I'm back! Thank you to all the people who reviewed the story so far.

Wolf's POV:

I curled my lips into a fearsome snarl, taking a step forward menacingly. Ash simply looked scornful until I launched myself at him with full force. I didn't even notice that my claws were unsheathed until I saw blood trickling from a scar just above his eye.

Ash retaliated by striking toward my face, but he missed as I ducked away. I saw the larger tom roll his eyes, and I felt a newfound fury stir up inside me. With a growl, I raked my unsheathed claws across his cheek, making him flinch slightly.

And almost at once, he was on top of me, pinning me down with infuriating ease.

"Next time," Ash growled, scornfully, "pick on someone who's the same size as you, or smaller." He smiled, showing his teeth. "Isn't that something they teach to kits?" I struggled to loosen his grip as he spoke. "Oh, wait. I almost forgot. You were never one of us."

He finished his last sentence with a growl, and at that moment, I sunk my teeth into his paw, making him hiss in pain. I jumped to my paws, crouching slightly, ready to receive his next attack.

Ash smirked. "Is that what you've been learning from Darkness? To fight like a kit?"

"You want to see what Darkness has been teaching me?" I shot back, my blue eyes narrowing. Without waiting for his reply, I moved, swiping down with one paw before using my other forepaw to slash across his face. Almost instinctively, Ash slammed his paw down, catching my side and knocking me over.

Stupid tom.

Again, I was pinned down by Ash. Simply infuriating. One day, Ash, I thought to myself. One day, you'll learn that size doesn't matter when it comes to fighting. Moments later, Ash released me, letting me get to my paws.

"It looks like Darkness is teaching you kit tricks just to make you feel better about yourself," Ash taunted.

Blood danced in my vision. I snarled viciously and swiped a paw at his shoulder. Ash ducked, and I missed. Ash attacked, bowling me over and holding me down. I watched as the claws on one forepaw unsheathed, and reached toward my face.

I leaned my head to one side. Ash rolled his eyes. "Afraid I'll make a small mark on your beautiful face?" he mocked me.

"Well, that small mark is the best your puny claws can do!" I retorted, and I suddenly threw myself at the larger tom with renewed force. His claws struck my shoulder, and I growled as blood gushed out. I hate, hate, hate that cat.

Now, I was going to kill. My claws were only aimed toward Ash's throat, and he blocked every time. Once, my teeth latched onto the loose skin on his neck, and when he shook me off, I took a sizeable clump of flesh and blood with me as I fell.

Ash hissed in pain, and I jumped to my paws, ready to attack again.

But a black blur threw itself between Ash and me. I looked up, eyes widening as I saw Darkness staring down at the two of us. "What is the meaning of this?" he growled, hissing as he turned to Ash. "I know you may not be the best of friends, but you two need to put your rivalry aside... at least until you gain your mentors. Then you'll know how to really fight, and instead of just weakening each other, one of you just kill the other and be done with it."

I looked up angrily. "I was just having fun in the bushes when this giant lump came and crashed-"

"What do you mean?" Ash snapped. "I was in the clearing when you ran full force into me!"

Darkness looked from me to Ash, Ash to me. "Whatever it is, stop it now. Ash, go back where you came from. And Wolf, you come with me." I turned and followed Darkness, with a final smirk at Ash, whose eyes blazed angrily.

Once I was sure I was out of Ash's sight, I let my ears droop a little, at the lecture I knew was going to come from the rogue leader. Finally, Darkness stopped in his tracks, and I frowned. "Wolf." Darkness's voice was low and quiet.

I looked up into Darkness's green eyes as he continued. "I've told you before about fighting with Ash. He's bigger than you, and stronger, and you haven't learned everything you need to know about fighting." I opened my jaws to protest, but he continued. "Yes, I know. Neither does he. But as of now, Ash has the advantage. And I'm trying to train you to be a better fighter. Soon, you'll be better than he is."

"Sorry," I muttered.

"I can't have a future second of mine dying so soon, can I?" Darkness mewed, and I shook my head. "Good. Now let's train some more. If you're going to be the second, instead of Ash, then you'd better learn to be a better fighter."

And he launched himself at me.

Surprised by the sudden attack, I dodged to one side, causing Darkness to fall forward. But the rogue leader caught himself almost immediately. His claws were unsheathed as he turned with blinding speed and raked a claw across my ear.

Crying out, I stumbled back, but tripped over a root, allowing Darkness to tear his claws repeatedly through my shoulder... a wound that had already been created by Ash not long ago. I felt his claws tearing deep thrugh my flesh, and I jerked away, scrambling to my paws.

