Sharks in the Water (aw) }{ Destruction of Ezn...

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I could smell them. All around us. That vile stench of murder drifting from the shadows. They were close. My knees tensed as I lurched myself to my feet. I was a good hundred feet from the rest of the pride, having made it my duty to stand guard. Allowing myself a moments relaxation, I had dozed, but only just. Now I was awake, and I was running full speed towards Eznox.

An emotional wreck, my nerves were at their last wit. I burst into the camp with a soft whisper of a roar, only loud enough to wake those within the camp. I searched for Sherlock, but, with no surprise, could not find him. He had disappeared days ago, and I feared the worst. Each day was spent on a search for him, but I had to return to my base by evening time. It was in my programming to always come back to camp, no matter how hard I tried to fight down the driven training. I longed for my brother, my comrade. But a deeper instinct always took the reins at the suns falling.

“Eznox, wake up!” One cat responded by dashing into the trees. It was the cheetah, who rightfully fled instead of fought. He species was built to flee at the scent of danger, able to outrun any one of us, and any one of Ende. I rooted her escape on, knowing at least she would be safe. Turning, I flicked an ear towards Durante, who had climbed to his paws and tensed, prepared to fight, though always ready to run away at the first threat to his own life. I knew by now not to stand by him in battle; he’d toss me as a distraction as he made his grand escape.

I instinctively puffed out my chest in an attempt to seem larger than I was. The rain made it difficult to impress, however, for it matted my pelt to the very bones beneath my tight skin. I let a low growl play in the depths of my throat as I mentally allowed myself to prepare for impact. I would fight until everyone was safely hidden in the forest.

Even if the enemy was Ende.

[I L Y I C H]

You Can Live And Die Without
The Chance To Find Out Your Worth

Montego->
I moved swiftly, sent ahead as Symphony had commanded. Eznox would be destroyed today, and little old me got to be the spear point for their demise. A fair amount of pride built itself into my steps as with ever new print became more blurred then the last. Through mud we ran, I could feel them behind me trailing by a scant three meters. The Fuhrer had instructed us into groups, sending me to scout out front. As we slid over the boarder into the muddy stream gone roaring with the heavy rains I heard the light whisper of Symphony's direction. Ahote, Sherlock, the General and the Fuhrer would go North-west and sweep around that way. The rest of us would remain going North lead by Annora to attack forth right. I was to be sent ahead of them all, as a quick little warning. Ende may be made up of the insane and the unwanted but we were not all monsters. Cowards could escape before their brave were slaughtered.

All the easier to over run.

Coated in a layering of mud we would be almost invisible until we were right on top of them, as was the plan. Oh the wonderful things that tumbled about in our leader's head. As it were the plot worked. With Symphony's ambush party long gone I stepped forward into the closest grasses, falling into my militaristic tread. Everything narrowed down to the here and now. Scars stretched horrifically across my frame lost their tenseness. Elasticity spilled into me under the swell of adrenaline. The guard called out his furious warning, and the cowards ran. how utterly pathetic. It would seem that only two would stand before us. Two to fall. The cougar however had been claimed. Our newest mad genius had outright claimed his right to that beast. Still hidden from view within the layer of grasses I prepared myself to avoid his claws. Ende didn't take such claims lightly. Sherlock had ever right to destroy this beast for whatever reason he had, and as his new family Ende would not interfere. We were nothing if not sympathetic to our brother's plight.

Claws sinking into the wet sloppy soil I gave a low snarl before striding forward. We were many and with the four at my back these two stood no chance in hell of escaping this unless they planned to turn tail and run like any smart bastard would. Large ears lifting atop my slim skull I tipped my head up as I came to a stop outside attack range. "You have moments to run, or minutes to die." Sharp hazel eyes slid across their frames, bored to the depths of their iris'. This wasn't quiet as interesting as I'd hoped it was going to be. Eyes cut across them again, settling on the cougar with a small flicker. I'd forgotten. "Except you. There is a contract on your head." Cold soldier facade turned back to the smaller cat, who was about my height, I smiled that silent wicked grin that had gotten me my place within Ende.

