[Flashback] That Fateful Day (Thylia-Zaphyr)

[Tristan Nathaniel]

5th of Autumn, 511 AV The wildcat's dark, gold fur rippled across his body as he sniffed the smell of fear coming from his prey. He crept silently on his padded paws held himself close to the ground with his muscular legs. The small rabbit cowered in the clearing before him as he stalked it with ease. It was so much more fun this way but he new he had to move faster. The trees around him rustled faintly in the wind and the shadowed grass around him masked his presence from the little creature. He glanced up at the sun above himself and noted the time, he was running late. He snarled his discontent and shot one last look at his prey before padding off in the direction he was headed. The birds in the trees around him teased him from their perches but he ignored them with casual arrogance. He knew he was superior, he was proud. He sunk his paws deep into the moss cover soil with each stride and wondered what his old friend had called him so deep into the Wildlands for. He could have at least sent some prior warning but no he just sent Tristan traipsing off into the woods. His tail flicked showing one more physical sign of his annoyance and his face which looked to be permanently carved into a snarl all growled. All the while Tristan was so completely lost in his thoughts that failed to notice the young newcomer that seemed to be following him from a distance.

[Thylia-Zaphyr]

A black feline body threaded through the trees at a fast pace, Thylia had to work hard to keep up with the older more built cat. She tried staying as quiet as possible but in her clumsy kitten's form it was almost impossible to avoid stepping on a stick or two. She bumbled nearly falling flat on her face several times before she quickly regained her balance. She knew the scent of the jaguar in front of her but had been to young to remember seeing his face. She followed his smell and pricked up her ears as a cry came from the distance ahead of them. She knew who it was, Amaya, her twin sister who unlike her had never shifted and been human while she was a kelvic. They were the same age but while Thylia was bubbly and lively Amaya had always been weak and sickly, but even though she couldn't leave the house. her sister had always been the nicest person she knew. Thylia reacted to the sound by instantly forcing herself into a sprint in the direction of the noise, abandoning all attempts at stealth as she ran to her sister's aid. An opening in the trees appeared ahead of her and she led loose a loud growl as she burst into the sunlight that showed she was near her home den. The sight that greeted her was gruesome with her sister standing over the blood-covered body of their mother. Thylia's eyes widened and she glanced at Amaya with a confused expression but no matter how much time seemed to pass her mother stayed still, her dingo kelvic form lying splayed on the ground with her throat cut open.

[Tristan Nathaniel]

Tristan glanced around and pricked up his ears as he finally focused on his surroundings. There was a distinct sound of snapping twigs and he whipped his head around as he saw the cat-like animal that had been following him. Who could that be? He thought unconcerned by such a small being, it couldn't be that dangerous. His eyes widened suddenly as he heard a scream and his long muzzled follower streaked off in the direction he had been headed. He watched with a frown on his face as she dashed passed him and he gave pursuit running on his powerful muscles as he stayed within sight of the little cat but far enough behind that he didn't get in the way. He saw something through the trees and glimpsed a speck of red. He knew that color, he had seen it so many times before but never in the way he had then. The smell hit him first, then the sight, even to his eyes it was nastily done, blood lay scattered everywhere the throat of a female he had once known well had been torn open savagely. He let out a growl of disbelief before stepping out of the cover of the trees. That's when he noticed the young girl who gazed down at them with her mouth open in shock, he also saw the cat animal that he now knew to be a civet and ignored it as an ordinary animal who lived in the forest. The young girl who had first caught his attention raised her fist and ran screaming at him, the metal of a knife sparkled in her hand as she dived at him. It took him an instant to make the connection of what had just taken place, this girl, who looked so innocent, was a murderer. He dodged trying to stay out of the way and tried not to fight back. He glanced around quickly and felt the blade slice his shoulder and he roared in pain. Powered by fear and adrenaline, he leaped at his attacker and shoved her to the ground and before he knew it he was ripping into her stomach. He shifted into his human form in complete disgrace and shock as he saw what he had done. The girl did not move again.

[Thylia-Zaphyr]

Thylia had come to a stop after she had first sighted her sister and hadn't noticed that she had been followed by the very being she had been stalking minutes before. Now she stood frozen in disbelief not wanting to know the truth of what had just happened but it was screaming at her throught the very fibre of her being. A shiver rippled through her brown speckled fur and her paws dug into the soft soil beneath her pads.

When a black jaguar leaped at the person she had called her sister she didn't move, except to shift into human form but she couldn't do anything. She was helpless. Even if she joined the fight she knew she would never stand a chance against the larger cat that attacked Amaya. Her eyes widened a soundless cry grasped at her tanned lips. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the blade in her sisters hand and she knew what had happened but didn't want to believe it, it couldn't be true. There had to be some explanation and as Amaya fell lifeless to the ground Thylia saw the truth. She saw the jealously and anger in her twin siblings eyes and she filled herself with hatred, hatred for herself and her world. Her sister had been so kind, why had she done this.

She glanced up and saw the human face of the man who had done this and it all became to much.

'I hate you!' She screamed with as much feeling as she could muster. The mans face was now imprinted in her find and she threw herself at him trying to do something. Hurt him? Kill him maybe, but there was no strength behind the tackle because of her grief.