Talon’s words lashed at Cole’s core like an icy whip. He could barely believe what he was hearing. Why are you…? “This is the lowest point of his life. What would cause him more pain, Black Blood? To end his suffering now?” He said quietly, “Or to live and watch everything he loves be destroyed?” Black Blood gazed at her brother for a long time. The wind whistled mourningly, low and soft now. Cole waited with abated breath from where he lay. Talon waited also, standing helplessly in the rain. Then… the claws digging into Cole’s chest and throat drew back. He gasped quietly, sucking on air gratefully. Yet he lay still. He didn’t move. He couldn’t move. “To live is to feel pain. You’re right, Eagle Talon.” Black Blood murmured. “Let him live. He will soon watch his friends be destroyed in front of him, and he will wish it had ended here.” She leaned forward, so that her whiskers brushed against his face. Cole wanted to grimace against the rank stench coming from his sister’s breath, but his face hurt too much. “You may think I’ve done you a favor today, Son of Earth, but you will soon find that the Departed Realm is the only blessing left for you. Remember this: our shared blood means nothing to me. You mean nothing to me. You are only another human who will inevitably fall still beneath my claws. Pray and make peace with your ancestors, because it won’t be long before you and everyone you love will be walking among them in the stars.” Lying pathetically in the mud, Cole used what little bit of strength he had left to whisper, “It doesn’t change the fact that I’m your brother.” Black Blood’s eyes blazed. “I curse blood we share!” She shifted into her human figure and stood up. Her dark clothes and long hair were just as soaked as her fur was. The girl sneered down at him contemptuously. “You’re no brother of mine.” She turned and started to walk away—then stopped. “One more thing.”
In a flash of speed, she whirled around and slashed Eagle Talon across the face. He jumped back with a yowl. Three long, thin scratches ran down horizontally from his forehead to one cheek, one cutting across his nose. He blinked the streak of red out of his eyes and stared at Black Blood wordlessly. “That’s for defying me,” she spat. “Don’t ever do it again.” She turned and continued walking away. Eagle Talon looked after her a moment, then turned to follow. “Talon,” Cole rasped his name, raising his head by an inch. His brother stopped. He looked over his shoulder and gazed down at Cole. In those eyes, Cole saw something tearing apart inside. “Please…” he croaked. Talon held his gaze for a moment longer before turning his back on him. He followed Black Blood. The two of them walked away and disappeared beyond the grassy field. They left their human brother there, lying broken in the mud and rain. Thunder growled gently in the distance. The werecats were gone. Cole laid his head back in the mud. His entire body screamed with pain, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about the mud coating his face and sticking to his hair and clothes. He didn’t care about the rain dripping into his eyes, blinding him. He didn’t care about the wounds oozing down his face and his body. He didn’t care anymore. He lay there for a long time. The sky darkened further as night approached. The raindrops became softer, now kissing his face gently instead of lashing at it. It did nothing to soothe the pain—both inside and out. He closed his eyes. “Cole!” Was that a voice? Calling his name? Dimly, he recalled the owner of that voice. Liana… “Cole!” He didn’t answer. He didn’t care. What good would it do? Just leave me here... Other voices joined in, calling his name, from far away. Misako. Little Leaf. Dad? He opened his mouth, readying to attempt a reply… then closed it. He ignored the cries calling for him.
Nothing mattered anymore. Let them find him. He didn’t care. He just wanted to slip away from consciousness, to for once escape this pain and suffering. He didn’t care if he was passing away. The Departed Realm seemed very appealing. I’m sorry. I tried. Everything began to fade. As Cole’s consciousness slipped away, he was aware again of Liana’s voice, sobbing desperately into the wind and rain. “Cole…!”
“Hurry,” Cole pressed. “Hey, it’s not always easy, not being able to see,” Liana snapped. Behind him, she grasped blindly at the rungs of the rusty ladder they were climbing. “You try climbing up a two-story building with your eyes closed and see how fast you want to go.” The friends clambered atop a building that gave them a sweeping view of the entire village. Cole pulled himself up the ladder and balanced delicately on the tiles of the sloping roof, then crouched to help Liana up. “Why are we doing this again?” she grumbled. She didn’t like feeling helpless, and struggling up a ladder onto a rooftop like a clumsy newborn colt definitely made her feel helpless. Cole gripped her hand as she stood up. “It’ll be faster this way.” They clambered up to the very top of the roof, where they could stand on the main beam without much trouble. He scanned the town. To his right, he could see smoke billowing from where the second attack party had struck. He hoped Lloyd, Jay, and Nya had been able to sort it out. The entrance to the village was far behind them. Cole looked ahead, where the back entrance led out to the farmers’ fields. In the distance, he could catch sight of people fleeing through the streets. “OK.” Liana shivered and inhaled slowly. “How far do I have to jump?” “Jump?” “Aren’t we jumping from roof to roof?” Cole felt himself grin slightly. “I thought Airjitzu would be easier.” Liana blinked. “But— I don’t know Airjitzu.” “I know. I’ll carry you over.” She scowled. “Like I’m a sack of potatoes, great. Are you sure it wouldn’t be easier to just run?” “Yup.” She sighed. There wasn’t any time to argue. They had to get to the south entrance as soon as possible, in case there was a Moon Tribe attack party striking there. She held up her hands in a gesture of defeat. “Whatever.” “Grab on.” Hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around Cole’s neck while he scooped her up into his arms. Despite the circumstances, he found himself blushing. It felt nice and weird at the same time. He shook his head and tried to gather his thoughts. “Ready?”
