices!" Azure meowed excitedly. "They have cats!"

"Do you even remember what I told you? And just because they have cats does not mean the *cats* are friendly. Same goes for the dang Twolegs."

"We could at least check them out." Her eyes lit up. "Maybe they can direct us exactly to the lake!" She sprinted off, not even trying to be subtle or quiet.

"Azure! You~~---~~ugh!" Agro groaned, both exasperated and infuriated. "You have no sense!" He meowed it just loud enough for her to hear, then he ran to catch up. *This is the stupidest thing she's done yet. Running* toward *a den of Twolegs! Come on!*

When he finally caught up, Azure had already been seen.

"Great Cedars of Forest Hill!" The small golden she-cat exclaimed in horror. "There's a rogue! No, two! Oh, we're going to die!"

The gray and white she-cat lying along the railing of the Twoleg porch lifted her head and gazed indifferently down at Agro and Azure. She smiled. "Don't mind my friend Macie. She gets a little jumpy from time to time."

"'Jumpy' is not the word I would use...." Grumbled Agro.

Azure stepped forward, ducking her head shyly. "Uh... It's okay. We understand why she would want to be... heedful."

The gray and white she-cat stood and stretched. She nodded approvingly at Azure as she sat down. "Macie's a worrier," she meowed with a smirk. "Why don't you come and join me up here?"

Macie stood shaking as Agro and Azure padded nearer. "Nova, y-you're insane! You can't possibly be thinking of talking to...." She drifted off in fear, watching Agro's muscles ripple as he climbed onto the porch. "Eep!" She squeaked and darted into the Twoleg den through an odd, flapping door.

Nova laughed. "Give her a chance to calm down and she'll be admiring those muscles instead!"

Agro blinked, feeling even more uncomfortable. "Yippee," he meowed sarcastically and with a frown of displeasure. He shot a glance at the den, preparing to flee the moment a Twoleg stepped out.

Nova studied the two young rogues. Agro noticed a certain flash in her eyes~~---~~Recognition? Fear?~~---~~as she looked closely at Azure, but it lasted only for a second.

"Well, now," meowed the older she-cat. "How are you two young travelers? I'm Nova, if you didn't hear Macie's frantic speech."

"We're good~~---~~and cold," Azure meowed, then added hastily, "But we sure don't mind!"

"You aim to please, don't you, darling? What're your names?"

"I'm Azure and this is Agro." Her tail flicked his nose as she said his name.

The kittypet froze for a moment upon hearing Azure's name. Nova's friendly face vanished completely and was replaced with one contorted with sadness, anger, and fear. She backed away from them, sky-blue eyes so wide they could see the whites. "Azure... No, no... It can't be! Oh, why are you here? Leave! Go away, now!"

Azure's fur puffed up in alarm. "N-Nova, w-what're you talking about? What's wrong?"

"I told him I didn't want to see you again! And now here you are!"

Agro didn't like this; Nova was hysterical. He stood and unsheathed his claws. "We would like you to explain yourself," he meowed, his voice quiet and dangerous. "You're not making sense."

"Go away!" Nova snarled and she lashed out at Azure, striking her on the muzzle.

Angered, Agro dashed passed Azure and hit Nova in the chest and the she-cat fell off the railing in surprise. She landed on the snow with a soft *pth* and lay there stunned.

Agro followed Azure down to the kittypet's side. "Nova..." Azure meowed softly. "Why'd you do that? We don't understand what's wrong."

Nova looked up at them in complete distress. "Do your mother a favor and leave her *alone*!"

"My mother?!" Azure exclaimed.

*Well, that was unexpected*, Agro thought, sharing Azure's wide-eyed stare of astonishment.

"What do you mean by my mother?" Azure demanded fiercely. "Both my parents are dead!"

Nova stood up slowly, for a moment looking shamed that she had even mentioned the word "mother." She glared at Agro for pushing her off the porch railing and then at Azure. "At least one of your parents isn't dead," she murmured. "You're looking at your mother."

Azure gasped and took a step back. "But... How? Onyx said you were gone." A sudden joy spread over her face, but it was quickly dashed away and replaced with anger when Nova hissed, "I *was* gone. I left you... with that pathetic tom."

"Onyx is not pathetic!" Azure growled strongly. Agro felt her fury radiating off her like heat. "You *abandoned* me! You have no right calling Onyx pathetic!"

"Who was Onyx to you that you would give away your daughter to him?" Agro wanted to know. He took a step toward the older she-cat and she retreated, lashing out at him warningly.

She snarled. "Get out of here, or I'll call my Twolegs!"

"Twolegs..." Azure scoffed quietly. "Only a heartless coward would need Twolegs for protection."

Nova flattened her ears and gazed at the ground, shamefully. "You don't know what happened... You don't know why I left you alone...." She looked up at Azure through angry slits. "You ignorant little beast!" She leaped at Azure unexpectedly and latched onto her daughter's long coat with her claws. Azure, surprised, instinctively turned and batted at Nova's head. The she-cat yowled and let go only to begin scratching Azure's side.

Enraged, Agro was about to join in, when Azure raced around and leaped at her mother from behind, but Nova twisted in a strange way and they began rolling, locked together, into a pile of snow. Agro quickly slithered over to them. He found Nova's tail, bit it hard, and dragged her out. He pinned her to the ground as Azure popped out near the top. Se hopped out, shook the snow off her pelt, and cautiously padded over to Nova, who was hissing and trying to lash out at the she-kit, but Agro kept her firmly down.

"Instead of trying to fight me, why don't you tell me the reason you left?" Azure suggested calmly. It was as if those words had set off a bomb. Nova went ballistic; Agro struggled to hold her, though he refused to be beaten and she couldn't escape him.

Azure became frustrated. "Why did you abandon me?" She yowled.

Nova lay completely still, finally giving up. Tears dripped from her eyes and she moaned sorrowfully. "Just let me go!" She choked out pleadingly. "Don't make me live it all again."

Agro didn't budge. "Not until you tell the truth. All of it." *Azure needs to know....* It had occurred to him that Silent Scream may have intervened in Azure's kithood like she did his own. Maybe then Azure would see what she was really up against. She thought she was going to the lake to find her lost brother and sister, but something else awaited her there: a battle, possibly between her and himself~~---~~but not if he could stop it~~---~~and he worried she wasn't prepared.

"No, no, no!" Nova wailed, tearing Agro out of his thoughts. She continued to yell "no" for a few more minutes, until the word gradually became fainter and fainter. Then, Nova closed her eyes and they stopped altogether.

"Nova...?" Azure whispered. She glanced up at Agro, who sensed her sudden panic. "Is she~~---~~"

"No," Agro meowed immediately, shaking his head. "She's still alive. Breathing quite strongly actually. She might have only fainted." He tilted his head and stepped away. *Now how do you wake someone up from a faint?* He quickly swatted Nova's cheek. Nothing happened. "Okay, gimme a minute...."