A good little soldier boy he was, standing so strongly despite the odds. We could use him, but based on the expression on his face he would never come to us willingly. It brought me to wonder if he knew the brilliant maniac who had come to us form these lands. The last two days Sherlock had done quiet a bit of digging and as annoying as he could be everything in that massive brain of his made up for it. And then some. But then, he didn't seem the type to buddy up, so asking him to talk this margay would most likely not work. Sad. It would be a loss for Ende. I could hear Symphony's unhurried paw steps now, churning mud aside as he slid in from the opposite side. Eyes locked on him and with a light bow I kept my ears zeroed in on the targets. He seemed a wee bit disappointed, having expected more to stay and fight it would seem. Bleach white face frowning the tiger merely shrugged and padded farther into this new place of ours.

Eznox was gone, and soon a new pride would come but this land had been soiled. Whomever moved in would get a nasty surprise. Sherlock himself swept regally in alongside his new master, eyes sharp and ice hued. It seemed those eyes changed color just to show off his fury. Oh Durante the cougar had something to fear for. I'd seem that jaguar in his testing battle against our Fuhrer. Mud coated and with only a few bits of black showing through. It was doubtful that standing as he was with such a look of utter loathing that these two would recognize the normally calm emotionless jaguar. Now this. This would be fun.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I could see a hint of panic leach into Durante’s eyes as the servile spoke of the target on his forehead. My own eyes bored down into the female, gaze questioning and a tad hesitant, but more dominantly, a gray vacancy. My military training swam back into focus. It became a need that would not go ignored to defend my soldiers. Durante may be a foul pride mate, but no army general ever says you have to like your bunkmates; you just have to protect them, even at the cost of your own life.

With ears back in aggression, I readjusted my position to be beside Durante. The man’s eyes spoke volumes; he was preparing to flee. The faint aroma of sheer numbers was working its magic on his courage; and I was sure being directly threatened did not help the selfish coward, either. The brute stepped backwards, bunching his muscles as he slowly made way to flee. Turning, lifting his front portion to leap over me and lunge for the tree line, I gave a small sigh of frustration. I was unaccustomed to working with beings that would not readily fight by my side. It was all so foreign, this unsoldier-like conduct.

A golden mass flashed from the underbrush, making a wall between Durante and his escape. The woman grinned as the cougar collided into her stone chest, Durante’s face matted by the drenched pelt of the woman’s breastplate. With a soft cackle of amusement, I felt my claws slither from their sheiths, watching Durante’s feet slide in the mud at the heavy-force contact. He lost his balance to crashed to the ground, splashing up the wet earth and covering him and his opponent with it.

“Now now, kleine Kätzchen, it would be rude to run off when Major clearly said you had a visitor.”

[/b][/i] The lioness’ tongue was heavily accented, and I could read the strain, despite her cold smirk, as she pieced the English words together. My ears flattened further on my drenched skull, as I released a warning snarl. Claws digging into the mud, I issued my own threat, going against my better judgement saying not to take these cats for fools.

“You have no right to threaten us on our own lands. Now, go back to Ende, and I will call off my snipers.” My tone was dark as I met eyes with the lioness, who, in turn, snared with disapproval. My heart skipped a beat as I let it become unnerved, even while my eyes remained thick with venom. Durante climbed to his paws and backed away from the lioness, form low t the ground as he cowered. I could not help but pity the man, though disgust is what leapt from my lips. “Stand firm, Soldier! You look like a child!” My harsh tone forced the brute to cast his eyes towards me as he stood up in a jerking fashion, though his eyes were heavy in terror.

