Because he was tired, and because she was out, Catalyst fell to his stomach and released tension with a sigh. He had all but forgotten about the past, it was becoming easier to do so with time passing, but one so painful as his could hardly be ignored for long. It resurfaced in moments with Kalia, in breaths he took that sent shivers up his spine, and in dreams.

He almost hated to shut his eyes sometimes, especially when he knew he would have a nightmare...like this one:

*warning*: Written about two years ago...

Its the thing he dreads most, the honesty that lies beneath.


Day met dusk, the hour his reign fell. The night was pale and fog stricken. The hour-glass could not be turned at this moment. There were scouts, black as night prowling the lands, allowing his cluttered mind to rest. His eyes flicked though, constantly, for in himself, he was afraid. There was, a feeling as one would say. A tragic thought that bugged him throughout the days. There was a rock, situated in the center of it all. A large, silver boulder that found itself being used quite often. Catalyst loped his way up the rock, plopping down just as he reached the top and gazed out into the abyss. The nightly, frigid air brought chills to course his spine, his hackles bristling with anxiety. But there is more to this story, more of which must be told in order for all to be known.

A brisk morning started the day for the pack of Oomaha. The leader, Catalyst, awoke first, for excitement rumbled through his hide. That day was the day he himself would travel across the border to Mooksha, a fellow alpha who proposed an alliance with Oomaha. He had been awaiting this moment for quite some time, though he wasn't sure why other then Mooksha was a powerful leader, who ruled over a greater portion of land then even Catalyst himself. Mooksha, much like Catalyst though, was kind and cared deeply for his pack and would do nothing to harm the bond between himself, his pack members, or the packs he's found friendship with. The large, earthy male neither bothered to awake his young follower, Kikiloo, for it was far to early to do so. Instead, he embarked on his journey the moment he rose off the dusty ground, leaving his mate and two pups behind.
The walk to Mooksha was not far, merely a few hours it took to get there, and by that time the sun was lifted high in the sky and his pack must've been awake and out hunting, for orders were given the day before. Catalyst arrived during Mooksha's pack gathering. They were indeed waiting his arrival. 'Catalyst, old friend how've you been? We've been expecting you.' Mook greeted Catalyst with a friendly glance and a stomp of his paws. This was a ritual the two friends had, rather then affectionately rubbing necks like the two Alpha femme's did when coming upon one another. Mooksha's mate, Eliquine, approached Catalyst and brushed her head against his own, a sure sign of greeting. 'Welcome Catalyst, once again. Mooksha has done nothing but speak of your arrival.' Catalyst merely nodded, smiling graciously and looked past the female to the Alpha. Mook's fur was slick black, with green flecks about his muzzle, like freckles. His eyes were yellow, which contradicted with the dark patterns of the rest of his body. Mooksha was much larger then Catalyst, possibly the largest thing he'd seen in all his life. His shoulders were broad and his build was fit and sturdy. Defiantly what one would suspect in an alpha. As he approached Catalyst, his pack seated themselves and watched as the two disappeared into the thick tree-line. It was also routine for the males to speak in private when discussing important matters. Catalyst, being the upfront male between the two, started:
'Mooksha, we've been friends far to long and yet, our packs have yet to meet face to face.' Mooksha gave Catalyst a nod, before taking a comfortable seat on his haunches, this meant they'd found their meeting grounds. 'I agree humbly Catalyst, what do you suppose we ought do?' His voice was also much louder and deeper then Catalyst's, and sometimes gave Catalyst the frights, causing him to flick his ears back when the male spoke. 'Join forces. That way, if an attack is made by an opposing pack, we shall have a large amount of wolves to help us prevail. And an alliance would give us more power.' 'I do love power' Joked Mooksha, before continuing 'and I agree. I too believe this would increase our strength in both battle and over all establishment of dominance and power.' He grinned slightly, his fur bristling with sheer bliss. Catalyst too grinned, his lips spreading from ear to ear. 'Then its settled?' This didn't take as long as he presumed, but it didn't matter much. What was done, now was done. 'Yes. I suppose it is.' Mooksha nodded, he was surely glad it didn't take longer then he hoped. Standing, the two trailed, back. The pack was awaiting their return patiently and was astonished when the two arrived quicker then all suspected. Mook's mate stepped forth, her ears flicking forwards. 'So is it done?' Mooksha nodded, and Catalyst smiled. 'I should return to my pack, they shall be needing me.' And with a quick goodbye, the male was back on route to returning. And as he arrived back to his own lands, he found them all departed on the hunt, still. Only the omega's and his mate, Kandra, were left. 'Kandra, are they still away?'
Kandra's look of fear bewildered him. For her face was frozen, as were the Omega's surrounding her.
'Kandra, what is the matter.' The female shook herself briefly, her eyes glistening with fear. 'Oh, Catalyst you've returned! There is dreadful news I must warn you of.' By this time, night had fallen on the lands, and the fear that sparked Lyst's mate worried him. 'A Shaman has come to your lands, he's told us of a traitor. He's given us descriptions and then name, but I don't wish to tell.' she looked away, her ears flicking back against her skull and her tail pressing against her underbelly. 'Tell me Kandra, tell me what this Shaman has forewarned us of.' the male roared, anger raging through his being. Kandra quivered, her eyes sparkling now with the distict look of sheer terror.
'Its Mooksha. The shaman has told us he has planned to send a member of his pack to lead the humans here. He's going to slaughter us using the two-legged Lyst!' the female was now lifted onto all fours, her ears flicking and her lips peeling. The two pups were packed deep within the den, fear stricken. Catalyst's eyes widened as the female spoke, he didn't belive her words. 'You lie, Kandra you lie. I just came from Mook's lands, he was not bitter or showed signs of betrayal. Our alliance is official! He wouldn't break that.' The male was now hollering at the top of his lungs, and as he squabbled with Kandra, the pack returned with a hefty meal. Catalyst, outraged, stopped away, leaving the pack to feast while he pondered on such thoughts.
A few hours later, the male returned to the den site, finding all asleep. Two scouts, both black and both mates, sauntered left and right about the lands, spotting catalyst, the two approached and spoke softly. 'Lord.' they whispered, and Catalyst merely nodded. To upset to approve of their dedication. He quickly assembled himself aloft his throne, the rock, and plopped down onto his belly.
Why would such dreadful words be spoken from Kandra? Why would she lie to him...
But his thoughts were cut short by a sudden crunching. It continued on, getting louder and louder and faster and faster till suddenly, through the tree line, a male wolf flew past the area of which Catalyst's pack rest.

