EBC: Broken Connection

Broken Connection
Rp with CCDooMo 
Zhar of Ice Empires

Jasper of The Hunters

Word count: 2232
4 for word count + 5 for RP + 6 for the pic = 15 EP for Zhar and 9 EP for Jasper

It's an unusually chilly day in Ice Empire. Sure the seasons are beginning to show signs of change, with leaves changing colors and dropping around you, but winter is a good ways off still...right?
Maybe it is because you have spent most of your life in the comfort of a home with a roaring fire during this time, but one thing is for sure, you better find a way to grow some thicker fur, cause tonight might just bring an early frost.
Ice Empire has been busy hunting while game is still active, and today there was a nice bull elk caught with team effort. Laughing and talking, the empire cats work to drag the creature back to camp to celebrate.

Zhar's fur was longer then ir ever had been, he was fluffed out against the cold weather. It was only fall, but his body had reacted like it was winter due to the ice cold wind. He had been with his friend Tsar they separated from the main hunting group to catch birds. But as Zhar was stalking one bird, he looked back to find Tsar gone. He must have gone out a little farther out then he meant to. "Tsar?" He called out for the hybrid with no response, "Guess I'm still getting use to the whole hunting thing..." He muttered to himself walking through the forest.

A cold breeze blows rustling the leaves of the trees around you, dry and loud they scamper across the path in front of you. With the wind, the scent of Ice Empire cat seemed washed away as well, and overhead, a crow caws nice and loud, flapping its large wings as it disappears over the treetops

Had the hunting party really taken so long? Or were the clouds rolling in just making it seem like the sun was setting faster. Either way, it wont be long before it starts to get dark.

The white snow leopard had to admit the crow was a liiiiiiiiiittttle creepy. But he tried to push the thoughts out, as he padded deeper into the woods. Sniffing the air to try and find his friend's scent but with no avail. "Maybe he headed back to camp already..." Zhar wondered outloud.
Somewhere off to Zhar's right, a twig snaps, seeming to ring in the silence with the sudden absence of the wind and the crow
Zhar's ear's perked up as he looked in that direction, "Tsar are you there?" He called.

No answer

And for what seems like too long, there is no sound at all

Zhar felt his fur fluff out a little more then before, he stopped for a moment. Then slowly kept walking.

The clouds are about to conceal the last bit of sunlight, the wind picking up again just before the final ray of light disappears, a shadow passes directly over you

Zhar was starting be feel abit alarmed, a shiver ran down his spine. His ears swiveled around, as he picked up his pace slightly.

Up ahead in the path, something flips colorfully in the breeze. It isn't a leaf, and it appears stuck as it isn't blowing away like the leaves around it. Flashing blue, the closer you get the more familiar it becomes.
What was once a bright, vibrant feather, is now tattered and slightly bent. It could be any old feather, except for the smell. The world around you seems to get darker the closer you get to it

Zhar stopped, then slowly moved closer to the feather - each paw-step feels heavy and weighted. His head lowers down as he glances around, before finally coming to stop at the feather. His pink eyes looked down, to find himself starring at a blue-jay feather. He sniffed it, and found the scent familiar. Why was it so familiar? ... Because it was HIS feather. The feather he used to have as a bounty hunter. His eyes grew wide.

Breaking the silence once more three more crows suddenly take to the sky, their caws loud and obnoxious but somewhere in their noise as they ascend, you hear the words "Traitor!" ripple over the wind

Zhar flinched, he looked around, "Is someone there?!" He said, his pink eyes glancing all around. He looked up as the crows flew off, for a moment almost convicted they had spoken to him. He shook his head, "I'm just being silly," He told himself shaking his fur slightly.
"I know you recognize it." A voice says now, though it is hard to tell where it is coming from. Somewhere ahead in the path, but only bushes, grass and trees are currently in view

Zhar stopped, "Show yourself..." He growled, "Where did you get that feather?!" He said, his hackles were up and his ears flattened.

"You mean you don't remember?" The voice was closer now, and it was definitely coming from ahead. "Why Zhar, ....you gave it to me." Leaping from the tree and landing directly in the path less than 20 feet away was the figure of a cat, though in the now darkened forest what stood out the most was its glowing red eyes.

"Jasper..." The snow leopard whispered, his breath came out in the cold air like steam. His pink eyes grew wide, "Why are you here?" He asked, his voice sounded shocked, but also a hint of fear laced in it.

"I'm here..." Jasper said slowly. His words buried in with his low leopard growl. "To tell you Zhar you can only run for so long." He stepped on a fallen branch, too thick to be a mere twig but brittle enough that as his claws, fully extended pressed into it the wood caved under his pressure with a loud snap.

"I'm not running, I'm making a decition." Zhar said, his voice was low. He watched Jasper as he stepped closer, "Why are you here? To fight me? To bring me back? " He asked, starring into those familiar red eyes.

Jasper smiled, fangs visible, raising his head. "That depends on you. You can always come back, but you have already proven yourself a traitor once. It might not be the same as when you left." His tail flicked behind him, and another chilled breeze blew around the two cats. Jasper's hot breath came out in plumes of vapor as he spoke.

"I would never come back, I won't become a monster." Zhar said his voice was firmer now, a low growl escaped his lips. "I had hoped we would never have to meet again...for both our sakes Jasper." The snow leopard flicked his ear's back, his tail stiff.

