Post by .<>Azure<>Rain<>. on Jan 6, 2008 20:28:15 GMT -5
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Nearer to me, I plead for you to come, for I have a melody to sing.
Can you bear the agonies that plague me?
Will you run in fear from my demons?
Or will I be at for a loss of words?
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Hailed as;; Phantom.
With my brethren as a;; Tom.
Fighting for;; 45 Moons.
Serving only as a faithful;; Fighter
My loyalty is forever with;; Aurora’s Faithful.
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A lithe silver tabby tom, with ivory marks.
P i c t u r e . t h i s .
I won’t cry out for your help.
Phantom appears to be an ordinary feline. His pelt color holds no essence of extravagance; a simple, darkened ash colors his coat. Ebony stripes spread across every part of his figure, even including the belly. The only indifferent part of his body by the dimmer paints are the ivory sections, that cover each of his paws, excluding his left fore. The creamy white also spreads along the center of his neck, and trickles to his nose and maw. On either side of Phantom’s salmon colored nose, one ginger blemish lies. Some of the tom’s whiskers extend beyond his maw in the grayed color, while some are bleached like his maw its self. It’s a peculiar mark, but many rarely notice it upon him.
Phantom’s frame is standard amount. His body isn’t larger than a normal feline, nor is it any lesser. He has proportional sized limbs and paws as well as a cranium and neck, however, his tail does not classify as proportionate. It stretches out, perhaps one times and a half the regular tail length. It gives him an incredible sense of balance, though it used to cause tribulations for him whilst he was a youngster. Now that Phantom has matured, it’s proven to be a efficient weapon; it’s extremely difficult to throw him off balance.
Lastly, is Phantom’s orbs. A strange mixture of jade and amber bring a shadowed emerald out. His eyes are slanted ever so slightly, but brings forth an intimidating appearance. Perhaps by the first glance of him, one wouldn’t be frightened. But upon a further inspection, and a glimpse deep into his pupils would bring a chill. The color seems ethereal at night or day, and Phantom recognizes this well. He can develop and produce stares that make kittens balk in panic, and bring uncertainty to his enemies. The master of disguise keeps his orbs guarded so that none can ever conjecture his emotions, and can only unearth a ghostly glare watching back.
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I m a g i n e . t h i s .
Phantom appears to be a simplistic feline; his emotions don’t seem to alter a great deal, and he seems to never experience extreme feelings. Most would categorize him as a quieter cat, without much thought for the real world… perhaps always fancying a dream universe where only he can lie. But behind the haunting eyes, is a highly intellectual tom, that considers matters and thinks through riddles with great knowledge. He is in short genius, though it sounds silly to describe him as such.
Phantom prefers to use brain over brawn, but this doesn’t mean his battle skills are in lack of. He takes pleasure in a vivacious or rousing wrestle with another feline, any time. The tom is a superb fighter, though he rarely shows these qualities. He favors mind games to muscle, mostly because a majority of cats don’t realize what he’s doing to them. In a direct attack, he knows he may be beaten. However, when Phantom uses his intelligence, it’s almost impossible to overwhelm him at his own game. The tom recurrently mixes others in his twisted folly, whether they be a friend or foe.
Phantom’s loyalties are shaded. He has never left Aurora’s Faithful, but this is only due to the fact that the only other options are the life of a loner, or becoming a member of RainClan. He fits well within his tribal group, but this doesn’t mean he necessarily would perish for all of their sake. It is really determined by the situation as to whether he would be dedicated. If Phantom can obtain a personal surplus, then he would choose his own well being over Aurora’s Faithful, and go against every other cat’s wish. But if he finds no individual benefit in the issue, then he will choose his tribe, and engage in battle for them. He may clash or defend until death closes in, or he may choose to flee. Whatever the stakes are, is what establishes this tom’s actions. He is in no sense cowardly; he all but challenges pain and demise. Phantom is simply self-centered, and out to survive. It’s always a query as to what exactly he execute, but one factor is for certain; he will always choose his well being over another or his party.