"You killed her!" Came an unexpected gasp from above and behind them. "My only friend, and you killed her!"

Agro rolled his eyes and ignored it, but Azure looked up.

"No, Macie!" She began. "She isn't dead at all!"

"How could you?!" The golden kittypet mourned. "Oh, I told her to come inside! Why didn't she listen? You~~---~~you rogues are just evil!"

Agro felt Azure bristle beside him. He watched her leap onto the porch and walk right up to Macie so they were only a whisker's-length away. "Do you know?!" She demanded.

Agro smiled, gazing at Azure's pretty, angry face. He blinked and turned back to Nova. *Right... I have a job to do. Azure can handle Macie.* He blocked them out completely and focused on waking Azure's mother up from her faint. He prodded her head with his paw and called her name. When that didn't work he smacked her hard. Her eyes opened and she gasped.

"I got her to wake," Agro called triumphantly, pleased with himself.

Macie padded cautiously to the edge of the porch and jumped off, landing rather ungracefully a few yards away from Agro. He knew she would not come any nearer if he remained there, so he climbed onto the porch and let her be.

"What happened?" He asked Azure. She was trying to stifle her sniffs and tears.

"I'm fine," she meowed unconvincingly.

"You don't look it."

Before she could reply, they heard Nova's panicked voice from below: "No, no! I won't do it! I don't want to see her, and she mustn't know!"

"But you might feel better if your daughter knew the truth," Macie meowed.

"Oh, leave me be!" Nova stood hastily, unsteadily, and sprinted away.

Macie watched her go, then turned back to the porch. She walked right up to Azure, seemingly no longer afraid of the "evil rogues." "Do you really want to know?" She asked the she-kit.

Azure nodded. She sat up as Macie awkwardly placed herself beside Azure so their fur brushed. "I suppose... you're Azure... since you're the living kit," the kittypet meowed.

"The living kit?" Azure repeated, confused.

Agro sat quietly a fox-tail away and waited curiously for Macie to continue. *What could* she *have to tell Azure?* He no longer believed Silent Scream was the cause of Azure's abandonment, especially if Nova was willing to tell her story to a flighty, dramatic kittypet.

Nova, Azure, and her three littermates had been attacked by a badger, Macie said. Nova had been gravely injured and it looked to her like all her kits had been killed. Nova wasn't sure who had been trampled on and who had been taken away in the badger's jaws to be eaten.

"That's *horrible*!" Azure cried. Tears spilled down her gray-blue cheeks. Agro quickly padded to her side, trying to be of some comfort, but he didn't really know what to do.

"I know," Macie meowed sadly. She explained how Onyx, an old friend of Nova's had found her bleeding out and he tried to help her. He stopped the bleeding but that was all Nova allowed him to do.

"She wished she had died so she could be with her kits. She was miserable and filled with guilt and shame. She was furious with herself and, in turn, took it out on Onyx. She blamed him for not being there when she needed him." Macie bowed her head and continued.

Nova tried to kill Onyx, but she was still very weak and injured. Then they heard pitiful mewling and found Azure in a rose bush. She was unharmed, yet had minor scratches from the thorns. Nova became upset and wanted nothing to do with Azure. "She hated the sight of you, because you reminded her of the three other kits she had lost. After that, she ran away as fast as she could, ignoring the pain which threatened to make her wounds reopen. She never saw you or Onyx again. When my Twolegs found her and brought her home, she was~~---~~and I mean this in the nicest way possible~~---~~completely disgusting. Oh, the fleas and ticks were *everywhere*! It was disastrous! She almost infected me! And speaking of infected, most of her wounds had terrible infections. I couldn't look at her until my Twolegs fixed her up. It was so gro~~---~~"

"We get it," Agro snapped. He glanced concernedly at Azure, who was staring at her paws.

"So that's it then, huh?" She meowed quietly. "She abandoned her one living kit because she was overflowing with guilt that she had not protected her other kits from a hungry badger?"

"I suppose, in short, yes..." Macie meowed. "She's carried it for a long time, it seems. Nova still has nightmares about the incident. Heh~~---~~I would know 'cause she whimpers and swings her claws around in her sleep. I still have a scratch by my ear, wanna see?"

"Not particularly," Agro answered, rolling his eyes.

Macie blinked at him, suddenly bashful, and curled her tail around her paws. Agro glared at her and she looked away. Suddenly, she froze. "It's getting dark." Her mew was distant as she realized Nova was still out there.

* Nova
* Macie
1/2
## ~ Chapter Sixteen ~

"We have to find her."

Agro gaped at Azure incredulously. "You want to go search for Nova, even after the story you just heard?"

"It's because of the story that I have chosen to search for her," Azure responded. "I had thought she was dead all this time~~---~~that's what Onyx told me~~---~~but today I found her alive. At first I was happy, but then I was angry. She abandoned me and I didn't know why. I had thought she left me, because she believed she was incapable of caring for a single kit. I thought she hated me, because I was some heavy burden which weighed her down and kept her from doing other things. But... But now, after hearing her story, I see she left because her guilt and shame were so overwhelming; she's suffered just as much as I have because of what she did."

Agro flattened his ears, believing Azure was being naive. "How do you know the story is even true? She could have made it up at any time just to tell it to some gullible little kittypet so they would have pity on her. It certainly wouldn't have made me forgive my mother so easily. She would have to make amends, prove to me that she really loves me."

Macie's eyes lit up with quiet rage and she spoke indignantly. "Nova was telling the truth! You have no right to question her words! You weren't there! You didn't see the awful sadness on her face, or the tears dripping unceasingly from her eyes!"

"There's something called *acting*, Macie," Agro told her with an eye-roll. "*I* would know a faker when I saw one."

"How dare you, you heartless, bedraggled brute!" The small she-cat shouted. "I-if I wasn't terribly afraid of you, I would claw your eyes out!"

*I'd like to see you try*, he thought, snickering and unsheathing his claws. The kittypet's eyes widened and her fur bristled.

"That's enough!" Azure meowed, putting herself between them. "Agro, I don't care if the story is true or not. Nova is still... is still my mother, and we should help bring her home."

"She's only been gone for twenty minutes!" Agro objected. "You both act like she's been gone all day!"

Azure sighed. He could tell she was trying to hide her frustration. "Even so," she meowed calmly, "I would like to tell her that all is forgiven."

*Forgive her!* He didn't understand. *You could be making a big mistake.* He almost said those words out loud but he stopped himself in time. He looked down at his paws. "Just because you forgive her," he meowed quietly, warningly, "doesn't mean she will suddenly forget what has happened in the past."