Darkness only laughed, a mocking laugh.

"Don't think," he growled, shoving his face close to mine, "that just because I want you as my future heir, I'm going easy on you." And with a quick strike of his paws, he swiped my paws out from under me, causing me to fall backward.

Effortlessly, the rogue leader pinned me down, staring me in the eye. "I'm going to make sure you remember to defend yourself from that, next time," Darkness growled. I widened my eyes as his claws hovered above my small body, then shut them tightly as they sliced down into my soft underbelly.

Someone screamed.

It took me a moment to realize that it was me. And then, I barely had time to see the black spots in my vision before everything vanished.

oO0Oo

"Finally," a voice growled, and I opened my eyes drearily to see Darkness staring down at me. "It took you a while."

"For heaven's sake, give her a little bit of space," a voice mewed, and I turned achingly to see a familiar black she-cat... Nox, I think. The healer. I assumed she was the only cat who could speak to Darkness like that and ever get away with it.

"She has work to do," Darkness retorted. "Come on, Wolf."

"How long has it been?" I murmured, staring up blankly.

Darkness snorted. "Nearly an entire day. Now, get up, and let's go. You've been sleeping long enough."

I struggled to stand up, and winced at the sudden pain. Looking down, I saw a fresh scar, with drying blood coating it, across my underbelly, and I flinched just looking at it. Nox sighed. "Don't worry... the scar will be there, but it won't be too noticeable."

But I could tell her smile was forced.

"Wolf!" Darkness snapped, and I jerked up to face him. "Follow me," he mewed, and he led us back to our training area. Along the way, I caught a glimpse of Ash, again, and though he threw me a jeering glance, I ignored it numbly and walked on.

I could practically feel the confusion radiate off of Ash, but I ignored that, too.

"Come on," Darkness growled. "Attack me. Again." This time, I focused on his right shoulder and went for his left, leaving him slightly unbalanced with a blow. However, Darkness regained his balance with ease and snorted. "Come on, Wolf! Claws out! Stop fighting like a kit!"

That insult.

The same one that Ash spat toward me.

It drove me insane.

I saw red spots cloud my vision as I let out a yowl, springing forward. The force sent Darkness toppling over, where I swiped, claws out, at his face, slashing my claws across his eyes and nose. Darkness's black pelt suddenly turned lighter gray, and I stared in malice at the blue eyes that gazed back.

Ash.

I nicked his ear, and didn't stop when the cat beneath me flinched slightly. You deserve this. You torment me every day... I spat an insult at the larger cat as I raked my claws across his side. And then, as I blinked, my vision cleared.

Darkness.

It was him all along. The black tom rolled over, attempting to crush me, but I jumped out of the way, then rose to my paws. Whoops. But instead of clawing me for attacking so violently all of a sudden, Darkness purred. "Well done."

I widened my eyes. "What?"

"I didn't know you had it in you." Darkness dipped his head. "You've learned well. That's enough for today, I think."

oO0Oo

I muttered unpleasant words under my breath as Ash padded out of the nursery and into the clearing where I stood. The gray tom stiffened. "What was that?" he growled, unsheathing his claws. I rolled my eyes. Despite being arrogant and plain stupid, Ash could be annoying.

"Nothing," I retorted smoothly. "Anything you'd like to say?"

Rolling his eyes, Ash turned away. "Weakling," I heard him mutter, as he took a few steps away.

That did it. With a growl, I sprang onto his back, my teeth lodged firmly in the back of his throat. I hung on as Ash tried to shake me off, bringing him down with me. I hoped his words would have the same effect on me as it did with Darkness, but that fury was gone.

Well, I was still angry, but not in the same way.

As he rolled, I jumped up, snarling. "What was that you said?" I called, swiping at his face. "Do I look weak to you?"

"You were under Nox's care for a day!" Ash retorted. "I'd say you're weak."

"At least I'm not overprotected and fully milked all day, like you," I growled back. "I've got a life, and I'm willing to do anything to prove that I'm a fighter." I punctuated my last words with a swipe at his nose.

"No," Ash mewed, with sudden firmness. "You're not learning anything. You've just been pacified by being put under Darkness's care. He says he trains you, just to soothe you. You're nothing but Darkness's worthless puppet."

Ouch. That must have hurt.

I love hurting my characters ;). No, just kidding. Well, actually, sometimes I do.

Okay, guys. I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Leave a review before you go!

~ Always Fire