Our new enemy is introduced in a scene bleeding with brutality and devoid of the typical light hearted humor or biting sarcasm you'll usually get from a Catrina piece, but they say one of the marks of a talented writer is to be the master of emotions.

This piece has a deadly serious feel to it, and drives the storyline in an unexpected direction. Not to spoil too much for you, but it's quite the read.

The action is the thing here, but it's rewarding to get more insight into the way the feline mind works, as well as their system of honor, which is something that's going to play it's part in this mission and missions yet to come. Trust me on that one!

Things get tense below.. you're warned.

Catrina bounded down the mountain, having left the path entirely, following closely behind the scent of this new Feline. She had understood Osbron’s directives, but could see that he did not understand the Feline ethic. For as his directives stood to her 1) she would report back to him everything she found out, providing she did not get killed, and 2) The fact that it was two of her own kind that did this, that one of them she KNEW to be a danger to the Kingdom made it so that she was honor bound, even as deep as the Goddess herself, to put an end to this now!

Catrina nodded to herself as His scent trail merged with this new one’s. Obviously they were together. Although many would feel such a development would make a confrontation more difficult, Catrina knew that unless this new Feline had no honor at all, he would step aside and allow the two of them to settle their differences once and for all. Once that was settled, the second, weaker Feline would fall in line with the victor…whoever that was.

Catrina stopped for a moment, considering the trail. The two Feline trails split here, with Him continuing on down the hill while the other veered off deeper into the brush. Catrina nodded as she came to a decision; She would follow Him, hopefully catching him and dealing with him long before she had to face the other. .

She broke into a clearing, and was surprised when she found that the other Feline was there already! Obviously he had looped off and, perhaps, used the main trail to get to this point more secretively, to trap her. He was tall. Tall and muscular- almost as muscular as Him- his black hair was tied back with a leather thong, much like Catrina used to bind her own hair His fur was orange in color- with black stripe in a tiger pattern. His green eyes gazed scornfully at her, as if waiting, testing her to see if she would remember. And suddenly she did, a smile lighting her face as her heart leapt for joy. <CATTARAS!> She leapt forward in her joy, only to be brought up short by his warning growl to her. <B-brother? Why do you growl at me- your own sister!?>

<Sister…yes Catrina, you were my sister- until you welcomed the Slavers to our door with more than open arms!> Catrina reared back as if struck, her hackles raising as she gave a small growl of her own. <That’s not fair! There was no way for us, for the Elders to know that they were Slavers!>

Cattaras was in her face, his fangs clear to be seen, clearly showing hostility towards her. <I should kill you where you stand for what you brought upon us, but my Master has strict orders for your safe delivery.> He chuckled. <Not that you will be feeling that safe once we meet up.> He turned his back on her, showing that he did not care if she attacked him or not, and Catrina could well believe he wanted her to. He walked to the edge of the clearing, where Catrina had first seen him, before speaking again. <Because my Master is so keen on me delivering you to him unharmed, I have been forced to take certain…creative measures to insure that you will come quietly.> with this he reached into the bushes- and pulled out a body by its long ears.

<FEEENA! What have you done to her, you monster!?> He must have looped back and taken her while she hunted! Catrina roared in pain and rage as she saw the body, and would have attacked Cattaras if she had not held herself back. If she was not dead yet any move Catrina made against him was certain to cause him to kill her- if only out of spite for her.

He smiled at his deed. Catrina could see that Feena was at least breathing, her priestly robes were in tatters and although it was hard to tell body damage through the fur, Catrina knew that it had to have been enough to cause her to lose consciousness. She paid close attention to his next words; as she made a silent vow to the Goddess that, someday, she would make him pay for every mark on the poor bunny’s body. <Nothing- yet. Although it was a bit rough catching her. She is not much of a fighter, true- but her spirit was difficult to overcome. Now, bitch, what have you to say for yourself?>

Catrina hung her head. He had her- and he knew it. <All…all right. I’ll go with you. Quietly. Just…let her go, please…?>

Cattaras smiled, and Catrina could swear she heard him purr in his victory. <There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?> He tossed Feena’s limp body before her, causing Catrina to cry out in anguish, kneeling to check the body over, to make sure there were no critical wounds. He knew he no longer needed it, Catrina had given her word. And the word of one Feline to another was bond.

Catrina felt the collar as it was slipped around her neck and stiffened, but caught herself before she attacked him. This is part of the deal; she said to herself, this is but one more indignity to gut him for, later. She felt the leash being snapped on, and a pressure telling her to stand. She did, whispering to Feena- although she had little hope of her hearing the message. “Go, little one! Find Dash! Tell him what happened!”

Cattaras smiled as he led her from the clearing. <Now I will take you to meet the Master. I’m sure finding out who he is will be quite a surprise to you!> They left the clearing, and silence prevailed for a few moments- only to be rent by a Feline roar of surprise, disgust and vile hatred, quickly cut off.

Subtitled: "A menace from an unexpected direction"