To the exterior to surrounding individuals, Phantom is daunting and deathly quiet. None of his contemplation ever surfaces to the world, and he never speaks his opinion or ideas aloud. Whenever asked what he wants, from the choice of prey to the execution of a prisoner, he merely looks uninterested, and lets the cat questioning him decide. Within the constraints of his mind, he knows exactly what he desires, and what is best in a situation. But the tom feels that exposing this to the outside world could come back at a later time, and retaliate against him. He hold no trust, and he presents it to none.
If there’s one thing Phantom can’t tolerate, it’s small talk or non-stop chatter. He absolutely loathes peers that chat about subjects of no concern, just to be able to dance around a inquiry. He is brusque and blunt as rule, and will ask what he pleases, or talk about what he wishes, when he pleases. The tom also doesn’t allow chatter to control his temper, when other cats don’t cease to stop talking. He might explode with fury, or politely ask for silence of the matter. Once more, this unpredictable tom may not choose the probable. You must always expect the unexpected, or he just might take you down.
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R e m e m b e r . t h i s .
Phantom’s personal trait of greed is reflected with his past. No feline is ever born with a self-centered heart. No, Phantom has been through such a twisted series of events within his life, most caused by his own doing, that no one can be quite sure if he ever had any loyalty to begin with.
Phantom was conceived within Aurora’s Faithful, at a premature age. He had three other siblings in his mother’s litter, but two passed within the first hour. His sister, Lust, survived alongside him.
Their dam was an exuberant, younger feline, named Cinders. It was her first brood that she had produced, and though it should have been a joyous time for her, the pain from the two that were lost haunted her. It was for this reason that she hailed the first kitten to live [[the third to be birthed]] Phantom, and the second to live Lust.
Only hours after their birth, both kittens were taken to The Spire, to see if they were within Aurora’s graces that evening. Cinders wasn’t present for the ceremony, for she was still mixed up within her emotions over the entire matter. But the two’s father was there; and it was he that held Phantom over the edge that night. Everything was quiet as feline’s waited for nightfall, and as it came, Cougar suspended his own child over the open space. Lust to was thrust forward by Cobalt, the Chief. Thankfully for the kittens, the mysterious light seeped into the sky, illuminating it with brilliance. Both of the kittens were taken back to home, and were left to sleep and nurse all of their days for the next moon.
At two moons of age, Phantom and Lust’s inquisitiveness were beginning to form. They no longer wanted to live in their shelter, and often tried to escape behind Cinder’s back. At this time, they knew nothing of who their father was; their entire life up until now had been Cinders, and the strange cats that roamed beside them everyday.
The date came when they were granted the permission to leave their chambers, and discover the world outside, beyond The Spire. Like any kittens, they were dumbfounded at first site, and overwhelmed with glee. For days on end, everyday was an adventure. They met with their father, each kitten admiring his burly muscles that were easy to spot beneath his short coat. He was the tribe’s Healer; a feline to be admired.
Only at their fourth moon, their was a skirmish between their father, Cougar, and another tom within Aurora’s Faithful. Both cats were claiming to be the father of the kittens, and finally took the dispute too far; in the very center of the tribe’s territory, at midnight, Cougar and Thunder mutually took part in each other’s death. Neither tom stopped to assume the consequences, they held a physical battle without any cat’s knowledge. And for hours on end, they lashed out at each other, in a deathly hushed struggle. Cougar and Thunder wanted each a fight to their foe’s death, and knew that screeching would only bring attention, and raise alarm.
But as dawn’s rays broke over the clearing, the truth was a despicable site to behold; both of the males lie lifeless, covered in blood of their own and their opponents. Because of the toms’ stubborn and obstinate will to succeed, they both had perished in the encounter. The clan stumbled upon Cougar and Thunder’s bodies, as a small patrol was sent hunting outside of their home. The kittens were told of the news, but they didn’t grieve too much. The hard truth was that Cougar had hardly ever found the time for his offspring; they could not mourn the loss of their father as they should have. To them, he was simply a very friendly warrior that they could play with at times. But apart from his weekly visit or so, Phantom and Lust held no bond with him. Cougar had passed away, and all without a worthy reason to.
