β∞₥€• B O O M E
Chapter 1:
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Rheapaw snuggled at the cold fur that freezed her skin.
She could hear her sister's stinging screams of pain and rage, making Rheapaw whimper and cry, scaring her out her wits. Her sister, Ravenpaw screamed in agony, making the silence eerie and dark.
Rheapaw looked up to the stars, her eyes stinging to the sudden coldness. She looked to her sister, who was wailing in agony to the stars.
Rheapaw could hear the words of "Peonyhaze!"
It was her mother's name, who Rheapaw snuggled closer to, scrunching her eyes together next to the Ginger and black flecked she-cat.
Her father looked down to his daughter's eyes streaming. He coughed suddenly, racking his body. He looked to the stars with Rheapaw, fixing his eyes on a certain glimmering star.
Ravenpaw's shrieks echoed along the forest.
"Grab your opponent with your claw, and jump forward and put your weight on him. It will cause much pain, and with your claws it will defiantly cause much pain. Maybe even agony." Woodeyes instructed.
Rheapaw flinched when he said agony, much reminding her of Ravenpaw and Peonyhaze.
Woodeyes sighed guiltily, recognizing the expression of pain on his first apprentice.
He quickly broke the short silence with an offer. "How about we hunt, and then go back to camp?" It was early to leave changing, but he couldn't stand to see the poor thing sob.
Rheapaw nodded sadly, and dove into the bushes, her silver tail streaming behind her.
Rheapaw dropped her well-earned thrush and squirrel when she came upon Palepaw, the clan bully.
"What do you want?" Hissed Rheapaw.
The tom snorted in disgust. "This is how you greet your savior? No 'Hello, Palepaw'?"
Rheapaw wrinkled her face in hatred. "Leave me alone. Take all the prey you want from the pile, I won't tell."
Palepaw chuckled and put a paw to her throat, slamming her to the ground. "Catch me fresh prey, fool. Get me something to drink while you're at it, and feathers to line my nest. It's been getting… Rather uncomfortable." Palepaw looked down to the suffocating she-cat and laughed at her struggles.
"What? No Mamma to save you? Oh, right, she's dead…"
Rheapaw scowled and tried to slam her paw on his throat.
"Good thing, too… She was a fool and a disgrace to ThunderClan. No, not just ThunderClan, she was horrible in the name of all the clans…" Rheapaw snarled, well, she thought she did until she heard a threatening, high voice.
"Let my sister go…"
"Or what?"
"Or I'll kill you. Slowly."
Palepaw laughed loudly, that made Ravenpaw snarl.
Ravenpaw bared her long, unnaturally sharp, pointed teeth that Ravenpaw often sharpened since Mother died.
"You weak foo-" Palepaw was caught off by Ravenpaw lunging for his throat, when Ravenpaw hit him, Palepaw stumbled back and let Rheapaw go. Rheapaw spun around to see the bully and the mentally scarred she-cat battle it off.
Rheapaw was shocked to see what happened next.
Ravenpaw gripped Palepaw down, and with a sharp, pointed claw, slowly raked her claws along his neck in sharp painful movements. Ravenpaw savored the sight of blood welling along her claws, having the substance that kept the energy of lives.
Ravenpaw finished it with her teeth, biting out the last strand of life that Palepaw kept in agony.
Rheapaw's eyes were as wide as the moon, looking at her sister in shock, and a spark of fear to the stranger.
Ravenpaw gave a smug smile to Rheapaw.
"We have pained enough. This bastard deserved to pay. May he be tortured in hell." Ravenpaw smiled even wider, scaring Rheapaw out of her mind.
Who was this? Where was the raven black she-cat with the Sapphire blue eyes and tiny silver flecks go?
This was the first time she was scared of anyone in her bloodline.
Lorystalk whimpered in sadness to the death of her son, she had others, though and much preferred them, but she still sat in sadness at Palepaw's funeral.
The burial touched her, showing that she missed him.
The question was un answered throughout ThunderClan, who killed him.
Whoever it was should be publicly executed. Hell, she'd do it herself. That mindless bastard. Lorystalk had the idea the death was in cold, cold blood. He didn't do anything to those Shit-like idiots Ravenpaw, Rheapaw, Starkpaw, Rhinepaw and Shedpaw.
