LAY ME GENTLY IN THE COLD DARK EARTH [QUEST]

Caiaphas scarce had time to coordinate herself before a dark flash of fur was upon her assailant -- out of the corner of her eyes she could see a blur of movement and feral white teeth. The cat, shrieking in outrage, sought to swat Caiaphas sharply across the muzzle -- and before Caiaphas could dodge the blow its claws raked fiercely across her cheeks in welting streaks.

The feline's onslaught was not long before Tethys set upon it -- and with the spitting creature's attention divided Caiaphas skulked back to the bough, her latern-like gaze piercing the shadowed darkness. A sliver of moment betrayed the presence of another crouching cat -- and without stutter Caiaphas clawed herself into the bough, her teeth gnashing as she and the second bobcat met head to head in a series of splitting snarls and whirling teeth.