A/N: Ayy guess who has a midterm next week? Unfortunately, me. Yeah. Doubt it'll affect anything in terms of writing, but yeah, wish me luck cause I might just die. Speaking of death, muahahaha. It hurt. I'll say it now. It hurt having to do this and getting to this part of the outline (had it planned since… hmm… I think since Ignis first set out from the City). I was kinda nervous, tbh, didn't know how you guys would react to it. And now we get to this chapter and this… This is where it just gets messy (*cough* with Soot and Flare *cough*) and I apologize for the emotional whiplash/trauma in advance :).

Grief is a strange and powerful thing that makes people do things they would normally never do. Keep that in mind.

Thanks to FrostedShadowx for adding this story as a favorite!

Reviews

soulwinds- Uhhhhh, you know what, screw it XD. Yes, it is heavily implied that Soot is Redstar's kit, so take that as you will. (And yes, it's very messed up. It's a very messed up situation.)

Someone (Guest)- Yeah! You were correct pal. (Heavily implied, I've basically spelled it out without saying it XD). Yes, Redstar did kill Cinderfrost (and the reason for that will be revealed later muahaha). That bit with Wildfire had me cackling for a bit haha. All questions shall be answered sooner or later. Yeah, it's Bluewing and Shrewtail. And yes, Mousepaw will be getting her name. Ahha… Will you believe me if I said that the Twelve's names matching their fighting styles was actually an accident? (It was- when I made them and their names, that's all I had. I didn't plan their fighting styles until I actually implemented them into the story. Happy accidents.) Not a coincidence, just me there XD. Like to keep it simple with the elements. Yes, I'd like to keep with the theme to have them have some kind of Latin name for a natural thing. XD Arbor will be very useful in the City indeed haha. So many trees. I do like long reviews so no need to apologize! Very innovative. Now, I wouldn't say Aqua is a worse fighter than Rainpaw, just that Rainpaw fights a lot more unhinged (and in their fight, Aqua didn't truly wish to kill her, if you recall). Aqua was very conflicted, where Rainpaw no longer was and that did affect her fighting style. Ignis… is even worse than an unhinged Rainpaw XD (if his fight with Flarekitty is anything to go by). So between Ignis vs Aqua, like most fights, it depends on a lot of factors and the situation revolving around why they're fighting in the first place, but if we're looking at just pure strength then… I'd say Ignis (Keep in mind, Aqua learned her style from King, and King can easily beat Ignis. Aqua is mostly a beginner if you wanna call her that, to that fighting style and is still working out the kinks). And Flarepaw and Ignis already fought and it ended in a kinda draw? So between them… hmmm… Maybe Flarekitty (but, as I said, it depends on a lot of factors). The strongest fighter is hands down Leafstar- Willowflame was the only one in the clans able to keep up with her, had beat her a few times 1v1, but now that Willow is gone, Leafstar holds the title. It doesn't take long for Leafstar to come up with a strategy, and she's also quick to think on her feet and adjust accordingly depending on her opponent's actions. There aren't many tactician-ing, "strategic" fighters like her in the clans- the closest one is Cherrypaw and even still, Cherry is only an apprentice and still learning about herself. Nice names, nice names. I think I already have my next Twelfth member, but I will take suggestions into account. Thanks for the names, I'll note them down and see if I could include them anywhere or if I have them planned already. Until next time!

EbonyClaw (Guest)- W o w indeed, that's a nasty spell XD. (Recently leveled up to 7, learned Wall of Fire. That's fun.) Will probably have to think about using a Cleric next, just so my party doesn't have the same mistake as this time where we don't have a healer whatsoever haha.

Echofire (Guest)- Answer: They are… doing the most right now XD. Don't worry, they're still alive (I'm not that cruel to kill them off-screen). And also keep in mind, these past like… five or so chapters have been all in one day, in the span of a few hours even so… yeah. Not a lot of time has passed in-universe. Ignis just left so no, he hasn't run into them either. We'll (most likely) get a quick check-in with them possibly in the next few chapters.

PheonixRune- Don't worry, it's true. Your resurrection wasn't in vain XD. Goodday person XD.

FrostedShadowx- Shame on you for skipping ahead (just kidding lol, you do you, buddy). Whiteshadow is, indeed, alive. He is en route back to the clans with our little raindrop, don't you worry. Second Review: Maayyybeee (just wait and see)

KyubiMaster9- O-O indeed. Hooray for being right! He has so much dirt on the clan members, you have no idea XD.

Juniper21 (Guest)- Hello! It's completely fine if you haven't reviewed, just glad to know you're enjoying the story. Thank you so much!

silhouette amongst stars- Tell me about it, with school and with the cold weather approaching on my land (XD), I've been feeling very lethargic and tired lately. (Also I think because this is the longest I've gone without skipping a week of my workouts and my body needs a break. But I can't stop damnit, I always stop XD) Hey, no need to stress over it. It's okay if you can't leave a super long review or even any review every chapter. I get it, life's a jerk. I sometimes wonder how I can keep this up too, but I'm not complaining (just wait till I finish school and get a job, then it'll be ruined). I am a master at brutally hurting people's emotions for some reason. Comes with the practice. Thank you! I really enjoy being able to flesh out all of the different dynamics the characters have with each other (glad I decided to expand this story so it's not only focused on Soot and Flare's lives but the lives of everyone around them as well because they have their own stuff and personalities too so it would be unfair to leave them out. Even if it does make this story ridiculously long). Thank the gods it didn't break, I could not do with a broken collarbone anytime soon haha. That would be pretty neat indeed.

Thanks to everybody who reviewed and added this story as a favorite!

Let's get started with this mess!

The City (oh? What's this? Sneak attack y'all)

The night was alive with silence unlike any other, and Phantom relished in the quiet at the same time it made his paranoia hover over his shoulder like a shadow waiting to strike. Like a ghost waiting to steal his soul…

Ghost.

The tom gritted his teeth before raising himself from the garden's grasses. What was once a flourishing place that was virtually the only splash of green in this monochromatic, grey world of his home instead was now yet another dead thing. He- and Ghost and Spirit and the rest of his brothers and sisters of the past- would often find themselves here after a long day of training and abuse, right before the sun went down because they weren't allowed to wander at night.

It was a rule many tried to squeeze around, but none who did lasted long with Father's watchful gaze. Phantom huffed as he shifted in his seat, the pleasantness of the garden and the peaceful atmosphere nonexistent for a while now, but he had at least wanted to fool himself into thinking it worked for just a few moments longer. His life had reached an all-new level of stress and while Spirit released hers by killing or spending the night with toms or she-cats or both, Phantom would not let his reputation squander with such actions. His reputation was the only thing keeping his head above water at this point, the only thing making him feel so alive and found in a world where he was undeniably lost.

At times, his reputation was exhausting. A curse even. Being King's right-hand meant his word was above everybody's but his leader's, meant that he could continue doing what he did best- serving the ruler of this world. He was never meant to be the leader- Father had denied him that right and Phantom would not take it now. It would be wrong of him. It would be forgetting everything that Father taught him, everything that Father gave him for his good behavior.

