MANGLE - TOM - ALLIANCE RULER

Slash and Maul were not lovers. They could hardly have been considered friends. Their litter was not brought about by passion, love, or even a want of motherhood or fatherhood- but rather, a goal.

Both Guards had competed fiercely for leadership with their Ruler for their whole lives, but as they began to age, as wear caught up to them and beating off challengers became more and more difficult, Maul realized she would never reach the rank she'd pined for her whole life. This realization was utterly devastating.

Slash did not like the she-cat by any real definition of the word. He'd been her rival his whole life- but seeing a fellow cat, one of equal rank, suddenly lose their fire was startling. It simply wasn't what cats DID here. You didn't just give up.

The two began to plot deviously, and eventually the idea was conceived, that if they couldn't become Ruler, then they'd ensure their offspring, their blood, their legacy, would. Moons later, a litter of three was born. Fuzz, Tumble, and a runt that was quickly disposed of.

Their environment was in no way loving. Kitten-hood stories simply didn't happen. There was no compassion, no care- rather there were lessons, there were rules, there was training. One can imagine the massive impact this had on their Psychs. Even as young cats they showed symptoms of what might have been sociopathy- though, luckily, neither sunk to that extreme.

Maul knew that the morning of their eighth moon would be brutal. No matter how much preparing went into it, nothing changed the fact that these kits would never be large or skilled enough by that time to compete with the Alliance cats just waiting to snatch up those ranks. Worse yet, both kits had been taught to never back down- never give up. She knew they'd learn well enough.

The morning came. Mangle and Shred they named themselves, the brothers proudly strutting from their mother's den only to be faced with a terrifying reality. Both fought with as much metal and gut as they had, but in the end, they were absolutely destroyed.

It was only by luck that Mangle escaped with less terrible injuries then Shred, and only by luck that his brother fell into the rank of Crow, while Mangle remained a lesser-cat. There was no pity.

As leaffall turned to leafbare, and food began to grow harsh, Mangle fought constantly for the scraps left for those on the bottom of the pile. Though he realized Shred was literally starving, he did nothing to stop it, hoarding whatever was left for himself. He stood by as his littermate faded and eventually died.

Mangle was 25 when he finally took the plunge, steeling all his wits, courage, and strength to challenge a fierce-cat come one fateful newleaf morning. The fight was terrible and vicious, but Mangle's target was nearly an elder, respected and aching from moons of life. The young cat ensured his victory when his claws struck, blinding the older cat's one remaining eye.

A couple moons pass, and Mangle's father loses a challenge. Mangle, his mother, and a young molly he'd grown close to are the only witnesses. With no Ruler around to declare the challenge void, the new cat steps up into Guard rank, but not for long.

Seizing his opportunity, Mangle launches an attack on the exhausted cat and quite easily takes his victory. He sends the other limping off, and eventually returns to inform the Ruler of his new position. The older cat seems unnerved, but Scarred can do nothing about it.

As Mangle matures further, the young molly he'd come to be friends with is suddenly more then just a friend. He pines for her, and while in her company, he seems sweeter. More gentle, more kind. The two lovebugs become attached at the hip, and who could blame them? They were both fit, capable cats with good lineage and high ranking. It's no surprise to anyone when the she-cat begins to show obvious signs of bearing kits.

Maul is killed by a tom named Strike in a challenge. The old cat is simply too fragile and refuses to retreat, and one lucky strike ends her life. Mangle is, of course, upset, but he hardly grieves and moves on. Luckily, it seems Strike is good company.

Days pass by and Mangle's mate births two kits. Mangle doesn't care much for fatherhood and distances himself from them.

The Ruler sends Strike and a squad of cats to attack ThunderClan. Shortly after they leave, Mangle takes his opportunity and challenges the leader. The older cat puts up a good fight, but Mangle emerges victorious.

He spares the old cat 'exile' and rather, demotes the past ruler to Crow rank. The Mangle prepares as the Fierce-cats squabble for the rank he left behind. He expects Strike to fight him once he returns, but instead...

Mangle learns that Strike died after a challenge and is delighted to see a cat he knows well has taken Strike's rank. She's not ambitious at all, and he takes comfort knowing that there will be no challenges between him and her in the future, helping to secure his position.

Days later Mangle hunts down the past Ruler and kills him in a back alley, just to ensure there's absolutely no risk of the cat rising up to take his spot again. Not that it was very likely.

Moons pass and RiverClan issues a challenge to the Alliance. Mangle sends his cats after them immediately, promising control of the forest territory to whoever wants it. The result is immediate motivation as a good chunk of Alliance cats break off to invade the river cats.

Since then, Mangle has shown up to two of the four gatherings to boast, flanked by his guards and a pack of cats to ensure his protection. He seems to be waiting eagerly for another opportunity, a vulnerability, to show itself.