The Red Moon

[~All I Need]

'"Though life is cruel and death is pain, there's only one thing that gives sanctuary..."
"And what is that?"
His sister looked at him with a knowing expression. "The warmth of your loved ones."'


The wind howled overhead, disturbing the moonlit, scrawny life below. A gray figure, illuminated a pale, dull red by the lunar eclipse, flitted across the ground, unknowing but obvious. Other rogues glanced at him but turned their attention back to what they were doing before the mad cat drove their concentration away.
The moon hung like a bloody eye over all that watched the skeletal feline make his way purposefully to the place where is old home was; his siblings' graves, the suburbs where they were assessed, even his old Clan's corpses. And with the eclipse, everything was cloaked in blood.
The cat, long, gray, and starving, shivered despite the Spring warmth. His yellow-green eyes swept the clearing and stayed fixated on the rotting corpses. He shut the screams out of his mind as the poison took hold of what was now a bloody battlefield.
"I am Tombstone!" he wailed at the cruel moon. "For I have taken the lives of others and mark that their gore is on thy paws!"[/size]

[Eelstreak]

After wandering for several hours through the woods in search of... something, Sig Sauer picked up the faint scent of another cat. His fur prickled when she realized she couldn't identify it, and he dropped down into a low crouch. His tail twitched nervously as the cat's wail split the night. Cummon Sig, pull yourself together mate. Make a good, strong impression. Then the white kittypet did indeed pull himself together and trotted out into the other's line of sight. When he caught sight of Tombstone, he changed tactics on the spot. OK, make a good, friendly impression. Tombstone looked like a little more cat than Sig Sauer could handle at the moment. Calm down there, Sig. First time's the charm. You are his friend...

Hello there, friend. What brings you out here at this hour? Perhaps looking for a companion, a-yeah? My name is Sig Sauer. How do they call you?

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Sig thinged his head to the side and offered a half-smile that he hoped was as charming as his full one. Usually he tried to present a more threatening image to other tom cats, but after that little screaming thing Tombstone had going on, he thought it best to lie low and not start anything. Besides, Tombstone's temperament couldn't be any more startling than his appearance had been. Could it?[/center]

[~All I Need]

[shadow=red,left,300]Tombstone
Yellow eyes turning red in the moon's light, Tombstone turned his head at the sound of a cat's approach. Hello there, friend. What brings you out here at this hour? Perhaps looking for a companion, a-yeah? My name is Sig Sauer. How do they call you?
Eyes blinking slowly in a terrifying way, skeletal body trembling in a distant memory, Tombstone barely noted the prescence of Sig Sauer. He meant nothing. Tombstone's lips pulled back to reveal his yellowed teeth and he cackled at the glaring moon. His eyes were wide in insanity and his claws unsheathed and clawed at the rock below his feet, making a noise that would make the bravest cats cringe.
"FRIEND?! Why such a foolish name do many ask?! HA! I am Tombstone. I am the one who reaps those who dare mess with me! I am the one who is tainted with the blood of my hellish family! The only companion I search for is the ever-present Death and Hate!"[/shadow]

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[Eelstreak]

Before the strange cat even replied, Sig knew that he definitely should not have bothered him. Lovely. His eyes and voice had reminded him of the pair of Twolegs who had taught him to hate: some bug-eyed thing whom he had nearly forgotten, and the man, his owner. Both times he'd tried to be polite, and both times they had given him no respect. None, none at all, he thought. He was not surprised, then, by Tombstone's wild raving. Frightened out of his mind, yes, but surprised? No. But still white tom had not expected Tombstone to be so thoroughly maddened. Stammering and tripping over his words, he replied to the mad cat, trying to placate the storm of anger which was undoubtedly on its way.