It was then that more felines poured in. Even if my pride had remained, we would have been outnumbered. Now, only Durante and I stood, and only I was prepared to fight. My hard expression faltered as I remembered Kyklee. I had not seen the cat run off into the trees. Hiding away my panic, I flicked my eyes to each corner of the camp, searching, all the while keeping aware of Durante’s whereabouts, waiting for he who had a ‘contract’ on the cougar to step forward.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[I L Y I C H]

Sherlock->

My entire focus drained into the cowering monster. Oh yes, every word he had ever said to disregard and dismantle those around him would be shoved back down his throat today. John needed to shut up. John needed to leave, as I knew he would eventually. Kyklee was still in camp, he would go to her. Rescue her. As it were Montego lunged for him, not to kill. To frighten off. Death came only to those who proved themselves unworthy and I could see in the way she moved that the scarred Major wanted my old friend on her side. The unabashed pride she held for his words and actions was obvious on her face even as she aimed a heavy blow for the bulkier man's jaw. An attack made simple. An attack meant to distract. Symphony's tail brushed my flank, jolting me out of my thoughts even as I began to move in response. there was no time for thought now. now it was rage that overtook me.

Emotion was a thing I avoided for this very reason. Too much of it flowed through me. So I became a robot to avoid being inundated, but the flood was a wonderful thing now. Loyalty and vengeance demanded I removed this plague from the world, and I would do so swiftly. Easily. Durante the coward was no warrior. He never could be with a mind the size of a peanut and an attitude that claimed he needed to be taught nothing by those lower then him. Yet subconsciously my heart shuddered at the thought of accusation. It wouldn't let John see me like this, and in an instant I became a different cat. Acting had always been second nature to me. Accent whipped away I took on the tones of Annora's voice, flowing Germanic tones sounding perfectly off a practiced tongue. "No. We 'ave checked everything." Denial. John was a brilliant liar when he wanted to be, but he couldn't fool me. Claws blatant and white against the brown of my paws and the muck of the earth I prowled forward.

Grace was natural to me, and I moved like a viper by nature. Sinew and muscle rippled menacingly under a muddied pelt as I strode forward, steel blue eyes filled with nothing but utter hatred. Jaws parted slightly, teeth bared in a show of promises to come. John flooded out of my senses. Montego wouldn't kill him, her only job was to hold him off. Until he saw sense. This man before me deserved to die, and that stupid soldier boy had better cat's to protect. But as I came within hearing range I could not help myself. My voice slipped back to the London accent Durante would recognize. It pitched itself low without my knowledge and spoke only for the black rimmed ears of the cowardly bastard before me. "Sad to say, but it seems I have one last thing to take care of before I go." Lips pealed back then fully and the snarl that rumbled from my form physically made my ribs tremble.

No further warning was given, and with violent explosive energy I was on him. Cougar. Thickly muscled around the shoulders and chest but relatively weak along the back and head. He didn't have the power in his jaws that I had. Durante was built to suffocate his prey unlike me. I broke bones. rearing without so much as a second of hesitation I aimed my claws at his face, an obviouse move that I had no doubt he would dodge. The question came if he would see my head curve around. See my teeth coming and dodge before I destroyed every bone in his left shoulder before it was too late. And oh I had my doubts.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I could smell Sherlock now, heavy on these cats. It was muffled by the mud, but I never could mistake my jaguar’s scent. Inside me, my heart ceased pounding as the ideas rumbled through my head. These cats, they had hurt Sherlock. I did not consider the alternative; that Sherlock was with Ende. He had hinted towards it in earlier days, but the man would never willing leave me. Would he? I pushed all the bantering aside, refocusing on the now. A soldier sometimes loses his comrades, but he cannot mourn until the war is over.

One of the males, a jaguar by the looks of him, spoke to me a heavily accented tongue. In my peripheral, the lioness stepped away from Durante, but kept a heavy eye on him to keep his quivering form away from escape. When the jaguar spoke and said they had already checked, I cursed inwardly, but only laid a lethal stare in his direction. “Of course.” I was admitting defeat with these words, but I saw no shame in surrendering. This would be a foolish war, if fought. The jaguar was attacking Durante, and my instincts made me move forward to aid the cougar, but I was blocked by the servile.

Even as I worked to maneuvering around the woman’s nonlethal attacks, I could see it was a hopeless case. Durante had always run and never fought. He dodged, leaving him open for deadly retaliation. Even if I broke past this servile, the cougar would die. I had to pick my wars, my General had always instructed. Durante was a lost cause, but I could still help Kyklee.