So kitten hood took its course for Phantom and Lust. They went about their ways, as all youthful felines do. They soon became bored, and wanted to train to become warriors right then and there. Of course though, they looked forward to the day they would officially be younglings.
Finally, the day arrived when Phantom became a novice to a respected hunter named Stream. She was a lot like his mother, Cinders, in many ways. Lust was given an instructor named Neeju, but it looked as if the two were not happy with each other. Neeju was an over achiever, even to a cruel point.
Stream and Phantom trained every day, long and gruelingly. Stream was willing to give her youngling breaks, and short holidays. But Phantom’s thirst for knowledge drove him on to ask for all day education, sometimes even by night. As the time passed, Stream was beginning to feel something more than a bond with her apprentice. She kept everything professional however, because the she-cat knew the rules. Phantom had begun to recognized a small emotion as well, but because of his adolescence, he didn’t distinguish it as love. This would revolutionize, though.
In spite of this realization, it wasn’t long before the two felines really felt fireworks. During a particular training session, every wall they had built to each other came crashing down, as they each spoke of their true feelings. Then as if nothing were unjust with the situation, Stream, who was old enough to be his mother, took Phantom as her mate, even at his frighteningly young age of eleven moons.
When the two returned to camp, they avoided each other somewhat, but not enough to bring suspicion to anybody. None the less, later that evening, Neeju, Lust’s instructor, approached Phantom. He told the young tom he knew all about his secret, and that it would not be kept a secret, unless he was given what he wanted. Phantom was horrified, but swiftly decided to consider Neeju’s proposition. Neeju wanted Lust dead. The details were unclear, but the fighter told Phantom that Lust had witnessed something that he feared she would report him to Cobalt for. He did not inform Phantom of what had transpired, but he left Phantom’s options obvious. Accept his offer, and the youngling would remain secure with Stream. Decline it, and he would soon be turned to life as a rogue, with humiliation to follow him the rest of his days. With an arduous heart, Phantom accepted, and plotted accordingly for the assassination. For the next week, he steered clear of his sister, mother, and Stream.
The scheme was a straightforward one; Neeju would lure Lust to the very brim of the territory, where wild animals roamed. The two male cats had found a pack of wolves residing in a den only a few hundred feet past. Phantom strolled to the den, and let out a screech like none other. Then, as the wolves began the chase, he cried out with half a fearful heart, and one half of saddened agony. Neeju stood planted onto the ground until the last second, and Phantom leaped to safety in the nick of time. Lust was left standing in the clearing, still not responding to the situation. Before the she-cat figured that it was an ambush, the wolves exploded through the bracken, into the blank section, and attacked the unknowing femme. Within a minute, her pelt was ripped to shards, and all of her unsoiled blood spattered to the once emerald grass. The canines devoured her entirely in five minutes, and left quietly, filled with satisfaction.
Neeju was sent into a panic, though it was all an act. He ordered Phantom to do the same, however, it was no production for the younger cat. His wails filled the air with chilling sound, as he and Neeju raced back to The Spire. There, they told Aurora’s Faithful of the attack, that it was all by pure accident. The band accepted it all as veritable, and without inquiry. So the night was spent in mourning for the loss of Lust. Her death was covered completely, and the murder left to rot for eternity.
For the next few moons, Stream couldn’t presume why Phantom wasn’t responding to training. The femme knew there must be more to Lust’s death than what her novice was admitting. She felt she may not be able to trust her restricted mate, if he did not share everything with her. So there was a night not long after, that Stream pulled Phantom aside, and finally requested the truth from him. With a trembling heart, the young male spilled all of his tale to her, leaving naught concealed, even telling her of Neeju. The tom was desperate to keep Stream as his mate, but he could already see an alarm filling within her as he spoke each word.