No, Phantom was not meant to lead… but damn was it tempting at times when this new King made such questionable decisions. Teaching Mothers to hunt and heal, going out of his way to take over the clans. Not ordering more focused hunting parties to find the escapees.

The dead grass beneath his paws shifted when he did, crunching beneath his weight and the sound of it sent a tickle down his spine. Center yourself. Do not fall victim to your thoughts and your anger. Father would be disappointed.

Father had left this world disappointed with him, and Phantom was going to do everything in his power to make it up to him before it was his time to go.

And you are failing.

Ghost.

Damn you.

His eyes narrowed, claws sinking into the dead pieces of grass beneath him and it did nothing to stave off his simmering anger. So close, he had been so close to finally fulfilling his greatest desires to break Ghost. That's all he had ever wanted. His so-called brother had killed Father's heir, had sent him over the edge of a cliff, and Phantom had done nothing but watch it happen back then. (A part of him always whispered, wondered, taunted… Had Phantom wanted it to happen? For Shard to die? He was afraid of what the answer would be.)

Phantom did not spend two seasons in the Sewers, did not get publicly humiliated in every way possible, and did not receive Father's disappointment just for Ghost to get away from him now. That was the funny thing, wasn't it?

Ghost had been right there, right there, and Phantom had thought he won. He won because Ghost was trapped beneath his claws and Phantom could make him bleed as he wished, could make him cry and scream and beg (except, his brother never begged, Ghost was more stubborn than that, even now). He was at Phantom's mercy and the grey-tinted tom had found his joy in playing with him.

King, of course, wanted answers from Ghost, but Phantom did not care for them. He had wanted to make Ghost suffer in the worst way possible, to the point where death was a mercy and a release from all of this pain. That's what he deserved. No one else was allowed to do it but him.

And then…

And then…

Phantom let out a quivering breath as his long-forgotten rage bubbled in his blood, his temperature rising to a fever pitch and an all too familiar restlessness overtaking him. No one is watching, he reminded himself as dark golden eyes made a once-over of the empty gardens. There was nobody else but him. Make destruction beautiful.

And he did. His claws flew as he tore into the dead grass, pretending it was the limp body of his runaway brother instead because that thought was so much more satisfying to him. It felt wrong though, the grass did not have the same resistance that skin did (he would know) and there was no dripping of blood to stain his black paws and that only drove him further into his frenzy.

Ghost escaped.

You let him escape, just like before. Just like before, he escaped your wrath and now he's free.

(Free in a way you will never be, you coward.)

Phantom tore at the place that was once his paradise, severing yet another piece of his past, and hated his brother. Ghost had always been the flighty type, the fast one. Phantom had only ever been able to keep pace with him, and at times outpace him, because he was taller, his reach longer. But Ghost…

Ghost was everything he wanted to be and everything he feared to be.

Because Ghost was the only one who had done it; he escaped, and not just now. Not just from the Sewers here. But from Father's grasp. He had been brave enough to take that chance and embark into a new world where nothing was certain and dangers were everywhere. Soul had failed, Wraith had failed. So did Shade, and Specter. And all of those others foolish enough to try and escape.

Ghost did it.

He won.

He beat Father and his rules, just like he beat Shard when he pushed him into the gorge. And instead of joining him… No, Phantom wanted more.

If Ghost could beat Father…

Then Phantom wanted to beat Ghost.

"It's not often I get to see the infallible Phantom so emotional."

The grey-tinted white-furred tom stiffened, only now realizing that his paws were aching and his chest was heaving and there was a sharp pain in his head in his lightheadedness. Still, it didn't stop him from whirling around, at the ready to jump and tear into whoever dared try and sneak up on him. Someone was always going to sneak up on him or try to at least. (It was Father's training that made him so prepared.)

(It was Father's training that made him so paranoid.)

At first, his well-trained eyes could find nothing. Darkness and shadows all around with the silvery moonlight up above, the rays of black cascading from the looming buildings around. Here, in his pocket of a once-paradise, the grass was dead and brown and the moon hardly reached it. But then, he caught a flicker of a smile that seemed to stretch alarmingly on a split face, and he turned in its direction to come face-to-face with jade green eyes that glimmered with madness unlike any other.

He had no time for his own madness and spiraling. He was about to face someone so much worse.

Gathering his thoughts and his emotions and locking them in the cage of his mind, Phantom took in a rejuvenating breath that did nothing to chase away his impending headache. He gathered himself as best as he could, smoothing down his fur and sheathing his claws, standing up straight with his head held high.

He bowed his head respectfully because Father had always taught him to have nothing but respect for the mad.

Especially someone like this cat.

Slinking from the darkness like they had always belonged there, the tortoiseshell stepped lightly onto the dry grass, prancing forward almost as if they were dancing and they even gave a playful twirl just because they wanted to it seemed. Phantom, externally, wasn't judging- his face a careful mask of neutrality. But internally, he could feel his nerves rising the closer and closer this cat approached him.

He knew of the dangers, Father had warned him. A family in the City that spread insanity like a plague, that passed lunacy on like it was an heirloom. They were unpredictable and dangerous and Father had wanted them eradicated time and time again (yet, they always seemed to convince him otherwise). Their members had died off, naturally of course from their own madness and delirium, but now and then, one or two would pop up all over again. Phantom was convinced there was a curse on the City, and these cats were the unlucky few who bore it in their minds.

"What an honor it was to witness that," the cat grinned that disarming grin once more and Phantom was slowly beginning to regret his decision of asking them to meet him tonight. "Truly an honor, such an honor. You'd fit right into my family, Phantom."

"I'm afraid I'll have to disagree there. I am unworthy to be in your family," I'm not crazy enough. Ignis and Lux were closer than he was, yet compared to this cat, Ignis and Lux were completely sane. He paused and added, hesitantly, "Shall I call you sir or miss tonight, Umbra?"

Umbra's manic grin grew with delight at his uncertain question, tilting their head back to let out a pleased cackle as they slinked their way to a patch of grass that was in ruin by Phantom's claws. Phantom repositioned himself minutely, awaiting their words with bated breath and making sure to keep them within his line of sight. Umbra, black fur streaked with the cream patterns of a tortoiseshell and a face split in half with the two colors, flopped onto the destroyed vegetation and gave a slight wiggle to get comfortable in a solely uncomfortable place. (Perhaps they found comfort in the ruin, in chaos.)

"Smart, Phantom, very smart. You've always been smart," Umbra uttered in response to his question before answering, "Neither. I'm neither today."

Phantom bit the inside of his cheek, shuffling his paws slightly. He would never understand Umbra's… Well, he never really knew what to call it. Some days they claimed to be a tom, others a she-cat, and even a few, like tonight, none. It confused everyone greatly and Phantom was partially convinced they did it only to keep others guessing (because that's what they liked to do). They smelled like a she-cat, they looked like one, sounded like one, and those who were unfortunate enough to simply assume to call them 'she' or 'her' were quickly… forgotten. Killed and buried so quickly one would think they had never existed in the first place.

