The bright winter sun shone through the high glass windows of the Combat Division headquarters, casting streaks of light across the sprawling complex. It was a far cry from the cozy elegance of Felix’s home. The facility was a strange mix of efficiency and chaos: Regal Ones with fur of all colors and patterns sparred, snapped commands, or darted between combat zones. The air was thick with the sharp tang of sweat and the metallic shrieking of claws scraping against reinforced training mats.

Felix stepped through the entrance, his mask of stoicism betraying just a flicker of apprehension. His sleek black combat uniform, emblazoned with the gold insignia of the Combat Division, fit him snugly. Though the uniform made him look the part of a seasoned combatant, this was only his first day and there was still two weeks of training before he could truly join the ranks.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

His thoughts were interrupted by a buoyant voice.

“Ahhh! Felix Bloodstone! I knew you would look great in the combat uniforms!”

Felix turned to see a bubbly young recruit with wide blue eyes and soft caramel hair streaked with white, waving enthusiastically. Her fluffy ears twitched with excitement.

“Uh… hi?” Felix said, his voice unsure.

The girl clasped her hands in front of her chest, practically bouncing. “Omg, you don’t know how happy I was when I got accepted into the Combat Division! Everyone was so jealous when they learned I would not only be your coworker but also train with you as newbies! This is just amazing, isn’t it?!”

Felix barely had time to respond before another voice cut through the chatter.

“Pearlman, get a grip,” came Jax Flintcroft’s voice, dripping with irritation. He strode up, his signature cocky smirk in place. Behind him, his long blue tail flicked lazily.

“Don’t waste your breath fangirling over him,” Jax declared, his voice louder now, clearly intended to draw attention from the other recruits gathering nearby. “Bloodstone’s not all he’s cracked up to be.”

Ella turned to Jax with a pout. “Ugh! Haters begone! I’m tired of hearing you slander Felix—”

“Attention.” The sharp, gravelly voice of Sergeant Cain Flintstone cut through the room like a blade.

The recruits snapped to attention as the sergeant stepped forward. Flintstone was a tall, grizzled figure with a commanding presence, his gold eyes glinting with authority. The deep scar running across his jaw only added to his intimidating aura. Felix immediately recognized him as one of the combat officers who had arrived on the scene during the day of the choosing ceremony.

Flintstone surveyed the group with a scrutinizing gaze before speaking, giving Jax a warning look in particular that had Felix raise a brow in curiosity. “Welcome to the Combat Division trainee program. This will be the most grueling two weeks of your lives. Only the best make it through—”

“What happens if you don’t make it through?” That cocksure voice could only belong to Jax. And sure enough, Flintstone’s golden glare was trained on the smart aleck.

“—while the rest are relegated to logistics work or transferred to the Nurterer Division as combat instructors to little kits.” Flintstone’s glare lingered a moment longer, just enough to send the younger squirming.

Everyone else also stood up straighter, no one wanted to be relegated to desk work or worse—dealing with kittens who barely have their claws and teeth grown out.

“If any of you think this will be anything like the sparring games at the Ivory Sanctuary, you’re in for a rude awakening.”

Flintstone continued, “Here, you’ll learn to master fighting with your partial transformations—claws, tails, enhanced senses. These are not just tools; they’re extensions of your body and your life depends on mastering them. Today, we’ll start with assessment sparring. Pair up!”

Jax pointed challengingly at Felix, and the two became one of the faster ones to pair up—but not as fast as Ella and a tall black haired boy. The recruits gathered around the mat to watch the first match of the day: Ella Pearlman versus Theo Onyxwood. Felix stood at the edge of the group, arms crossed, eyes scanning the two recruits with focus as they stepped onto the mat.

Ella, with her soft caramel curls and bubbly demeanor, looked like she didn’t belong in the same ring as Theo. The tall boy was all sharp edges, his black hair slicked back, and his piercing copper eyes gleaming with an intensity that promised a brutal fight.

“Ella’s gonna get flattened,” someone muttered behind Felix, echoing the unspoken sentiment in the room.

Felix frowned. He wasn’t one to underestimate others, but Ella’s bubbly demeanor and almost dainty figure didn’t exactly scream “combat-ready.” Still, as the two squared off, he noticed something in her posture—a quiet confidence that hinted there might be more to her than met the eye.

