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It had been a week since the incident on the cliffs. Eris had noticably changed and she wasn't sure if it was for the better. She had become moody and prone to random outbursts of emotion. It could be tears, anger, laughter, or fear. She couldn't control it any more. She had tried, she really had. But it was so hard. Delila had tried to help but Eris didn't accept Vixa's explination. That couldn't be the solution. She didn't believe it was the solution. The spirit had wanted to show her something. But what was it?

Chains were used to bind the weak or the enslaved. They were symbols of power over another. What did they mean to her? She thought hard about the vision she had seen. When she had fallen and been caught, it wrapped around her to stop her from going anywhere. Then, as she struck at the chain to free herself, the voices of the tribal elders, her aunt, and even other kittens range out. Insults, put downs, and disgracing remarks. Were these what held her? Were these words enslaving her to the tribe in some way. She had struck out at them, and with enough force, had broken them. Is that what she had to do now?

She looked up at her Aunt from her seat on the floor of the cave. Ruth was busy fixing Jei's meal while she was out at figther's class. The ideas she had been thinking about kept running through her mind. Enslaved, chained, restrained. All these things were from the words everyone, well, everyone but Jei and Delila that is, were chaining her down. The more she thought, the more angry she got. She wanted to show them that they couldn't hold her down forever. Then.....something welled up with in her.

"I'm going to be a great and powerful cougar. And I'll make sure you pay for what you've done to me."

What did she just say!?!? Good moon goddess protect her! She had just threatened her already angry Aunt! Her of all kittens!!

Ruth blinked and looked up from the carcas she had been preparing as she heard Eris speak. Normally the kitten was quite but lately she had been acting very strange and it had already put her in a bad mood. Now this worthless piece of fluff was threatening her? At first she was frankly stunned by the kitten's sudden outburst. Then the anger set in.

"Oh really, you think I'll pay for treating you for what you worth! Then here, let me help you make that debt greater."

Eris had to run out of the cave and hide when was finally able to get away from Ruth's painful hit. Now she was really hurt and knew she couldn't go back to the cave tonight. Ruth would skin her alive if she came back. She spit the blood from her mouth on to the stone under her feet and sighed. Where had that come from? She had never raised her voice to her Aunt. Sure she had made snid remarks but never something so bold as that. Now what would she do?

The injured kitten slowly limped her way out of the camp and into the hills. She stopped a bit to rest. She had a lot of bruises, a badly cut lip, a black right eye, what looked like a twisted knee, and a few cuts from Ruth's claws. She had been really mad at her outburst. But why had she said that? What was making her change?

She had to get to gust cliffs. She had to talk to the spirit again. Eris stood up with that destination in mind but quickly sank back on to her rock, her knee unable to support her weight at the moment.

"I need to put something cold on it. I wonder if I can get to the stream?"

She looked out over the rocks towards the small water source of her tribe. The waters were cold there, having melted from the snow on the highest peeks of the mountains. That would soothe her knee. She just hoped Jei didn't miss her too much tonight. It looked like she'd be sleeping outside.


Lyka sat quietly by the stream, purposely trying tune out the distracting noise of the gurgling water, slowly, carefully concentrating on the humming of the stones. Deliberately, she sank into the ground, but the water threw her off and she was unable to completely dissappear. She shook her head as if to clear her mind and tried again. This time, she was sucessful and the comforting cold firmness around her flooded her senses. She was one with the stone. She heard all it heard, felt all it felt, and she felt the tremors of small footsteps making their way towards her.


Eris limped her way slowly towards the stream. Her knee was killing her. And it didn't help that her cuts were still slightly bleeding.


Delila leapt through the trees, passing from shadow to shadow silently, fresh from her training exercises for the day. Now, if only to grab a quick drink from the stream before she headed out to hunt for her dinner. She was tired, but it was a good feeling, knowing that she was pushing herself to her limits and beyond, learning more each day about her new strength and abilities.

She was nearing the stream when the scent of blood invaded her nostrils, bringing her to a sharp halt as she frowned, testing the wind. An injured prey beast? No...it was cougar blood. Were there warriors nearby hunting? Or fighting intruders? She followed the scent slowly, determined to find the source of the blood scent.


Eris finally made it to the stream. She gathered some moss and placed it in the cold icey water before wrapping it around her knee and tying it off with some leaves. She sighed, she tried to lick some of her wounds. Her hair was painted pink or even pure red in the areas where she was bleeding. This was going to be a rough night.

Again she sighed and tried to think of a place she could stay. Maybe if she found an empty cave she could make a small fire and wait until tomorrow to come back. But what would she eat? She couldn't hunt, or had never really been successful at it. She was on her own tonight. Or at least she thought she was. She didn't feel like she was alone, as if someone was there with her. She couldn't see Lyka but she felt her presence. And she had yet to hear the silent Delila coming toward her. All she heard was the rushing water and the pounding in her ears from the black eye.


The scent grew stronger as Delila practically raced through the treetops now. It was definitely Cougar blood, though she couldn't place the Cougar just yet. What if a Quicktalon sister was hurt and in battle? She'd help how she could, even if she was just a distraction so her tribe sister could escape if needed. The scent of blood was practically tangible in her nostrils as she stopped abruptly in a tree with limbs overhanging the river.

She paused, glancing through the leaves at the cougar crouched at the water's edge. Eris? She was relieved to see no dangers here threatening the kitten, but what in the world had happened to her? Sure, she'd seen bruises and such on the spotted kit before...but never blood, at least not like this. What had happened?

She climbed slowly down the tree, leaping the last ten feet or so of the trunk to the ground, landing softly in a crouch. "What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, Eris?" She kept her tone light, trying to hide her concern.


Eris blinked, looking over at Delila. The other kitten had grown? That ment she was a teen now. Eris sighed a bit and turned away. They were all leaving her behind.

"Aunt Ruth is mad at me. I can't go home tonight. My knee hurts so I'm waiting for the swelling to go down. I hope Jei will not come look for me. Aunt Ruth will get even madder."

As usual, her descriptions left a lot out. But she was still trying to figure out what happened herself so she just left it at that.


Lyka let herself emerge from the stone ground, being careful not to get stuck halfway like before.

"Delila."

She smiled proudly at the shadow teen, wordlessly acknowledging her new status as a teen and adding an affectionate purr, but her eyes hardened at the sight of Eris. The kitten's white hair was dyed nearly red, and if she didn't stop bleeding soon, she would surely die. Lyka suspected a head wound, but she frowned at the explanation. Adults were not supposed to hurt kittens, not lethally at least. If a kitten was deemed unworthy, she was left out on her own to survive and if she did, she was readmitted into the tribe, usually with a good amount of respect as well. Adults were not supposed to kill kittens.

She growled softly, unsure about how to handle the situation. It was just Eris after all, but Ruth had gone against the unwritten rules of Quicktalon. The memory of Moriean was still fresh within her and she felt something warm and motherly spreading outwards from her heart. Eris was a wounded kitten and that was the end of it. With a resigned sigh she sat down next to her, putting one hand on her shoulder to keep her still and began to clean the blood away, carefully going over each wound with her tongue. As she expected, she found a cut on the kitten's head that was bleeding profusely as all head-wounds do, and she pressed it with her hands to stop it. Perhaps Eris was more resilliant than everyone thought.

"I hope you're not planning to sleep outside in this condition. You'll attract every wolf, weasal, and wolverine in the area."


"I don't have anywhere else to go. I could always sleep in a tree. And who would care if I died out here? Other than Jei."

She held still, infact she really didn't show any sign of pain. But then again, Eris was good at that. If you let other's see you hurt, they would have power over you. And she couldn't let anyone have power over her.


Who would care? Well, Eris was right, but it was wrong to send a kitten out injured. The purpose of abandonment was to give her a second chance to prove herself. Covered in blood like this, she would be eaten.

"Nobody cares."

Moriean might have cared.

"You can stay with me."

Lyka wasn't sure what made her voice the offer. Of course, there was no way that she was going to just let Eris get eaten.


Delila passively took note that she hadn't been the only one to grow recently. She was slightly distracted by the current situation, however, and would have to congratulate her Quicktalon sister on her growth later.

Lyka was handling the situation well enough, so Delila found herself standing around watching passively and wondering what she could do to help. Instead, she was disturbed to find that she seemed to care a lot more about Eris' condition than Lyka. Not that the new adult wasn't taking good care of her right now, but she was so calm and distant. Delila, on the other hand, was alternating between feelings of rage and worry.

She almost cringed at Lyka's response, literally biting her tongue to keep from speaking what she was thinking. I would care... She wasn't exactly sure why though.

In fact, she had been just about to offer to share her own cave with Eris for the night, since she had a place of her own and wouldn't have to worry about dealing with others. So instead, she simply continued her awkward silence, there if needed, but feeling...dare she say it? Useless...


"If you don't care, then why offer to let me stay with you? Why are you helping me? After all you don't care."

Her voice went from accusator, to saddess, to despondant all in three sentences. After the last statement, she seemed to return to her normal distant attitude. She still had trouble control her emotions, and it was worse now that she was weak and injured. The bleeding on her head had stopped so Eris turned away from Lyka and soaked the moss agian to put back on her knee. The swelling was starting to subside. She didn't understand Lyka's concern over her. If she didn't care, why help her? Why be nice to her? She looked up at the the other red eyed cougar.

"You grew. I suppose Jei will be next."


Delila frowned, barely crushing a soft growl. Why was she taking such a personal interest in this matter? Perhaps it was because Eris was a fellow Quicktalon, despite what some might try to say. Perhaps, it was because she was still a kitten and Delila was starting to feel like an older sister, though that was also disturbing for the new teen. Whatever it was, she couldn't ignore it.

"Yes, I did grow, but that's not important now." She walked past Lyka, crouching next to Eris and helping her with the moss. "What is important right now is you." Maybe she was taking a chance with Lyka there listening, but maybe not. Maybe Lyka would understand, maybe not...she didn't know, though Lyka WAS there trying to help. Delila knew most members of the tribe wouldn't bother to do that much. She flashed back to the Shadow Panther's question about courage and her own answer about doing what was right, despite the personal cost. Maybe this was her chance to prove herself.

She shook her head slightly, speaking softly as she finished wrapping the moss around Eris' knee. "Listen, Lyka is a wise cougar and I'm personally glad to have her around." She nodded respectfully to the blue-grey adult before continuing. "But, I'm afraid I have to say she's wrong about one thing. Someone does care. I do." She paused, taking a deep breath and sitting back on her knees. "Please don't ask me why though. I'm not sure if I can answer that. All you need to know is that I DO care." She leaned in closer, lifting the smaller cougar's chin to look into her eyes. "Also know that I'll do what I can to help you through this, okay?"


Eris listened to the teen, not really betraying her own thoughts. This one cared about her? Why? Most likely pity. Those that care only do so for the weak and pitiful. But she did offer to help.

"So you'll take me back to Gust Cliffs? So I can find....."

She stopped short of her request to find the spirit when she remembered Lyka was there. Only she, Delila, and Vixa knew about the spirit. And she'd prefer to keep it that way.

"You'll help me find what I'm looking for?"


Delila noted Eris' hesitation and nodded understandingly. No need to involve any more Cougars than necessary. She'd had enough trouble explaining it to Vixa, though spirits were her expertise.

"If that's what you need to do to find what you're looking for, then I'll accompany you to the Cliffs to watch out for you, or do what I can at least." There wasn't much she could do against a spirit if for some reason it turned out to be malevolent, but she'd promised to help and she planned to see this mystery to the end. Who knew what role she might play before the end of this?


Lyka merely shrugged and continued to preen Eris in a comforting way. Her fur was mussed and felt like it hadn't been properly groomed in too long. She noticed the change in the kitten's voice and it puzzled her. She was..different somehow. It was as if she had more focus, more alive somehow.

"Because Quicktalon sends kittens like you out to fight, not to die."

