[Azure]

Katana

Trees and leaves flickered past Katana's eyes, brushing against her flank as she blindly dashed past them. Shadows loomed overhead, blocking out the last bit of the already scarce source of light from above. Though she couldn't see, darkness was good-- They wouldn't be able to pursue her as easily now. Her paws throbbed with every step that struck the forest floor, and she felt as though her legs would give way to the exertion any moment. No, I must keep going. Despite her exhaustion, Katana forced her body onward, throwing herself deeper into the depths of the forest.

 It seemed as though an eternity had passed, and Katana continued to run. Her eyes still had not yet adjusted to her surroundings. She kept on running aimlessly-- as long as They lost her trail, it didn't matter where she went.

 The ground beneath her began to change, transitioning from the springy undergrowth of the forest to a solid, rocky terrain. Jolts of pain shot through Katana's paws as stones stabbed at the pads. Only faintly aware of the tearing of her raw flesh, her relentless pace never ceased to falter. Again, the surface below transfomed. The rocks smoothed out flatter, then, seemed to disappear altogether. Her mind still in a paniced frenzy, Katana realized too late that she was falling. Darkness overcame her before she could feel her body hit the ground.

**1**

[Kitty]

Bella

Bella parted her jaws wide as a yawn escapes her. Mid-day light shon through the mouth of the cave, highlighting every particle of fur on her water-like body. Mid-day! She slept through the entire morning, again! She shot to her paws, knocking her head roughly off the hard ceiling. Honestly, she was nothing like a Hydrokhuna, whom were supposed to be elegant and gentle.

She tripped her way outside, breathing in the fresh air that stung her lungs, but felt great at the same time. She then began to head for the small stream, just ahead, that lay at the base of a tall bluff, and twisted away into a overly grown forest. Her den was nestled into the rocky wall of it aswell.

As she aproached the water, she spotted something at the far bank. It's coat - a greeny-grey colour - was matted with blood, it's back end in the water. It was a Fellox! A very badly hurt Fellox. Bella's imediate reaction sent her flying across the river and to the hurt beast's side. She clamped her teeth around it's scruff and, though it was twice the size of her, she managed to drag it back across the water and back to her den where she was determined to keep the thing alive.

{1}

[Azure]

Grey mist swirled in the air, clouding Katana's vision, its glacial edge biting at her ears and tail tips. All to be seen was the same dull, monotone colour in all directions she looked. Perhaps if she walked a little further on, things would clear up... but she stood frozen. She was paralyzed at the spot. Blinking in confusion, she tried harder to take a step. Nothing.

Katana's heart dropped dead as the horrifying realization hit her. An earsplitting howl and the sickly sweet smell of blood pierced through her senses. Thudding sounded nearby. A malicious snarl ripped loose from the throat of a beast, and heartbeats later she recognized it as her own. Suddenly her paralysis shattered and her body was mobile, her limbs hurling her in the direction of the thudding she'd heard. The surrounding grey mist twisted and writhed violently, now tainted with crimson.

Katana's eyes flew wide open, scarlet all she could see. Her body trembled uncontrollably. Why was she trembling? Still disoriented, she tried to stand up, and whimpered as an agonizing burn tore at her flank and limbs, her lungs set ablaze at her outburst. Yet at the same time that she was burning, she was frigid as ice-cold water plastered her fur. Recollection of the previous night trickled into her mind as she slowly began to regain consciousness. But had it been the previous night? What if she'd been lying here--wherever here was-- for longer than that? What if They'd caught up to her-- if They'd already found her?

Fear and adrenaline pushed Katana to her paws. She had to leave. She had to keep running. She couldn't let Them catch her. The burning returned with renewed strength, determined to bring her down once again. But Katana was just as determined, and refused to give in to her weaker side-- no matter how tempting it was. That same determination was the sole thing allowing her to carry herself forward, towards the light ahead.

**2**

[Kitty]

Two days! Two hole days, and still nothing from the beast taking over her bed. Bella heaved a sigh of frustration as she attempted to dab the clump of moss into the river, filling it with cold water. She shook it a few times spraying droplets everywhere. She was running out of supplies and was begining to give up on the Fellox. Would she ever wake? Or was Bella doomed to tend to the sleeping beauty for the rest of her life? She wasn't too thrilled at that thought.

