Spots

Chapter 2

Aria growled viciously at the five rogues standing in front of her. For them to attack her clan's cubs meant a certain death. She was more than willing to pass out the punishment herself.

When I say 'now', you climb out of this ditch and you run back to the town. Don't turn around, and don't slow down. Do you understand? She used the mind link she had with all of her clan members to communicate silently with the cubs, all the while keeping her teeth bared at the rogues spread in front of her.

Yes, Alpha, they chorused. All but one. Alpha Aria, I can't climb it... I'm too small. Without a moment of hesitation, Aria shouted "NOW!" through the mind link, whirled around, and grabbed the smallest cub by it's scruff. Her teeth were careful not to pierce skin, but the scramble up the steep hill of vines and plants made it hard not to jostle the poor thing. Just as she was nearing the top, teeth and claws sunk their way into her ankle. With a painful howl, she flung the cub to the top and turned towards her attackers. She knew that the kids would do as they were told... She gave them the order.

Calling on her strange power, she morphed into a large, orange and black tiger. Fighting five enemies would be difficult, so she needed the strength over the speed of a leopard or panther. She lunged at the nearest rogue and tackled him, sending them both rolling down the hill. She landed on top of him, her weight knocking the breath out of his lungs. He wheezed as she wheeled around to face the others. She aimed to not kill needlessly, but they certainly weren't giving her the same courtesy.

Her whiskers twitched as her lips curled back in a challenge. The first rogue lunged. He was a panther, but his grey, flea-bitten, and mangy pelt made it hard to tell. Without hesitating, she rolled onto her back and snagged him out of the air by his throat. Seconds later, he was on the ground with blood leaving his body almost as quickly as his life. One down, four to go. The others were more cautious now. They had not only seen her transform into a tiger, but they saw her take out a male panther in one blow. In fact, all of these rogues were male.

Aria tried to not let it bother her, but the mere fact that rogues were teamed up for anything worried her. Usually they stick to themselves, so what was the occasion? She reared on her hind legs and roared as a dark brown lion barreled into her. She used his momentum to roll backwards and land on top with a crushing blow to his windpipe. His struggles died down as his breathing became harder. It was a painful death, but she didn't have the circumstances to make it swift and clean. Two leopards came at her at the same time, and she chose to save her stomach rather than her shoulder. The stomach was a softer target, and it bled more. The cat below her cried out as she swiped a paw across his face. Blood spattered on her fur, and the thickness of her hide kept her from feeling it along with the leopard that was on top of her trying to attack her neck. Now, she may not have a mane, but tigers have thick scruffs, and this idiot clearly didn't know well enough to attack her elsewhere. She turned in quick circle and grabbed his neck in her teeth, flinging him off of her in the process. Blood gushed down her throat and she fought a gag as she tore into him. Gruesome, but necessary.

With a bloody snarl, she turned to the last rogue. A cheetah. They were primarily used as scouts, so he wouldn't be much of a fighter. This became painfully obvious when he turned tail and ran. With a small leap, Aria chased after him with vigor. Her body morphed into a pure black panther and she took to the chase. Cheetahs may be fast, but their speed wasn't as applicable in a forest. Not by a long shot. She gave him leeway to see where he would lead, and she checked her surroundings to see where they were headed. The river.

Scouts, and anybody on patrol, I'm chasing a rogue towards the river. He was with a small pack, and he may be heading towards more. I need at least 10 scouts to back me up in the chase, but stay hidden. I'm not sure what we're facing yet. I need black, red, and silver sentinels to come out immediately. Stay hidden, and wait for my command. Keep me updated on anything in the forest that's abnormal. I need gold and white sentinels on guard duty NOW. This may be a diversion. Black scouts run a patrol around our borders, and make it double quick. Let me know if you come across any scents or felines. All omegas, cubs, and apprentices need to stay in town. The Sisters need to check in on four cubs that were sent back to town. They weren't hurt, but they're probably frightened. Jake, I need you out here ASAP. Bring clothes. Tom, you stay in town and watch over everything. Make sure my orders are followed. Aria passed out orders to the clan. This was notoriously quiet territory, and any excitement was rare. They took it seriously. Jake, her beta, was her adopted brother. He was her only friend growing up, and now she was repaying him for it. He taught her to be strong and fight back. She needed him by her side. Tom, her delta and third in command, was Jake's best friend. He wasn't particularly special to Aria, but Jake trusted him and believed in him, so she did too.

She could smell the river coming up, and she took a deep breath before she hit the beach that stretched for one hundred yards between her and the water. A gathering of rogues. A clan. It was unheard of. It was grotesque. Just over one hundred mangy, filthy, and smelly rogues growled and snapped when she bounded into their view. Opening her mind link to the rogues, she called out with a level amount of bravado, "Evening boys. Come to visit, I see. Surely you've heard of manners? You should've called first, I would've thrown a welcoming party in your honor." The snarls and yowls that met her made her smile.

"An' what's a pretty little panther such as yerself doin' all alone there, missy?" A leopard with scars galore stepped forward. Their leader, Aria presumed.

"You flatter me, sir, but I'm only welcoming my guests, as any good Alpha would do." She batted her eyes in mocking modesty. There was a ripple of surprise through the rogues, and her fur bristled. Here we go again...

"Aha! A little female as an alpha? What, did the males in your clan let ya win the challenges 'cause you were pretty?" The leopard jeered and stalked towards her.

She now oozed confidence, and matched his every step forward with one of her own. "Why sir, I've never lost a battle! Would you dare to try your own hand in a... challenge?" She knew she could win. This leopard was all talk and tricks. He didn't intimidate her, and now he knew it. For him to accept her challenge was trading a life for a clan. It was uncommon, and it was important.

"I win, we have your lands. You win, we leave with no fuss. Deal?" He bargained, surely because it made him feel smart and important.

"That's how it normally works, rogue, but I'll do you a favor, and spare your life when I beat you. You take your clan of mongrels, and you leave to never return. Deal?" Aria spat at him, dropping the polite act. The feline rogues walked forward to watch the battle as the leopard laughed.

"Deal, but I won't grant you the same... courtesy, girly."

Aria smirked and shifted into a jaguar with black fur, for her anger, and tan flowers, for her confidence and sureness. She didn't control her color, her mood did. She only chose the feline form to take. Some of the rogues hissed in surprise and anger. It was a common reaction, she was one of a kind and she understood their sudden wariness. The leopard brushed it off, sure of his skills. They faced each and bowed, as was custom, and said the binding words: Let this duel be seen by the gods and men, and let all who bare witness ensure fairness lest their honor and life be at stake. I *duelist* do solemnly swear to fight with honor and courage.

Alpha, we're in position behind the brush do you- she cut off Jake's voice in her head and closed her mind link after a short 'Don't move.' This was her battle and she was ready.