Book 4: Sol's Revenge & Whisper's Path

Sol

Anger tires me...

But still it goes on. I have no power to control it anymore, so it seems. It is always there, lurking in the edges of my vision. A silhouette of something far out of my reach. Something that continuously haunts me.

In this place, in my world, I am alone to my anger as it festers and broils. I am alone with only my anger for company as it grows stronger and stronger, stealing away any chance of redemption I had left.

Where does my anger originate, you ask?

My anger at the world was born alongside me, a shadowy companion who slowly took over my life. My anger was born once I took my first breath. And as I sit in this place, watching life go on, my anger lessens. I realize I have been made a fool of myself. I hold onto grudges, I never let old wounds heal. I destroyed myself.

They all believed I was just a curse, and my name was easily forgotten.

I've been in hiding for moons in these forests. I thought someday someone might find me here, another cat perhaps. Or Midnight the badger. I never expected it would Echo to find me.

"Hi brother," she cooed softly at me. I had just caught a vole and was hungrily devouring the prey, I hadn't eaten in days. I tasted bile in my mouth as I saw her before me, but I kept the vole down with silent determination. I wouldn't let her see just how scared I was.

"Echo," I managed to say, but my voice shook. "Here to finish me off?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"I wish, but alas I am only a ghost."

"Go away," I spat.

"You know mother always loved me most," she cooed. I frowned at her smug attitude.

"She loved you most until I killed you!" I fired back. Echo's eyes widened.

"So you admit it," she said softly. "You admit you killed your sister because you were jealous and spiteful."

"No," I murmured angrily. "You were spiteful." She glared at me.

"What do you want Sol?" she hissed.

"What doI want?" I asked in confusion. "You came to me!" Echo glanced at me smugly.

"Well I wouldn't be here if you didn't want something. So what is it?" Echo pressed. I considered telling her I wanted her to rot in the ground. But something made me stop.

"Power," I answered. "I want power. And revenge."

"That is a very dangerous combination. Power and revenge," Echo said wistfully. I stared at her in confusion, she elaborated.

"Many cats seek power because revenge has taken control of their hearts. Those are the cats who fail in their quests. You can either exact your revenge or try and get power. But never both. You cannot have both. So what will it be Sol? Power, or revenge?" Echo demanded.

"Revenge," I said without hesitation.

"I can bestow upon you one gift which you can use to exact your revenge on Whisper. It is him that you want to hurt, isn't it?" Echo stated calmly.

"Yes," I growled.

"Very well. Once you are finished with Whisper I will visit you again," Echo said darkly. "And then you will have to help me." Both of our eyes glistened dangerously. I realized what Echo would have turned into if she lived.

She would have turned into me.

"What is my gift?" I snarled. Echo sighed at my impatience.

"I will give you the gift of age. You yourself wont age a day from this day and on. However Whisper will age faster and faster until he dies," Echo said maliciously.