'Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget'

'Youth' - Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Two: Mythomane

"Infiltrate her closest ranks. Gain her trust. Learn her plans, and then return to us. That is all I ask of you." He stood tall, chest puffed out and tail curled over his paws. His demeanour demanded respect.

"B-but I didn't come here to help you! I have nothing to gain by attempting this suicide mission," she protested, grunting when a heavy paw collided with the back of her head, pushing it back down to crack against the uneven stone ground. Spitting blood from her mouth she spat a string of curses aimed at anyone listening.

"I thought Clan cats were supposed to be friendly?"

She laughed dryly. "Whoever's been telling you about the Clans has been spinning lies, rogue. None of us are very friendly. Comes with spending all our lives constantly looking over our shoulders, just waiting for that moment when we slip up and a claw slits our throat."

The tom cocked his head to one side and flashed a lazy grin, "is that so? Perhaps I need a new informant."

"Don't look at me. I was looking for a cat, not trouble. There isn't a single bone in my body that wants anything to do with you or your filthy followers. Find a different informant and a different cat for your suicide mission; sure there's countless broken souls looking for a way out of this world."

He tapped the stone with a claw. A shadow passed over a beam of light streaming in through a hole in the wall. The paw pushed her head harder. Her brow furrowed. "Just let me go."

"I'm afraid we can't do that," a soft voice – feminine and delicate – echoed. "You see, just like your Clans, we too are facing Crimson's wrath. But, unlike your Clans, we are facing an army; one that plans on destroying this city should we not bow down.

"Your troubles have nothing to do with me. Let me go!"

A gentle laugh hid near-silent footsteps. "I wouldn't ask so much of one of my faithful followers. They are more important to me than scum that crawled their way into my home bringing the stench of Clan with them."

From behind the pile of bones that touched the roof of the dilapidated building stepped a fragile looking she-cat, all bone and little muscle. Eyes focused on the ground the she-cat treaded so very gently as if she was expecting the ground to suddenly vanish. "We will ask one last time."

"Infiltrate Crimson's elite squad. Become a martyr."

A flash of blue.

"Yes, my leader."

"Get up, you useless city cat. You wanted to show us your moves but all you showed us was how to get cosy with the ground." Raucous laughter filled the sandy clearing. She rolled her eyes as she pawed the ginger tom away. A painful cough clawed its way from her throat, leaving her breathless and dizzy.

"Let me up, Dexter," she growled after having caught her breath. Not giving him time to do so much as blink she surged upwards, teeth sinking into the back of his neck. No, don't...Ignoring the quiet protest she bit down hard enough to draw blood.

Dexter hissed, rearing up on his hind paws and dislodging the she-cat. "Now you're in for it," he snarled as he clawed at her muzzle.

She winked at him, grabbing the paw clawing her muzzle between her teeth in a crushing bite. Rearing up on her hind legs she dragged the tom off balance and threw him to the ground. "Are you sure you're not the one in for it?"

A loud growl rumbled in the ginger tom's throat, and he rose unsteadily to his paws while shaking out the sand clinging to his pelt. "Bring it, Rosie," he spat and hurled himself at her, crashing into her side just as she attempted to duck under his pounce. The two rolled in a heap of flailing paws and clashing fangs, nipping and scratching at whatever flesh they could reach.

With a grunt Rosie heaved Dexter onto his stomach, locking his shoulders to the ground to keep him from escaping. Trailing a claw down his spine she watched him shiver. A cruel feeling of delight swept through her body and she pressed down hard enough to break through the skin. She drew a weeping line of red down Dexter's back as he writhed beneath her, unable to roll his shoulders to throw her off.

"Give up yet?" she breathed in his ear.

She felt his body go slack beneath her paws and grinned. Victory felt so good. Her grip on his shoulders weakened.

"Never." Dexter rolled to the right, kicking out at Rosie's hind legs as he did, laughing as she tumbled to the sand. "Oh come on. How could you fall for a kits trick?"

They clashed in midair; Dexter having leapt for her shoulders and Rosie going for his throat. He shredded her ear while she mauled his shoulder, the battle having turned from a simple spar to something more deadly.

Rosie screeched when claws punctured the skin on the back of her neck, tearing down to remove chunks of flesh. Twisting in Dexter's grip she went for his throat teeth grazing skin as he yanked his head away. "Fighting dirty are we?" he rumbled and threw her backwards.

Blood dripped down her face, oozing from her shredded ear. Her flanks heaved with each breath, her heart beat pounding loudly in her own ears. They did this at least once a day, threw themselves at each other to prove some sort of dominance. But it had never gone this far.

"Will you two cut it out?"

Twitching her uninjured ear, Rosie held back a hiss. "Come to interrupt the fun again, Raz?"

The dark gray elite arched a brow, "this is hardly my idea of fun. Would you like to explain to Jinx why two of her elites are too injured to partake in any attacks this moon?"

"She won't have to," a cold voice sneered.

Rosie's yellow eyes widened as Jinx strolled into the sandy clearing, glancing around the sparring place with an irritated gaze. "Usually when cats spar as training they don't end up tearing chunks out of each other. Has that changed recently?"

"We got a little carried away," Dexter supplied.

"Oh, really? I hadn't noticed," Jinx spat back. "If I find any of you fighting amongst each other you'll have me to spar with, and let me assure you that sometimes I might accidentally slit a throat during a training session." She smiled coldly, "do you all understand?"

