Thanatos: EBC

He would just have to find a way to outsmart them. Yes, that was what he would do. The grey tiger paced, flaring his whiskers, and spoke in an attempt to anger them into action. If they made the first move, one of them might just make a mistake that he could use to his advantage.

Thanatos knows that the only way to win in a battle is to thoroughly out-think the enemy and to utilize every resource available to its fullest potential. Whether this means putting the right cats in command or sacrificing a feline on his team for the sake of the battle, he will not hesitate to pull every string to the Hunters' advantage.

"Justify? We are justice. You and your mangy empire chose this path of pain and sorrow. You ask for it with every moment of every day that you remain here in defiance of the Law."

Than lives by one ideal - that the humans are Law and that the only way to achieve peace is to live by their rules. The empires have disobeyed, leaving their masters for a foolish ideal of freedom and camaraderie that only brought chaos and pain to themselves. He believes that cubs may still have hope of being saved from the depraved ways of the Empires, but most other cats are beyond hope and must be brought to justice.

"I've seen many a hunter commit gruesome crimes that were unaccounted for. But what you don't understand is that many Empire Felines are not any better than us. They choose to be weak. Unprotected. Liars. Traitors. They deserve every bit of violence they are given."

Thanatos is loyal to Massilia to the point of death. Though he had questioning thoughts in his younger years, he came to see the Empires for what they truly are - deceived traitors that only bring chaos and death with their ridiculous beliefs. As leader of the Bounty Hunters, he learned to act diplomatically both with other felines, as well as with humans to achieve the end goal of his group of elites.

"Then they would truly have names to remember... The tales of Scaeden and the Hunters would be told to every cub in Rome. Venari would become a mere legend, under the shadow of our great conquest... And the Empire cats. Well, they would be back where their flea-ridden pelts belong. In the coliseums, fighting, like they should be."

From early in his cubhood, Thanatos held high ambitions for himself. His father told tales of the Hunters, Massilia's elite feline forces, and the small tiger made up his mind that he would one day become one of those great cats. He reached his goal, eventually developing the goal of becoming Silver and one day maybe even Leader. Now that those goals have been met, his ambitions lay in the eventually overthrowing the Empires; wiping them out completely and bringing Massilia back to peace.

"You really think you'll win in the end, don't you. You and your perfect little Empire. Because good always wins in the end, huh? Well maybe you're the ones who are mistaken. Just as much blood is on your paws as is on ours. You brought this upon yourselves, you traitors! Liars! Murderers!"

Let's just say the humans' Bounty Hunter training program is doing its job. Thanatos' thinking may seem twisted at times, and much of that can be attributed directly to his conditioning at the hands of the humans. Countless hours of harsh training and discipline can take a toll on even the strongest felines, and perhaps that is why the Hunters of Massilia have been so successful. But after a while it's not just the humans. It becomes second-nature, like an extension of oneself. The Hunter ideology seems to be permanently ingrained in Thantos' mind and he desperately and adamantly believes in it.

"You'll never be alone, as long as you're here in Massilia. As long as I'm here to watch over you."

Though the dark leader is known for being ruthless and stoic, there is still a soft spot inside of him. With the arrival of his two sons, Corvinus and Augustine, as well as the beginning of the Tribune program, Thanatos discovered his passion for cubs. He feels an almost fatherly position to all of the tribunes.

"My family didn't love me either. They betrayed me." He shifted his position slightly, pressing up against the cub. "It's not our fault that we are stronger and braver than them. We can't let their shadows fall on us and tell us we aren't loved. A strong cat doesn't need anyone else. That way of thinking only leads to weakness and pain and downfall."

After all of the pain that the Empires and his own family have caused him, Than has adopted a self-reliant perspective on life. He believes that he doesn't need anyone and that trusting other cats usually leads to one's downfall. It's very rare for him to put his trust in another feline, but he does in a few such as Scaeden, Septimus, his own sons, and most of the Elite.

Thanatos is the leader of the Bounty Hunters of Massilia who are employed by the humans to track down escaped cats from the Coliseum.

Early in his training, Thanatos didn't see much good in being unnecessarily violent with innocent cats. In his younger years he had occasional doubts about what true freedom really was - if the Empire cats really had a better life than the Bounty Hunters did. His momentary doubt has caused him to see the similarities between himself and some Empire Cats, particularly a snow leopard from Fire Empire, Andromeda. He knew they had no chance of friendship, but was intrigued nonetheless.

After several encounters with the Empires, he realized that he was fully devoted to the Hunters' cause. They caused the deaths of his mate, Milla, and of numerous other hunters, also exiling a dying jaguar to the wastelands. He realized that they were no more merciful or good or free than the Hunters, if anything less so.

He holds personal vendettas against Fire for almost causing Caelina and Scaeden's deaths, and against Lightning for Milla's death there and Scion's disloyalty.

He wishes that the Empire Cats would get their heads out of the clouds and see that life with the Humans is so much better. Riches, soft beds, abundant food, and humans to care for you - what could possibly be more satisfying?