Azure sniffed and lifted her chin as if those words didn't matter. "Let's go."

"She's not worth it," he insisted. "Can't you see I'm trying to spare you more grief?" *I'm only trying to protect you....*

"Y-you guys better go now," Macie meowed awkwardly, glancing nervously from one face to the other. "The Twoleg kits are coming back."

The three of them looked simultaneously at the bright-pelted figures lumbering toward the Twoleg den. "Now we *have* to go," Azure meowed a bit too smugly. She flicked her tail and nodded to Macie. Then, she and Agro sprinted away before they could be spotted.

They found Nova's scent rather easily, for it was full of fear, but it was not easy to follow. It led them everywhere, it seemed, to Agro's frustration. So many circles and swerves, around trees and under bushes; pawprints were difficult to read. Agro could tell she was frantic; he wouldn't be surprised if they found her lying dead in the snow from a panic attack.

*Seriously, it's ridiculous the damage Azure caused one cat with just her name and face.*

Suddenly Azure exclaimed breathlessly, "Nova! We finally found you!"

The gray and white she-cat was sitting before the river, her head bent forward and panting. She was twitching slightly.

Azure was about to rush over to her mother, but Agro stopped her, stepping in her way. "Wait a minute," he meowed quietly. "She doesn't look stable."

"Nova?" Azure tried uncertainly.

The kittypet whipped around, her eyes wide and wild. "Why did you follow me?!" She yowled. She unsheathed her claws and made marks in the dirt, as if the action could calm down her breathing.

"I was worried about you," Azure responded, taking a single step forward. "It's dark now and not safe for you to be out on your own."

"I don't need your help! Things like you always bring trouble!" Nova hissed. She suddenly looked alert, gazing all around them as if she knew something was going to creep out of the shadows. Her breath became quick once more as she grew hysterical. "I bet you've brought one with you, and it's waiting to pounce and kill me!"

"What're you talking about? N-nothing's gonna hurt you as long as we bring you back to your Twolegs."

Nova's wild blue eyes stopped on Azure. Agro unsheathed his claws, his fur standing on end. Nova was crazy and Azure was in danger. He knew they should leave before a fight broke out. Before someone got hurt and he lost control. He felt the shadow begin to awaken and pulse and swirl.

"You're trying to kill me!" Nova shouted. "You're trying to lure me away into a trap, so whatever is lurking there can rip out my heart while you watch me bleed to death!"

"What? No! That's not at all what I'm trying to do!" Azure meowed frantically. "I-I didn't come here to kill you. I came here to tell you that I forgive you for~~---~~for everything you've done to me."

Nova scowled, then slowly her face went blank. "You... what?"

"I said I forgive you," Azure repeated, and she took a few cautious steps closer.

"You... forgive me?" Nova questioned with so much bewilderment, Agro believed she didn't know what that meant.

"Yes," her daughter meowed confidently. She stood a full tail-length away from Nova now, certain her mother was too stunned and growing happy to do anything unpleasant. "You don't have to be haunted by the past anymore. You can forget about it now. What happened wasn't your fault."

Nova stared at Azure, still not comprehending what the she-kit was saying. "It wasn't my fault," she echoed. Agro saw too late the anger that flashed across Nova's face. "How *dare* you!" She screamed, launching herself at Azure. She struck blindly and furiously, tearing out clumps of her daughter's fur and scratching her. Azure batted at Nova's muzzle and nipped at her paws when she got the chance. The force of her blows weren't even half as strong as Nova's.

*She's not even trying,* Agro thought. *She doesn't want to hurt her.*

He rushed to his friend's aid and grabbed Nova by her scruff, yanking her away from Azure. He dragged the kittypet to the ground, but Nova turned when he let go and kicked him in the stomach with her hind legs. She continued to flail her legs about, even when Agro backed out of reach to recover.

"Nova!" Azure tried. "Please, didn't you hear me? I said~~---~~"

"I know what you said!" Nova snarled. She popped up and charged at Azure again. She smacked hard into the she-kit's side and then pinned her to the ground. "You should've died with the rest of your littermates, then I wouldn't have had to go through all this pain again!" Then she sunk her teeth into Azure's throat.

Agro growled and attacked Nova head on, throwing her off Azure. The locked together, biting and scratching, until Agro pulled away, tripped Nova up, and then smashed her head into the ground. He lost his grip on his anger and that deadly hunger broke loose. It boiled over. And he wasn't going to hold anything back.

The older she-cat struggled but he was stronger and held her down. He raked his claws, quick and sharp, along her side. Nova convulsed in pain, lifting her head to yowl but instead she coughed up dirt. He struck her stomach, knocking the breath out of her, and he forced her onto her back. He opened his mouth, teeth flashing, and bit her throat. The blood roared in his ears. Nova struggled, but her strikes grew weaker and weaker... until she stopped altogether.

Agro suddenly felt pain shoot across his flank. He looked up, jaws still locked tight, and saw a she-kit clawing him. He saw her mouth moving but he couldn't hear her words. She looked distressed, pleading. Then he recognized her: It was Azure, and her desperate voice found its way into his head.

"~~---~~going to kill her!" Azure was crying. "*Please*, Agro!"

He let go of Nova, and Azure thrust herself between them. Agro felt himself calming down: his anger vanished; his heartbeat slowed back to normal; the hunger quieted.

Azure was staring at her mother in horror. "What have you done?" She shrieked. "You murdered her!"

Agro gazed at Nova. Blood was leaking from the gash he'd torn in her throat. The shock of what he'd done swept through him and was made worse by Azure's panic-stricken face. *Did I really just take her mother from her?*

"I didn't," he meowed, feeling panicky himself. "Sh-she's not dead!" *We can still save her.* He went around Azure to get a closer look at Nova's wound, but the she-kit bit his leg.

"Don't you touch her again!" She warned, her tears pouring down with renewed urgency.

Agro met her sorrowful turquoise eyes and slowly shook his head. "Azure, she was going to kill you."

"She was my *mother*," Azure meowed, standing. "She was the only family I had left! She wouldn't have killed me; I know she wouldn't have. You're an awful cat! I thought I was alone, but my mother was alive all this time, and you just had to take her away! You're unbelievable!"

Agro continued to shake his head. "You don't know what she would or would not have done."

"You're a monster, and I hate you! Why did you ever insist on coming along? She wouldn't have died if you had just stayed away!"

Agro felt her words stab through his heart. He dropped his gaze. "Azure, I'm~~---~~I'm sorry. I really am. I... I saw how... She was going to kill you, I couldn't let that happen!" He was hurt and he grew angry and indignant. He looked up at her sharply, unable to stop the words flying out of his mouth. "She *abandoned* you, Azure, and wishes you dead, and you're saying *I'm* the monster? You're nothing but a foolish kit, who thought she could make it on an impossible journey alone because of what some dead cat told her in a dream!"