Sergeant Flintstone raised a hand to silence the murmurs. “Pearlman. Onyxwood. Show me what you’ve got. Begin!”

The air shifted immediately as Theo lunged forward, his claws extending in a flash of gleaming obsidian. His movements were aggressive and precise, clearly honed from countless hours of practice. Ella barely dodged his first swipe, her body bending fluidly as she sidestepped, her caramel tail flicking like a dancer’s ribbon.

Theo pressed his advantage, his strikes relentless and fierce. Felix watched as Ella’s expression shifted, the sweet smile she’d worn earlier replaced by a sharp focus. She ducked under Theo’s claws and pivoted, her movements measured and deliberate.

Felix exhaled, surprised.

Ella retaliated with a sharp kick aimed at Theo’s side, forcing him to leap back. Instead of charging again, she stayed light on her feet, her tail swaying rhythmically as she circled him. Theo’s strikes were powerful but straightforward, relying on brute strength and speed. Ella, on the other hand, moved like she was playing chess, her every dodge and counter a calculated move designed to outwit her opponent.

“Is that all you’ve got, Pearlman!” Theo snarled, his frustration evident.

Ella tilted her head, a guileless smile returning to her blue eyes. “Is it my fault you’re such a brute?”

Theo growled and charged again, his tail whipping forward to trip her, but Ella sprang over it with surprising agility, landing lightly on her feet. She used the momentum to close the distance between them, her claws flashing as she struck at Theo’s exposed side. He twisted away just in time, but not before her claws grazed his shoulder.

The recruits around the mat murmured in surprise. Even Sergeant Flintstone’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, his expression betraying a flicker of approval.

Felix found himself studying Ella’s movements more closely. She wasn’t just quick; she was strategic. Every move she made seemed designed to exploit Theo’s aggressive tendencies, drawing him into overcommitting so she could strike where he was weakest.

As the match wore on, Theo’s frustration only grew, and his attacks became sloppier. Ella capitalized on his impatience, landing a sharp tail strike to his shin that sent him stumbling.

“Enough!” Flintstone barked, stepping forward as Theo regained his footing, panting heavily.

The recruits erupted in scattered applause as Ella straightened, brushing a strand of caramel hair from her face. Despite her narrow victory, she wasn’t even winded.

“Good work, Pearlman,” Flintstone said, his tone neutral but firm. He turned to Theo. “Onyxwood, control your temper. You’ve got power, but you’ll never win if you let your emotions rule you.”

Theo scowled but nodded, muttering a grudging “Yes, sir.”

Ella turned to the group with a bright smile, her bubbly sweetness snapping back into place as if she hadn’t just outmaneuvered a fierce opponent. “That was fun!”

Felix raised an eyebrow. For someone who came off as overly cheerful and fangirlish earlier, Ella had just proven she was far more than she appeared.

As she walked past him on her way to the sidelines, Ella caught Felix’s eye and made a fighting gesture at him, cheeks pinkening when they hadn’t even done so during her spar. “Your turn next, Felix. Fighting!”

Felix smiled stiffly in response. If Ella could fight like that, he had no doubt the rest of the recruits were just as skilled. The stakes were higher than he’d realized, and he couldn’t afford to falter.

He glanced at Jax, who was smirking confidently as he stepped toward the mat. No pressure, Felix, he thought grimly as he took his position. Just survive the first day.

Jax sauntered over to the other side of the mat, his smirk widening.

“Guess we’re doing this again, Bloodstone. Let’s settle things for real this time.”

Felix’s jaw tightened. Information he’d gleaned about the supposed spar at the Ivory Sanctuary resurfaced—ending in a draw, to the dismay of onlookers who’d expected Felix to trounce Jax. Most believed Felix had gone easy on him, to which Jax had somehow taken it as a personal insult.

“Fine,” Felix said simply, though his mind raced. How much of his body’s muscle memory would kick in?

As they took their positions, the other recruits gathered around the mat. Ella was practically vibrating with excitement. “Go, Felix! You’ve got this!”

