[♕] rise #300- ❝sedgefur❞

[aergia]

back to #300

ｆｏｒｍ

• Username: aergia
• Cat Name: sedgefur, formerly known as felix
• Clan: oceanclan
• Rank: deputy
• Gender: tom
• Age: 57 moons

ｂｏｏｋ ｓｕｍｍａｒｙ
word count;; 60

Felix was rescued by his brother from his humans and brought to live in the city with him. However, not all is looking up for him as his brother grows more and more power hungry and controlling. When he falls in love with an alleycat his entire world tips upside-down and he begins to question everything he thought was right.

[aergia]

ｐｒｏｌｏｇｕｅ
a new beginning
word count;; 301

A grey molly looked out over the ocean as the sun wobbled towards the horizon, storm clouds rolling in the distance. It would begin to rain soon and she needed to find shelter. She had been travelling for days, however long it took to get away from her past. Her paws ached and her body ached from the recent blood loss.

She would never return to the clans, to her home. It was gone. And so, she would build a new one.

The forest loomed over her as she abruptly came to a clearing, sheltered on all sides from the elements, filled with daisies. She could scent the sea breeze in the air, it somewhat ruined her nose for finding prey, but she knew with certainty that she would adapt in time. She huddled under a fallen tree, shrubbery growing around it as the rain began to fall.

Alone and isolated. She could not continue this way. She was a clan cat, through and through, she could do the impossible if it was the will of StarClan. But here she was, lonely and far, far away from her former home; never to return lest she be killed. The grey molly was fine with solitude, but it was not fit for a clan to consist of a single cat. She could not do this alone.

The ocean breeze was ever-present in the air, even after she had adjusted to it. OceanClan would come to life here, she could imagine generations of kits becoming strong warriors, ready to defend their clan. She could picture apprentices grumbling about their duties, elders scolding their misbehaviours as elders always do.

She pulled herself from the fallen trunk, the rain finally passing. Her long grey figure slinked away into the trees, in search of her new clanmates.

[aergia]

ｏｎｅ
felix and jet, brothers forever
word count;; 424

Felix ran as fast as he could, his pelt streaking past the human dens in a blur of brown. If he couldn’t catch his brother, he couldn’t do anything. The black cat in front of him seemed to be slowing down, soon Felix would catch him. Then, his brother suddenly stopped.

“I win!” he yelled, triumphantly dancing around Felix.

“Hey, no fair. I was just about to catch up.” Felix pouted. “You never play fair, Jet.”

“Life isn’t fair brother. And I told you to stop calling me that.” He responded. “Jet is dead; my name is Slash.”

Felix had always thought Jet, or rather Slash, had a flair for the dramatic but he daren’t say it to his face. Past experiences had taught him that this dramatic edge could quickly turn to violence and humiliation.

“Sorry Slash, you know me and my bad memory.” Felix joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Don’t think that just because we’re littermates I’ll let you off easy.” He said coldly, demeanour completely changing.

It was hard to look at Slash when he acted like this. Felix had grown up with him, known how friendly and caring he had been. They had been separated as kits, and when Slash rescued him from the humans, Felix noted that he had changed. Something deep down inside him had snapped in the time they had spent apart. Gone was the ever-laughing jokester, in his place was a power-hungry brute. But he was still his brother, and Felix was grateful he was even able to speak with him.

“Look Slash, I’m truly sorry. Let me make up for it by taking your midday guard tomorrow, I know you’d greatly prefer rounding up those pathetic housecats.” Felix felt his mouth twist as he swallowed the bitter lie. He would do anything for his brother.

“I’m in a merciful mood today, I’ll take you up on that deal.” Slash said. “But don’t let it happen again, especially in front of the others. You’re my brother, and I love you, but I won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done. Come, let’s get back to base.”

Felix let Slash take the lead on the way back, happy to stay out of his way until his mood pacified. His limbs still ached from what Slash had him doing the other night and he momentarily thought he had planned the race because of that before quickly denying it as thoughtless nonsense. Despite being harsh from the outside, Felix was certain that Slash still cared for him.

