Here it is! *drumroll* The long awaited chapter, here to end your agony! *crowd cheers and screams* I know, I know!
Anyway, sorry it took so long. I got stuck in the middle of it, and some stuff popped up and...(a hundred excuses later)...and so yeah. Love you guys! Review answers!
Miryam Lea: I know, how could I? Wasn't it just a fabulous ending?
AkatsukiLover01: New reader/reviewer/subscriber! Welcome! *hands Stormclaw plushie* Didn't you just love the cliffie?
All that fun stuff done, on with the long awaited chappie!
And I must say, I love the beginning to this!
Chapter 9
"C'mon, Raven! Let's go!" Raven looked at her sister, their identical eyes meeting.
"I don't know Robin," she said, worried.
"What is there to worry about?"
"Getting sick?" Raven pointed out. Robin only laughed.
"Raven, life is all about getting scratched and bruised and sick. The real part of it is how fast you get back up and dance in the rain again," Robin said, smiling. Raven looked at her sister in surprise.
"Okay, lets go." Robin let out a little squeak of excitement, then ran outside, where a storm howled. Raven followed her sister a little more slowly.
"Isn't it great?" Robin asked, raising her face to the rain. Raven nodded, letting the rain fall on her face. She looked at her sister. They were twins with only one difference. Raven's hair was jet-black, while Robin's was a flaming red.
Robin began to spin, slowly at first, then picking up speed. Raven began to run, feeling the wind in her hair, the rain in her face. She had never felt so alive. She glanced around for Robin.
"Robin?" Looking around, she found that her sister had spun into the middle of the street, eyes still closed. Raven felt something tug at her heart.
"Robin!" she screamed. The wind snatched her words away. She began to run, but it was too late. The truck came swerving down the road, skidding on the wet street.
"ROBIN!" Raven screamed at the top of her lungs. Robin opened her eyes briefly. Seeing her sister, she smiled and gave a little wave. It was the last thing she ever did.
Raven closed her eyes as the truck hit her sister. An awful feeling of emptiness hit her, and she doubled over.
"Robin," she whimpered. Walking over to where her sister's body lay, she sank to her knees. Her sister was still smiling, her red hair matching the blood that poured from her head where it had struck the truck.
Her sister's words echoed in her mind. "The real part of it is how fast you get back up and dance in the rain again,". Raven closed her eyes painfully, the rain pouring down her face mixing with her tears.
"I'll never forget, Robin. I pinky promise," she whispered, bending her head over her dead sister.
As Ravenpaw glared up at the tom called Claw, she remembered that stormy day. She had been twelve years old when she lost her twin, Robin. She missed her so much.
I'm coming Robin, I'm coming now, she thought. She looked up at Claw with clear green eyes, ready to die, ready to join her sister. Maybe her death would finally atone for not saving her sister. Just maybe.
Darkflight was crying now, his heart breaking little by little. Leafstar gazed at the apprentice hopelessly. Stonepelt panted, leaning on Fernstep, desperation blazing in his eyes. They knew too. They knew they were going to watch her die.
As she waited for Claw to slice her throat, a drop of rain fell on her head, refreshing the memory stronger in her mind.
She looked at Stonepelt, eyes clear. Thank you, she mouthed. Glancing at Fernstep, she could only smile. They both looked at her, shocked. Stonepelt began to shake his head, and renewed his efforts to get to her. Looking at Darkflight, she let a tear fall. I love you, she mouthed. Darkflight gave a savage cry, pushing his opponent off, trying to push through. She turned her gaze to Leafstar. She gave a respectful nod. Leafstar looked at her, understanding. She raised her claws, bloodied and dirty, to the darkening sky in farewell.
Ravenpaw glanced towards Claw, fearless. She was ready. He raised his curved claw, glinting. The rain fell even harder, and thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed in the distance. She looked at the nursery, wishing for one last glimpse of Robinkit. Robinkit's scared green eyes looked at her, fear and anger in them. Ravenpaw felt herself choking up.
Suddenly, Robinkit nodded. She looked up at her and mouthed, you kept your promise. Ravenpaw blinked suddenly. The strange look passed from Robinkit's eyes, and she went back to being a scared little kit. Ravenpaw glared back up at her captor with renewed vigor.
"You may kill me, but you'll never kill my clan!" she yowled, kicking at him with her hind legs. A caterwaul sounded from the camp entrance, and every cat turned their head to see who it was. Taking advantage of his lapse of attention, Ravenpaw managed to squirm from Claw's grasp. Turning her head, she caught the scent of RiverClan and the sight of sleek warriors pouring into the clearing, claws unsheathed, eyes blazing, led by Spiderstar.