The male jumped to his feet, his jaw's alive and his eyes wide. The two scouts scattered, chasing down the beast who had fled while Catalyst stand alone with his followers. He glanced around, then lifted his nose to the skies. An unfamiliar scent filtered through his nostrils, and confused the male. For a good moment, he tested the air, taking in the drifting scent of humans, who he believed was just because the winds blew strong in his direction, but soon did he find out he was wrong. Quickly, there came a sound, as if a string had been pulled tightly and something had bounced off it, and just before his muzzle flew an arrow, which was targeted at him. He flinched, leaping back and snarling like mad. His ears flicked against his skull and his tail straightened behind his hind. He let out a series of barks before hearing an cry sound out from behind him. Peering back, he saw the arrow head lodged deep within the chest of Kandra. The male gasped, and approached her quickly, his nose shoveled about the females fur for a moment before another bustle of sound was heard. Soon, his site was surrounded by screaming humans, who ran in to the pack area with fierce looks of bravery. His pack awoke with a startle, and quickly began to attack. He himself began moving about the humans, tearing each he passed limb from limb, neither bothering to lick his maw dry or finish up what he started. His hind legs worked quickly, thrusting him off the ground and at the humans with brute force. Slamming each to the ground. Blood was splattered and cries could be heard for miles. The male let out a low, mocking growl before finding all the humans fleeing. Hours had gone by now, and all that stood was the male, Catalyst, covered in red, murky liquid. His jaws were parted still, his lips peeled and his saliva working. His pelt was soaked, dripping onto the earth causing an immense puddle to form. His body shook, his mind was filled with nothing. His heart raced. He turned his head quickly, hearing nothing coming from the den. His body sank, his brutal look disappearing. His ears were now flicked with worry and his tail was hung low. He approached the dark hole, and looked inside. There, lay Kandra, her pelt flecked with blood. He whined, constantly for hours, thinking nothing more but of his mate. She was gone, her life taken before him. He dodged her death, taking her life which was supposed to be his. He pushed against his mate, pressing himself into the den and shutting out all fragments of life from the outside. His pack was mutilated, his life was disorientated and now his love was gone. He had nothing. He felt around for his young, he listened hard for their utter cries for help, and attention. He looked, searching long hours for the pups in the small den, but found nothing. Nothing. He crawled helplessly out of the den, and looked around at the devastation. There were parts he'd never seen before, and other he had once known just an hour before. He groaned, his body feeling weak and woozy. He gave the area one last look, before tilting his head and howling into the frosted air. His breath frothing from his maw. He then ran, his body forcing ever muscle to move without stop. He couldn't stop, not even if he wanted. The thought of running for ever seemed fitting at this point and he thought of nothing else but.

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Meanwhile, Mooksha sat at the top of a cliff, looking on to the destruction. His eyes were narrowed and his teeth bared in mid-grin. His tail curled about his body, resting near his thigh as he watched. 'You've done well...' he spoke softly, not bothering to look back at the pitiful creature who fell upon his plan. 'Catalyst's land is now mine. I've run my friend dry, he shall no longer be welcomed into this land. He's been destroyed' He grinned, and allowed a long, and low laugh to rumble through his throat. He'd won. Yes, he'd won.