[aergia]

ｔｗｏ
fresh meat
word count;; 613

The base was in no way approachable unless you knew the exact method. Felix followed Slash as he zigzagged through sheets of metal and walls damaged long ago. Just between a large lump of concrete and the outside wall was a small hole, a broken window. Only the most daring of cats would jump down without needing to have Slash standing behind them menacingly.

Slash had just reached the hole when he stopped suddenly, similar to how he had during the race.

“After you.” He smiled, stepping to the side.

Felix knew better than to hesitate, he had a constant reminder on the back of his right leg. The hole gave way into a giant room, one of the only parts of the human den to survive the fire. There was a series of ledges leading up towards a door that many of the others perched on, Slash always at the top. In the corner he could see a group of cats cowering besides his fellow members of Slash’s gang. Most of the well-regarded cats in the gang were huge, foreboding creatures who scared even Felix occasionally.

“Hmm, what do we have here?” Slash said, walking up to the cowering cats. “Housecats by the smell of them. Been paying your dues?” he said, unsheathing a claw and slowly tracing it along the white molly’s face.

“No, Slash. We found them eating it all.” A large tabby tom said, turning to look at Slash. “Not very smart.” He mocked, hissing at the group.

“Well, you know what we do to food hoarders around here.” Slash paused. “But my dear brother here has taught me a lesson in mercifulness.”

Felix froze as he was beckoned forwards. The entire room of cats, too many to count, turned to look at him. A fluffy white tom licked his teeth as he walked by. A large ginger molly sniggered to the others besides her and brushed her tail against his face.

“Gather all, today my brother questioned my leadership and authority, believing me to be unfit to rule.” The lie fell from Slash’s mouth like blood from a wound.

The crowd hissed loudly and chanted words Felix would never dare to say out loud.

“But I showed him mercy. In return, I will give him the task of deciding the fate of these three betrayers.”

The crowd suddenly grew quiet, all eyes turned back to Felix. He could smell the fear dripping from the housecats as they looked at him too, but he knew what would happen if he displeased Slash a second time in the same day.

“They are young, all of them are smaller than the smallest of us by far.” Felix paused, thinking carefully about his next sentence. “But a young mind is an easily taught mind. Why kill a perfectly good fighter.” He took a deep breath. “They are like fresh meat, untainted from outside forces. They can become like us.”

Silence.

“A valid point, brother.” Slash began. “But we cannot feed more hungry mouths. Where has Throatcrusher gotten to?”

A piercing scream echoed through the room as one of the housecats dove at Slash, claws unsheathed and face furious. Slash didn’t flinch as he pinned her to the ground by the neck.

“This one can stay.” Slash smiled, leaning over the molly as she writhed beneath him. “Get rid of the rest. Brother, show this one around.”

The housecat was thrown towards Felix, her eyes wild and terrified as she looked up at him. Her fur was matted, but after a quick scan he could locate no blood.

“Follow me.” Felix said, turning to jump out of the room and into the night.

[aergia]

ｔｈｒｅｅ
initiation
word count;; 586

The night was welcoming, much more so than the base. The air was fresh, he could scent the sea breeze in the distance. He had only seen the ocean a few times before, and never in the daylight. It was a cold and hostile force, no cat dared near it.

“What will happen to Missy and Pancake?” the housecat asked.

“Slash will deal with them.” Felix replied.

“Deal with? What does that mean?”

“Stop asking questions you don’t want the answer to. You’ll find out when Slash thinks you are ready. Dopey housecat.” He turned to hiss at her. He didn’t much agree with his brothers method of ‘dealing’ with betrayers, but he was still his brother and he would not have him judged by this outsider.

The two walked in a perfect silence, only interrupted by the low hum of human activity in the distance. Felix had never been trusted with the initiation ceremony alone before, he was honoured to accept the privilege even if it happened like this.

“Where I we going?” the housecat asked. “Answer me, I don’t even know your name for tiger’s sake!”

“Felix.” He groaned, if only to shut her up.

“I’m Jade, and I’m not a housecat. I live in the alley behind Missy and Pancake’s house. If anything happens to them I’ll be–”

“You’ll be what? Angry? There’s nothing you can do, it’s useless to even think about trying. We’re here now anyway.”

The ocean breeze had steadily grown stronger and stronger as they neared FirstCliff.

