And the pain; [it’s] s-l-i-p-p-i-n-g /away/

[Shadow Spirit]

Breaking the will and seizing the soul...
It'll all be over soon...

Her cheek made him chuckle. She was an interesting specimen, he'd give her that, but it wasn't going to stop him.

"Anarchy is the name I gave myself...after I was abandoned in the middle of a deep forest by my mother..." he said, grinning darkly. He spoke about his past openly, unleashing his dark secrets without regret. It was a good way to strike up sympathy in others...

[Hiddenwrath]

So, the pity card was now being played?

Hiddenwrath smiled sweetly, but her words didn’t drip of the sympathy that he seemed to expect.

“Life sometimes throws hard things at us you know. It’s what makes a warrior stronger. Are you stronger from your experiences, and the path you chose to wander?”

Her gaze was no longer on him, it was distanced…as if she could see something only she could see.

[Shadow Spirit]

I want to feel your blood on my skin...I want the taste of you on my tongue...

Anarchy admired her intelligence, perhaps this would not be an easy catch after all.

'I don't ask you for pity Hiddenwrath...I am stronger than you seem to think..." he said, his eyes burning embers, a dark look in them. "But one would not expect a cat to grow up well when their life is the result of their mother's rape..." He grimaced angrily, remembering the scornful look on his father's face, that day so many moons ago. He had killed him for his deeds, but now he walked the same path. What could be said about this cat? The only truth there seemed to be, was that his past made him a killer...

[Hiddenwrath]

“Never underestimate anyone tom. You don’t know what I think.”

That hazel gaze returned to him, ears flicked forward as she listened to the words he spoke.

“Even though of it this way – the path you walk is the path you choose to walk. Just because you are the product of rape doesn’t mean that you had to choose that path – you made that choice.”

She stopped, thinking for a moment.

“You have chosen to become that cat you are now. But a cat can always choose to change…for better or for worse..”

[Shadow Spirit]

What is this feeling that consumes me...?
Its not possible that I could do anything but hate...

Anarchy narrowed his eyes at the female, then looked away. Her intelligence exceeded her, he hadn't expected to have this much trouble. His mind weaved a new set of ideas, his orange hues glowing with intent. He then turned his demonic gaze back to Hiddenwrath.

"You speak the truth, Hiddenwrath..." he said, not a hint of uncertaintity in his voice. "I apologize for my attitude...life has not been good to me..." "Though I had hoped to better myself in this forest...start anew..." For the time being, he would make his heart obey...

[Hiddenwrath]

“There’s no need to apologize Anarchy.”

A smile followed. If it was one weakness the kindly she-cat had, it was the fact that she didn’t judge any cat really. That came from her own experiences before she joined Risingclan; her previous clan’s prejudice against her because she did not believe in Starclan.

“This place; it is a good place to make a new start.”

The fluffy she-cat would know from her own experiences. Hiddenwrath blinked those hazel hues, her gaze meeting his.

“I can help you if you would like. I can take you to meet Kestrel, support your acceptance so your transition here shall be easier.”

[Shadow Spirit]

I feel so very cold inside...but there's some kind of fire stirring deep within me...

Anarchy hesitated for perhaps the first time in his life. He was not a caring cat, so what should it matter if Hiddenwrath were to be hurt. He knew his heart hadn't changed, it felt no different, but there was something...there. There had to be a way around meeting her leader...

"I'd rather not seek out this leader just yet...can't we wander a little...and talk some more...?" he asked, putting on his best effort to sound truly interested in her. It wasn't as if he could deny that he felt something, there was an attraction, but the tom had never been able to understand anything more than lust...

[Hiddenwrath]

“Of course we may. There is no hurry.”

Ah, so there was a there there. A true attraction, but it didn’t linger with Anarchy. It stirred within the pretty orange and white she-cat too, hidden deep within the depths he had yet to try to break.

Could they be broken?

Hiddenwrath was a strong cat, both physically and mentally. And intelligent creature. She had vices, could be emotional, silly, even immature.

But she didn’t understand this. The she-cat flicked her fluffy tail, once, a smile adorning her face.

“Anything in particular you wish to discuss? Or do we continue this conversation?”

[Shadow Spirit]

The blood in my veins runs as cold and unfeeling as ice...

Anarchy noted her change in demeanor. He swung his long tail back and forth as he walked, letting the silver and black dapples glimmer in the light. This could work, if his damned heart didn't melt.

"How about you take me to the places you like best?" he asked, his orange eyes alight with intelligence. There were plans beyond comprehension developing beneath that glowing gaze.

[Hiddenwrath]

What if his damned heart broke instead?

So…places she liked, eh? Well, there was one place in particular…

Hiddenwrath lifted her hazel gaze, checking the sky. Almost sunset; evening demanding to be set free from the clutches which held it during the day.

“There is one place…follow me.”