So, Phantom was deciding to play it safe. If members of this family, holding the curse of insanity, scared even Father (well, not scare him, because Father was never scared. Made him cautious, more like), then he would be a fool if he didn't take those cautions to heart. For a moment, he didn't know why he even insisted on meeting Umbra at all.

But if there was one thing Umbra was good at, besides making everyone nervous, it was tracking. Hunting and killing.

He needed no one but the best to find Ghost and bring him back. (He personally wanted to be the one to go, but he had other responsibilities.)

"Then," he proceeded with uncertainty, brow furrowing, "What shall I call you?"

Umbra writhed in place, still trying to find a comfortable place to lay or perhaps just trying to scratch an itch now, before tilting their head towards him, smile wide and a bit teasing now and it only made him more on edge. Jade green eyes twinkled as they spoke, "What to call me, what to call me. How 'bout Master?"

Phantom bit back his immediate agitation and swallowed it down quickly. It would do him no good to snap at Umbra at any point during this talk. He needed to stay on their good side. "Well, what are you a master of then?"

"Of nothing!" Umbra cheered as though they had found the answer to everything, giggling as they twitched against the ground before suddenly moving onto their side with jerking movements, sitting up. "I see your confusion, you don't understand. Of course, you don't, you never will. No one ever does. But see, my words are true. Cause you see, you see; even a master of nothing is still a master of something!"

That… Phantom schooled his features into a careful mask of expressionlessness. Nothing they said ever made sense, Phantom just had to find a way around their strange words.

"I can't call you master," he spoke carefully, picking and choosing his words, "For you see, I already have one."

"Ah yes, that young outsider," Umbra immediately wrinkled their nose in a quite comical way, "Somehow made King by his false words and empty promises."

"Not him," Phantom's eyes gleamed with restrained anger, "Never him. I speak of Father."

"Zero, I see. Now that, that there makes more sense. Zero, Zero, Zero. Haha! You follow a nonexistent! A nothingness!"

"Father is very much real," Phantom was conflicted. On one half, he wanted to defend Father with his usual vehemence, and on the other, he really didn't want to upset Umbra. That never bodes well for anybody. "He is not a nothingness."

"You mistake my words. Of course, you do," Umbra sighed disappointedly, tail flicking this way and that before curling around small paws. "Zero is nothingness, for Zero finds freedom from this world that should really just up and burn. There is no beginning and no end and Zero is everywhere, everywhere! Zero is potential, a choice. You choose to follow him. You are right- he is very much real. For he is infinite and continues on and on and on. You follow him… When will you realize that Zero is the true fool? Now, do you understand?"

"I… do?" Phantom questioned and Umbra let out a groan of frustration. What did they expect? They were speaking in circles here, nothing but nonsense! Father was no fool.

"You don't, you really don't and I feel so sorry for you."

"I'm sorry for making you feel sorry," Phantom spoke through slightly gritted teeth, agitation beginning to leak into his bones and his joints as he shifted in place again. His ears twitched with the desire to fall flat and he greatly felt like he was just wasting his time here, talking in circles with this lunatic. "Now, what shall I call you instead?"

"What indeed, what indeed. Hmm- oh!" Suddenly, the tortoiseshell was bounding towards him, skipping with the innocence that only a kit could display, and yet, Phantom could see the grace, the power within their very bones. They skipped to him and he could do nothing but sit still and hope he would be fast enough, should Umbra try to attack him for whatever reason. He really didn't know the extent to what ticked them off. They leaned towards him, getting into his personal space and he tried very hard not to flinch as jade green eyes peered into his very being. The grin on their face was wide and that was never a good thing (the wider their smile, the more cautious one should be). Their eyes twinkled, "My name. You said it once and I loved hearing it. It's been so long. Go on, say it! Say it again. Come on~"

Phantom cursed himself internally for a slip-up he hadn't even caught earlier. Saying their name was… It was as equivalent as Spirit asking someone for theirs. Marking you to be damned. That whatever events that were about to happen or were happening would lead to your inevitable demise. Father had always warned him never to call the members of this family, the cursed, by their names. It was like inviting Death itself into your life.

"Phantom," the twinkle in their eyes shifted, so many emotions just… disappearing in the span from one blink to the next and just like that, the smile on their face was the widest he had ever seen them. The look in their eyes was growing frostier by the second, and as they shifted, it quickly caught up to Phantom that they were crouched and prepared to lunge forward. His ears flattened against his head now, eyes narrowing slightly in a warning that went straight over their head. "You're beginning to bore me. You know what happens when I get bored."

It was a threat. It was obviously a threat. If any other soul had dared to threaten Phantom like this, then they would be killed before they could even blink. But this cat, Phantom couldn't kill them.

Father had always said that if you killed one of the cursed, then the curse of insanity would pass onto you. The deceased soul would latch onto you, taking over, and there would be nothing you could do to fight it off. It would always be a ghost, hovering over your shoulder.

"Now, I wouldn't want you to get bored with me so quickly… Umbra."

The light in their eyes returned as he spoke their name hesitantly, and just like that, the unsettling disposition of the tortoiseshell relaxed as they let out an adorable squeal. They still lunged forward anyway, but instead of sinking teeth into his throat, Phantom let out a quiet grunt when they playfully butted their head into his neck. The purr that vibrated from their body would have been soothing if it didn't remind him of how close they were. Especially to such a vulnerable place on his body.

Breathe in, breathe out. Relax. It was very difficult to relax with their mouth so close to his throat, but Phantom grit his teeth through the entire endeavor and tried not to wrinkle his nose as their scent remained on him. At least it would make others stay away for a bit.

"Ah, Phantom. You never cease to humor me," Umbra giggled as they pulled away, bouncing backward and sitting heavily against the ground, taking in a deep breath of the chilly night air and exhaling just as slowly. Jade green eyes disappeared behind closed lids, seconds ticking to a minute as they remained sitting as still as ice and Phantom let them have their moment. It happened often with those of their family- they would be all disturbing grins and twinkling eyes one minute, laughing boisterously and unnecessarily the next, and then just like that, they would just… stop. Like they weren't paying attention to anything around them, an air of inattentiveness hovering over them like a silhouette of shadows.

It almost seemed like they were not quite there, not on the same plane of existence at least, like they had transcended above all the others and were allowed into a world all their own. It was all an act. If Phantom had learned anything from watching and hearing stories of them, it was that they were always listening. Always watching.

"It's rude to stare," the tortoiseshell opened one eye, the lack of anything within them such a stark contrast to how they always seemed to hold everything within them. All kinds of emotions in all matters of intensity. Phantom wondered what it was like, to constantly feel everything on such a disarming potency. (Perhaps, that's the secret of their curse and their craziness.) "Didn't Father teach you manners?"

"Of course, he taught me many things," Phantom narrowed his eyes slightly, willing to push because the longer he spent with them, the more he wasted time and the more he felt like he was seconds away from going mad himself. "Like not to dawdle when there are important matters to talk about."