“What are we doing here?”

“Me? I’m just here to supervise. You? You’re taking a small jump off a large cliff.” He said, bringing her to the edge. “Survive and you become one of us.”

“What if I don’t jump?” she looked at him daringly. He couldn’t tell if it was bravery or stupidity.

“I’ve got direct orders to make you. Even if I have to kill you to do it.” He felt himself echoing Slash’s exact words to him when he had first been rescued.

“No you wouldn’t. I can tell. You’re nothing like your brother. We’ve heard tales about your lot, terrorising the housecats and alleycats for food, leaving a violent trail behind. But there’s something different about you.” She paused.

Felix suddenly felt angry, angry at Jade, at himself, even at Slash. He ran at Jade before she had time to react and slammed into her body. He felt himself go weightless as they both crashed over the edge into the dark abyss below.

Cold. Cold. Freezing. He couldn’t think. His body twisted in the water, mouth flooding with salty water before he finally broke the surface. He coughed it out, his breath rasping as he struggled to inhale. The water was calm, and once he had broken the surface he could see Jade, the ginger patches in her pelt gleaming in the moonlight. She was struggling to stay afloat.

Without thinking, he dove over to her and began pulling her by the scruff of her neck. She was limp as he pulled her through the water, her body gliding over the soft waves. He pulled her out onto the sand, careful not to hurt her.

She didn’t stir.

He rolled her body sideways and suddenly she started coughing madly. He sat with her for what felt like half the night as she coughed up more and more water. She finally settled and turned to look at him.

“You are officially the worst cat I have ever met.”

[aergia]

ｆｏｕｒ
what happened to pancake??
word count;; 631

Felix didn’t speak to Jade for weeks after their first encounter. Slash had Crusher watching her as she continued to prove herself to the gang. She was impressive, despite her small size should could deal a decent amount of damage due to her speed and swiftness.

“You did well brother.” Slash said one day. “That Jade you picked out is exactly what the gang needs. The young are remarkably easy to train.”

“Thank you.” Felix replied, not wanting to say more. He had seen Jade in passing, she looked miserable as she was forced to do task upon task, labour upon labour; always working to prove herself.

Felix wasn’t so sure he had saved her anymore. Condemned seemed more accurate.

“Will you come on patrol with me tonight, brother? I want to show you something.” Slash phrased as a question but Felix knew it was a command.

“Of course Slash. I would be honoured.” He replied, hoping to get back in his good graces.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. And to think the others believe you weak! What a mistake of judgement they made.”

“Thank you, Slash.”

“Oh, and brother? Tell the new recruit to come too.”

And to think his day had been going so well.

Felix found Jade by the tin pile besides a group of older gang members, all of them laughing with one exception.

“Hey Jade.” He said meekly.

“What?” she hissed, backing away from him.

“Sorry, I, uh Slash wants you to go on patrol with him. With me. Yeah. Sorry.” He mumbled, horrified that his words would not come out normally.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Just make sure you’re at BrokenFire before nightfall.” Felix couldn’t manage to compose himself and his words came out wobbly again. Under different circumstances he would laugh.

Nightfall came quickly, Felix was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Jade. There was an awkward silence in the air as neither of them acknowledged the events that had transpired at their first meeting. It was expected that it would be hard to talk about almost killing someone and then saving their life the moment after.

Slash was late. The moon had risen when he finally arrived, smelling like death and smirking gleefully.

“Sorry, took longer than expected.”

Neither asked for clarification.

Felix had most of the patrol routes memorised, but this particular route was one he was least familiar with. They walked in a single-file line: Slash, followed by Felix, followed by Jade. They latter two were completely silent as they listened to the former speak.

“I know where we are.” Jade said suddenly, interrupting Slash’s spiel on ungrateful housecats.

“Of course you do. Despite being a gang member now, you’ll always remember home.” Slash said cryptically.

“Wait, where are Missy and Pancake? They’re always around.” Jade asked.

Felix could tell Jade was on the edge of some great emotion, whether it be rage, grief or fury.

“Missy is fine.” Slash said, gesturing to the human den. Inside was a sleek grey molly sitting by the window; Missy. She looked fine from a distance, but Felix had the sense to know that was untrue.