Dodging away from the servile, I frantically maneuvered around the camp, calling out Kyklee’s name. The orange tiger moved to block my path, whether to keep me to kill or because he thought this was a trick to get around to Durante, but he had no success. I snarled as the massive paw contacted me, but I gave into the pressure, and only tensed when my paws approached the soil after being airborne for several feet. Skidding in a splash of mud, I turned towards the tiger, fur puffed outwards by instinct to make myself larger. The tiger pulled back in surprise, then smiled an odd smirk of approval. Another snarl broke from my maw, this time in frustration. The tiger was impressed I had had the reflexes to catch myself; he had judged me and I now had clawed my way above his expectation. I didn’t need his approval, nor did I want it.

Changing my direction, I eyed a young cougar, and then looked past her at the shadows of the trees. A plan formulated in my mind, much darker than what I would expect from me. It hit me how angry and filled with sorrow I was over the realization that Ende had killed Sherlock. I would not let them get away without losing one of their own. They stole Sherlock for me and, in exchange, I would kill their precious young.

And let them know that I will not rest until every one of them has suffered the same fate Sherlock has.

[Kunabee]

Kyklee

They were coming. A horrible and viscious pride, coming. It was a nightmare. So I hid. I hid tight in my rocks, watching the goings-on. They fled, all of them, all of the pride I joined so I could have protection. All but John and Durante, and Durante...
Well, soon it became obvious Durante was to die soon. There was no question. Ende was violent and vicious and... _scary. If one was to die they would die. I would die.
But then John, he was running for me, calling out my name. I didn't move, fear overtaking my being. I couldn't.. I couldn't move. But then I did. I squirmed and wiggled, causing the rocks that had protect me to trap me. They had moved and shifted, clinging to my fur and skin. The den I had always decided would be a hiding spot became a trap. I was scared.
I was going to die. I was going to die here. I didn't want to die, I was scared to die; I was scared to loose my life. Life, I had so much left, and it was scary, but... I didn't know what waited for me beyond death. At least I knew in life what I had to deal with. Scary things and awful things and a bunch of extremes. But I knew it. Death wasn't known.
"I don't want to die!" I wailed, not realizing until it was out that I had said it aloud. No. Now they all knew, they all so. My squirming became all the more frantic, unable to get my body - as small as it was - out from the rocks.
He was close, and I stared. Would he help me? Please help! It was a silent cry, but he had wanted to before. And right now I just couldn't get free from the rocks, the back end of my body trapped within them.

[I L Y I C H]

Sherlock->
Teeth ground into flesh and the vicious little man inside me cawed at slipping so easily into defenses built against the world. Connecting through the bone I gave pressure. Just enough. Not enough to crop the artery further up the shoulder. Shatter. Driven by more emotion then I had openly allowed myself to feel in years, I tore downward. One limb removed from the equation. Doubtful that any weight could be put on it. Scapula, clavicle, and cartilage all crushed. Destroyed. Motion would cause the splinters to pierce flesh. Cut further into this rubbish pile. Body slamming into the injured side I made to flip him. One limb, seemingly slim until the muscle began to bulge curled under Durante's thick chest sinking claws into the other shoulder to complete the roll. Silly bastard. Silly man. Never saw anything coming. He was so prepared to run he had never even thought to fight.

Sliding forward into the motion I moved with my own ease focusing flint hued eyes on that face that had so often spit it's conjecture at me. At everyone else for that matter. It would seem good byes were in order, but I had already provided my input. The tawny creature beneath me didn't deserve such responses. Didn't deserve the recognition. Lesser. This is what happens when you think you stand on a tower. This is how I myself would die sooner or later. Smashed into the mud, utterly helpless. Claws would find homes and rend my flesh but not lethally. He lay at the bottom of the pile and aggression looked into his eyes and summoned Death. black jaws crashed down with all the power of a seismic fault, thick fangs digging into flesh with the final purpose of destruction. Simple. Pulling my teeth from blood I gripped tighter, but with a kinder touch. With his trachea effectively collapsed he would die in three minutes. Three minutes of agony, and with the narrowing of silver eyes I let myself bite down a fraction tighter, enjoying the trickle of scarlet that spilt onto my jaw.


