For several days, Cerberus had quietly monitored the group of cats that had entered the territory of the five clans, carefully gathering information from a safe distance. From his hidden vantage point, he observed their makeshift camp, noting the layout, the number of cats, and their interactions with one another. He studied their habits and routines, piecing together the puzzle of who they were and what they wanted as their distant voices offered snippets of conversation.
“The Immortal Ones”, they called themselves. Cerberus's lips curled into a smirk. Immortality. What a load of nonsense.
As he watched, it became very clear who led them as they seemed to defer to one tom in particular: a large, sleek-furred feline with piercing blue eyes. They parted for him like water, bowing their heads as he passed, and when he spoke, all ears were turned his way, hanging onto his every word. They called him Alaric, and they clung to the belief that drinking his blood would grant them strength and longevity. Cerberus's lips curl into a sneer. How easily they were swayed by pretty words and empty promises. He knew better than to trust in such things. Yet, he couldn’t deny the flicker of envy at the power Alaric held over them. Still, he continued to observe from the shadows, taking in every detail.
The camp was bustling with activity, cats coming and going as he waited for the right moment to make an appearance. Joining their ranks, even if motivated by boredom, sounded like it could be entertaining. From what he had gathered, they intended to disrupt the delicate balance among the clans, inciting chaos and conflict. Eager to be at the heart of any potential upheaval, he’d made a plan to infiltrate their ranks, not just to satiate his boredom, but to potentially play a role in the unfolding drama. It was a risk, of course, but then again, when had that ever stopped him before? … And what could be more exciting than infiltrating a group of supposed immortals?
Emerging from his hiding spot, several heads turned to stare at the apprentice-aged tom, some with their fur bristling and teeth bared, poised to defend their camp. Amongst them was Kaelan, who had already made his way over, his steps slow and purposeful. With a sweep of his tail, he silenced the murmurs around him. "Speak," he ordered, stopping mere breaths away from Cerberus, his voice a low, menacing sound that echoed in the stillness. "And choose your words carefully; they may be the thread upon which your fate hangs." Calculating eyes locked onto Cerberus, delivering a quiet threat that any misstep would be met with swift retribution.
Fighting back a scoff, Cerberus took a deep breath, forcing his expression to soften. “My name is Cerberus, and I was just passing through when I caught scent of your group— and food,” he told him, adopting a soft, casual tone, “I didn’t mean to intrude.” Cerberus shifted his weight, making a show of looking at the ground modestly, as if the scrutiny of the others was overwhelming for him.
Kaelan studied him with an inscrutable expression, as if deep in thought. Cerberus could almost see the gears turning in the leader's mind, weighing the risks of accepting him into their group against the possible advantages. His deep blue eyes flicked over the young tom, noting that nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but his senses could feel that something was amiss. Deciding to disregard it for now, he nodded slightly and replied, "Very well. We do not turn away those who seek to join us. But know this—trust is earned, not given freely. Prove yourself worthy, and you may find your place among us."
With that, Kaelan walked away, subtly flicking his tail to signal a nearby guard to supervise and monitor the young tom’s every move.
Cerberus
Noting the subtle gesture to the guard, he groaned inwardly. Great, just what he needed. A babysitter. As much as it annoyed him, he couldn't blame them. If he were in their position, he'd do the same. Still, it was irritating.
His gaze flicked from Kaelan's retreating form to the scarred she-cat that now bounded towards him, and he did his best not to flinch at her appearance. Her fur was singed, the pinkish skin beneath showing through in patches. The scars that crisscrossed her face were particularly severe, pulling at the corners of her mouth and distorting her features into a permanent sneer. The wounds looked old, long since healed, but the red welts marring her fur were still raw and angry-looking. Despite the damage, however, there was a lively energy about her, a spark that shone through in her bright eyes and quick, unhindered movements. He forced himself to meet her eyes, a polite smile tugging at his lips as he tilted his head in feigned confusion. "Immortals? That's an...interesting name for your group,” he replied, making a conscious effort not to let his eyes wander. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened, curiosity piqued by the story behind such visible wounds.
At the sound of Lirael’s voice, however, his ears perked up, his gaze flicking to the small cat. He'd seen her around before, always trailing after her father like a shadow. From what he'd gathered, she was Kaelan's daughter, and the two seemed close. Her icy gaze reminded him of his mother’s— sharp and calculating as she looked him over. He could practically feel the distrust radiating off of her in waves, and he couldn't blame her. He was an outsider, after all, and she had no reason to trust him.
"Thank you," he inclining his head towards her in acknowledgment, watching as she walked off to speak to her father. A small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. She was a pretty little thing, despite her prickly attitude.
Shrugging that interaction off, he turned his attention back to Spark, his expression softening slightly. “Not very friendly, is she?” he chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension before resuming the conversation where they left off. "So, prey isn't on the menu, hm?" he repeated what she’d said earlier, acting surprised even though he knew she was only trying to ‘startle the newcomer’. They didn't drink blood regularly; while they believed drinking blood granted them immortality, they didn't indulge in it every day. It was only used to initiate new members once they had proven their worth and on special occasions. "Then what do you eat?" he tilted his head, studying her with a curious expression as he fought back a smirk, "And, while we’re at it, what's your name?"
Kaelan
Leader of The Immortals
Kaelan's eyes narrowed slightly at his daughter's question, a flicker of irritation crossing his features, his jaw tightening for a fraction of a second. If Lirael didn’t happen to be his child, his favoritechild at that, he would have dealt with her insubordination in a far more severe manner. Instead, he turned to face her, his expression softening into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Lirael," he began, his voice eerily calm and patient, yet there was an underlying edge to it, a silent warning, "I am well aware of my responsibilities and the potential risks involved. I have led this group for many years, and have not reached this position by being careless,” he explained in a gentle, almost patronizing tone, as if speaking to a child who had asked a silly question.
Gaze boring into hers, he chuckled softly, the sound chilling and devoid of warmth as he regarded her with an amused expression. "Though, if you truly doubt my judgment so much,” he began, a smirk playing on his lips that revealed sharp, glistening canines, “Then perhaps you should take it upon yourself to learn more about our guest, and report back to me if you find anything of note."Though, even as he invited her to do her own investigating, he was confident that she’d find nothing to report back with. It was a simple means to distract her and keep her from pestering him further. With that, he turned away from her, dismissing her with a wave of his tail. He had more important matters to attend to.
A small gray shape bounded forward from the throng of cats who’d come forward to investigate. A fierce grin stretched the horrific scarring that bridged between her face and upper extremities. Other burns adorned her forepaws in varying stages of healing, many well on their way to permanency. She moved swiftly however, completely undeterred by any of this, her amber eyes shining like live embers.
“Oh boy, fresh meat. Sooo, what brought you to the immortals? Funny word isn’t it? Im-mortal.” She chortled, losing focus even as she spoke.
“You said you’re hungry? Y'know, prey isn’t really what’s on the menu here.” She winked.