Rising to her paws again, she spun around. Her feet caught a puddle of water, which sent her flying backwards into the freezing cold river. She was under for only a moment before her Hydrokuhna instincts took over, and she broke the surface with ease. Paddling like a pro, she made her way to the shore and heaved herself out, shaking herself off with a grunt. She'd better get the hang of walking without tripping over her own four paws if she wanted to keep living.

Anoyance rising in her at her own actions, she headed back towards the den, moss clamped tightly in her jaws. Bright sunlight shone, warming her fur. She smiled in delight as she felt the comfort of it on her back.  As she reached her home, she could hear a low snarling sound before it went quiet. Confused, she entered, wondering if her sleepy guest had finally woken up. But there she lay, Unmoving, on Bella's bed.

On closer glance, she realized the Fellox was shivering madly. Another loud snarl ripped from it's teeth. "There now, calm down. I won't hurt you; no one will." No answer. She scooted to get a look at it's face. The beast's eyes, a sandy brown colour, gazed unseeingly at the rocky back wall. Bella opened her mouth to try again, but the Fellox shot bolt upright and spun towards the mouth of the cave in a flash.

"Uh, excuse me," Bella exclaimed, following closely behind. "I wouldn't be walking around just yet. You're badly hurt, you know."

{2}

[Azure]

Katana twisted around in shock, her spine cracking loudly as it was unprepared for the sudden gesture. She hadn't noticed this Hydrokuna until now, though she couldn't have just arrived for she was sitting deeper into the one-way cave, while Katana stood akwardly at its mouth. A snarl tickled its way up her lips, but she stopped herself before it let loose. It was obvious she wasn't one of Them, and she didn't want to cause any commotion that might lead Them to her location. Instead, she let out a sharp snuff in the Hydrokuna's direction and continued to limp towards the cave's exit.

Katana stopped herself short, her posture anything but graceful as she thought over the situation again. What if she were Their eyes? Or if they came here after and she told them where I'd gone-- and worse yet, told them of my condition? Katana craned her neck back in the direction of the Hydrokuna. Fight or flight? She argued both points over in her head, and decided all within the same heartbeat that she'd have to fight. Her condition made her choice questionable, but she couldn't give any possible leads of her whereabouts and actions to Them. Tensing her hindquarters, Katana crouched and prepared to leap at the creature before her.

**3**

[Kitty]

Bella gave a squeek of alarm. She'd treated the Fellox for two days strait, with barely enough sleep for herself. And this was the thanks she gets? Geez. She made a note to herself to never help anyone again if they were gonna threat her like this. Bella bowed her head, attempting to show that she was giving in, not wanting a fight. She knew she was on equal footing with this Fellox, since it was beaten up this badly. But she didn't want it to get hurt any worse.

"If you'd like to leave, then go ahead." Bella said simply, not looking up to meet it's gaze. "But it would be smarter to rest up, get better. I don't know where you came from, or why you're in this condition - the aggression and all - but I won't be so stuborn as to ask. Your life concerns you, and mine, me."

Bella spun and picked up the now dusty moss, which she'd dropped earlier, and brushed passed the Fellox. "Oh, and watch your head on the way out, if you do decide to leave. The roof's a bit low." Bella mused, remembering the many times she'd walked around with a throbbing head, day after day. She must do something about that ceiling sometime.

She left the cave so that the Fellox could decide what to do with herself. This entire time passed without Bella even glancing at her eyes once. They just seemed to sad - too scared - to want to look at.

{3}

[Azure]

Still crouched in preperation to spring at her target, Katana watched intently as the Hydrokuna reacted to her tensed form. Something flashed behind her eyes-- hurt?-- but was immedeatly eclipsed by a wave of defiance and anger. Despite this sudden confidence, the Hydrokuna dipped its head before Katana. She began to speak, but Katana couldn't care less about the words that left her mouth. Though she was aware that not once did she look her straight in the eyes. Once she was done talking, she stalked out of the cave, a bundle of dusty moss clamped tight in her jaws.

Katana's gaze slid to the Hydrokuna marching out of the cave, grinding her teeth together in disgust. How dared she turn her back to her like that when she'd threatened to attack? And with such ease and lack of concern of her own welfare? Was her condition really pitiful enough to the Hydrokuna's eyes that she saw no threat? Such disrespect this Hydrokuna showed. But was it disrespect? Perhaps she herself was growing weaker, losing her air of intimidation. Intimidation? Katana laughed to herself. Utter dispisal and fear, is more like it.