"Tch, all business and no pleasure you lot are," Umbra whined pitifully before the gleam returned in their eyes, something dark and dangerous, "Don't you know how to have fun, Phantom? I could show you if you'd like."

"Fun… Is that what you want, Umbra?"

"Is that what you're offering?" They stood up again, moving with a smoothness that betrayed the nonchalant manner they had been going for. How anyone could think they were not a threat or didn't know how to fight was beyond Phantom. Every movement they made was a threat, it was why it was so important to stay on edge whenever around them. "Oh, it's been so long since I've had fun. No one ever wants to come and play with me anymore, do you know how lonely it gets in my dwelling without any new faces? Why I think I might just go insane there."

They laughed at their own words and Phantom gave a little smile in response, a slight curl to the corner of his lips. Gotcha, he felt a little too pleased with himself, ensnaring such a dangerous cat to do his bidding with just a few choice words.

"Well, what would you say to a little game I have to offer you?"

"I'm all ears!" Umbra leaned forward with the excitement the younglings always had whenever given the chance to leave City walls. To explore the world outside, to hunt, to track. "Come on, come on! Let's hear it!"

"I'm sure you're well aware that a few of our prisoners managed to escape my eye," Phantom said with a nonchalant, almost bored tone. His dark golden gaze, however, darkened with irritation at his admittance. It had been his fault, really. Leaving it up to Sora and only a handful of Guards to escort Ghost to his execution. He should have been the one taking Ghost there. (Skies, he should have just killed Ghost then and there in the Sewers that morning like he had wanted to.) "They escaped and are now on their way back home."

"Ah, you speak of the outsiders," Umbra hummed to themself before their eyes brightened to an almost taunting degree. "Well, outsider. Just one. The other, the she-cat, she didn't belong here- or maybe she did? She wasn't born here, but she might as well have been. She'd have fit right in with us. I saw her a few times, wandering at night. She never saw me, no she didn't. No one ever does. I tracked her everywhere, every time she was out, and yet no one else could find her. A shame- she wasn't very good at hiding. But she was good at fighting. Sora had it coming, yes he did. That was such a beautiful thing to witness."

There was… a lot to unpack there. Phantom gaped for a few moments, startled by such a free admittance with no care that what Umbra had done was basically treason. None of the Guards had ever managed to even catch a whiff of the she-cat, and yet… Umbra did. Not just a whiff, a sight- time and time again. And they didn't say anything?!

Phantom took in a deep breath to calm himself down, letting it out through gritted teeth just a tad bit faster than he would've liked. This was fine. It was fine! Umbra had no true sense of loyalty to the City, the only reason their family stayed here was that it was so full of others to play with. They didn't like being alone much, there would be no one to talk to then. And Phantom couldn't just kill Umbra.

He was well on his way to going mad, true, but Umbra's level of mania was not something he ever wanted to reach.

His attention returned to the unstable tortoiseshell when he realized they were still rambling. Mostly to themself, most likely, but it would do good to listen anyway.

"The other though, the other… He was familiar. Very familiar. And yet, I can't wrap my mind around it. It's almost there, just out of reach- What was his name?!" Umbra let out a sudden growl, shaking their head harshly as if that would dislodge the memory from their mind. It was almost sad to watch, and Phantom decided he would be merciful and help them out.

"That was Ghost," he sighed heatedly, "My brother of long ago. He trained with me and Spirit with Father and-"

"Ghost! Now I remember," Umbra cut him off with a victorious yowl, "yes, yes. Ghost. That was him. The traitor, the runaway. The escapee." They paused and gave him a devilish curl of their lips. "The victor. The hero. The enemy."

It was almost as if Umbra had read their mind from earlier. Phantom wrinkled his nose, curling his lip slightly to reveal a single fang and his obvious animosity was enough to make Umbra burst into gleeful laughter yet again. Their eyes were bright and the emotions within them only seemed to grow brighter, harsher, burn more and ready to burst.

"He escapes yet again. Oh, I bet that makes you livid, Phantom."

"It does," Phantom ground out, "And I wish to make him pay. This is where you come in, Umbra."

"Oh?" They licked one of their paws, the glint of their claws against the moonlight catching his attention for a moment. Silver on red-stained ivory. The passing thought of whose blood is on their claws came and went as quickly as his racing heartbeat. "Do tell, do tell."

"It's a simple game, really. A hunt," Phantom's eyes gave a gleam of their own, a smirk appearing on his lips as they appeared to cling onto his each and every word. "Track them down, all the way to the ends of the world if that's what it takes. All the way to their home. Track them down, and bring him back to me. Alive, Umbra, that's the important piece in all of this."

Immediately, and just like he thought they would, they pouted. "Can't I just bring you his head instead?"

His fur bristled and he couldn't stop himself from hissing, "No! Only I am allowed to kill him. No one else, understand?"

"Keeping all the fun to yourself," Umbra sighed before relenting with a shake of their pelt, "Although, I suppose it'll be nice to stretch my legs for a bit. It's been… a while since I've last left."

"And you did such a good job hunting my cowardly siblings down last time," Phantom praised, "This time will be no different. All I ask is that you keep him alive… If just barely. You can have your fun with him. If he's missing a limb or two, I can overlook it."

"Ah yes, that was fun last time. Listen, anytime you want Spirit gone, just say the word and I'm your cat," Umbra chuckled before sauntering to him yet again, bumping their head against his stiffened shoulder and hiding a smile against his chest. "But listen, you know I don't work for free. Yes, it's true, you're giving me a game, but you know how I work, Phantom. You're asking so much of me by not letting me just kill him, so I need something in return."

He was afraid of that. But Phantom was desperate at this point. The only ones who possibly had a chance of catching Ghost and bringing him back were himself and Umbra, and he was indisposed with his duties so this was his only choice.

The last time, when he continued shaping the City in Father's vision and his surviving brothers and sisters were getting in his way, Phantom had killed them all. The few foolish enough to think they were allowed to leave just because Father was gone had escaped him, slipping away because there were just so many of them to fight. The one or two who left…

Well…

The last face they saw was the maniacal one of Umbra and their disturbing grin, so in truth, Phantom felt a little sorry for them.

But Umbra never worked for free. The last time they asked for their family to be pardoned. Phantom had intended to have them killed or chased out or trapped in the Sewers, but he made a deal with the mad. And now there was an entire section of the City where no one dared to step foot in because that's where these cursed cats lived. That was fine, Phantom never went in that area anyway. And Umbra and their family weren't too troublesome, especially compared to the few groups that did openly go against King and the others.

"What do you ask for?" He spoke with the same hesitance as the start of this conversation, his bravado and surety wilting beneath jade green eyes that truly had the power to ask for anything and he would have to give it. Skies, if Umbra asked him for his position as One, then Phantom would have to give it.

Luckily for him, Umbra was never the ambitious one, never too greedy (just the right amount of selfishness to survive in this place).

"A little bird told me earlier tonight that because Sora is gone, there is now an opening in the Twelve that needs filling." A little bird, aka, most likely, Umbra's very own eyes and ears. He really needed to find a way to increase security for the Meeting Grounds (or, at the very least, find some competent Guards).