Symphony->

Oh how they ran. How they ran and ran and ran. It was all rather pathetic. Not bothering to move very far forward into the abandoned camp, I watched with amusment as the little one rushed away from Montego, choosing another friend to save instead of the cougar. Durante would die shortly, Sherlock had made short work of him. It was almost sad to see the man fall so easily, especially considering what Sherly could have actually done to him first. That jaguar's fury may stretch far and his morbidness may seem endless but he truly was childish in so many ways. Suffocation, honestly. Ignoring the streak of golden fur I took a short step forward, grinning like the maniac they all knew me to be. "Sherly, darling! You couldn't have made longer work of it?" Iron eyes jumped up to me, slightly startled as they peered over their prey. Silly boy, not use to my ways. He would be soon enough.

Heavy white paws paused when the cry came; black ears curling towards the noise. No? Alright then. She wasn't fighting and her terror was obvious. It wasn't exactly her fault the rocks didn't want her to leave. Electric blue eyes found them as I turned fully. The earth did so love to be warmed after all. Waving an all clear to my family I moved towards her voice, shrieking for help. That little golden boy had been calling for this one then. Coming to the little den I balked up against it, shoulder shoving aside the haunches stone as easily as if it were hay. Come out piggy or I'll blow you're house down. Knock it down. Same thing. Razor sharp eyes bored down onto the woman, watching with no lack of vicious playfulness. "But you're home wants you to stay so very... badly!" The end of the sentence ran into loud corrupted laughter, sending it's violent booming across the camp. Across Ende's newest little prize.

Turning away from the coward I hopped back across, skidding to a stop along side Mr. Holmes to watch as he pulled back jaws yawning to remove any sort of tenseness from their hinges. "Pity. That there is a waste of a toy" Those eyes, now a pallid blue as the beast calmed focused on me once more, their edges crinkling with satisfaction. His lips curled almost invisibly, but the smile was there. I could see the ebony under the scarlet.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

The bellow of a moan that ran past Durante’s lips as he crumble to the ground called my attention. Again, I had been taught to defend my bunkmates, even if I hold distaste. Durante was beyond saving, but I could avenge him. First, I had to find Kyklee, who now called out for panicked assistance. My ears flicked backwards, following the call’s vibrations. Turning, I spotted the small rock pile that seemed to emit her shriek of alarm. I moved forward to help my pride mate, but that white demon approached her first.

The man moved aside the rocks that held my friend captive, and my eyes narrowed when he did so and only spoke in a playful tone, before abandoning the defenseless servile. My jaw clenched as I inched forward, towards Kyklee, after the tiger moved his attention back to the murderer and his kill. I could not give the kill a name. He was my bunkmate, and if I reminded myself who he was, I may let the black hate swarm over my good judgment. I had to avenge my fallen comrade, who twitched with the final remainders of agonizing life. The cougar deserved that much, even if only by the born-right of it, and not as an earned privilege.

I came upon the servile quickly, keeping my attention focused on her, yet allowing my ears to keep tabs on all the cats that flooded my camp. My former camp. “Kyklee, run to Zonta. Speak to Alphonse, the alpha, and tell him Symphony Bava’ destroyed our home and killed a pride mate. He will welcome you. I will keep Ende at bay and join up with you later.” I forced her to meet my calculating gaze, allowing a smallest hint of compassion to leak forward. I was a soldier, but no general ever said a soldier couldn’t love his family. “I promise.” With those departing words, I turned and flicked my tail towards Zonta, in case Kyklee was unsure. It was at this time I slithered past the distracted felines, broaching on the young cougar’s space.

She was small, perhaps no older than a couple months, or a runty yearling. I could see that she had the born-muscle of her species, but nothing further. The young girl was no fighter. The leopardess hovering a couple feet to her fight was average size, but slim. It was clear she was a fleer, not a fighter. Being a margay, both leopard and cougar could out-strength me. I would use the advantage of having a soldier’s build, but I would have to rely dominantly on the art of surprise. I spotted a boulder three or so foot distance from the pair, and met its shadow, before leaping to its head.

