Catalyst: The Cold War, Chapter 1

Year 2522 March 22:  Hollow, Grave Brotherton Border  

Explosion occurred in the background showing smoke brewing over in a mountain side wasteland...below the canyons revealed shadows that loomed around, revealing cats lying dead across the ground. A set of them leaped around in armor, showing the insignia of the Mizube army which is in the shape of a sea serpent. Their faces were covered and it was hard to tell which was gender or color, in the darkness their light armor made them plate in midnight blue.  

The sky has turned black from all the fires and thinning the air, "Captian" one of them whispered as they pointed over at the edge of the canyon showing a set of shadow casting and normal guards jumping down. Everyone stayed low, the one in the front lashed his tail to command his team to stand down. Each of them stayed down on all fours and controlled their breathing.

Shadow casters can be among some of the most dangerous fecilians at night, and these guys are from their own territory. Making it only the worst, the leader looking over with dark blue eyes focused at the four Hollow soldiers. Each wielding a particular weapon... one of them had a Bliznet Slesher. A claws extension that can flip out and lash at an opponent straight on.

The captain Winced as one of the guards eyes his way out here, "Hey!" one fo the shadow casters yelled at him as the dark Grey cat looked back , his long ears down. "Were going this way, I smell to many bodies... they could have placed some traps" he said quietly.  

"Hmm...alright, hey Marty what do you think happened to the second division" he leaps up on the rock and follows with the group. The one who yelled out showing a shoulder blade with a type of ranking on it, this must mean he is the highest ranker. But at this moment my team isn't looking for a fight. A time to lay low for a minute would be a treasure more.  

Not to mention we have been running for 2 days straight with no breaks, "hold your positions for a few minutes more" The captain called, always giving that assurance that the group was long gone and the camper was empty. His tail rose and lashed forwards seeing th group rush out from the shadows and over to the middle ground. Giving off a light from a wild fire that was set off not too long ago.  

The Captain removed his helmet, revealing thick blue fur, a scar across his forehead, a slight mane grown under his chin and white back hair. The other raised their helmets, showing one of them is a woman.  

They were all tired, some of them are staggering and panting from the constant running, "Sigh* alright at the control point, Bella...(pant) Over here" he called over a young light brown she-cat with light blue eyes and a fresh cut on the side of her neck. "So were is the entrance point from here" He called to her as she ears raised up. She shook her head to wake up a bit and crane her neck towards a paper that was strapped on her side. Pulling it out and unraveling it show a a map of the entire hollow. It was scribbled and burnt, showing locations and destruction off the landscape.    "W..We are at the Gravity Sanctum, the entry point should be over their were the fire is" she huff, her ears drooping, forcing herself to stay up.  

"Okay..." his tail rose back up, "Gray, Fenore, get rid of those fires and break the tunnel, Stanley, Bella take point" they all nodded without question. Their survival actually lasted this long with their leader.  

"Giah I was tired of this!" Fenore ripped off his helmet, showing red and orance fur with a cut on his eyes, fresh and bleeding, "those fucking bastards are going to pay for what they did to my eye!" he panted and stood on two, raising out his claws and looking at the flames, "alright im going to weaken them, you throw dirt on top got it?" Grey Nodded, from a closer look his throat was bleeding out forom his armor, but dirt laid upon his coat.  

Fenore thrust his paws up and lashed back down creating a line of magic to control the flames, he is a Fire user who was born in Forge. He took his education in Mizube and live his childhood their for the last 3 cycles, equivalent to 21 years.  

Grey stepped in and claws up dirt, easily dying the fires out, Then his armor collapsed and grew a bit in sized, "ggrrrrr....rrraaaw!" he lifted a large paw and smashed it in the ground and breaking down to create a secret pathway, and in a pinch his body shrunk back and heaved. Giving a couple of cough, the last one throwing up blood.    "Grey!" Fenore dashe over and helped him up standing on two legs, "come on Grey...Hey! Hey! Fucker keep- your eyes- Open!!" he hissed at him as his eyes fluttered. "Looks here you want to see ashley again, hey listen to me Grey" he focus back on him as they walked near to the door, "yeah thats it, I did not go this far to loose anyone else. Ashely is waiting back at home in Mizube, your daughter is probably at home sitting patiently for her date to come back" he continued walking off as Bella looks at him with worry.  

But the Captain didn't respond to the problem, he kept his priorities, "Stanley, charge the entrance Bella make a course plan for our next move for the night" he said coldly.  

Stanley looks back with unease, then shook his head as he placed a few charges and  ran back. Everyone covered their ears as the charges erupted and closed off the entrance.

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Moments have passed and everyone took off their armor, Grey was laid flat on the ground shaking from blood lost, Fenore stood in the background with his tail between his legs, "oh fuck..." he whimpered as Bella looks over at his wound and trying to fix them. But with her bad half burnt she could only ration the supplies.  

The Captain walks up to him and places a paw over his shoulder, "it wasn't your fault-"  

"Of course it was!!" he yelled out standing on two legs, "You think im trying to feel better, I should have died out their! I was the one who messed up and now...and now...Great Catalyst im a damn idiot!" his paws inflamed and punched the rocky wall. his eyes in tears, "I should have been more quiet... we wouldn't be in such conditions...I wouldn't have lost my eye and Grey..."

"Hey!!" The captain lashed him against his face and with both paws rammed him against the wall, "you can moap all you want or cry about what is goign on now. But if you even want to survive any longer, then I suggest you man up and finish the mission!" Fenore looks squarely at him, his one eyes with a dry stream of tears.  

He coughed, "get off" he pushes him off, "I understand sir...he did this for the mission and I am here to finish it" Fenore walks up to Bella.  

Bella looks back, her eyes tired from the lack of 3 days no sleep, "Fenore...ill have to put it to ya straight-"  

"I already know, just give me a moment" he walks up to his best friend seeing the large gash mark around his neck that held together with his earth ability, "Hey Grey whats going on man..." he said shakingly as Grey's eyes met his.  

He couldnt talk but his jaw kept moving...from the shape of them he was trying to say Ashley, "yeah I know...ill tell her..." and a thought came to his mind when he knows that Ashley would become an orphan. "And I will take care of her if I get out of this" he promised. "Grey...Oh man I wish it was me...I- im so sorry I-" Grey lifted his claws and placed them over his chest were his heart is. Then he places it over his, "I got ya....I got ya" he was in a lot of pain and his entire body shook like his bones were crushed. Earth users are suppose to be among the toughest being to take down. you can break their bone and it could always be supported by their own earth.  

He pulled a Wrist gun from his armor and aimed it at his head, "Rest in peace Grey" Bella walks away and faints on the rocks as the flames goes out, creating a loud spark of flames. From times of war, life always felt so expendable, for others I wish never to see.