Foreword:
This is a story about a cat. Possessing white fur with light gray mottled spots 'n patches and captivating violet blue eyes. She's known by many as Rain, though others think of her as Hail. We'll stick to Rain for simplicity purposes. It might seem confusing so bare with me. On with the story.
Chapter 1:
Rain's black collar uncomfortably pressed against her neck. It was adorned with blood stained fangs and claws of her previous "victims": dogs, cats, fowl, badger, and the occasional fox. Black claws that matched her collar lazily hung from the branch that she was napping on. She tediously surveyed the blank forest below her and a small kit caught her eyes, silver with darker flecks, running across the flora carelessly. Scratches covered its fur and it had a funny gate, as if injured, making it an easy target. She shook her head, who was she kidding? Kits weren't on her hit list, or any other list.
The spotted she-cat took a bite out of the mouse she had brought up to the tree with her, then kept on watching. Ah, there he was. Iko. Ikol. Ik-hole. Whatever his name was. Black fur tipped with a seemingly unnatural blue shone in the sunlight. Partners in crime or not, her new goal was to kill him, even after failing more than a dozen times. She scooted down the branch and sent a couple leaves down to the ground. Sliding down the branch and getting twigs entangled in her fur, letting more leaves drop. Regretting her lack of covert skills, it's too late. The tom looked up at her and smiled with his deep blue eyes, "Well, if it isn't my favorite bipolar freak?" Rain just flattened her ears and drew her lips back in a mute snarl, now clinging onto the branch for dear life. "Need help?"
He doesn't wait for an answer, knowing he'd never get one anyways, and expertly goes up the tree. Iko crawls to her and pulls her up by the scruff effortlessly. Rain sighs with relief and awkwardly dips her head in gratitude before regaining her senses and narrowing her eyes at him. The black-blue tom stares at her dull eyes for a little too long which makes her itch with an uncomfortable feeling. "You know you you'd never be able to kill me, right?' he mutters. "Admit it, it's cuz you're in looove with me!" teases the tom. No. Rain's fur fluffs out, and her tail nervously sways as if trying to regain balance. Chuckling, he smirks and jumps down from the branch, flawlessly landing on all fours. She huffs at the challenge in his taunting blue eyes and leaps down.
Flashback: Rain's expressionless facade seemed unfazed as she cornered her next victim, an old clan leader, on the top of twoleg home. "Have mercy. Please." pleaded the elder tom. She dipped her head and sadly looked at him, pitying the already broken soul. Tears clouded her eyes as she sees some sort of understanding in his green orbs, and he nodded; almost as if forgiving her. Was he mocking her? He knew nothing of her pain, and she knew none of his. How dare he! Rage filled her and before she knew it, she had pushed him off and sent him crashing to the concrete. He landed with a sickening crunch. Rain felt herself wince and forced herself to go down. The ragged tom had hit the ground head first, and she sighed in relief knowing it could've possibly been painless. She took a fang and gingerly stuck it on her collar, as a souvenir incase they questioned her, then quietly padded away.
The scene replays in her mind and she hesitates in mid air, crashing into the tree, and finally hitting the ground, falling on a paw at an angle. She cries out in pain and rolls. Agony flares through her right forepaw. Cursing herself, Rain hauls her scratched and battered up self off the forest floor and comes face to face with Iko; who was not even trying to hide his grin. "Haha! Imagine this circulating around the camp! "Ruthless killer, Hail, murdered by a tree!" Wow Rain, you'll really be making a name for yourself!"
The white and light silver she-cat gives him a "what do you want in exchange for keeping your trap shut" look and perks her ears as if waiting for a reply. He was right, it could completely ruin her reputation if she limped back into camp. It would be dangerous for her in her current situation.
Iko appeared to be seriously thinking it through, and her heart drops when she sees his sharp white teeth flashing a sly grin at her. "I get to order you around for five full days."
She glares; both options would lead to humiliation so she holds up one paw, one day. He shakes his head, "Three days." She raises one paw again. "Four?" Gritting her teeth, Rain lashes her tail. Putting up two paws in the air while sitting down, she looks away. "You surrender? Two days, as you wish." She felt nothing far from extreme agitation, knowing she was at the mercy of her rival for the next two days. Maybe shame would've been a smarter choice than allowing someone as trivial as him boss her around.
"Great, now follow me." Lifting her paw up as she limped as fast as she could behind him, Rain's endurance dissipated. Staggering around a maze of vines and roots is impossible on three paws. Iko let out an exasperated sigh and padded back towards her, offering her his shoulder to lean on. Stubbornly shaking her head, Rain refuses his help, deeming it as a sign of weakness. He snorts in disbelief and contempt, "Don't be an idiot. Or would you prefer for me to put you out of your misery?" She flinches and gives in, leaning on him while they made their way through the green forest. One moment he helped her and the next he was threatening her. What a shady guy! Well, she does repeatedly attempt on his life. Wait, shouldn't she be trying to assassinate him? Rain pins her ears back, Iko adeptly notices her change of thought and scowls. "Look, don't even think about it. You know you're out matched. What'd happen if I just left you here by yourself with a strained paw, can't really fight off a fox on three paws right? Or, let's say you're stupider than I think and decide to attack anyways, wouldn't you agree that the odds aren't in your favor? I'd have you bleeding out in mere seconds."
Rain hung her head as they continued strolling across the woods, admitting defeat. She slipped on a smooth rock, almost losing her balance, but he steadied her with his tail. Opening her mouth to say thanks, she catches herself and glares at her paws as they keep on going. The white and gray she-cat becomes overly aware of the lingering black tail that was casually draped over her back and tried shrugging him off to no avail. This cycled for a while before Iko came to an abrupt stop in front a fallen log.
She reluctantly follows him inside. It takes her breath away. The top was tall enough to make them have to stretch up to reach the ceiling. Four cats could comfortably stand side by side in a single row. Needless to say, it was huge. There was a fully stocked fresh-kill pile along the edge, a hole for a quick escape route, herbs neatly sorted into small indentation in the bark, and a large, very suspicious looking, fluffy, moss bed. It was covered in soft feathers and had leaves around the border. It didn't even come close to the nest she had back home in the streets.