At their words, his blood ran cold, and even their warm body pressed uninvitingly against him only seemed to make him colder. Phantom bit his lip and closed his eyes, hoping beyond hope this wasn't going where he thought it was. Umbra hated responsibility, why would they want to be the next Twelfth?

"That is correct," his voice was slightly strained, stiffening and threatening to break halfway when Umbra tilted their head back and their nose pressed against his throat. What it would take for them to just decide to sink their fangs into his neck right now. It would take nothing, and he cursed himself yet again for unknowingly putting himself at their mercy.

They could do it now, just kill him. Phantom wouldn't be able to move fast enough to back away or block their strike if they so choose. For all the skill Father had branded into his mind and his muscles, Father did not teach him what to do when someone like Umbra got this close.

Wait, no, that wasn't right. Father did teach him something about that.

He taught Phantom to not let someone like Umbra get this close. (But nothing about what to do when he made the mistake to let it happen.)

Umbra grinned against his skin and Phantom just about stopped breathing altogether. They leaned in such a way that he could feel their teeth press against his neck and it was a very unpleasant experience. All they needed to do was open their mouth slightly and latch on and that would be the end of Phantom. (What a way to go.)

Whatever test this was though, whatever Umbra had been trying to do or figure out, Phantom seemed to pass because in the next second, instead of sinking their fangs into his neck, Umbra merely let out a pleased hum and pulled away. Backing up, the tortoiseshell met his dark golden eyes and gave a wicked smile.

"So brave, so foolish- just like Zero," Umbra uttered before giving another shake of their head, their jade green eyes going distant as they let out another heavy sigh. And for once, for once, something like a real smile appeared on their lips. Nonthreatening and fond, almost. It was… a strange sight. "You know of my dearest sibling, Nyx, yes? My adorable younger kin."

"Nyx… yes, I know of them." Of all the members of Umbra's family, and all those who bore the curse of insanity, Nyx was quite pleasant. Not too far gone into their own warped mind like Umbra (and those that were even worse than Umbra- Tenebris, for example, the head of that family wasn't even lucid most days and could hardly hold a conversation that made even a lick of sense). Phantom shifted, the dead grass beneath his paws crunching. "I hear they stop by the other trainees to watch."

"Nyx isn't much of a fighter, yet, but they can learn! They're such a fast learner, my cute little speck of darkness."

"I don't doubt your words, but why bring them up?"

"Because, silly, I want you to give the Twelfth position to Nyx." Umbra giggled and tilted their head in such a confused matter it could've been adorable on someone else. "Was that not obvious? I thought I was being obvious."

Ah. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. Umbra wasn't asking for the Twelfth position for themself, they were asking it for Nyx. Which wasn't… too terrible. Nyx would be the youngest, but really they couldn't be considered a youngling anymore. They were near the same age as Aqua and Glacies, a moon and a half younger if that, and look at what those two were doing. (Sure, Phantom didn't… particularly like or trust either of them, but they were great fighters and useful in their own right.)

Nyx wouldn't be too bad.

"Of course," Phantom nodded after a moment of thinking, "I could arrange that."

Really, it wouldn't be so hard. King was probably just going to pick one the others suggested at random unless Phantom gave him his opinion. Whoever Phantom decided, King trusted him enough to take it.

"Excellent, excellent! Oh, my sweet little Nyx is gonna be so happy," Umbra gave a wistful sigh, "Oh what fun they could have with you all."

Phantom felt as though he had made such a terrible decision as of now. But he was committing, he was committing because this was his only choice. He just had to make the best of a bad situation and turn it around.

"I'll take great care of them," Phantom vowed and gave a low bow of his head, Umbra giggling and giving one in return much more dramatically. With his head still lowered, he peeked his eyes up to them. "And will you take care of what I ask of you?"

"Do you even need to ask? Of course, I will! Are you doubting me, Phantom?"

"Never," Phantom shook his head honestly, "You've never failed me before."

"And I won't start now!" Umbra gave a gleeful squeal and did a spin, prancing about the grey-tinted tom in a dance that only made sense to them. It unnerved him to watch but he kept his eyes on them the entire time. It would do him no good to lose track of them. "When can I go? Can I go now?"

"I advise you to go now, yes. They already have a headstart as it is. You must be swift, Umbra," Phantom finally felt as though he could breathe for the first time since hearing Ghost had vanished yet again. It's fine. Umbra was going to bring him back and then, and then… Then, Phantom could finally kill him and everything would be fine. "Go to the wall of bones, I told the Watchers to let you go already."

"I will go posthaste now then, first I'll say goodbye to Nyx and the others though. Don't wanna upset my family, no no no, that's never a smart thing for anyone to do," Umbra chirped and pranced around again, giggling and moving to music that Phantom could never hear. "Going to go chasing ghosts. Oh, what fun, what fun. You are too kind to me, dearest Phantom. Much too kind."

"Go," Phantom nodded his head, a signal for Umbra to leave now, and the tortoiseshell cackled again before moving off. They disappeared in a matter of minutes into the darkness, their laughter echoing into the night air like the wails of the soon-to-be dying. He really wished no one would get in their way at the moment.

He had just unleashed a beast even worse than Ignis and Lux combined, a monster that scared Spirit and Caeli and the rest of the Twelve.

Phantom smirked to himself.

You call yourself Whiteshadow now, Ghost?

He closed his eyes and finally, finally- his paradise returned to him. Finding peace in ruination… Perhaps he was well on his way to joining Umbra more than he thought.

Well, let's see how you handle this shadow.

A reaper is coming, brother.

And it's got your name on its tongue.

And hey, even if Umbra somehow did fail and Ghost killed them- because if he was being honest, Phantom knew just how powerful and prepared Ghost was- well…

Maybe this curse of madness would transfer onto him. And in a way, Ghost really would be dead.

Phantom closed his eyes with the thought that finally, finally, he was about to win.

He would no longer be the failure who Father was so disappointed in.

He would be the winner.

And he would finally be worthy of Father's respect.

Blazeclan (it gets messier)

They're going to die. They're probably already dead. They're dead, they're dead and you're stuck in here and you can never do anything right! Why can't you ever do anything right just for once in your life, Sootpaw?

The putrid scent of the Prisoner's Den was something the grey-furred tom was quickly growing used to, and he didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. In the midst of his anger, he hardly cared about anything else. He was currently in the process of replaying every single conversation he ever had with Mousepaw and Thornblaze, from beginning to horrible end and it only served to add logs to the fire brimming inside of him.

It terrified him, a bit. Just how… ferocious his temper was right now. He was vaguely aware that someone had come inside earlier- he thought it was maybe Sagepaw, but it feels like such a distant memory it was beginning to blur out of his view- and he hardly remembered what exactly he had said to chase them away. Perhaps it was for the best he was alone in here, instead of out there- where there were plenty of targets for him to turn to.

They don't deserve to die.