But nothing was to ever come of it all. Neeju, always the lurking iniquity, had heard it all. Without forewarning, he erupted from the shadows, and attacked Phantom. Before anything could be done, Stream leaped into the fray, impulsive and careless. To Phantom, the odds looked well within a fair mark. Neeju was outnumbered, and Phantom nearly a fighter his self. But the next thing the young tom knew, a black wave was washing over him, and nothingness demolishing him.
When Phantom awoke, blood was once more all over the terrain. To his horror, Stream’s lifeless figure lay only a few tail lengths from his self. For hours on end he wept uncontrollably, rampaging like an insane cat, in such terrible torture. Neeju was no where to be seen in the area, but Phantom ignored this fact. He fell into a fitful sleep next to Stream’s lifeless body, and did not awake again until the next morning. However, by this time, Aurora’s Faithful had sent patrols after the missing felines. Just before they discovered him lying in the crimson scene, Phantom spotted Neeju’s carcass, hidden by some bracken. It was all he needed to be able to form the perfect propaganda to wiggle his way out of the predicament. So his tribe located him, and were shocked as they should be. Phantom simply told them that Neeju attacked he and Stream during a training session, without warning. But when they asked the tom why, he only shook his cranium with a baffled expression. Yes, each cat believed him once more, and so the dead were brought back to be buried. And life continued for Phantom. But now his sister lie dead, alongside his one true love.
Phantom was made into a fighter after another moon had gone by. He was reserved now; he trusted absolutely no one, and hardly ever vocalized anything. He was only one to many of the tribe, so only his dear mother, Cinders, was with him. She was his best friend ever since the bloodied deaths of his sister and Stream, but even this was beginning to falter. Cinders was becoming increasingly attracted to another tom in the clan. So as she bonded with her soon to be mate, Phantom drew even farther into his pool of seclusion. But then, he learned of Veronica.
No one knew of her treacherous ways, except for a few felines of Aurora’s Faithful that were also dark-hearted. Many were tangled within her mess, and Phantom soon became one of these. He was only one of many cats she plotted with, as she waited for the right time to attack. Phantom, having no devotion to his home, began to grow egocentric, and hungry for the power Veronica promised him.
However, before Veronica could set her plan into action, she was found out by Cobalt. Like any sensible feline, he exiled her and all of her followers to outside of Aurora’s Faithful. But Phantom was sly; he knew very well that life with the now depleted Veronica was heading no where fast. He understood that if he departed the tribe, to follow her still, it held no advantage to him.
So as Veronica exited, with a handful of caliginous cohorts, Phantom sat still behind a group that were watching the departure. Veronica never noticed, and Phantom, as always, was on no account questioned. Even cats he was enemies in within the tribe never brought the issue up to him. As if nothing had ever happened, the clever and devious warrior out ran the beat to his demise once more.
At present, Phantom’s still searching for the significance of life. He remembers the gory recollections of his existence, as vivid as if it had occurred just yesterday. They still haunt him, and Stream still visits him within the constraints of his dreams. He has made peace with her; however, he has not with Lust. Lust has never made any attempt to contact him, no matter how hard he prays to Aurora. He has accepted the fate that his sister will probably have no more to do with him. As for Cinders, she lives happily to this day, with her mate. She treats her son like an acquaintance though. A brief nod is his welcoming, and another to signal his departure.
Phantom relies on no one any longer. He knows he can’t place faith into a single soul, and expect good to come of it. He learned long ago that he doesn’t deserve mercy.
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M y . A n c e s t r y . M y . L i f e.
Sire;; Cougar . Former tribe healer . Deceased.
Dam;; Cinders. New mate.
Brothers;; Two at birth, never named. Deceased.
Sisters;; Lust . Deceased.
Former Instructor;; Stream . Deceased.
Former younglings;; None.
Mate;; Stream . Deceased.
Kittens;; None.
Other known ties;; Neeju . Murder accomplice . Murderer of Lust & Stream . Deceased.
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As my song cracks in it’s conclusion, I wonder if there’s a such thing as a second life.
Is there redemption?
