|
|
Post by » Sacrifice on Dec 20, 2009 21:38:39 GMT -5
How long had it been, since he had been accepted here? Well, in all honesty, they hadn’t exactly been accepted, just not turned away. Not that he would have left if they hadn’t been allowed access; where else did he have to go? It wasn’t as though he was actually going to live with the rogues, and the clans… They were nothing but bitter memories to him, especially when it came to MapleClan. Maw drawing up into a smile, to say Fracture was in a bad mood was an understatement, though only those who knew him would guess that; Fracture had always been able to keep up his flashy personality around those who were just faces, just names, in a crowd. It was only when the names, the faces, became actual beings, that he had issues. How could he be…false, to someone that did matter? But making friends was a weakness, something that wasn’t a good thing. He couldn’t be weak, when he was weak, he got hurt. It had happened before, and it would probably happen again. Stalking through the tunnels, Fracture’s white bone pattern, brighter than the usual white and darker than the usual black, made him appear as nothing more than bones and a glowing pair of eyes, just the way he preferred it.
All around him, the tunnels creaked, lit by firelight, as though they were going to collapse in each other, though the wood bracings provided reasons to think otherwise. Underneath, the prints of thousands of journeys seemed to carve a path; a set regular for something else, for someone else. Ears flattening against his skull, Fracture swiped at the dirt, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as he watched the prints smear, and wipe away. Set regular, there was no need for that. Why did one strive so hard to be normal? Wasn’t the whole reason he was here was to not be normal? To break away from the codes of the clans, the rogues, the loners and kittypets, and be whatever he wanted to be? And yet, here he was, walking the same path as everyone else; he made himself sick. Golden gaze flaring angrily, the tom turned, tail lashing. Everywhere he turned though, everywhere he looked, there was nothing but pawprints, all leading to some direction, forcing themselves upon him. There was no escaping the flow, they were everywhere. He was as contained as it got, he was just like everyone else, just as everyone who had decided to walk this path.
Breaths coming in ragged gasps, Fracture watched as the world spun around him, and he leaned against the wall; the only way he could keep to himself. Eyes closing, it seemed all he could do was keeping him up, to keep from falling to the ground. Why was he here? He had no power; he had nothing to separate himself from the regular cats. He didn’t belong here, where oddity was what made you so special. Why had he come? Even behind closed eyes, the world seemed to spin faster and faster; it was getting more and more out of control. How long had it been since this had happened to him? He had been so sure about himself coming here, and for the moons that he had been here. Where was this doubt suddenly coming from? Pain flashed through his mind, and each breath was nothing short of agony, limbs locked, it was only through a supreme effort of will that he was able to keep to his feet, a will that was slowly fading with every spear of pain that shot through his mind. He wasn’t prone to attacks like this; what was going on with him?
Every sound was painful, and just the hoarse breathing that was his own was making his head ring. The pair of paw steps; he heard them long before he would usually, though he couldn’t quite figure out who it was. It didn’t matter, the world was a mass of red and black pain, and he was nothing here. Nobody, pointless, worthless. He was without a power, he shouldn’t be here. He should leave now, before someone decided that they didn’t like normal cats, and decided to kill him. He didn’t have any protection, no small sharp dagger like Taegan, no power to defend himself. He needed to leave. The sounds of paw steps ceased, and now, there was silence in the hallway. Silence, aside from a faint laughing sound that he heard, an insane sound, one that raised the back of his pelt, and out of the shadows, appeared a Circuit; madness shinning in her metallic eyes. Alarm flared through the tom, but as he stared at the eyes of the circuit, it was as though he was mesmerized, unable to move, though his thoughts were telling him that he needed to get out of there right now, or he was going to die.
”Oh, look at the little kitty. So helpless, nothing can help you here. You have no powers to protect yourself with, and down here, nobody can hear your screams. Helpless, alone, you foolish cat. Did you really think everyone would accept you? That just because Clopar allowed you in, that you’d be safe here? Were you really that naïve? Or did you just think you could handle everything yourself? I must admit, Taegan did a good job about making things known around here about you and your family, but he is out now, and nobody else cares enough to enforce any punishment on me.” The she cat, Ember his mind supplied, cooed, stepping forward, into the light. Once a fun loving she cat who was sane, she had gotten lost within the tunnels of the Circuits oddly enough, and found something that didn’t agree with her; from the green goop covering her jaws, it looked as though she had run into something…unhealthy. Her pelt was rough, sticking up in odd places, and aside from Fracture, she seemed to be confused about things; but she wanted to kill, and judging from her expression, that was what she was going to do.
Illusions!
Ember controlled the power of illusion, no wonder he felt like he was in such agony. And his pain, it seemed to only amplify her powers; no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t move. Strangely enough; as she moved closer, he didn’t feel fear, just a cool acceptance. Drawing his back, Fracture looked at Ember, who was grinning at him, and promptly spat in her face, earning a jolt back in reward, something that he enjoyed immensely.