She listened to Delila's comments in silence. In some ways, she was right. All of Quicktalon would come to the aid of one wailing kitten if a wolf attacked. The young were precious, to be protected and taught. It seemed that the teen was more mature already.

"Yes, Delila cares, but I won't care until Eris starts caring."

She examined Eris's swollen knee, having no idea what to do with it. Finally, she decided that chillng with water, as Eris was already doing, was probably the best course of action. She waded into the stream and held out her arms to Eris.

"We can soak your knee more thouroughly this way, and we can wash the blood out of your hair too."


Eris looked to Lyka in the water, her arms held out and the water rushing by her. Then she looked back up at Delila. She sighed and stood up the best she could and took hold of Lyka's paws. The water was cold and she hissed a little. But her white hair slowly began to brighten as the cool water carried her blood away.

"Aunt Ruth once threatened to drown me. Jei yelled at her. Does your mother hate you, Lyka?"


Lyka shrugged again non-chalantly at the question. In truth, Tavi had also almost drowned her, but as a result, she had learned how to swim, which had been the entire point of the excercise. She wrapped an arm around Eris to support her and began to scoop the water over her head, trying to get her as clean as possible.

"Mothers always have good intentions. It doesn't mean that they'll be gentle but they care more than you know."


"She's not my mother. And she hates me. She's going to kill me when Jei becomes an adult."

Eris said this so matter of factly. Yes, she had overheard her Aunt talk about the day she'd kill Eris. While some adults just took it as a joke or the sayings of a frustrated mother in charge of two kittens, Ruth really did hate Eris. It was only a matter of time. Which is why she had to get to Gust Cliffs.


Delila listened to this line of conversation silently. She didn't really have much to contribute. Afterall, she didn't have a mother.

Instead, she slid into the cool water as well, washing away the tiredness and dirt left over from her training routine of the day. She dipped her head back, rinsing out her hair before rising again.

Was that why she felt so drawn to protect Eris? She hadn't had a mother growing up, so she'd relied on the adults of the tribe to help her survive her early years. If she hadn't had that, would she even be here today? Perhaps that was the root of her behavior. She felt that if Ruth and the other adults weren't going to help Eris, then no one would?

She shook her head slightly. Why did she keep thinking of things like this? It wasn't really like her...or was it. She'd spent so long analyzing the other Cougars of Quicktalon and their behavior, but had she ever analyzed her own actions? Tried to find her own drives and motives?

She sighed, taking a seat on a rock just below the water, leaning back on her hands and listening to the other two cougars again. For now, she'd concentrate on helping Eris. Later, she could resume her quest to find her place of honor in the tribe.


Lyka shook her head.

"No, she's not going to kill you. She's going to try, which means she'll have to fight you. You and Jei are about the same age. By then you'll be an adult too. She's only going to kill you if you roll over and let her, like everyone's seen you do so far.

Whether or not you have your ceremonies doesn't affect how fast you physically grow. Even if Theta and Vixa never decide to hold your teen ceremony, it's still possible for you to get stronger than Ruth if you train hard."

Privately, she wasn't sure how strong Ruth was, and she reasoned that Jei would probably be the one attacking Ruth instead, but there was nothing she could really do to help and nobody that would back her up until Eris started showing the potential that Lyka suspected was there. So far, Eris was shunned because the tribe saw her to be a useless kitten. If she started showing interest in training or developing other skills, especially if she started to excel, no cougar in Quicktalon would let her be killed.


The blood was washed from Eris's hair, only the pink stain remained. The cold water had helped the cuts and her knee which looked a lot better. Even her bruises seemed to be starting to heal.

"I need to go to Gust Cliffs. Its important. But don't tell Jei, she's upset because of what happened last time."

Eris clapped her hand over her mouth. Rats, that was sure to draw the adult's attention. But she still would go, no matter what.


Lyka was puzzled by the strange request for a moment, but the memory of Eris singing, Eris wailing that beautiful haunting tune, Eris being lifted gently by the brutal winds. And another memory, a painful one; Moriean explaining to her about the spirits there, wind spirits that favored Eris. Perhaps this was a sign that the kitten was beginning her journey down the path that the spirits intended for her, no matter how different it was than other Quicktalons, she needed to walk it.

"The rule is that kittens can't go alone, but Delila's already agreed to take you. I'll come along as well just to be safe."

Happened last time? Had she fallen? Guessing by her reaction, Eris wasn't about to tell her and Lyka knew better than to try and intimidate her. She would just have to wait and see.

"Why don't we all get a good rest, and a meal. Then we'll leave first thing."


"I don't know if you want to go. It might be dangerous."

Oh and it wasn't for her? Not that she cared, but she was more concerned about what the elder would do if she saw the spirit. Would she chase it away? The only cougar she knew of that delt with spirits without freaking out was Vixa and that white one, Kimae.

But that was her decision to go, and Eris was getting hungry. She shook herself a bit to get the water out of her fur and squeezed the remaining moisture from her long pale hair. Eris was a strange sight. Normally only the elders had such pure white hair, and that was from age. But Eris had been born with the colorless locks, and the brilliant red eyes. Some adults wondered if her blood flowed through her eyes just to give it their color, and blind her from her task.

"So what are we going to eat?"

The little injured kitten looked up at Lyka, blood red eyes blinking wordlessly at her.


Delila, meanwhile, had become rather fascinated by a large fish that had chosen her rock as a home apparently. She held absolutely still, only her eyes darting to keep up with the fish and track its movements. Slowly, she flexed her claws against the rock, preparing to strike.

Suddenly, there was a soft splash as she plunged her claws into the water after her prey. Senses on high alert, she growled as she felt the fish sliding between her hands. She quickly sank her claws into the creature to gain a better grip, hauling it up out of the water. The fish had panicked and was thrashing and flailing about, desperate to escape and return to the safety of the water, but Delila was hungry and wasn't about to let this rare treat get away. Hurriedly, she stood, splashing towards land and up to the bank, trying to get far away from the water just in case she did drop her prey.

"Anyone for fish tonight?" She grinned, flashing her fangs in a toothy smirk.


"Dangerous. Well of course it's dangerous, especially this time of year. That's why I'm coming."

She stated matter of factly. The Gust Cliffs was a strange place, where the brutal wind sucked life out of the rift and dragged it downwards, and the stones hummed a song of pain and sorrow, but they were still cliffs and Lyka still heard them. They would not let her fall.

"The winds favor you Eris, but don't forget that the cliffs favor me."

The mountains rumbled softly, though whether in agreement or warning, Lyka wasn't sure.

She smiled proudly at Delila for a sucessful catch. If she had the patience catch fish with no mother to beat it into her head, she was surely going to be a powerful huntress someday.

"Very good, Delila. Think we can catch a few more?" She said with a meaningful glance at Eris. This was the perfect opportunity to try to teach her something. There was something different about the kitten than before and Lyka felt that they just might be able to suceed where others had failed.


"The cliffs favor you. But the wind is not part of the cliffs. If it takes you, then your cliffs can't help you."

The words seemed to fall from Eris's lips without her really thinking about them. After all, what good was a cliff when you are falling into a void of space? There are no holds in nothingness. There is nothing for your claws to sink into. There is just air, and you had better pray it would make your death quick.

She blinked as Delila caught a fish. It was a big fish too. Then she looked at Lyka when she said 'we'. What did she mean by that? Eris couldn't even catch a mouse.


Delila listened to their conversation about being favored by the wind and the cliffs. Did that mean that she was favored by the darkness now? By shadows themselves? She had a feeling that was only a part of what it meant to be a Shadow Huntress and that she had so much left to discover.

Moving on, she smiled, proud to have earned a compliment from Lyka. She knew the blue-grey adult was a skilled huntress in her own right and that a compliment from her would be genuine. "Thank you, and yes, the fish seem plentiful for some reason in this section of the water. Perhaps with all the rocky overhangs, they've made homes in the shelters formed by them." She nodded as she spoke, trying to draw Eris into the conversation. Maybe they could get her interested enough to at least give it a try.

She looked to the spotted kitten. "Fish can take a little practice to catch, as well as some patience, but trust me. The meal is worth it in the end." She winked, thinking that at least if Eris COULD help, they might be able to eat sooner.


"Come and crouch by the edge, like me and Delila. Talk very quietly, if at all, and don't let your shadow fall on the water or the fish will see you. Look at Delila, just like that."

Lyka didn't really expect Eris to catch anything. Her goal for now was just to get her to try. She had already gone hunting earlier that day, so it wouldn't really matter if they didn't catch enough. She could always ask the homemakers to give back a portion of her goat. The important thing was the experiance.


Eris decided to humor the two. They both seemed to have some hope that she could be taught. But ah well, such was blind. The kitten did as she was told, her knee decided it wouldn't cooperate so she just sat by the edge instead. Her hair kept falling forward so she tied it back with a long blade of grass.

She stared into the water, mostly just seeing herself. She tried to look past her reflection and into the water at all the fish. Then her reflection changed....it looked like an older form of herself......but....it....it couldn't be....why was?......Eris suddenly had a look of fright on her face as she suddenly fell face forward into the stream. She coughed as she surfaced and climbed back out onto the ground. She shook herself again, daring to glance back over her shoulder at the water. She wasn't all that hungry any more. She was more cold that she was hungry.

"um.....maybe I should just skip dinner and get dry."


Lyka managed to slip her paw into the water and quickly scoop out a fish, just before Eris startled them all. She tossed it out on the bank near the one Delila caught earlier and shook her head slowly. It was time to resort to drastic measures.

"Nobody is skipping dinner. There are plenty of fish and they'll be back out soon enough. At this time of day, they're pretty hungry too."

Lyka helped rub her fur to dry it, then made her sit by the edge of the river. The older cougar kneeled right behind her, looking over Eris's shoulder and speaking softly and continuously into her ear.

"Just keep still. Look at that big one, with the notch in his fin. See him over by that bit of weed? He's coming this way. Watch his tail moving. Look at his fin, he's going to turn towards that rock. You can just see the tip of his fin, but he's coming out now. Get ready, here he comes..now!"

As she spoke, Lyka covered the kitten's paw with her own. When the fish came into range, she plunged it into the water quickly. Although it was really Lyka's claws that dug into the struggling fish to lift it out of the water, Eris's small hand was caught underneath hers, against the fish.


Alarmed, Delila started to reach to pull Eris out of the water, but she climbed out on her own. She frowned in concern, realizing that this wasn't just an act of clumsiness or the like. There had been a genuine look of panic on the kitten's face just before she hit the water. What had just happened though? She hadn't seen anything, so was it something in Eris' mind? Or had the spirits come this far down the mountain after her?

It was a chilling thought, though she remembered Vixa saying something about how the spirits couldn't leave the cliffs because the cliffs themselves wouldn't let them escape. Hmm...so what was going on this time with Eris?

"Perhaps we should light a fire then," she suggested, still concerned. They couldn't let her get sick, not in her current condition especially. If they were going to go up to the Cliffs again, then Eris would need to be in top condition, no matter what they might face up there.

She continued hunting, watching with some interest as Lyka attempted to teach Eris to fish. Perhaps they might have some luck afterall. Eris had been changing lately and perhaps she might be more open to instruction now. Who knew?


Eris was trying her best not to look into the water. She didn't want to see.....whatever that was again. But Lyka seemed to scare whatever it was away so she tried to pay attention. It was more than anyone else had tried. She got distracted by the moving weed in the water before her hand was suddenly plunged into the cold water.

"Eww, its all slimey."

She blinked at the fish as it struggled to get away. She knew it was Lyka who had really caught the fish but it was nice to think she might be able to do this on her own one day. She'd try and remember what the elder was mumbling later. Now she had fish slime on her paw and she was wet again. She was starting to think she didn't want to be near the stream for awhile.


Lyka actually laughed out loud at her comment. Slimey! That was a first! Never before had she heard something so un-cougarlike. Slimey! That sounded like something that young Prey might say.

"Of course fish is slimey. That's how it can move through the water so easily. When you or I swim, the water pushes back against our fur, but it slides away from the fish's skin."

