The moment before she entered the arena, Philos was right there.  He looked sad.  She wasn't quite sure why... she only knew that he wasn't happy, but the two still shared a very tender moment... and he made her promise that no matter what, she wouldn't let the coliseum change her... and something about a fighter cat telling him that tended to happen.  Confused by the question, she only giggled, gave her brother a lick and responded, "Silly! Change me? Who else would I be but myself?" Before she could get another response from Philos, she headed out into the ring, and it all began.

Nothing could have prepared her for this.  It was so... loud.  Why were there so many strong sounds all around her? She could hear the roar of the crowd, and when the gate opened, it took her a while to adjust to things.  It was all something she would have to get used to, and eventually the caracal cautiously walked out into the ring.  She gazed up at the sky, with the sun beating down harshly.  Her line originating from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, she had no fear of the sun... It felt natural.

The caracal turned her head as she saw someone approaching her.  She peered closely.  It looked to be another young cat... However, his position seemed to be all wrong.  His shoulders were hunched and his head hung down aggressively.  He bared his teeth... Not having really seen this behavior before, she walked up to him with a bouncy sort of gate.  She perked her ears and tilted her head as the young ocelot started to circle her, probably trying to intimidate her.  Instead, Ambrosia was quite oblivious.  She just giggled and inquired as to what he was doing.  Then, everything turned to chaos.

The smaller cat lunged at Ambrosia, aiming for her throat.  She ducked, surprised and not sure what to think.  The ocelot hit her forehead, and as she crouched he continued to claw at her.

It was terrifying.  So very terrifying... For a moment she actually grew frustrated.  Why was a little ocelot not much older than herself beating her? Her little period of self panic was very short.  She'd learned the rules.  She knew that this was a fight to the death.  Deep down, it scared her to think that she might die in this game... But, on the other hand... She wanted to fight, didn't she? She was going to show that she had what it took.

The caracal was quick to jump up.  Her forehead was injured and bleeding, but that wasn't going to stop her just yet.  She lunged at the ocelot, slashing at his stomach with her claws.  He shoved the larger juvenile away, and the two snarled at eachother.  To Ambrosia, this was just like her games at home, just more serious... Even with the idea that she may just end up dying, she loved to fight more than anything else. Of course it bothered her, thinking that she may never see Philos alive again, but focusing on the thrill and thinking of it as a game helped... over time, this way of thinking would become so natural to her that it would change her entirely. There were several close calls for Ambrosia, and it was obvious that the ocelot had more experience, and was more driven than she...  Deep down, he was scared.  He wanted to survive.  That's why he wanted to just cut her throat, get it over with so he could live another day.  Ambrosia on the other hand... She'd been around renowned and respected fighters.  They talked of glory and excitement, exactly what she felt when she was fighting.  Although she hadn't had as much training as her enemy, she was a little scared too, and she had just as much reason to win.  

Then suddenly, the battle began to come to a close.  Both juveniles had worn themselves out, jumping around the arena.  Ambrosia was on edge, she felt as though she was about to drop, and this time, her opponent had her cornered.  When he struck at her, she acted quickly; hoping to outsmart her opponent, she fell to the ground and laid still.  It gave the impression that she was in fact dead... Being young and inexperienced, the ocelot only watched for a few moments before turning away.  The moment he did, Ambrosia erupted from the ground and lunged herself onto his back.  She was bigger than him and sent them both tumbling.  The ocelot had been caught off guard, he was furious... he tussled with her until he had her pinned.  It was then, as he took his time shouting angrily at Ambrosia that she took her chance.  She reached and took hold of the ocelot's neck.  She punctured his throat but held her grip for several minutes, until finally the cat faded away.

Ambrosia didn't move even after he was dead.  She had mixed emotions.  She had just taken a life... but strangely, the adreniline rushing through her veins gave her a strange feeling... Her lack of attachment from when she was young had almost made her apathetic.  She would eventually learn to strive for battle, and learn to enjoy that moment when a soul slowly slips away from its mortal form.  

But, it was still startling, your first kill... overwhelming.  As she left the arena, she was so confused that she didn't even catch the worried eye of Philos as she passed him.


Something seemed to change after that day... not only for Ambrosia, but for Philos as well.  She always tried to catch him, but he would either pretend she wasn't there or just run off.  It made her sad, but for a while, the caracal didn't mind.  Sure, she missed him, but she had a life she was enjoying to worry about.  Time passed, and she grew older... she loved her job as a fighter.  It had its drawbacks, but she developed into the crazed, aggressive cat we know today.  However, she soon began to lose her appeal in the crowds as she aged.  She had potential, though, and her nobleman owner didn't want to waste such blood in the arena... so she became a bounty hunter apprentice.  A lot of cats would be happy to be in her position.  But she wasn't like other cats.  She liked fighting, and for someone who had learned to crave fighting every day... it was hard to get used to.  She would get in trouble for fighting with the other apprentices and hunters, and a lot of them seemed a bit... grumpy to her.  She was in a new situation.  One she didn't like.  She needed someone to turn to.  A friend.  A brother... she needed Philos.

Unfortunately for her, the clouded leopard had been totally avoiding her lately... she desperately needed his company and support, but he wasn't there to give it.  And what frustrated her more, she wasn't even sure why.  It'd seemed so sudden... being the oblivious cat she was, she didn't know that Philly had developed a phobia of fighting since the first moments spent with his adoptive family, made only worse by Avelina's and Ambrosia's pushing, and by learning the truth about the arena, and finally watching his friend lose her innocence... Ambrosia knew none of these things.  To her, it seemed like he was avoiding her for no reason, and it made her mad.  So one day, when he saw her on the street, the caracal dashed at her friend, and pinned him. 

Philos looked up, startled, as she demanded answers.  Why was he avoiding her? She reminded him of their strong and unique friendship, and asked if it meant anything to him.  When she got no answers, the caracal got off her friend.  She was lonely and frustrated.  Feeling jumbled up, she began to cry, and explained how much she needed him... needed him really badly... only to turn her head, and see that the clouded leopard was gone, without a trace.  He was her brother, and the only one she'd ever had to turn to, and now he was against her.  He didn't know that he shared very similar feelings to her own, nor does he know that Philos escaped, and now resides in Shadow Empire...

Not a lot has changed for Ambrosia.  Though she's still unhappy and somewhat alone in the bounty hunters, shirks her responsibilities, is somewhat aggressive and rude towards others, there's no doubt things can't remain that way forever... someday, she'll become the bounty hunter she's meant to be.  She still doesn't hate the empires, but doesn't like them because they're the reason she can't fight in the arena anymore, but she shares just as much dislike for the bounty hunters themselves. 

 Rival
 Best Friend
 Family
 Important
 Dead
 Mate
 Dislike
  Hate
 Neutral
 Curiosity
 Trust
 Dependence
 Respect
  Loyalty
 Friend
 Close Friend
 Conflicted/Confused
 Sorrow

 Caution
 Fear

 Like
 Love (platonic)
 Crush
 Love (romantic)

---

Thanatos

[] "He's tall and fat, but he's the leader, so... hey, what can I say? I have to listen to him, don't I?"

Shen

[/] "This tiger, UGH! He's big, he's fat, and he's a big fat meanie! I hope the Empires get him someday! And the other elites aren't that much better, either!" *sticks out tongue*

Hiro

[] "What's this guy's problem anyway? He thinks I'm so small and weak, I'm only good as his stupid bodyguard? Pfft.... just who does he think he is?! Well, he'll see! I'll prove him wrong, and one day, he'll be sorry!"

Abigail