“What about Pancake?” Jade screamed. “Where is he? Oh he’s so young, he was Missy’s only surviving kit. Please tell me where he is.”

Slash didn’t speak. Felix looked at the other cat, not under the rose-tinted scent of brotherhood, for the first time in a long time. Slash was cruel, he manipulated others emotions for his own personal gain. He left a trail of blood and injuries everywhere he went. He claimed to do it for the good of the gang, the suffering of one over the starvation of them all. He was a God, he was a dictator, a leader.

A brother.

“Pancake couldn’t come home.”

[aergia]

ｆｉｖｅ
a moral dilemma
word count;; 619

To say that Felix was conflicted would be the greatest understatement of all time. He had seen Pancake once, weeks ago, a young ginger cat only just old enough to be away from his mother. Felix had barely paid attention at the time and his current self was frustrated with his former. Felix had to say something, anything, to make Jet see reason. They were brothers and one could not fail the other, he would not let Jet become a monster.

“Calm down both of you, I was only playing.” He laughed openly. “If you’d bothered opening your eyes you would have seen him just over there.” He gestured again to the human den. Felix could see a small ginger tabby asleep inside.

“You can’t joke about that sort of stuff!” Jade yelled suddenly. “It’s despicable. Cruel. Evil.”

Slash let out a low, sharp laugh. He didn’t stop, his menacing voice only increasing in volume.

“Slash, cut it out.” Felix said, hoping his voice didn’t waver. “It’s not funny.”

Slash didn’t stop laughing until he turned quickly and pounced on Felix. Felix jumped back rapidly, crashing into a wall behind him. Slash kept on coming, his laugh still echoing through the air. Felix refused to go on the offence, he would not attack his only remaining kin no matter the circumstance.

But he was bound to slip up eventually. Slash had him pinned to the ground the moment he saw an opportunity. As Felix felt his face crush into the cement, he tried to remember their childhood; when they would play fight and nobody was hurt.

“Remember when Mum first caught us trying to get into the fish bowl?” he forced out, face still smashed against the ground. “She was so angry, wouldn’t look at us for days. Said the humans would kick us out if we touched their fish.”

A weight lifted from his neck, but he was still pinned. “She told Dad and he went crazy with laughter. I can still remember the look on her face the moment he started laughing, she was so mad. And then a few days later the fish went missing, and Mum immediately blamed us. But, obviously, we knew it wasn’t.”

Felix felt the claws around his neck sheathe. “We tried to tell Mum it wasn’t us, but we weren’t to be trusted after she had caught us in the act once before.”

“Remember when the humans came home and found Dad eating them?” Slash quipped. “They started to laugh, we thought it was all fun and games.”

“And then we never saw Dad again.” Felix said. “It isn’t all fun and games Jet, this is serious.”

“No, it is. That scenario is wrong, it’s different here. We have no humans controlling us, dictating our every move. Can’t you see that brother? We’re free.” Slash replied, behaviour growing erratic as he finally let go of Felix and began pacing. He began to babble, all nonsense about freedom.

“At what cost?” Felix interrupted. “At what cost does this freedom come to?”

“Freedom doesn’t have a price.” Slash replied, energy gone. “Get out of my sight before I can’t control myself.” He paced back and forth. “LEAVE!” he bellowed, lunging for Felix.

Felix needed no further encouragement. Jade had already disappeared, a ginger and black speck in the distance, he was quick to follow her. He disappeared into the darkness, away from the crashing and clanging of Slash behind him.

He wondered if Slash had understood what he had said, about their parents. He had meant every word of it and he hoped it had sunk in. If Slash continued down his path of death and despair, there would be no coming back.

[aergia]

ｓｉｘ
lucky jade
word count;; 630

Jade had finally stopped sprinting, giving Felix enough time to catch up with her. She was almost as out of breath as he was, slumped over against a rock and gasping for air. They continued their trend of not speaking to each other for a while before Jade finally broke it.

“You’ve got guts, mousey. Didn’t think you had it in you.” She purred. “Although for one moment it did cross my mind that neither of us would make it out alive.”

“He wouldn’t do that he’s my–”

“Yes, yes. He’s your brother. I know.”