"How do you know anything?!" Azure growled. "I know what Nova did, and I told you I forgave her. I don't care what she said, she's troubled and she needs me!"

"The last thing she needs is an irritating kit to come waltzing back into her life. She might've forgotten if you hadn't decided to come tramping to the Twoleg den."

"Ugh!" Azure lashed out at him, grazing his muzzle. "I hate you," she meowed. "I never wanted you to come along, and now I wish you hadn't more than ever." She backed away from Agro, turned tail, and fled.

*Wait!* Agro almost ran after her, but he stopped himself. *I saved your life! Twice now! I've protected you like I was told to do. Don't...* "Don't hate me," he meowed aloud.

He did not know what to do. He felt more guilty than upset now that she had run off. Azure was right. Nova *was* her mother and even though she wasn't a good mother~~---~~(she was beyond terrible)~~---~~Agro had killed her.

*But she was going to kill Azure!* That voice in his head argued.

*Nova was the only mother she ever had, and I took her away.*

*No mother would have been better than Nova.*

Agro sighed, agreeing. *Besides, Azure said her brother and sister were going to meet her at the lake, so it's not like her entire family is dead....*

*That does not make the situation any better.*

Agro sighed and turned back to Nova. *Now what do I do with you?* He stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing. He looked closely at the she-cat's side.

She was still breathing.

The movement was faint, but it was there. Nova was alive.

Agro immediately set out to find some cobwebs, or moss, or leaves~~---~~*anything* to stop her neck wound from bleeding. Already, he guessed, Nova had lost a lot of blood. She didn't have much longer.

He found cobwebs within a small nook in the bottom of a tree. He gathered some moss as well and sprinted back to the river. He patted some cobwebs onto her wound, soaking up as much blood as possible; then, he wet the moss with snow and attempted to clean the wound. He wrapped her neck in a thick bandage of cobwebs.

He needed to get her out of the cold. It would more than likely be safest at her Twolegs' den. They could probably help her better than Agro could. He shuddered just thinking of going back there but he knew he had to. He would do it for Azure.

He rolled Nova gently onto her belly. Then, like a small kit wanting to snuggle his mother for warmth, he crawled beneath her. When he felt her just beneath his shoulders he carefully stood up. He began to walk to the Twoleg den. Since she wasn't very secure and there was no one to steady her, Agro walked very slowly. It seemed like forever before he saw the lights of the den.

"Macie!" He yelled. "Macie, we found her!" He padded to the steps of the porch and called the kittypet again.

A moment passed before she came out. The small golden she-cat looked down at him, eyes wide. "You found her?!" Then she spied Nova draped across his back, blood covering her neck, and she squealed. "What *happened*?!"

"Er~~---~~There was a fight," Agro meowed, awkwardly setting Nova down. "She was gravely injured. She needs help fast."

"What attacked her? Where's Azure? Why~~---~~"

"Macie, she needs help *now*! Do you want her to die? Go fetch your Twolegs. I'll tell you after." Without waiting for her response, he fled into the safety of the trees and watched.

Macie unexpectedly released a blood-curdling screech that made Agro jump. She did it again, and then the door of the den flew open and two grown Twolegs~~---~~a male and female~~---~~came bursting out. Agro heard them exclaim over Nova's injured body. The male lifted her and the Twolegs and Macie went inside. Several heartbeats passed and they came back out. They entered the belly of their gray monster, Nova in a cage, and they drove away. When he was sure they were gone, he crept out of his hiding spot and met Macie by the porch.

"Where are they taking her?" Agro asked. "Nova isn't dead, is she?"

"No, she's alive," Macie reassured him. "They're bringing her to the Cutter. The Cutter will save her, don't worry."

"So she'll live?"

"Yes."

Agro breathed a sigh of relief. *I didn't kill Nova.*

Macie took a step toward him, looking wary. "Now can you tell me what happened?"

He looked at her. He did not try to conceal his anger. "When we found Nova, she was completely unstable. She *attacked* Azure. She was going to kill her. So I... stepped in."

Macie's eyes widened, like two full moons. "You mean, *you* did that to Nova?" Agro nodded. The she-cat's fur began to bristle. "Do you realize she could have died?"

"Yes. That's why I brought her here. I knew her Twolegs would be able to help her."

"You almost *killed* my best friend!"

"Yeah? Well, she almost killed my~~---~~*her* own daughter!" Agro shot back, his rage forming anew. "I brought her back for Azure. She didn't want Nova to die."

"She forgave Nova," Macie meowed softly, calming down.

"Yeah. That. And it didn't do her any good. Nova hates her, wants her dead. And now Azure hates me."

"Where *is* Azure?"

Agro ducked his head, looking down at his paws. "She ran away when she saw Nova was dead~~---~~*thought* Nova was dead." His pelt grew hot with shame. "She called me a monster...."

Macie shuffled closer (but not too close!), her expression softening with pity. "You should go after her."

"I know... but how can I after what I did? She thinks I murdered her mother. She doesn't want to see me. She hates me."

"But perhaps if you explain..."

"What?" Agro scoffed. "She'll forgive me?"

Macie nodded knowingly. "Azure has a kind heart. She's a sweet kit and doesn't deserve all the trouble that's been handed her. If you tell her that Nova isn't dead, I'm sure she'll forgive you."

"How can you be sure? What if she doesn't believe me?"

Macie shrugged. "You'll have to be very convincing."

Agro shook his head. "I can't do it."

"Look, Agro," Macie meowed with a force that surprised him, "Azure needs someone like you. She needs you to protect her. She's a fragile thing. You have to help her." She paused. "If Nova really did attack Azure, then you saved her life. You can't let her go now."

Agro glanced at her then out into the dark forest. "You're right," he meowed. *I promised to protect her, so that's what I'm going to do.* If she still didn't want him to travel with her after he explained things, then he would go ahead of her and try to prevent any dangers from meeting her.

Agro stood and started down the porch. *I'm coming, Azure.*

"Oh and, Agro..."

He stopped and looked back at the kittypet.

"*Please.* Don't ever come back here."

Agro smiled. "I won't."

"Promise?"

He laughed and raced into the forest.

"He didn't promise," Macie squeaked.

## ~ Chapter Seventeen ~

"It would be wise of you to follow us; otherwise, more blood may pour from your little body."

Agro stopped when he heard the familiar mew. *Could it be...?* He stealthily crept toward the sound of the voice. He could hear cats moving, their paws crunching on the sparkling snow. *There!* He spotted them between the trees, padding away from him. Creeping closer, he saw that his old friend Saden was in the lead. She was much taller than he remembered. Her black and gray coat was long. When she looked back at her companions, he saw her that her yellow eyes had grown much fiercer.