Could I ever change?
Was there ever a happy ending for the remorseful?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nearer to me, I plead for you to come, for I have a melody to sing.
Can you bear the agonies that plague me?
Will you run in fear from my demons?
Or will I be at for a loss of words?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hailed as;; Phantom.
With my brethren as a;; Tom.
Fighting for;; 45 Moons.
Serving only as a faithful;; Fighter
My loyalty is forever with;; Aurora’s Faithful.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A lithe silver tabby tom, with ivory marks.
P i c t u r e . t h i s .
I won’t cry out for your help.
Phantom appears to be an ordinary feline. His pelt color holds no essence of extravagance; a simple, darkened ash colors his coat. Ebony stripes spread across every part of his figure, even including the belly. The only indifferent part of his body by the dimmer paints are the ivory sections, that cover each of his paws, excluding his left fore. The creamy white also spreads along the center of his neck, and trickles to his nose and maw. On either side of Phantom’s salmon colored nose, one ginger blemish lies. Some of the tom’s whiskers extend beyond his maw in the grayed color, while some are bleached like his maw its self. It’s a peculiar mark, but many rarely notice it upon him.
Phantom’s frame is standard amount. His body isn’t larger than a normal feline, nor is it any lesser. He has proportional sized limbs and paws as well as a cranium and neck, however, his tail does not classify as proportionate. It stretches out, perhaps one times and a half the regular tail length. It gives him an incredible sense of balance, though it used to cause tribulations for him whilst he was a youngster. Now that Phantom has matured, it’s proven to be a efficient weapon; it’s extremely difficult to throw him off balance.
Lastly, is Phantom’s orbs. A strange mixture of jade and amber bring a shadowed emerald out. His eyes are slanted ever so slightly, but brings forth an intimidating appearance. Perhaps by the first glance of him, one wouldn’t be frightened. But upon a further inspection, and a glimpse deep into his pupils would bring a chill. The color seems ethereal at night or day, and Phantom recognizes this well. He can develop and produce stares that make kittens balk in panic, and bring uncertainty to his enemies. The master of disguise keeps his orbs guarded so that none can ever conjecture his emotions, and can only unearth a ghostly glare watching back.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I m a g i n e . t h i s .
Phantom appears to be a simplistic feline; his emotions don’t seem to alter a great deal, and he seems to never experience extreme feelings. Most would categorize him as a quieter cat, without much thought for the real world… perhaps always fancying a dream universe where only he can lie. But behind the haunting eyes, is a highly intellectual tom, that considers matters and thinks through riddles with great knowledge. He is in short genius, though it sounds silly to describe him as such.
Phantom prefers to use brain over brawn, but this doesn’t mean his battle skills are in lack of. He takes pleasure in a vivacious or rousing wrestle with another feline, any time. The tom is a superb fighter, though he rarely shows these qualities. He favors mind games to muscle, mostly because a majority of cats don’t realize what he’s doing to them. In a direct attack, he knows he may be beaten. However, when Phantom uses his intelligence, it’s almost impossible to overwhelm him at his own game. The tom recurrently mixes others in his twisted folly, whether they be a friend or foe.
Phantom’s loyalties are shaded. He has never left Aurora’s Faithful, but this is only due to the fact that the only other options are the life of a loner, or becoming a member of RainClan. He fits well within his tribal group, but this doesn’t mean he necessarily would perish for all of their sake. It is really determined by the situation as to whether he would be dedicated. If Phantom can obtain a personal surplus, then he would choose his own well being over Aurora’s Faithful, and go against every other cat’s wish. But if he finds no individual benefit in the issue, then he will choose his tribe, and engage in battle for them. He may clash or defend until death closes in, or he may choose to flee. Whatever the stakes are, is what establishes this tom’s actions. He is in no sense cowardly; he all but challenges pain and demise. Phantom is simply self-centered, and out to survive. It’s always a query as to what exactly he execute, but one factor is for certain; he will always choose his well being over another or his party.