Turning back to her opponent, blue met green in a battle of wills, both understanding only one would come out alive. The clearing exploded into battle once more.
Ravenpaw and Claw circled each other, eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the other's every movement, every twitch. Hissing, Claw lunged toward her. Ravenpaw rolled onto her back, waiting. Claw's triumphant look turned into one of confusion when Ravenpaw caught him and rolled, landing on top. Crowing her victory, she bared her teeth and lunged for his throat.
Claw shook his head, trying to deflect her blow. Snarling, Ravenpaw raised her paw and boxed his head hard enough to stun him. Teeth met flesh, and Ravenpaw tasted warm blood.
Claw gasped, ice-blue eyes dulling quickly as his blood poured out, staining Ravenpaw's fur.
"He'll kill you," Claw gurgled before going limp. Ravenpaw looked at him in shock for a moment, still on top. Looking up, she realized the rogues had fled. Spiderstar padded up to Leafstar, murmuring a few words. RiverClan and ThunderClan alike lay around, licking their wounds.
Ravenpaw searched for Darkflight and found him limping up to her as fast as he could. Her mouth dripped blood, her paws were stained red, and her fur was rumpled and torn. Darkflight was even worse.
His dark fur was torn and ragged, one ear ripped to shreds. His tail dragged after him in the dust and he limped heavily, keeping one of his front paws off the ground entirely. And yet, he still ran to her side.
Leaping off Claw's still form, she rushed to him, pressing up against him. Gasping with relief, he collapsed to the ground painfully. She licked his face gently, cleaning his cuts while waiting for Barktail. She was near enough to Spiderstar and Leafstar to hear their words.
"…patrol came and told me. We came just to be sure. I can now say I'm glad we did. That apprentice is amazingly strong. An exceptional fighter too. I saw her battle with that rogue. Something to behold. You should be proud," he meowed, fur clean of cuts and dust except for a small scratch on his shoulder. Leafstar nodded.
"ThunderClan owes a debt to RiverClan for your assistance today. I am very proud, not just of her, but of all my warriors. You must return. I will have my most capable warriors escort you," she mewed, looking exhausted. Her fur as rumpled, and her tail was limp, but her eyes still shone with vigor. Spiderstar shook his head.
"Keep your warriors here, we will return ourselves. Farewell, until the Gathering," he meowed, sounding almost cheerful. Gesturing to his warriors with a sweep of his tail, RiverClan disappeared.
Barktail hurried to Darkflight, plastering cobwebs and herbs on his wounds. He looked worriedly at the torn ear, then shook his head.
"His ear will always be torn like that, I'm afraid," he murmured, wrapping it in cobwebs. Ravenpaw just shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. I'm glad it's his ear, not his throat that is torn," she responded, looking at the dark tabby lovingly. He lay with his eyes closed, completely still but for the rise and fall of his flanks. She couldn't shake the image of his desperation from her mind, how he had thrown himself at three rogues at once, trying to get to her.
Barktail examined his paw and claimed it only to be dislocated. He promptly put it back in place, with a sharp yowl from Darkflight. Hurriedly, he tended Ravenpaw's wounds then rushed off to the next cat.
"Poor Barktail needs an apprentice," she purred. Darkflight only sighed, closing his eyes once more.
Getting up, she padded to Fernstep and Stonepelt. Stonepelt's gray fur was torn and bloodied, but his eyes shone with relief when he saw his apprentice.
"Ravenpaw!" he cried out, rushing to her. She purred, giving him a quick lick on the cheek. Fernstep padded up beside her mate. Her fur was rumpled, and her gold eyes were tired, but she didn't look badly hurt, much to Ravenpaw's relief.
"We're so glad your okay, little one," she choked out, her eyes filled with tears. Ravenpaw gave her a lick on the cheek too.
"Can't get rid of my that easily," she purred. Stonepelt gave her a lick on the head then padded off to speak with Leafstar. Fernstep padded towards the nursery and Ravenpaw looked around, a thought suddenly striking her.
Where was Lionpaw? She caught sight of him, sitting in the shadow below the high rock. His fur was rumpled, and he had a scratch on his shoulder, but he looked generally unmarked. His blue eyes glared at her angrily, hatred pouring from them like a river. Ravenpaw flinched. Had he wanted her to die?
