pouncin on love [bloo]

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

The sun was rising up over the mountains in the east. It's rays casted wonderful hues of pinks and oranges across the otherwise azure sky. Few clouds rested in the sky, the only ones in sight were high and feathery, far from being thunderstorms. A slight wind blew through the valley, making the tall grass dance to the beat. Flowers bloomed all around, giving the brown grass colorful accents of reds, yellows, and blues. It made the valley look lovely and bright, almost serene. It was a peaceful morning, a morning that made you appreciate the world and nature. Birds sung their songs of lost love and found love joyfully that morning, their fluttering wings taking them high into the sky. They chased each other with almost angry intent, but it could have playful as well. Large brown wings dove to the ground, fluttering to a brief stop only to fly away once again, a mouse clutched tightly within their claws. The hawk flew to it's nest, where baby birds could be seen almost big enough to leave the nest. It was a beautiful morning to say the least. One of the most beautiful of the summer season.

A black form was a stark contrast to the brown hues of the valley's field. It weaved through the grass, silent and stalking it's prey. It's rather large size but obviously agile body made no noise as it crawled through the field. It was a tom, a tom that was well known around these parts. His black pelt and above-average size made him easily spotted to cats who knew of him. And often times they ran the other way. His reputation as a cold-blooded killer, though wrong, made most never want to meet him. Whereas if they had given him a chance, anyone could see that he was anything but that. He hated to shed innocent blood, but did not mind to kill if provoked. In fact, his powerful but flexible body made him a perfect killing machine. One that was easily defeated. He had the power to contend with speedy cats, but also had the speed to contend with powerful ones. He was not a good hunter, simply because his scenting skills were not the best in the world, but if it came to him fighting there were few that could contend with him. He was like Jacki Chan in cat form. His body was low to the ground, still surprised from having his prey taken from him by the hawk that there was no way he could beat. Hawk's could fly, cats couldn't. But if he had had wings, he sure enough would have tried to take his prey from the claws of the fowl. He couldn't even put another paw in front of the other. Anger pulsed in his veins. He wanted to climb up to that nest and kill everyone of it's babies. That would teach it to steal my prey.

But he just took in a deep breath and decided that wouldn't be the best idea. He returned to his normal stance, standing up tall and stretching his neck to look over the tall grass blades. He could hardly see anything, so he decided to just walk and see where it took him. As his paws began to wander, so did his thoughts. He thought of a she-cat he had met a few nights ago. She was a terribly ruthless and sadist she-cat, in fact she had just disemboweled a large gray tabby tom moments before she had met him. He assumed she had done so because he was trying to steal her prey, but he could very well be wrong as well. He couldn't over hear their conversation from where he was standing. She was seductive and very pleasing to his eye. Not many she-cats could catch his eyes these days, but she sure did. Her quick and abrupt exit only made him want her more. Especially since she warned him against doing so. It only made him want to chase her and make her love him. Not that he loved her, not yet. But he certainly wasn't against her having his kits in any way. In fact, their kits would probably be one of the best fighters in the land. Imagining all the things they could do as a family, all the power they could achieve, it made him sick just to think of it. He craved power, needed to have it. Commanding his own little group soon would not be enough for him. He would need more, need to have more power to quench his thirst.

As the tom looked around, he noticed he was still in the meadow. His paws must have been taking him slowly to wherever they wanted him to go, or perhaps there was something they wanted him to see here. He stretched his neck once more and found a lithe black form making it's way toward him. His heart leaped, hoping it was the she-cat that had been so elusive a few nights ago. He made himself known, nosily brushing against the blades of grass as he made his way toward her. Well, well, isn't it Mi'Lady. It was not a very lady like for you to leave me like that. He smiled and stopped, waiting for the she-cat to make herself known. She was in the perfect position to run away if she wished, but she could also stay and talk. He hoped that he was entertaining enough for her not to kill him, that he provided enough stimulating conversation for her. He sheathed his claws, letting her know that if she was watching that he wished her no harm.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Pluto

The little black she-cat had been wandering through the tall grass. Some might warn her against travelling alone. She was so small, she looked so fragile... But the little she-cat knew that being alone was for the best. Perhaps not for her... She got awfully lonely sometimes with no one to talk to... But it was better for the rest of the world. If she was alone, there was less chance that she would be scared. If there was less chance of her being scared, it meant that it was more unlikely that she would come to play. There was so much death when she came out.. So much...

With a slight shake, the she-cat dispelled those thoughts, instead focusing on the world around her. Her dark green eyes glanced around in wonder, taking in the sights and sounds. It was such a beautiful time, the morning... The world was just waking up, the light casting various hues over the usual foliage. It gave the greens a warm, almost pinkish tone. All the colors just made her so... Happy. With a content sound, little Pluto continued through the tall grass, her small figure barely disturbing the undergrowth. It could easily be passed off as the wind whisking softly through the grass.

As she moved, she began to contemplate finding something to eat. She'd eaten better over the past few days, and her frame was looking better. She hadn't been bothered since.. Since that terrible gray tom. Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps it was the new area she'd picked. Whichever it might be, she was glad. Here there was prey and no one to bother her. With a soft little sigh, Pluto parted her jaws, taking in the scents. She was quick to pick up on the scent of a mouse. Dropping into a hunter's crouch, the lithe, timid she-cat began to inch forward, careful to ensure she didn't bother the surrounding grass.

She didn't see the mouse, but she didn't need to. She knew where it was. She could almost picture it, in fact. When it came time to pounce, she would know. And if everything went right, it wouldn't know what was happening until it was too late. Suddenly, a shadow flickered above her. Pluto froze, keeping low to the ground and fluffing up her coat slightly to look larger than she was. She couldn't risk a hawk thinking her small enough to eat. She didn't move, keeping one ear trained on the sky, following the culprit. She heard the wind shift in its feathers as it altered the position of its wings, causing it to swoop downwards. She heard the telltale, and deadly click as it spread its talons, ready to strike at its intended target.

She also heard that it was slightly off from her position, telling her she was not the target. Relaxing slightly, she waited, frozen in place as the hawk struck down, talons making a muffled thud on the ground as its weight hit down. There was a sharp squeak from its prey before its powerful wings pulled the hawk into the air, all hope for the animal clutched in its talons gone. Unfortunately for Pluto, the hawk's noisy entrance had scared off her intended target. With a sigh of disappointment, Pluto straightened, watching as it rose up to a treetop, dropping the prey into a nest. Pluto smiled softly, imagining the chicks in the nest. She couldn't see them, but if she strained her hearing enough.. She could just barely hear them.

She began padding forward, her brain still lingering on the hawks. She wasn't paying much attention to where she was going, and it wasn't until she heard a voice that her mind began shifting back to the present. She didn't stop her movements, slipping quietly through the grass, wondering who the tom was speaking to. It was only then that she realized there was another cat in the area. This realization, paired with the fact she hadn't picked him up earlier caused the little she-cat to stumble in surprise. Her paws skittered on the ground, trying to keep herself up, but only succeeded in tangling beneath her. With an unceremonious hiccup of alarm, the black she-cat proceeded to stagger through the undergrowth until she performed the best face-plant ever.

With a soft groan, Pluto rolled into a more comfortable position, deep green eyes moving to stare at a set of black paws. It took her a second to realize that they were took large and not in the correct position to be her paws. Momentarily paralyzed in fear, Pluto's green eyes stretched wide as she slowly tipped her head up, coming face to face with a black tom, the one who'd spoken. She was about two tail-lengths from him now, and she couldn't breathe, couldn't speak. All she could manage was something like... "E-Eeep!" Her squeak of alarm was released moments before the little she-cat seemed to shrink in on herself like a spring, her little paws drawn so close together it was a miracle she managed to stay standing.

She was doing everything she could in order to be as small as she could. Small was less threatening. Maybe he'd leave her alone then? It was then that she recalled his words, and slowly, realization sunk in. It was him! The one the Lady of the Shadows had encountered a few days back. She barely remembered him, because she'd barely seen him. She'd glimpsed him for a brief moment, enough to distract the Lady from thoughts on ridding the world of him. But she had no doubt this was him. ... Even though she didn't know his name. Her little frame trembled slightly as she gazed up at him with a little bit of fear, a lot of timidity and even wonder. Eventually, she managed to stammer out a little more than her earlier pathetic squeak. "I-I... Y-You... B-Beg your p-pardon..?"

Maybe... Maybe he'll realize I'm not the L-Lady and he'll go away.. I... I have to k-keep him safe from her...

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

When a black ball of fur landed at his feet, the tom was utterly surprised. She did a very nice job of face planting straight into paws. He would have moved them, but it seemed better fitting to just leave them there. Of course, it was then he realized there was no way this tiny black cat could have been the lady he had met a few nights ago. That female was sly, not clumsy in anyway. There was no way she would have caught herself dead falling down to the paws of him, especially after she had made such a joke of losing her ability to fall that night. He smiled at the she-cat he found at his paws, looking down at her like a brother would look down on a little sister. She sure did look an awful lot like Lady though. An awful lot.