Lyka was starting to sense her discomfort, but she was willing to bet that nobody had bothered to try this method with Eris before. According to what she'd heard about Ruth, she was unlikely to expend such an effort on her, especially when she had Jei.

"Let's catch one more okay? Then we can take these to the homemakers. I'm sure everyone will be proud to see how many we have."

She decided to change her tactics slightly this time, to try to get Eris into a hunting mindset.

"Okay, let's try for that fish, over by that little dip. Look at the way he's moving. Where do you think he's going to go. Fish use those side fins to change direction. Is he moving them? Is he going to head straight that way or turn around? Look at how he twitches his back right before he flicks his tail. Hard flick, that means a dart. How close is he? How fast is he moving? 3..2.."

She plunged their hands into the water again, keeping a firm grasp on the wriggling fish.

"And here we go. Another slimey thing."


Even Delila chuckled softly at Eris' comment, adding another fish to the catch. "Another thing to remember is that it may be slimey now, but it washes off when you're done." She winked, quickly rinsing her hands in the water to demonstrate how easy it was to clean the fish slime from one's fur. "Once we get these back to the homemakers, you'll see how delicious they taste and realize that the slime and work is worth it. They always seem to taste even better when you remember that you caught your meal yourself."

She smiled slightly, feeling a strange surge of pride as it seemed that Eris was actually putting for effort to try and learn. She'd certainly never heard of that happening before. Delila was pleased to see that her earlier insistance that no one was useless was coming true. Sure, it might take some time...but at least she was making progress.

While Eris and Lyka focused on the latest 'slimey thing,' Delila headed to the edge of the forest searching for just the right type of willowy limb. Once found, she shortened its length and brought the long stick back, stringing the fish on it through their gills for easier transportation back to the tribe's caves.


Eris went through the motions but she still got slightly distracted by staring. Its hard to want to catch a fish when you are more interested in looking at how the fading light makes its scales all shiney. Then the slime hit her again. Eww. Gross! Slimed. Oh well, it ment food for the night and a bed to sleep in away from her Aunt's wrath.

Once they had the fish ready she looked up at the two cougars who actually seemed to care about her welfare. It was hard for her to fathom, after all, it had just been her and Jei as far back as she could remember. But she still held onto the idea that they just pitied her and were doing all this for that reason. Not that they cared or wanted her to learn and grow, they pitied her useless existance.

"So we have enough slimey fish now?"


Delila chuckled again. This had to be a record for a day, but for once, she actually felt like she was...dare she say it? Having fun. She took life so seriously for so long that she'd almost forgotten that tasks can be important, but fun at the same time.

"Yes, we have a pretty good catch here actually!" She lifted the limb to show off the fish, realizing that such an action was hard even for her at this point. They had done a good job, not only in number, but in the size of the fish! She'd have to note this spot for future fishing expeditions. It would be good to take advantage of a bountiful food supply such as this while it lasted.

They would eat well tonight, that much was sure. They might even take the homemakers by surprise with their catch. Delila couldn't wait to see their reactions, especially considering the group was comprised of one adult, a new teen, and a kit thought to be 'useless.' It was almost enough to make her laugh. Almost. She settled for a small smirk, hefting the catch over one shoulder and clamping her free hand over Eris' shoulder in a friendly manner. "Not bad for your first fishing lesson, eh?"


Lyka snuck up behind the two and ruffled their hair good-naturedly.

"C'mon kiddos, let's head back."

As she directed the small and motly crew towards the home caves, she couldn't help thinking to herself that although inefficient, this was way more enjoyable than hunting alone.

The few Quicktalon homemakers were already busy with numerous other kills, but turned and glanced at Delila, whispering among themselves. The words that circulated throughout the cave were of a Shadow Cougar, a night huntress. Can she defeat the ninja? Look at her, look at her catch. I heard she only had her ceremony a little while ago. Yeah, and she's so strong already. Look at her eyes, blood red, true Quicktalon eyes.

Then they caught sight of Eris. As always, this was a true cause for alarm, for although she never meant it, the spotted kitten had something of a reputation. A younger homemaker hissed at her.

"We don't want you here. Stay out of our way."


At that Eris stopped short of entering the homemaker's area. Just because she had nearly burned it down when she forgot about a pot doesn't mean she'd do it again. Would it? She took refuge behind Delila, peeking out from behind her legs.

Her knee was starting to swell again. She'd need to rest it for the night soon or it would get worse. They spoke of having red eyes as being a true Quicktalon, then what of hers? Oh well, she'd just ask the spirit.


Lyka growled back at the young homemaker, recignizing her as the teen who had fought with a skinning knife at the recent Festival of War. She noted the way Eris's knee seemed to buckle under her, so she deliberatly picked her up and hoisted the kitten onto her shoulders. Eris was unusually light for a kitten her age, and Lyka suspected that she wasn't being properly fed, or perhaps it was just the lack of muscle because she didn't train.

Lyka fixed the homemaker with a firm yellow glare.

"You welcome all sucessful huntresses, do you not? Well she caught two of these fish today. She has just as much right to be here as myself."

The homemaker snarled and pointed threateningly with her knife, but turned back to her work.

"Just keep her up there and away from us, or someone might get..hurt."


"I won't touch anything. I'm already hurt. I don't need more injuries."

Eris was light and rather thin for a cougar, but she never trained beyond climbing up to Gust Cliffs. Her long white hair, still slightly pink in some areas, fluttered softly in the breeze. It had finally dried on the walk back to the caves and seemed to dance on the wind as it always did. She blinked down at Lyka as she picked her up and pronounced Eris a hunter. She hadn't really done anything except get slime on her paw. Oh well, at lesat her knee felt better.

Several of the elder homemakers huffed at the idea that the small kitten could catch anything beyond a minnow. They could see how weak Eris was and these fish looked far too big for her to catch on her own. Several of the younger ones were whispering about Eris's injuries and giggling about how she must have gotten slapped by one of the fish. But Lyka was an adult so her word should be taken for what it is worth. The Head Homemaker, a stout female with much age behind her, walked up to the group. Her hair was as white as Eris's but her's came from age.

"Really Lyka, you carry her around like she's something to be noticed. Why do you and the young teen care so much for her? She's nothing but a burden on Ruth and a distraction to her young daughter."


"Eris requires more patience that Ruth has - she must be very stressed with two kittens to care for - but she is still willing to learn. Perhaps if she was taught, she would be less of a burden, and while she's being taught, she's not there to distract anyone. "

In truth, Eris was only being noticed because she was such an unusual case. If Lyka suceeded into making her more of a normal kitten or at least with the skill set of a normal kitten, nobody would have cared. Ruth hated her though, in fact, Lyka wouldn't have been surprised if that hatred was the entire reason that Eris was so strange.

"Besides, my wasted effort is my own bussiness. Isn't that what you said when you were trying to teach me?"

Lyka grinned good-naturedly at the Head Homemaker, remembering the times that she had spilled and knocked into things while Tavi was out hunting, and during the days after her fall, when she might have seen a feather and collapse shreiking out of fear. Those times were far behind her now.

"Now enough of this. Take our catch and let us eat it if you please. Or if you like, pass one along to Ruth and the talented young Jei. They are good fish after all."


"Ruth is in a fowl mood. I don't know what Eris did to make her mad but its best if everyone stays out of her way. From the looks of Eris I'd say she'd been willing to hit anything right about now. Smart off to her again, did you useless one?"

The elder smirked cruely at the kitten before turning to work on the fish and get it ready for the three to eat. She still didn't believe Eris was worth the effort to teach.

Eris just stayed quiet on Lyka's shoulders. She wasn't about to repeat what she said. She may be an airhead but she wasn't stupid. Most likely Lyka would get mad at her for saying what she did and refuse to shelter her. So, silence was her best option. She rested her chin ontop of Lyka's head and just watched the fire dance.


Delila was anything but oblivious to the whispers circulating about herself, but she pretended not to hear them anyway. So much for staying unnoticed, but it couldn't be helped, she supposed. It seems that all of the Quicktalon tribe had heard about her ceremony by now. She was pleased to note that there was a certain thread of respect already being sewn into the methods of speech and the looks from the other cougars...but she wasn't ready to show them all that she could do just yet. One day though, and one day soon perhaps...she would. She'd show them all just what she was capable of doing.

For now though, she was having enough of a time just containing the rage that was slowly building inside of her. What would it take for the other Quicktalons to accept Eris as one of their own? Even now, she had taken part in the fishing escapade, bringing back her own fish in fact. And still the homemakers wouldn't even accept her. How could they hope to force the elders and warriors of the tribe to accept her? She growled softly to herself, staring at the ground, her tail twitching slightly with irritation. Keep your head, she reminded herself silently. The heated fire of teen blood was surprisingly harder for her to control than she had expected it to be, though she was learning quickly. She had to.

Resisting the passing, though privately amusing, urge to swat the homemaker upside the head, instead Delila stepped closer to Lyka, reaching up and giving Eris a gentle, reassuring pat on the back.


Eris just glanced down at Delila, she looked tired. Most likely she was from her injuries. But inside her mind she was forming a song, she would sing it later.

The homemakers soon had the fish cooked and gave them back the meat, as well as some of the goat Lyka had caught earlier.

"There, now get her out of here. We don't need her hanging around and bugging us."

All the homemakers gave Eris a mean look before going back about their business.


Delila glared back at the homemakers without reservation, inner fire showing through for just a moment, making her eyes seem to glow with furious light. Then, the fury seemed to pass and her eyes dimmed. She sighed before taking the meat and turning back to the others. "Let's get out of here. We can find somewhere much nicer to enjoy our well-earned dinner."

It would be nice to not have to rely on the homemakers to prepare food all the time. One day, she'd have to see if she could learn to do some basic cooking herself. Afterall, if she were going to be self-reliant, she'd have to at least be able to make food edible, right? It wouldn't have to be feast-quality; just good enough to survive on if she were on her own in the wild for an extended amount of time.

"So, any suggestions? Under the trees, or in one of our caves? My place isn't very fancy, but I can guarantee it will be empty," she offered, not really having much of an opinion herself, as long as they were far away from the pompous homemakers.


"I have a place we can stay. A bit of a long walk, but well protected. I don't have much, but there will at least be sleeping furs. It's closer to the Gust Cliffs too, not by much but at least in the same direction."

She could feel Eris's chin between her ears and suspected that the kitten was starting to nod off. Ignoring the whispers of the other cougars, she motioned to Delila and padded out of the cave. She headed across the training grounds and out towards the cliffs, stopping at the base of one at the very outskirts of what might be considered Quicktalon camp.

"The entrance is up there. The quickest way is straight up this wall, but there's a trail around the back."

She pointed to a ledge three or four cougar-lengths above them, then started up an inconspicious trail of rocks. At first glance, they looked like any other part of the cliff, but if one looked carefully, they were worn smooth by the many pawsteps before them, easy stepping stones if you knew what they were. The path emergered from a short tunnel, less than half a cougarlength long and bright with the sunset. From the ledge, Lyka had a clear veiw of Quicktalon camp as well as most of the surrounding area. She purred softly and the tunnel seemed to answer with a deep motherly voice.

She let Eris down and ushered them into her cave, standing off to the side in an attempt to block the partially completed wall of stones that sealed off the other section of the cave, from veiw.

Ruth had been arguing with Theta for a good 20 minutes now. The Chieftess had come to inform Ruth that her neice, Eris, would be having her teen ceremony tonight. Of course Ruth hit the cave roof when she heard that Eris was going to be accepted by the spirits somehow. She just couldn't see a spirit wanting to embrace the useless kitten. Theta had agreed but the spirits had spoken to Vixa and confirmed the kitten's rite of passage was to be held that day.