One of the younger felines suddenly tripped, and the light brown tabby at the rear swatted the younger cat, claws extended. The she-kit cried out and hurried forward.

Agro's ears perked, his heartbeat quickening. *Azure!* Relief collided with rage. That tabby hurt her. He was about to rush toward the group but stopped himself. His eyes widened. *Saden has Azure.*

If what Silent Scream and Bahshun said about Saden was true, then Azure was in grave danger.

He followed the group silently, being extra careful where he put his paws. After several yards, he began thinking he should attack the group now while he had the chance; it would be easy to rescue Azure from the four rogues. He didn't even need to kill them all: he could simply scare them away, grab Azure, and go. But suddenly, there came a slight creaking noise from above. Looking up, he spotted a strange cat in the trees. The branches rustled softly as the tom leaped from one tree to the next, and then again. Agro was impressed by how quiet the tom was, moving about so way up high. *He's following the group,* Agro realized. He noticed Saden glance back at the tom and her expression didn't change.

*She doesn't seem alarmed. Does she know the tom in the trees? Is he a part of the group?*

Agro decided to be even more careful when sneaking around. There could be more cats hiding in the trees. It was better to be safe than sorry; he didn't want anyone watching him stalking Saden and her rogues.

He followed the group to the camp~~---~~(the tom in the trees climbed down to join the gathering of cats)~~---~~where he listened to Saden's exchange between two of her servants. Apparently, they were being promoted as a reward for finding Azure, who was being forced to become Saden's new slave. After the promotion was given, Saden dismissed the crowd and dismounted from her tree stump. Then, she scratched Azure's neck, making her bleed, and ordered a cat called Stevie~~---~~the light brown tabby~~---~~to take Azure away. The she-kit was unceremoniously thrown into a large hole in the ground, which Agro suspected was the servants' den.

Agro's blood boiled, his eyes blazing in anger. How *dare* they treat Azure that way! He slunk away from the camp, fuming. He needed to rescue her~~---~~quickly. He didn't know what they would do to her. He feared for her life. He knew he couldn't take on the entire rogue group. He'd have to be stealthy.

A plan began to form in his mind.

He would protect Azure, even if it meant killing every cat in that group, one by one.

. . . .

Agro took the rest of the day studying the group and watching their movements. He discovered that every time a cat left camp, they were followed, carefully observed. Agro suspected this was Saden's way of keeping track of her members and their actions. Only her most trusted cats followed anyone around; these cats were happy to do her bidding.

And they would pay for it.

The next day Agro plotted. He overheard two toms discussing a she-cat named Rishi, for whom neither of them seemed to care. The white tom, who had one blue eye and one green, discovered the feline that was following him and called him down from the tree.

"I need you to tell the other kutyns to stay away from Rishi."

The gray tom tilted his head. "Why, Jett?"

"Saden is unsure of her loyalty. She wishes to promote Rishi but needs to be positive she can be trusted. Saden has asked me to test her alone, in private. You'll let the others know to let her go unobserved?"

"Yes, Jett."

"And, Mardunn," Jett meowed as the gray tom turned to leave, "this is supposed to be secret. Saden doesn't want anyone but the kutyns to know."

Mardunn dipped his head. "Yes, Jett. I understand."

*So this Rishi won't be followed everywhere,* Agro thought with satisfaction as the two toms departed. *Should be easy enough to find out who she is.*

And it was. A tortoise-shell she-cat was given permission to hunt near the Thunderpath. No one shadowed her. She was completely alone.

Agro waited for some time, watching her catch two mice and a squirrel. He expected the white tom~~---~~Jett~~---~~to meet her and begin to test her, but no one ever came. Rishi suddenly went back to the hole where she'd hidden her prey, took out the mice and squirrel, and headed back toward the camp.

*She can't get away!* Agro sprang out of his hiding spot. The she-cat turned, hearing his pawsteps. Surprise lit her eyes and she dropped her fresh-kill. She yowled in panic as Agro collided with her. He pinned her to the ground and, without wasting anymore time, he tore out her throat.

He hadn't known how hungry he was. Before he could stop it, he lost himself. He attacked the corpse: he broke her limbs; dragged his claws deep into her fur and flesh; ripped open her stomach. By the time he regained control, he was covered in blood that was not his own. Rishi lay mutilated in a flood of red.

Movement near the bushes. There wasn't any time to feel the horror of his actions. Not yet. He slunk away and hid, observing quietly the discovery of the murder. His heart still beat wildly and he stood tense.

The bushes parted as a cat stepped through. Agro's eyes widened, and then the horror hit him.

Of all the cats to find Rishi, it had to be Azure.

The terror on her face made him sick. She approached the body slowly, gazing upon every wound, unable to look anywhere else. Then, recognition lit her face and she looked around, fearful.

"Azure!"

A young tabby appeared. Azure spun to face him.

"*What did you do?!*"

Agro cursed silently. Was she really about to be blamed for what he'd done?

"No! It's not what it looks like!" Azure meowed, panic-stricken. "Odion, you left me alone. I was scared, and then I heard her shriek! I didn't know it was her until I got here. Please, you have to believe me!"

The brown tabby took a deep breath, forced his fur to lie flat, and took another deep breath. "All right. I believe you... But someone is clearly responsible for killing Rishi. Did you see anyone when you came?"

"No... I found her just like this."

"Odion!" Another cat entered Agro's field of vision. A brown tabby she-cat exactly identical to the tom. The cats questioned each other, tried to figure out what to do.

*I should kill them now, take Azure, and go. Two is no problem.*

*But remember, Agro, she already believes you killed her mother. Do you really want her to see you kill two more right in front of her?*

Agro looked between Azure and the tabbies, unsure what to do. *Come on, Agro! Think!*

Whatever opportunity he may have had was gone when two more grown cats discovered the younger felines around the body of Rishi. It was Nala and Maverick.

*So they remained in the group, allowed Saden to become leader.* Agro wondered who else had stayed.

Azure, Odion, and his sister, Chiara, were being blamed for murdering Rishi.

"Bury Rishi," Maverick commanded them. "Then we'll take you three back to Saden."

"But we didn't kill her!" Azure blurted.

Nala struck her. "Shut up and start digging!"

The three obeyed and began to dig a grave for Rishi.

Anger sparked inside Agro's chest. *You'll pay for that, Nala.* He slowly crept forward without making a sound. He hid in the tall yellow grass that peeked thickly out of the snow. He waited, ready to pounce, not quite sure what for.

When the burial was completed, Azure stepped away from the others. She glanced up and froze, her turquoise eyes meeting Agro's blue ones.

And all Agro saw was pure fear.

He ran away. It was too much to bear.

. . . .