When she straightened up, he was sure it was the same cat. Those green eyes, he couldn't forget them if he tried. Her stature, her eyes, her fur color. She looked like she could be her sister, honestly. He remembered thinking that about Lady, too. But no, this she-cat could not be his sister. He only had one that he knew of for sure, and she was certainly not as young as this she-cat. Not to mention she was a silver tabby, and the only thing they had in common were the gray, emotionless eyes that their father had. He didn't know her name, or where she lived, but he would know her if he saw her. She killed their father, and no matter how much he wanted to say that he could forgive her of that, and no matter the things his father did to him, he was still his father and he could never find it in his heart to forget what she had done. Look over, maybe. But she would always be a murderer to him. She would never lose that title in his mind.

The she-cat's reaction to what seemed to be her noticing him brought him back to the present. She shrunk up like a prune in the sun, making herself seem even smaller than what she was - which was already pretty small. A smile crept it's way unto his face, making him seem softer, cheerier even. The sound she emitted from her throat was just about the cutest thing he had ever heard. She melted his heart, she did. Just melted it right into a pile of liquid. She would do that to anyone who had heart. Her innocent, large green eyes could soften even the hardest hearts as long as they weren't black - he was sure. She reminded him of a girl he used to know, one named Wisp back in the city. She was tiny, so small she looked no older than a moon, but she sure did no how to play games. She was feisty, with a sarcastic sense of humor and words that could make the toughest rogue cry. His smile got bigger, thinking about Wisp. He only met her twice, but he would never forget her. He looked back to the black female in front of him, watching as she trembled in her skin. She looked so frail, so fragile. He had this urge to do everything in his power to help her.

When she spoke, he was certain it wasn't the Lady. She wasn't confident or seductive in anyway. She stammered, obviously scared. Lady wouldn't have done that. They just looked so similar, it baffled him. Just plain baffled him. He shrunk down to her level, so he could look her in the eyes. He reached out with his tail, putting it just under her chin. With a soft smile on his face, he wished he could make his eyes seem warm and inviting. But they never showed anything. They never sparkled or softened. They were always hard. Always cold. Oh no miss, it's me that should be begging your pardon. I mistook for someone I met the other day. His voice was deep and warm, like always. It always made scared cats unafraid. He hoped it would do the same for her. He raised up, removing his tail before it made her uncomfortable. What's your name sweetheart? He sat down, curling his tail around his large paws. He still couldn't quite place why she looked so similar to Lady, but he decided to push it from his mind. A question for another day he was sure.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Pluto

The seconds felt like lifetimes to the little she-cat as her wide, dark green eyes blinked up at the tom standing before her. She found herself trapped by his gaze, his hard, lifeless gaze. It sent a chill down her spine, and yet, at the same moment it froze her to the spot, paralyzing and eliminating that same chill. It was like staring into the face of both Life and Death. Beautifully horrifying. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. All natural functions seemed to be halted, leaving her suspended in a world that meant nothing to her. Nothing would ever mean anything to her, unless she was gazing into those eyes.

She probably would have stayed locked in his gaze for the rest of eternity if he hadn't shifted, lowering himself to her level. It baffled her, knocked her completely off balance, and for a moment, her fear was gone, replaced by a sharp sense of wonder. What was this tom doing? All she had ever been faced with was violence or hatred. No one had ever spared her a moment to be... To be kind, or at least... Kinder. How could it possibly that her family could have hated her to such a huge extreme, big enough to neglect an innocent, defenceless she-kit, but this tom, who barely knew her, who didn't know her, could gift these tiny bits of gentleness?

His tiniest gestures, the gentle touch of his tail beneath her chin... They were alien to her, something she could never have begun to imagine. There was a tiny part of her buried somewhere that was certain that her mouth would be agape, wide open and hanging with nothing to stop it, if it hadn't been for his soft tail. She didn't flinch from the contact, she couldn't. Her body was no longer hers to control. For the first time, neither of the two beings that resided within the small-framed black she-cat were able to move at all, silenced and immobilized by the shellshocked nature of Pluto's mind.

And then he spoke.

The slightest, barely audible intake of breath came from the little she-cat as she continued to stare up at the tom with wide green eyes. It was such a tiny sound that it was likely it would go unnoticed, lost on the wind. But the cause of that intake, the power behind it all was not something the little black she-cat would be able to shake off easily. Suddenly, she would do anything for this tom. If he asked her to walk off a cliff, she would do it without a moment's hesitation, if only to be able to hear that voice asking her to do it. It was such an alluring voice, the small black cat found it hard to believe that it could have come from a tom living on this earth. It was the voice others dreamed of having, the male equivalent to that mind-boggling, attention grabbing and sexy purr some she-cats had the fortune to possess. Poor Pluto had nothing alluring about her.

Some distant part of her mind was aware of the fact she had stopped trembling the moment he'd spoken. She was so caught up by the pull of his voice that she almost didn't hear the rest of what he had asked. When the feel of his tail left her chin, when he pulled away to sit up straight and tower over her once more, the little she-cat almost continued to stare at him in wonder, the light playing off the ebony-darkness that consisted of his fur. And then it happened.

Before she could stop herself, pulled by some unknown force, the little she-cat blurted out a single word. "Pluto!" The moment it was out, her eyes snapped open wider than they'd been, and the she-cat recoiled, as though she'd just been bitten by a snake. She was completely taken aback by the outburst of her name, and it instantly became clear, written all over her small features as she stammered, trying to mask the sudden reveal. "M-My n-name is P-Plut-to." If her skin hadn't been covered by her sleek black fur, the sheer redness of her blush would have been plainly visible. As it was, her pelt heated up, her embarrassment raising her body temperature by what felt like a thousand degrees. As she stared back in horror at the tom, she desperately tried to figure out what had driven her to do such a thing. And slowly, the answer began creeping forth.

No... N-no it can't.. I'm n-not... I c-can't b-be i-in... No!

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

He let out his hearty, lofty laugh as the she-cat blurted out her name. The sound was so innocent, so cute he couldn't resist the laugh that started deep in his chest. His laugh was often compared to the sound of angels, something deep yet so flighty. It faded into a purr, vibrating his chest with the sound waves the emitted from the rather large tom. He looked down on her, watching her every movement. She was so small, the tom couldn't help the feeling he felt to protect her, to shelter her from all the wrongs of the world. The world was so corrupted with sin and greed these days, and she deserved something better - much better than what the world would give him. He decided right then and there, that she would have to come with him when he left. There would be no way around it, no way out of it. She would walk with him back to Windclan territory where the group was moving and live with him. He would have it no other way. And when Az set his mind to having something, it often came true.

As if she was ashamed of what she had done, she quickly stammered out a more polite response to his question. She appeared to be embarrassed, never meeting his gaze except for the brief moment he had been down on her level. She had seemed so confident then, as if a different cat than the trembling kit-like female that he saw before his eyes. He had almost thought she was Lady again then, but of course, the fact that her name was Pluto was discouraging. Push Lady from your mind, Azrael. You have Pluto here, you must tend to her thoughts and needs. He reminded himself in his mind, remembering that the she-cat in front of was not Lady and therefore he could not think of Lady. He blinked, slowly, clearing his mind as the she-cat apparently had a self-realization. He would give the world to know what was in her mind at this current moment. He would love to know what cats thought of him when they first met him, he truly would. The poor thing was so pitiful, so innocent. He gazed down on her with a soft smile the resembled pity.

Well Pluto, I'm Azrael. You may call me Az, though, if it better suits you to do. He ended his sentence with another hearty purr, flicking his tail dismissively as he did so. The deep vibrations stopped, and the tom simply sat for moment. He took in the she-cat, breathing deep to remember her scent. Wait.. He took in another scent, and he was surprised at what he found. He looked at the she-cat with befuddlement. It was Lady. He was sure. There was no way it couldn't be, he would remember that scent anywhere. Anywhere.. I'm mistaken. I have to be. This obviously isn't the same she-cat. It's just your nose playing trick on you. Ever since that fight, Az's nose was never the same. It was probably just acting up again, at least, that's what he had to think. Because it obviously wasn't the same she-cat. His mind briefly fluttered to the fight against a lithe orange tom who thought he was a God, or at least he acted like it. The fight had seemed to go on for hours, Az still being trained and only 11 moons old. The tom had a good year of experience on Az, and got the drop on him, creating a scar right on his nose to forever remember him by. Being hit badly only angered small Az and the fight ended with a dead tom and an Az with a horrible sense of smell. The black tom blinked again, his face returning to it's normal happy state and he dismissed everything he had just thought. It must be his nose playing tricks on him - must be.