No, no they didn't. This was a worst-case scenario presented to him in a pretty package and he had been foolish enough to open it. The day had started so great too. Mousepaw and Thornblaze and him strolling through the forest, talking about nothing more than they were supposed to be quizzing each other. He had woken up Mousepaw this morning- not knowing she was going to die in the night- by practically landing on top of her when she wouldn't wake up. She had squealed and he had laughed when she began cursing at him (she was always a bit grumpy when waking up so abruptly). It was familiar and it was something he hadn't had for a long while.

Thornblaze had waited for the two just outside of camp, and the way his mentor eyed them with obvious amusement and open fondness was something Sootpaw didn't know he had taken for granted. Until now. Until realizing that he will never, never see Thornblaze's eyes and exasperated and proud looks ever again.

"I'm so proud of you…" Thornblaze spoke on his last few breaths of consciousness, the battle to stay awake quickly becoming a losing one and as Sootpaw stood over him, he could do nothing but watch. "So… proud…"

Proud. Proud?!

Sootpaw had failed him, what was there to be proud of?!

Emotions clogged their way into his throat and Sootpaw quickly swallowed them back down, coughing to alleviate himself of being choked by sorrow and, instead, let out a growl and turned to rake his claws against the nearest wall again. There had already been a few scratches here and there on the dirt walls, left behind by previous prisoners of Blazeclan. Sootpaw felt obligated to add his own while he was here.

Restlessness urged him to move even though half of him just felt like lying down on the ground and never getting up. (Just like Thornblaze. Just like Mousepaw.) He didn't stop moving. If he stopped moving, then everything would catch up to him and it was movement that was keeping his anger going so he wasn't going to stop. Without his anger, the sorrow and the shame and the guilt and the regret would break him. Anger was his only buffer, the only thing holding him together.

It was so strange. When Bluepaw and Shrewpaw had died, Sootpaw had practically shut down. He had expected to feel the same way now. But instead of growing passive, he became more active than ever and that was dangerous.

His claws ached from having torn paths into the dirt wall of the den. He wanted to rake his claws down Redstar's pelt again- he had only managed to leave just a silly little scratch. It was inconsequential. It was embarrassing, really. For all his anger, for all his training, for all of his improved skill, he could only leave a scratch?

Weak. You're still so damn weak!

He should have gone after Wildfire instead. At least the Royal would have been more satisfying, his attention hadn't been entirely on Sootpaw at that point. He had such an open target, and he could envision himself dragging his claws down Wildfire's exposed back- just like the Artisans had done to his own back so long ago.

Think bigger. Go straight to the source.

Ignis.

That rogue had caused all of this. He and his leader or whoever had given him the orders to do such a thing? He was the real villain in all of this.

It was funny. When you were angry- really, truly, violently angry- the world suddenly became black-and-white. You were either angry at everyone or angry at no one, angry at certain beings and others who were spared from your wrath.

The Grand Royal. Wildfire. Ignis. The High Ranks. This clan. This world.

Everyone was quickly becoming something for him to be angry at and Sootpaw felt himself dying just a little bit with each new addition. Dying, and coming to life like a phoenix risen from the ashes of a tom who had been so weak. This would make him better.

He would show them.

The High Ranks. The clan. The rogues. The world.

The world had pushed him and pushed him and pushed him and it never let up. He tried, stars did he try to continue looking on the bright side of such a dark world. Now, the only thing bright was this fire he embodied and he was ready to burn everything away. The darkness and shadows and wrongness of this hypocritical world and everyone else who lived in it.

Perhaps when it was all done, when he had burned it all away, he could finally, finally begin to mourn. (For who? He wasn't entirely sure. For his friends? His family? Himself?)

Too weak, too weak. You must get stronger.

"They will never change!" Nightpaw's words echoed in his ears, taunting him. Laughing at him for being such a fool, for being so naive. "They aren't going to unless we do something about it."

He had so desperately wanted to hope they could. That the High Ranks and the clan could change for the better. But this… this whole situation just…

He had been wrong.

Nightpaw was right, the High Ranks were never going to change unless they did something about it. Something more than Sootpaw's silly, useless little daily rebellions. Violence only breeds more violence.

Sootpaw was so tired of being on the receiving end of it his entire life.

The scent of wild roses reached him, and for a moment, Sootpaw was greatly confused as to where it was coming from. That scent didn't belong here. Not in such a drab and dirty place filled with the smell of rot and decay and despair. The Commoner whirled around quickly, bewildered and perhaps, as foolish as ever, seeking a source of light and comfort.

Flarepaw's silver-blue eyes found him in the darkness and for a moment, it was almost as though he was looking at a stranger. Love and rage clashed together in a strange mixture of emotions that left him feeling sick to the stomach and he almost felt like going off to the side to expel it all from his body. Maybe that's all he needed, to release it all and he would finally be cleansed.

No.

Let it stew. Let it grow. Let it consume you.

It feels good, doesn't it?

(It did.)

Sootpaw gritted his teeth and he didn't know whether it was to restrain himself (from what? Restrain himself from what? He didn't know, he didn't know) or bare his fangs in the hopes that she would leave. He wanted her to stay, he wanted her to go away. All of these conflicting desires and emotions with her appearance and her light was quickly giving him a headache and he just wanted it all to go away.

There was a frown on her face, sorrow and sympathy in her eyes, and dried blood on her paws. What a strange combination. He didn't know which part of her appearance to believe, looks were deceiving after all. He focused on her paws and wondered whose blood it was- Mousepaw's or Thornblaze's? Had she made it worse or did she try to fix it?

So many questions. No answers.

His head hurt.

"I'm so sorry, Sootpaw." Her words were beguiled with honesty and he thought he could hear the ghost of laughter. (Was this where he finally went crazy? Maybe. It was starting to feel like it.)

Lies lies. High Ranks speak nothing but lies, Sootpaw. Be careful.

"Why does this have to happen to them?" Sootpaw was aware that he was shouting, that there really wasn't any reason to shout because she was right there, but he honestly could not control himself. The effort it would take to lower his volume to reasonable levels was an effort he did not want to make. His questions weren't exactly directed at her though, it was to the world. He wanted answers, damn it. "Why can't we just be happy for one?!"

If Flarepaw was put off by his volume, it didn't show. Not directly, but he could fool himself into thinking she flinched. Maybe she did- she did have a sensitivity to shouting after all.

"I don't know," her voice was much, much lower than his. A whisper almost. A slight murmur that was meant to quell his anger but it wasn't working. It wasn't working and it was beginning to scare him because Flarepaw always had a way of calming him down whenever any of his emotions got the best of him but now, now- now it wasn't working. She wasn't working. (It scared him because he didn't know what would happen now.) "I don't know. I wish I did, I'm sorry."

I don't want your apologies! Sootpaw bit his tongue and immediately recoiled at the taste of copper that blossomed. Huh. Maybe he was a danger to himself too.

"This is all Wildfire's fault," and Ignis's and the world's and Roseberry's, "No… No, it's Redstar's!" His body was beginning to shake and he didn't know whether he would stand tall after it was over, stronger than ever, or if he would crumble before it could finish. Vitriolic fury burned his tongue as he spat, "If he wasn't such a coward, one of them could live at least!"