As the Silver Hunter under Scaeden he became fiercely loyal to the Bounty Hunters, thinking that they were in the right in every situation, and began to resort to violence when he saw it as beneficial to their cause. His greatest goal in life was to bring down the Empires for good and return them to their rightful place in the city.

Now as their Leader, his goals remain mostly the same as they were under Scaeden. He has sworn vengeance on the Empires for all of the pain they have caused him and her will stop at nothing to build the Hunter up into an unstoppable crushing force.

"I was born to a wealthy arena dealer who owned multiple prize-winning cats. My father, Gunner was a renowned gladiator in the coliseums. My mother, a beautiful white tiger named Khione, I knew for only the early months of my cubhood. She was a retired gladiator, sold and used for breeding. She died shortly after I started my training in the arenas. 

Gunner was very influential in my training. He always wanted me to become a Hunter; saw potential in me. I wanted to live up to his dream and thus began the first two years of my life. Training day in and out, aching bones, bruises, and minor scratches, but it was worth it in the end. As I grew in age I also grew in stature and strength, even surpassing the size of my father by the time I was fully grown.

At the age of one, I began my real training as a gladiator of Rome. Mentored under multiple trainers and mentors, I quickly became one of the best of my class. And after awhile, I didn't fear the pits anymore. In fact, I actually began to like it. Opponents fell under my paws and I came to be respected amongst the finest of gladiators. Then one day my life changed. I didn't know it at the time, but the humans had been watching me and selected me to join in a different training group - that of the Bounty Hunters. I was accepted into their ranks as an apprentice at the age of two, my life's goal complete.

At the time, Cosette, a small sand cat, was our leader. She was adequate by what I could see of her at first, but she later proved her true allegiance - running away to the Empire scum. But we caught up to her and showed her what happens to traitors... Good riddance I say.

One of the first Hunters i met was a cheetah, Zapata. She was a terrifying cat at first, but she grew on me and we became good friends. I'm not sure quite where she went, but I've heard rumors of her joining Shadow Empire. If so, it's her loss. She has chosen death and destruction over luxury and freedom.

Then Milla, a beautiful young cheetah, showed up. At first glance, my heart began to race and I knew that I would do anything to get her. We quickly became acquainted and then even more than that. Zap was jealous; I think she loved me, but I couldn't help but feel that way towards Milla. We fell in love. That was the start of a relationship that I will never forget. She soon became worried about what I would think of her when I realized that she was pregnant with a fatherless kit, but I didn't care. She was my everything, her and Keiko.

Then one day she just disappeared. We were headed out on a hunt into Fire Empire territory and Milla was sent out ahead of us to keep an eye on Scaeden and Selineen as they fooled the empire scum. She was supposed to report back to us on when to begin the ambush. But she never showed up. Earlier her brother Abiola, an piece of empire trash, had appeared and talked to her in hushed tones. I blamed him for her disappearance, and I can definitely say he has gotten what he deserved. That was the first time I lost her.

She returned to the city, some months later, with some excuse as to her disappearance. Not that I believed her - the story seemed to change every time. We became distant but I still met with her on occasion. And then she up and disappeared again. However much I distrusted her, I was still heartbroken. I did see her again, one last time, but she didn't see me. She was dead and stained with blood; my half-brother standing over her body.

Flash back a few months to Scaeden's raid on Fire and Air - Everything that could go wrong did that day. We strolled into the woods, thinking we would win effortlessly. We were young, naive, and foolish. At first all went accordingly - Valon was fooled and Scaeden's plan seemed successful. But then the patrol from fire empire showed up. Everything was a disaster from then on. Scaeden pinned under Soren's paws, Caelina passed out in the dirt from lack of blood. I almost got him, Valon. But that cheetah Jace foiled my plan. I almost got her too, dragging her off through the woods. But then Scaeden fell under Soren's claws. He called us off and we retreated like pathetic kittens back to the city. No rewards or prisoners for us that day. Only the humans' wrath at our loss and extensive training sessions to make up for our failure.

I thought Scaeden and Caelina were gone. They were either dead or captured by the Empires, and it was pointless to go back for them. When I returned to camp, the humans had put a new leader in place, as Cosette had made a run for the Empires but was caught and killed for her treason. As we all know, that didn't go so well for her.

The new Head Hunter was an over-confident goofball of a lion that had no idea what he was doing. Phoebus. Sure, he seemed okay at first, but NOTHING was accomplished.

Then, one day, Scaeden returned. Turns out he had been taken by Soren back to Fire Empire's camp and held as a prisoner along with Caelina and two hunter apprentices who had disobeyed and left the city - Furie and Juno. They were given the choice to stay and join the empires or to leave in exile to the wastelands, and they chose exile. Soren cast them out, their pelts still bloody and wounded from the battle, without giving them any aid. Caelina's wounds became infected and she became too weak to continue with the others. They left her in the wastelands, leaving her for dead.

At least now Soren has been captured and sent to Rome. He'll get his punishment there while the rest of Fire Empire is left broken. I will still see to it that they pay for what they have done. They think they're the compassionate, righteous ones? Just look at their actions and you'll see that they're no better than the most cold blooded of Hunters.