He forced his attention back to the she-cat in front of him once more. His attention span was horrible today. With a slight twitch of his tail, he let his gaze wander around the sky. Beautiful morning isn't it darling? He smiled, gleaming white teeth showing brightly. Care to enjoy it with me? He purred, trailing his tail along her shoulder as he stood slowly. He walked past her, moving his tail along her side as he did so. There's a rock somewhere around here, we can sit there and talk the day away if you wish. He didn't wait for a response, because he knew it would be yes. When it came to him, everything was a yes. Even if it was a no. He always got his way, call him spoiled if you like. He slowly began to pad away, stretching his neck over the grass to spot the rock. When he did, he briefly curled his tail around hers, black fur mingling into one rather large and fluffy tail. He tugged on it slightly, telling her to follow him. He walked slowly so she could keep up, but came to the rock in a matter of moments. He was sure her sense of smell was much better than his, and even if he had lost her, she would be able to tell where he was when the flowing breeze brought his scent to her.

He leaped onto the rock, leg muscles rippling as he stretched them out in mid air. He was so graceful, so fluid - as always. Was ever anything but? He landed all fours on the rock with ease. The large stone protruded from the ground, rising up toward the sun as if it was waiting to be struck down. She could easily walk to the side connected around to ground if she wished, for he was not sure if she could make the jump he just had. He plopped himself down rather ungracefully, landing on the rock with a thud. He sighed, huffing out air - but not in pain. He was just exhausted, physically. He had done so much walking lately. He was very tired of walking and hunting, something he never thought would happen. He was in his prime, a working, perfectly oiled machine, but he was also mortal. No matter how many she-cats thought he was a God, he bled, hurt, and could die just as easily as anyone else. He didn't pretend to think of himself as something he was not. He was not naïve, not in anyway.

He smiled as he laid his head down on his paws, purring slightly. He seemed to always be smiling, it added to his charisma. Come my dear. And tell me your story. He waved his tail, not caring if she saw it or not, and patted the stone next to him. He was telling her to sit next to him, or lay. It didn't matter to him what she did really. He just wanted her close. He couldn't protect her if she was far away. I want to know everything dearie. Everything you're okay with me knowing, that is. He lifted his head up a bit, moving his tail to wrap around his body. He was intrigued to know how such a small and innocent she-cat had survived in such a harsh world so far. He would be okay with her being secretive, if he was her he probably would be very wary of him. But he would disappointed if she didn't trust him. It would mean that he would have to work that much harder when he decided he had the strength to convince her to come with him. He would not walk away without her by his side.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Pluto

His laugh was intoxicating to the little she-cat, leaving her transfixed every time it rumbled out of his throat. She barely heard him introduced himself as Azrael. Part of her wanted to acknowledge the name he had provided her, knowing somewhere in the back of her mind that this was the polite thing to do. And yet... She couldn't seem to control herself yet again. All she could do was stare at him with her big, round green eyes. It is more than likely that the little she-cat would have sat there all day staring at him, not noticing his occasional drifting mind, had it not been for the black tom's decision to speak up yet again.

He spoke of the state of the morning, drawing her timid gaze away from him, and up to the sky above. Glancing at the crystalline blue sky, Pluto realized that the tom was right. It was a beautiful morning. She blinked in wonderment up at the perfect blue above her, suddenly drawn towards this unreachable expanse. Her distraction would not last forever, for Azrael spoke once more, this time adding a singular point of contact. She started slightly as his tail brushed her shoulder, before slipping down the length of her body, sending a heat wave all the way across the little she-cat's frame.

Overtaken by a shiver, the little black cat trembled softly, her eyes shut tight. He suggested, no... Almost demanded that she spend the morning with him, something that surprised the timid she-cat. She had never been very good company. Neither side of her was good at making friends. She begged herself to turn down his offer and walk away, to protect him from what lay within, but the words didn't make it past her brain. His tail was suddenly wrapped around hers, giving it a gentle pull, like a leash leading one of those Twoleg dogs.

By the time the little she-cat had regained her sense, having been thrown completely off-guard by the tom's actions, he was gone. Pluto leapt to her feet, green eyes wide in alarm. She knew that this was her chance. All she had to do was take off running in the opposite direction, and Azrael would be safe from her. And yet, before she could think another moment, she was padding after him at an accelerated pace. Bewildered by her actions, the little she-cat's ears tipped back against her head, her stature seeming to grow even smaller than it already was as she sunk into herself, embarrassment radiating through her.

She soon arrived at the rock, in time to see him pat the stone beside him, inviting her to join him. Slinking hesitantly around the stone, Pluto found the best and easiest way for her to clamber up, given her small size. It took a little bit of effort and a whole lot of embarrassment, but finally Pluto managed to haul herself up over the side of the stone, and onto its topmost surface. She was still obviously timid, embarrassed even by the notion that she was here with the tom, slinking forward as though she weren't sure it was a good idea.

Slowly lowering herself into a seated position about two tail-lengths from the tom's lying form, Pluto's gaze stayed plastered on her little paws, as though the most interesting thing in the world happened to be sitting there at her feet. Her slim black tail was tucked in against her, though she could still feel the gentle burning sensation that had begun the instant Azrael had touched her but a few moments ago.

Suddenly, he asked to know her story. She never told anyone about her history. Mostly, it was because no one ever asked her, no one ever got close enough to her to ask about it. Realistically, however, she knew that there were parts of it she would never be able to tell anyone. Doing so would mean bringing up the Lady. No one would ever stay near her if they knew of the Lady of the Shadows. It would make Pluto a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode and take anyone near her down along with her. She was dangerous, even if it didn't seem so.

And yet... There was something that prompted her to speak to Az. She wouldn't tell him everything, just a tiny portion. She wouldn't lie, she simply... Wouldn't tell the whole truth. Her stammering voice made itself known once more, her deep green stare never once leaving her little black paws. "I-I... M-My family... They're g-gone... Have b-been for... For twenty moons... I'm a-all alone n-now... A-And I... I wander by m-myself... J-Just trying to stay o-out of the way o-of others..." Seemingly satisfied with her brief history, the little black she-cat gave a shrug of her shoulders, trying to play it off as though it didn't matter.

Such a thing was nearly impossible, sitting this close to such a charismatic tom. Having lived for twenty moons completely by herself, save for the occasional company of a violently sadistic personality, Pluto was not used to anything that resembled a social situation. She was not prepared for the tom's behaviour, not in the least. For all intents and purposes, the poor little she-cat was his victim, falling for his air of caring, and the aura of a leader that seemed to circulate around him.

For the pathetic little black cat, there was no escape. Anything he ever asked of her, she would be prompted to answer, driven by some unseen force. If he asked anymore questions, pushed just a little bit further... She would reveal everything to him. It was as though her body were no longer hers. It belonged solely to the black tom sitting two tail-lengths away. It belonged to him... At least until someone stronger of will, more adept at dealing with the charismatic pull he offered could take over. And yet...

She hoped desperately that such a cat would not make her appearance. Please...

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

Her stammering voice reached his ears, making them perk as he listened to her brief history. Unfortunately, it only made him want to know more. She was so vague - in fact she hardly really told him anything at all. He let his ears relax once more, showing general apathy toward her story on the outside. However, he really wanted to know more. He wanted to know what happened to her family, what she did all alone, how did she survive? He had so many questions, so many things to wonder about. His craving for knowledge about her would never be satisfied with that short of a history on her. She obviously trusted him - if she didn't she wouldn't have told him that much anyway - but him pressing her for more knowledge might just push her away also. He didn't want to take that chance. But at the same time, his mind would never be able to rest if he didn't at least try to get more information. If he did push her away, he could always just put his charming side on and draw her back in. No one could rest his smooth voice and soft caress. No one he had ever tried it on, at least, not yet.

What happened to your family baby girl? His voice was generally dismissive, he even added in a flick of the tail to add to the apathy. He acted like it was a simple question, one that didn't have a hundred possible horrible and traumatic answers. But he knew very well that it might. Something bad must have had to happen to her because there was an air about her, an air that told him to be careful around her. It was like she didn't use to always be so timid. Maybe it wasn't true, maybe it was, he just got that feeling. He had his own traumatic experiences, the king of which was watching his father die at his sister paws. As he looked at the timid she-cat sitting next to him, he thought maybe sharing his own memories might help her open up, maybe it would help her relate to him. Who knew, it might even help in his end goal of getting her to come with him to his home. With a deep breath, and shudder that traveled down his back, the memory flashed in his eyes.

My family is all gone, too. Well, except for one.... and I don't know where she is. His eyes got distant, as if he was focusing on something far away but not really looking at it.