To the exterior to surrounding individuals, Phantom is daunting and deathly quiet. None of his contemplation ever surfaces to the world, and he never speaks his opinion or ideas aloud. Whenever asked what he wants, from the choice of prey to the execution of a prisoner, he merely looks uninterested, and lets the cat questioning him decide. Within the constraints of his mind, he knows exactly what he desires, and what is best in a situation. But the tom feels that exposing this to the outside world could come back at a later time, and retaliate against him. He hold no trust, and he presents it to none.
If there’s one thing Phantom can’t tolerate, it’s small talk or non-stop chatter. He absolutely loathes peers that chat about subjects of no concern, just to be able to dance around a inquiry. He is brusque and blunt as rule, and will ask what he pleases, or talk about what he wishes, when he pleases. The tom also doesn’t allow chatter to control his temper, when other cats don’t cease to stop talking. He might explode with fury, or politely ask for silence of the matter. Once more, this unpredictable tom may not choose the probable. You must always expect the unexpected, or he just might take you down.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R e m e m b e r . t h i s .
Phantom’s personal trait of greed is reflected with his past. No feline is ever born with a self-centered heart. No, Phantom has been through such a twisted series of events within his life, most caused by his own doing, that no one can be quite sure if he ever had any loyalty to begin with.
Phantom was conceived within Aurora’s Faithful, at a premature age. He had three other siblings in his mother’s litter, but two passed within the first hour. His sister, Lust, survived alongside him.
Their dam was an exuberant, younger feline, named Cinders. It was her first brood that she had produced, and though it should have been a joyous time for her, the pain from the two that were lost haunted her. It was for this reason that she hailed the first kitten to live [[the third to be birthed]] Phantom, and the second to live Lust.
Only hours after their birth, both kittens were taken to The Spire, to see if they were within Aurora’s graces that evening. Cinders wasn’t present for the ceremony, for she was still mixed up within her emotions over the entire matter. But the two’s father was there; and it was he that held Phantom over the edge that night. Everything was quiet as feline’s waited for nightfall, and as it came, Cougar suspended his own child over the open space. Lust to was thrust forward by Cobalt, the Chief. Thankfully for the kittens, the mysterious light seeped into the sky, illuminating it with brilliance. Both of the kittens were taken back to home, and were left to sleep and nurse all of their days for the next moon.
At two moons of age, Phantom and Lust’s inquisitiveness were beginning to form. They no longer wanted to live in their shelter, and often tried to escape behind Cinder’s back. At this time, they knew nothing of who their father was; their entire life up until now had been Cinders, and the strange cats that roamed beside them everyday.
The date came when they were granted the permission to leave their chambers, and discover the world outside, beyond The Spire. Like any kittens, they were dumbfounded at first site, and overwhelmed with glee. For days on end, everyday was an adventure. They met with their father, each kitten admiring his burly muscles that were easy to spot beneath his short coat. He was the tribe’s Healer; a feline to be admired.
Only at their fourth moon, their was a skirmish between their father, Cougar, and another tom within Aurora’s Faithful. Both cats were claiming to be the father of the kittens, and finally took the dispute too far; in the very center of the tribe’s territory, at midnight, Cougar and Thunder mutually took part in each other’s death. Neither tom stopped to assume the consequences, they held a physical battle without any cat’s knowledge. And for hours on end, they lashed out at each other, in a deathly hushed struggle. Cougar and Thunder wanted each a fight to their foe’s death, and knew that screeching would only bring attention, and raise alarm.
But as dawn’s rays broke over the clearing, the truth was a despicable site to behold; both of the males lie lifeless, covered in blood of their own and their opponents. Because of the toms’ stubborn and obstinate will to succeed, they both had perished in the encounter. The clan stumbled upon Cougar and Thunder’s bodies, as a small patrol was sent hunting outside of their home. The kittens were told of the news, but they didn’t grieve too much. The hard truth was that Cougar had hardly ever found the time for his offspring; they could not mourn the loss of their father as they should have. To them, he was simply a very friendly warrior that they could play with at times. But apart from his weekly visit or so, Phantom and Lust held no bond with him. Cougar had passed away, and all without a worthy reason to.