But isn't that what she'd wanted? To be honest, she didn't know. Not anymore. Perhaps she had, in what seemed like centuries ago, but now... Katana shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. She didn't-- couldn't-- think about her past decisions right now. Returning to the present, Katana's gaze slipped back to where she'd last seen the Hydrokuna, and jolted upright when realizing she wasn't there. Her widened eyes scanned the area outside visible from where she stood inside this cave. She was nowhere to be seen. Panic rose in Katana's stomach. She couldn't lose sight of that Hydrokuna; not when there was a risk of Them finding her because of her. Biting back the pain from her screaming muscles and scorching raw flesh, Katana forced her legs forward. Heartbeats later she collapsed to the ground, panting from the exertion. She hadn't even reached the cave's exit. How pitiful. Two steps and she was down, trembling and bleeding at the foot of an enemy's den.

Sleep clawed at her conciousness, and she felt her somewhat scabbed wounds reopen as she half-limped, half-dragged her body out into the open. What was she doing? They could be out here, waiting for the Hydrokuna to lure her where they could see her and easily capture her. No. They wouldn't do that. Why would they need to? They had enough power to take her down before, when she was at full strength, no less. It wouldn't make sense for Them to stoop so low as to making an unrelated creature lure her in her wounded state in the open.

But... For some reason, Katana still felt urged to find the Hydrokuna, or to know where she was. Shaking off her anxiety of Them finding her and replacing it with newer worries, she carried her body across the clearing to the small stream ahead.

**4**

[Kitty]

Bella heaved a great sigh and dropped to her haunches on the sandy ground, next to the river. It sparkled and danced with a rainbow of colours in the afternoon light. Sounds of chirpng, leaves rustling, the gurggling of the fast flowing water, all echoed around her. It was a perfect moment. Or it would have been if thoughts of that ungreatfull beast hadn't begun to creep their way into her mind once again.

The beast! She'd been awake for more than a few minutes, which was more than enough time to inform Bella of her name. But nuuuu. It had to attack her the minute it woke up. She cuffed a chunk of water-hardened sand, sending it flying accross the river. It didn't quite make it all the way and landed with a loud plop on the far side, spraying water everywhere.

Well, Bella thought tiredly, I better go catch some dinner for us. If i go out too late, we won't be eating till one in the morning. She lifted herself to her paws and streched forward, arching her back untill it nearly hurt. "Ah. That's better." she grumbled to herself. She gazed into the deep green forest, sudden excitement tugging at her paws, making them itch in anticipation.

Suddenly, she was moving. She was across the river and into the forest in three bounds. Though she was the most clumsy Kuhna on the planet, running was a breez. Literally. She actually sort of became one with the air as she flew through the forest, her paws bearly touching the springy floor as she stepped. Scent of mouse caught her attention, and she slowed, barely dodging trees in the process.

Bella took a deep gulp of air, allowing the scent of prey to engulf her, but she gagged and began to caugh. Something was wrong. What was this smell? She couldn't quite place it, and it almost scared her to even think about it. No. She was imagining things. She shook her head as if to clear away her thoughts and tried again, lifting her muzzle to the sky.

But there it was again, stronger this time. A rustling sound made her jump, and she spun around.

{4}

[Azure]

Katana heaved her aching body across the sparse clearing to the edge of the riverbank, where the Hydrokuna's scent trail traveled to. She lifted her nose to the air and parted her jaws slightly, taking in the creature's salty aroma. It was almost too easy finding which way she'd gone-- either she was downright horrible at concealing her whereabouts, or she wasn't trying to hide where she'd gone. A shock of alert passed through Katana. What if this were a trap; to lead her right into Their grasp? Katana shuddered, but pushed the thought away. As much as her instincts urged her to believe it, common sense assured her that wasn't the case. Again, why go through all the trouble, with such power at Their disposal? Whatever the reason, she still had to find the Hydrokuna.

The scent brought Katana deep within the neighbouring forest's depths, her increasingly trembling body consumed by near total darkness. Trees loomed ominously above Katana, their long branches bending down; gaunt fingers outstretched to snatch her at any moment. This place made Katana uneasy, its familiar layout renewing memories of her recent escape. Instinctively, she hunched her head between her shoulders and crouched closer to the forest floor, in an attempt to hide herself from unseen enemies. Though the effort was in vain; her uneven footfalls and heavy breathing easily gave away her location. Damned these injuries. If it weren't for them I wouldn't even have to be here, let alone struggle feebly through a forest cowering like a pathetic piece of prey... The Hydrokuna's scent was suddenly overwhelmed by a second, frighteningly familiar stench; one etched into her memory forever, haunting every waking moment of her life.