“Shut up, Pearlman,” Theo snapped a few feet away but she ignored him. Clearly, even among the same crop of recruits, sides were inevitably being taken. Flintstone barked, “Begin!”

Jax lunged first, his blue claws gleaming as he aimed for Felix’s side. Felix sidestepped easily, his movements almost unnaturally smooth. Muscle memory guided him, and a strange hyperfocus state kicked in as though a switch had been flipped. The world seemed to slow, and he could track every movement of Jax’s strikes.

“Still playing defense?” Jax growled, displeasure flattening his ears. “Stop toying with me!”

If Felix had the wherewithal, he would protest how wrong this accusation was. He barely knew what he was doing, let alone have the mind to toy with his opponent! 

Instead, he was too busy avoiding each attack with calculated precision. He noticed the way Jax’s tail lashed aggressively, the subtle shifts in his footing. The muscle memory embedded in his body screamed for him to counter, but Felix hesitated, unsure of his ability to keep up the act.

Finally, with a hiss of annoyance Jax launched a sweeping tail attack aimed to unbalance him. Felix reacted instinctively. His own tail shot out—thick, muscular, and tipped with a diamond-shaped end—meeting Jax’s tail mid-swing with a sharp crack that echoed through the training hall.

The force of Felix’s counter sent Jax skidding backward, his claws digging into the mat for balance. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Felix exhaled sharply, his tail coiling behind him in a controlled arc. He hadn’t even consciously used it; his body had done it on its own.

“Lucky shot,” Jax spat, though his confidence wavered.

Felix smirked faintly. “If you say so.”

The match escalated. Claws flashed and tails struck with lightning speed, the air around them filled with the sharp sounds of claws meeting claws and tails whipping through the air. Felix’s body moved with precision, but his mind struggled to keep up with the demands of manipulating his partial transformations. Each strike, block, and counter felt like walking a tightrope.

Toward the end of the match, Jax feigned a strike with his claws but quickly shifted, whipping his tail low in an attempt to trip Felix. Felix’s balance wavered, and panic flared.

Then, instinct took over again. Felix’s tail snapped to the side, anchoring him and counterbalancing his weight. He recovered just in time to block Jax’s follow-up strike with his claws, their impact sending sparks flying.

The match ended in a stalemate once again, both combatants panting and glaring at each other.

Flintstone clapped his hands once, signaling the end. “Enough!”

The recruits fell silent as Flintstone approached Felix and Jax. His gaze bore into them, making Felix feel as though the sergeant could see through his carefully maintained façade.

“Good effort from both of you,” Flintstone said gruffly. “But Bloodstone.”

Felix stiffened.

“You’re holding back.” Flintstone’s voice was like steel. “You’ve got potential, but hesitation will get you killed in the field. Learn to commit, or you’ll end up as another name on a casualty report.”

Felix nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. Flintstone’s critique stung, but it also sparked a fire within him. He couldn’t afford to let his inexperience—or his act—become a liability.

Flintstone shifted his gaze to Jax. “And you. You have the same problem as Onyxwood. Get a hold of your emotions and tone down that unwarranted overconfidence or I will do it for you.”

Jax muttered something under his breath but nodded.

As the recruits were dismissed for a short break, Felix let out a slow breath. He had survived the first sparring session, but he knew this was only the beginning. The real challenge lay ahead.

From the sidelines, Ella ran up to him, beaming. “You were awesome, Felix! You always look so strong and graceful when you’re fighting!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Jax scowled but said nothing, stalking off toward the water station.

Felix managed a more natural smile for Ella’s benefit this time, but his thoughts were far from celebratory. He had a long way to go, and the weight of Sergeant Flintstone’s words hung heavily in his mind: Hesitation will get you killed.

AN: Any ideas which cat breeds are Jax, Ella and Theo? And Felix too while we’re at it? 😹

Hint: Ella has white streaked caramel hair with blue eyes. Jax has wild and thick blue hair with yellow eyes. Theo has sleek black hair with copper eyes. Felix is albino with silvery white hair and pale eyes that appear ruby red.

Worldbuilding detail: The last names of Regal Ones are jewel or precious mineral/stone inspired and usually reflect their hair (fur) or eye color. Cats of the same breed share a similar prefix ie: Flintstone and Flintcroft.