***** Mrs. Ling squinted through her glasses and remarked, “My, what a large cat! I do believe that poor thing’s owners feed it too much, oh, yes. Too much.” She shook her head ruefully. ****
Mr. Brookstone gulped and met Black Blood’s gaze. He tried not to shy away from those eyes, those eyes that were so much like his own… “I— I never abandoned you!” He stammered, “Silver Mist left by her own choice. I wanted her to stay, but she—” “Like I care, you wretched Son of No One!” Black Blood snapped. “You ruined our lives. You made us fight for everything. We had more to prove to everyone, that we were just as good as you. It’s your fault. It’s all your fault.” Mr. Brookstone couldn’t speak. There were no words to reply to this, anyway. After a moment longer, her expression changed: her glare turned into a grin—a long, horrible grin. Smoothly, she removed two weapons from the leather belt wrapped around her waist: one was a stout, steel butterfly sword. The other was a glass-like katana. She gripped the weapons and held them up, aiming the very tips in the human’s direction. Lou felt his heart drop. “Now,” Black Blood said. “I’m going to right the wrongs you committed. Your mistake has finally caught up with you, Lou Brookstone.” The words had barely left her mouth when the werecat lunged herself at her father. Both blades looked like twin silver streaks shooting for Lou’s face and throat. “No!” The cobblestones before Black Blood convulsed. Dark earth formed from the ground beneath the street, shot out like a giant fist, and smashed into the werecat queen. Black Blood flew back. Both the butterfly knife and the sword clattered to the ground as she tumbled and rolled on the street. She quickly recovered on her feet and hands, balancing herself on all fours. She regained her bearings and glared down the alley. Cole leapt down from the building above and landed in front of his father. In one movement he yanked out his sword. “Stay away from my dad,” he growled darkly. Black Blood blinked, as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Your dad…?” Cole tried to breathe steadily. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears. “My dad. Your dad. Our dad.” He met her gaze. “We’re related, Black Blood. You’re my half-sister.” Black Blood stared at him, looking almost confused. Then her face whitened dramatically.
*snip* “Grab on.” Hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around Cole’s neck while he scooped her up into his arms. Despite the circumstances, he found himself blushing. It felt nice and weird at the same time. He shook his head and tried to gather his thoughts. “Ready?”
Yes, ship scene.
I've just been pouring 'em out like Gatorade on a football coach.
**** Brother One: his test comes from his roots, his earth. Cole fought to take vengeance for his friends, who had been hurt by the Moon Tribe. This was his challenge, to face the offspring that came from his family roots: Black Blood and Eagle Talon. Brother Two: between two worlds, mangled trust. Eagle Talon was torn between protecting his sister and his half-brother. He was a half-breed, stuck between two worlds: the world of humans, where his brother Cole fought alongside the ninja, and the world of werecats, where he had grown up with his sisters in the Moon Tribe. Little Leaf’s story of Black Blood’s attempted murder had left him inwardly questioning his leader, wondering if she was really what she made herself out to be to the tribe. The ninjas’ deception concerning the moonstones left him wary of them yet. Talon’s trust in the people he knew was indeed mangled.
Sister Only: a broken, scattered heart that bleeds. There was something broken in Black Blood. Whatever it was, it hurt, and she took out her pain on the world and her own family. The hate in her heart leaked so much that it poisoned the Moon Tribe and hurt the ninja and their friends. She made herself look strong, but all that she did only made her more broken than ever. As bizarre as it was at the time she uttered it, Kohuru’s prophecy was indeed coming true. It came true as the children of Lou Brookstone threw themselves at one another in a terrible struggle. Two of them were mothered by Silver Mist, warrior of the werecat Tribe of the Moon. The third was mothered by Arianna, the former Master of Earth. Their relation was obvious in their matching dark, coal-black hair and green eyes that all blazed with anger.
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