The day was cool, it was fall. The leaves of the few trees around the city were turning bright colors, vivid and vibrant. They added a certain flare to the city, a flare that he loved to see. He was training with his father, battle training. He was crouched down, tail high in the air in a playful state. His father was amused at his stance, he remembered. He was just about to launch an attack when a she-cat walked up. He stood up, intrigued but silent as his father turned to whisper to her. Az had trouble hearing what they were saying, and before long they had gone into the nightclub that Cass owned. Azrael stayed outside like his father always told him to do, watching the two tom cats that brought her inquisitively. Go on back to your slums. Get on! Az yelled at the two toms, who laughed at the 10 moon old kit trying to tell him what to do. It only made him more upset. His tail stood erect, ears flat against his head. I said get on! He lunged at the two, landing just before their paws and spitting in their faces. They obviously decided he wasn't worth it, or maybe they just thought that Cass wasn't worth dealing with. Satisfied that he had made them go away, he trotted down the stairs and watched through the cracked door as his father spilled through with the she-cat.

That was the last time he saw his father. He focused back in on the she-cat, no more than a second having had passed. My sister, whom I have no idea what her name even is, killed my father. And my mother died moons ago, at least, that's what my father told me. He looked away from her, eyes going distant again. I didn't get to say goodbye to either of them. His voice was suddenly somber, suddenly not as smooth as before. He almost choked, in fact. His mother was such a sweet soul, so very much unlike his father. Duchess was her name, but she didn't look like one. She was a scraggly gal, with teeth missing and patches of fur not growing anymore. Why Cass chose her as his mate was always a mystery to Az after he met his father, a mystery he would never solve. Duchess was so sweet in demeanor though, he remembered that well about her. She loved Az, loved him with all her heart. And he loved her back. News of her death devastated him for moons. He was a depressed Az for moons. And a depressed Az isn't very much fun.

But my story doesn't matter as much yours. He smiled, locking eyes with her beautiful deep green orbs. He reached out his tail, caressing her chin with it's sleek black fur. So why don't you tell me what happened to your family and satisfy my curiosity darling. He let out a half-hearted laugh and a slight tilt of the head. He couldn't let his goal get out of sight. But she was so distracting, with her innocent demeanor. He could sit here and talk to her all day. All day long. Her big green eyes and ebony pelt had him smitten for her looks. Her calm, even naïve attitude had him protecting her. He had a feeling this she-cat would be his downfall. Along with his pride. She would be the end of the life he knew and loved, yet he didn't care. He had to have her, he had to protect her.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Pluto

For some unknown reason, she found herself holding her breath, hoping that her answer would be satisfying enough for the black tom. She wouldn't be able to stop herself from revealing more if he asked. Her deep green eyes blinked at him, watching him closely but never quite meeting his eyes. She didn't want to be trapped again, not like she'd been a few moments back. And then, much to her slight dismay, he asked what had happened to her family. She hesitated in her answer, carefully examining the rock beneath her, paws gently tracing some of the indentations in the stone as she tried to sort through what she could say to dodge the question.

Before she could come up with anything, however, he was speaking once more, drawing her attention away from the stone and back to the black tom sitting not far away. Suddenly he was revealing bits of his own family past to her. She stared, bewildered once more, seeing something, a memory perhaps, flash through his eyes. When he came out of it, his gaze was on her, and she was caught once more, a moth drawn to a flame. When he spoke of his parents, there was such a strong, somber note written within that it had the she-cat's heart seizing slightly. It was bizarre but, hearing the amount he cared about his parents almost made her care about them too...

She had never really loved her parents, not in the same way as other kits did. In the beginning, it had been there. Every kit loves their mother in the first few moons. But it became harder and harder to love them with every day that she was neglected. And when she couldn't possibly love them any less, the pathetic little she-cat had begun to hate herself. What else could she do if she'd stopped loving her family, and there was nowhere else to deposit those feelings?

Suddenly, he seemed to brush away his darker mood, dismissing his past in a heartbeat, insisting that hers was more important. Her widened eyes succeeded only in gazing blankly into his gray gaze, lost within their depths until the gentlest of caresses brought her back into the conscious world. Blinking in surprise, Pluto's face tipped down slightly, trying to decipher what it was that was brushing so gently against her chin.

The movement allowed Az's soft fur to brush against Pluto's nose. She straightened slightly, her nose and whiskers twitching as her breathing changed slightly before suddenly... "Hck-cheep!" The sneeze took her by surprise, leaving her even more wide-eyed, glancing around in embarrassment. It was then that she remembered Az's tail. She felt the heat burn through her once more, embarrassment at its prime. She glanced away from him, turning her head away, deep green eyes staring at the stone again. And it was right about then that the charming black tom that she was sitting next to called her darling for what must have been the fifth time.

"Th-They w-were k-killed when I-I was ten m-moons old... B-But I had b-been pretty m-much feeding m-myself since I l-learned to hunt... I wasn't s-strong like m-my brother o-or beautiful like my s-sister... I d-didn't m-matter, I wasn't s-special... I-It's okay th-though. I've gotten along f-fine b-by myself since they were k-killed." The little she-cat gave another shrug of her slim shoulders, gaze glazing over slightly as she remembered the vaguest pieces of that terrible day so many moons ago. She wasn't fully aware that she had told him what she had, and when her voice dropped into something barely above a whisper, Pluto didn't even realize she'd spoken out loud. "She... She w-was only protecting m-me..."

Suddenly aware that she'd spoken, the little she-cat straightened very suddenly, scrabbling backwards a step of two, ducking her head in embarrassment. "B-But it d-doesn't matter!" She exclaimed, hoping he hadn't caught what she had said, or at least hadn't been paying too much attention to her words. She wasn't that interesting, right? Surely what she said could easily be dismissed as unimportant, disregarded completely by a tom as busy-seeming and important as him. She had heard his name spoken by others before. If they knew him, it meant he was big around here.

Unlike her.

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

The she-cat's sneeze caught by complete surprise. He let out a light-hearted chuckle, gently moving his tail to his own paws once more. She seemed embarrassed that she had sneezed all over his tail, but he honestly didn't think it was that deep. In the grand scheme of things, it was nothing he would remember twenty, even ten moons from now. He was sure if her skin was not covered up by her fur it would have been cherry red. He leaned back, taking her in with all her beauty and innocence. She wasn't faking, he could tell when cats were faking innocence. She honestly was timid - afraid even. He couldn't tell you what, but he knew she was afraid. She was always afraid. It was written in capital letters all over her face. She lived in worry and fear, never resting from it. What she was scared of, he wanted so badly to know. But they had just met, and this was much too deep of a conversation to be having with a she-cat whom he barely knew. His eyes glanced over her body, noticing it's appeal quite easily. But she was so small, so naïve, he could not take advantage of her. He could not want her sexually like he wanted Lady. She deserved better than those kind of thoughts roaming around in his head.

As she began to answer his question, he noticed she was trying to avoid something. He was a smart tom, it wasn't like he was born yesterday. He took in every detail she gave him, his ears perking when she said they were murdered. She had been on her own for so long, having such a traumatic event happen to her, with no one to tell. No one to console in her grief. His heart broke for her. He had Ky when his father had died. He had cats he barely knew give him condolences. But she... she had no one. She was left to wander about, having to fight for her life with no one to cheer her on. She must be strong, to continue on living. He wandered what she had to live for in those moons after her family had died. He wandered what had drove her to survive. But once more he was reminded that he could not ask her. They had just met. He pushed the questions to the back of his mind, archiving them, saving them for a later date and a more appropriate time to ask them. He was about to speak once more when he heard her say it.

She... She w-was only protecting m-me...

His ears perked further and the questions were obviously swarming all over his face. Not his eyes, they were - not surprisingly - blank, but his face was contorted with confusion. He watched her face and he concluded not only did she know who killed her family, but she cared about them as well. How could she care about who did such a horrible thing to the only people she had left? He was astounded that she could be capable of such an emotion. Not that she was capable of emotion in general, but that kind of forgiveness... that took a special kind of cat. No. It would take an immortal being. There was no way that she could possibly have that much care written in her eyes for the she-cat who killed her family. She must be talking about herself. She killed her family. There's no way around that. He came to the conclusion in his thoughts, but there was one thing that bothered him. If she killed her family, then why would she refer to herself in the third person. She must not want you to think of her as a murderer. That explanation satisfied him, and his face returned to a normal state of general apathy.

He was just about to say something about that when she quickly covered up what she had said before, telling him it didn't matter. He looked at her, appalled. How could her story not matter? Of course it mattered! Everything mattered, everyone mattered. No matter how big or small they were, they mattered. And the fact that she thought that she didn't - which he assumed because she told him the most important piece of her past didn't - appalled him. She had to be able to stand up for herself, to love herself otherwise no one else would. She couldn't just let cats walk all over her because she "didn't matter" in her mind. His look could easily be confused with disgust, but it was more just surprise. Surprise and disappointment. He had hoped she at least had a shred of self-confidence. It was much easier to build for something than nothing. But he saw now that there was nothing left in her, nothing at all even remotely related to self-esteem. He hung his head, and let out a sigh. For he knew he would never be able to just let her statement pass without giving her "the speech". He lifted up his head, face full of worry, and locked his gaze to hers.