Something flashed in her eyes then, and Flarepaw sent a quick glance over her shoulder before looking back at him. Her ears fell flat and there was something like a flicker of panic in her gaze. She walked forward, approaching him like one did a snake reared and ready to bite. (He wondered if he was the snake now, and if that was the case, he wanted to know the moment the rat died and became everything he ever hated.)

"Sootpaw, please. I know you're grieving, you need to stop yelling before someone hears you. What you're saying-"

"Is true!"

"Is treason," her voice was gentle still, but there, beneath all that cloudy softness he loved, was the sharpness of flint and steel. He could see it now, two pieces ready to strike together and make him burn even more. She would provide the spark and she wouldn't even know it. "Anything spoken against our Grand Royal is treason, so please."

"I don't care!" The spark was lit and there was no hope for him anymore. (How fitting. The love of his life would be the one to light the final match and watch him burn.) Sootpaw whirled on his paws, his floating anger that had so many targets to focus on before- Ignis, Wildfire, Redstar, High Ranks, the clan, the world- all of it now shifted onto her. She was here. The others weren't, but she was closest. "Everything I said is true! Redstar is the Grand Royal, he has the power to stop it. To stop them, to stop Wildfire! But he hasn't done anything. He's as useless as everyone else!"

There was a part of him, perhaps it was the part of him that loved her, that wailed and begged for him to stop. To stop before he said or did something to her and chased her away forever. She was only trying to help- trying to help even though she didn't entirely know how- and he was practically biting her head off. (And if he attacked her, with words or with claws, Flarepaw was not one to sit back and take it anymore. She would fight back.)

But she was just making it worse and he internally begged for both of them to stop.

Neither listened.

"This was an impossible decision, Sootpaw. He decided that this was for the best, and I don't-"

"For the best? For the best?" His claws dug into the ground beneath him, because if they didn't, he would surely charge up to her now and he didn't entirely know what would happen if he did. He was scared to find out. Sootpaw's lips curled back and now she had his full attention. (If she wasn't careful, she was going to burn, just like him.) "How could you say that?!"

And just like he had always known her to do, Flarepaw would not back down. Steel cut through the clouds and her beautiful silver gaze became something more violent, a storm waiting to sweep him away and douse his flames. He would not let it happen, he could not let it happen. She was trying to calm him down but Sootpaw didn't want calm right now!

"I'm just saying that I understand his choice. I don't agree with it, but I understand it," her ears fell flat, and just like that, she was a stranger. Sootpaw didn't know her anymore. He didn't want her here anymore. "I'm not saying you have to, but maybe you can try to understand it as well."

Her scent of roses, so wild and free and comforting, became suffocating in an unpleasant way the smoke and shadows didn't. He was too far into the depths of the abyss he could not see her just at the surface, reaching out for him. It was hurting him. The roses circled his body like chains, tangling at his throat, and the more he moved, the more he bled and…

He should have known. All roses came with thorns, after all. Even this one. Especially this one.

Sootpaw had been foolish enough to get close, to let her into his heart, and now the thorns were stabbing him as they had always planned to. She would watch him burn and she would watch him bleed out and she would watch him die.

And she would not blink an eye.

He was a Low Rank and she was a High Rank and she was just like the others.

His lips curled and Sootpaw was convinced his blood was boiling at his point. Disbelief awash with horror and vexation was a combination that made his voice breathless, "You're just like them…"

It was ironic. She held a storm in her eyes, but Sootpaw was the damn storm itself, and this was just the calm before it exploded.

"What?" Flarepaw looked so confused, so… so hurt by his words that on a normal day, it would have made him stop. But this was not a normal day.

This was a day where Thornblaze and Mousepaw were sentenced to death because that's just how it was right?

"You're just like them!" He was back to shouting and a part of him hoped, begged, wanted to burn her. "You don't care that two lives were lost, you don't care because they're not High Ranks!"

Understanding dawned in her eyes and Flarepaw was ever so quick to try and defend herself, tone meant to be mollifying but he could see it, he could see the steel in her eyes and the poison on her tongue. He would not be fooled by her any longer. (He could feel a piece of his heart die.)

"Sootpaw, that's not-"

"Get out!" He turned away from her because he could not bear to look at her and her pretty lies any longer. His eyes turned to the wall that was ruined by his claw marks and he only saw it fit to make the rest of them mirror it. He walked further into the darkness and would not go to her any longer. "You're just like the rest of them, of course, you're just like the rest of them! What was I expecting from the daughter of that monster!?"

A bitter laugh escaped his lips and it left a sour taste on his tongue, left bile in his throat as he turned partially to look at her and her astonished expression.

"I'm such an idiot for thinking you could've been different," He was too far gone and there was nothing he nor his bleeding heart could do to stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth. Those who are hurt, hurt others- and the world had hurt him and the world was too far away to hurt back, but she wasn't. She was right here, and like the crackling of a fire and the crash of thunder, he snarled the words that he knew, he knew would hurt her most.

(What power they had over each other, letting each other into their hearts. No one else could hurt them quite like the other could.) (No one else could love them quite like the other could.)

"You're just like him!"

Just like her father. Just like the one cat she never wanted to be, the one she feared becoming.

Well, her fears had come true in Sootpaw's eyes.

(He wanted to apologize already, to tear himself apart for saying such things because he had no right to say them. But his thoughts and his hurting head convinced him that this was good, this anger was good, and doing whatever it took to make it grow would help him in the end.)

(The world was black-and-white and Flarepaw was the enemy.)

It wasn't as satisfying as he had wanted it to be. He was rearing for a fight and normally, Flarepaw would give it to him. That's what she did to the others, right? To those who insulted her, those who hurt her? She wasn't any better than him, when she was hurt, she hurt others even worse.

But instead of snapping back at him or even lunging at him, Flarepaw just…

She sat there and could not meet his gaze.

That annoyed him even more.

"And now you're doing it again," Sootpaw scoffed, "Why aren't you looking at me?"

Because you scare her. But why, why? Sootpaw was as non-threatening as non-threatening came because he was so weak. She knew that. She had nothing to fear from him because she was just so much stronger than him, so why was she scared?

Flarepaw remained silent for a moment longer before slowly turning partly around, looking as though she was a second or so away from just bolting, and if he looked close enough, he could see a quiver in her shoulders. That was fine. He was shaking too.

"Because you…" She hesitated and Sootpaw gritted his teeth again. He didn't want her compliance, she had never been submissive to him or anybody else- but Wildfire- in any way. And the one moment he wanted a fight, she wasn't going to give it to him?

No. Unacceptable. Flarepaw did not just let others hurt her with words or claws and let them get away with it.

"Because I what?"

Hurt me back, damnit. I'm hurting you. Please, please hate me, hate me because I can't do it. Let me feel as hurt as you.

Scream at me, yell at me.

Stop me.

Please stop me.

Please stop me please stop please stop-

Flarepaw turned her eyes in his direction, almost as though she had heard his silent words, could see past his anger and rage to see him sniffling and drowning in the dark. He wondered, for an instant, if she would dive into the abyss to get him. (He didn't want her to. Then she would be ruined too trying to save him. He would only drag her down.)

