Cursed Division

Chapter 1

A lonely moon shone the sky, stars invisible against the it, the tang of blood and death floating among the trees, fog sweeping the forest floor, and the twisted branches giving way to eerie trees. A fox screeched in the distance. Bones stained the dirt.
A black cat with green eyes stalked between the uneven earth and twisted roots. All was quiet. Just the sound of her light pawsteps filled the air. She'd been here almost all her life. She was forcefully taken here seasons ago after witnessing her entire family's death at the paws of a DeathBlood Forest cat. Now she lives here in DeathBlood Forest with wicked evil cats who prey upon one another and worship evil. She was nothing like them and never would be. She would never bear the curse of a DeathBlood forest cat. Its curse made their eyes glow demonic red and gave them such power and authority over this forest. She was just an outsider here, a traitor to all those who live in evil. She was only just now close to being a fully grown cat. But it feels like she's been here for centuries. She had sometimes snuck out of the forest to get fresh air but it seemed every breath of air whereever she went was poisonous. She knew she could never go to PeaceLeaf Forest, where all the good and pure cats resided. She would be killed on the spot if even being seen. The sky above DeathBlood shone with a full white moon every night, no stars ever shined here. Meanwhile in PeaceLeaf Forest, the sky was beautiful, no moon glittered there but countless beautiful stars glistened bright giving off a pure safe vibe and protection to all those who lived there. The sky was spilt between this cursed division. This sky was dark with only moon. The other was bright with shining starlight. Midnight sighed in misery knowing she may never find peace. She was all alone in DeathBlood. No one was friends here and everywhere she went was filled with dead bodies of cats or other animals or bloodstained trees and old bones. Prey was very hard to catch. It's almost as if none lived here. If she ever found the luck of food, it was old and raw. She never took the challenge to fight for food with other cats because she knew she wouldn't win. Everyone here but her and a few other cats bore the curse from the devil. She had been offered it and been manipulated that it would give her a life full of greatness but she had always refused even when nearly being forced to gain the curse.

Midnight scrambled over twisted roots and was making her way silently through the forest trapped in her own thoughts. Her thoughts were soon broken by the sound of chanting. Pricking her ears, Midnight strained her way through the foggy darkness trying to follow the sound of the chants. She had heard these chants before but she didn't remember when. They sounded ritualistic and dark. Lifting her nose to taste the air, she picked up faint traces of cats above the tang of decay and blood. A small light flashed in the distance. She followed it cautiously and when she got close enough she could see silhouettes of cats in a circle with a small patch of fire in the middle of them. These cats were in a small clearing and they were chanting loudly. She strained to see as she hid behind a tall tree and peered a small gap between two cats. There was a flailing shape beside the fire. Meows of struggle sounded from the shape and she craned her neck only to widen her eyes at the sight of a battered brown cat crouching fearfully in the circle. The cat's pelt was bristled and its fur was matted. She could tell by the sight it was a she-cat. Her face was covered in dry blood and the tip of one ear looked deeply torn. But what stood out most was her round belly. She's expecting kittens! What were these cats going to do to this pregnant she-cat? They wouldn't kill her surely? But Midnight couldn't be sure. She had seen the unimaginable happen in this forest. She listened closely as the chants became clear now.