Eris was already in a strange mood. She hadn't spoken all day and kept rocking back and forth as she sat on the floor. She seemed to be in constant thought but she had grown a lot stranger since she had left Delila and Lyka's care. She was prone to dark moods and fits of random emotions. Mostly she did this when alone but a few time she had lost it infront of Jei. She just told her sister that she wasn't feeling good and that she would get better soon. But she was still hearing the conversation. She was to grow? Like Jei? No not like Jei, because Jei was still chained to the clan. She knew her ceremony would break all her ties and set her free.


Jei didn't think she had ever, ever been so worried. The teen was pacing in the cave, watching as the sun set through blank eyes. Something.. Something was going to happen. She knew that much. She didn't like the tension in the air, didn't like how her sister was acting.. Eris. She'd be there, to make sure everything was all right. Eris deserved an amazing ceremony.

But something told her something was going to happen.

Jei scratched at her arms for the (what seemed to be) millionth time that day. Hopefully things were going to be fine and she was just paranoid. Hopefully.


"You will just have to get over it Ruth. Eris is going to grow. Jei, you bring Eris to the main fire in a few minutes. Ruth, you come with me."

Theta and a very pissed off Ruth left the cave. Eris and Jei were alone.

Eris's eyes turned to watch her Aunt and the Cheiftess leave, a smile formed on her lips. Yes, go ahead and leave, soon they would see her power. She chuckled darkly to herself.


Jei let out a bitter sigh, muttering a 'yes, Chieftess' and starting over to her sister, hesitantly holding out a hand. "Come on, if you're ready.." she said quietly.

It was odd.

She was almost scared of her sister. The teen peered at the smaller one before sighing again. "Things will.. get.. better. Easier. I promise." She straightened herself up, hand dropping to her side. "Let's just go." She didn't wait - her sister would follow, hopefully. With a small smile, Jei turned and walked out of the cave, to the main fire.


Eris just nodded at her sister softly before standing up and following her. Her steps were light and she still had the deep thought look on her face. Vixa stopped them both by a small tent set up near the fire and told Jei to go wait with her mother.

The Head Shameness looked down at the strange little kitten. She could tell she had gotten stranger since she had last seen her with the then kitten Delila.

"Eris, in this tent are some paints, you will need to paint yourself to allow the spirits and easier time to come to you. When you are ready, come out to the fire and stand before Theta, and remember your manners for once."

Vixa staulked off.


Lyka looked up at the sky and placed a hand on the stone wall beside her. It hummed softly, reassuringly. But somehow, she knew that something was about to happen. Something important. She nodded once and closed her eyes.

"Yes, I hear you."

And with that, she was gone.

Lyka rose up out of the rocky ground like a spector, squinting as the brightness of the fire glanced off her yellow eyes. A tent..Jei, the prodigy, she sniffed carefully, picking up the scent of the ceremonial paint and of Eris? A soft smile spread across Lyka's jaws at the realization. Of course, Eris was going to grow. In some vague way, she considered Eris to be her kitten and it was only fitting that she would be summoned for the ceremony, just as Moriean had somehow known of hers.

She nodded cordially at Jei, but retained a respectufl silence, though she glanced around at the shadows as if expecting a certain other teen to appear.


The shadows had been whispering all day to Delila, but their words were vague. She had grown to understand them for the most part, even when they were weakened by the height of day, but today all she could hear was talk that 'something was coming.' She frowned, following the whispering as it grew louder, eventually finding herself in the tribal common grounds. She took in the tent and the gathering of Cougars at a glance. Even above the other Cougars gathered, she could distinguish the scent of both Eris and Lyka. After spending so much time with the two lately, she had started to form a rather strange, at least to her, connection with them.

She allowed herself a smile as she sought out a brief sight of Eris through the crowd. Eris had started to grow on her through time, eventually feeling like the sister she never had. Her smile faltered as she considered more recent events, however. She had grown strange and all this talk of breaking chains... Delila wasn't sure if breaking these chains was such a good idea anymore, seeing what it was doing to Eris.

But her life was in her own hands. There was no argument of that, especially since she was now receiving her Teen Ceremony. Delila would have to step back and let Eris make her own choices, though she certainly tried not to interfere as it was.

Turning her attention away from the soon-to-be teen, Delila sought out the only other Cougar she felt comfortable talking to or spending time with. She closed her eyes, inquiring with the shadows for a moment before turning her gaze straight towards the adult. Slipping effortlessly through the group of Cougars standing between them, Delila swiftly took her place next to Lyka, almost seeming to just appear there. "This should prove to be interesting, my friend."


Eris just watched the others leave, she huffed a bit. What did they know? They didn't realize they would have no power over her the moment this ceremony was finished. Spirits indeed. She only needed on spirit, the others hated her as much as he tribe did. She shuffled into the tent and just stared down at the bowls of paint.

Anger flared in her as she began to pick them up and smash them agaisnt the ground. It made a big noise but she didn't care. These chains wouldn't bind her. She would be free!! Paint flew everywhere and the shards cut into the kitten's hands and feet, mixing her blood with the spirit touched paint. The colors ran all over her in a chaotic masterpiece. Then......outside...a soft breeze began to blow, nothing overly noticable unless you were quite familiar with Gust Cliffs. And few were.

"I am ready to break my chain. Let it begin."

She whispered softly before exiting the tent in her wash of color and blood.

Vixa raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in wind direction but paid it no mind. This usually happened at big ceremonies and for the life of her she couldn't figure out how Eris's ceremony was important. She had no training or wish to be trained. But the sight of Eris leaving the tent disturbed her. She could smell the blood and see the swirl of colors over the kitten's fur. This wasn't the way somoene connected to the spirits painted themselves.

Theta sighed, she wasn't too sure about this either but the spirits had told her to hold the ceremony now. Even they had sounded strange and restrained by their decision. She held up her hands and pointed to Eris.

"This kitten begins her journey tonight. Though we are unsure of her purpose, the spirits have made her a path. And we shall see her start down it."


Lyka shook her head warningly at Delila. Although other cougars were talking loudly and rudely, she wished to show Eris the same respect that she would have shown any kitten in the tribe. The Teen Ceremony was an important thing, not to be ruined by misconduct lest the spirits be insulted. Some spirits even required that nobody at all be present at the ceremony. Of course, Delila couldn't have known this, as she hadn't had a mother to explain it to her, but Lyka hoped she would get the hint. Nobody had spoken at Jei's ceremony. Nobody should speak at Eris's.

She twitched an ear when the sudden wind shift ruffled her fur and inwardly cringed at the scent of blood and the noise. It was an unusual ceremony to say the least. What on earth was Eris doing in there? Surely she wouldn't be hurting herself.


Delila raised an eyebrow curiously, taking the hint and remaining silent. She'd never been to another Cougar's Ceremony to be honest and the only one she had witnessed thus far had been her own. She had no idea that she was supposed to remain completely silent, but she noted the fact immediately. Too bad no one else seemed to be following that rule. She stiffled a soft growl, settling for glaring at the noisy, disrespectful Cougars with fire in her eyes.

The wind shifted, carrying with it the increasingly familiar scent of the Gust Cliffs. Delila frowned, turning her attention away from the other Cougars and towards the tent, her senses practically yelling at her in alarm at the combination of crashes and strong scents flowing from within. What the...?

The reappearance of Eris was nothing short of shocking. Delila's eyes widened in surprise, taking all this in. Was this a typical Ceremony? She'd certainly never heard of anything quite like this in her life. Her own Ceremony, while seeming strange to Delila herself, hadn't been quite this...dramatic. At least she didn't think so. She glanced at some of the other Cougar's faces, Lyka included, as she tried to judge from their expressions whether or not this was normal.


Jei gawked. Her sister was bleeding! She hadn't moved all that much - stepped a decent amount away from the tent, but she hadn't gone to her mother. The teen took a deep breath, tilting her head to the side and eyeing her sister. Something was off. Something really, really important was.. off. Jei was scared, for one of the few times in her life. Terrified, even.

"Eris.." she hissed, utterly ignoring what she was told and inching towards the cougar she'd sworn to herself to protect. Jei was too close, at this point.


The others finally became silent as the bloodied kitten approached the fire. Something was in her eyes that unnerved them all. Theta sighed and stepped forwad to begin as Eris stood before the fire. In her hand she held a neckalce.

"With this, Eris begins her journey down the path the spirits have choosen for her. Take this Eris, and let the spirits guide you."

She handed the necklace to the kitten and stepped back.

Eris merely looked at the necklace. A chain! They were trying to chain her again! NO! She wouldn't let it happen! In a fit of rage she tore the chain to pieces and growled at Theta. The chain links fell to her feet, making tinkling sound as the wind began to pick up even stronger.

"I will NOT have my future decided for me! I will choose my path and I will walk it! The spirits are only in my way!"

She growled deeply, baring her fangs as she looked up into the moonlit sky.

"Spirit you told me you'd be here to help me! Help now! Break my chain!"

The wind suddenly began to lash out at every cougar present save Eris. Mothers grabbed onto their kittens to keep them from being blow away. Others croched low to the ground to keep from falling over. Some whre caught unaware and blown backwards into caves or against stone walls. Theta herself formed a barrier behind her and Vixa to keep them from being blown over.


Delila's instincts kicked in quickly, though not quickly enough to keep her from being lashed about by the winds. She managed to keep her feet at least, quickly sinking her claws into the trunk of a gnarled tree as she struggled to brace herself against the powerful winds.

She snarled, still holding on as she fought the urge to call out to Eris. Whether in warning or concern, she didn't know, but she wanted to shout something. Unfortunately, she was torn by the unspoken warning from Lyka that she should stay silent.

This couldn't be a normal Ceremony by any measure. Had there ever been a Ceremony that just...went wrong? Perhaps the spirits rebelled or something like that? And Eris herself...had she lost her mind? She had actually growled AT Chieftess Theta and openly rebelled against her by destroying the necklace. Something was seriously wrong here and it was reaching straight into Delila's core, making her stomach twist in nervous apprehension.


The wind was swirling like mad. No one could get close to Eris, not even Jei. She kept her eyes on the sky and knew it was time to sing one of her last songs as a kitten.

((This is Bring Me to Life, by Evanesence))

"How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home"

Suddenly it was as if the wind began to create imagines of Gust Cliffs around the entire area. Spirits of dead of cougars, from adults to kittens appeared sitting on each cliff. Their eyes were completely white and the accompanied Eris in song.

(Wake me up)
"Wake me up inside"
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become."

Eris was lifted into the air and placed on one of the spiritual cliffs. Across from her, another cliff formed. And there stood the red cloaked spirit from the Cliffs. Eris sang only to her.

"Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life"

(Wake me up)
"Wake me up inside"
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become."

Spirits: Bring me to life
I've been living a lie
There's nothing inside
Bring me to life

The Spirit walked across the empty chasm to Eris and stood behind her. A silver chain ran down from the dark sky and attacked to Eris's neck like a collar. The Spirit placed her hands on the kitten's shoulders as she continued to sing.

"Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead"

The Spirit: All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me

Eris: I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything

The Spirit: Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul

Eris: Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

The Spirit held her hand out and in it was a stone. No one could see what it was, but it was a eye. She reached around and placed it on Eris's forehead where it began to glow. Then she stepped away as Eris continued her song.

(Wake me up)
"Wake me up inside"
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.

Eris began to grow, her limbs extending. Her hair got a bit longer and the stone began to sink in. Soon her hair covered it.

Bring me to life
I've been living a lie
There's nothing inside
Bring me to life"

As the last note died from her lips, the chain and collar attacked to her neck shattered in a mighty blast. The wind seemed to ripple with the effects of the blast. Suddenly the wind died and Eris feel to the ground with a thud. She looked out cold. All was quite. Deadly quiet.


Jei had managed to anchor herself onto the ground, but when Eris started singing and that spirit appeared.. She almost let go of the ground. Everything seemed to be a blur - her sister, her beloved sister had been singing, gotten something from some horrible spirit, then..

She was falling. Falling and falling and helpless. Jei couldn't help it, she launched herself towards her seemingly.. seemingly.. "ERIS!" the teen was louder then she had ever been, sprawled almost completely over her sister and shaking the other's body frantically.


