Fycoren

yk just two powerful immortal creatures made by humans for a grand purpose they ultimately cannot fulfill which leads to them being imprisoned for a prolonged period of time

until a villain goes out of their way to release them and they try enacting revenge but end up being defeated and trapped a second time for a way shorter period until freed again

and also they've got a found family consisting of a fancy cunning spy w/ bat wings & a red chaotic one with a knack for explosives

they're the dark reflection "opposite side of the same coin" to a hero... yeah

- “HillClan honors your resilience and determination, I grant you your warrior name, Shadowquill!”

It's been four sunrises since his warrior ceremony, since Blazestar made him a full warrior of HillClan.

During Shadowquill's first moon with the clan he'd spent most of his time in the medicine den, just an outsider they'd found at the crash site of his carrier.

Batfrost & Duskcrush were the warriors who'd found him. Luckily, aside from hitting his head on the way down the hill, he'd survived with only bruises.

At least it'd given him a chance to adjust to being around so many cats all of a sudden, he truthfully can't recall ever seeing so many, he'd been the only cat with his housefolk, not the only pet, though.

After some time under Bigfur's care, as Blazestar learnt he had nowhere to go he was offered the opportunity to train to become a warrior and join HillClan.

The she-cat who'd found him, Batfrost, was named his mentor. Duskcrush had been there too, but from Shadowquill's understanding he was also a relatively freshly made warrior, who'd also been mentored by Batfrost.

He found himself hanging around those two quite a lot.

It'd only taken a couple moons under Batfrost's apprenticeship, as, unlike clanborn apprentices, Shadowquill was fully grown and didn't have too much trouble adjusting with clear and direct instructions. And he was very dedicated once he put his mind to it.

However, his head injury had still left an effect, at least he believes that to be the reason why Shadowquill can't stand sunlight for long periods of time. He's thankful for Batfrost suggesting they focus on training at night.

Eventually that extended to their warrior duties; now, the three of them, Batfrost, Duskcrush and Shadowquill, would spend their days resting and nights hunting and checking borders. As was the case tonight.

-

Shadowquill padded up a patch where the ground was more stone than grass, his nose up as he scented the air for prey. His patrol finished the border checking portion of their little trek in the night, but Shadowquill preferred coming back to camp with something tangible to prove he wasn't trying to be difficult by avoiding day patrols. He's doing his part, providing for the clan.

He was glad Batfrost and Duskcrush seemed to understand this sentiment and the group had agreed to hunt and meet back up by the dip in the riverbank before sunrise.

Batfrost got to go to the woods, Duskcrush was likely on his way to the lower plains, and Shadowquill stepped up to the moors. 

  These decisions were largely tactical, Batfrost is a fine hunter, she wouldn't have issues if it was leaf-bare and snow covered every inch of the territory, but for now she'd need more cover than the rest if she didn't want to be extra quiet. Shadowquill knew she was well capable of it, but she'd rather work smarter, not harder, as she'd taught him.

Shadowquill was confident he'd be fast enough to catch something on the moors tonight, some unlucky rabbit's bound to be around, especially since it's so hot during the day…

He was quite pleased to find himself carrying a plump rabbit in no time at all. It'd been distracted just long enough for Shadowquill to have snuck over its hole, ensuring he was blocking the one escape route he couldn't have followed. Then it was just a matter of speed and confidence, a good grip and a good bite, and the rabbit was done for.

Before he could head back down though, a different scent caught Shadowquill's nose. Fresh, very fresh, or he wouldn't smell it at all past the rabbit. He places the fresh-kill down to try and catch the trail again. It was a cat, certainly, but past his kill Shadowquill couldn't recognize who, aside from knowing it wasn't Batfrost nor Duskcrush.

Taking the moment to hide his kill with some dirt - glad he was still on the soft moors and not the rocky hill that'd lead down towards camp. Shadowquill's ear flicked, the scent was definitely not coming from the camp's direction. It's familiar, at least, so he knew it would likely end up being a HillClan cat.

But who'd be out this late? Shadowquill directed his gaze to the moon, he'd understood Bigfur would usually go to the Mooncrystal every half-moon, but the moon was way past that, it'd be full in a couple more nights.

Narrowing his eyes, Shadowquill began tracking the scent.

-

“...Swiftwind?” Shadowquill reacted in surprise when he came across the silver-blue tom, laying about on the far side of the moor.

Swiftwind hopped to his paws in an instant, “Shadowquill! Heyy, buddy, long time no see.”

Shadowquill narrowed his sharp gaze, he guessed the statement wasn't entirely false; Shadowquill was able to avoid interacting with most of HillClan ever since Blazestar officially approved Batfrost's night patrol idea.

Nevertheless, the tom ahead of him was acting suspicious.

“What are you up to?”

“Oh, just out on a run.” Swiftwind explained, stretching out his limbs and back before straightening up again.

“...In the middle of the night?” Shadowquill pressed, just for the other warrior to shrug, “You're out here too,”

“I'm on patrol.” Shadowquill retorted with an irritated flick of his tail, he'd forgotten just how annoying Swiftwind was to deal with, “Why are you here?”

“I'm, out, on, a, run,” Swiftwind repeated, putting emphasis on each word.

“I don't see you running.” The darker cat pointed out, unamused.

“Yeah, I reached the border, I wasn't gonna cross it,” 

Something about the way Swiftwind said it made Shadowquill suspect something was going on even more, but he had nothing to base it off of, no proof. He'd found Swiftwind by the border, not over it, and any scent he could pick up wasn't helpful either.

“We're you planning on heading back anytime soon?” Shadowquill asked then, it didn't seem like the other was in much of a hurry to leave.

“Were you?” Swiftwind asked in return, Shadowquill's ears flick back, frustrated by this tom, “I'd hoped to catch some more prey but I doubt I'll find any now.”

“Great! So you can race me back.” Swiftwind padded over to an increasingly bewildered Shadowquill, “What? Why?”

“‘Cause I'm curious! I'm obviously the fastest cat in HillClan but I haven't seen your speed yet, you might surprise me!”

Shadowquill huffed, what a moronic reason to waste energy. Yet the thought of proving Swiftwind wrong was enticing, even if logic reminded him the other warrior was named and honoured for his speed, did Shadowquill really think he could match that?

Yes, he did.

“Fine. But I'm picking the finish line.”

“Don't you want it to be the camp?” Swiftwind tilted his head and Shadowquill shook his, flicking his tail back in a vague gesture when he spoke.

“I have prey at the opposite edge of the moor, right before the rocky slope. That's our finish line.”

“Ohh, right, okay, that makes sense.” Swiftwind nodded, “Deal.”

The two had soon settled themselves as close to the border as Shadowquill was comfortable being, as far away from their finish line on the opposite side, so that this race wouldn't just be a quick sprint.

“Ready?” Swiftwind asked with a certain focus just under his usual irritatingly energetic tone, it made Shadowquill focus all the more. He's confident in his own speed, he knows he's quick, he doesn't flaunt it around though.

“Ready.”

“Okay, we go on three.” After an affirming nod from the black and red cat, Swiftwind started counting.

“One…” The two cats lowered themselves down, ready to take off. “Two…” Shadowquill could feel the grass against his belly, the tension in his hind legs, the wind in his fur. He wouldn't admit it - he still thought it's a waste of energy they could've spent hunting or training - but he was almost… excited.

“Three!”

Paws bounded across the moor as the two cats sprung into motion, Shadowquill could immediately tell Swiftwind's name was fitting, but it didn't deter him one bit, it only reminded him to not hold back. 

They were neck and neck almost constantly, one of them would push ahead for only a heartbeat before the other had made up the distance. Shadowquill could feel the energy bursting in his paws and fur, his pads nearly ached as the finish line drew closer and closer.

Still, in the last moments, Swiftwind's paws hit past his fresh-kill first.

Damn it. 

 Shadowquill shook out his fur, turning away to their finish line so he could uncover his earlier catch. Except when he turned and saw Swiftwind again, the silver-blue tom was wide eyed, staring at the tortoiseshell.

“...What?” Shadowquill asked past rabbit fur.

“You almost beat me.” Swiftwind stated, Shadowquill couldn't figure out what his tone meant, was he pissed? About to gloat?

“Yes, but you won,” Shadowquill grumbled back, starting to head down the rocky slope.

“We have to race again,” Swiftwind quickly caught up to step next to him. He must've noticed the way Shadowquill's tail was flicking in annoyance again, as he continued before letting the other respond.

“Not tonight! Just… some other time.”

The dark tom didn't bother responding.

-

Swiftwind trailed after Shadowquill in uncharacteristic silence, the tortoiseshell decided to just enjoy it while it'd last and led the way down and toward the river.

“Aren't we going to camp?”

“I'm meeting up with my patrol, you can go on ahead.” Shadowquill explained. The first hints of sunrise were slowly creeping up the horizon, Duskcrush and Batfrost would be here soon, like they'd agreed.

But Swiftwind apparently didn't want to go, he joined Shadowquill and sat by the sandy bank, deeper in thought than the darker cat has ever seen him.

“You're my rival now.” Just as Shadowquill began to relax in the silence, that idiot had to open his mouth.

“Are you a kit? I'm not going to entertain you on this.” Shadowquill responded with a hiss.

“Come on- just think of it as training partners!” Swiftwind insisted, an infuriating smile on his face. “Since when was training a waste of time? We could spar next time!”

Shadowquill sent a glare Swiftwind's way. The silver blue tom now grinned, like he'd already won. Unfortunately, Shadowquill knew this argument was going nowhere and Swiftwind was going to bother him about it forever- annoyingly persistent.

He supposed getting the chance to beat the other tom into the ground didn't sound half bad.