Around the time of Scaeden's return, I also was caught up in some sibling trouble. I'm sure I had many siblings (well half-siblings) growing up, most of which I don't remember. The only one I ever stayed close to was Scion. He was a year and a half younger than me. We shared the same father but different mothers - his being a tabby tigress. He inherited his mother's looks and his father's strength. At the time of his birth I was becoming quickly involved in the Hunters' happenings, but I always managed to squeeze in some training time with him. I always dreamed of him becoming a hunter with me. He definitely had the potential. But one day, his life fell apart.

I was headed towards Scion's cell, on my way out on an evening patrol, to tell him the exciting news that he had been accepted into the Hunter's ranks. However, I didn't have to find him. Instead he nearly crashed into me, barreling down the street. He was in a frenzy, nervous, jittery, and nearly in tears. I found out that his son had been killed and he was running away to become a rogue. At the time, I was so shocked I had no idea what to do. I was conflicted in my loyalties but after hearing his story I truly felt sorry for him. After some quick words and him begging me to let him go or kill him, I allowed him to go on his way.

Thinking back on my actions, I was inconceivably wrong. I found him in the woods near the edge of the city one day. We hesitantly exchanged greetings and then he revealed to me the last bit of information I ever wanted to hear. He had joined an Empire. The cats that I so devoutly hated, the ones I had sworn to kill with every last drop of my blood, he had joined with them?!?

He told me it was all a ruse, that he had nowhere else to go so he was seeking shelter with them and would become a spy for me. Hah! Petty words, but I believed him for a while, if only because it gave me hope that I wouldn't have to live with a failure of a brother.

The next time we met it wasn't so pretty.
_{Read more about Thanatos, Scion, and Milla's kits here.}

After Scaeden's return, things stayed pretty quiet aside from the occasional raid. Scaeden proved to be one of the greatest leaders we had yet had. He had the potential to perhaps even surpass the legendary Hunter Venari himself. As soon as Scaeden returned, I received a promotion too. He made me his Silver Hunter. And thus a new reign began. Together, we imagined a whole new purpose for the hunters; a world where the Empires were not merely picked off one by one like in the old days. We would launch a full-scale attack on each and every Empire, crushing them one by one and devastating their lives beyond repair. Then, when they were weak and beaten down in fear, we could take them back to the city and our lives' goal would be complete.

We made progress together. Our first attack was aimed at Lightning Empire. This time we made sure we had all of our bases covered. This time we would not, could not, loose. Scaeden rallied the hunters in full force - three patrols made up of around five cats each. One to roust the cats from their camp, one to ambush them in the clearing, and one to sweep the camp for prisoners. The attack went exactly as planned, the Empire fools falling into our trap. They were caught in the clearing, no escape in sight, vastly outnumbered and out-sized.

Scaeden and I took care of Abiola, their stupid leader. Even if he was Milla's brother, he was a traitor that deserved to die. And beside that, he made the perfect example of what happens to those who dare to disobey the humans. Scaeden flayed his pelt and even took it upon himself to deliver its scarred remains back to the Empires. A warning to all of the Empires of what is to come, of what their disobedience had brought upon them.

We took quite a number of prisoners back to the city as well, including my personal catch - that defecting ex-hunter apprentice Accalia. Now all of the empires will see what happened to Lightning and learn to tremble at the name of the Hunters.

I thought that this last victory had marked the start of a new era. One where the Empires would be shaken to their roots and finally destroyed. One where victory went to the Hunters and our names would be spoken of in reverenced tones for centuries to come. That hope is still what I live for, but my confidence was shaken by the departure of one cat. Scaeden.

One day he was there, hosting mock battles and training sessions as we usually did for practice. The next he was gone. The shocking news reached me - Scaeden had been re-stationed in Rome to deal with the defecting cats there, and all of a sudden I was the new Leader. I felt utterly alone. Betrayed. I was lost without the lynx that had become my Leader, and more-so my best friend.

I came to accept the fact that I probably wouldn't ever see him again. I wouldn't have him to rely on anymore. It was up to me to take the fate of the Hunters into my own paws and to build them up. But thank the gods he returned. Just showed up one day, back from his 'adventures' in Rome. But he had changed. I could see it in him the instant he set paw in Massilia. The old Scaeden, the leader who would kill at a word and could command with his silver voice, was gone.

Not that it's bad. Just different. Almost like our two worlds have been exchanged. I give the orders. He follows like every other hunter. Frankly, I'm just glad to have my best friend back by my side.

As for the Empires... Well right now they stand, but stand weakened. Hunter patrols have been busy this past year. Soren the bold leader of Fire Empire killed by Scaeden. Viatrix the insane leader of Lightning taken captive by Pallis. Remus, leader of Shadow, and his silver Cyrus dragged back to Massilia by a small patrol. Now the time is right. Those who have caused so much chaos and trouble will fall. It pains me to have to destroy cats of such potential, but I don't think we have much of a choice. They made their path clear and I will make mine.

There is still hope. The Empires will still kneel to us in the end.