Cursed Division

Prologue

Dark gray skies casted above the damp earth. The air was thick with the scent of rain. It was windy and the late afternoon promised a storm. On the grassy surface of the earth, the tall grass rustled and a small black cat with green eyes leapt happily from the fronds. She skiddled go a halt and whipped her head around, tail swishing happily as another cat, her brother, barged from the fronds after her. Another small cat skiddled to a halt, his glossy fur bristling happily.
"I got you now! Rawrrr!" The small tomcat lunged at his sister and the two rolled in a bundle of small fur. They giggled happily until Midnight, the small black female cat pinned her brother down.
"Got ya Aiden!" She giggled.
Aiden's ears flattened. "No fair!"
"Yes fair! You have to admit it little brother, I'm stronger than you and I always will be!"
"Not true! One day I will be all grown up and I'll be the strongest cat in the whole wide world! You'll see!" He boasted.
Midnight rolled her eyes. "Sureee." She got off her brother and let him scramble to his paws. The young tomcat shook out his dark gray pelt.
"That was fun."
"Yeah." Midnight agreed. "I think we should head back to mom and dad now. It's going to rain soon." Aiden gazed up at the darkening sky with a frown. "Okay. I have to go do my business first. Go ahead, I'll catch up." Aiden promised.
Midnight nodded in acknowledgement. "Alright. Don't be too long."
"I won't!" Aiden called back as he raced through the tall grass trying to find a place to relieve himself. He finally found a place near a small bush and began to do his business. But before he finished, grass crunched from nearby. Pricking his ears, Aiden stopped and glanced around. It was all silent. No one was around. Just the sound of wind blowing the grass. Frowning, he finished his business then swept dirt over it. He was beginning to head back to his sister but something stopped him in his tracks. It was a strange feeling. He felt like he was being watched. His paws seemed frozen to the ground. But Aiden found the courage and sped up his pace ready to get back to safety with his sister and parents.

Aiden didn't get far before something hard pressed his back and caused him to face plant to the ground. Struggling, Aiden grunted trying to release whatever weight had smashed him down. But it was too heavy. Turning his head, his heart seemed to drop in fear. A tall broad cat hovered over him and its paw pressed him to the earth.
"Hello little kitten. What are you doing out here all alone?" The stranger asked with his deep voice.
"I.. I". Aiden couldn't find words. Fear seemed to overwhelm him. He began to flail his paws, the stranger was crushing his spine.
"Oh does that hurt little one? My apologies." The stranger released his grip and Aiden scrambled up to his paws, fur bristling in fear. He had to get out of here. No questions needed to be asked about this strange cat's identity.
"Sorry. I've got to go." Aiden murmured and began to pad away but the stranger growled and padded in front of him to block his path.
"Not so fast. You didn't even say hello. That's not nice." The stranger pointed out.
"My parents are waiting for me. I'm sorry, I can't stay." Aiden meowed, fear etching his tone.
"Oh I'm sure you can spare a few more moments." The stranger purred.
Aiden shook his head. "I can't. Sorry."
He once more tried to walk away but the strange cat was now firmly in front of him, his eyes turning to a dark red glare. "What's the rush, son?"
Eyes widening with dismay and horror, Aiden gathered the courage and raced under the stranger and ran away. He heard a hiss of fury behind him. He was being chased.
"Midnight! Mom! Dad!" Aiden yowled.
He wasn't far now. He could make it. He had too! This stranger wouldn't kill him today!
It was no use though. Aiden's legs were tiny and he wasn't fast enough. Teeth pierced his fur and he felt himself being flung backwards. Screeching in horror, Aiden thumped the earth, the breath knocked out of him.
Grass crunched nearby as paws thrummed close.
"Get away from my son!" A male voice snarled. It was a big gray tabby who was accompanied by a dark black female cat and a small black cat beside her. It was Aiden's family.
The stranger turned around.
"Oh.. What's this? Are you this little kitten's family?"
"Get away from my son, you bastard!" The dark gray tabby growled, his claws unsheathed.
"And if I don't?"
"Then I will rip you in two."
It was at that moment Midnight and Aiden's parents seemed to notice the red eyes of the cat and they stiffened.
"DeathBlood." Midnight's mother whispered.
"You won't be saving your son today. You should know how hungry we are. I've just happened go be traveling outside DeathBlood territory and seeing a kitten straying alone. Now that's a good snack." The stranger snickered.
"You won't touch him you pest!" The father growled.
"Watch me."
With that, the red-eyed cat turned around and fastened his teeth into Aiden's throat. The kitten let out a squeak of pain but it was soon broken off as he was lifted in firm jaws and teeth crunched his throat, casuing a loud snap.
"Noooooo!" The father screeched in horror. He lunged at the DeathBlood cat. But the stranger was faster. He dropped the lifeless kitten and clashed with the gray tabby the two fought in a bundle of teeth and claws but finally after some struggle, the gray tabby was pinned down and the DeathBlood cat lifted his forepaw to reveal long glistening claws. The tabby's eyes slitted as claws reared up then slashed the fur around his throat causing blood to splatter out.
Midnight's mother wailed in dismay. Her mate let out a choking gurgle before he went limp and lifeless with now only the evil cat standing between the two dead bodies, scarlet dripping from his jaws and claws.
Midnight stood frozen in shock, her heart thrumming in her chest. They're dead... They're dead! She felt her mother's tail wrap protectively around her. She saw her mom's eats flatten and face revealing fear and submission.
"Please." She begged.
The DeathBlood cat smirked. "I don't think so."
The DeathBlood cat reared up on hind legs and got ready to swipe at Midnight's mother but she was ready and the black she-cat locked claws with her attacker. They batted at one another.
Midnight watched in horror as her mother fought for her life against this wicked cat. But it seemed the evil cat was so much stronger for he thrust her mother away then lunged on her exposed underbelly to rake his thorn sharp claws through the soft flesh which caused the dark black cat to screech in pain, eyes widened in shock and fear before her body went limp.
"Mom!" Midnight wailed. She raced over to her lifeless mother and nuzzled her cheek then mewled, bouding over to her dead father and brother. They are all dead! No! No! No!

Heavy paw steps sounded behind her. She glanced around and crouched down in horror as the murderer's shadow loomed over her.
"Don't kill me. Please. I'm sorry." She pleaded.
"Oh don't worry young one. I much rather keep you alive. How about you follow me. I know a much better place you can live."
"But I wanna be here with my family." Midnight whined.
"They're dead! Come with me or you'll be next!"
Midnight flinched. She had to do what this cat said for the sake of her life. Where was he going to take her? Gulping, she rose to shaky paws, her whole body trembling as she followed this cat to who knows where. But not before she took a last glance back at her dead kin who were only alive moments ago.
I'm so sorry. I will make you proud of me. I'll live for you and fight for you. Your deaths won't go in vain.