Now you listen to me little missy. You matter. You hear me? You matter, your story matters, every word you say matters. He had this tone in his voice that made it sound like he was trying to pep her up rather scolding her like a father would his kit. And don't you ever, EVER let anyone tell you any differently because they're wrong. Wronger than a cat loving a two-leg. In any other circumstance he would have laughed at the end sentence, but this conversation was serious. He needed her to understand what he was saying. He sat up, getting closer to her face and putting his tail on her paws so she would listen to him. And if you ever feel like you're nothing, if you ever feel like the world is too big of a place for you remember these words I'm about to say. You mean everything to me. I may have just met you, Pluto, but I will protect you with my life, do you understand? You mean something to me, and you always will. He paused, taking in a breath. You always matter. You are somebody. You always will be. Even if it's just to me.

He was still amazed that such a beautiful she-cat could think so lowly of herself. The somber note was taken from his face, and he put on his classic, charming smile. You said hunt well, eh? Does that mean your sense of smell is better than most? He didn't give her time to object to his previous speech, he didn't want her to. Too much seriousness but a strain on him. He had enough to deal with anyway without everything always being boss this, boss that. He was tired of being boss, just like he was tired of walking. He removed his tail from her paws and stretched out. He let out a small yawn, arching his back and then lowering it before standing up tall. He put his body close to her face, but far enough away she would have to stretch to touch it with her nose. Smell me, and tell me where I've been, and who I've been with. He smiled mischievously, adding a flame to his words. He knew she would find the scent of many other cats, Tinsel's being the strongest, as well as the scent of Windclan territory and horses (because Windclan always smelled like horses). He was testing her, testing her ability. What good was a group of mercenaries if they starved to death? He certainly couldn't hunt for them. It was a wonder he had found food for himself up until this point. Then again, Ky was always there for him to beat something to death.

As he locked gazes with her once more, he knew right then and there that he would build her self-esteem, and never tear it down. He made a promise to his mother, wherever she was, that he would not hurt this she-cat. He would not be her family and leave her alone. As long as he was alive, he would protect her. He promised.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Pluto

Her heart felt as though it were in her chest, worry etched onto her features as she so desperately tried to avoid looking at him. She knew that all it would take was one look. One glance and he would know exactly what she was feeling. Somewhere, she had to wonder if perhaps he was some sort of mind reader, able to decipher the contents of her deepest, darkest secrets without her so much as voicing a word. Of course, such a thing was completely ludicrous. Had he been able to do that, he would have noticed her lurking there. And he wouldn't have stayed very long.

When she dared glance up in his direction, the look plastered over his features struck her right to the core. He looked... Disappointed in her, disgusted with her. It had been moons since anyone had been disappointed in her, and it almost... Hurt. The twang that ricochet through her heart had her breathing hitching painfully, catching and lodging in her throat as she glanced away once more, staring at her paws. Interesting... The familiar voice slipping through her mind had the small black she-cat stiffening, her eyes, which were downcast and out of Azrael's sight, widening considerably, horror taking over her.

She felt sick suddenly, desperately trying to abolish the devil that was trying to resurface. She began chanting a mantra in her head, hoping that it would be enough to keep her at bay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. Over and over again she said it, forcing herself to swallow no matter how much it hurt to do so. She would have stayed motionless, horrified for years on end had the black tom sitting before her not taken initiative, successfully abolishing her distracted state and whipping her back into the present.

It was the heavy sigh that caught her attention. Daring once more to peek up at him, Pluto's timid gaze was shocked to see him gazing right back at her, concern etched into his features. Well, except his eyes. Lost in his eyes, the she-cat was basically forced to listen to the tom as he spoke to her, almost scolding her for the way she thought of herself. As he continued his speech, though she did her best to hide it from him, all she could register was horror. No... I-It can't b-be... Everything that he was saying to her...

Suddenly he was closer to her, his black tail, which she had unintentionally sneezed on moments before, lay across her paws. This pulled her eyes away from his slowly, until her dark green orbs were upon his black appendage, staring at it in bewilderment, as though she had never before seen a tail in her life. And then he said it. That she, a pathetic little black she-cat who'd lived most of her life alone, meant everything to him. She hardly knew him, was trying to protect him from an unimaginable monster, and he was telling her all of this.

Never in her life had her head ever snapped up so quickly. Fear shone in her eyes, fear for him, for what he was getting himself into. The only thing she could think about was that she had to protect him, had to get him to hate her. It was the only way. Somewhere within her heart, the thought of him hating her was painful, but she knew that it was the only way to ensure his safety. She would do this for his sake. But of course, the early bird gets the worm, and the shy she-cat was anything but an early bird.

Without warning, his tone shifted, and that melting, charismatic smile was once more upon his features. Finding herself lost in that grin again, all Pluto could do was stare at him with round eyes. Sky above, she was getting good at staring. It was just about all she had done for the past... How long has she spent with him already? It couldn't have been that long... Right? The she-cat wasn't able to dwell upon such a thought for much longer, for he was speaking once more, his smooth, caressing voice drawing her in. Oh she was so far gone.

Admittedly she was a little confused at his question, wondering where he was going with his train of thought. Why did it matter if she was a good hunter? She wasn't even sure if she was classified as good at anything. She was a proficient hunter, able to feed herself. That was all. After briefly touching on her sense of smell and whether or not it was superior to most, Azrael gave the poor little she-cat the most bizarre request she had ever heard in her life. Of course... No one ever really asked her to do anything before.

Momentarily taken aback by him, she found herself unable to move. It wasn't until her eyes drifted to meet his mischievous stare that she found life flooding back into her, taking on the form of, you guessed it, embarrassment. Stammering suddenly, her ears tipped back, flattening against her head. "I... U-Uh... I m-mean..." Giving herself a little shake, she slowly rose to her paws, hesitantly taking a step towards him. She didn't dare step any closer, closing the distance between them by stretching her neck as far as she possibly could. Her little black nose just barely brushed his fur, the timid black cat taking a shivering, timid breath.

"Y-You... Spend a l-lot of t-time with... With a s-specific group of c-cats... E-Especially a t-tom..." Blinking slightly, as though confused, she continued. "P-Perhpas even t-two toms... T-There's a s-stale s-scent... Some k-kind of... H-House? Y-You spent some time there... B-But there is a new, m-more powerful scent now... It smells... L-Like wind.... And a lot of cats... A p-place that i-is open to the e-elements, and h-houses many others..." Brow furrowing slightly, she wondered at what it was that she was identifying.

She had never really encountered any of the Clans, preferring to stay well out of sight. She had, however, heard her mother tell her siblings stories about the Clan cats moons ago. Wondering if perhaps this is what she was smelling, Pluto hesitantly made the suggesting. "M-Maybe... A C-Clan?" With a little shiver, the she-cat continued, parting her jaws to better draw in the scents hidden in Az's pelt. "I... I s-smell Two-leg animals... H-Horses, I think? And..." Wrinkling her nose at the stench of the other beasts, Pluto drew in one more breath, picking up on something that was almost completely drowned out by the multitude of others scents coating his pelt.

Her body stiffened, her tail flashing up in alarm. She didn't have a moment to react. It was as though she'd been attack by an invisible predator. In a way, she had. Unable to prepare or fight back against the surprise attack, the timid, slightly trembling she-cat was pulled away, smothered beneath a presence who seemed to demand attention, brought forth by a certain scent. The little she-cat leaned towards the black tom's ears, dark green eyes, though hidden from his view, alight with something... Different, something wild. Lustful. With a purr that was too sweet, a purr that was sultry, she spoke once more, her whisper as clear as daybreak on the horizon.

"Me~"

And the Lady of the Shadows

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the revolution take its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cat's had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

At first, everything was going great. She was sniffing him, her nose tickling his fur. His smile was hidden from her, but it was there. Charming and wide. His tail flicked back and forth playfully, his fur standing slightly on end from her nose being so close to him. A she-cat who much more sensual than her would have taken this opportunity to feel his well-muscled body. But she was so innocent, he bet the thought never even crossed her mind. She was focused on carrying out his request, which she did very well. She hit everything right on the spot, every where he had been, everyone he had been with. When she said maybe two toms, he could only have guessed that she was smelling Ky on him, or maybe she was second guessing herself. Even so, one mistake with all those correct assumptions was amazing. Much better than his sense of smell, that was. Much, much better.