“He’s all I’ve got left.”

“I haven’t anyone left.” Jade replied, still purring against him. “Doesn’t bother me, don’t need no family. After seeing what you’re going through I’m glad I got no-one.”

Felix thought for a moment. “Isn’t it lonely?”

“Still got friends. Cat like me? Don’t need family to not be lonely. Don’t see why you do.”

“It’s different for me and Jet. I don’t know how to explain it to you, it just is. He rescued me from the humans one day, long after we’d been split up. He was different from when we were kittens together, something went wrong along the way and I’ve been hoping I can fix it.”

“Can’t fix what doesn’t know it’s broke.” She replied. “I seen the likes of him before, he can’t be saved.”

Felix was frustrated. How could he explain to Jade that Jet was different? The outlier to all the others? Words couldn’t explain his thoughts, but he couldn’t give up.

“Enough about your bloodthirsty brother for one night. Wanna go somewhere?” Jade asked before turning and racing in the opposite direction from which they were facing.

Having only just recovered from the last sprint, Felix was less than eager to run after her. But he did.

She led him through the forest, into an open clearing filled with daisies. The flowers would look beautiful in the daylight, but they looked magical during the night. She was a few tail lengths ahead of him now, bouncing from gap-to-gap in the daisies. He admired the effort she went to the not disrupt the flowers and he followed suit, even if it was more energy draining.

“How did you ever find this place?” Felix called out, laughing as Jade overbalanced and fell into the daisies she had been so careful to preserve.

“Just lucky, I guess.”

Felix knew the two of them had frolicked in the daisy field for too long when the sky began to turn grey. The daisies were practically glowing in the early morning light, giving a mystical feel to the whole area.

“We should be heading back.” Felix said. He hated to bring it up, but it was now or never.

“Back? Your deranged brother will kill us both.”

“No, he won’t. You’re a member now, as am I. Members are punished, not killed.” He said, wishing he wasn’t speaking from prior experience.

“Dunno about you, but I don’t fancy finding out what this ‘punishment’ is.” She bit back, challenging him to persuade her.

“It’s all for show most of the time, Slash has always been one for the dramatics. He’s just like that.”

“Well, he shouldn’t be. Ain’t right.” She stopped jumping through the daisies and turned to look at Felix. “I honestly don’t know how you can stand him.”

“He’s my brother.” He echoed the statement he so often found himself saying. “Family looks out for each other.”

“Well, I dunno about you, but family sucks.”

Felix wasn’t sure how to reply and stayed silent, enjoying the rapidly changing sky.

“Well, let’s head back if you insist. You better be right about him being all talk no action, cause it doesn’t seem like that to me.”

“I’m positive.”

a/n: title is an awful pun (felix means lucky)

[aergia]

ｓｅｖｅｎ
all's fair
word count;; 611

As expected, Slash punished them. But not for the reasons Felix had expected. They were punished for tardiness and let off with a warning. Slash mentioned nothing of their minor skirmish, and the others daren’t ask him how he was injured.

For the next few months Felix found himself spending all his free time with Jade, sometimes even at times when he was meant to be on lookout or patrol. He was able to recognise her tortoiseshell pelt from long distances in weak sunlight, he could scent her from opposite sides of the den, he felt as if he could feel her heartbeat from miles away.

What was going on with him?!

“Felix? What are you doing?”

“Oh, hey Jade.” He said casually, pretending he hadn’t been stalking her from behind the tin pile. “Just, um, looking for, er, mice?”

“Oh really?” she said, unimpressed. “In the tin pile?”

“Um yeah, Boulder said he saw one in there the other day.”

“You’re lucky you’re pretty.” She purred, rubbing her flank against him. The morning sun was reaching noon, soon the midday patrol would be leaving and the others would be asleep.

“As soon as they leave, follow me. But from a distance, okay?” Jade whispered into his ears before sprinting off.

Felix’s curiosity went through the roof. It felt like an age waiting for the others to leave or fall asleep, but soon he saw Jade slink away from the group, glancing back towards him. He waited a good few seconds before running after her, throwing caution to the wind.

More running, it seemed to be a recurring theme with the two of them.

“I told you to be subtle! You daft thing.” Jade mock scolded, bopping him on the nose with a sheathed paw.