The mass of white hair and blood from Eris's wounded hands and feet just laid there for a moment as Jei shook her. Then...something....happened inside Eris. Her entire body tensed as if seizuring then her eyes flew open. As red eyes met her sister's face, all she could think of was......kill it! Make it stop! STOP IT!!!!! AHH..

"AHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Her mental scream carried into her own voice as Eris suddenly attacked Jei vicisously. Claws, teeth, anything. She was ready to tear her sister apart.

Theta had watched as Jei had gone to Eris but her eyes went wide as the once loyal sister began to maul her elder.

"LYKA! RITA!! Grab Eris!! RUTH! VIXA! Grab Jei! NOW!"


This was...too much. Far too much to take in at once. Delila stared wide-eyed as the spiritual gave way to something that seemed even more dream-like. Her ears still ringing from the earlier blast as the mystical chain burst, she watched in horror as Eris turned on her beloved sister. She really had lost her mind.

Delila's thoughts flashed back for a moment to their time on the Gust Cliffs with the cloaked Cougar. Hadn't it said that she and Lyka would be witnesses when Eris broke her last chain? So, was this it then? And what did it mean that she had broken her last chain? Had she in fact severed her grip on reality itself. She shuddered at the thought. For so long, she'd gotten to know quiet, submissive Eris and here... Delila looked up again as the new Teen focused her aggressions on her sister, Jei. She was like a different Cougar altogether...and it scared Delila to the core.

She watched, feeling helpless even as Theta ordered the adults to pull the two apart. She wanted to help as well, desperate to stop this insanity. Who knew if it was too late already to prevent permanent damage to the two...and she didn't mean physical damage. Inching closer, she waited for an opportunity to help if she was needed. Chieftess Theta hadn't asked for her help, but she couldn't help but feel like she needed to do something. She'd grown close to Eris over time and her heart ached to see this happening to her and to Jei.


Jei was horribly, horribly quiet. Not a single sound escaped her (now torn) lips. A gash across her forehead, narrowly missing her eyes (she was vaguely reminded of the white healer). A gruesome tear along her neck - she twisted herself slightly as blood made her dark neck shine. Then the worst, the horrible scratch along her chest.

She sort of wondered why it didn't hurt so much.

A rip at her shoulder, a vicious mark on her collarbone, soon the teen was a bloody mess (torn skin and aching wounds), refusing to let go of her sister. She would die if she kept this up, but Eris needed help. She needed help and Jei would protect her, she had to help, she had to..

Some sick sense of pride flew through her. So Eris could fight. Despite the situation, Jei gave a twisted half-smile.


Rita leapt forward immediately at Theta's command, not waiting for Lyka. She tried to push Jei aside, ignoring the elder teen for the moment as she focused on the berserk spotted teen. They had to separate the two as quickly as possible, before Eris could manage to do permanent damage to her promising sister.

She needed only a moment to study Eris before her hands darted forward, grabbing the teen's wrists. Rita planned to use her superior strength, weight, and fighting skills to subdue the raging Eris, but she found that more difficult than she might have imagined. Eris' strength and fury was impressive and Rita found herself struggling not to end up mauled as well.

"Someone hurry and get Jei out of here! It's the only way to stop her!" she snapped suddenly, realizing they had a serious situation here. Eris was behaving like some of the more wild warriors; a fact that was alarming in itself. She didn't flinch as a stray swipe left a long gash in her forearm, but focused instead on getting a good hold on Eris and wrestling her away from Jei. Pure insanity had disrupted the Ceremony and Rita was hesitant to consider the reprocussions of all that had happened here just yet.


Lyka was knocked backwards by the wind. Quickly, she plunged her hands deep into the ground, anchoring herself in place, her ears laid back and a feirce snarl in her throat. She was not supposed to interfere with a ceremony, but something was wrong here, very wrong, and stones beneath her hummed with fear. She crouched flatter still, as the Gust Cliffs began to materialize around them and she could again feel the pulsating waves of power, like some giant heart beat that shook reality itself, a frantic tempo to Eris's haunting voice. Would she fall again, like on the Gust Cliffs? The wind was so strong that Lyka's eyes watered and she barely caught the exchange between spirit and kitten. Then, the chain shattered and the shock wave that followed resounded in the mountain's echoing rumble.

Lyka's fur bristled at the sight before her, not sure if she should get involved. Why wasn't Jei fighting back? The Cheiftess's voice snapped her out of her reveire and she dutifully rushed forwards at Theta's orders, shoving one of her gauntlets between Eris's teeth as Rita took hold of her wrists. She wouldn't balk at using her own teeth either, repeatedly lunging for the spotted teen's throat in an attempt to cut off her breath until she fainted, and using her other hand to help Rita secure one of her arms while twining one leg with Eris's both to entrap it and in hopes that she would topple and the two adults would be able to use their greater weight. Her side and shoulder were being mauled pretty badly and blood was streaming from a cut on her cheek, but she tayed firm to her orders. Eris had to be subdued, and it looked as if the only way that would happen was if they knocked her out.

"Rita. Twist her arm back and kick her in the gut a few times."


The kicks weren't needed. Eris was already short on breath from constant screaming. A good bite to her throat and she passed out from lack of oxygen. But they had to restrain her before she woke up or she'd tear into the next thing she saw. A strand of white hair fell to the side to partially reveal a spiritul third eye had been given to the teen. But the rest of it was hidden by her hair.

Theta rushed over to Rita and Lyka, pushing ropes into the free one's paws.

"Take this, tie her up inside our deeper cave, where we put the wild ones. But don't tie her hands to her side, she'll just escape."

Theta explained were to find a rock formation that would allow them to tie Eris up with her hands and feet spread out from her body, like in an X formation.

"Let her be able to at least kneel on the floor or we'll dislocate her arms. But just make sure she can't reach her restraints. I have to help Vixa with Jei, come and get Kimae to heal your wounds once you are finished."

With that the Chieftess left and took Ruth aside to talk to her. The mother was terrified for the life of her daughter and demanding Eris's blood for her attack. But Theta had to know what happened to Eris before she'd allow any more bloodshed.

Vixa snapped Ruth's attention to helping her carried the severely injured Jei to the healing area. She started barking orders to Kimae to get the salves and bandages. Rarely did Vixa have to actually use her healing powers but this time she had no chocie or Jei would bleed to death. She rubbed her hands together, calling on her spirit guide to help her, then placed her hands palm down on the teen. A glow spread over Jei's body and her deepest wounds were healed enough to stop the massive blood flow. Now it was up to the bandages and medicines.


Lyka released her hold the moment she felt Eris go limp. Despite the situation, she felt a small surge of accompllishment as she licked her teeth and Eris started to breath again. Just enough pressure, and not a single drop of blood. She caught Eris's shoulders in one arm and took the rope with one hand, adding a silent but dutiful nod in acknowledgement of her Cheiftess's orders. She tried to heft Eris over her shoulder, but the teen had grown too heavy for Lyka's light climber's build.

"Rita, would you?"

She gestured towards Eris's unconcious form craddled in her arm. Lyka gathered the remaining ropes and walked deep into the caves, following the enraged calls of the Wild Ones. She worked quickly, binding Eris's wrists tightly, but not too tightly. Despite what she had seen, Lyka still felt her heart twinge for her. It seemed cruel to chain her down after all that she had been through spiritually to free herself, but orders were orders. She was to make sure that Eris could not escape. As a last precationary measure, she place her palm over Eris's bound wrist and began to push.

Accept this. Open and accept this. Hold it and keep it prisoner here.

Slowly, Eris's wrist began to sink into the stone until it was fully entrapped. Theta could undo such a thing easily, as she held command over all the earth, but there was no way that Eris could free herself, especially not in her weakened state. The blue-grey cougar repeated the procedure with the other wrist. She growled curtly, part to Rita, part to Eris, and part just to herself.

"It is done."


Rita finished binding Eris' ankles at the same time, rising and stepping back to survey their work. She nodded once, eyes drawn at once to Eris' trapped wrist. "Yes, she won't be escaping from that." She had heard of Lyka's connection with the mountain, but she had never seen this unique ability firsthand. "I didn't know you could do that with other Cougars," she commented idlly.

Delila watched in horror as Eris was subdued and Jei taken away for healing. Her eyes followed Lyka and Rita as they carried off the unconscious spotted teen, before turning away. There was nothing more she could do to help Eris now. But there was Jei.

She followed after the second group, not sure what she could do but desperate to help in some way. Vixa had already stopped the worst of Jei's bleeding with her powers when Delila arrived, looking around and feeling awkward. She'd never done more than washing minor cuts and such for herself as a kitten, so most of this healing business was a mystery to her. Finally, she took a deep breath, feeling intimidated with not only Vixa, but Theta nearby.

"I'm no healer, obviously, but if you need an extra pair of hands, I offer mine."


"Neither did I, really. Never had a chance to test it before." she purred softly, regarding Eris with despair. Bound hand and foot, here was the kitten she had protected, mentored, the kitten whose fur she had licked clean of blood, the kitten that she had nudged towards her belly to sheild her from the cold as they slept. But she was a kitten no longer. Eris had attacked the prodigy Jei, and for whatever emotional ties they had, Jei had refused to fight back. Quicktalon might have lost one of its best future warriors because of her. She was a danger to the tribe and Lyka was forced to regard her as such. With a hardened expression and an unreadable emotion welling up behind her eyes, Lyka spun around neatly and stalked out of the cavern without looking back.


Rita simply watched her go with an unreadable expression of her own. There were other things to worry about now. She turned around once Lyka was gone, taking a seat on a large boulder near the bound teen. This was not the time for crazed Cougars and tribal strife. Quicktalon itself could be in danger from its enemies. The tribe needed to set forth a united front. If internal strife tore it from within...Quicktalon could be no more.

She looked at the unconscious teen's face, still thinking to herself. Somehow, they would have to find a way to keep the tribe intact and strong. They couldn't stand to lose even one warrior at this point. They would need all the strength they had to face the growing threats from outside the tribe. If the Ninjas had truely returned...

Rita shuddered. She had to hope that Theta would have a plan to unite the tribe against this new/old threat. Afterall, if their Chieftess couldn't save them, then who could?


"Acutally Delila there is something you can do."

Theta stepped into viewing, she had been behind some rocks getting things for Vixa. She looked a mix of anger and frustration. Jei was such a promising warrior, and here she was, nearly brought down by her own useless sister.

"Vixa tells me you came to her with Eris and a story about a red cloaked cougar. Was this the spirit we saw tonight at her ceremony? If so you had better spill all your knowledge about it. Lest it attack another kitten like it did Eris."


Delila cringed internally at the fury seeming to radiate from the Chieftess. The shadows gathered at her feet, offering reassurance and strength, simply urging her to tell the truth and all she knew. Calmed slightly by the shadows, Delila took a deep breath and bowed her head respectfully to her leader.

"Yes, Chieftess, I'm afraid this is the same cloaked cougar spirit. I have only seen it myself once and recently. When we asked Vixa about the spirit before, it had done no more than speak to Eris when she was alone on the Gust Cliffs, so she told us it was most likely a harmless spirit trying to trick kittens into wandering off the Cliffs or some such deviousness. Until then, I had never seen it myself, so I just assumed it appeared only to Eris."

She paused, then pushed ahead with her story, relating all that had happened as she remembered it. "Recently, after I myself became a teen and Lyka an adult, Eris wanted to go to the Cliffs again to see if the spirit would appear again. We agreed to accompany her to make sure nothing happened. I was startled to say the least to witness the appearance of this cloaked cougar myself."

She frowned, closing her eyes as she tried to remember all that had happened. "The winds were stronger than usual that day. The spirit only seemed interested in Eris, but I couldn't hear most of their conversation over the sounds of the wind. There was talk about chains and breaking chains. And something strange happened." She remembered the incident only vaguely. Perhaps Lyka would remember this part better.