I-I-I th-think I've walk-k-ked into something I d-don't want-t t-t-to know about. So I'm-m-m just going t-t-to r-r-r-r-

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RUN! His mind and instincts screamed. Terrified, but still holding desperately on to a few shreds of his rational brain, Sig Sauer turned tail and made as if to run very far away very quickly. He hoped that Tombstone would not attempt to stop him.[/center]

[~All I Need]

[shadow=red,left,300]

Tombstone

The faintest thread of sanity that Tombstone had once shoved deep into the back of his irrational brain evaporated at the thought of a chase. Of a cannibalistic feast. Of the companion of adrenaline and hatred all directed at one being. His mind tried to cling to that sanity, but the steel claws could not even dig into the granite, faceless cliff that separated the two. He was running!
To feel the power of sinew, bone, muscles, and tendons made him high with the thought of nothing but running forever in pursuit of having the taste of Death in his mouth. Tombstone appreciated nothing other than that bitter drug that made his heart sick. But a kind of sick that was euphoric and revolting. But not Tombstone. He welcomed this Heart Sickness with eyes alight with a wild unimaginable.
"None can escape from Death, Sig Sauer! None can doubt that Death will make your body as cold as ice! Why run from it, you fool?" he screamed. His voice echoing coldly from the forests, making it sound like he was everywhere. Tombstone was like a real grave marker at the moment, his body still and solid, but still blurring through the darkness at a neck-breaking pace. This was what was inscribed on his forehead. Inscribed in every movement that brought him closer to Sig.
"Here is where many died.
At the paws of such insanity.
That even Life quakes at such a thought.
May they rest in peace."
But how could a tormented soul such as Tombstone rest in peace? Why, only Death would be the best way for him out of this scam. But how can he die when none would approach him?

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[Blackie]

Beautiful and almost flawless, Dove walked blindly to no where in particular. Her sightless gaze stared at nothing, her other senses guided her. She was so deep in thaught, she only just heard the yowling cat. There was a vibration beneath her paws. Pausing, Dove lifted her nose and tried to smell the air. However, before she had a chance to decide what was going on, a cat ran into her.
Screeching, Dove fell back and slashed out instinctively.
Who's there?" she demanded, all the fur on her body risne on end. "Who are you?"
Her blind eyes searched frantically, but of course they found nothing. She growled low. The white she-cat was so full of fear, her other senses weren't working properly. It would be foolish to run in this state. All she could do was hope she hadn't come across a hostile cat.

[Eelstreak]

Sig Sauer was now convinced he was inside a nightmare. It had all the right elements, darkness, fear, pain, threat of death. Or, at least, he would have been if it hadn't been for the nettles and brambles that caught and tore at his legs and paws as he ran for his life from Tombstone. Suddenly he barrelled into another form. Fur flew and legs tangled as Sig Sauer ran down Dove. He scrambled back from her, eyes wide in terror. Her claws impacted down the side of his face and he cried out in pain. He was about to return the strike, but then he noticed her face. She was blind. Fighting the impulse to keep running and leave her to her fate, Sig answered her question.

"Lady, my name is Sig Sauer. We are both in great danger. Trust me now, we have to run!"

[Blackie]

Dove layed her ears back in confusion, taking in the other cat's words.
"Sig Sauer?" she mewed, trying the name. Then, "What danger?"
She lifted her pink nose, trying to catch th smells on the air. Fear still pulsed through her and made it difficult to smell anything. Very faintly, she thaught she could recognize the scent of another cat.
"Look," she mewed, an edge climbing to her voice. "Do you see my eyes? It's not like I can just get up and run. I have to navigate every step with my other senses. What sort of danger are we in? Is someone chasing you?"

[~All I Need]

[shadow=red,left,200][RIP] Tombstone [RIP]

The panting of something undead and disgusting came closer to Sig Sauer and Dove. Claws the color of bone and the appearance of rose thorns scraped at the rock, soil, and skin of Mother Earth. Lean, decaying muscles rippled like parting water under stinking fur as they contracted and relaxed. Tombstone was gaining on them, and he was thirsty for blood and flesh. Flesh and blood. Bone and claw.
He was ready to kill for the night.
"Rest in peace, you cowards!" he screamed tauntingly. "Tombstone's coming for you!"

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[Blackie]

Dove could not see the horror coming toward her, but she could hear it. Hear it very well. And smell it, too. All her senses were up and running again, as if they could waste no tim in assisting her to escape.

Without quite turning around, Dove leaned closer to Sig Sauer. "I don't know what that is and, frankly, I don't want to. Do you mind showing me which way to go? I don't fancy fighting just now."