”You are going to die little tom. How do you like that?” Ember growled, and with that, she tackled Fracture, who could do nothing but lean against the wall, though his eyes were bright with the fire that burned within him.
”Too cowardly to attack someone without placing illusions on them, you sicken me Ember.” Fracture said, before falling under the pile of fur, biting at every chance he got; having regained control of his head. It didn’t help though, he was still no match for the she cat, though he managed to keep himself alive. And with Ember being sick; it didn’t take long for her to run out of breath, jumping back from the bloody mess that was Fracturebone. Deep cuts were all over him, and he was bleeding freely, he wasn’t going to be conscious for too long unless he got them healed.
It was almost as Ember sensed this; grinning a bloody smile, she stepped forward, claws extended and stained red.
”Well well. Looks like this is the end, Fracture.”
Just because she had been lost didn’t mean that she had totally ignorant, Fracture noted hazily, fighting to stay conscious. He was going to die anyway though, what was the big deal.
”How pathetic of you Ember, I expected something a bit more interesting. And you, picking on the stunned? No honor, you should be ashamed.” To outsiders, the voice would sound cool, collected, amused even. But since it was the voice of the one true friend he had, Fracture could hear the simmering anger in his tone, for the moment erasing all drowsiness. Although he couldn’t move, he could see the reaction of the insane cat; she took a step back, fear flickering to life on her features, Taegan did that to others. Seeming to gather herself, Ember took a step forward, hissing.
”How kind of you to join the party Taegan, shame you’re going to be too late; your little apprentice’s life is going to be cut short.” Stumbling, Ember made her way over to the skeleton tom, eyes glaring with desperation. The raw need to do this, to kill him, it was clear in her eyes, as well as the madness. There was something bad in these tunnels, something that had drove a previously sane cat insane, and they needed to get out. Maw drawing up as Ember came over, Fracture growled low in his throat, snapping at the paws of the other cat, though it wouldn’t stop her he knew. It hadn’t stopped her before, but Taegan was too far away to protect his apprentice, he had to at least try to buy time. He didn’t want to die, at least not this way! He was suppose to go out in a blaze of glory, not killed in some tunnel before he had a chance to get some sort of revenge on MapleClan for what they did! He couldn’t die! But Taegan wasn’t even moving as he snapped at Ember’s paws; did he really want Fracture to die? No, that couldn’t be true. They were friends, he had always thought, he was one of the few that the dark purple tom could tolerate being around for more than a few moments; he was just jumping to things. At least, he hoped. Golden gaze flashing, Fracture didn’t dare try to catch the half colored gaze of the purple tom, not unless he wanted Ember to get the upper paw.
And then, suddenly, shadows seemed to fill the hallway, blinding the skeleton tom, and then the she cat above him, he heard her draw back with a hiss. Even in the darkness though, when Taegan stepped forward, once could see him, swirled with purple and black, red streaks on his jaw glowing, as his half colored eyes. Anger danced like an open flame in them, raw power seemed to come from the shadow tom.
”By order of the code Ember, you are condemned to death. You attacked one of the Circuits without provocation. Usually one would get a chance to leave, but when you messed with not only a member, you messed with my apprentice and friend. For that, there is no excuse.” Taegan growled, making Ember step back; she could see Taegan too it seemed. Insanity though, of this form, seemed to lend courage, or stupidity.
”You see nothing, you see nothing. You hear nothing, you hear nothing. There is nothing here, there is nothing here. Imaginations, imaginations, this is all this is.” Voice rich, Ember turned her eyes on Taegan, letting her power shine through them. While she did that though, Fracture found he could move again, though every movement felt as though it was a thousand needles being jabbed into him. As Ember crept closer though, Taegan seemed almost dazed, and before she had a chance to raise a claw, Fracture responded, slamming into her, and watching as purple spots danced in his gaze as a result.
”You!” Hissed Ember, voice raising a few octaves, cracking, no longer the rich layered bit she had been using before. With a growl, she threw Fracture against the dirt wall; an obvious effort on her part. Now it was not only Fracture’s breath that was coming in ragged, pain filled gasps, Ember’s breath matched his own. However, despite the fact he braced himself, Fracture couldn’t help the low growl as agony flared in his side, before he felt his wounds start bleeding again. Now he was stained red, he could only guess. Movement was beyond him right now, it was all he could do to stay awake.
Letting out a sound of contentment, Ember turned to face Taegan, who looked rather amused, in a dangerous way.
