Good evening/morning, those who chose to read Never-ending Nightmare Book 1 : Black Void. If you are a reader of my stories, then I must apoligise for not updating Reflected Reality. School is back on in Australia, and I'm starting Grade 7. I'm constantly busy with homework and other stuff that is happening in my life, but I will update Reflected Reality when I get a chance.

In the meantime, this is like a substitute story; in a much more popular category. This whole story is based off of a real roleplay a few friends and I are doing, but it doesn't follow the exact events. This chapter is entirely made up by me, yet most other ones are following the events of the roleplay.

Darkpaw is my character, therefore this story follows his life through until the very end. There will be many stories leading on from this one, each time adding a new main character.

BETTER SUMMARY OF STORY: Darkpaw has been through a lot in his life already, but when his only friend is forced into exile, he follows her into the wilderness. Many dangers and adventures await the two apprentices, including a strange she-cat named Deadpaw that was exiled from RainClan as well. An abandoned hotel, a Doberman Pinchser, and a loner Darkpaw shares a resenting past with are just a few of the events that they face. Black Void has more twists and turns then a lioness chasing a gazelle, so be warned; it will be tragic.

The website this takes place on is Reflected Sunset, a warrior cats Roleplay site made by yours truly. Private message me if you want the link.

This will be updated much more frequently then Reflected Reality. Now, I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it~

The tale of a young apprentice, a legend amongst the Clans.

Chapter 1

The leaves rustled as a warm breeze filtered through the forest, carrying the scent of a recently killed vole. During Summer, prey was plentiful for the wildcats; especially for RainClan, whom lived on a shallow lake, their main territory revolving around a huge mass of land.

Fog Hollow was a well-known hunting ground for RainClan cats. It was a wide stretch of forest, mist always lingering throughout it. Prey scent was well-disguised here, but so was the cat's. It was an advantage nonetheless, the thick tree-trunks hiding their dark pelts easily.

In the very centre of Fog Hollow, a dark apprentice was poised over a recent kill, crimson dripping from it's muzzle. It was a tom, pelt glossy black from the light of the sun, even through the thick mist you could make out his fierce amber eyes, a cold glaze within their depths. His unsheathed claws held the dead vole in place, about to tear into the meal when the rustling of leaves caught his attention.

"Darkpaw!" A stern hiss sounded from behind him, which made the apprentice whirl around with a vicious snarl. The source of the voice was a beautiful, silver tabby she-cat with icy blue eyes. Faded grey stripes showed on her flank and face, darker black stripes on her limbs, and a scar showing proudly on her hind leg.

Darkpaw knew he was in trouble the moment he had heard the she-cat's voice. It was Oceantalon, the deputy of RainClan.

"What?" he asked irritably, managing to keep his fur flat despite his anger.

"You were about to eat!" Oceantalon hissed furiously, her tail flicking, "disobeying the warrior code! You should know better! Does the hunger of the Clan not come first?"

Growling, Darkpaw turned and grasped the vole tightly between his teeth.

The deputy kept her harsh gaze. "You have been in this clan for a moon already, we have taught you the warrior code countless times," she growled through bared fangs, "Hawkstar and I expect you to respect your warrior roots!"

"Warrior roots?!" Darkpaw hissed fiercely, dropping the vole and turning to glare at Oceantalon. "What warrior roots?! My mother and father were loners! I was not born in the Clan, neither were my parents." Giving another warning growl, the apprentice turned and dashed into the thicket.

His history was one to regret, not going through a day without a mention of it. His parents were loners, so he was born into the free world. Freedom was not worth what he had to put up with, though. Darkpaw was abused by his father whenever he had failed a hunt, and just plain ignored by his mother. When another pair of loners attacked, they left him to be killed, but despite the odds he survived the attack. Half-starved and injured, the small kit had stumbled into RainClan territory, pitied by the leader and taken in. No one in the clan trusted him beside Hawkstar, because of his loner roots, and was often abused by his own clan-members.

The tom slowed to a gentle lope as he exited Fog Hollow, the faint trace of mist swirling over his pelt. Stopping to catch a drink at a nearby stream, Darkpaw lapped at the refreshing liquid until his thirst was quenched, then continued on the journey back to Camp.

When he finally arrived at home, it was just after dusk, most of the Clan disappearing into their dens to rest for the night. Scoffing, he parted the few vines securing the Camp's entrance, stepping firmly onto the cool grass. It was a relief on his aching pads, but not of his aching mind. Inhaling, Darkpaw entered the Apprentice's den, settling onto the cold, rocky ground.

The crisp wind circulated through the small cave, ruffling the young cat's fur as he lay his head down, eyelids closing over tired amber orbs. Eventually, the sound of the air soothed him into sleep, a black void just waiting to haunt his thoughts.

The next day, RainClan was bustling with activity. Warriors and apprentices were sharing tongues under the midday sun, young kits sparring with each other under the shade of the trees. Too crowded, were Darkpaw's thoughts of the camp.

A Bengal apprentice raced by, chased playfully by the grey tabby she-cat Darkpaw knew as Stormpaw. The two hated each other. Darkpaw swore he saw the furious glint in Stormpaw's playful blue eyes as she glanced at him.

"Achingpaw!" she called playfully as the Bengal continued to pound off, laughing with amusement. The two apprentices soon disappeared from sight.

Darkpaw growled silently and padded over to the fresh-kill pile. Prey was stocked on it like a pile of books, so high that it was bigger then Demonfall. Huffing, the young tom snatched a scrawny mouse between his teeth, before padding off to eat it alone.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather under Great Oak for a Clan Meeting!" The feminine voice rang out like thunder through the Camp, silencing each cat as they rushed over to sit underneath Great Oak; a massive tree with a low branch Oceantalon and Hawkstar made announcements on. The cats shared muted whispers as they stared up at the Oak in anticipation.