So kitten hood took its course for Phantom and Lust. They went about their ways, as all youthful felines do. They soon became bored, and wanted to train to become warriors right then and there. Of course though, they looked forward to the day they would officially be younglings.
Finally, the day arrived when Phantom became a novice to a respected hunter named Stream. She was a lot like his mother, Cinders, in many ways. Lust was given an instructor named Neeju, but it looked as if the two were not happy with each other. Neeju was an over achiever, even to a cruel point.
Stream and Phantom trained every day, long and gruelingly. Stream was willing to give her youngling breaks, and short holidays. But Phantom’s thirst for knowledge drove him on to ask for all day education, sometimes even by night. As the time passed, Stream was beginning to feel something more than a bond with her apprentice. She kept everything professional however, because the she-cat knew the rules. Phantom had begun to recognized a small emotion as well, but because of his adolescence, he didn’t distinguish it as love. This would revolutionize, though.
In spite of this realization, it wasn’t long before the two felines really felt fireworks. During a particular training session, every wall they had built to each other came crashing down, as they each spoke of their true feelings. Then as if nothing were unjust with the situation, Stream, who was old enough to be his mother, took Phantom as her mate, even at his frighteningly young age of eleven moons.
When the two returned to camp, they avoided each other somewhat, but not enough to bring suspicion to anybody. None the less, later that evening, Neeju, Lust’s instructor, approached Phantom. He told the young tom he knew all about his secret, and that it would not be kept a secret, unless he was given what he wanted. Phantom was horrified, but swiftly decided to consider Neeju’s proposition. Neeju wanted Lust dead. The details were unclear, but the fighter told Phantom that Lust had witnessed something that he feared she would report him to Cobalt for. He did not inform Phantom of what had transpired, but he left Phantom’s options obvious. Accept his offer, and the youngling would remain secure with Stream. Decline it, and he would soon be turned to life as a rogue, with humiliation to follow him the rest of his days. With an arduous heart, Phantom accepted, and plotted accordingly for the assassination. For the next week, he steered clear of his sister, mother, and Stream.
The scheme was a straightforward one; Neeju would lure Lust to the very brim of the territory, where wild animals roamed. The two male cats had found a pack of wolves residing in a den only a few hundred feet past. Phantom strolled to the den, and let out a screech like none other. Then, as the wolves began the chase, he cried out with half a fearful heart, and one half of saddened agony. Neeju stood planted onto the ground until the last second, and Phantom leaped to safety in the nick of time. Lust was left standing in the clearing, still not responding to the situation. Before the she-cat figured that it was an ambush, the wolves exploded through the bracken, into the blank section, and attacked the unknowing femme. Within a minute, her pelt was ripped to shards, and all of her unsoiled blood spattered to the once emerald grass. The canines devoured her entirely in five minutes, and left quietly, filled with satisfaction.
Neeju was sent into a panic, though it was all an act. He ordered Phantom to do the same, however, it was no production for the younger cat. His wails filled the air with chilling sound, as he and Neeju raced back to The Spire. There, they told Aurora’s Faithful of the attack, that it was all by pure accident. The band accepted it all as veritable, and without inquiry. So the night was spent in mourning for the loss of Lust. Her death was covered completely, and the murder left to rot for eternity.
For the next few moons, Stream couldn’t presume why Phantom wasn’t responding to training. The femme knew there must be more to Lust’s death than what her novice was admitting. She felt she may not be able to trust her restricted mate, if he did not share everything with her. So there was a night not long after, that Stream pulled Phantom aside, and finally requested the truth from him. With a trembling heart, the young male spilled all of his tale to her, leaving naught concealed, even telling her of Neeju. The tom was desperate to keep Stream as his mate, but he could already see an alarm filling within her as he spoke each word.