"O' Typhon our Lord, bear this cat pain and torment for she has betrayed her curse and her fellow cats. She has broken her promise and disobeyed your destiny for her. She has chosen the side of mercy instead of hate but she as well as we know even death isn't enough punishment for her crime. Her life shall not be spared and she shall be executed for her crime. Her soul will travel to your claws and her fate will be in your decision. Her kits may be unborn but deserve the same punishment for we cannot afford this cat's qualities to pass on to offspring."
The she-cat trembled in horror. "Please have mercy upon me!"
"Mercy?" The speaker cat snorted. "We don't show mercy for traitors. We are just killing you. You're real punishment will be for Typhon to decide."
"No! Please I'll be loyal! I'll change! Please let me give birth to my kittens! At least let them be born and live!"
The speaker shook his head. "No. You've lost your chance to live and so have these kits for they are in you and shall die just as you will."
Midnight felt fear claw her chest. She couldn't just stand here and watch them kill her! But she knew interfering would just get her killed. Was it worth it? If she died then the pregnant cat would be killed after as well. She wasn't sure if it was worth it but every part of her said it was and she couldn't bear to watch this good cat suffer. Bunching her muscles, she let out a yowl of fury and sprang foward. All the cats turned their heads and arched their backs as she pelted up to them and leapt over their bodies and stood hovered over the helpless pregnant she-cat. Midnight bared her teeth and let out a warning growl. The DeathBlood cat's eyes were wide with shock and outrage.
"How dare you interrupt our ritual?!" One of them spat.
"It's Midnight, that other traitor!"
"Kill her now!"
"Typhon will not approve of this!"
"Where did she come from?"
The outrageous voices seemed to boil her ears until the one who was speaking the ritual moments ago rose his head to let out a demanding caterwaul.
"Silence!"
The speaker padded up to Midnight, his eyes glowered red and his eyes were slitted.
"Nice to see you Midnight. You do realize you interruptted the ritual of execution. Good thing too, we've been searching for you, Midnight, one of DeathBlood's Forest most wanted cats."
Midnight blinked. "I'm tired of DeathBlood killing cats because they have good morals and have a heart. Is it so bad to have good cats in this world? Not everyone has to be as evil and toxic as all of you. You guys kill for pleasure. You guys worship hell for what? To hope join them one day in the afterlife? You guys are all just Typhon's little slaves. When you go to hell, you'll just be another one of his workers. He doesn't care about you all. I mean you guys sell your souls just to please a God? Is it because you fear him or you just care for yourselves and want power? You know DeathBlood started out as one cat who was mentally messed up in the head. When he had offspring, apparently they inherited his heartlessness. Then so on that offspring breeded even more messed up cats until we get this. Or was this all started by cats who just thought being evil was the solution to life. I believe-"
A yowl a fury broke her words as the speaker cat lunged at her and pinned her to the hard earth.
"You little rat! You don't speak about DeathBlood Forest that way especially our Lord Typhon!" The cat raked his claws along Midnight's cheek. Hissing, Midnight flung him off then pressed her paws to his shoulders to hold him firmly on the ground. "Your Lord, not mine. I believe we should follow Lady Athena! Her Majesty is the goddess we should all follow. At least PeaceLeaf has enough sense to see that she is pure and kind and was who created us cats in the first place! And that is something they respect as well as I!"
A smirk plastered on her opponent's face. "Why don't you go live in PeaceLeaf Forest then".
Anger surged through her fur and she dug her claws deeper into the cat's shoulder which caused him to wince.
"You know damn well that I would be ripped to shreds if I even set paw close to the border! Plus it's not like you bastards let me leave this Forest anyways. But that's not why I still remain here. I would gladly risk my life to ensure myself a different life but I rather first get vengeance on the cat who killed my entire family in front of my eyes. I haven't seen that cat for seasons. I'm assuming he is dead."
The cat below her claws shook his head, amusement glistening in his eyes. "He is very much alive."
Desperation surged through Midnight's chest. "Where is he?"
"You think I'd tell you that?"
Midnight was about to open her mouth to speak but she could see the hostile cats beginning to gather around her. She wouldn't win this fight. She released her grip from her enemy and glared at him.
"Please at least let this cat go." Midnight pleaded pointing her tail towards the pregnant she-cat.
The cats let out ridiculous laughs as if they couldn't believe their ears.
"No. None of you are leaving here tonight."
She saw claws unsheathe and the cats flattening their ears slowly making their way towards them. Midnight backed up and stood in front of the pregnant cat, arching her back hissing.
"Stay back!" Midnight warned. The attackers seemed to not acknowledge her words and crept closer and closer until Midnight felt her whole body tense with rage. She lifted her head and  parted her legs, letting her tail stand up straight, and chest puffed out.
"I said.. Stay back!!!" She yowled. The yowl seemed to echo and stun the invaders as they all froze. Their malicious expressions changed to complete shock and horror. Mouths were gaped and the cat's red eyes seemed to be less threatening. What was wrong with them? Midnight looked at her paws and noticed bright green fire scorching them. But her paws weren't burning nor was fur being burnt, it seemed meant to be there. She lifted her paws and exmained the patch of fire. Her eyes ached and she saw a glow reflecting from the pelts in front of her.
"What-what are you?" One cat stuttered. Even the pregnant cat behind her seemed to back away in uncertainty. Midnight saw a small patch of scarlet blood and gazed into the pool to see a reflection of glowing green eyes, no pupils just all green eyes that shone like moonlight. She felt shock pierce her chest. What is this? I've never seen this happen to me before. Why do I feel so powerful?! She felt like a goddess and courage flashed her gaze. Her voice seemed to change to a confident fearless growl.
"You will not kill anyone as long as I'm around! You won't hurt me or any cat today! Leave or I will slain you all to bits and pieces until none of you remains left, not even a hair!"
As much as the cats around her tried to look courageous, the bristling hair on their pelts gave away every inch of fear within them. Turning tail, they fled in a scramble of fur. When they were out of sight she relaxed her ruffled fur and allowed herself to relax, her original features returning, the flames in her paws dying down and her eyes normal once more. She glanced around to the she-cat who now trembled with dread.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't be afraid." Midnight said smoothly reaching her paw towards her.
The she-cat swiped at Midnight and hissed. "Stay away from me, you demon!"
Midnight flinched. Demon? It stung but she wouldn't let it stop her from helping this cat.
"I want to help you." She assured solemnly.
"You scared DeathBlood cats away! No one can do that! Y-you aren't a cat!"
Midnight lashed her tail in irritation. "I have fur, a tail, and whiskers don't I?"
"That doesn't mean you're a cat. You are probably a demon in disguise."
Midnight shook her head. "I wish. Maybe then I could end these pesky DeathBlood cats once and for all". She muttered to herself before continuing to the pregnant cat in front of her.
"Do you want help or not? I have a nice warm den where you can stay while you wait for your kittens to be born." Midnight offered.
Suspicion glittered in the pregnant she-cat's gaze.
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't know. But if you want the slightest chance for survival, you'll come with me unless you want to wait for the DeathBlood scumbags to come back and rip you to pieces."
It took a moment of thought and convincing but Midnight finally got the cat to agree and she swept her close with her tail, now protective of this cat and her unborn kits. This cat could be good like her. Maybe this was her chance to make a trusted friend and save the good ones the evil DeathBlood cats vow to kill.
As they were walking along the twisted forest floor the pregnant cat told Midnight her name was Ember. Midnight introduced herself and the two walked silently back to Midnight's den.