”Try that again, I dare you.” He purred, eyes flashing in the darkness. And Ember did try, but with every word, it seemed to just roll off of Taegan, and with a swift whirl of his cloak, Ember collapsed to the ground; leaving Taegan with his bloody dagger the victor. And as soon as she fell, the darkness fell as well, the light blinding to Fracture’s golden eyes; his world was literally one of pain. Grimacing as he tried to stand; Fracture found he couldn’t move something that didn’t exactly surprise him.
”Fine.” Taegan said, sounding tired. Not gently, he grabbed the scruff of the tom, and with that, Fracture really did black out…
**
”Ugh. I feel as though I was hit with several rocks.” Fracture muttered as he came to; in his own nest. His mouth had an herby taste, and it smelled faintly of the healer Anubis. In the tunnel, he could see the outline of Taegan, who was no doubt playing guard duty. Some part of him wondered if the other tom had told Clopar about the incident, and then shrugged it off; of course he had, Taegan wouldn’t hide something like that from the leader, not something so important anyway. Probably all the Circuits knew about it by now; things like that travel fast around here.
”Not surprising, considering you were attacked by an insane Circuit cat.” Taegan said, though surprisingly he hadn’t moved. There was something in his tone too, something that made Fracture look up sharply at his only true friend. As he studied the other tom though, he found for the first time he couldn’t read his friend; Taegan was as closed as a book. Sitting up, and ignoring the protest of his body and limitations of his wounds, Fracture stared at Taegan for a long moment, still puzzling over the comment. Trying to figure out Taegan was impossible though, and finally, Fracture just let the silence stretch between them.
”What do you mean Taegan? I am in no mood to try to figure out what you are actually saying, and why don’t you come over here so we can have an actual conversation?” Fracture growled, earning a glance back from the other tom.
”What do I mean?” Taegan asked in a menacing tone as he stalked forward, though he went to the darkest corner in the room.
”I mean that since you were attacked; now you are probably afraid of us, so you might as well leave here. After all, it only takes one attack to make one scarred for life. And let us not forget that I was there as well; you should be horrified of me.” Taegan hissed, tail twitching faintly, though how he knew that was beyond him.
”Afraid of you? Of the other Circuits?” Laughter flickered through Fracture’s tone as he shook his head.
”Only a fool wouldn’t be afraid after what happened! Do you wish to die here, Fracturebone? Because anyone of us could kill you like that, and then it’d be game over. You should fear me just as everyone else does, because I am no ally to you.” Taegan growled, stepping forward, claws extended. Eyes widening, Fracture growled, making his way to his feet.
”Then mark me as in idiot! Ember was insane, even I could see that! And why would I be afraid of you? You saved me from death, and besides, I could take you. I know your moves.” Fracture said, rolling his eyes slightly at the end. He could see what Taegan was trying to do; he was trying to get him mad. That was great, but he wasn’t leaving. Besides, they were friends, and this needed to stop, now.
Blinking, Taegan shrugged slightly, before letting out a soft chuckle.
”You’d lose, idiot. You don’t have the protection to save yourself.” Taegan muttered, shaking his head, half colored gaze semi-amused.
”Yeah…” Fracture said quietly, looking away. He needed to get some protection, he had been foolish about this whole thing. Thinking he was so invincible, that this wasn’t going to happen. If anything, Ember had been right about, it was that he was a naïve idiot about that.
”Speaking of which; I brought you something for that. It wouldn’t go good on my reputation, getting my apprentice killed thanks to the fact I didn’t get you anything to defend yourself with.” Taegan said, producing something like a color. It was marking like the markings on his neck, right where it would fit, and looked as though it would wrap around and be out of site, aside from the odd markings on it. In deep purple, it seemed as though they danced with shadow, swirling in and out, runes of some sort he guessed, though what they said he couldn’t even start to predict. Without even asking, Taegan tugged the collar over the tom’s head, and then nodded as it blended in, aside from the runes which seemed to dance across his pelt.
”It’ll protect you from magical attacks, but that is it.” The purple tom said with a shrug. And then, before Fracture could even hope to thank him for whatever it was, the other tom left. Confused, Fracture felt the collar with every movement he made, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. So it seemed that he wouldn’t be so…vulnerable anymore, at least, not to magic; though he doubted he would ever be able to go down into those tunnels again, or trust anyone who dealt with illusions. He had come too close to dying, and with every thought about it, it made him want to curl up and hide from the shadows in his room, for even as he watched, he could see the glowing eyes, he could hear the bubbly laughter. Shuddering all over, Fracture contented himself with the fact he was safe here; and wondered when battle training was going to be next, after all, he needed to learn how to defend himself better now days, since he really was going to stay here. And he needed to keep his mind off not only MapleClan, but what had just happened as well. Oh well, as soon as he could walk, he would find someone to bother.
[Whoo! New record for me; according to my Word counter, this is a total of 3, 031 words. =D]
[/blockquote] |
|