And then she paused, and he flicked his ears back to her, trying to see if she was just talking quieter. His sense of smell may have been impaired, but his hearing was perfect. No, she was being quiet. She was probably trying to pinpoint a certain smell, trying to figure something out, perhaps even putting the pieces of together of who he was. His smile got wider, but then something strange happened. He felt her breath on his ear, and he heard a purr that he would recognize anywhere. The seductive voice whispered out, and he was caught off guard. He felt his muscles ready for battle, and claws instinctively unsheathed. Not that he was scared of what he might find when he turned around, but if she had killed poor Pluto so silently, without him even knowing she was there, then she was more dangerous than he originally thought. He shied away from her body, a shiver making his body tremble. He shook it out, her haunting purr still ringing in his ears.

He whipped his body around, scared of what he might find when he was facing her. His ears flat against his head, he bared his teeth, ready for a fight that he wasn't sure he would have to fight. When his eyes adjusted, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Here was the same she-cat, the same trembling she-cat that he had sworn to protect just moments before, a completely different cat now. There was no blood, no anything. They had to be the same cat... But how can two cats occupy the same body? His face contorted into confusion, and his claws slipped back into their hiding places. He rarely used them these days, but they were always there, always waiting. He looked down at them, anything to distract him from what was happening before him. Pluto and Lady were the same cat, but different? Had Lady just been faking the innocence all this time? Did Pluto really exist? Was this just a game Lady played to see him squirm - to catch him off guard? The confusion was apparent, and he didn't try to hide it. He never tried to hide his emotions. It just happened sometimes because of his eyes. But right now, it was written in capitol letters all over his face. His tail drooped, and his mind struggled to grasp the situation.

Pluto was real. He had seen it. He would've been able to tell if she was lying. Everything she said, everything she was, was genuine. He was sure of it. So Lady and Pluto were two different cats, two different personalities, that occupied the same body. Just that thought baffled him. How could that be? Pluto had to obviously be some messed up cat to create a completely different personality to... to what? She was protecting me... that was what she said.. So Lady protects her? Suddenly, it all made sense. Pluto, being so timid, could not survive in her family. Her brother was strong, she had said that, but she wasn't. Her sister was beautiful apparently, but she was left to be in the shadows, having nothing special to distinguish herself from her family. She must have been neglected, and that's why she created Lady. To protect herself from harm, from pain. Lady was her defense mechanism. But then why is she here now? I didn't threaten her? She must have smelled something on him that scared her. Scared her to the point that Lady showed up.

At least now he knew how she survived on her own for twenty moons. She hunted, Lady fought. He assumed Pluto was the dominant personality, the original, because Lady had told him before that she "didn't visit often". Pluto was obviously more knowledgeable about the land and the cats. All of this was just deductive reasoning, but previously it had rarely failed him. He straightened his ears, looking less aggressive and more just confused. His tail began to flick back and forth, slowly and ever so slightly as he thought about what to do. He didn't even know what to say. He couldn't say anything. There was nothing. Mark the day in history, Azrael was speechless. What were you supposed to say to she-cat who didn't really exist. She was psychotic, and crazy. What she had done to the gray tom was still fresh in his mind. Though he wasn't squeamish around blood, spilling innocent blood for no reason bothered him. He would never be able to do it. He always had to be provoked. Which, depending on his mood, could be very easy or very hard.

Right now, if she attacked him, he was too tired to be at full strength. His paws were aching, but he would never show it. He couldn't show his weakness around her. She would exploit them, turn them into her strengths in a heart beat. But he had to do something, because she would be getting antsy for an intelligent conversation here soon. He had to keep her occupied, but not threaten her. He wanted to call her a coward, to call her what he really thought of her. Though she was very, very sexually alluring, he could never truly love her. Everything he felt toward her was hate and lust. Could he honestly hate her and like Pluto at the same time? Since they were the same cat? The mind bogglingness of it was insane. His brain hurt just from thinking about this all too much.

He looked back up to her, half of him hoping that he would find the trembling she-cat he wanted to talk to. But his eyes rested upon Lady, loud and clear. Her dark green eyes, alight with lust, were the obvious sign. Her posture, another. When she spoke, he would know for sure. He didn't hide his disappointment. I want her back, Mi'Lady. He spoke with a matter-of-fact, somber tone. It was a statement, not a demand, for he knew the process was probably much harder than just simply turning a switch on and off. He would have to trigger Pluto back, which he guessed would probably be much harder than triggering Lady. Pluto wasn't a fighter. He guessed Lady was always fighting for control, and that was what Pluto lived in fear of her entire life. Was that Lady would gain control and she could never get it back. Or worse, Lady would take over and hurt someone Pluto cared about.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

The Lady of the Shadows

The smile danced over her lips, malevolent and seductive as she watched the black furred tom before her react to the new voice. From the stiffening, to the shying away, and even up to the look of pure confusion written all over his handsome features, the Lady of the Shadows was having a grand old time playing spectator to this grand show. Her black tail made graceful arcs behind her, furling and unfurling as she waited for the tom to regain his bearings once more. She knew he would grasp a hold of them eventually. He was a strong boy. But was he strong enough to handle the truth?

The aggressiveness that overtook the tom, with his teeth bared and his claws unsheathed, was amusing to the black furred devil that watched him. Her deep green eyes, alight with her dark thoughts, watched him without flinching, almost as though she were hoping he would attack first. Give her a reason to fight and to spill blood and she would take it without a second thought. All the while, the Lady didn't make a sound, inviting him to either ask her what was going on or figure it out on his own.

When his eyes met hers once more, she read him like an open book. She regarded him with intrigue for a moment, letting his deepest feelings sink into her, pulling them from his expression and feeding off of them. Oh it was delightful. She closed her eyes, tipping her head back and pulling the air into her lungs, tasting the disgust that was dripping from him. Suppressing a shiver as the excitement rolled through her, the Lady of the Shadows listened to his voice as he made a simple statement. Oh, he wanted her back, did he? Pathetic little Pluto? How sweet.

Instead of answering his part-demand, the Lady chose her own topic of conversation, slowly letting her eyes open and her head return to its normal posture, her voice dark, almost hungry. "So. Much. Hatred. I can taste your contempt, your disgust. And both are heavenly." When she spoke, the darkness writhing within her was apparent in the way her voice was too low. It had lost its sultry tone, adopting one that was more... Needy, as though he were pushing her closer and closer to the edge, filling her with an insatiable desire.

And then it was gone. There was nothing but a dark playfulness shining in her eyes as she regarded him, her voice returning to the sultry, sexually alluring voice she so often used. It wasn't often that the Lady lost control as she had moments before. But it became clear now that it was possible. That there was something even darker beneath her. The same darkness that had destroyed Pluto's family all those moons ago. Had she had the proper eyebrows, one of them would have been raised as she regarded the tom, considering his words as though they actually mattered to her.

"My, my, my, Azzy-Wazzy dear~ I thought you would be excited to see me. You seemed so... Interested a few days ago. What has happened to you?" She spoke, almost scolding him, tutting slightly as she gave her head a slow shake. "You can't possibly hate me that much, can you? I mean... Your darling little Pluto wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me~ Is that what you would have wanted? For a poor little she-cat, barely ten moons old, to be beaten to death by her own family? They used her like a piece of prey, Azzy. Like she was nothing. Everyday it was the same. The beatings, the ridicule, the pain."

She paused, as though remembering those moments, the faintest flash of that need echoed in her hollowing gaze. "I couldn't simply let her die, now could I? You know... In the beginning I was nothing more than a dark pit in the back of her mind where she stored her darkest feelings. She wouldn't admit to her hatred of her family. Can you believe it? Even when her father catapulted her into a tree... She never once even thought of hating him."

A smile flashed over her lips, her voice taking on a fascinated air. "And then one day... That same day that the poor dear was thrown into a tree... It all unravelled around her. Hatred... It is like a cancer, you know? For moons, I had been growing within her until finally it all became too much. It's incredible, Azzy, how the mind can just... Shatter. I don't remember much except that suddenly I was there. And that I needed to end the cycle, to protect Pluto from what her family would undoubtably have continued doing until her body broke. It was her mind or her body, Azrael."

Meeting his gaze evenly, the small-framed black she-cat observed him for a moment. "I never understood love. Not once. I still cannot comprehend the feeling. But I can see it. And I do. It's written on your face, the depth of your feelings for her. It's almost touching. Almost." Flashing him a sick grin, she settled down in a sit, tail wrapping around her little black paws as she boredly lifted one of her forepaws to her face, inspecting each of her claws with far too much care, as though she hadn't just revealed what she had to some tom.

"She cares about you too, you know. Since I met you a few days back, Pluto has been fighting harder than usual to keep control, even when the sounds of the night frighten her so~ She has been determined to get herself as far from you as she can. Of course, she's not trying to get herself away. It's me she wants to take far away. She doesn't want me to hurt you. Isn't that sweet? Of course, I wouldn't do that. It would hurt her so, to see you die. I'm not a complete monster, Azzy-Wazzy~ And I wish you would stop looking at me with such... Hatred."