“Ende felines, you think you can kill and be granted no reconciliation? Ah, such foolish acts of senseless murder, dealt carelessly out with no precaution.” My words were bold in the first part of my threat, heavy with venom. Towards the end it branched towards hysterics, as the death of my only friend thudded wearily into my brain. I had predecided these cats would believe my actions were in remorse for the fallen cougar, but I could not. My heart ached not for Durante, but for my dear Sherlock. “Sherlock did not deserve to die. I will see you all in Hell.” With this, I flew down to the young feline that had been listening with a bored expression. Her gaze widened as she processed who I aimed for. I made contact, my weight heavy on her spine when paired with the momentum of my fall. Her knees buckled beneath her, bringing her chin to the ground. The element of surprise kept her from giving a fight as I cringed my neck to reach around to her soft throat.

A snarl erupted beside me and I latched onto the child’s throat, feeling my long canines latch around the precious jugular. The leopard shrieked as she used her thick muscle to shove me, claws bore, focused entirely on getting me off her friend. The smallest hint of regret tugged at my heart, but I denied it growth. Someone had to die for Sherlock. Ende would mourn this feline, and only know a fraction of the pain losing Sherlock did to me. The leopardess’ strength successfully shoved me off her friend, my body skidding through the mud, splashing up filth.

The child’s fragile throat lay dangling from my locked jaws.

As blood pooled around the cougar, I watched her motions mimic moments of Durante’s final attempts at life. The man was dead now, suffocated and shattered. This girl could not even moan, her vocals having been shredded by my attack. It took only a second before she was dead, her corpse swimming in a growing ocean of her own blood. The full impact of what I had done settled in. Self-hate was quick to place itself into my chest, but survival put the loathing on the sidelines. I needed to get out of here. I needed to get out of here, now.

Claws digging into the mud, I bolted into the trees in the direction of Central Lands. If they gave chase, I did not want it to be towards Kyklee. I would hide away in Central Lands for a day or so, and then keep my promise by returning to Kyklee in Zonta. Mud sprayed up behind me as I dodged through the trees and underbrush. I focused on keeping from skidding into the soft terrain. I kept my mind off the growing lump in my chest. I had killed a child. For revenge. Even Sherlock would not approve of that. Revenge held no logic. A child. I erased my mind and took on a soldier’s vacancy.

Behind me, I heard the leopardess yowl a sound mixed with anger and sorrow.

[Kunabee]

Kyklee

The giant white-furred ghost-leader of Ende came. He was approaching. I tried to squish myself back in, but it seemed I was stuck both ways. But then he pushed the rocks, providing me enough room to leave. He laughed, an evil horrible laugh. I have never heard such a noise. I wish to never hear it again.
"But your home wants you to stay so very... badly!" That was what brought the laugh, and I stayed there, cowering, biting the end of my tail. I shivered and shaked, even as John came over. He told me to run to Zonta. But I could not. Even as I nodded, even as he walked away, I stayed.
He demanded retribution for Sherlock. And then... and then the worse thing I've ever seen happened. He killed a child. I yowled and booked it.
I was crying. I was crying for an Ende child. I was runing to, to Zonta, but it was a broken run. A damaged run. Blood, death, doom and destruction. All of it pushed at me, all of it pulled at me. I thudded into a tree, a paw crawling over my face. And then I sat down and cried. We were all cowards, weren't we? Just every last one of us. I curled up by that tree, finding myself continuing to cry, a small whimpering meow that repeated itself.
Two lives was too much death. A child, and someone rude and bitter. Still. Too much. Did Ende ruin everything?
And then the other thought came, the other, worse, more painful thought. The thought I could barely think, for it was so awful.
_{was I a bad luck charm?}

[I L Y I C H]

ooc:// the end of eznox? if it's alright with everyone I think it would be easiest to close off here and continue on to Zonta later on c: