The Five Giants

004 - Phoenix's "Curse"

Phoenix lowered her ears. She didn't think this cat lived in her territory. In fact, she knew he didn't live in her territory. She instinctively growled lowly and lunged at him, her body passing through his. He let out a small gasp, shocked by the sudden movement that went right through him. Phoenix landed on her chest and began to whimper, wincing in pain. "I couldn't." She whispered.

"I can't possess your body all the time."

"Possess?" Phoenix echoed and he nodded.

"I'm a ghost. A fairly friendly one. My name is The Hawk Of Loose Feathers, but just call me Hawk. I'm here to guide you and help you." His voice was calming and relaxed as he brushed her head with a paw. "I want to help you."

"W-Why?" She asked, narrowing her eyes."

"You're cursed."

Phoenix looked at him puzzled. Cursed? What does that mean?

"Phoenix!" Crow's body dispersed, evaporated even, in an instant. Behind her, Flint appeared. His tail swayed from side to side as he saw her. He moved towards her slowly. "I thought I heard something." He said. "Who were you talking to?"

Phoenix shrugged. "A cat."

"That's strange. I don't smell any fresh scent of a foreign cat or any gangs. We should go, it's time to go."

Phoenix couldn't help but stare at him. His lips and yellow-tinted teeth were blood-stained. His dark grey-tinted dirt brown pelt looked shaken and messy. She felt a bit nervous seeing him like that. She felt as if he was dangerous.

He ushered her forward with the tip of his nose and they trodded back to their main territory. Cats stared at her cautiously and bowed their heads respectfully. They didn't look nervous or hostile but more careful and weary around her. It was almost as if they saw her as royalty, their fur bristling.

Phoenix padded towards Snowy and bowed to him. "Hey Snowy," she meowed, watching the tom groom his pelt. "I'm sorry for what I did-"

He cut her off with his long tail and shook his head. "No, I'm sorry." His yellow gaze met her amber eyes with pity. His tone was deep and full of sorrow. He looked down at the finch that he had half eaten. "I should have controlled myself, yet I let my carnivore instincts get the best of me. You were only trying to save your mother, it's your instinct. You don't know how to control it yet. Now, I lost three lives. I'm only on my second. Stupid instincts."

Phoenix lowered her ears. "Instinct? What do you mean by instinct?"

"We all have instincts. It doesn't matter if you're a cat, dog, tiger, mouse or bird. You have an instinct and for us, when something we love is in danger, the instinct to kill is turned on. When you starve, the instinct to fight becomes a part of you. Sometimes you let your instincts take control."

Phoenix noticed that his body tense, his fur bristling with anger as his eyes turned to slits. His claws were dug into the bird as he held back the instinct to attack the young molly. He needed to hurt something though. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply as an attempt to calm himself down. Shame was covered in his pheromones as he lowered his head and hid his face into his paws. He signalled for her to leave using his tail and she padded away.

Phoenix walked over to her injured mother. She nudged her softly and the queen looked up to her, then batted her tail at the kitten dismissively. Phoenix sighed softly. She turned her head to see the kittens playing and purred gently. As she ran towards them, they glanced at her and stopped. They shuffled awkwardly, looking down at the kitten. Heather stepped forward, stopping Phoenix in her tracks.

"Go away!" She growled. Phoenix felt taken aback. "We don't like you! You're small and you're weak! We don't play with the devil."

Silver nodded. "I agree. Who would attack Snowy? That's so disrespectful, you cursed cat!"

Phoenix's eyes widened. She looked at the kittens, her old 'friends' and not one of them looked pleased. She looked at Angel, who looked guiltily away. Phoenix held back tears and shook her head.

"Fine!" Phoenix yelled out. "I'll go! I never wanted to be your friend anyway!"

She padded off towards a tree and sat underneath it, staring into space blankly. The voice came back to her, cold and harsh.

"You're cursed. It's all a curse."