But nothing was to ever come of it all. Neeju, always the lurking iniquity, had heard it all. Without forewarning, he erupted from the shadows, and attacked Phantom. Before anything could be done, Stream leaped into the fray, impulsive and careless. To Phantom, the odds looked well within a fair mark. Neeju was outnumbered, and Phantom nearly a fighter his self. But the next thing the young tom knew, a black wave was washing over him, and nothingness demolishing him.
When Phantom awoke, blood was once more all over the terrain. To his horror, Stream’s lifeless figure lay only a few tail lengths from his self. For hours on end he wept uncontrollably, rampaging like an insane cat, in such terrible torture. Neeju was no where to be seen in the area, but Phantom ignored this fact. He fell into a fitful sleep next to Stream’s lifeless body, and did not awake again until the next morning. However, by this time, Aurora’s Faithful had sent patrols after the missing felines. Just before they discovered him lying in the crimson scene, Phantom spotted Neeju’s carcass, hidden by some bracken. It was all he needed to be able to form the perfect propaganda to wiggle his way out of the predicament. So his tribe located him, and were shocked as they should be. Phantom simply told them that Neeju attacked he and Stream during a training session, without warning. But when they asked the tom why, he only shook his cranium with a baffled expression. Yes, each cat believed him once more, and so the dead were brought back to be buried. And life continued for Phantom. But now his sister lie dead, alongside his one true love.
Phantom was made into a fighter after another moon had gone by. He was reserved now; he trusted absolutely no one, and hardly ever vocalized anything. He was only one to many of the tribe, so only his dear mother, Cinders, was with him. She was his best friend ever since the bloodied deaths of his sister and Stream, but even this was beginning to falter. Cinders was becoming increasingly attracted to another tom in the clan. So as she bonded with her soon to be mate, Phantom drew even farther into his pool of seclusion. But then, he learned of Veronica.
No one knew of her treacherous ways, except for a few felines of Aurora’s Faithful that were also dark-hearted. Many were tangled within her mess, and Phantom soon became one of these. He was only one of many cats she plotted with, as she waited for the right time to attack. Phantom, having no devotion to his home, began to grow egocentric, and hungry for the power Veronica promised him.
However, before Veronica could set her plan into action, she was found out by Cobalt. Like any sensible feline, he exiled her and all of her followers to outside of Aurora’s Faithful. But Phantom was sly; he knew very well that life with the now depleted Veronica was heading no where fast. He understood that if he departed the tribe, to follow her still, it held no advantage to him.
So as Veronica exited, with a handful of caliginous cohorts, Phantom sat still behind a group that were watching the departure. Veronica never noticed, and Phantom, as always, was on no account questioned. Even cats he was enemies in within the tribe never brought the issue up to him. As if nothing had ever happened, the clever and devious warrior out ran the beat to his demise once more.
At present, Phantom’s still searching for the significance of life. He remembers the gory recollections of his existence, as vivid as if it had occurred just yesterday. They still haunt him, and Stream still visits him within the constraints of his dreams. He has made peace with her; however, he has not with Lust. Lust has never made any attempt to contact him, no matter how hard he prays to Aurora. He has accepted the fate that his sister will probably have no more to do with him. As for Cinders, she lives happily to this day, with her mate. She treats her son like an acquaintance though. A brief nod is his welcoming, and another to signal his departure.
Phantom relies on no one any longer. He knows he can’t place faith into a single soul, and expect good to come of it. He learned long ago that he doesn’t deserve mercy.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M y . A n c e s t r y . M y . L i f e.
Sire;; Cougar . Former tribe healer . Deceased.
Dam;; Cinders. New mate.
Brothers;; Two at birth, never named. Deceased.
Sisters;; Lust . Deceased.
Former Instructor;; Stream . Deceased.
Former younglings;; None.
Mate;; Stream . Deceased.
Kittens;; None.
Other known ties;; Neeju . Murder accomplice . Murderer of Lust & Stream . Deceased.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
As my song cracks in it’s conclusion, I wonder if there’s a such thing as a second life.
Is there redemption?
Could I ever change?
Was there ever a happy ending for the remorseful?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
