A challenge for Night Stalkers.

Fight the fight,

Win the battles,

Lose the war.

Battles can be such bloodthirsty things,

Muscles whirled on the blood-bathed battlefield, dipped in a crimson haze. Cats fought and snarled, baring their teeth and claws in a whirlwind of chaos. In the middle of this petty dispute was a soft queen, her tortoiseshell coat gleaming crimson as she crouched in fear, fighting with all her might to save unborn kits inside her. The queen was facing a hulking tom, his eyes gleaming in the falling light. They circled each other, lashing out with desperate strokes as the battle neared its end.

When both sides think they are right.

The tom hissed his misfortune as he leaped at the queen, clamping his jaws about her neck. Both cats were scrawny, unkempt, ribs protruding as the night fell. He bit down harder, eyes desperate as cats fell to the ground all around.

In this utter chaos, with desperation as its fuel,

Reaching the battle scene late was a rugged-furred tabby, black and brown mixing like the bark of a tree. With terror in his eyes, he leapt at the tom, pushing him off the dying tortoiseshell.

All they want is for the battle to end.

Yowls of triumph came from the cats around this tabby, for the long fought battle had finally been won. But the cost was high, and cats lay in the blood-stained snow, breathing their last farewells.

But when it does, do they realize the cost?

From the joyous howls came the tabby's mournful ones, muzzle deep in her orange and black fur. Four other lives died with that one too, tiny kits destined never to see the light of day. Never to even live.

All the lives that were lost?

The vigil was held that night, and the clan no longer rejoiced. But the cats resumed with their daily lives, fighting the struggle to survive, sometimes winning a battle, always losing the war. All except for that faithful tabby, who slept at her side for the last time that night. His legacy was gone, and so was his love.

Was it worth that prey? That land?

The tabby hunted fretfully that day, ripping his prey in anger and scaring them in his sorrow. His mind was away, in the land of the dead, where that beautiful queen now slept. Wrought with grief, he wanted her to come back. For nothing to have ever changed.

To see your loved ones meeting their end?

Border patrols were nothing but reminders of that fateful day, and always he stumbled over unseen obstacles. Other cats were met with a sense of dread. They went on with their lives, he dwelled in the past. He wished it had never changed.

Oh, battles can be such bloodthirsty things.

Each day, the tabby abandoned his prey, choosing to stare at the stars. Was his love really there, watching over him? Was there really one more star in the endless sky?

This we know is true.

The tabby dreamed of blood-stained snow, of desperate yowls and the chaos of battle. His paws churned the air in an effort to change what had already been done. To change the unchangeable. To reroute the past.

But after them, what will we do?

Consoling calls flew straight out his ears, and the tabby's fur grew ragged, unkempt. Hatred boiled inside him, seasoned with sorrow and doused in grief. The other clan had killed his love, and he could no longer go on.

Drown in sorrow and doubt?

Sneaking out of camp, the tabby slinked to his enemy's home, eyes turned cold and calculating. He watched, hidden, at the entrance of camp, waiting for his chance.

Or continue to fight the war of life?

"Mommy, where is dad?"

"Gone… gone… he died fighting for what he thought was right."

"Is he ever coming back?"

"No, little one. But we must move on, we won't live drowning in our own sorrow."

"But I don't want to forget him."

"Then don't. Remember him forever."

The choice is up to you.

The tabby slipped back into his own territory, the mother's words ringing in his ears. Remember her forever…

Oh, Fernlight, you won't ever come back. But eventually… eventually we will meet again. Until then, my love, I won't ever forget you. I promise. There are so many stars in this sky… how many cats have died? How many will fade in the mists of time? Not you. I promise. Not even for a single heartbeat. The tabby curled up in his mossy bed, his breath finally at peace.

Yes, battles can be such bloodthirsty things

When both sides think they are right.

Blood will be shed, lives will be lost,

But life will move on.

They only won one battle

They still might lose this war.

But until then, they must remember,

Remember,

Forever,

Until then, they must remember

Everyone who lost that war

To keep them fighting strong.

For in the fight to survive,

There must be sacrifice.

There must be loss.

We live in a dog eat dog world

Where life must be fought for.

Remember.

Remember them all.

Fight the fight

Win the battles

Lose the war.