Agro sneaked up to the camp and hid in the prickly undergrowth. Apparently they were in the middle of Azure, Odion, and Chiara's trial. Agro had a good view of Saden on her tree stump. The three falsely accused cats sat on the ground before her, eyes on their paws. There was a loud hiss among the crowd of cats, and then they parted so Stevie, the light brown tabby, could pass through. She was dragging a fire-pelted tom and deposited him next to Azure.

"Flame, you have something to share, I believe," Saden meowed.

The tom sat up and shuffled his paws nervously. The fur along his spine rose as he glanced back at all the eyes upon him. He looked up at Saden. "I-It was him," he stuttered.

"*Who* him, you idiot?" Saden snarled. "Was it Odion?"

"N-no! It... It was the cat I-I told you about before... The one who~~---~~who's going to kill us all...."

Saden's eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "The one in your dream?" She meowed spitefully.

Flame nodded. "That'd be the one," he murmured.

Saden threw her head back and laughed maniacally.

Agro's fur prickled in anticipation. *This won't be good.*

Sure enough, the black and gray leader leaped off the stump, attacking Flame with outstretched claws. She tore at his head and chest, and he did nothing to fight back. "You *stupid fool*!" Saden hissed, backing away. "I told you before that that dream meant absolutely nothing!"

"But, Saden!" Flame protested, standing shakily to his paws. "I *saw* him kill Rishi! I know I did!"

Agro became tense. *Wait, he's talking about me! Flame* saw *me?* The only cat he had heard coming was Azure. How much did Flame see?

Saden struck the orange tom again, and he did not get back up. "I don't want to hear of that ridiculous dream again!" She growled in his face. "That one imaginary cat will not be able to take down a whole group on his own."

*You want to bet?* Agro challenged. Then the more reasonable part of him took over. *She's right. I can't do it on my own. I'm going to need help rescuing Azure.*

It was like the sun sprang up and lit up his head. He had an idea. It was risky and probably very stupid. But it would work.

He would raise an army.

"Take Odion, Chiara, and Flame to the Porcupine Rocks," Saden was ordering Stevie when Agro came out of his thoughts. "Bring Jett, Nettle, and Nala with you. I want to carry out our spunky servant's punishment myself."

Agro watched the group head out to the Porcupine Rocks. Only a minute after, Maverick followed them. *I could use you,* Agro thought. He followed Maverick. The gray, striped tabby halted only a few yards from the group at the large circle of pointy rocks. He climbed a tree and hid among the branches. Agro took cover in the undergrowth and waited.

It was dark when Maverick climbed down. Agro considered attacking him the moment he set his paws on the ground, but though better of it. They were too close to the other cats, who would undoubtedly hear the struggle.

Maverick approached the group, told them they should go back to camp. Stevie said she was going to stay behind to discuss some things with Jett. Nala took Flame and the littermates and headed for camp. But as Nettle was about to follow, Maverick called her over and then the two of them headed toward the Thunderpath. Agro followed in silent pursuit.

"Why are we going to the Thunderpath?" Agro heard Nettle ask.

"We're not going to the Thunderpath," Maverick answered. "We're going to where Rishi was killed."

"What for? You don't really *care* who killed Rishi, do you?"

"I do. Only because whoever killed her might kill again, and I would not like the next victim to be me. Or Nala."

"So you want to look for evidence?"

"Yes. I had overheard Jett and Rumi threaten Azure. They wanted her to murder Rishi for them. Frankly, Azure's too soft-hearted to murder someone in cold blood, and if Jett and Rumi were going to force Azure to, then I think they were too cowardly to do it themselves."

"So who do you think is responsible?" Nettle asked, curious.

Maverick paused. "I think Flame is right."

"You think the cat in his dream~~---~~"

"No. I think we're dealing with an outsider."

The words had barely left his mouth when Agro sprang.

. . . .

He left the corpses there, mangled and covered in blood. His own pelt had been painted in crimson. It was what he wanted. If his plan to gather an army was going to work, he needed blood. *They* would need blood. A sacrifice was inescapable.

He was careful not to leave any pawprints as he left the scene. He hid in a hollow log and went to sleep. When he awoke, he was in a place of total darkness, but the rotten stink told him he was where he wanted to be.

*For Azure.* He dug his forepaws into the dirt, took a deep breath, and roared. It reverberated throughout the forest, sending the branches of the trees and bushes swinging, as if it were a physical force. A sliver of light from the moon broke through the canopy above, bathing Agro in a dull spotlight. He steeled himself and spoke to the darkness.

"I am Agro," he shouted, "heir to the Dark Forest! All who hear my voice come to me at once! If you desire blood, I have what you want!"

Agro waited and, for a moment, nothing happened. But then the shadows began to move. The darkness around him broke apart and grew loud with hisses and snarls. He could make out patches of fur, blinking, glowing eyes, silver whiskers, and flashing teeth. They circled around him, growing ever louder. It was chaos he could hardly see. Their movements became too fast for him to keep track. So he stood completely still, chin up, and showed no fear.

Abruptly, everything stopped. A wind, unseen, blew the rest of the darkness away. A chill crept through Agro as the clearing brightened to reveal dozens of cats. All eyes were on him. Waiting. Agro returned their stares with a cold one of his own. The tip of his tail twitched as he began.

"I know you know what I've done. I shed blood and take life wherever I go. You are here because you want blood. I can help you get it. I *will* help you get it. All you have to do is follow me into battle. We must eliminate Saden and her rogue group. You can have them all, as long as you leave Azure to me. Spill a drop of her blood and you answer to me. Kill the rest but do not touch Azure. Understood?"

The crowd of colorful shadow-cats yowled in response. A few let slip raucous cackles.

Agro smiled. "Good. Tomorrow morning we attack. Wait for my signal." He slowly dropped down, his belly resting on the dead grass. "Now do what you must."

The crowd rose up together, like a tidal wave, laughing and snarling, and lunged. It was not long before he drowned beneath the weight of slashing blows, numbing pain, and scarlet blood.

**"You're a fool."**

The quiet hiss drew Agro awake. His eyes opened slowly and it took a moment for them to focus on the icy blue orbs of Silent Scream. Pain made it impossible for him to move. Every breath sent fire scorching through his body.

**"You know they might have killed you. They might not have stopped. You are lucky they need you."**

Agro merely glared at her.

**"You're a fool,"** she meowed again. This time it was full to the brim with spite. **"The lengths you go to to save her are meaningless! If no one else destroys her, then it's either you or me. You cannot stop the inevitable, Agro! No matter what you do~~---~~She. Will. Die."**

"No!" He managed to growl. For a second he was blinded by agony. When his head cleared, Silent Scream was gone.

*You are wrong,* he swore. *You are wrong.*

** Stevie
* Jett
* Mardunn
* Rishi
* Odion and Chiara
* Flame
* Nettle
1/7*
## *~*Chapter Eighteen ~

Agro crawled out of the log and stretched with a groan. He staggered forward, caught himself, and stopped. Inhale. Exhale. Everything hurt. He quickly looked himself over and found no wounds. No blood at all. Not a speck.

