Tale One: Views From Both Sides

Death, no matter how peaceful or gruesome, it still means the end. It may also make the air crack with tension or horror, depending on the case. In this particular case, death was inevitable. Her claws and chin glistening with the blood of her enemy, her prey, her victim. Drops of crimson decorated the green, lush forest floor. Green and red, the colors so powerful, they dare not clash with one another; instead they compliment each other. However the horror and disbelief blazed from the wide green eyes of the killer. The murderer peered down at her victim; his body was slumped over, blood oozing from the wounds she gave him.

Her muzzle cracked in a horrifying grin; her green eyes narrowing into a look full of satisfaction. She examined his body. His thick grey fur was matted by his own blood that now pooled in his deep wounds. Flesh was shredded and clinging awkwardly to his body. His large blue eyes clouded, but filled with faint horror and terror. The she-cat frowned suddenly, her gaze clearing of any malice that once lingered.

As the dark, black clouds cluttered together in the sky above, thick white fog began to seep from the center of the lake toward the killer and her victim. The black cat's fur was now on end; the blood dripping from her soaked chin. Slowly, rain drizzled from the clouds, drenching her already dark coat.

By now, a figure appeared on the water surface. The she-cat froze in fear, as if frozen by the cold breeze that shook the leaves. She swallowed hard as the fog seemed to come from the body. The she-cat backed up slightly, only to be stopped as the figures eyes snapped open. A pair of glowing, blood red eyes gleamed from the body. Within moments, the body took form of an elegant black cat; white flecks glowed brilliantly, like stars against the midnight sky.

"Hollyleaf," a voice whispered eerily.

Hollyleaf's drenched black fur quivered as it began to cling to her body. "W-who's there," she hissed at the figure.

The mysterious black cat seemed to glide across the water surface as she approached Hollyleaf. She extended her claws, preparing for another bloody fight she intended to win. The cat took a step onto the dry land and padded toward the stream with Hollyleaf's victim. "Are you from RiverClan? It's against the Warrior Code to trespass on another Clans territory! You'll have to pay!" she snarled as she leaped toward the intruder.

Mud clumped on her hind legs as she sprang, but when she landed on what she thought was the intruder, she was shocked to find her vanished. "A fight is not the answer," the voice of the cat meowed, although to Hollyleaf's ears, it came as several voices.

She whipped around to stare into the deep red gaze of the cat. "What are you? Are you from the tunnels? Or StarClan?" she growled with her lips peeling in a snarl.

"No, my name is The Spirit That Comes at Night, or Nightspirit to you. I do not come from the tunnels or StarClan, though I visit both realms frequently," she responded, her mouth static of motion.

Hollyleaf's own fear scent began to seep from her. "I-I don't understand. So you're from the Mountains?" she stammered as her mind began to whirl in confusion.

Nightspirit ignored her question, which made Hollyleaf's fur bristled in irritation. Her red gaze landed on the body that turned the stream crimson. "It was not his time," she meowed. "But I suppose it is a price he must pay for his crimes."

Hollyleaf took a careful step forward; the last of the blood from her chin being washed by the constant rain that poured from the sky. "He deserved to die! He would have spilled a secret, a-a secret -" she stammered; a loss for words.

Nightspirit's gaze snapped toward her, turning harsh and vengeful. "A secret that was not his to tell," she hissed, then relaxed. "The Warrior Code tells you to remain loyal, no matter the cost. His heart was loyal, through and through, and it was his heart that caused him to commit these crimes. He has a price to pay, and so do you."

The she-cat's words made Hollyleaf's fur quiver with realization. As Nightspirit leaned down toward the tom's body, she touched her nose to his. She pulled away; a spirit connected to her nose, the one of her victim. Hollyleaf gasped in fear. Her victim looked at her dead in the eye; his gaze full of vengeance and heart ache. A chilly breeze shook through her fur, making her blood turn to ice. "You know what you have to do," Nightspirit whispered before vanishing with her victim, leaving Hollyleaf standing in the pouring rain with a look of knowing and horror reflecting in her glowing green gaze.


Emptiness.

Eerie emptiness.

