[Aquarius]

@Constellation
Sorry if it's not long enough, I can add more if needed <3

//

Aquarius found herself stalking through the territory, the slight wind bushing up her fur, but some of it might have just been pure spite - today had not been the best day. Being a Hunter, and going out late in the morning, usually didn't end well if she wasn't able to avoid Fighters. Just thinking about it made the she-cats lip curl into a snarl, and she was just about to growl when a scent wafted past her nose.

Today the leaves were beginning to change shades, as many cats had noticed. Deep crimson, like blood, or dark amber, like the color of Aquarius's eyes. Normally changes in nature was something that didn't catch her eye, but something seemed to be different this autumn. Though the day was slightly chilly, the sun was out from behind the trees, and the mottled cat barely felt any cold through the thick fur of her pelt.

Her eyes flashed with glee as she held her muzzle to the ground, opening her mouth slightly to taste for scents. Her paws were dripping as she slowly pressed forward, since she had walked in a shallow stream so none of the Fighters would follow her - hopefully.

Not like she cared anymore, right?

Carefully the smell of a thrush tickled her nose and she raised her head, narrowing her eyes as she looked around and followed the trail. Her pawsteps dead silent, she stalked forward, lowering her haunches to the ground. In a swift leap, she found herself on top of it, and dispatched it quickly. Her fangs drove into it's neck and she snarled triumphantly at the kill, raising her head with the limp carcass hanging in her jaws. She looked around warily, hoping no other Hunters - or Fighters - would come along. Quite frankly, she liked having the territory herself. It was more peaceful.

She had not always been a cold cat. Suddenly thoughts of her mother and father rushed through her mind, remembering how they had reprimanded her - no, her father had outright left - after she had tried to help her friend climb up the wall in their den. Before Aquarius had known how cruel life could be, and how that was the only way to survive, she spent her time lending a paw. She had a friend once, and tried to help, but doing so only got her in trouble.

And soon after, her friend died climbing that rock.

Pushing these dark thoughts out of her mind, Aquarius shook her head and looked around once more, before trotting forward, feeling like victory was at her heels. Feeling slightly tired, she stopped at a nearby stream, setting down the prey and lapping at the ripples, relishing the feeling of the gelid liquid. She swallowed, hoping it wouldn't be evident that she had stopped.
"Stupid Fighters," she growled to herself, her gray pelt on end as the chill began to set in for the day. Her ear flicked as she curled her tail more tightly around herself, but bent down to drink more. Her muzzle dripped as she turned her head to look at where she came from, her amber gaze turning as dark as the honey-colored leaves that fell to the ground. So peaceful, without a care in the world, drifting down as if they affected nothing. And they did affect nothing, Aquarius realized - they grew, they colored, then the fell and died. Much like the life cycle of a cat, she thought to herself, smirking silently. Soon, everyone that had ever hurt her would pay for it - including the cats that were the enemy of the Syndicate.

"When I rise in rank, everyone that ever tormented me will be shaking in their pelts, like mere kits," said Aquarius with amusement, placing a paw protectively over the thrush she had just captured, as if it were gold and no one could ever take it from her. "They'll be begging for mercy. Pathetic Fighters who think their so great," she grumbled, picking up the thrush, blood flowing slightly into her jaws. She looked down in surprise and saw a small puddle of scarlet drops on the ground, scowling. It hadn't been a clean kill like she had thought.

Ignoring it, she padded on, blood dripping from the body of the bird as she went. She mostly assumed she was going to make it back to camp safely without interference, and she smirked, thinking how she had hidden her tracks so well.

Little did she know, water did next to nothing for the scent of Syndicate cats.