"What could you possibly-" He trailed off. A giant silver burr was clinging onto Lizard's back. No, Bing told himself, it's that silver tabby. The small silver cat lay panting, clinging on to her back with both her claws and teeth. With her tiny claws pricking through Lizard's skin blood was welling up quickly. Bing thought he saw that hateful gray tom in the shadows. He did see him! He nodded at Bing coldly. Then he disappeared back into the shadows of dead birches and gray vines crawling around hollow trees and creatures last.....
Bing shook himself. The giant cat had intended to get his attention, a distraction from Lizard, it had worked. But now, Bing thought to himself, I am going to chase away this wretched cat with some scratches she's going to remember. With a yowl, Bing hooked the cat off Lizard with his claws. Lizard yowled as the little cat ripped out fur. She thrashed around in Bings grip and Bing nearly lost her, but Lizard joined and held on with a steel grip.
"What." Lizard spat, "Could. You. Possibly. Want."
"Hmm, let me think," The silver cat hissed and Bing started in surprise. He had not expected the small cat to have such a cold, even, chill voice. The silver cat pretended to think and then said in her even voice. "What could I possibly want from you? Oh yes of course maybe your food. Oh and maybe your little precious supply of water and oh, Haven't I made it clear, this little camp belongs to me and my partner now?"
"Not clear enough," Bing spat and made certain his claws dug deeper into the tabby's skin. He was surprised to see how much hate shone in Lizards normally kind gaze. It was as if the hatred in her heart had crept into her eyes and shone out into the world. He didn't understand, hadn't all Lizard do was fight, and beat, her? He found himself shying away from her ferocity.
The silver cat didn't even wince when Bing's claws pricked deep enough to draw blood. Did losing blood mean nothing to her? Did her life mean nothing to her?
"Listen," The cat said in a smooth voice. "Join us, train with us, and you will be able to beat every cat in the forest. You will be able to kill every cat in your way and take all their food. If they can't fight you they deserve to die. When we train, we shed blood. Bloodshed will mean nothing to you anymore. You will be invincible."
Bing stared at the little cat in horror. His fur prickled so hard it felt painful. Without realizing, his ears had folded against his head in horror from the cat's speech.
"In return," The cat added, "You must give us access to your camp and your source of water and one quarter of your food.
"You will kill us before we even start to train. I know how deep your hate runs between our kin." Lizard hissed and spit a fur ball from her mouth. The cat swiped it away from her nose with a well-placed paw, almost if she had trained for that.
"What if I did kill you?" the cat added with a purr. "It would feel wonderful. But I won't."
"Right," Lizard hissed, "Alaster, you are mistaken with who you joined."
"Anyone but you." The silver cat, Alaster growled.
Bing stared at Lizard, and then Alaster. Their talk was so confusing. The smaller cat was switching from saying join us to I hate you.
"Gray Dawn was the only cat that would partner with me, because of my size."
The little cat paused to crane her neck at her small body with disgust.
Suddenly, Bing felt a burning pain of claws tearing into his skin. He turned around to fight and so did Lizard. The partners slashed their attacker back with equal ferocity. They both saw who it was, the gray tom, Gray Dawn. He took off running, which was odd, because he was such a good fighter, and there was something clamped in his jaws....
"See you later beasts," Alaster hooted and took off running. Right next to her partner. Lizard stared after them dismayed then padded over to Bing.
"You all right?" Lizard asked as she sniffed Bings scratch. Bing lashed his tail and felt the first stirrings of true anger. And maybe some fear too.
"The forest is dying and dangerous cats are rising, oh what are we going to do? They took our prey too, we are doomed," Bing cried. "What do you have against that cat anyway, I don't think I can take the suspense anymore." Bing added more slowly. His whiskers quivered from everything that had happened in the few days since the horrible enemies had started stealing their food and the skirmish between them. Lizard had her eyes closed and her tail had started thrashing at the speed of light behind her.

"I should have told you this a long time ago," Lizard murmured thoughtfully. She lifted her elegant head and stared into Bing's eyes. Bing flicked his tail under her chin affectionately.

"What did you want to tell me?" he asked.

"Me and that cat's families have been enemies for a long time. When I was just a kitten, my mother told me how a long time ago, they offered us to join them fighting and learning to kill mercilessly. Naturally, we refused. My ancestors shouted at them and there was a huge battle because both our families were huge. Their side won, naturally, because they trained to fight for many years. Our family hid away, I was the first one to come out of hiding." Lizard became uncharacteristically silent. She trained her gaze on a small beetle that was slowly crawling up a brittle stem. She wouldn't look at Bing, who was feeling astonished at the moment, if anything else.

At last, Bing got over his surprise. "You were very brave," Bing comforted her. He gently ran a tail over her bright orange drooped shoulders.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Lizard said gloomily. She swept her tail over the stem and it cracked, the beetle scattering away. Lizard flicked her tail at it but didn't give chase. She kicked a few of the dry leaves away. When she looked up again, there was a new desperate light in her eyes. "Please don't leave me," she gasped.

Bing looked at her pelt, giving off a faint glow. He stared at her eyes, reflecting the light like the moon, but unexpectedly deep and wise. He took in her slender frame and her short temper in his mind. He imagined life without her, how lonely that would be. He also remembered the moonlight setting her pelt on fire, and her ferocity for what she believed was right. Her sharp tongue and confident gaze that made him feel as if even if everyone else in the world hated him, she would always be right there, always giving him an amused look as she gently licked his shoulder. He remembered one morning they had slept on the open prairie. He had woken up to see his partner standing on a rock that overlooked a gorge that plunged straight down. Her pelt had been bushed up, her chest puffed out proudly. Her gaze surveyed a view that went on for miles in all directions. The rising sun lit her orange pelt until it seemed be on fire, a beautiful, blazing fire that had made Bing's eyes widen as he watched her proud gaze survey the land as if it was hers. No, how could she even suggest that he would leave her? Bing straightened. He looked the fidgeting Lizard in the eye.

"Lizard," he lifted his head and watched her. "How do you think I would abandon you? You are my best friend, and maybe more. You are my entire life. I would be nothing without you. How can you even suggest that?" Bing shook his head and ran his tail over her shoulders. Lizard stared at him.

"Are you sure," she asked. "I could put you in danger."

Bing brushed against her cheek affectionately. "I would risk my life to be with you." He purred.

Lizard blinked, startled. "You would?" she asked, taking a step back.

"I would," Bing whispered.

"Go to sleep," Lizard muttered. She needed time to think. "I've had enough sleep and you've been awake all night." Bing nodded and groomed himself quickly, before he curled up inside the cave and tucked his tail over his nose, the warmth comforting. The sun was just starting to rise, casting a bright, pinkish glow over everything, illuminating the dewdrops that suddenly sparkled on the leaves. The sun sent blinding light through the forest, waking the morning birds. The few birds left that is. The forest used to be much more alive with birdsong. The forest was dying.