Toralei's words echoed through Kat's mind as she sat atop the belfry, staring down at the ring that she had been wearing most of the week.

They hated her….my presumed death was just an excuse.

She thought, a primal rage building in her as her emotions mixed with the training that she had been given as a kitten. She knew it wasn't smart to allow herself to be worked up during the full moon, all her emotions and senses having been affected however this time she couldn't bring herself to care.

Not after what she had heard.

Not after what she had seen.

"Basette, please guide me." she muttered, closing her eyes and leaning back onto the cold tin of the roof.

She felt not only her energy bubbling dangerously close to the surface but also an odd bitterness, almost like hatred swirling somewhere inside her.

And she hated it.

Indra taught me that hate and jealousy both are empty emotions...yet it is impossible for me not to want to rip them a new ass….The Queen and King of the clowder as well.

A growl formed in her throat as she thought about that, remembered burning pain, water burning her lungs as she was forcefully held under. Recalling the burning, ripping pain of claws along her back for daring to whimper.

And suddenly something inside her snapped. Something primitive and wild emerging and igniting her as her body shifted into that of a huge cat.

It was the last night of the full moon…the time she would be strongest.

It was now or never.

Toralei heard the commotion before she saw it, although as soon as she stepped outside she saw something that she never expected to see.

Nekolas holding a bloody wound on his arm while a werecat with glowing eyes stood over him, teeth bared and surrounded in a strange golden glow.

"Who the fang is that?"

A werecat in the crowd asked although before anyone could say anything the large feline was gone, replaced by a teenaged figure wearing way too much black.

"I wish to challenge Queen Maio to a conclave of rites. She has until Sundown on the Sabbath to answer my challenge or I will come to her and I show no mercy."

Even the crickets and night fowl seemed to grow silent in the wake of her spat words.

"Katina! You're alive? How...Where have you been?"

Nekolas was the first to speak, although he suddenly crumpled in pain as Kat's eyes glowed once again.

"Yes and you fools blamed a child for what nature did? Do you not have brains? Does your so-called queen really have her head so far up her own fucking ass that she blamed her own kitten?"

Each word seemed to grow in intensity and Toralei knew what was going to happen next.

Yet, how could she stop it? After all, she was a runt...weak.

Suddenly a crunch was heard as the gravity seemed to force the male werecat onto the ground.

Toralei knew what that felt like.

"Stop."

The command was quiet, quivering even and Toralei could feel all eyes on her.

"Don't lower yourself to their level."

A dull roar of whispers started up once again as the strange new feline turned toward the younger girl.

"And what should I do? Let this spumae go?"

Kat no longer spoke like the werecat from before, Toralei realized, eyes growing wide. This voice was different, cold and calculating.

"You issued a conclave. Isn't that enough?" She questioned, almost feeling the need to shrink back under the emotionless gaze.

She didn't.

"They need to pay...except the least one...she has no clue what is happening." Kat declared, waiting to see what response she would get.

She knew that her almost uncontrollable rage said hurt or even destroy but that wasn't who she wanted to be.

But it did offer her a chance to test Toralei.

"Maybe but not like this."

Kat then turned to face her, smirking slightly as her eyes flashed dangerously.

"Alright. Challenge accepted. Best me and I won't break him, but know I won't hold back."