The Mark of the Tabby

(For the contest! My prompt is: South, servant, terminator. Sorry if it seems a little rushed, I had to make it short!)

Prologue
Shadowed by darkness, two wings unfurled. Gleaming with hatred, two red eyes snapped open. Shaking with longing, two talons stamped. Jingling and clanking, two chains rattled.

The huge bird let out a roar of compressed anger, then tucked his wings back into his sides. “NORTH!”

Scrambling filled the dark hallway, echoing and ringing. A large vulture waddled into the shadows, getting as close as he dared to the giant monster in front of him. “Y-y-yes?”

The bird laughed bitterly. “'''Well, you took your time. You don’t know how many times I’ve called out to you. I need your help.'''”

”O-o-of course, sir, anything for you.” The vulture swept into a long, graceful bow. “What must I do for the mighty South?”

”'''GET. ME. OUT!'''” South barked. The vulture nodded quickly and gently lifted a talon. A few seconds later, the shackles fell off South's ankles with a clatter.

”Thank you, North.” South rumbled. He rose to his full hight and stretched his legs. “I’ve got a job for you.”

”Yes, master. Anything for you.” North mumbled weakly.

”'''Find Falcon. Kill him and his whole family. East and West will help you.'''“

”B-b-But I don’t know where East and West are!” North protested, eyes wide. South frowned and spread one of his huge wings. Two more vultures melted out of the shadows. ”'''Oh, look, I’ve found them for you. Your welcome.'''”

”Haha, family reunion. . .” North croaked nervously.

South turned to East and West. “'''You've got the same orders. Kill. As you all know, my little terminators. . .'''” He trailed off, eyes glazed. “Revenge is sweet.”

Chapter 1
A large, dark brown tabby cat hovered by the edge of a river. He took a deep breath, then plunged his head into the water, gulping a mouth full. He pulled his head out, fur dripping and cheeks bulging, then whipped around and spat it out onto the corn behind him. He was just about to take another gulp, when an excited cry split the air.

”Falcon! IT'S TIME!”

Falcon leaped up and sprinted towards his house. “Where? Who opened their eyes?” He glanced around the room and his gaze found his wife, Eagle, a big calico, who was hovering over three dappled kittens.

”This one,” she choked. She pointed an orange claw at the biggest of the three, a female. She had bright yellow eyes.

“Beautiful,” Falcon whispered. “How do you like the world, Auklet?”

The second biggest kitten next to her began to shiver. Its eyes opened a crack, then creaked open. This one's eyes where livid orange. “Hello, little Seagull.” Eagle smiled, white teeth flashing.

The smallest kitten stirred. Its eyes popped open. It had deep green eyes. “You’re home, Sparrow.” Falcon scooped the little male tabby up and raised it above his head. “Your all home.”

—————— '''6 years later. . .'''

Sparrow growled halfheartedly at the flitting fish in the river. He barred his teeth and snapped at the waves. Suddenly, a fish started to draw closer. It rushed right up to Sparrow and lunged out of the water. Its teeth snapped inches from the cat's nose, then landed with a plop at his paws. That small splat seemed to magnify and echo in Sparrow's eardrums, getting louder by the second. Roaring rose into a crescendo in his head. It became unbearable.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!“ he screamed, reeling back. He scrambled up the bank, dirt flying in his wake. The roar died down as he grew farther and farther away. He stopped, panting, and groaned. He failed another task. He couldn’t even catch a fish! ANYONE CAN CATCH A FISH!

”Sparrow? What's wrong?“ Sparrow looked up. His dad was trotting towards him, a concerned smile on his muzzle.

”It happened again,” he whimpered, sinking low to the ground.

Falcon frowned. “Look, son, if you can’t do great deed for our family, you can’t put your mark on our house like the rest of—“ Suddenly, a rustling was heard behind the pair. Falcon whipped around. A small squirrel, who was holding a stalk of corn, leaped out of the brush and shot like a bullet across the field, under Sparrow's legs, and towards the steep cliff near the river. “It’s the critter stealing our crops! After it!” Falcon yelled, galloping after the squirrel. Sparrow followed reluctantly.

Chapter 2
Thunder flashed over head as the two cats began to follow the trail of scent the squirrel left behind. Rain poured, slashing at Sparrow's eyes and forcing him to narrow them to slits. The rocks below their paws where slick with rain, and the trees clinging to the cliff swayed dangerously.

”Arg, I’ve lost the scent!” Falcon yelled over the noise. Then he sighed. “Come on, kid. Let’s go home—we'll catch the thief another time.”

In the act of following his father, Sparrow froze. He heard faint roaring, somewhere in the distance. It-it’s just my illness, he insisted weakly.

(to be continued soon. . .DUN DUN DUN)