HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF * {open}

The trees swayed with the wind, their barren branches a cacophony of baleful rustling. Hailghost suppressed a shiver as he stepped out from beneath a tall cotton wood, the fur along his neck and shoulders standing up. It was nearly dusk in the woods, and the scene was set for a reckoning. Something ominous, and perhaps even entirely stupid, had set him on the path he traveled now. The stormy warrior wasn't sure quite what it was, but it had been of significance. Through the trees he weaved, past pines and cotton woods, their white bark turned a pearly silver in the dying light. And even as he walked, strong and confident as ever, he heard the most haunting, peculiar sounds ringing through his mind. Not the sharp calls of birds taking flight, nor quite the roars of battle. More accurately, he heard the dying screams of a young warrior. A fine, handsome tabby by the name of Jaspersun; one that the ever rising tide of death had not spared even a moon more. With that final sweep of his powerful claws, Hailghost had brought the tom down almost two seasons ago. Tonight was the first time he felt the phantoms clinging to his mind; tonight was the first time he had ever regretted the deed.

I'm on the hunt, I'm after you.

So, with unwavering paw steps, Hailghost strode in the direction of the Celestialclan border. He had been in a state of confusion that past day, ever since he had woken from dark dreams that morning for the dawn patrol. Skeletons from moons past had suddenly reappeared to him, and since then he hadn't been able to loose their grip.

"Hailghost." A paw nudged him and he stifled the growl rising from his chest, amber eyes blinking open. Just above him stood his sister, Dreamfeather, with alert blue lights. Lately, a new happiness seemed to shine in them, but he couldn't figure why. "Are you ready for patrol?" He nearly groaned aloud. He'd completely forgotten about the deputy's orders for him to accompany herself and three other warriors on the dawn patrol. Nevertheless, he stood in his nest and yawned widely. Mustering as much liveliness as he could, Hailghost mewed, "Yes, Dreamfeather. I'll meet you out there." Satisfied, the silver bengal turned and departed, leaving him alone with the other sleeping warriors. It took him a short time to wash his fur, all of which was spent wishing he could curl back up where it was warm. Then, drawing strength, he padded out into the clearing. The patrol that followed was short; he remembered clearly the voices of his clan mates as they spoke of stale fox scent, fallen trees, and the weather. Dreamfeather, as always, remained silent except to issue commands when necessary. In fact, the first time any of them heard her say anything out in the woods was when she let off a sharp hiss and halted sharply. Behind her, the other four felines also stopped. "What is it?" Hailghost hissed, bristling. He pushed to the front of the patrol to stand shoulder to shoulder with his blood kin. "Nothing," she replied in a troubled voice, "Just some crowfood." Still, her eyes blazed and deep within them he saw her troubled feelings. The deputy's great unease was clear in her stiff movements as she buried the maggot infested squirrel.

He wondered then, as he wondered now, what about the carrion had unnerved her so. It got at him more and more as he rested in camp that day so that he could do nothing but pace restlessly about, claws and fur itching. And now here he was, striding right into the face of danger.

Smell like I sound, I'm lost in a crowd

Frightened by the hooting of a nearby owl, Hailghost jerked his head around and stared into the shadowy branches of an old, weather beaten pine. All he could see of the huge bird was its piercing yellow eyes, which only served to fuel his paranoia. It's getting dark, he realized with a start, increasing his pace so that he was almost running through the trees toward the border. His heart pounded with irrational fear, and he seemed to see enemies all around him. The landscape was alien and unfamiliar, though he roamed his own territory. When he reached the invisible scent line separating Tempestclan from their prissy neighbors, he nearly tumbled over, but slowed down. His breathing was shallow and whispery in the silence. Gray fur messy as if windblown, he stopped and groomed himself furiously, as if distracting himself from what sort of madness churned in his own mind. He rarely put so much effort into cleaning his pelt as he did right then.

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Just as quickly as he had started, he stopped grooming and stared around him. Hailghost began sniffing around the borders, seeking out any scents that were familiar to him, especially those of Jaspersun. No such smells existed. What was I expecting? He was still ill at ease, and the trees seemed to aggressively lean toward him, as if they might attack at any moment. Everything, as a matter of fact, felt closer than he would've cared for, as if the darkness was closing in on him and suffocating him. The warrior continued glancing over his shoulder at frequent intervals.

A scent and a sound, I'm lost and I'm found

He didn't know how long he had been there, on the edge of the territory. It had grown cold and the chill compelled him to lay down and sleep, which he did. When he woke, Hailghost's vision was blurry. He blinked rapidly, then suddenly went rigid with horrified fascination. Laying about six fox lengths away, over the border, was the ravaged body of the orange tabby. Tufts of fur were missing here and there, and wounds were evident. It was unmistakably Jaspersun. Feeling his throat constrict, Hailghost was frozen to the spot, his eyes scouring every ridge of his dead enemy's body. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, he crept forward. Half an inch, an inch... The fallen tabby stirred. It was a gradual shift which began with his twitching paws, then forelegs, until everything cracked into place and he stood. His eyes were blank and devoid of expression, fixed upon the gray warrior that was twice his size. "No..." Hailghost whispered hoarsely, his skin prickling with dread. "It can't be..." He fell silent, and for a long time, the fiery pelted tom and the rain hued cat stared at each other. Jaspersun moved forward on paws that made whispers, broken and worn. Then, he thrust back his head, farther than Hailghost would have thought anatomically possible, and screamed into the night. All of his rage and sadness and hatred and lust for revenge he poured into the throaty screech; it was the most terrible sound he had ever heard uttered.

Burning the ground, I break from the crowd

The cry continued on for what felt like minutes, and even when it faded, it echoed in every crevice, over every hill, against every pebble... Hailghost blinked, and the horrendous apparition was gone, vanquished by the waking world. He struggled to his paws, the icy talons of fear gripping his beating heart. They would think I am mad, but it seemed too real to be false... Shaking, he moved to his feet, and sat on his haunches, curling his tail around his paws. "Every action has consequence..." Murmured the pewter feline to himself, pondering as he looked up at the moon and wondered just how much time had passed since he'd left camp at pre-dusk.

And I'm hungry like the wolf...

WORD COUNT: 1276 TAGGED: Open NOTES: Woah, so, it got a little long. Don't feel the need to reply in kind. Anyway, it's not too late yet, not for some cat to be out hunting or patrolling. Could be unaffiliated, from Tempestclan, or from Celestialclan.