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[Eelstreak]

Sig, though almost paralyzed with his own fear, forced himself to think of Dove. Instead of caving to his instincts, which were all screaming at him to get out of there fast. He curled his tail about her neck and whispered, "Keep close. I'll try not to go too quickly." Then he took off, running in a panic away from the death that stalked him and his fair companion.

[~All I Need]

[shadow=red,left,200][RIP] Tombstone [RIP]

Keep close. I'll try not to go too quickly."
Tombstone was close enough to hear them now and he smiled a disgusting, foul smile. Well, well, well... What do we have here? An extra snack? He yowled and pushed his gangly legs to go even faster. "Yes," he hissed. "You don't want to see what's coming to you, my sweet blind one." His red eyes glowed like beacons of demon's darkness as he pelted through the undergrowth. Quicker than the blink of an eye, his gray tongue passed over his cracked lips. Oooh, dinner.[/shadow]

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[Blackie]

Dove could fell Sig Sauer's tail wrapped around her slender neck. Her breath came more rapidly when her ears caught the sound of the approaching doom.

"Keep close. I'll try not to go too quickly."

Dove would have murmered thanks and sped off as fast as she could, but the tom ran first. She almost lost the sense of the touch that connected Sig's tail to her. Gasping at the near miss of her guide, the white she-cat turned to run. Her paws pummeled the earth, kicking up dust. Her fur stood on end, bristling with terror. With a sudden squeak, she lost her footing. She stumbled, barely aware Sig Sauer was now ahead of her. Highly aware death was rapidly approaching behind. She tried to get up.

"Help!"

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[Eelstreak]

Sig Sauer barely noticed when he lost the feel of Dove's neck. But her strangled cry for help brought him up short. His heart thudded in his ears and the blood rushed in his veins. She was helpless, innocent against Tombstone's evil. But everything in him turned against going back for her. But he couldn't just leave her there... With a growled curse Sig ran back to her, nudging her to her feet. "Come on," he hissed. "Let's go!"

[Silentclaw]

(I hope you don't mind me coming in. If so, I can leave just as quickly as I appear)

Silentclaw had been out of the camp past sunset, thinking of the future as he hunted for prey and enemy alike. He looked up to the stars for a moment, his expression unreadable. His thoughts were often wandering these past few months. Silentclaw awoke from his trance with a shudder of pain. He knew it was this strange disease that raged in him that sucked the strength from him and left nothing but pain. He was lucky it wasn't as visible as it could be, and that the disease was relatively young enough that it allowed him to continue fighting.
A cold wind ruffled his short fur, causing him to shiver once more, though for different reasons than before. It was a pleasant change from normality for Silentclaw. Turning back to camp he caught a scent in the air. A faint wisp that could of been nothing if it weren't for the faintest sounds of movement. Instantly the old rouge leader was off, running through the darkened forest in search of the sound. "Who's out there?" He growled loudly as he ran, his voice echoing through the silent trees. He listened for some sort of response, on guard for any sort of attacker the shadows might be shielding.

[~All I Need]

[shadow=red,left,200]

[RIP] Tombstone [RIP]

Tombstone could hear Dove wail out in fear as she fell behind Sig Sauer. He laughed his wretched laugh and pushed his burning legs even harder. His lungs burned with the fire of lack of oxygen and his muscles ached and begged for rest. But he ignored his body's pleas. For why bother with pain if you're constantly in pain? No reason. With Tombstone, pain was his companion and lover. He sighed when he took pain with open arms. He could see the two cowardice cats as they fled from him fruitlessly. "Run, run, run as fast you can!
Scream, scream, scream as much as you want!
Flee, flee, flee! There's no chance at escaping the killing man!"
The scent of Silentclaw made Tombstone stop for an instant, his nostrils flaring and his lips pulled back over his disgusting teeth. The thin fur on his bony shoulders rose menacingly and he snarled. "My prey! You stay away from my prey! Two cats are my prey, they are! And you stay away from my prey, yes, yes, yes..." His voice trailed off and his red eyes unfocused on the ground. "Hmmm... Prey?" His head snapped up and his eyes drilled into the forest, after the fleeing cats. "My prey!" He then dashed off without another word after Dove and Sig.

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