Chapter Four
Badgermask darted into the bushes, attempting to avoid the outbreak of fights in the clearing. The games had begun.
She kept her tail and ears low as she shot through the undergrowth, using all her speed and agility to escape from the blood-thirsty cats.
She ran for what seemed an eternity, her lungs expanding to the limit. She stopped when she could not go on, collapsing under a bush. She sat trembling. Her breath was coming in fast, shallow gasps.
SNAP!
Badgermask froze, holding her breath. She crouched down slowly, peering through the greening leaves.
A well-groomed, brown tabby padded slowly through the undergrowth, often stopping to listen for the sounds of approaching enemies.
Badgermask forced herself to relax, this cat didn't appear to be hunting, he looked to be a refugee like herself, only wishing to escape the hassle of cats.
She watched for a few moments longer, her lungs screaming for the air she refused to let in. A distant screech made it's way to their ears.
Finally, she stepped cautiously out from under the cover of the overgrown bush.
The tom turned towards her, he cocked his head, sitting down and wrapping his striped tail neatly around his paws,
"Greetings" He meowed, bending down to lick his paw. Obviously he saw no threat in Badgermask's sleek figure.
Badgermask remained silent, keeping her eyes trained on the strange tabby tom.
"Who are you?" She meowed after a few moments.
He glanced up from his grooming,
"A simple Shadowclan cat on the search for some easy game." His eyes narrowed to venomous slits. Badgermask took a tentative step back.,
"And I've found it." A menacing smile found it's way to his lips. Badgermask continued backing away.
The Shadowclan foe quickly got to his paws, advancing with each step she took..
"There's no need to worry! I'll make it quick and painless." He meowed. He crouched down, his large muscles clearly visible under his sleek fur. Badgermask saw them bunching in preparation for a leap. She whipped around and shot through the undergrowth, using what little strength she had left to escape this mad cat.
She could hear her opponent gaining, she risked a quick glance behind her and stumbled over a thick root. She flailed on the ground, hopelessly trying to right herself, but it was too late.
The Shadowclan cat was upon her. He pinned her down mercilessly, sneering slightly as he snarled,
"No use in running, little one. Tempest always catches his prey." He opened his jaws, preparing for the killing bite.
"But that doesn't mean he kills it!" She meowed bravely.
She struggled with the last of her energy, giving a sudden, but powerful, scratch to his eye. He let out an infuriated screech.
Hot, sticky blood trickled in steady streams to his eye, temporarily blinding him. He loosened his grip, reaching up to paw at his wound. She scrambled up, making a mad dash for the leafy foliage, soon after scaling a tall tree.
Tempest let out a hiss of frustration, calling out,
"You can run! But those who are chosen as Tempest's prey will not soon be forgotten! I will hunt you down, and when I find you, I will make your death a slow and painful one!"
He gave one last sweeping gaze over the surrounding territory with his good eye, then stalked off into the bushes, leaving drops of thick, scarlet liquid as a trail.
Tempest's warning rang in Badgermask's ears, causing a wave of intense fear to weave up her spine, causing her joints to stiffen as she sat, shaking on the branch.
Is this my fate? She wondered, Is my destiny really to die at the claws of that monster?