The Legend of Mordecai : The Star Warrior (3)

Chapter 25: Curiosity can kill

      Mordecai stares into the eyes of the very soul who capture him.
      "Oh what a surprise. Didn't expect to see you here, General" He sneers.
      His hatred for Darkmoon was now showing more than ever. First they took a life he cared about now this. This wasn't going to end well and he knew it.
      Catherine hisses and rises up on her hind legs. She then lunges towards Mordecai.
       He quickly rolls to the side and nips at her left leg. She recoils and staggers back. With another lunge, Catherine lands on top of him. They roll across the floor, biting and clawing at one another.
      Mordecai sinks his teeth in side of her neck and throws her off. Catherine recovers her posture and rolls to he ground. They both stagger to their paws and stare at one another.
      "Oh so you do have fight left in you, mutt. You and your little group aren't getting out of here alive. Especially you!" Catherine spits out. Her voice had become vemon to him. Now he knew she was showing her true colors.
      With a quick glance, Mordecai notices that Angel was signaling Elrik to move. He wasn't picking up the pace but was moving in stealth. The minions and guards were down for the count. That only left one thing was strike or be killed.

***

    Catherine turns her head and growls. "Don't even think for one second that I will let you leave! You and your cousin are good as dead. You li-" As she turns her head back around a talon rakes across her good eye.
      Blood splatters on the ground and she drops down. Did he just...he isn't like his uncle...Shade would never do that.
      Catherine slowly stands up and covers her wounded eye. She turns to Mordecai for a split second then sighs. "I see. I see how it is. I've fueled your rage haven't I? This is my thanks isn't it?"
      "No. I fueled your rage. I'm just countering it. You wanted to do that to me...to anyone. Now it happened. Coming from someone you thought was weak. There are those who stand with me. You could never image them...could you?" Mordecai questions in a silent manner. His fierce eyes never left her.
      Catherine takes several steps back and looks up. A raven as big as her lands next to Mordecai. That bird no...

***

    "Hello, kitty. You aren't as big and bad as you think you are. Now are you? Ebony teases. "This is what happens when you go too far. Now run along to your master."
      Catherine hisses but doesn't move. "For the last time, spy, I will prevail. We all will. GET OUT! She yowls and leaps towards Ebony.
      With a yell, Elrik pushes a loose pillar on to her tail. Catherine yowls and turns her head quickly and spots Angel rearing up behind her. With a quick and easy slash, the Starlight Princess slices her tail off.
      Catherine recoils and dashes towards the exit of the castle. Leaving a trail of blood behind her, she screeches in pain. The pain never left her but she knew she would return. This isn't over!

***

      Mordecai smiles weakly at his cousin and the odd dizzy feeling returns. His body wasn't in the best of shape and the fighting only made him more tired. He needed to rest, eat, and recover. He realized he had made himself suffer more then he should have. It wasn't the brightest solution.

      Angel wraps her paws around his neck and sobs quietly. "I'm sorry...I should of never gave you that news and...I'm can't live with myself doing that."

      "Don't worry. It was obviously them getting lucky. I made myself vulnerable to Darkmoon. They took advantage and trapped me" he responds with a laugh.

      "Okay...at least Dust didn't come. That would of been a horror show. He was smart enough not to" Angel releases him, sniffling.

      Elrik sighs and turns his body away. He looks back at Mordecai and Angel. "We should go before reinforcements arrive. I'm sure she will come back or something..." he gulps with a look of concern.
      Mordecai nods and Angel takes the lead. Elrik follows behind her and Mordecai soon after.
      It was now dawn and the sky and ground returned. Mordecai slowly wobbles behind the two Starlight wolves. He takes three more steps and collapses.

***

      Catherine slowly makes her way back to the castle. She pushes a paw up to the door and opens it. A familar mad heckling catches her attention. Hin? Where was that mad mutt when we were attacked?!
      She rushes to the throne room of the Phantom Lord and pauses. She takes a single step and peers around the corner. There sat the Hyena conversing with the dark crystal. Their superior. What are they doing? What is he doing?
      "Oh...my lord. I'm sure she'll come back or perhaps she's right around the corner!" Hin laughs triumphantly. He turns around to face the beaten up feline. "Oh...oh my! Your dark glistening fur! Cat, what happened?! Did they do this?" He snickers.
      Catherine growls and lunges towards him. The hyena backs up quickly. He looks her in the eye and laughs. "They did a number on you didn't they?" He asks while continuing to snicker.
      "Don't you dare mention that! Now...what are you and our lord doing, might I ask?" She growls.
      Hin stops laughing and quietly looks at her. He circles around the crystal then sits down in front of it. "You failed that's simple. You are now an outcast. A nobody to us. Unless you can redeem yourself, he doesn't want you anymore" he says looking at the crystal.
      She couldn't believe her ears...they were lying right. Hin was such a fool even her but he was loyal. "It was one slip up! My lord, please!" She shouts in a panic.
      A loud boom of thunder shakes the castle and she falls back. Hin cowers and whines. Three bolts of lightning flash in the sky. In the shadows of the crystal the dark face and glowing eyes appear.

      "Enough! Without a hint of my disappointment! Catherine you are banished from this place. Your status shall be ripped from your flowing blood and unless nature is of nothing to me. You did your job but you let your target slip away" the Phantom Lord's voice booms from the crystal.

      Catherine takes a step back. Her body was experiencing a weakneas she hadn't felt in years. Sadness...no, envy. Hin was possibly in her place now...she had to redeem herself. Even if it meant she was to be second in command.
      She bows down and a shadow claws wraps around her neck. A sharp pain courses through her body. It disappears and she collapses to the ground, shaking. She looks up at the crystal, awaiting a response.

      "I know you wish to redeem yourself. I will give you the chance unlike Shade. Now go to the Verdant Kingdom. There are deeds and a crystal piece to be found" he commands.

      "Am I to do this...alone?" Catherine quickly asks.

      "Yes. You are defenseless and stripped of your power. Find another way and use your resources around you. If you fail once more...you will either die to them or my claw. Is that clear?"

      Catherine nods and slowly stalks into the darkness. With a final glance, she glares at Hin who smiles at the crystal, receiving the Phantom Lord's blessing of power.