Welcome, one-and-all, to the reboot of "Redemption"!
A few things to address before we get started:
- Like I said, this is a reboot of a story that I wrote a bit earlier this year. I wasn't happy with the plot nor the writing so I decided to give it a bit of a revise. I'm quite glad I did, and I'm sure you guys will be as well!
- Updates will most likely occur [alternatively] Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but if I miss a day or two, don't stress!
That's all there is to say, so...
Let's get on with the Prologue!
- Redemption : Chapter 00 : Prologue
In the world engulfed by blackness, a lonely, dark brown tabby lied in a bloodied heap.
The tabby groaned, slowly shifting into a more upright position as a dull pain throbbed throughout his body. His nose twitched as the heavy, metallic scent of blood hit his senses, and he gazed down at the ground below him.
Even in the darkness, he could see the crimson liquid at his paws.
He narrowed his amber eyes, something felt... off.
The tabby slowly lifted a paw up to his neck.
His breath got caught in his throat- or, lack of- as felt the deep gashes, still wet with fresh blood.
He shakily withdrew his paw, letting out a few small chuckles as he nearly fell back onto his rump. "L-Look at you, fiercest cat in the history of the clans, scared by a few life-threatening tears in his throat." He spoke aloud to himself. "W-Well, I suppose 'life-threatening' is a bit inaccurate..."
Suddenly, a bright flash sparked in front of him, causing the tabby to jump.
The light morphed into the figure of a cat. The tabby wrinkled his nose in disgust as he took in the light's form; a pink, wrinkly, cat-like creature with thin patches of brown fur, as well as white, hollow eyes.
"Who are you?" He shouted questioningly.
The figure simply stared back at him.
He bared his teeth. "Who-"
"Tigerclaw!"
He jumped once again, thrown off by the booming voice. "It's Tigerstar, get it right; or else!" The tabby snarled, quickly regaining his composure.
The figure ignored him. "You've done many terrible things, haven't you... Tigerclaw?"
Tigerclaw- er, star, narrowed his eyes. "What did I just-"
"You've killed many cats."
Tigerstar closed his mouth, glaring at the figure. "Yeah... So, what?"
"You've taken the lives of innocent cats, leaving them to graze the meadows of StarClan as they await the inevitable arrival of their loved ones. While you..." The voice continued. "You are left to rot in eternal darkness."
The tabby snorted. "StarClan." He scoffed. "So, this is where dead cats go when they fade away, eh?" He asked, certain that he was correct.
He took a step forward, tail lashing as a crooked grin formed on his bloodied face. "This is so-called 'life' after the Place of No Stars? This is where my poor, villainous soul is left to wander alone in this dark, cold abyss for all eternity?" Tigerstar continued, mocking the kit-tales told of the shadowy forest he once resided in as his voice grew louder and louder. "Well, guess what? I managed to bring the cats of that wretched hell together, I can do the same thing here. And, no matter where you send me, I'll keep at my attempts to destroy that pathetic excuse for a clan until my soul is nothing more than a sad, pathetic, useless speck of dust!"
Amber eyes matched hollow, white eyes in silence.
"...No..."
The figure lurched forward, bridging their spiritual connection together.
Tigerstar's eyes widened as a shocking, ice-cold sensation spread throughout his nerves. He felt rooted in place as their noses met and his vision went black.
- o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o -
Memories began to flash, one-by-one, before his very eyes.
- o0o0o0o0o0o -
From his time as an infant-kitten...
A young Tigerkit mewled softly as he nuzzled against his dark-pelted mother's stomach...
To his father's abandonment...
An older Tigerkit growled as fiercely as he could at an old, dark brown tom in front of him...
To his two sisters' deaths...
Tigerkit rubbed his head up against his mother's chin, attempting to cheer her up...
- o0o0o0o0o0o -
From his apprentice ceremony...
A newly-named Tigerpaw held his head proudly as he touched noses with his mentor...
To his introduction to the Place of No Stars...
A smirking Tigerpaw held his amber gaze with an old, scraggly, tortoiseshell she-cat's own...
To his harsh training under the guide of his cold-hearted mentor...
Tigerpaw landed roughly on his shoulder, sand mixing into the freshes scratches from the day's training...
- o0o0o0o0o0o -
From the battle where he ruthlessly murdered ThunderClan's own deputy...
A crooked grin was plaster on Tigerclaw's face as he sunk his teeth into the tortoiseshell tom's throat, ending his life...
To his hatred for the apprentices who'd thwarted his schemes...
A sneer was evident on Tigerclaw's face as he threw a smaller, black tom to the sandy ground...
To his attempted murder on his own leader...
Tigerclaw scowled at his former-clanmates' glares before fleeing from ThunderClan's camp...
- o0o0o0o0o0o -
From his leadership ceremony...
Power coursed through his veins as the newly-named Tigerstar basked in his nine-lives...
To his brutal death at the claws of BloodClan's leader...
Pain battered at every nerve in his body as he felt his stomach tear open, ripping his lives, one-by-one, from him...
To his death-within-death in the greatest battle in all clans' history...
Piercing green eyes continued to burn like fire as claws tore into his ghostly neck, causing the world around him to fade to black...
- o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o -
The connection shattered, leaving Tigerstar bent over and gasping for breath as his innards warmed back up. "What... What did you do to me?" He snarled, snapping his gaze up at the bright figure.
"Grr-aoh!"
Tigerstar shut his eyes, crying out as sharp pain exploded inside him, and the booming voice spoke.
"With this new life, I strip you of your bloodlust... of your passion for causing misery... and of your murderous ambition..."
"With this new life, I give you ambition- not to cause death and destruction to those in your wake, simply for your own gain- but to allow you to protect and provide and the ones who rely on your support..."
"With this new life, I deem you worthy of a second chance at life..."
"Grr-arrrgh!"
. . .
"Heh..."
Tigerstar painstakingly lifted his head as he heard an eerie chuckle, gazing at the figure- creature- with confusion...
...Before him stood a dark, shadowy, tabby with glowing amber eyes...
The creature smirked at him, displaying sharp, sinister teeth, before being blown away in the nonexistent wind...
"Wha...?" Was the last thing Tigerstar could mutter before his vision faded away one last time...
*Shrugs* I thought it was pretty good, haha!
So, that concludes the Prologue! It's pretty short, but most Prologues usually are.
Leave a review if you'd like, criticisms and feedback are always appreciated!
~ Littletail