Moaning, Darkpaw heaved himself to his paws and left the small morsel of mouse just lying there, waiting to be snatched up by another apprentice. He padded over to Great Oak, settling among the crowd of cats with discomfort.

After a few heartbeats, a large, long furred grey tabby tom appeared on the branch, his fur blowing madly with the wind. His emerald green eyes gazed intensely down on RainClan.

Oceantalon nodded to Hawkstar, the tom, and slipped past him on the branch, taking her position on a slightly lower one.

"Cats of RainClan," Hawkstar's deep voice boomed through the Camp, causing Darkpaw's whiskers to quiver slightly. He had never been at a Clan meeting before. "Many of our dear apprentices are still without mentors, which needs to be fixed immediately. ShadeClan is closing in on our borders, and Petalstar is making sure her cats are strong and healthy. It is now time that a few of our apprentices will meet their new mentors."

Darkpaw flicked his tail so it was curling over his paws, boredly watching the ceremony continue.

"Achingpaw, Stormpaw, Cascadingpaw, and Darkpaw, step forward." Hawkstar gazed upon the first three apprentices as they stepped forward, their chests puffed out proudly.

Darkpaw, confused, rose to his paws and stepped out with his three denmates, ears pricked cautiously.

"Achingpaw," The leader addressed the Bengal tom with pride, gaze warm, "it is time your mentor is found. Flickershadow, you are now ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Achingpaw. You have shown yourself to be a warrior of intelligence and agility. I'm sure you will pass on all you know to this apprentice."

A dark grey tom stepped forward, his blue eyes swirling with nothing but pride. He moved forward and touched noses with Achingpaw, before escorting his new apprentice to sit down.

"Stormpaw," Hawkstar next moved onto the young she-cat, her eyes glistening with enthusiasm, "you, like Achingpaw, must have a mentor before becoming a full-fledged warrior. Bramblethorn, you are now ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Stormpaw. You have shown yourself to be a warrior of wisdom and courage. I'm sure you will pass all you know onto this apprentice."

A light brown tabby padded over to Stormpaw, touching noses gently with the young she-cat. He then led her over to Achingpaw and Flickershadow.

"Oceantalon, it is time you took on your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Cascadingpaw," Hawkstar watched his deputy leap down onto solid ground, getting ready to touch noses with Cascadingpaw, a fluffy calico with golden eyes. "You have shown yourself to be a warrior of strength and stealth. I know you will pass all you know onto this apprentice."

Oceantalon and Cascadingpaw touched noses tenderly. Now it was Darkpaw's turn. Watching with anxiety as the two she-cat's walked away, his gaze whipped to Hawkstar. Who would be his mentor?

"Darkpaw," the leader of RainClan began, his voice deep and authorized, "you have only recently joined the Clan. You are strong and wise, but you require a mentor to complete your training. I will be your mentor."

Disapproving whispers echoed throughout the gathered cats. Hawkstar quickly silenced them with a flick of his tail as he touched noses with a bitter Darkpaw.

The black apprentice was frozen stiff after that, not even hearing Hawkstar dismiss the Clan as he returned to the top of Great Oak.

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Later that day, the newly assigned mentors and apprentices wandered in and out of Camp, going on numerous training sessions. Darkpaw smirked smugly as Stormpaw trotted past with Bramblethorn. The younger she-cat returned the smirk with a fierce glare, disappearing into the undergrowth.

The black apprentice rose to his paws, pleased at the fact he now had something to brag about; the Clan leader being his mentor. He leapt down from the rock he had been perched on, ears swivelling around the bustling Camp.

"Darkpaw!" He whirled around to see Hawkstar trotting towards him, head held high in authority.

"Hawkstar," Darkpaw murmured, dipping his head in resentful respect.

"It is time you learned how to fish," Hawkstar mewed smoothly, gesturing to the Camp entrance, "meet me at Haikin River."

"Haikin River?" His apprentice looked up absent mindedly, though his gaze was confused. "Isn't that FlameClan's hunting ground?"

Hawkstar shook his head, beginning to pad off. "Not exactly. We are allowed to hunt South of the River, they get the North."

Darkpaw screwed up his face as RainClan's leader faded into the background of the thicket. "Whatever," he muttered, slowly trotting to the exit of the Camp.

Before, he had been enthralled at the idea of his first training session, but now it didn't seem like the right word to describe his feelings. Anxious, maybe.

As he picked up his pace to a sprint, Darkpaw let his thoughts dance with the mist of Fog Hollow. He skidded to a stop beside a tree stump, regaining his breath. Lifting his head, the tom inhaled the scents of the forest, expecting the sweet aroma of mice to fill his nostrils; but no scent came at all, just the scent of garlic.

Something was dangerously wrong.

Darkpaw growled lowly, the fur along his spine bristling subconsciously. His ears pinned against his skull, he instinctively lowered to crouch against the ground, the fur of his belly touching the dirt. Twigs cracked on all sides of the mist, which made the RainClan apprentice shiver. Whatever it was knew the young cat was no match for it, he wouldn't escape it's grasp in a chase either.

After what seemed like decades, right in front of Darkpaw's glistening amber eyes, a crimson figure slowly appeared out of the fog. It's brown eyes fiercely burned into his, it's bushy tail flicking with anticipation. It's black paws took a mouse-length step forward, a dangerous growl rumbling from the depths of it's throat.

A fox.

This chapter, to me, was a complete and utter failure. I had only begun to write it last night, and had to hurry to finish it earlier this morning. Also, terribly sorry for no page describing each cat that will be in the story, I wanted to get this chapter up as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading. Critisizm is welcome, but please no flamers. R&R ^_^

The next chapter will hopefully be up tomorrow.