"I think..." she hesitated, unsure of how to describe this part, "that Eris fell...only she didn't. I swear, we saw her fall off the cliffs...Lyka even dived after her. And yet...somehow she still stood on the edge with the spirit." She hoped this was making some sort of sense and that she herself didn't sound crazy trying to describe it. "I'm still not sure exactly what I saw that day. At the time, I was distracted by yelling at the spirit if I recall," she remembered, blushing slightly in embarrassment. She wasn't usually one to give in to her emotions like that.

"Soon, Eris collapsed and the spirit threw her at me before disappearing. I swear, I never thought the spirit would be a threat to the tribe. I thought it was only an apparation, as Vixa suggested. A trickster spirit of the cliffs and nothing more. I never imagined it would have such power..." she trailed off weakly, realizing now her many mistakes. She should have sought out the elders for advice long ago. Now, it was too late. What if they blamed her or Lyka for the events that had happened here today?

The shadows twisted and wound their ways around her feet and shins, loaning the Shadow Huntress their strength when she needed it most. Her stomach twisted with nervousness as she faced the Chieftess and other elders, waiting for their judgment regarding her failure.


Theta listened to the teen's story without saying a word, merely absorbing what she had said. She would need to speak to Lyka and get her knowledge as well since she had also seen the spirit.

"Very well. Do not cower so, Delila. You are not a Shamen so I do not expect you to know what to do around spirits. Tis just a warrior's weakness, much like a Shameness cannot fight. I will go speak with Lyka upon this matter as well. What do you think Vixa?"

Vixa was tying bandages tight to stop more bleeding and administering pain salve where she could. Though Jei didn't seem to be in much pain and that was not a good sign. She had listened to Delila's story and realized her mistake in judgement.

"Well obviously we are dealing with a powerful entity that is master over those cliffs. I have never felt this spirit before, and when the ceremony went wild, all the other spirits fled the mountains. They have only recently begun to return. Only those rooted here like the mountain stayed. But they were frightened. Eris has been contacted by some entity, I don't think it is merely a spirit. Once I have Jei in a safe position I will inquire of the spirits of what they know of this recloaked cougar. And do not fear Delila, we all make mistakes in matters we have no experience in. That is where experience comes from."


Delila nodded, relieved but still secretly cursing herself. She hated her weaknesses and judged herself rather harshly regarding mistakes. She knew no Cougar was perfect, but she still wished she could lessen her weaknesses. The mystical world still unnerved her, even after her Teen Ceremony. She was tied to the mystical realm as well as the physical now, though the events that seemed to accompany spending time in the vicinity of Eris would unnerve even the bravest Cougar.

"Thank you, my elders." Delila bowed respectfully to both Theta and Vixa, keeping her head down as she spoke. "I will do my best to take this awful situation and gain something positive from it. I will learn from my mistakes and prevent anything like this from ever happening again if I can help it."

She raised her head, staring forward confidently. The fire had returned to her blood-red eyes and she wore a look of determination. Never again would she make such a mistake. Never again would she be used or made to look foolish and weak. Life had been easier it seemed when she lived alone, never allowing herself to grow close to others. But she couldn't go back to that now; it was too late. She could protect herself though, and prevent herself from being taken advantage of. It was a knife's edge she chose to balance upon, but she would do so.

Delila shook her head, leaving her thoughts about Jei behind for now. She was of no more use here, she knew that. Jei was under Vixa's care now and she could be in no better place than that. "If you'll excuse me, Vixa, I think I'll be going now. If I can be of any more service to you, please send for me." Standing, she turned and walked away slowly, not sure where to go now and just letting her feet, as well as her instincts, guide her.

Rita had left the inner cave for a while, needing a break from the constant screaming of the teen within. Cringing, she rubbed her ringing ears, watching the wild warriors mill about further away, still muttering among themselves about the "crazy beast" that had invaded their cave. Sighing, she noted that she was still keeping guard from here, even if she couldn't see Eris at the moment. There was no way the teen could possibly free herself from her bonds, so she wasn't going anywhere any time soon. She was surprised to note another figure in the crowd. This was no wild one. She fumbled for the teen's name for a moment before it came to her. "Delila?

Delila glanced up at the sound of her name, seeming to snap out of a daze. "Yes?"

Rita frowned, voicing her thoughts. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at the tribe's common grounds?"

Delila shrugged slightly, meaning no disrespect by the gesture. "I was trying to help Vixa with Jei, but I don't think I was much help afterall," she trailed off quietly, trying to hide her disappointment. She really needed to learn to deal with the fact that there was no way she could be skilled at everything. Everyone had a speciality and she had to face it that she couldn't excel with several different skills.

Rita's look softened slightly, but not much. She remembered the teen now from the Festival and the kitten games. She had been the first to catch a rat, and had been quite skilled in doing so. She hadn't let herself become distracted like many of the other kittens. There were rumors whispered throughout the clan about the teen and her Ceremony, as well as her new title as a shadow huntress. Supposably, her guide was the Shadow Panther and he had lead her Teen Ceremony personally. She had heard the rumors from the other clan members, but more importantly, she had facts from Theta and Vixa, few though they were. This teen was not to be laughed at, though she still had much to learn before she could take her true place in the tribe. "Well, we each have our place and responsibilites, young one. We can only do what we can and no more."

Delila nodded in understanding. Rita had a very good point. "You're right, of course. Thank you for reminding me of that." She looked around, wondering exactly where her wanderings had taken her. Only now did she notice the faint, but echoing, screams coming from deep in the cave. "What the...?" She frowned, her mind almost seeming to click as she drew the correct conclusion. "Is that Eris?" she asked softly.

Rita nodded, glancing back towards the cave. "I'm guarding her here until I hear word from the Chieftess again." The two simply stared silently into the yawning mouth of the cave, each lost in their own thoughts.

Delila stared into the yawning darkness. It sounded like Eris was being tortured in there...but wasn't she alone? If Rita was guarding her and she was out here, the teen could only assume she was anyway. Then what in the world could she be screaming for? Was she hurt? Why didn't she just leave?

"She's restrained," Rita spoke sharply, seeming to read Delila's unspoken questions. "We're not hurting her or anything, so whatever she's upset about is in her mind. It must be." She growled softly, eyes narrowed as she turned her head from the cave opening, looking out at the Wild Ones as they shuffled about. Every once in a while, they'd shoot a glare in her direction...or more specifically in the direction of the cave containing the 'crazy one,' but not one made an attempt to move nearer.

That revelation did little to make Delila feel either better or worse. She merely frowned, staring into the cave for a moment as she made her decision. Maybe it wasn't a smart choice. But she felt it was the right one. Maybe the spirits even had a hand in it, but she felt this was what she had to do. If nothing else, she wanted some sense...of closure. Taking a deep breath, she started slowly at first, her steps growing swifter and more confident as she disappeared into the cave.

Delila was already on her way before Rita realized what the teen was doing. She raised a hand, eyes widening in alarm. What was the fool doing? "Delila!" Her voice fell on deaf ears and she knew it. There was nothing to stop the teen now. Instead, she should at least warn her. "Don't get too close to her! Keep your distance, whatever you do!" Unsure whether or not she had been heard, she shook her head sadly, sighing quietly.


Eris's voice was filled with pain as the other approached her. She couldn't see what the creature was. It held a miraide of swirled colors that blinded her and deafened her all at the same time. She struggled against the rock that held her hands and pulled at the ropes that bound her feet.

The blood from her injured leg was soaked into the rope but it was still as strong as ever. Her other ankle now bled from the pulling. But it was something that grounded her. Her own blood seemed to bring her back, to make a path through the blinding lights and colors.

Her once distant and sad face looked fearful, enraged, and feral all that same time. Her eyes would dialate to their largest size then suddenly shrink to pin points. Her body would shake in convulsions before another scream erupted from her through and she would lash about in her bonds. Tears fell from her eyes but she growled in anger.


As Delila progressed, moving deeper and deeper into the cave, she laid her ears back flat against her skull instinctively, trying to block some of the painful echoing screams from her sensitive hearing. She wouldn't go as far as to put her hands over her ears; that would be ridiculous. She'd just have to deal with the echoes as best as she could.

She rounded the corner and stopped cold, only able to stare in horror at the pitiful sight before her. Eris' body was broken and bloody...and yet still she growled and fought, looking more like one of the Wild Ones than they themselves seemed at the moment. All Delila could think was 'She's cracked. She's finally cracked at last. All this time..and they've finally broken her...' Any trace of blame she might have placed on Eris was gone now, though she was still furious towards the cloaked cougar. An unfamiliar...and somewhat frightening feeling seemed to come over her, making her legs feel weak. She swiftly slapped a hand against the wall for support, eyes burning as they narrowed, still watching the pitiful, tortured soul she once considered her...

She paused. Did she really...yes, she did. She could admit it even to herself now. It had to have been obvious to the others by now. She'd opened herself up, putting herself at risk of being hurt...all for the chance of finding a friend. And she had. Or at least she thought she had. She'd found a best friend, someone she thought she'd be willing to tell anything to one day, possibly one day in the near future. Eris.

Instead, Fate decided to intervene and laugh boldly in Delila's face, seeming to say, 'You think you're deserving of having friends? Well, let's see if you still want friends after this...' Delila shook her head, ignoring the strange burning sensation in her eyes. No, that wasn't what happened. It couldn't be. Plus, that was a pretty selfish view of things. This whole ordeal...it wasn't about Delila. It was about Eris. And Jei. The Shadow Huntress wasn't important in the big scheme of things. Not hardly.

She couldn't ignore the feeling of betrayal that lurked in the dark shadows of her mind, however, no matter how hard she tried or how much she told herself that it wasn't true. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to walk away from the entire situation, leave all the pain and confusion behind to concentrate only on her training. It was all too tempting to return to her distant frame of mind, caring nothing for the other cougars in the tribe on a personal level. It had been a much easier existence...if...a bit...lonely.

She frowned, clenching her fist so tightly that she nearly drew blood with her claws. No, that was a sign of weakness. She wouldn't run away. She still had some role to play in this thing yet, for good or for ill, and she fully intended to fulfill it. She glared at the floor so intensely as she came to this realization that she seemed to be trying to drill a hole using only her eyes.

After a while, she seemed to shake off this intensity, steeling herself before looking up at the figure that was once her friend. She wasn't sure what she was looking at anymore to be honest. And on some level, that scared her. She stepped closer, Rita's warning still echoing in her ears. Tail twitching slightly with anxiety, she shook her head, looking on in pity. "You poor thing...what have they done to you?"


It spoke, the words were like screams in her ears and she found to get away from it. But she still couldn't move. What have they done to her? Who are they? What was done? The thing...it felt...felt sorry for her....she could....see the pity. The loss of something dear perhaps. Eris stopped moving and just stared at Delila for awhile, her blood red eyes almost glassy as her mind tried to think.

What was this thing? Why couldn't she see it properly? She closed her eyes and shook her head, which only made her world swim before she opened her eyes again. It was black......swirling black with red streaks. Did she know this creature? Another wave of color and emotion rolled over her like the ocean and she found the pain it enduced in her mind. More blood leaked from her ankles, and the world came into focus again. She followed the trail left by her blood onto the floor, the moved along the floor until she felt the creature.

She knew this creature, but she couldn't remember its name. It had to bleed....what? Wait? Why did it have to bleed? The answers swam out of no where and seemed to make so much sense. Blood was the mark of all creatures. Every creature had its own blood, connected to its soul. She could see them this way. See all of them.

"....blood....bleed.......I can see you......"


Delila's eyes widened in surprise as the words fought their way from between Eris' lips. The screaming halted for the moment, her ears perked up, straining to catch the quiet jumble of words. Would she speak again? Did she have more to say? Delila wasn't sure what she meant in the first place. It was too much to hope that Eris would clarify though. It was remarkable enough that she was speaking at all.