Lorystalk was sure of it.
Rheapaw slept more soundly than usual, without Palepaw the den seemed warmer and the air was less thick with anger.
Ravenpaw shouldn't have killed him, she turned into a monster.
Rheapaw woke when a black paw poked her.
"What?" She mumbled slightly. "Wake up." Ravenpaw hissed.
Rheapaw's eyes snapped open, and she followed Ravenpaw to their mentors.
"What we will be doing is examining you as you hunt. This is not your final exam, but if you don't pass this exam, your warrior's ceremony is post-poned." Streakpelt instructed. "We will be watching you, even when you can't see us. We will give your next assignment after you have caught prey that satisfies you. You are required to get one bird, two mice. Do you two understand?"
Ravenpaw and Rheapaw nodded. Their first examination!
"And… Go!"
Rheapaw dashed into the wild, lifting her nose to the air and tasting carefully. Rheapaw felt the world flash beneath her when heat tingled at her paws, and she felt the slightest touch.
"I'm not done with you Grainkit! Geh bak hehea Grainkit!" Yowled Bubblekit. "Sister! Stop chasing him! Jus' cause yuh likeh hem does noh mehn yall cah chase hem!" Highkit yelped.
Rheapaw stumbled back in surprise, she wasn't supposed to be able to hear those things. She knew because it was too distinct, it was clear. Much to clear, she was in far too much of a distance to even hear it at all.
She could feel life flow beneath her paws. She could look up and see the life substance faintly. She closed her eyes, and the life substance didn't fade, but become clearer and more distinct. She could feel the lightest touch, like if a plant just barley brushed her pelt, she'd feel it.
It was odd, to her. She could see with her eyes closed, hear the faintest whisper and control when she could feel anything.
Rheapaw came into reality with a gasp, she is on an Examination! She can't…. The whispers… She could still hear them… This was real.
Rheapaw shook her head and took off, sniffing out for any scent of prey.
Rheapaw found and unfortunate squirrel, taking its energy quickly. She found three mice, messily biting it's neck.
She ran to the pile of dirt that had her caught prey, and dashed to her camp.
When she entered the camp, Ravenpaw stood confidently over her prey. Under her, a rabbit, two mice, and a plump sparrow. Her mentor Streakpelt smiled in pleasure, basking in a shaft of light that spurted from the trees.
Woodeyes pleasantly nodded when Rheapaw dropped her kill next to Ravenpaw.
"Very good you two." Streakpelt congratulated. "Ravenpaw, come with me. I'll tell you when Fadestar will see you and your apprentice." Woodeyes nodded and Streakpelt ran off to Fadestar's den.
Rheapaw was very confused when she accidently angled her amazing hearing to Fadestar's report. "I HAVE TO SAY-." The volume almost shredded her ears from the inside, she yelped silently, but still received a curious look from Woodeyes.
Rheapaw angled her ears away, and slowly angled it back.
"…good at hunting the birds. The crow catch was very neat, but one of the mice catches was very messy. She stepped two foxtails out of the border and accidently onto Windclan's territory. Other than that it was very good." The leaves rustled, Rheapaw guessed that Fadestar shifted in his nest, sitting up. "Very well. Her final assessment will be in next Leaf-fall. Please bring-…" Rheapaw sat up in joy. Only Six moons! It's only the beginning of New-Leaf!
Streakpelt streaked out of the den, Ravenpaw behind. Ravenpaw approached Rheapaw. Rheapaw asked shakily. "How'd it go?" Ravenpaw squealed. "I get my Warrior Ceremony in the beginning of Leaf-fall!" Rheapaw forced a purr of surprise. She was happy, really.
"You should go in now, Rheapaw, Fadestar's waiting." Said Streakpelt. She looked up to the den, and cautiously walked up.
"She did very well. Despite the distractions, she caught many prey. I am sure the Queens will respect neat catches to eat."
Fadestar tilted his head to the side. "Distractions?" He asked.
"She seemed to hesitate, and completely stop at the beginning of the assessment. I hope it was nothing." Rheapaw nodded. In her soft voice she explained a lie. "I needed to think about my next prey. You can't blame me, can you?"
Fadestar nodded, accepting the excuse.
