Title: Shadowed
Summary: 'We were shadowed by the past…it haunted us. And then we found we could not escape it…no matter how hard we tried.'
Rating: T
Genre: Tragedy/Angst
Disclaimer: Reading below and witnessing first hand my incompetent writing skills is enough, I should think, for one to come to the conclusion that I am NOT Erin Hunter.
Ahem, Plot Bunnies are stupid. This idea was one I used for a CaC a long time ago, but, surprise, surprise, it was never made into a story. So I decided to make this a story on its own. Actually, I came up with this sucky summary last night and as their tale took shape in my head I knew I HAD to write it. I really wasn't planning on starting another story so soon…but the plot was just so awesome (if you pardon my bragging) that I had to do it now. Yes, this story will -feature- somewhat of a forbidden love, but it will not be the main purpose/plot. Keep this in mind: its genres will give away most of the story. It is not romance for a reason.
This story will also switch POV frequently. I will put a dash when a new POV is starting and when it ends. To start you off, the first POV is Kiera's.
Anyway, on with the prologue.
Shadowed…
The bare branches of the thin, leafless trees cast a shadow over the bright, milky orb. Their skeletal arms stretched towards the black sky above, quivering ever so slightly in the gentle breeze that ruffled my fur as I pelted through the undergrowth.
But those things did not matter. Pausing only for a split second to scent the air, I then turned and began to sprint through the bushes in a different direction, following the scent that hung in the air ahead, always too far from my grasp.
Thorns tore at my tortoiseshell pelt and I gasped as I heard my skin tear with an awful ripping sound. Blood splattered onto the ground beside me, and the salty scent reached my glands, suffocating me as I searched for the scent I was following.
-
I paid no attention to the dark clouds gathering overhead, obscuring the moon's bright orb. My paws carried me swiftly through the forest, tearing through bushes and stomping through bracken as I followed the scent. After barreling through a bramble bush, I paused, scenting the air once again for any traces of the smell. My green eyes widened.
I smelled blood.
-
The roar of thunder overhead could not make me stop. The aching in my paws could not make me stop. The stinging pain in my shoulder as blood dribbled down, leaving a trail behind me could not make me stop. I could hear a violent thrashing in the bramble bush ahead. I could hear heavy paws hitting the ground. I could hear his snarl of rage as he heard me approaching. Pain that shot through me from my paw told me that I had torn a claw. But I could not stop now.
I was so close. Revenge was at hand.
-
I was close. I could hear his pawsteps ahead. I was unaware of anything else. Even in the bare darkness, I could sense that he was near.
My desire for revenge propelled me towards the sound of pawsteps hitting the ground like heavy drops of rain. I sprinted, feeling the ground curve beneath my paws. I was faster now, racing down the hill as the scent became even stronger.
My body ached as I reached the end of the hill, but I could not stop. This was what I had been waiting for. I was so close. I could taste the blood on my tongue already.
-
Finally. The tom's mottled form is in sight. With a yowl of fury, I lunge for him, sinking my claws and teeth into his fur. Beneath me, he crumbles, spitting with rage and defiance. His claws meet mine, but I am stronger. I shove him down. With a crack and a snarl of pain, I know that I have broken his forepaw. Pleasure wells up within me. It feels so good. His suffering feels so good.
Lightning streaks the black sky followed by another roar of thunder. As I lay on top of him, rain begins to pour down.
-
Yes…I hear no more pawsteps. He has stopped. I narrow my green eyes and burst through the bushes, my paws skidding on the sand as I slide to a halt in the clearing. Lightning flashes across the sky. Thunder roars. Rain begins to pour. I do not care. The scent is so strong, mingled with the smell of blood. I stare wildly around the clearing, my eyes still adjusting to the darkness. Two forms lay a few fox-lengths away, entangled with one another and struggling for dominance. I race over to them, quickly assessing the situation. Rage consumes me. I easily distinguish one form from the other, and with a deft motion, I shove the she-cat off of the tom's broken body.
The she-cat snarls with rage. As the rain beat down around us, soaking my pelt, I turned to her. "No, Kiera," I snarl. "This revenge is mine."
Her amber eyes gleam with pure fury. "No!" she screeches, her yowl reaching above the sound of the thunder and the rain. "It was never yours! It was always mine!"
I can feel my paws sinking into the mud that the sand has quickly transformed into. I struggle for a grip, sinking my paws into a path of grass and firm dirt. I can hear the racking sobs of Slashclaw's twisted form. But all compassion has left me. All I feel now is desire. Desire for revenge.
-
I shake my head to free it of the rainwater clinging to it. Rage courses through me. "No, Blizzardfur!" I snarl. "I am not bound by laws of compassion, now let me do my job!" I lunge towards Slashclaw. His form is huddled in a ball of wet fur and broken bones. His mottled pelt is streaked with a mixture of mud and blood. I feel no compassion for this miserable creature, even hearing his desperate pleas. I unsheathe my claws, prepared to deal the killing stroke.
But he stops me. His huge, muscular form barrels into me, shoving me aside. With a screech of rage, I lunge towards him, ripping at his fur with my unsheathed claws. But he is stronger. He flips me from his back and holds me against the muddy ground, my soft underbelly freely exposed. I try to fight back, but I know I am helpless.
"Let me go," I hiss. "This is my job."
He is panting from effort now, his green eyes gleaming. "No, Kiera," he repeats. "It is mine." He slowly releases me, careful that I do not get up. He pads over towards Slashclaw, unsheathes his claws, gleaming white in the darkness. The rain is heavier than ever before. I am cold and wet, but my spirit has not broken. He lowers his claws towards Slashclaw's trembling throat, but I am faster. In one swift, fluid motion, I jump to my feet and propel myself towards him. I unsheathe my claws, and a split second before Blizzardfur is successful, I sink my claw into his throat, and it is all over.
-
I watch in horror as blood wells up from the wound in Slashclaw's throat, staining Kiera's white claws and dribbling onto the mud. She has done it. It is over. She has won.
Her eyes glitter with an unreadable emotion as she watches the lifeblood slowly drain from Slashclaw's broken body. I am speechless. She has taken my revenge from me. All the purpose of my life is slowly fading. If revenge has already been extracted, what is the point of living anymore? As his blood mixes with the pure rain, its substance becomes paler and more watery. I stare down at his lifeless form and the blood mixture forming a puddle beside him.
Emotions course through me, although none identifiable. I stare at Kiera for a long time – her dark tortoiseshell pelt, dripping with blood and rainwater, forming the same mixture as the puddle on the ground, her amber eyes gleaming brightly in the darkness. Between the fresh, pure scent of rain and the foul smell of blood, I am in a daze.
But there is nothing left for me to do. My gaze lingers on the rogue once more, before shifting to the body of Slashclaw. In death he is small, not the large, dark warrior that he once was. He is small, pathetic, broken.
I have the story of his death planned out in my head. I pick up his bloody body by the scruff and drag him out of the clearing, leaving the scent of blood, and Kiera, behind.
End Prologue
I am sorry for the crappiness of the Prologue, I really am. After rereading it, I realize how confusing it must have been. If you figured it out, great for you. If you didn't…you can PM me and I'll give you the gist (sp?) of it. Even though it was crappy, I hope you'll keep reading, because I promise that the next chapter will be less crappy and less confusing.
Constructive criticism is appreciated, for those who understood it. And even if you didn't, you can comment on the sucky writing, anyway.
xx-The Breeze-xx