Good day, readers. ^_^ I am quite pleased with myself, as I have added Chapter 2 much sooner then I thought. 3 hours after I added Chapter 1. =3
Anywho, this chapter is called Attack, Treatment, and Stealing. The main events of the chapter are in the chapter's title itself. Quick breifing: Darkpaw and company attack the fox. The injured are treated by Sunlight. Darkpaw steals food from a rival Clan with a well-thought plan.
I am also pleased at the describing words I used in this chapter. It is also, I think, longer then Chapter 1, and has exciting events. Many characters are introduced here, but none are joining Darkpaw in the main character category. The other main character of Black Void is coming in the next chapter. Enjoy~
Chapter 2
The crisp air and the presence of an enemy made Darkpaw shiver uncomfortably, taking a step back in attempt to hide behind the tree-stump; even though he knew it was hopeless. The tom's claws slowly unsheathed, fangs baring in a silent, desperate warning for the fox to back off. It was no use. The canine simply proceeded, a mocking glint in it's dark orbs.
He couldn't take it any longer. The black tom raced out from behind the stump, turning on his paws and leaping at the fox. He had misjudged it's agility. The canine whipped it's muzzle to the side, fangs scraping over Darkpaw's cheek. He yowled in surprise, crashing into the dirt with immense force. Blood trickled from a cut just under his eye, staining the leaf-littered ground scarlet. Snarling, Darkpaw slowly rose to his paws, stunned from the impact. His head throbbed, making him blink every few seconds to try clear his mind. After a few heartbeats, the RainClan apprentice was on all fours, head turning to glance over his shoulder. The fox was charging.
Cursing, Darkpaw leapt to the side, pleased with himself to find that his opponent had tripped. Before he could do anything more, two figures raced out from the undergrowth. Frightening battle-cries filled Fog Hollow, the screeches mixing with the mist. Seconds later, three other forms joined the first two, snarling and screeching at the fox.
The black apprentice groaned when he realised who had come to his aid. Hawkstar, Oceantalon, Achingpaw, Cascadingpaw, and Stormpaw. Great.
Oceantalon was the first to attack. She rushed forward on agile paws, looking like a ghost silhouetted against the misty air. Leaping into the sky, she landed squarely on the fox's head, claws sinking into it's cheeks.
The canine yelped, throwing it's head back and forcing Oceantalon to fly off. It then snarled madly, running towards the three apprentices and snapping at them. With a mighty bite, it managed to grasp Achingpaw's back in his jaws, shaking the young tom like a rag doll.
"Achingpaw!" Stormpaw screeched desperately, ramming into the fox's chest. It stumbled back at the impact, dropping the Bengal apprentice instantly.
Before it could proceed onto any more attacks, three more cats pounced out of their perches in the trees, clawing madly at the large canine.
Darkpaw lunged forward, his claws striking it's muzzle as it attempted to grab the unmoving Achingpaw once again. It yelped and retreated into the bushes, a blood trail following it's movements.
He glanced at the three new cats, recognizing their scent and appearance instantly. One was a dark brown she-cat with soul-seeking green eyes; Willowbark. Another was Adderpaw, a brown tabby she-cat with golden eyes. The last was Sunlight, a ginger she-cat with green eyes that served as RainClan's medicine cat.
"Thank-you," Oceantalon breathed to the three cats, quickly turning her attention to Achingpaw. He was on his belly and not moving.
Hunched over his form was Stormpaw, her eyes dulling with depression and sadness. "Achingpaw!" she mewed softly.
Darkpaw's ears flicked back to rest against his head, gaze drifting to stare at the ground aimlessly. If Achingpaw was dead, it was his fault.
Sunlight quickly trotted to the spotted tom's side, bending down and examining him gravely. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she straightened herself to stand, "he's okay, just unconscious."
Hawkstar nodded, gently lifting Achingpaw up onto Willowbark's back. "Take him back to Camp, but be on the lookout for that fox," he instructed, watching as the brown warrior nodded and padded away. "Sunlight, Adderpaw, how did you find us?" he asked, his voice slightly dumbstruck.
"We were hunting sparrows," Adderpaw replied tonelessly, her gaze harsh. Darkpaw knew her as the girl with the attitude.
Hawkstar simply nodded, beckoning the cats to follow him back to camp with a flick of his tail. Everyone followed with hushed whispers, everyone except Darkpaw and Stormpaw.
"If it weren't for you, Achingpaw would be okay!" the blue-grey apprentice hissed, her fur bristling.
Darkpaw returned the growl, his deep. She had no right to be talking to him like this, especially when he was two moons older. "Oh, go cry me a river," he snapped harshly, before turning to rush after the Clan.
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By the time the group of cats had arrived back at Camp, things were quiet. Warriors and elders were murmuring quietly with each other, talking about the fox attack. Apprentices were scatted in small groups, concerned for their fellow denmate, while queens and kits were hushed into the Nursery.
The group spread out and wandered over to their age groups, joining in on the conversation. Only Darkpaw, Sunlight, and Hawkstar remained.
"Sunlight," Hawkstar meowed, flicking his ears, "take Darkpaw to your den and treat his scratch. Willowbark should be waiting in there with Achingpaw."
Darkpaw had completely forgotten about the scratch under his eye. It had stopped bleeding, but started aching once his mind wandered to think about it.
The Medicine Cat nodded and trotted off to her den, Darkpaw reluctantly following after her. They quickly reached the small cave, the smooth rock floor instantly soothing their pads.