Smile gone, Jasper stares hard through the darkness at his lost friend. "You know the law as well as I do Zhar. I didn't ask you to break it, and it was foolish of you to think that you could just walk away from us inevitably meeting again." His glare sharpened. "And even worse that you thought I wouldn't come looking for you myself."

"I wanted us to be friends - its not impossible actually that we could still be friends. But I won't come back, I wanted to avoid this meeting because I don't want to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you Jasper." The snow leopard said, watching his old friend closely.

"HURT ME!" Jasper suddenly roared, his face fiercer than any coliseum cat had ever seen, and a few more crows took to the dark sky at his shout of rage. "Don't give yourself so much CREDIT! Why would I ever let a filthy little empire cat like you hurt me? If anything I should thank you Zhar for the last real dose of reality! I don't have any friends, I never did!" He spat, taking steps closer with every new sentence. "There is only those who are willing to protect the city and those who stand as a threat against them!"
His expression softened, and he raised his head slowly. "I'm not here to capture you Zhar, I came to give you one last chance, because a storm is coming and you are standing on the wrong side of the line."

Zhar snorted, "Jasper, you live in a world of lies and hurt, you were broken years ago. By what? I have no idea, I had always hoped I could bring you out of that brokenness. But I realized I can't, you've let your whole being become a lie. The hunters are a lie, and they've greatly decived you, for that, I feel sorry for you." He said, a spark of anger formed in his eyes. "I won't go back, I will never go back, you'll have to kill me first." He growled.

Jasper took a sudden lung at Zhar, claws extended but not to slash, instead with intention to seize and hold, pinning the cat to the ground if possible

Zhar was surprised by this motion, he should have seen it coming - but he did not. Instead he found himself on the ground, his back pinned against the cold dirt. And his pink eyes looking up into the angry red ones.

"Here is the worst part Zhar," Jasper hissed as he held the snowy there against the ground. "You WILL die before you are dragged back to the city. I don't need your pity, or anyone else's. You think you are entitled to more than any other cat in that city, well you're not. Freedom, isn't stealing for a living and murdering those you once fought along side. You think you're better than the rest of us you are wrong!" His claws flexed on Zhars throat, as if contemplating finishing it now or if he had the restraint to wait.
"I never said I was any better, but I certainly won't become their pet monster. Unlike YOU!" Zhar roared , he went to kick Jasper in the stomach, twisted his body and trying to pull his head away from Jasper's claws. Zhar felt the adrenaline rush through his veins, roaring in his ears like thunder.

Jasper flinched as Zhar's kick hit, though it wasn't in too vulnerable a spot to do much damage it was enough to loosen his grip on Zhar's throat and allow the cat to roll out from under him. Jasper was after him instantly, retracting his claws and swatting the traitor aiming for his head to both knock him aside and daze him.

Zhar ducked the swing, with a low growl he leaped at Jasper's side, aiming to rake his claws down his shoulder and ribs area.

A fire lighting in Jasper's eyes at the sight of Zhar's claws, Jasper roars fiercely and rolls back parallel with Zhar's movement bringing his own clawed paw up the throw Zhar over him with his own momentum.

Zhar felt Jasper's claws rake his own side, as he rolled forwards. He managed to roll back up onto his paws, quickly turning to face the African leopard. "Your not who you used to be," He growled. "They've turned you into their pet!"

Jasper rolled onto his paws to face Zhar, his adrenaline pumping in his ears eyes flashing red. Jasper hadn't come here to fight, just to warn the moron, but Zhar had proven true to the lies he had been fed as an empire cat. Jasper had expected Zhar to defend himself, but the minute Zhar had attacked Jasper something had snapped.
"You're the one that turns traitor! Leaves! And starts spewing Empire lies, and you think I'M the one that has changed!"

Zhar's eyes widened slightly, he looked stunned for a moment. As if what Jasper said Zhar had never even thought. His ear's flattened, Jaspers words had pierced his heart. "I-I don't want to be a monster, I won't be a monster...I'm sorry Jasper." Zhar felt his emotions starting to get the better of him. The full realization of what he's done sunk in. "I really am sorry...But I won't go back." He said, his voice a little quieter.

Jasper was breathing heavily, not from exhaustion but from restraining himself.
"You coward." Jasper spat. "We do what we do, we are "monsters" as you say, so that no real monsters get in and hurt those who wouldn't stand a chance." He slowly turned away, a gust of wind blowing around them in a strong torrent.  "I was never the caring one Zhar. I know I don't make friends, but I thought YOU of all cats had a heart big enough to realize it.... have a nice half life Zhar." He said turning down the path in the direction of the city.

"I did have a heart Jasper and I still do, but I won't run away from my problems. I saw I couldn't be what they wanted, maybe you can, but I can't. So I left to be the thing I could be. I'm sorry if you don't have any heart left in you to see that." He said, his voice low as his pink eyes watched Jasper.

"Yeah well..." Jasper said not looking back. "If I ever had a heart, I got rid of it a long time ago. Life has shown me no reason to keep it."
"I'm sorry Jasper, I really am." Zhar said turning away, he took one more look at his old friend. "Forgive me," He said as he slowly padded away.