Animal panic coursed through her veins, pulsating at her legs in a nearly uncontrollable compliance to run as far as absolutely possible from this scent. But she held her ground, though it took every ounce of her self-control not to turn tail and flee. Nothing had scared, or even unsettled Katana throughout her whole life. No enemy was too strong for her, there was no battle she wouldn't back down from. That is, nothing but what this scent was attached to. The scent blonged to Them, no doubt about it. After seeing--and experiencing-- what They were capable of doing, the very mention of Their name sent Katana cowering in pure terror.

Katana held herself completely still, hugging her body closer to the ground. She forced her flattened ears back up and strained to hear in the direction of the putrid scent. Right away she caught the rustle of leaves and the light pounding of footfalls coming from behind the dense cluster of bushes barely a tail-length away.  But the movement was too akward to be Them. Concentrating hard on a scent besides Theirs, after a moment of struggle, she caught a whiff of the Hydrokuna. Katana's stomach dropped so low she could've sworn it lay at her paws. If They were to find the Hydrokuna and catch her scent on her... Katana leapt to her paws and pushed her way through the bushes.

**5**

[Kitty]

Neck fur bristling, back arched, Bella stumbled backwards. Her teeth bared, she snuffed at the air again. Confusion twisted in her mind and stopped her shaky movements. The smell was no longer a horribly unbareable stench, but a sickly sweet smell. What the... And then recognization hit as the skinny, green-grey coloured Fellox pushed through the prickly underbrush. Surely that horrible smell couldn't have come from the Fellox.

"Oh, it's only you.." Bella stated simply, but her body didn't quite relax fully. Over the aroma the beast had, she could still smell the terrifying scent. It made her want to turn tail and run, but she knew she had to finish hunting, bring fresh meat into the cave. Then something dawned on her. She cocked her head to one seide and surveyed the horribly scratched up creature infront of her. The beast with seemingly no name.

"So, you never told me." Bella commented, knowing she'd have no clue what she was babbling about. Like she really cared anyway. Bella half smiled. "Your name, that is. I'm Bella." She dipped her head in greeting, the way they she should have when the Fellox had first awaken. "What's yours?"

{5}

[Azure]

Katana glared up at the Hydrokuna, unbelieving. How oblivious could she get? Katana's gaze turned into a dead-serious glower, and a low growl slipped from her lips. "You're introducing yourself? At a time like this?! Do you realize what danger we're in right now?" She limped towards the Hydrokuna, her face close enough that she could feel her hot breath caress her scarred muzzle, her amber gaze searing through the creature she towered over. "If They find us, it's all over. We have to run-- otherwise I will kill you, if they don't get to you before me."

**6**

[Kitty]

"Excuse me?" Bella coughed out in surprise. Once again, this Fellox showed utter disrespect for someone who's saved her life recently. She gawked in utter disbilief before the beast's last sentence finally connected in her head. "wait, who's 'They'?" she asked in confusion. could they possibly be connected to that horrible smell earlier?

Bella blinked, watching the play of many emotions play across her face, waiting for a reply.

{6}

[Azure]

Katana snarled in frustration, thrashing her head towards the direction of Their scent, then back to the Hydrokuna. It was getting stronger and stronger by the second. Time was running out. This Hydrokuna just wasn't getting it! "It doesn't matter right now! We have to run before They arrive!" She thrust her muzzle at the bushes she'd gone through. "Now."

**7**

[Kitty]

Man, oh man was this Fellox bossy! She dropped to her haunches, still not completely relaxed and eyed her expectantly. "I'm not leaving untill you explain. And you haven't even told me your name." she stated simply. She was set on staying in this spot untill she gets a complete explanation. "And I still have to hunt for our dinner, you know."

{7}

[Azure]

"What is wrong with you? Don't you understand? We're in extreme danger-- if they get to us..." Katana shivered violently as she wouldn't dare think of what They've made her do before. "We have to get out of here right now." The Hydrokuna didn't budge, and continued to recite the same thing over again, about not leaving until she'd had an explanation. Katana snarled in fury. "This isn't--" She stopped dead cold as she was engulfed in Their scent, its aroma overwhelming all of her other senses. She vaguely noticed her rapidly beating heart, her combusting raw flesh, and crimson-glazed vision.

"It's too late," Katana rasped, her words barely intelligible, "They're here."