Her tail tip twitched as she spoke, her eyes moving to stare at him once more. "It is unbefitting of a handsome tom like you, to see such... Evil emotion. I'm here simply to protect Pluto. From her family, from the evil of the world, and from those who try to steal the prey she has worked so hard to obtain. I won't hurt you, unless you hurt her first. I hope we have a clear understanding here, Azrael. I would hate to have to ruin that handsome face of yours..."

With a final sigh, the dark angel decided it was probably time to address his statement from before. "As for Pluto... I can't simply bring her back. She needs to resurface on her own. Her fear is what pushes me forward. For the most part, I hardly try to come forward. Such a boring world, I'd rather stay dormant. But when she scented us upon your fur... It reminded her that I knew you. It reminded her of what I was. And she was scared. Scared for you. And she let it get the best of her. So here I am."

With a bored yawn, the black she-cat finished, wondering how he would react to what she'd said. "Give her time, and she will return. She always does."

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the, revolution takes its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the, fat cats had a heart attack
You know that, their time's coming to an end
We have to, unify and watch our flag ascend

So. Much. Hatred. I can taste your contempt, your disgust. And both are heavenly. The she-cat had him completely wrong. He didn't have hatred for her. He was disgusted. Disgusted that he could be attracted to such a thing. Such a monster. He realized now what she was, and though he suspected it before, he now knew she was dangerous. Much more dangerous than what she played out to be. Her show of pure desire in his hatred, in his pain, it made him want to claw her throat out. My, my, my, Azzy-Wazzy dear~ I thought you would be excited to see me. You seemed so... Interested a few days ago. What has happened to you? Her words only angered him more. He clenched his jaw, trying to but back the words. I met Pluto. He kept the thought to himself, because he knew better than to interrupt her. She was not done speaking, that much he knew. But with each word she said, each sexy purr she created, it only made him angrier. It boiled with him; he was sure that steam would soon come from his ears.

You can't possibly hate me that much, can you? I mean... Your darling little Pluto wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me. He couldn't argue with her statement, she was right. If his suspicions were right about the two of them, Lady protected Pluto. But that didn't make him not want to hurt her any less. He unsheathed his claws, slowly but he doubted it would go unnoticed. He didn't want to hurt Pluto. He didn't. But this wasn't Pluto. This was a monster. She continued to tell the story of how Pluto's family got murdered, how she came about, how she was "born". She was the spawn of hatred, and that would be all she would ever know. That was what she was telling him right then. That she could never love, never comprehend it. Whereas Pluto, that was all she felt. She didn't understand hatred. She had to create a complete different persona just to protect herself. It was a shame she hadn't know him when she was small. He would've killed her family for her. She wouldn't have to had Lady.

When she told him that he loved Pluto it was over. He would've lunged at her right then and there if he didn't remind himself hurting Lady was hurting Pluto. He wanted to kick and scream. He felt so out of control, so unable to help. He felt like this was all a bad dream, and he would wake up back in Windclan. He almost wished it was. But he knew it wasn't. No matter how much he wanted it to be, it never would be. If he wanted to protect Pluto like he had sworn to do, than he had to deal with Lady. But he did not love her. He didn't love Pluto. He had just met the poor thing. He just felt the irresistible urge to help her, to shield her from harm. He always had a thing for helping the underdog. And she was an underdog if he had ever met one.

As Lady told him that Pluto cared about him, he could only wonder why. He knew he was charming, but was he so charming that a she-cat such as Pluto could fall in love that quickly with him? He didn't let it show on his face, he kept his jaw clamped and his face rigid. But he was bewildered. Once more. That day was just the day to confuse poor Az. He was utterly baffled. He didn't think he held that much power over Pluto. But it explained alot. Why she looked so scared. Why she did whatever he asked. It certainly would make things alot easier when he asked to come with him. His ears perked when she said she wouldn't hurt him. He could debate that she wasn't a complete monster, but wouldn't. No, he had much better plans for what he would say to her when she finally finished. This was the most she had ever said to him, and he hated. Her voice bothered him now. It allured him, made him want him. And he hated that. He hated how much she drew him in. The way she sat there, so confident, so prideful, made him want to knock her off her pedestal.

I won't hurt you, unless you hurt her first. I hope we have a clear understanding here, Azrael. I would hate to have to ruin that handsome face of yours... She didn't have to waste her breath on the words. He would never hurt Pluto. Not physically nor mentally. He wouldn't be able to stand the thought of himself if he did. He would rather die before hurting her. But Lady knew that. She was just testing him, she was seeing how he'd react. She had told him to stop looking at her with such hatred, but it burned hotter than ever in his features. It was etched into the very framework of his face, and he didn't dare change it. He didn't care what she wanted. He would not be told what to do be some egotistical sociopath. She couldn't not control him. He wouldn't allow it. She already told him she wouldn't hurt him, and as he saw it, that gave him a free pass to say whatever he wanted to her. He didn't have to worry about her dark desires. Even she knew the consequences of killing him. Not that she could anyway.

Give her time, and she will return. She always does. He didn't want to give her time. But he had a few things he would say to Lady in the meantime. He couldn't just let everything slide. And the fact that she was acting bored just infuriated him. But before he said anything, he had to calm down. He had a feeling there was a line he still couldn't cross with her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, not caring if she knew he was angry. She would have to expect it. He wouldn't hide his emotions from her just because he was afraid she'd exploit them. He could handle her. He was a tough guy. He exhaled, opening his eyes did. His heart stopped racing, and his claws found themselves comfy back inside their sheaths. His tail started flicking more slow, and he looked composed once more. He was calm. He had to be for Pluto.

Tell me, Mi'Lady, if you can't comprehend love, than what is it you feel toward Pluto? Hmm? He added the same seductive tone of voice she had, taking steps closer to her as he talked. He had a smile on his face that was playful, not a hint of anger or contempt was in sight. He was good at hiding his true feelings. And don't give me the 'well we are one' crap. You feel attached to her because otherwise you wouldn't have protected her. He flicked her chin with his tail, gently and playfully. He let out a purr as he leaned in close to her, brushing cheeks with her as he leaned up close to her ear. I think you can feel love my dear. You just choose not to because the darkness can't hurt you like love does. You chose what you are. And I think that's what makes me hate you the most. He lingered for a moment, because her breath felt so nice. Being there, that close to her, made him wild with desire. All he could think about was the things he could do...

He mentally shook his head and backed away from her, playful smile still lingering on his face. He knew all too well how the darkness tasted, but she was in it much deeper than he had been. He was only introduced to it, feeling it on brief occasions. But he had chose to reject it. He couldn't stand cats like that. He wouldn't dare become one. But still, he wondered what she would say, what her explanation would be for protecting Pluto. He sat down, far enough away she would have to lunge to act him, wrapping his tail around his paws. He smirked, wondering briefly if anyone had ever gotten that close to her. He knew it was dangerous, but he also knew she wouldn't dare hurt Pluto. Which meant she wouldn't dare hurt him.

A Z R A E L

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

The Lady of the Shadows

All the signs he had exhibited, all the weaknesses she could pull on... She'd been watching them, gauging them. She could feel his anger flaring up around them with every word she spoke, and it only succeeded in driving her forward, forcing the words from her mouth with such dark enthusiasm that she didn't care what she told him, as long as that rage continued from him. Her dark green eyes seemed even darker, alight with her dark intentions. She wanted nothing more than to watch this tom squirm, watch the battle rage inside him. And she didn't care who she hurt to make him squirm.

Not even Pluto.

When he stalked up to her, uttering words, the Lady of the Shadows listened to him, intrigued by what he was doing as he marched right on up to her. Suddenly, he was right by her ear, their fur brushing. As she breathed in, her powerful nose brought his scent forward, allowing her to pick out the subtlest hints of the emotions he was hiding. It was absolutely maddening, having him in such close proximity. Whereas other she-cats might have swooned at having his hot breath whisper in their ear, the Lady's desire was focused on a single thing.

All she would have to do to end his life was close the distance between her teeth and his neck. Driven by that thought, the Lady let her muzzle brush through his neck fur, softly, teasingly. Had someone been observing them from afar, the whole picture would resemble two cats, madly in love with one another, sharing a passionate embrace. The truth behind the matter couldn't have been further. As the black tom finished speaking, he stepped away, putting distance between the two raven hued cats. For a moment, there was silence.

Slowly, in a manner that seemed almost calculated, the she-cat tipped her head up to the sky, feeling desire clench in the deepest pit of her stomach. Suddenly, her small frame was raked by a shiver, forcing a groan to escape her. The sound was full of that same dark need that had taken her voice earlier. Finding herself hunched suddenly, jaws parted, desire tearing through her veins, the Lady of the Shadows slowly began straightening herself, her maddened gaze falling upon Azrael. When she purred, there was something... Raw about her voice, as though she were just barely keeping control.