"Seems reasonable. Okay. Your last assessment will be at the same time as your sister's. At early Leaf-fall. "
Rheapaw looked up in joy, Only in Leaf-fall! With Ravenpaw, too! Fadestar smiled at Rheapaw's happy expression, realizing with a start she was never happy since Peonyhaze died.
Fadestar nodded her off. "Go on, eat your choice of prey and rest in the apprentices den. Enjoy your time there while you can." With that, Rheapaw nodded and ran off to the fresh kill pile.
In the night, Rheapaw slept, tears still streaming down her face.
In her dreams, the fields were beautiful. Rose petals swayed with the breeze, ruffling Rheapaw's Gray and silver fur. Her green eyes blazed with the sun. She smelt and oddly familiar scent, one that filled her with agony and depression. It was sweet, and not decayed with death. At the other side of the field, sparkling silver fur drifted dreamily and beautifully in the wind.
"Mother!" Rheapaw cried with elation.
"Rheapaw." A whisper like bells sounded across the field. Rheapaw didn't hear it, she felt it, and thought it. "Mother!" She cried again. She ran across the field, Peonyhaze running to Rheapaw in sync. Rheapaw stuffed her head into Peonyhaze's fur. At the same time crying and sobbing words. "Why? Why'd you have to leave us? You were wrong." Rheapaw fell to the grass, her eyes glassy and red.
When she looked up, Peonyhaze's amber eyes blazed into hers. "My Rheapaw. My beautiful Rheasong." Rheasong was Rheapaw's nickname. She always called Ravenpaw Ravenrose. "I'll be there watching from way up high Rheasong. I'm not gone. I didn't leave you. I might have been wrong. But please, don't cry." In a surprisingly ugly and monotone voice, Peonyhaze spoke. "Red lies in form of a bird, White lies in the wings of the stars." And in seconds Peonyhaze's figure started to fade. "NO!" Rheapaw screamed. "NO!"
Rheapaw woke mid-scream. Ravenpaw put her paw harshly on her throat; though it was dark Rheapaw could tell Ravenpaw was crying. "Just shut up." She said shakily. "Peonyhaze is dead. Stop reminding me. Stop reminding us." She sobbed.
Rheapaw shivered under Ravenpaw in terror. When Ravenpaw took the weight off of Rheapaw's throat, Rheapaw curled into her nest and fell asleep from the lack of energy.
Rheapaw woke in the morning very tired. Her eyes burned. It was actually Sun-High. The taste of salt in the back of her dry throat disgusted her. Staggering out of the den, only a few of the warriors walked and chatted around the camp. Freshwillow the medicine cat looked behind her shoulder rather gracefully, and saw Rheapaw. The Medicine Cat gasped and rushed over. "What's wrong young Rheapaw?" She asked politely. Rheapaw forced a smile up to Freshwillow. "Nothing." Then she frowned. "Where's Woodeyes?" Freshwillow nodded towards the camp entrance. "He went on a patrol. I saw him go into the apprentices den, but he decided not to wake you up. I can see why." She said the last thing with her voice full of concern.
Rheapaw titled her head to the side. She looked that bad? Rheapaw didn't want to look; she decided against it. Rheapaw nodded and took a Chickadee from the prey pile. Taking it to an Oak Sapling that she favored, she sat in the shade that just barely covered her in shade. She silently ate, watching kits play happily, not realizing the danger the clan just might be in.
She watched as Warriors entered and left the camp, and cats sharing tongues and sharing words. The elders stayed in there den, snoring and stretching in their nests.
With a look to the sky, she closed her eyes and angled her ears. She sniffed the air until she found two scents she was looking for. She could faintly see Woodeyes padding silently through the undergrowth. The cat shifted his weight to his white paw, and darted forward to take the life energy out of a mouse. Then she shifted her attention to Ravenpaw's life energy. Her aura was an ice blue, with dark black hues. It faintly looked as if wings spread darkly through her heart.
Ravenpaw stood on the ledge of a cliff. She raised her head to the sky, and yowled as the wind buffeted her fur harshly. It sounded like the cries the day Peonyhaze died… Mixed with anger. Rheapaw shivered as something touched her mind, blocking her thoughts from Ravenpaw's. Rheapaw tilted her head slightly, but decided to ignore it.
Rheapaw slowly fell asleep to take a nap. Her dreams of nothing took her away.