The fluffy she-cat moved, quick in spite of the fur which protected her entire body. But not so quick so to lose Anarchy.

There was a hill, a small outcropping near the border of Risingclan that she had found not long after she joined. It was there where she lead him, scaling the rocky surface easily until she sat proudly at the top.

Like a queen...she’d make some cat a fine mate someday.

If she lived that long.

With a laugh, the beautiful sound rippling through the air like the currents of the ocean, she turned her eyes on Anarchy and called to him.

“C’mon, up here! The sunset’s beautiful from here!”

It wasn’t just the sunset…from this height, the wind blowing all around her…Hiddenwrath actually felt free.

[Shadow Spirit]

My heart is racing...the exhileration of probing fate thrills me...

Anarchy followed Hiddenwrath up to the rock ledge. He watched as she hefted herself to the top and he smirked to himself at her prideful stance. Then he leapt swiftly up after her, his long legs making the jump effortless. His silver fur glowed in the dim light of sunset as he came up behind her and seated himself. The sun's last rays caught the fire in his eyes and set it ablaze.

"Do you come up here often?" he asked, flicking his tail in thought.

[Hiddenwrath]

“Often enough.”

Her voice was a mere whisper, hazel eyes on the lights and colors playing at the horizon with a sad smile on her face.

“I feel free here.”

Perhaps for the first time in her life, she felt free. But that shamed Hiddenwrath, and she looked down t her paws instead.

[Shadow Spirit]

Painting the world with blood...is my favorite pass time...

This new admittance surprised Anarchy, and he hated to admit when he was surprised. He wanted to swish his tail irritably, but he checked the motion, not allowing her to see his true reaction. He gazed off into the distance for a few long moments, the tiny gold felcks in his bright orange eyes catching the sun. Finally, he determined that this new development could prove very useful.

"Why do you say you feel free here?
he asked, looking intently at her. "Does your clan opress you?"

[Hiddenwrath]

“Oppress? I wouldn’t say that really. But clan life can be a difficult one, even if we are never coerced into doing something we don’t want to do.”

But war?

War?

Hiddenwrath was broken about that, to take another cat’s life…would be such a difficult thing for he to do. But she knew, deep down, in her heart…she could.

[Shadow Spirit]

The skys will be tinted with the glorious color of death...

He could tell she was choosing her words carefully and it delighted him. If he could foster her insecurity, this could really work. Even through all his devious planning, there was a small something that lurked in the back of his mind. A strange and unknown feeling that knawed and beat at his mind, no matter how much he tried to restrain it.

"Is your clan involved in something that you are opposed to?" he asked, his bright eyes fixed intently on hers.

[Hiddenwrath]

“I’m not opposed. No.”

Risingclan had grounds for this war. Although Hiddenwrath didn’t like it, not at all, she wasn’t opposed to it. In fact, they had the right to fight.

The pretty she-cat looked up, her gaze bright for a curiously long moment as she watched Anarchy, then turned to look out, across the expanse of land.

“Life is full of things one doesn’t like. Full of trials.”

[Shadow Spirit]

A burning desire...but for what?

Thwarted again.

Anarchy had no idea how this cat was able to keep getting around his attempts to seduce her. He'd never before met a she-cat with such an incredible intellect. Without even knowing it, she denied every attempt he made toward drawing her away. It was both frustrating and exhilirating. If she was going to be this difficult to capture, then he would be truly tested in his skills, something that hadn't happened for years. And there was still that irritating thing sitting in the depths of his mind, that bored into his soul and tried to make itself known. Just what was it?

"I see...you know no matter how hard you try, I can still tell you're not telling me the whole truth..." he said, stepping into the accusation swiftly. "Just what IS your clan up to?"

[Hiddenwrath]

What? You thought it was going to be easy?

Hiddenwrath blinked, his intelligence rather relieving after dealing with fools for most of her life. Not saying anything against any Risingclan members, she had little enough experience with them and had only met very few.

No, no, this fluffy she-cat was going to prove to be Anarchy’s greatest challenge.

“What is truth, tom? Lies bent on some twisted reality, so that it is appealing to one cat or another?”

Her smile was easy enough; pleased he dared to suggest such an accusation.

“There’s a war started. Battles approaching.”

[Shadow Spirit]

This burning desire...searing a hole in me...

Anarchy smiled inwardly, but his outward appearance remained stoic and calculating. It would be easy enough to feign ignorance of the war. He swished his silver and black-speckled tail, thinking carefully.

"War?" he asked, as if he had no knowledge of it. "What sparked such a feud that would take such a drastic climax?"

[Hiddenwrath]

“Now that, I cannot say. Least not until you join Risingclan, if that’s your reason for being here.”

Hiddenwrath was being difficult, now wasn’t she? Anarchy’s companions should be getting impatient by now with all this time being taken.

Ah, but the orange and white she-cat didn’t know of them. Not yet.