Felix finally noticed his surroundings. All around him was a luscious forest, a small stream of water twisting around the tree trunks. The sunlight barely filtered through the trees, casting strangely shaped shadows across the forest floor.

“It’s beautiful.” Felix gasped. He could hear birdsong chittering through the branches. “What is this place?”

“I found it one day with my brother.”

Felix frowned. “I thought you didn’t have any family.”

“I don’t.” Jade let out a hollow laugh. “Your brother killed mine.”

Felix nearly swallowed his tongue. He stepped back from Jade, uncertain what to say.

“His name was Chestnut. My brother and yours were good friends, long before you came. Chestnut was always sweet, too sweet if you ask me. He spent so much time with Slash, before all this gang nonsense began.” Jade paused. “I knew Slash when he was still Jet, but he doesn’t even seem to remember me.”

A lone rabbit ran out from the bushes, startling both cats.

“They had a disagreement. Jet wanted to create a group of cats to rule over the land, but it was just an excuse to treat them like slaves. Chestnut tried to convince Jet out of this idea, tried to make him back into the cat he had been before. But it was useless. Jet took my brother out here, I followed from the distance. I was the only one to witness Jet’s surprise attack on Chestnut, but I was powerless to stop him. I froze.” Jade grew very sombre, her voice hitched in areas as she spoke. “He killed him Felix! And I didn’t do anything!” she yelled. “Why didn’t I save him? He was my only loved one left!”

Felix rushed to her side, purring rhythmically against her. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He repeated, over and over again into the molly’s soft fur.

“I love you, Jade.”

a/n: all's fair in love and war

[aergia]

ｅｉｇｈｔ
escape
word count;; 563

Felix had well and truly fallen for Jade. She was constantly in his mind; he couldn’t control himself. Never in his life had he experienced a love like this. If he thought he was paws-over-tail before, he had no idea what he was now.

“-on the patrol today, no, take Bonecrusher instead, and Jaeger too, now that I think of it. There’s some strays that need to learn their place.” Slash commanded, sitting at the top of the hideout.

Felix was perched besides Jade on the old human sofa. They were neatly tucked behind a group of larger cats, whispering eagerly to each other. Jade wanted to go out to the daisy field today, but Felix had lookout duties. Despite this, he knew he would give in to her deep green eyes eventually.

They were running through the daisy field by midday, Jade constantly stopping to scent the air.

“I love the ocean, think we could live out here?” Jade queried, purring loudly.

“Alone?”

“We’d have each other.”

“But what about the gang? My brother? Without me he’ll…” Felix was unsure how to continue. “He’ll be lost.”

“Can’t you see? I know you’re his brother and all, but I’ve come to understand him better these past few years. I’ve seen him change. Try all you want; you can’t fix that. And I don’t want to see you get hurt in the process.”

“We’d better be heading back soon.” Felix shut down the conversation.

The two padded back to the base slowly, enjoying every minute of the others company.

“We should run away together.” Jade said suddenly.

Felix felt his throat hitch. He wobbled out a meek “What?”

“I’m serious. We should leave. It’ll be difficult, but I know a few cats in the next town over and they say the journey isn’t too difficult.”

“But- but what about the others? We can’t just leave them.”

“We can and we will. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now.” She paused, looking around. “Just outside of town there’s a long black line that connects to the other town. Missy says if we follow it, within a few days we can get there.”

“What about food? Not sure about you, but I can’t go that long without eating at least something small.”

“I’ll hunt for the two of us, it won’t be much but it’ll do until we get there. Shh now, we’re almost back at base. Act how you normally would.”

The two then separated, going to rest at different sections at the camp. It was not a moment too soon before Slash returned with his patrol from the same direction they had arrived. Felix shuffled in his pretend sleep, hoping he would not be found out. The patrol walked right past him without saying anything, Felix let out a deep breath as soon as they left.

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous, but he was also looking forward to spending all his time with Jade without the threat of his brother looming over them. He loved Slash, he truly did, but his love for Jade was greater; he would do anything for her.

If he was to run away, it would be done properly or not at all. He would leave no trail; it would be as if he had simply disappeared. He would never see Slash again.