..S C R E A M withx m e.

[.. c l o u d]

______________...deluge.

f o r e v e r w a i t i n g f o r d i s a s t e r . . .

A painfully slender cat stumbled his way through the dense pine forests of Tempestclan, an austere storm witnessing his crazed sprint from the depths of the skies above. Frenzied gasps burst from demanding lungs, inhaled and exhaled wildly in peculiar sync to the frantically pounding rhythm of four dark paws slapping their meager impacts upon the submissive ground. Deep in the distance, untamed snarls ripped through the air, the fevered thunder reverberating in the dark pewter cat's ears. White-blue veins of lightning flickered through the intricately woven maze of storm clouds, the fluorescent strands of plasma vivid against heavily bruised thick indigo haze. The said storm began to weep harsh tears of cold rain upon the land, the precipitation darkening the sprinting feline's shadowed silver fur to an inky almost-black. Wide silver eyes were numbly staring ahead, their pupils contracted to mere slits. Dark ears were tilted back in fear; four long limbs swung desperately forward again and again, trying to gain purchase on the slippery ground as the precipitation picked up its pace and strength, pummeling everything on the earth below. The silver-eyed feline was searching for an escape, one that would not be easily granted. He was trying to escape his insanity.

i t ' s l i k e i c a n ' t s t o p w h a t i ' m h e a r i n g w i t h i n .

The thin legs tried to execute a sharp turn around a particularly large tree and failed; paws skidded through the soggy earth and tried to cling to the mud but to no avail, sending the dark tom stumbling toward a break in the trees. Tripping over small rocks and narrowly avoiding crashing into thick trunks of unforgiving trees, the dark cat finally regained control of his momentum-propelled body and slowed to an unsteady walk, limbs shaking. Deluge glanced down dazedly, his pale eyes taking several moments to notice the slight wounds scattered across his emaciated frame; his mind didn't register the pain until several more delayed moments. The cold rain dripped down his soaking pelt, making the dark cat shiver like a leaf in the wind. Slowly he picked up his pace, numbly wandering without a thought. But what he didn't know was that he was steadily bounding toward the river and his demise...

Before long, the feline's thin legs began blurring irregularly once more over the muddy ground, slipping every few heartbeats, and his breath reclaimed it's previous hectic pattern, ragged gasps sucking in precious storm-scented oxygen. His achromatic eyes turned wide, panicky, and the voices plaguing his mind returned. Again and again they whispered to him the sweet pain of his beloved sister's death, bringing forth terribly agonized memories of the fateful night that claimed his sibling's life and transformed an innocent young cat into the paranoid, suicidal feline that was currently trying to escape. For the first time in what seemed like forever, something else hissed from the cat's mouth, something that wasn't used air. His voice, rough and high, sliced through the panicked, pained symphony of swift breathing, impacts of rain, the nonexistent sound of his footfalls, and the distant thunder. "No...no. Please no."

i n t h e m e m o r y y o u ’ l l f i n d m e , e y e s b u r n i n g u p . . .

Delirious pale silver orbs searched frantically, and a distant sound greeted the dark feline's ears, a sweet sound that wrapped its elusive melody around Deluge and beckoned with an angelic smile. Yes, the ambrosial music coming from that direction..that was the cruelly beautiful sound of the river crashing through it's banks, running to meet the edge of the cliff and to plummet eagerly down to the rocky pool below. This was what Deluge was searching for, ultimately: a waterfall. An escape. Another vicious whisper from the insanity spurred the dark cat on, and his limbs blurred swifter over the ground, slipping every few strides on the soft mud underfoot.

Before long, the soft roar of the waterfall filled the air with warning vibration, and upon seeing the great sight before him, Deluge gasped. His heart expanded in weak anticipation, hesitantly awaiting the sweet release from this life he'd gain while soaring over the edge of the cliff, rain still darkening his pelt a somber dark gray. Silver eyes narrowed against the howling wind as a dark cranium turned to stare back toward the forest the thin tom had just burst from, the pale orbs then rising to gaze at the swirling sky, watching lightning flicker along the dark storm's lining, blinking back the raindrops that fell like cold tears. A long moment passed, then Deluge padded toward the edge of the river, gazing down into the tempestuous depths and watching the numbingly cold water churn and thrash. The dark cat then proceeded to let his muddy, bleeding paws wander over to the edge of the cliff, his silver eyes drifting over the wide expanse of the white-capped river, the unearthly mist hovering like regretful ghosts, the jagged rocks poking rebelliously out of the surface of the rough waters. He sighed at the thought of throwing himself from the clifftops, the waterfall's spray clinging to his dark silver fur as he closed his haunted silver eyes. A shiver rippled along his bruised spine and the cat hesitated a moment, heartbeats pounding like a war drum in his ears. His last heartbeats.

a n d t h i s i s h o w i t e n d s . . .

[.x │ s h e l l]

Everywhere, it was black. Thick, concentrated, all-pervading black. The change had been gradual, slowly inching into the air like scattering mist. Leisurely, tainted shadows had chased away the perpetual warmth of the sun; black became the essence as it dismissed and replaced the daylight. Next the celestial bodies had appeared in the sky, each an astronomical phenomenon in itself. They splashed across the firmament in vivid shades of silver and white, crowning their nighttime sovereign. The moon was full, peering out through the thickening pewter clouds. Beneath the sky, slate-colored stones arched into the air. They were sharply pointed, curving viciously like claws, silhouetted boldly against the lurid moon. There was not a sound to be heard in the rock-strewn terrain. The hours of darkness had arrived at last.

