Contumacious Circean

Hunted

They walked caustiously through the forest, jumping at every small sound. Something passed in front of them, dark and ominous, sending Raven's heart beating even faster. Crow stopped suddenly, and unsheathed his claws.

A massive cat, larger even than the cat that had died before them just moments ago, came padding towards them with a wicked, menacing grin spread wide across her face. Her pelt was a deep, near black-brown, and strength seemed to come off her in waves; and her beauty had a definate circean edge.

Crow hissed and bared his teeth a the massive she-cat, but she seemed unphased by his show of bravery, unsheathing claws as sharp as the blade of a machete.

"You are tresspassing," she growled, "I'll have to take you in."

Raven twitched an ear in confusion, "Take us where?" she mewed shakily.

"To the Proudeagle," she replied simply, with a twitch of her tail that brought two more massive cats to appear behind her.

A thousand questions burned on the tip of Raven's tongue, but she forced her mouth to stay shut and let her paws take each step one at a time, as these strange cats closed in around them and led them to a place unknown. Crow glanced at his sister; he could feel the tension and worry eminate off her in waves, and though he wouldn't say so, he felt the same way. 

Raven caught her brother's eye for a brief moment, but returned her gaze to the ground, pushing everything from her mind, and concentrating only on putting one paw in front of the other.

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They walked awhile, weaving through the green underbrush and tall trees. Before long the terrain became incredulous, and with nearly every step thorns snagged at their pelts and caught their pads; the nettles and thistles became unbearable, and altogether the physical pain and confusion threatened to rive them.

The large cat in front of them pushed through a patch of thistles and they came into a clearing. Raven slowly lifted her head to see where fate had brought them, and a gasp of mixed horror and awe escaped her throat in a rush.

The giant yellow monster sat right in the middle of the clearing, tenebrific and looming in front of them. Around this 'cat', carcasses that were still rotting, and bones broken and bleached white scattered the crimson, bloodstained ground.

Crow watched fearfully as their captor glanced to the other toms, and then back to the animal that sat in the center of the clearing.

"Welcome to the lair of the Contumacious Circean," the she-cat hissed, "The place where darkness looms and nightmares are born."

Crow and Raven exchanged worried glances as they waited for the she-cat to continue.

"The cats here are known by no name except what they are. Our Prodeagle leads, I am his Swooping Talon; second in command. There are Hunters and Huntresses, Deathbringers and Life Givers, To-be's and Hatchlings, and the Magic Wing and her To-be," she explained. "No cat here lives to retire, for it shows weakness; runt or wronged Hatchlings are disposed of for the same reason...flaws mean death around here."

"Then what are you going to do with us?" Crow asked timidly.

She smiled a twisted, rivid grin. "That would be up to Proudeagle," she replied with a cruel hiss, gesturing to the massive golden tom that seemed to observe everything at once with circean, crimson eyes.

The massive tom rose to his feet and strode towards them, piercing eyes showing nothing more than apathy. He looked down on them; they were like mice at his paws, paws nearly bigger than Raven and Crow themselves. He got down to their level and looked them both in the eyes at once. "Why were you trespassing on this land?"

"We w-w-were fl-fleeing," Raven stammered nervously.

The cat narrowed his eyes, "Fleeing from what exactly?"

"An-noth-ther b-big c-c-cat..." she replied, trailing off then added, "Death came crawling in his den."

The Proudeagle laughed a bit to himself, "Just what did this other big cat look like?"

"He had an oil-black pelt, dark icy-blue eyes, and a bloody ginger star on his forehead that seemed to fade away with his spirit," Raven told him, her voice cracking now and then from deep fear.

Crow was in perturbration as he listened to the Proudeagle. "Oh, you see, that is what happens when you defy our ways and rules."

Raven heard the dry, emotionless humor in the Proudeagle's gravely voice, and her whole body stiffened in horror, "You did that to him!" she whispered in hissed shock, and Proudeagle's expression darkened.

"He crossed the line, was too contumacious. He deserved what he got."

Raven's lip curled back in the beginnings of a snarl. "Why are you so cruel?" she growled definatly, adreniline and instinct pushing her fear away and replacing it with furiousity.

Proudeagle returned her snarl, "Because strength is everything, you must learn respect. Fate is a cruel thing, and sometimes it just might not work out for you," he spat back.

"Power and strength are not everything," she spat back at him rebelliously. "What about other emotions like love? Pride?" Raven's violet eyes flashed darkly, and her silver dagger-like claws seemed to unsheath themselves.

Crow shot a warning glance at his sister, but when she didn't catch it, he whispered to her, "Keep your big mouth shut! These guys will eat us, hide and all!"

Raven opened her mouth to protest, but then the image drawn up by her brother's words passed into her thoughts, and she grimaced, closing her mouth tight again.

Proudeagle pricked his ears, "I would listen to your brother, you're just getting yourself in deeper."

Raven flicked an ear indignantly, but kept her mouth shut, biting back a sharp retort.

Proudeagle rose to his paws, towering above them once more. He flicked his tail in the direction of some stoney thicket; "Take them to the holding den," he ordered, and with a sharp glance at Raven added, "Guard it well."