What did she mean? Was she trying to say something in particular, or where they simply the rantings of one lost? '...blood...bleed...' Well, Eris was practically covered in blood, though the worst of it seemed to be centered around her ankles, probably due more to her struggles and thrashing than anything else. That had to be what she was talking about. '...I can see you...' Could she? The glassy look in her eyes spoke otherwise. What could she mean then?

Only now did Delila get a good look at the strange marking on Eris' forehead. The cracked image of a third eye made her shudder. She was no shamaness, but even she could feel that there was something instinctively wrong about the symbol. Had something gone wrong in the ceremony because of something Eris did? Or was it the cloaked cougar? Had the spirit's interference driven Eris mad by ruining her ceremony? She knew too little to try and form theories, and yet she couldn't help but try.

Growing frustrated, she growled a soft curse, whirling about and punching the rock wall angrily as she gave in to her emotions for a split-second. She felt so helpless! Nothing made her more angry than that. Ignoring the pain in her hand, she crouched near Eris with a sigh...but not too close. "Eris, I'm sorry...I don't understand. I don't know if you can even understand me at this point. But just in case you can, I want you to know that I want to help. I just...don't know how." She spoke softly, eyes closed as she fought to regain and keep herself calm. She never noticed the scrapes the rock wall had made in the back of her hand nor the blood dripping slowly onto the floor from where her claws had pierced her palm.


Blood dripped....slowly joining with Eris's that had fallen onto the cave floor. Suddenly a wave of recognition hit Eris as her mind seemed to unravel the mystery of the creature of light and sound before her, it was Delila. She recognized her scent now, her actions, and....her feelings. With her blood mixed with the other's, she could see her without pain and without the veil of her pained mind. She knew who this was, simply based on this blood contact. It was a small comfort to know someone she trusted was near her but then.....something else happened.

It was as if she were falling, but falling into someting she had never been in before. Eris's mind fell into the blood spilled by both cougars and was driven into Delila's mind. Delila would see everthing Eris saw but more over, Eris could see everything Delila hid from others. Her fear of being useless, her wish to know her mother, her discovery of friendship and understanding of loneliness. And her underlying affection for Eris. All this she could see, but why could she see this? She wondered...briefly...if she could touch these feelings...do something to them perhaps.

Meanwhile Delila's mind was sucked into the void that rang with the wild emotions Eris had no control over any more. The fear, the pain, the anger, the rage, the saddness, the paranoia. All of it seemed to hit her all at once and one at a time. But it wasn't as harsh to her as it was to Eris. It was like someone else watching all the emotions pass by her as well as feeling each in her own way. But she couldn't leave on her own, Eris would have to let her go.


Oh, spirits...the colors! The lights! The sounds! Pure, raw emotion! Delila shook as she struggled with this sudden, unexpected onslaught, falling forward onto all fours. She dug her claws into the ground, blood and dirt mixing and creating a crimson mud that seeped through her fingers as she simply fought to hold on to herself. She felt lost; like she wasn't herself anymore, but someone else. Someone else in particular, she realized suddenly. Eris.

Trembling uncontrollably, Delila began to panic, despite her best efforts to remain calm. It was too much...too much at once. What was happening? What new evil trickery was this? Had the spirits returned, even here inside the cave of the Wild Ones? She was separate, but not, experiencing the rage and anger and each of the other emotions in turn until they started repeating and blending together, soon almost simultaneous.

It was too much to feel. Too much to experience all at once. Especially for the poor, unexpecting fighter. "N-no...stop..." she muttered, unaware she was doing so. "This...isn't me. I c-can't..." She clutched her head, both in pain and in panic, fighting even physically now to hold onto herself, afraid that she might be lost in the other consciousness even if she couldn't put this fear into words. It was all instinctual. From the reaction to panic and pain to the attempted withdrawl from the barrage of overwhelming emotions, it was all Delila could do to double over on her knees, head in her hands and eyes shut tightly, unable to block the images and sounds in her mind.


Eris couldn't even see the struggling Delila as the other fought the emotions that were dulled for now. She seemed entranced by Delila's hidden emotions. The things she never let anyone see. How could Eris see them now? Could she touch them?

Spiritually Eris reached out to touch the one emotion she felt safe with, Delila's feeling of friendship towards her. But the moment her spirit fingers touched the dancing ball of light, the pain returned with a vengence. Something else was here and making her mind hurt agian. Colors, sounds, smells, all of it envaded her poor mind. She screamed, both inwardly and outward. Delila was thrust out of Eris's mind like a sling shot and soon Eris returned to her nearly comatose state. Occationally screaming.

Suddenly there was a hand on Delila's shoulder, shaking her violently. It was Rita, she had heard the sudden quite and had grown lerely as it continued. She had to check on the teen, and when she walked into the main cave she gasps. Delila was on the ground clutching her head while Eris just stared at her. What was this!! Quickly Rita had drug Delila away from Eris and back outside.

"Delila. Delila! Are you ok!?"


Delila only moaned softly in reply. It took some time before she realized that the connection had been severed. She was still trembling and clutching her head, despite her distance from Eris. If she had been more herself, she would have been ashamed at appearing so weak, especially in front of a tribe huntress, but right now, she was so far gone she didn't worry about appearances.

It was still a while longer before she could manage to speak, unaware she had been doing so earlier while pleading for it all to stop. "I...don't know. So much...pain...and the sounds...and colors... Almost too much...almost lost..." She shuddered, still rightly-shaken by her experience. She moved slowly and awkwardly, like one who had been injured, though no injuries showed on her body. The caked mud in her hands hid her puncture wounds beneath the mixture of blood and soil. She continued struggling to a sitting position, her limb feeling heavy and sore, though she didn't know why.

"There was just...so much..." She realized she wasn't making much sense, but there wasn't any better way she could think of to describe it. The worst part of it had been the overwhelming numbers and amounts of stimuli and that's all she could think of. "What was that...?" she muttered, not expecting an answer. "If that was...what I think it was...and that's what Eris is experiencing...then it's no wonder she's acting mad..." She shuddered again, her speech still coming haltingly. "I think...that if I'd been stuck in there much longer....I might have lost it myself..." The thought frightened her like nothing else before and even normally-stoic Delila was unable to hide the obvious fear in her eyes as she looked to Rita for strength and answers.

This was NOT a normal Delila. Not only did she seem unconcerned about showing weakness, but she was talking freely about herself and her experiences. Something was definitely wrong.


"This isn't good. I'm taking you to Vixa, Eris must have done something to you."

With that the elder huntress helped Delila to her feet and walked her towards Vixa's cave. The Shameness was cleaning up after finishing with Jei when they walked in.

"What s going on?"

She listened to Rita's quick explination the forced Delila to sit down.

"Just relax Delila, it seems Eris's eye got hold of you. We just don't know how yet."

Throwing some herbs on the fire, a sooting scent entered the air. She mumbled softly while looking into the fire. A calming wave swept over Delila as a shadow decended upon her. It was a panther's shadow.

"Concentrate Delila, let your totem guide you back to us."


Delila had clung to Rita like a child on the way to Vixa's cave...something she'd never have done, even as a small kitten. She seemed to vary between hallucinations and lucidity alternately, eyes darting around as if searching out some unseen foe stalking the pair. Even in Vixa's cave, she sought to find this enemy, skiddish and wide-eyed like a frightened kit.

Fortunately, the scent from the herbs went a long way to soothe the teen, aided by the power in Vixa's chants. Her trembling slowly ceased as she stopped searching the cave for her unseen foe, concentrating her gaze on the fire instead. Her eyes glazed slightly and her eyelids drooped halfway, leaving her with a rather dreamy look on her face. She felt a sudden, calming warmth envelop her body as the panther's shadow emerged and descended on her tired form.

Blinking sleepily, Vixa's words soon sent Delila's head falling forwards as she drifted off into something between sleep and a trance. At first, all was dark. Then...the visions began to return. They weren't visions that she could even begin to interpret either, whether or not she was familiar with the mystical realm. Colors, sounds, emotions...they swirled about each other, blending and separating, keeping the teen continuously off-balance. Feeling helpless and unsure of what to do, Delila whimpered softly, wanting only to curl up and hide until it all went away. "Please...just make it stop..."

Through all the colors and chaos, a single black form appeared and disappeared at random. Somehow, Delila knew that this shape was different from the others. This one came from...outside. Outside was away from the chaos. She felt drawn to it for an inexplicable reason and the next time it appeared, she reached out, trying to catch it before it disappeared again. As the black figure began to fade, she called out to it, "Wait! Please!" Her limbs felt heavy, but she trudged forward, trying to catch the figure. She was afraid that if it disappeared again, she'd never be able to catch it. She was so wrapped up in the chase itself that she never noticed that her movements were slowly growing easier.


"come child.....follow me....."

The voice was deep and masculine but soothing all at the same time. The black spot carried on its question.

Vixa kept chanting, allowing the shadow's to cling to Delila's frightened form. A mental attack such as the ones Eris could be capable of doing were very hard to come back from and took time to recover completely. Most had no idea such a simple attack could leave the strongest cougar a babbling coward. But Vixa knew, and she knew that holding onto one's totem, epescially one as strong as the Shadow Panther, could bring the cougar back to reality. There she could deal with her inner demons much more easily.


That voice. It seemed so...familiar. She knew that voice. It was warm and deep, full of strength for her to share. She pushed herself to hurry, gaining a little ground on the dark figure. The visions seemed to recede, if only a little, and she began to make out the shape. An animal...on all-fours...feline...

She inhaled sharply; memories, her own memories, flooding her mind and pushing back the chaos a bit more. The Shadow Panther -- her totem and spirit guide. Relief washed over her panicked form upon recognition of the large ethereal beast. She shook herself out of her brief pause, scrambing to keep up with him. She certainly didn't want to be lost in here...not again. Never again.

Breathing heavily, she matched pace with her guide, now perfectly clear to her. She rested her hand on his back as they walked, drawing strength and reassurance from his calm, sure movement by her side. Every once in a while, one of the chaotic visions would seem to dart in with the speed of a hawk. She would cringe and close her eyes briefly as she was assaulted once more by a horrible sound or an intense emotion, though they seemed dulled and more bareable now that her guide was with her. Delila still sighed tiredly as each vision would recede, taking the time given to recover before the next one attacked.

Soon, the Panther stopped and looked back at Delila. "Your journey is far from over, my child, but I have done my part to deliver you from the chaos within. The road from here is yours to travel, but always remember," he spoke softly, but with hidden strength in his voice. "No matter what, I always walk at your side, my daughter. Never forget that."

Delila nodded, despite the knot in her stomach. Nervous or not, she trusted him...completely. She bowed her head for a moment, whispering, "Thank you," before she stepped forward once more, her hand leaving his back as she disappeared into the darkness ahead.

Back in the real world, Delila blinked, looking up towards the fire once more. Her eyes were unfocused before she blinked a few times, realizing she was back in Vixa's cave. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, arms crossed over her chest. "Is...is it over?" she asked, her voice sounding shakier than she would have liked.


"Well, at least for awhile. You may have some residual nightmares about whatever it was you saw. It seems Eris now has a rather frightening power. If she doesn't improve, Ruth may get her wish for the child's head."

Vixa sighed, she didn't like to see anyone killed by their own tribe for weakness but sometimes it was inevitable. And if Eris was this dangerous then she had to be stopped, or at least controled.

"I'm going to set up a seal around her to prevent any more problems. Hopefully she won't be able to attack anyone else. Rita, you stay with her until she's completely out of danger."

The Shameness gathered up some paints and herbs, then disapearred into the darkness.


Lyka had climbed high up to the platform where her Teen Ceremony was held, she crouched pensively atop a rock, just staring out over the mountains as the stony peaks were washed in reds and oranges from the setting sun. Red, like Eris's eyes. Dark golden orange, like Moriean's fur in the sun. Yes, she was a fully grown huntress, capeble of caring for herselsf, but it felt like she had lost so much in such a short time, when really, she knew she hadn't lost anything that anyone had ever really needed. Moriean had been her mentor and died protecting her. She had mentored Eris, and now the kitten was insane. She placed a hand on the stone beside her, the fine vibrations soothing her discordant heart.