The thorns stabbed deeper into him and Sootpaw felt like he could breathe as he suffered.

"Because," Flarepaw spoke, hesitance and reluctance in her voice, but Sootpaw urged her on with his eyes. He wanted her to hurt him like he hurt her, and she was always one to deliver. "Because you have the same exact look that Wildfire always has."

You're just like him, her words said.

Huh.

Who knew it would be the same exact thing that hurt them the most.

She turned away. "And I can't look at you when you're like this."

The pain left him breathless, but Sootpaw forced a smile to his lips that appeared more like a grimace of agony instead. He wanted to scream his apologies and ask for forgiveness at the same time he just wanted to scream just to scream. He was falling apart and he did not want Flarepaw- or anybody- to be there to see it.

"Good, get out of here!" His mouth formed the words before he could register what he was saying, and Sootpaw had such an out-of-body experience it was chilling without the constant heat of his fury. If he could look at himself now, he wondered what he would see. (He didn't even want himself to see him falling apart.) "Just walk away!"

And she did. He couldn't see the expression on her face, but he imagined it wasn't anything good. He felt guilty at the same time he was mad for feeling guilt.

Why do you feel bad? She's a High Rank! She's just like the others!

Her kind hurt you again and again.

They don't deserve your guilt.

She doesn't deserve your guilt.

Then who does? He wanted to ask, and Sootpaw turned to begin pacing once more. Movement, movement, he had to keep moving because if he stopped, if he stopped… He didn't want to know. Who deserves your kindness? Who deserves your guilt?

The rest of the Low Ranks were cowards and the High Ranks were abusers.

He just wanted to escape from it all. These walls, these chains, these thorns. The den, the clan, the world.

Escape it all and find the ones who hurt him and watch them burn.

(Please stop, please stop. You're scaring me. I'm scared. I'm scared.)

Thornblaze had always taught him anger was a dangerous, frightening thing. He just never taught Sootpaw that it could be so addictive.

There was another presence in the den, and for a moment, he thought Flarepaw came back and he whirled around, a moment of vulnerability past all of his rage making his eyes round and made his mouth open with the apologies ready to spring from his tongue. But it wasn't Flarepaw.

Hollypaw was there. Standing where Flarepaw had stood with a frown on her face and unshed tears in her reddened eyes. She had been crying.

She's a Royal. She was a Royal. She's just like them too.

(Shut up shut up shut up)

"Get out." He didn't yell anymore and he didn't exactly know why he wasn't, but perhaps it was the evidence that Hollypaw had cried that tempered him. She's a Medicine Cat. She cares for all because it's her job. It's her job.

(You need someone, you need someone- don't chase this one away too.)

"Sootpaw-"

"Get out!" He snapped and where Flarepaw would snap back in return, Hollypaw was not built for a fight. She was a peacemaker, a healer- not a fighter. Not a warrior.

"Go ahead and yell," she sighed and she sounded so tired it made Sootpaw gape for a moment, confused and conflicted because Hollypaw would not give him the fight he wanted right now. It felt wrong, to yell at someone who did not even fight back like this. To attack a healer. "But I'm not leaving."

He wondered if she had passed by Flarepaw on the way here. If they had talked or if Hollypaw had just seen the look on the Grand Royal apprentice's face to understand what had happened. (He messed up, he messed up. Stars, he messed up.)

"What are you doing here?" Sootpaw scowled, "If you're here to tell me they're dead already, don't. I already know."

"I'm not here to do that."

"Then, why are you here?"

A sad smile pulled at her lips as she remained quiet for a moment long enough to sit down, settling her tail over her paws and relaxing her tired body. It almost looked like she was getting comfortable so she could stay here, but he didn't want her to! He opened his mouth to chase her away, not really knowing the words that would hurt Hollypaw in the same way he had hurt Flarepaw, but prepared to say anything.

She beat him to it.

"I'm here to catch you." Hollypaw murmured and Sootpaw just about died. It was like a miracle had happened, her words a soothing balm over the wounds the stabbing thorns left behind. For a moment, it left him panicking as he felt his anger begin to slowly wither. The Medicine Cat wasn't done, dark amber eyes patient and understanding and everything he felt like he didn't want- but truly needed- at the moment. "So, you can fall, Sootpaw. I promise I'll catch you."

"I'm not gonna fall," he roughly cleared his throat as he felt a trickle of emotions trying to claw their way back up from the pit of his stomach. Tears stung at the corners of his eyes and Sootpaw violently wiped them away before they could finish forming. "I've fallen enough for this lifetime. I'm not gonna cry, Hollypaw."

"Sootpaw," she turned his name into a gentle admonishment, and perhaps in a different lifetime, Hollypaw could've been a great mother with that kind of tone. His stiff stance immediately dropped and he cowered back a bit, not prepared for tender love and caring from someone who was all smooth edges and full of light. (Flarepaw wasn't like this; Flarepaw was rough in some places and she had a darkness of her own. But she is beautiful, so beautiful.)

Hollypaw shifted forward a bit, inch by inch, and Sootpaw felt himself backing away like he was scared she would attack him. He didn't want his anger to leave. Why couldn't Hollypaw see that?

"You can fall," she spoke slowly for him to understand, and Sootpaw could barely hear her through his panicked breathing. "I'll catch you."

"Go away," he had intended for it to come out in another shout, but instead, it was a frightened whisper and he regarded her as if she was the thing he feared most. Right now, she really was. His back met a wall and just like that, he was trapped- in the deepest part of the darkness. And yet, and yet… the light in front of him was blinding and chasing the shadows away. (He felt himself slowly begin to float back up to the surface, tendrils of darkness and smoke and fire still trying to desperately hold him down. It was a tug-of-war and Sootpaw wondered which part would win.) "Go away."

She said nothing more and she did not leave either.

So, he stayed where he was. Breathing panicked and ragged, eyes wide as he gave off the best glare he could muster. He wanted to leave, to escape this light, but the only way out of it was to go towards it and he would not have that.

Sootpaw cowered against the wall, burning alive, and regarded Hollypaw with wariness. All while the Medicine Cat gave him that terribly sad smile, a few of her own tears escaping her eyes.

(In a way, maybe he was hurting her too.)

I won't fall.

I won't fall.

I won't fall, I won't fall, I won't fall.

You will only rise above it all Sootpaw. You don't get to fall. So, rise.

Rise above the light.

Do not let it touch you.

(I won't fall I won't fall I won't fall.)

(Please…

Catch me.)

A/N: So… That was a thing. I honestly don't have the words to describe just how messy things have gotten. Anger is a powerful thing y'all (though, it doesn't really excuse anybody's actions). So, yeah. This was fun. Everything hurts. Hope you all have a nice day XD. (Also, Umbra was fun to write for. Gotta love me the crazy characters.) Hope you enjoyed the chapter regardless of all the angst and anger.

Question of the day

What do you do to calm yourself down when you're angry?

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Thank you and peace out!

~Wolfcreations20