Two burnt-citrine orbs peered out from beneath the shadows of a fractured stone. They held their usual eccentric glow, now out of place in the darkness of the night. Chocolate covered ears swiveled warily as the femme crept out from under the rock. Her gaze flickered over the figures sleeping nearby, then to the heavens. There in the distance she could see the beginning of a storm: indistinct flashes of light and a clot of darkened clouds. Would it still be safe? Her paws prickled with unrest; she longed to get away from here. All day she had remained around camp, dozing and sharing tongues with a few. After sunset was really the only time she could find her solitude; the territory was bare, making it hard to avoid being sighted. But at nightfall, the darkness hid her. The moist air stroked her pelt, a limited relief from the heat of new-leaf… Her eyes cast a glance at the far-off flickers of lighting. Yes, she would still go out. It wasn’t as if she had never undergone a storm before.

Despite her slight feelings of unease Demise set off, the steady breathing of her clan mates fading behind her. Her white and brown splotched legs - lined up to her knees in scars - followed a familiar path, heading east. The gravel under her feet was sharp but familiar, and she didn’t recoil as it scraped at her pads. The winds shifted slightly, stirring her raven striped fur. She was going against the current now; she could feel the chill of the storm in the air. Still, the feeling of the night was satisfying, and Demise continued on towards the border.

Gradually, the sound of churning water reached her. It was the river; the border between AshClan and TempestClan. The ground beneath her paws sloped downwards, and she unsheathed her milky white claws to steady herself. The crashing of the waters grew steadily louder. Through the darkness, Demise could just see the river. It was a few fox-lengths in front of her, just barely reflecting the light of the heavens. She loved this place. Only here did the stony foothold give way to softer, browner mud. Sheathing her claws, the she-cat padded a few paces forward. Once she could feel the cool spray of the river she sat, inhaling deeply. The wind brought with it the smell of life, of vegetation, and of forest prey. Letting her eyelids drop gently over her eyes, Demise took a few more breaths. What must grass feel like? She wondered. This was a thought she often contemplated. She had never set paw in grass. She had - in fact - never even left her territory. The Four Stones were within AshClan borders, and she was never sent to battles across the river, due to her size. But she didn’t want to fight anyways. A scene came into her mind: a battle, blood spattered everywhere, members of her clan wounded or dead… With a flex of her claws, she tried to focus on the grass again. So green--

Suddenly a splash of cold water hit her nose. She opened her eyes quickly, flinching back. Another one hit her, this time on her back. She lifted her head to gaze upwards -- the storm was above her. Just as she realized this the rain began to pour, and a flash of lightning lit over her head. CRASH! She cringed and leapt off her paws. Already, she was soaked. The thunder roared through her, and the wind thrashed at her sides, whipping her tail about her. It was frightening, but so, so exciting. Yes… Exciting! A smile spread across her lips, and her paws trampled in a circle, trying to face every direction at once. The rain. It was everywhere. And it was cold. Exhilarating. She laughed - and took a few springing steps. Her wet fur hung in her eyes, her pelt clung to her back. But she liked it. She dug her front paws into the mud until it touched her belly fur. Then, pushing hard with her back legs, she sprung up onto her hind paws and lifted her face to the sky. More screams of lighting. She landed once more on all four legs. Her paws sunk into the ground, and she laughed again. I must be insane. She thought, but her eyes glowed. Before she knew what she was doing, she was running, mud flying behind her. She laughed as the rain ran down her sides, smiled as the thunder crashed around her. The churning of the water suddenly sounded happy, like it was laughing with her.

s h e ’ s g o i n g c r a z y ; n o w t h e w i n d t a k e s h e r a w a y

Demise ran until her legs burned, until her breathing became torturous. Her lungs and legs screamed for her to stop, but her mind begged her to keep going. The river urged her on; the rain chortled in her ear. She felt almost as if she was flying. Then all at once, she tripped; paws stumbled on a stray stone. She fell, colliding into the muck in front of her. She rolled onto her side, resting her head back in the sludge. It was cool, and felt good on her aching legs. How long she laid there panting, she didn’t know. When finally she lifted her head again to look around, she didn’t know where she was. She slowly got to her paws, ignoring her legs’ protest. Blinking a few times, she looked around her. There was a rise in the ground just ahead, and she climbed over it slowly. Her paws kept slipping in the mud and losing their hold, making it difficult. When finally she got to the top, she knew where she was. Only fox-lengths away she could see where the land dropped away into a steep cliff. Beyond that, the territory of HailClan stretched, miles below. The river crashed over the edge; the Falls. She quickened her pace again, feeling another surge of strength. As she trotted closer, the noise of the lightning was lost in the sound of the violent waters. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she squinted against the rain. All at once, she forgot the storm. She forgot her midnight run, and the rain, and all but what she saw as an explosion of lightning lit the earth. There, where the river streamed off the cliff, she could see the outline of a dark silver cat.

He was about to jump over the edge.

Her knees buckled, and her heart was suddenly in her throat. Unwillingly, her jaws parted; without instruction her lungs released, and she could hear herself screaming with all her force. “STOP!”

n o u s e s c r e a m i n g w h e n a l l t h a t h e a r a r e d e a f e a r s