Suddenly, she heard a ringing scream, different from the previous cries. Delila! That was Delila's voice! In a moment, she was on her feet and dashing back to the camp.

She barged into the Healer's Cave, following Delila's scent, anxious that her remaining charge might be harmed.


Delila was still shaking, but at least she felt like herself again. Well, for the most part at least. Moreso than she had earlier anyway. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she did her best to stop the trembling. So many horrors and intense sensations; some of which she wasn't ready to deal with just yet or even try to comprehend. But she kept silent for now. She'd done more than enough talking earlier. That was humiliating. Yes, she remembered what she had done and said, even if it was a bit hazy in her mind now. The general idea was still there.

Sighing, she let her head drop to rest on her knees for a bit. Nightmares, eh? Well, that was just something she'd have to deal with. At least she wasn't living in a nightmare anymore. She'd just have to find some way to cope.

Vixa's words reached her ears, or at least her brain, a little too slowly for her to respond in time before the shamaness disappeared. Frowning, she looked up, ears laying back slightly. "Isn't it possible that it could have been...an accident?" She was hesitant to speak at first, because she didn't want Rita to think that she was making excuses for Eris. That wasn't what she was doing at all and she hoped the elder huntress wouldn't take it that way. "I don't know," she continued, looking back down at the ground. "I just get the feeling that she wasn't TRYING to hurt me." Wasn't it better to think that Eris simply had a new power that she would need to learn to control? Better than the alternative anyway. She hated to think that quiet, sweet little Eris could possibly be hurting other Cougars on purpose, especially fellow tribe members. The mere thought was too much for her to accept right now. She had enough to deal with.

She dropped her head again, chin resting on her knees as she started considering trying to sleep. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea though, after what Vixa had said about nightmares. Delila sighed softly, realizing that tired or not, she wasn't ready to deal with those horrors again, even if it was only a possibility. Just then, a familiar blue adult burst into the cave's firelight. Blinking in surprise, Delila raised and tilted her head curiously. "Lyka?"


She was at a loss for words, but the droop of her ears, slight part of her jaw and sudden pained expression were more than enough to convey her grief. The scent of blood was still drifting off the black teen, but it wasnn't that which worried Lyka. Delila looked badly shaken and there was a fearful look in her eyes that Lyka hadn't ever seen before. Purring softly, she padded over to the teen and examined one of her hands, turning it so the palm faced upwards and wiping away the blood. It was a small, inconsequential wound, but cleaning it gave her something to focus on as she asked softly, "What happened?" Had Eris done this? Had Eris put that haunted look into Delila's eyes?


Delila was unaware that her usual fascade had fallen and that all the fear and apprehension she was feeling shown clearly in her eyes. She wasn't assured by the weakness in her voice either. "To be honest, I'm not too sure myself."

She shook her head weakly before relating her story as best she could. Starting from her attempts to help Vixa with Jei to her wanderings that led her to Rita and the wild ones' cave. She tried her best to describe what had happened in the cave with Eris, though she realized it probably sounded pretty vague and possibly a little crazy in itself. All she could remember were the intense sounds and emotions assaulting her from all sides while she cringed and cowered like a frightened kitten before Rita dragged her back out of the cave. Finishing with her journey out of the darkness thanks to her totem, she trailed off quietly, staring at the floor as Lyka continued cleaning her hands. She had nothing left to say and she'd already spoken far more today than she was really comfortable with.


Lyka gritted her teeth and winced as Delila fell silent. So it had been Eris. Oh, her kits her kits, her poor kits. Both Delila and Eris..but it was no use. Whatever she felt was inconsequential. Eris had to go. If this had been a time of war, a cougar with that kind of power, or any mad cougar, would have been sent out onto the battlefield to wreak her havoc, among Quicktalon's enemies, but this was a time of peace, a time for rebuilding the tribe, and they could not afford to have something like Eris causing destruction among future warriors. Jei the Prodigy and Delila of the Shadows, both very promising teens, both considered a ray of hope for Quicktalon against the oncoming threat of the Ninja, both attacked and possibly crippled by Eris. One night, she told herself as she gathered the black teen into her arms. She could allow herself one night of solace, at least until Delila fell asleep. Then she would find the Cheiftess and ask for Eris to be destroyed.


Delila struggled weakly out of reflex at first. She'd never been comfortable with physical contact and though she had been slowly acclimating herself to the idea, this was far too much to handle all at once, especially under the current circumstances. Despite her squirming and panicked growls, she was no match for Lyka's wiry strength and soon she was too tired to fight back anyway. Sighing, she relaxed, resigning herself to her fate. Was anything really in her control at all anymore? It was seeming doubtful.

She didn't want to sleep. Something deep inside made her feel uneasy, as if warning her that nothing good could come of rest right now, but her body seemed to have other things in mind. She was exhausted, pure and simple. The poor teen wasn't sure how much longer she could fight it. Even now, she found herself leaning tiredly on Lyka's shoulder, her eyes drifting shut. Delila sighed again, already half-asleep as she murmured, "Don't...wanna'...sleep..." The firelight flickered and played over the teen's face as she sank into an uneasy slumber.


"She is finally asleep. Good. Vixa told me the basis of what happened. This isn't good."

The Chieftess walked into the Shameness's cave and sat near Lyka. She looked at the other's face.

"You are upset because of what happened. You were close to both Eris and Delila. What is your opinion."


She nodded, acknowleding both Theta's status and the correctness of her observation. Lyka was indeed very upset, but that didn't mean she was going to let it adle her thought processes. Quicktalons needed to be strong and loyal no matter how they were feeling at the time. Duty was not something that could wax and wane with the wind like a fire. The huntress measured her voice carefully, keeping it low so as not to wake Delila.

"I admit that I have held affection for them both. As a shadow huntress, Delila has great potential to face the Dewclaw Ninja in their own terrain, but will she be able to withstand a mental assault after what she's been through tonight?

I beleived also, that Eris had potential, but I have underestimated it by far. There is no doubt that she is powerful, very powerful, and an asset to Quicktalon's warriors, but we have no way to house that power. Eris is like a large rock jutting out of the side of the mountain. It will boost you up a great deal in climbing, but if the ledge it sits on is not strong enough to support it, it will fall and crush you. Already she has injured the two teens the tribe had the highest hopes for, possibly maiming them. "

She paused, thinking of how Eris had injured one other cougar..no..Lyka had brought this upon herself. Eris was not to blame. She took a breath and continued.

"I think..the Spirits intended Eris as a weapon, but she has come at the wrong time. War has not yet broken out and we cannot afford to weaken the tribe with internal destruction. She must be removed."


Theta listened to the younger adult, taking in her words and mixing them with her own ideas. She looked down at Delila, then over to the unconcious Jei. As much as she'd like to protect her tribe, she couldn't without knowledge.

"Your words show wisdom but lack foresight. We do not yet know what attacked Eris. It could attack again, this time causing even more problems. And as Eris had no training I suspect she is having a much harder time controling her powers than a kitten taken in by a shameness would. You are correct in that she can be a weapon, but you are incorrect that weapons come along at the wrong time.

If a new weapon to suddenly appear before a battle, no one will be proficiant at using it. There would be no time for training, for discovering the ways of the weapon or who has the power to weild it. There is no set way of attack, no knowledge of its limits, and how lethal it can be. Therefore, it would be a weapon, but a useles weapon. But a weapon we know of, that we've had time to train with and become a master of, that Lyka, is what will win a war. These are the weapons we rely on.

So, for the time being, Eris will remain tied up in the cave. No visitors will be allowed unless accompanied by Vixa or myself. We have to find out what attacked her and if it plans on attacking again. With that knowledge we may be able to help Eris take control of her powers, whatever they may be, and use them for the good of this tribe. Do you understand?"


Back in the cave, Eris was lost to her surroundings. Her mind was so loud with the overwelming emotions she still felt. Something of Delila's affection for her had stayed after the teen had left. She clung to it in her darkness. Suddenly an old feeling came back to her. The screams subsided and her once beautiful voice rang out again.

((This is "Missing" by Evanecence))

"Please, please forgive me
But I won't be home again
Maybe someday you'll look up
And barely conscious, you'll say to no one
Isn't something missing

You won't cry for my absence, I know
You forgot me long ago
Am I that unimportant
Am I so insignificant
Isn't something missing
Isn't someone missing me

Even though I'm the sacrifice
You won't try for me, not now
Though I'd die to know you love me
I'm all alone
Isn't someone missing me

Please, please forgive me
But I won't be home again
I know what you do to yourself
I breathe deep and cry out
Isn't something missing
Isn't someone missing me

Even though I'm the sacrifice
You won't try for me, not now
Though I'd die to know you love me
I'm all alone
Isn't someone missing me

And if I bleed
I'll bleed
Knowing you don't care
And if I sleep just to dream of you
I'll wake without you there

Isn't something missing
Isn't something

Even though I'm the sacrifice
You won't try for me, not now
Though I'd die to know you love me
I'm all alone
Isn't something missing
Isn't someone missing me"


Oblivious to the conversation going on around her, Delila frowned, twitching slightly in her sleep. While she heard none of the words passing her ears, she heard something else...in her mind. Music maybe...familiar, but not. If nothing else, the voice was familiar -- as was the feeling of the song.

She wasn't sure what she meant by that, but she could somehow feel the music in her heart. Or perhaps her mind. It was hard to tell the difference at this point, though the emotional tie was strong enough. But back to that voice; a voice she had heard singing so many times before...

Eris.

But how? Was she dreaming? No, this felt like more than a dream...though it wasn't reality either. Not the reality she was used to anyway. The words of the song were muffled at times, though she'd catch a word here and there. She understood the general emotion behind the words though, and that's what was important.

Loss. Pain. Regret. Loneliness.

Emotions all too familiar to Delila, even if she refused to let others see. But these emotions were only partly hers. They were also someone else's, even if she felt them herself. Eris. It had to be her, right? Were they still linked then? Perhaps, when Rita had pulled her away from Eris, whatever connection they shared hadn't been completely severed. Perhaps she should be upset or afraid of that. Concerned at the very least.

To be honest, she wasn't sure exactly how she felt. At least, not about the lingering connection.

Here in the dream-like world, whatever it may be, maybe she could do something she'd never dare in the real world. Relaxing once more, she closed her eyes against the surrounding darkness, a single, sparkling tear tracing its way down her cheek as she wondered what had happened to the one she had called 'friend'.


When she felt Delila begin to stir again, the blue-grey cougar purred softly. The sound rumbled deep in her chest, intended to soothe the teen back into a more peaceful state. She reached down to wipe a glistening drop of wetness from Delila's cheek and was suddenly overcome with a wistful feeling. Moriean.. "The Chieftess is wise." she stated cordially with a small smile. "What I know, Theta will know." With that simple introduction, she began her tale.

... .... ....

When she had finished recouting the events from the time she had caught Delila and Eris out on the cliffs alone, to the time she had acompanied them and seen the hooded spirit for herself, she paused, checking back over her words to see if she had missed anything. As the leader of their tribe, it was important that Theta not be left out on on little detail. Even if it was insignificant to her, it might mean something to the Cheiftess. When she was sure she had gone over everything, she met Theta's eyes expectantly, with her face blank as befitting of a Quicktalon, but her heart thundered as she waited for the verdict.


"Hmmm, it seems Eris's singing awoke the spirit from its slumber. Its so rare one cougar can reach reach the spirit world with merely their words. Let us hope Eris can recover from this is some sort of way. Even the Wild Ones will not go near her. Perhaps in time she will get use to her new power and we can begin to train her. But for now, I will go and keep watch over her from my scrying glass. I may call you and Delila to come watch if I think you can help understand anything."

The chieftess looked down at the teen, still battling the immense attack Eris had placed on her. She wondered briefly if Eris had hurt her inside as much as she had hurt her sister on the outside. The tall lean adult stood up and walked out, her staff tapping on the rocks as she went.