He stood in the never ending darkness. A black cat stood in front of him; a faint white outline glowing from her body. "Why didn't you let me kill her? It was my last chance at vengeance," he snapped at his taker.

Her red eyes flashed in anger. "Have you learned nothing?" thousands of ancient voices yowled at him from her gaping mouth.

He leaned down in submission; fear coursing through his shaking body. He was speechless, perhaps he would stay in this never ending darkness, doomed to an afterlife of loneliness, after all, he lived it in his life anyway. After realizing this, he stood up arrogantly. He flicked his tail, "I have already experienced the worst amout of pain, I think I can deal with just about anything."

The black cat narrowed her glowing eyes and her claws dug into the black ground below them. Her white outline blazed suddenly, making him leap in fear. Wind shook his body as the ground below them shifted. A clear line between good and evil became visible.

He flicked his fearful blue gaze to his left. He saw marshy earth with dead, decaying grass sprouting. The smell of crow food made him catch his breath, and the never ending gleam of blood red glowed beyond the tall bare trees that were covered in black sludge. He saw the eyes of several cats he recognized; staring at him with vengeful hunger, making him force himself to look away.

And on his right stood tall trees covered in ivy and moss. He could hear the humming of bugs and the barking of squirrels echo off those very trees. He could feel the very warmth that blazed from the bright sun. He could feel a purr rise in his chest when he caught the sight of blue-grey fur. Bluestar, he thought as his kit-hood began to stir his mind.

She stood on a rock with her fur gleaming against the sunlight. Her lovely blue eyes were locked with his, showing her fear and joy. A pair of cats padded beside her on the rock. One with mottled grey tabby fur and green eyes glowing with love and warmth; the other, a largw white tom with narrowed yellow eyes. Whitestorm and Brindleface, he thought happily as he saw his parents standing, but soon, it was pulled away.

The wind blew harshly again, causing the ground to shake and shift once again into the empty black realm. The she-cat stood before him again. "My name is Nightspirit and welcome to the Unknown," she meowed in just one voice; one he assumed was hers only.

She padded up to him to where he could feel her rock-scented breath ruffle his whiskers. "Ashfur of ThunderClan, you have committed crimes unspeakable and unimaginable by many. You have assisted in the murder of one of your leaders lives, you have threatened to kill the kits that's hold the stars in their very paws, and worst of all, your actions have caused your own murder," she began; causing him to flinch at every one of his crimes. "However, you have also suffered a broken heart. From the very beginning of your kit-hood you were a loyal warrior of ThunderClan; aiding young Firestar whenever the chance came up, therefore, I decree that it was your broken heart that corrupted you. In addition, you will get the option to reside in either the Dark Forest or StarClan."

He opened his mouth as he began to remember what he had seen all his life. After Whitestorm and Brindleface's deaths, all he had was Ferncloud, but she was quickly taken from him when Dustpelt swept her off her paws. A growl began to rise in his throat. Firestar had allowed the stupid, arrogant tom to mentor his sister. Firestar and Sandstorm very spawn was the cause of his heartache, and it was Firestar who allowed Squirrelflight to be with Brambleclaw on just about every occasion. Realistically, his quarrel was with Firestar, but even he couldn't admit that. Squirrelflight had caused his heartache and pain, she caused him to turn savage and rage for vengeance. "However," Nightspirit interrupted his thoughts. "If you choose to reside in StarClan, there is a price you must pay. You will assist me in fetching Hollyleaf and Squirrelflight at the times of their deaths."

He drew his lips up in disgust. He flashed his gaze to his left then to his right. He refused to live with the cruel creatures that killed his parents and friends. He looked at Nightspirit deep in her eyes. "I choose StarClan. I will pay the price for what I have done," he decided finally, his heart and his mind finally beginning to clear of all the hate and pain he had once felt.

A/N: So this is the first Tale! What did y'all think? Good? Bad? Let me know will you? Next will come a request from Eaglenation. This book allows me to interact with my readers, so make sure you request!

It can be an OC, a Tribe cat, a Clan cat, one of my OC's or even a BloodClan cat!

Make a request by reviewing! Thanks guys!

-Nightspirit