"Oh Azzy... You are absolutely.. Maddening...." She let her eyes close for a moment, stilling the adrenaline that had begun to pump through her body. When her eyes slid open next, that same, voidness had returned to them, her control restored one more. A smirk overtook her mouth, flashing her pin-sharp teeth in the sun. She gave a short laugh, which was more of a scoff really, before answering Azrael. "Such a fascinating hypothesis you have there, Azzy. That I love Pluto, that love hurts me. That I chose what I am." She gave a slow shake of her head as she spoke, before holding his stare evenly.

"The darkness chose me, Azrael. I was created from the darkness. I never once picked it. And I do not hold the capacity to love, not even someone who resides within me. Why does any cat protect land they claim as there own? Why do hawks fight so fiercely to protect a nest that has been empty, void of chicks for moons? Do those cats love the land, an inanimate object? Do those hawks love the twigs that make up their nest? Of course not. There is a single reason they fight to protect those things."

She paused for a moment, aware that what she was about to say would more than likely infuriate him further. Everything she was about to say would only fuel his anger, she suspected. But it was exactly this thought that drove her to continue speaking. She wanted to feel his anger. She fed off the rage she could induce within him. The hate that he felt towards her.. In her own words, it was absolutely maddening to her, intoxicating. She was addicted to it, like someone could be addicted to pain, or to drugs.

"Because she. Is. Mine." Her voice dropped low as she spoke, the faintest trace of her burning need echoing through her eyes. "She belongs to me, like a dog belongs to a Twoleg. I control her, no matter what she might convince herself, and my desire to protect her rests only in the instinct built within each of us to protect what is ours. I want you to remember that, Azrael. No matter how much you might come to love her, or she you, nothing will ever change the fact that she is mine. You'll never break the bond that ties us, and moons from now, if you're settling down beside her in your shared nest full of pathetic little kits... She will still belong to me."

She laughed suddenly, a lilting, evil sound that began deep in her throat, rising into a crescendo ever so slowly as her lips parted. It grew in volume until she finished in a perfect, maniacal laugh that could chill you to the bone. When her sick, twisted gaze returned to Azrael, it was clear that she was taunting him, doing everything she could to anger him further. Because she knew what that anger did, who it affected the most.

"You say you want her back. Poor, pathetic little Pluto. Your words say this, but your rage, your hatred..They say differently. With every ounce of those dark emotions you let leek through, you empower me. Fear, rage and hatred are my domain, Azrael. I thrive when they are present. And the more there is, the more powerful I become in our mind. And with every little bit of power I gain... My ability to crush her, to shatter her forever increases. Did you know that? I've told you I don't visit often. That Pluto always comes back. Do you know why she does? Because. I. Let. Her. I control her more than you realize. When I'm dormant, I am dormant because I choose to be. The only reason she exists is because I allow her to exist. I don't need her like she needs me, Azrael. Just because I haven't ever harmed her in the past, or that I've protected her from what might cause her harm, doesn't mean that I can't and won't hurt her. I've kept her around because the world bores me. I'd much rather allow her to deal with its stupidity, and come out only when something interesting happens. But I. Don't. Need. Her. I could kill her without drawing a drop of blood. I could do it in the blink of an eye, like crushing a fly. Gone, just like that. Or I could draw it out. Let you see the pain I can cause her. And I can leave you helpless. What can you do against an enemy that is attacking her mind, Azrael? I'll be the first to admit, I am like a disease. I'll attack her from within, and leave you to watch her squeal, squirm and screech in pain as I pick apart her mind, killing her off bit. By. Little. Bit. Oh it would be delightful."

Her eyes narrowed into little slits focused upon him, a sick smile still lingering on her lips, her eyes shining with the thought of what she could do. "It's all up to you, Azrael. Her fate rests in your paws. Keep baiting me on. I dare you. You'll only end up hurting your precious Pluto. You can't win, Azrael. This is one game where I've never lost. What will you do...." She purred, drawing out each word.

"Check mate, Azrael."

Note: Click here and go to 2:14 to hear what her laugh sounds like~

[` `shadsywadsy.]

Come let the, revolution takes its toll
Rise up and take the power back
It's time the, fat cats had a heart attack
You know that, their time's coming to an end
We have to, unify and watch our flag ascend

She was right. Every word she said did anger him even more. He tried his best to hide it, tried his best to conceal the depth, but he doubted she would fall for it. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, flicking his ears slightly to hear her more clearly. He took in every word she said, took in every sexy purr and malicious laugh she created. He didn't doubt her words, not for a minute. She didn't seem like the type to make empty threats. Then again, neither was he. He was more the type to sit back and let you threatened him. He hardly ever gave you warning before he attacked. Az was the action type of guy, but he didn't take action lightly. He was patient, hardly ever losing his temper. But the she-cat in front of him disgusted him. And he knew exactly why. He was attracted to her, attracted to her danger and her mystery. But he couldn't ever have her. And that annoyed him. The fact that he felt disgusted with himself for wanting her was even worse. How could he even be attracted to someone so evil, so malificent. She was the definition of dark, the definition of hatred.

Since she had told him she fed off his emotions, he just sat there. She was still speaking, but his eyes were still closed. He took in deep breaths, steadying his heart beat and calming his thoughts. He couldn't let her get to him. He couldn't let her anger him. He just had to sit here, sit here and wait for Pluto to return. Because otherwise, he might not ever be able to find her again. To anyone looking, it might seem that he was napping, or even not listening to the she-cat. But he knew she wouldn't think that. He knew she would see through what he was doing. He was shutting himself down, in order to protect Pluto and himself. He started walking through his brain, shutting all the lockers he kept. He turned off all the lights on his head by breathing deeply. He let out one final breath slowly, and then opened his eyes. When he did, his eyes were especially void of anything. There was nothing etched on his features, and he felt nothing but apathy in his heart. He had this ability, learning it from his father, to shut off all the things he felt - all the silly emotions that sometimes got in the way. But he hated to use it. He hated it because every time he did it, it got harder and harder to turn all the light back on. But for Pluto, he was willing to risk it. He couldn't break his promise.

The thought that he loved her never crossed his mind. Well, it did, but he quickly dismissed it. He couldn't love her. Not yet. He wouldn't let himself. He had to weigh in all the thoughts, all the possibilities before he could even think of letting himself love her. She was an amazing cat, no doubt. But she came with alot of baggage. And that was what he had to weigh, honestly. For right now, all she would ever be was an asset, and asset he had to protect. Her timid nature was much too valuable, much too easily corrupted to leave. He had to have her, and he would do anything to keep her. Anything. That meant risking his life. That meant risking everything he had ever built, everything he fought so hard not to become. If he could never come back from this state of nothing, it would be worth it just for Pluto.

By now, Lady had long since stopped talking. He was just sitting there, staring at her with the most emotionless stare you could possibly imagine. It seemed he wasn't even breathing for a while, but he was. It was a slight intake, not nearly as deep as before. He didn't need deep breaths to calm him now. He was the definition of chill right now. He was only apt to feeling one emotion: anger. And that would take Lady attacking him. He hated himself for being like this, deep inside where no one could see it. But it had to be done. Sometimes, the journey to something right involved doing something wrong. No matter how much it killed him on the inside to be like his father, no one would ever see it. And Lady didn't know his father. She didn't know his story. She didn't know his history. And hopefully, she never would.

After long moments of silence, Az finally came to life. He plopped down on the stone, back down and paws in the air. He leaned to side, resting his paws on the stone while keeping his face twisted toward the sky. He let out a sigh, admiring the cloudless azure sky. With nothing on his face, the sigh could have been about anything, but she was a smart kitty, he was sure she could figure it out. He flicked his tail, playing with a pile of dirt he had found with it. He was brushing it this way and that, having fun with the absolute silliest things. This is how he got when he turned off everything. Psychotic. His father was quiet psychotic, but not quiet in the way he was. His father was a very dark cat, whereas Az was more.. not outright dark. Not like Lady. But he was sure he was capable of being such a cat. And if she attacked him, he was sure it would come out. Especially with all his sympathy gone. But he hoped it wouldn't come to that. After all, he was just admiring the sky and playing with some dirt. He was harmless. Harmlessly dark.

It really is a beautiful day. His charming voice, normally chock full of emotion was void and empty. It sounded different, and she was sure to catch up on it. So very different from our hearts. Its much too bright out here. He was rambling now, in his not monotone, but empty voice. It was still charming and addictive, but it was like a piece had been taken away, like the words he was saying were merely words with nothing backing them. Which was completely true. Would this day still be as nice as it if no one were here to appreciate it? The question had a slight it of emotion to it, but it was nothing major. Perhaps a bit of inquisitiveness, but nothing more. He looked to her, not a smile nor anger in sight, gaging her reaction. He was thinking of calling her bluff, telling her to kill Pluto. See if he cared. But not yet. He had to show her he really didn't care first.

A Z R A E L