The gathered elites nodded. "Good. Now come with me. You two," she swept her gaze over Rosie and Dexter, "will have to deal with your wounds later. I've received instructions from Crimson that must be carried out immediately."

Rosie shared a curious look with Dexter before stepping forward, "what does she want us to do?"

"A small patrol of city cats left their territory this morning and are currently heading towards our main encampment. I'm sure you can all understand how ugly this situation could get if the city bosses were to catch wind of the rather large army currently hiding in the forest just beyond their outermost borders?" Jinx replied.

"What are we supposed to do then?" a spiky-furred tom asked.

Jinx swiped at a stick. "Intercept them. Attempt to peacefully turn them back around. If they refuse then we kill them and throw their bodies back into their own territory."

"They won't go peacefully," Rosie pointed out.

"No harm in trying though," Raz laughed. "They know damn well what happens if they leave their territory."

With a flick of her tail Jinx ordered the elites to follow her into the trees, trotting near silently across the leaves. The air was much warmer than it had been the past few moons, Rosie noticed, a clear sign that leaf bare was practically over. Vaguely she wondered if the snow had begun to melt to create a muddy slush back home.

Dexter fell into step beside her, tapping her shoulder with his tail. She couldn't help but smirk as he limped. "You fought pretty well for a city cat," he said. "Nearly got the better of me a few times."

"You weren't so bad yourself, for a loner," she retorted and winced as the wound on her neck stung.

-000-

In the end Rosie had been right. The group of seven city cats had refused to return to their territory peacefully – demanding they be taken to Crimson. Against the elites they did not stand a chance. City cats just weren't trained well enough. They'd spent too long scurrying around in the shadows, scrapping amongst each other over food scraps.

Even the bosses weren't ready to deal with an army crashing into their land.

"For cats that always complain about starving they sure are heavy," Rosie grunted, hauling the body of a yellow she-cat towards the border.

"Or you just could be weak," Dexter grinned.

Rosie arched a brow and shook her head. "Shut up and drag, you useless loner."

"You killed them!?"

The two elites dropped the bodies at the sound of a raised, angry voice. Snarling they stared towards the border to see a silhouette waiting, tail lashing back and forth. "They're mine if they attack," Dexter muttered.

"Sure," Rosie shrugged and loped towards the stranger.

"Why'd you kill them!?" it shouted. "They'd gone on peaceful terms!"

Rosie eyed the fluffy tom who didn't look like he'd seen more than three seasons. His fur was matted and clumped with dirt; his green eyes the only clean looking part of his body. An angry red 'X' was etched into his forehead.

"Don't answer," Raz ordered, brushing up beside Rosie.

He stared at the mark on the tom's forehead with a curious gaze. "Where'd you get that scar?" he asked.

"None of your business," the tom spat.

Raz smiled. "Confident kit, aren't you? Will you tell me your name instead?"

"Blade. And I'm not a kit!" Blade curled his lip.

"Oh? Well now I know exactly why you have that mark. Thank you very much, Blade," Raz spoke slowly. "Would you mind coming with us? We promise we won't hurt you."

The fluffy gray tom laughed, "everyone who goes beyond the border dies. I'm not that stupid, and I'm not going anywhere with you."

A cold smile spread across Raz's muzzle. Blade took two shuffling steps back only to bump into two elites who had appeared behind him. He opened his mouth in a soundless cry, realising now just how much danger he was in. "You were given that mark because Crimson has come across you before and decided that you would be useful at some point. She'll be very happy to see you again," Raz chuckled. "Grab him."

Dexter moved with the speed of a snake, driving Blade's head into the ground. He squeaked and then fell silent. "Thank you, Dex. That'll keep him quiet on the return journey back."

"Carry him back, Rosie. Dump him in the prison den under constant watch and then come see me, I want to have a word with you." There was a knowing glint in Raz's eye as he turned around.

She swallowed nervously. Had she done something wrong?

Finding guards willing to remain awake all night hadn't been as hard as she'd thought. All the newcomers were more than willing to prove themselves worthy of Crimson's army. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at them. They'd all die during the war.

"Where's Raz?" she asked Dexter upon finding him rolling around in the dust.

"In his den I think," he replied. "Have you done something wrong?"

Rosie shrugged as she walked away. "Must've. He wouldn't want to see me otherwise."

The lead elite's den was further away from the main camp in a secluded patch of peaceful forest. Pricking her ears she picked up the sounds of crunching bones.

"Raz?" she called before entering the cool of the den.

"You took your time," the gray tom pointed out. He was sitting towards the back, head bent over the carcass of a squirrel. "Sit down."

She did as she was told, nervously flicking her tail over her paws. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Tell me, Rosie. Do you miss your home?" Raz inquired without looking up from his prey.

"Uh, yes. I miss the city every day," she answered. "I miss my family."

He glanced at her through the corner of his eyes. "I meant your real home. The one that's moons away? In that valley that recently came under the full wrath of Crimson's anger?"

He knew. "Don't give yourself away! You have a mission."

"Why do your eyes change colour whenever someone questions who you are?"

Rosie bit her lip. "I know what you and Jinx are up to," she murmured. "I've followed you two quite a few times. Who would know that Crimson's closest advisor and lead elite would be working against her?"

"What do you want?" Raz's voice was ice cold.

She took a deep breath, pushed down the claws of that city witch's spell before they could reclaim control of her, and answered him honestly. "My name is Plummet, and I need your help."

-000-

we don't talk about this chapter.