*Come on, Agro. You've got a job to do.*

Ignoring his bafflement and his pain, he began to pad slowly toward Saden's camp.

It was not long before he spotted a small hunting party. There were only three cats. Two were young with black pelts. The male had a splotch of white on his chest, while the female had a fleck of brown between her eyes. Agro recognized them as the two who had brought Azure to the rogue group, along with Saden and Stevie. The third cat was a small brown tom, and he was several yards ahead of the young servants.

Agro picked his first target. and quickly, yet silently, made his way toward him. Getting ahead of him, Agro prepared to pounce.

The brown tom suddenly stopped. He looked back at the littermates. "Cayo! Teagan! Get up here!" He growled. "Quit yapping and find some prey!"

"Yes, Rumi," they meowed in unison.

Before Agro lost his chance, he sprinted out of his hiding spot and charged the brown tom.

"Rumi, look out!" Warned a familiar voice, too late.

Agro bowled Rumi over, pinned him, and bit his throat. He let go prematurely, hearing running paws coming toward him.

Cayo, the male, reached Agro first and struck him in the chest with all his might. Winded, Agro staggered back. Teagan appeared at his other side and raked her claws across his flank. Agro lunged at her but her brother leaped onto Agro's back. Agro managed to remain on his paws and he threw the tom off before he could do any damage.

Agro dodged a swipe from Teagan and landed a hard blow to her muzzle. Before Agro could strike again, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tall, brown blur leap. Agro dropped to the ground just in time. Though that cat missed, another arrival attacked him while he was still flat on the ground. She pinned him and snarled in his ear, "Who are you?"

Agro recognized her voice; she was the one who had tried to warn Rumi. He twisted just enough to look her in the eye. It was Tear Stream, the Siamese she-cat who had been Beetle's friend back when he was still alive. When Shade was still alive.

Her light blue eyes widened in shock and fear. "Agro," she gasped.

He took advantage of her surprise and threw her off. But in the next second Cayo and the lanky brown tom were on him. They exchanged a flurry of furious blows. Even on the ground and with two assailants, Agro managed to do more harm.

"Fang! Cayo! Stop!" Tear Stream cried. "Stand down!"

There was a moment of hesitation from Cayo, in which Agro took the opportunity to kick him in the jaw. Agro bit Fang's paw just as it was coming down and yanked. Fang fell forward and Agro kicked his two hind legs out from under him. Agro got on top and pinned Fang to the ground. He aimed for the throat.

"Agro, wait!" Tear Stream begged. "Don't! Please."

He looked up at her, eyes narrowed. Glancing at his other side, he saw that Teagan and Cayo stood next to each other, prepared to attack, but their form was sloppy, confused as they were by Tear Stream.

"Tell them to stand down," Agro hissed. Fang wiggled beneath him, but Agro held him in place.

"Fang, please," Tear Stream commanded. Though the fear in her eyes screamed louder than ever, her voice did not shake. "Teagan, Cayo, do not attack." They obeyed.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Tear Stream meowed. Agro met her gaze. "You killed Rishi... and Nettle... and Maverick. Now Rumi. *Why*?"

Agro stared, wondering if he should bother to answer. A waste of time when they were all going to die anyway. But then again, there was no rush. His army would wait for him.

"You are holding a... friend of mine captive," he began. "Azure. You have beaten her brutally and turned her into a slave. I am going to set her free."

"Tear Stream..." Teagan meowed uncertainly.

"Hush!" The Siamese commanded. Her gaze never left Agro's. "You do not have to kill anymore. Let us talk to Saden. We'll convince her to let Azure go."

"No," Agro growled. "It's too late for that. Besides, I know Saden. She doesn't care about any of you. Only her own hide. She'll sacrifice every single one of you to get what she wants." He subconsciously dug his claws into Fang's shoulder, making the tom cry out. "Then that's the way it's going to be."

"But it doesn't *have* to be that way!" Tear Stream glanced at Fang worriedly. "Just let us try~~---~~"

"I can't," Agro snarled.

"Why not?"

He ignored her and turned to the littermates. "I want you two to deliver a message to Saden. Tell her to let Azure go *now*. If Azure has not been freed by the time I arrive, you will all die."

"You are going to kill our entire group?" Fang sneered.

"I will not be alone. I have... warriors who are waiting for my signal as we speak. Believe me, once I tell them to fight, there is no stopping the hell that will break loose. They do not know mercy."

Agro growled. "*Go*!" He commanded Cayo and Teagan. "You better hurry if you want to give Saden that warning. It does not matter much to me whether you do or not." A crazed smile took over his face. "You are all going to die anyway."

Then, he sank his teeth into Fang's throat.

"No!" Tear Stream launched herself at Agro, knocking him off Fang. "Go!" She told the young felines. "Warn Saden! Tell her to bring back help!"

Cayo and Teagan didn't argue. They raced away as fast as they could.

Agro and Tear Stream fought. It didn't last long. They traded blow after blow. But the she-cat was tiring. Agro got her on her back, her soft underbelly exposed. He tore it open with his sharp claws and let her bleed out there in the dirt with her friends.

Agro sat and took a deep breath. He was shaking with exhaustion and pain. But he knew he could not rest. The day was still young. There was more killing to be done. Slowly he rose to his paws. He started off at a trot and gradually gained speed. Soon Saden's camp was in sight.

*All right. My Dark Forest warriors... Attack!*

Shadows erupted all around him, swirling into feline forms. They raced by his side with fierce expressions, their sharp claws extended. When they broke through into the camp, they let out loud growls and snarls that were deafening, and those closest were paralyzed with fear. The shadow cats pounced on them and tore them apart, merciless in their disposal.

The slaughtering of their friends brought the rest of the rogues to their senses. They met the dark warriors bravely but they were no match for their enemies; the shadows thirsted for blood, and blood they would get.

Agro spotted Saden charging out of a large hole in the ground, followed by the orange-pelted tom, Flame. A sudden, though not quite unexpected, fury seized Agro at the sight of his former friend. He raced after them before they could disappear into the chaos.

He pounced on Flame, sinking his claws into the orange tom's back. Flame howled in agony. Agro dragged him to the ground. Flame twisted and lashed out, feebly trying to fight back. Then his eyes met Agro's and they filled with mind-numbing panic.

"No!" Flame shouted. His legs flailed wildly as he tried to protect his throat and underbelly. "Saden!" He cried desperately. "Help me!"

Agro aimed a lucky blow at Flame's head. The tom was dazed enough for Agro to get around his legs and then to take a chunk out of his neck. Flame grew still.