Rheapaw woke to the feeling of prodding. She looked up to the friendly face of Woodeyes. "Are you alright?" He asked. Rheapaw nodded, the salt that stung at the back of her throat seemed to have vanished. Her paw didn't want to lay there untouched. Her head didn't throb as much anymore.
Woodeyes nodded. "Good." He said. "Now, do you want to get in a tiny bit of training before it gets too dark?" Rheapaw nodded and transferred her weight to her paws. "Let's go." She said. Her voice was throaty, she needed a drink. Woodeyes smiled. "Let's go train by the lake." Rheapaw nodded thankfully and followed him out into the woods.
The lake was fresh and relaxing, the water soothed her throat and the fire died down smoothly. Rheapaw turned back to her mentor who was patiently waiting. Woodeyes smiled. "Okay. I'm going to teach you a move every cat needs to know. This will help you before battle." He said proudly. Rheapaw nodded and waited for further instructions. "Okay, when you are going into battle, what you want to do is intimidate your opponent. Puff out your fur, and the cats won't know what hit them. You'll be really big." Rheapaw instantly puffed out her gray fur, making her three times her original size. Woodeyes nodded. "Very good. Now, another thing you could do is try to darken your eyes, or taunt them, intimate them. It will make them unstable, and easier to win against. Some may get very angry, but they'll still be unstable. Then use your swiftness to back in and out of the fight area to give him nasty wounds." Woodeyes crouched into a battle crouch, baring his teeth. "Try it on me." He ordered.
Rheapaw did as she was told, crouching down and hissing. "Come and get me Asshole." She hissed. Woodeyes narrowed his eyes to slits and slashed a paw in front of his face. He jumped up angrily to land square on Rheapaw's shoulders, but Rheapaw swiftly jumped into hitting area of Woodeyes, and swiped a paw out.
Woodeyes yowled in anger and thrashed his paw out to where Rheapaw hit him. When he turned around, Rheapaw wasn't there, stumbling forward in surprise. Claws scratched painfully down his back, and Woodeyes felt a stabbing pressure on the back of his neck. Woodeyes went limp, and rolled onto the ground. Rheapaw jumped off of his back and they continued training until Night spread through the forest in a whisper.
Rheapaw snooped out of the apprentices' den when she was sure the others were sleeping. She slipped out of camp when Appleflower wasn't looking. Slinking through the leaves, she brushed a leaf behind her head and stared out into a dark clearing that stretched out farther than ThunderClan. Rheapaw took a step forward delicately and her fur stretched out next to her in the wind.
Rheapaw lifted her chin to embrace the soothing wind that tangled through her chest fur. Rheapaw stepped forward enough so that her ear-tip to the tip of her tail was caressed in the beautiful winds. Rheapaw loved to go here. Ravenpaw stumbled upon it with Peonyhaze and Rheapaw assessed her hunting in a friendly way. Peonyhaze took the two she-cats here to discuss life and friend problems. She taught the two many things, like how to relax yourself at times needed.
Rheapaw stifled a sob that threatened to break the mood. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes, and her legs threatened to break under her. Rheapaw closed her eyes.
"What are you doing here?' Came a cold voice. Rheapaw opened her eyes in surprise to find a black figure with dark blue eyes piercing through the night.
"You followed me?" Rheapaw gasped angrily. Ravenpaw smiled smugly. "Yep." She snickered. "Now for the big Question. What the fuck are you doing here?" Rheapaw let her eyes flutter to the ground beneath her.
"I just like it here. It mystifies me. You can't tell me it's not beautiful here. I know you'd be lying." She remarked.
Ravenpaw let out a breath of air and sheathed her middle claw. Using it, she creating an image in the ground. "Red lies in form of a bird, White lies in the wings of the stars." She whispered coldly. In the unruffled ground the image of a bird with wings outspread and beak pointing up was caked into the ground. Rheapaw could imagine blood spatters that Ravenpaw tried to create in the drawings.
Rheapaw shivered, tears now spilling. "Who are you?" she asked in terror. Ravenpaw let out a high pitched laugh that rang scarily through the clearing. "Who am I? Who am I?" She shook with laughter as her mouth rose to the sky in a horrible laugh. "Why, I'm Ravenpaw."