"Alright, go wait over there," Sunlight flicked her tail to the wall of the cave, then padded deeper inside to search for the right herbs, and to find Achingpaw and Willowbark.
Darkpaw slid into a sitting position against the rock wall, inhaling. This cave has odd scents… the herbs must really stink.
A few heartbeats later, Sunlight returned with a tangle of cobwebs hanging from her jaws. Willowbark was beside her. The brown warrior gave a brief nod to Darkpaw, before disappearing outside. Sunlight placed the cobwebs beside the dark apprentice, then grasped a small, yellow flower in-between her teeth. She lifted her head beside Darkpaw's wound, touching the flower to his cheek and rubbing it over the scratch.
The tom winced, pulling away quickly. "What is that?" he asked, stealing a glance at the flower.
"Marigold," Sunlight replied, rubbing it on the wound again; this time Darkpaw reluctantly stayed still for the treatment. The she-cat then placed the flower on the ground, the sticky cobwebs dangling as she lifted her head back up. She coated the wound with a few cobwebs, leaving the remains next to marigold flower. "There," Sunlight purred, "go off and play."
Play? Darkpaw thought, screwing up his face. Not likely. Shaking his head, he trotted out into the day, shaking his glossy black pelt.
Stormpaw raced over, her eyes worried. "Did you see Achingpaw? How is he?" she mewed hurridly.
"No, I didn't see your precious friend," Darkpaw hissed, turning away from the younger female.
He heard Stormpaw mutter something harshly, then the sound of her pawsteps stalking away.
Three weeks later, Achingpaw was out of the Medicine Cat's den and chatting with the other apprentices freely. Sunlight had said he had sprained his back, and needed quite a long time to heal. A large leaf was strapped across his back, and he was advised to rest almost the whole day. Darkpaw had advanced in training, and the scratch under his cheek had disappeared. He was now one of the strongest apprentices in the Clan.
Cloverpaw, a young apprentice that had just been assigned Foxclaw, Sunlight's father, as his mentor, bounded over to Darkpaw. The young tom's white fur ruffled in the wind, a goofy smile plastered on his face. "Hi, Darkpaw!" he chirped.
Darkpaw looked disbelievingly at the younger apprentice, his amber eyes sparked with amusement. "Uh… hi?" he muttered, turning to walk off.
"Aw! Don't go!" Cloverpaw pouted. Darkpaw merely ignored the green-eyed tom, disappearing into the undergrowth.
The black male made his way out of RainClan territory, ears pricked cautiously. There was a large stretch of land between each Clan's territory, which made it open for a cat of any Clan to wander through. By midday, he had come to the South of Haikin River, staring intently into it's depths as fish swam by in small groups. The tempting scent of fresh-kill suddenly wafted through the air, carrying the scent of three FlameClan cats. Darkpaw's whiskers quivered at the scent, his tongue sweeping over his muzzle.
Crouching low to the ground, the tom stalked forward, finally hiding behind a bush as three cats came into view. Two were only tiny. Kits, Darkpaw guessed, head flat against the ground. They looked alike, so he quickly added to that thought with the word 'siblings'. The larger cat looked like a warrior, his calico form perched on the bank of the river as he readied himself to catch a fish. Darkpaw realised that a small pile of fish lay directly behind the FlameClan warrior. He wanted some of those fish.
Turning his gaze to the right, a small puddle of mud lay, it's depths murky and uninviting. Cringing, Darkpaw quietly entered the puddle, rolling around in it to make sure his whole body was covered. Mud disguised scents. After he was sure his black pelt was transformed into a mucky brown one, he stalked back onto the grass. This way, he could sneak up behind the warrior and grab a few fish in his jaws. If the warrior noticed and spun around to face him, Darkpaw could easily ram it into the river, then run off without his scent or appearance being recognized.
Silently, Darkpaw stalked forward, the wind ruffling his muddy pelt. He crept around the tumbling kits, ears pinned against his skull as not to alert the youngsters. Sooner then first thought, the tom was right behind the warrior, staring intently at the tempting pile of fish. He was about to grab a few when something flopped onto his head. Darkpaw yowled in surprise, regretting it as he realised the mistake he had made. The calico FlameClan warrior whirled around angrily, watching the young apprentice shake the fish off of his head. Just before it could strike, Darkpaw regained his fierce composure and lashed out with his claws, striking the warrior straight across the muzzle. It mewed in surprise, falling backwards into the river.
The RainClan tom grasped three fish in his jaws, before taking off, racing past the startled kits.
"Hey, come back here!" The FlameClan warrior screeched, pulling himself out of the river.
Darkpaw was long gone by the time the calico could comprehend what the situation was.
Darkypaw now has food. =3 Where could he be going now? Pffft, I suck at after-chapter explanation. The FlameClan tom is named Wildstorm, he will be appearing a few times throughout the story. So will the two kits. One of them is roleplayed by yours truly, the other by a good friend. Their names are Whisperkit and Eaglekit. The next chapter is titled 'ShadeClan and the apprentice'. I also suck at titling chapters.
Quick briefing of 'ShadeClan and the apprentice': Darkpaw has come to rest at a creek. Two ShadeClan apprentices come to challenge him after hearing rumours from him of their leader. After the fight, a strange RainClan apprentice turns up; one that will change Darkpaw's life forever.
That's all, readers. R&R. ^_^ Chapter 3 will be up tomorrow or later tonight.