Agro spit the gore out of his mouth and looked up. Saden was staring at him about three fox-lengths away, eyes filled with horror and shock. She seemed frozen to the spot. But when Agro took a step toward her, she regained her senses. And ran.

*Coward!* He chased after her at once.

He lunged. She was almost too far away, but he hooked her left hind leg, tripping her, and she stumbled. Knowing she couldn't get away, she turned to face Agro. He smiled, letting it fall into a savage snarl, and they began to circle each other.

"Just like old times, huh, Saden?"

She didn't respond. Her eyes narrowed, calculating.

"Couldn't beat me then," Agro meowed. "What makes you think you can beat me now?"

"*Now* I am fighting for my life!" She hissed. Then she leaped at him.

Agro swiftly dodged, laughing as he did so, and the side of her neck caught the sharpness of his claws. She growled, turned, ans swung at him, but Agro had backed out of her range.

*You're going to have to do better than that.*

She lunged again. Agro feinted right and while she struck air, he went left and tore out clumps of gray fur. As quick as a viper, she twisted, catching both sides of his head with her paws. Agro ripped free, but not without drawing blood. He bowled her over and they grappled, exchanging blow for blow, both trying to be the one to come out on top. They rolled over again and again. Agro could tell Saden was tiring. As they rolled once more, she cuffed him solidly between the eyes; but Agro fell hard on her right forepaw before she was able to get it out from under him. They both heard a sickening *pop*. She hit him again and broke away, but she fell the moment she put pressure on her paw. She spun to face Agro, who glared at her menacingly as he got to his paws.

Her demeanor changed completely. She was favoring her injured paw, her head bowed low, her golden eyes bleeding fear and desperation. She knew she was beaten. There was only one thing left to try.

Agro took a step toward her.

"Please!" Saden pleaded, slowly creeping backwards. "Agro, *please*! You~~---~~you don't have to kill me!"

He cocked his head, curious. He had never seen her so afraid. He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard her stutter. Saden, who had been so confident, so determined to be the best, to be the one in control, was now cowering pathetically before him and begging for her life. It was strange how things could change.

"You~~---~~you know I n-never meant to hurt you," Saden continued, still subtly retreating. "We were friends, weren't we? You w-wouldn't want to hurt me. I-I was good to you w-when the others weren't. You owe me! Don't kill me!"

*What kind of fox dung is this?*

"I owe you *nothing*!" Agro growled harshly. "You're weak and spineless. If anything, you owe me. I stopped Shade from killing you." He narrowed his eyes, laughed a quiet, humorless laugh. "That was a mistake."

He tackled her and clamped his jaws around her throat. Saden twisted wildly and lashed out at his head. He did not let go, and eventually her strikes grew less and less. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and her whole body went limp.

Agro let go and looked down at her. He watched the blood from her neck wound pool around her head. *I've killed the first friend I ever had.* He found he wasn't sorry. There was no remorse, no more hate. He felt devoid of all emotion. He was an empty husk run dry.

*Find Azure.* Something stirred inside him then, or so he thought. He felt tired. *So tired.* Slowly he turned, realizing he was alone. The shadow cats had left him to chase the survivors, leaving him with the carnage of the battlefield. The ghosts of the dead. He hoped Azure wasn't among them. All this death, this slaughter, was for her.

Then, he spotted her, a shining light in the darkness of his mind, filling him with warmth. She stood half in, half out of the large hole, her multi-colored pelt ragged and red with blood. His eyes met her turquoise ones and he saw that deep, petrifying fear he had seen in her the day Rishi was killed. Ice leaked into his core once more, though he tried to ignore it. He wanted to flee again but reminded himself that he could not leave without her~~---~~not after everything he had done to save her. He tried to speak but words failed him.

Azure dove back into the hole.

Agro took a moment to simply breathe. He tried to figure out what to say to her. Then he remembered her mother, Nova. *She thinks I killed her.* He padded slowly toward the den in the ground, the burrow where Saden kept her scared little rabbits until she had a use for them.

He could just see Azure's front paws from the entrance. He went down, reached the bottom, and moved no further. He spotted eyes behind Azure. *Looks like my army forgot one....*

"You won't touch him," Azure meowed firmly, noticing the dark look in his eyes. She straightened, though he could tell it hurt her, almost entirely hiding the cat behind her.

Agro stared at her. *She's* protecting *one of them?* But then he realized the cat was a mere kit, younger even than Azure.

She unsheathed her claws. "You won't touch him," she repeated. "Cricket. I won't let you. You'll... you'll have to kill me first."

"Azure, no!" The tom-kit meowed, his little voice pleading.

Azure told him to be quiet and continued to meet Agro's gaze.

Agro softened inside. She clearly cared for this kit. Could he have been forced to serve Saden, too? He tried to read Azure's gaze. There was more hurt there now than fear. He knew why.

"I didn't kill her," he meowed quietly. "Your mother. She isn't dead."

A flash of surprise. Hope. It shattered as quickly as it had come. She shook her head. "I don't believe you."

"I didn't think you would..." Agro sighed. He started to doubt she would ever forgive him. *Just breathe... Explain.* "I came to this rogue camp to free you, Azure. And... And to tell you I'm sorry."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I saw Saden and Stevie take you away with those other two cats the first day you came here. I would've saved you then, but... I wasn't sure you wanted me to. I know you were very angry with me..."

Azure's expression softened, if only slightly. "You didn't have to kill Nova," she meowed, voice edged with grief. "You could've just wounded her."

"I didn't kill her!" Agro meowed fiercely. It was breaking him to see her so upset. "I swear to you I didn't!" He looked down at his paws, remembering the fear and rage he had felt when Nova clamped her jaws around her daughter's throat. "She was going to kill you, Azure. I... I didn't know what else to do. I was scared~~---~~for you. Maybe you didn't see her face, but I did. And she wasn't going to let you go."

Azure closed her eyes, tears falling down her face. A sudden painful spasm shook her and she fell. Agro was at her side in an instant.

"I brought Nova back to the Twoleg den after you left," Agro continued. He watched the tom-kit, Cricket, nuzzle her comfortingly and wished he had the courage to do the same. "Macie was horrified and she got her Twolegs. I watched from a safe distance when they took her away to their healers. I went looking for you afterwards."

Something changed in Azure then. If his words had something to do with it or if she had already come to some conclusion while he was speaking, Agro didn't know. "Oh, just shut up!" She yowled, looking up at him. She licked his cheek, still crying clear crystals. "I forgive you, I forgive you!"

"Azure..." Agro started, dumbfounded.

"No, shut up!" She paused to stifle a sob. "I missed you... I didn't know how I was going to get out of his wretched place without your help. I'm so glad you're here."

Agro's face brightened with a smile. His heart was whole.

* Cayo
* Teagan
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