Cursed Division - Kindred Whispers book 2)

Chapter 14

The storm was growing stronger by the moment, the wind picking up with a hissing breeze. The thunder came out as a booming opera in the sky, the heaven's Wrath taking its fury on the bristling cats who were surrounding by the cackling Inferno. Heat reached beneath the brother's pelts and rain drenched their fur to their sides, causing their battered bloody pelts to smudge crimson. Their teeth were bared and their tails lashed to and fro.

"I won't rest until you're dead!" Crow snarled. His claws were digging in the parched soil, the lush grass that had been there for seasons turning dark as the sky, burned by the fire's rage.
CrookedTail watched his brother tremble, a satisfied grin plastered across his face. Crow lunged once more, claws outstretched, aiming for his brother's throat. CrookedTail braced himself as they collided. And again and rolled on the patchy earth in a flurry of tooth and claw. CrookedTail's claws snagged his brother's ear and ripped out a chunk from the tip. A growl rumbled in his throat and Crow retaliated, tearing his claws down CrookedTail's exposed underbelly. His brother was stronger than he thought. Hind leg in view, the brown tabby grabbed it in his jaws and with an enormous amount of strength, hauled in brother upwards, springing off his paws then twisting in the air to catch his brother in a death grip to the throat. His brother slammed down with a hard thump, pinned beneath him. Struggling, Crow clenched his teeth and tore clumps of fur from CrookedTail's flanks. Ignoring the pain, CrookedTail used a paw to hold his brother down and bit down hard.
But Crow was determined. He fought like a lion, hissing and spitting curses at his brother. But even with his strength, it was no match for the DeathBlood curse.

The sound of a screech distracted CrookedTail for a brief moment. It was coming from deeper in the forest. Several shapes of cars bounded fearfully away from the fire. He couldn't make out who they were but they were running to the border, fleeing their home.
Using the distraction, Crow kicked his brother off and rose to his paws, blood pouring from his throat but not too serious of a wound. Hissing, he darted forward and caught CrookedTail's eye with a paw. Yowling, CrookedTail staggered back as his vision began to blur in one eye. Blood trickled from the wound.
Growling, he turned tail and fled. Perhaps if he made it to DeathBlood he could get reinforcements to shred these fleeing PeaceLeaf cats. They wouldn't stand a chance. They be too battered by the fire to fight cleanly.

With a jolt, CrookedTail realized his brother was gaining on him, racing after him, eyes full of hate. Crossing the PeaceLeaf border, the two cats raced to the grasslands.
Panting and gasping, he quickened his stride, lungs burning. He had to outrun Crow. The grass whipped at his pelt. Risking a glance behind, he saw his brother was even closer. He wouldn't make it to DeathBlood. If that was the case, he needed to bring the rest of this fight on easier ground. His paws, splashing through marshy puddles, he changed course and emerged from a long clump of grass and skidded to a halt on a sandy patch of earth, flaked by strands of grass. A small pond churned softly nearby, the reeds whisking in the breeze.
Crow lurched from the grass and halted across him soon after, chest heaving.
"Tired, brother?" CrookedTail mocked.
Crow lashed his tail. "Never! I could chase you to the stars if it meant getting vengeance on my family!"
"Vengeance, huh?" CrookedTail purred, amused. "You seek vengeance and you want to kill me. You know what that sounds like? It sounds like you're a killer like me. But that would make sense, wouldn't it? We're brothers after all. It'd make sense if we share the same ideas and ambitions."
Crow winced as if he'd just been struck by a hefty blow. "I'll never be like you!" he spat. "You are a monster! I'll never be anything like you! I'm doing right for PeaceLeaf by getting rid of you. You'll cause nothing but trouble!"

A tense silence stretched out between them for a moment. The only sound the rushing of water and the rain that was beginning to ease but nonetheless pattering down. "Doesn't kin mean anything to you?" he faked innocence. He knew this wouldn't catch his brother in a trap. It'd only make him angrier. But then again, the hurtful and raging expression on Crow's face was amusement to him.
"Kin? You speak of kin to me? You killed your kin, my son, and our mother!"
CrookedTail held up a paw and examined his claws. "And I relished their blood."
"You truly are too far gone, aren't you?" Crow murmured, eyes drifting away.