A yowl sounded from the entrance, and Shadowfur's patrol came dashing in, shock reflected in each of their eyes. Except one. Shadowfur's. He regarded the camp coolly, then angrily when he caught sight of Claw's body, then furiously when he caught sight of Ravenpaw. As she watched, Lionpaw slipped to his side silently and murmured something in his ear.
Snarling, Ravenpaw padded up to Shadowfur, a sudden anger consuming her. She stalked up to him, ignoring the looks of her injured clan mates.
"You! Where were you?" she shrieked, eyes flashing. Shadowfur's dark fur bristled, though his voice was cold when he replied.
"Patrolling the RiverClan border, of course."
"Liar! I looked for you! I ran all along the border, yowling your names! Again, I ask, where were you!" By this time, Ravenpaw was shouting, trembling with anger.
Leafstar padded up to the apprentice's side, eyes also curious. Echopaw walked up, confused.
"Shadowfur, we patrolled the ShadowClan border, remember?" she mewed timidly. Ravenpaw glared at him triumphantly.
"So, you were patrolling the ShadowClan border," she purred silkily, eyes narrowed dangerously. Leafstar flicked the black she-cat with her tail, silencing her.
"Shadowfur," she murmured, eyes narrowed, voice deceptively calm. "Why were you patrolling the ShadowClan border, not RiverClan?"
Shadowfur's eyes flicked nervously, tail twitching.
"You hear me wrong, Leafstar. I clearly told you I was patrolling the ShadowClan border," he meowed, voice steady though his eyes were troubled.
"No, Shadowfur. You didn't. And you know that too," Leafstar meowed, voice still calm.
Shadowfur's tail lashed once.
"That's right, forgive me, I simply forgot," he snarled, eyes flashing. Ravenpaw unsheathed her claws and sank them into the dirt. Stonepelt padded up to her other side.
"I thought I told you ShadowClan, honestly I did," Shadowfur continued, voice sugar sweet. Contempt flashed in his eyes, and his tail lashed again. Lionpaw watched apprehensively. Leafstar pierced him with her gaze for a few more silent moments, before blinking slowly.
"Very well. I will let it go this once, but never again Shadowfur. Understand?" she mewed, allowing a trace of sternness to enter her voice. Shadowfur bowed his head, then turned and disappeared through the gorse tunnel, Lionpaw watching him. Ravenpaw cast one last glare at Lionpaw before padding back to Darkflight, who was struggling to sit up.
"Oakshadow, Blackfur, bury the rogue," Leafstar ordered. The two warriors vanished through the gorse tunnel, carrying the heavy white body. Ravenpaw shuddered, remembering how close she came to dying. And how she had accepted it.
"Now, ThunderClan, we have been severely attacked. But I think it's time I performed a ceremony two apprentices have been waiting for a long time. Echopaw, Lionpaw, step forward."
Echopaw padded forward, eyes shining with delight. Lionpaw stalked up a bit more hesitantly, fur bristling slightly. Leafstar tilted her head to the dark sky, rain drenching them all.
"I, Leafstar, Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the way of your noble code, and I commend them to you in return. Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Lionpaw shuffled his paws nervously as he replied, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Lionclaw. StarClan honors your bravery and skill, and we welcome you as a full member of this clan." Leafstar rested her silver muzzle on the new warrior's head, and he licked her shoulder in return before padding to stand by Oakshadow, who had just returned.
"Echopaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Echopaw raised her head high, confidence shining in her eyes as she responded, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Echopaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Echostep. StarClan honors your intelligence and patience, and we welcome you as a full member of this clan." Leafstar finished the ceremony, repeating the process she had done with Lionclaw. The clan raised their heads, chanting the new warriors' names to the ominous sky.
"We also honor another apprentice, for her brave actions today. Ravenpaw, though it is too soon for you to become a warrior, you acted as a true warrior today. ThunderClan thanks you," Leafstar yowled, dipping her head to Ravenpaw.
"Ravenpaw, Ravenpaw!" Ravenpaw felt her heart swell with pride and love, hearing her friends chant her name. Home. The word floated in her mind, coming to rest in her heart. This was home.
I love you Raven, and I'm so proud of you, a painfully familiar voice whispered in her ear. Ravenpaw whipped her head to see the ghostly outline of a dark red she-cat with glowing green eyes.
"Robin? But you-you're a cat?" she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
They gave me another chance too. But I was too weak. Now, I'm here to help you Raven, the voice murmured. The she-cat's eyes never wavered from Ravenpaw. Ravenpaw dipped her head.
"I miss you," she cried silently.
And I, you. I must go now Raven, but I will be beside you, do not worry. I love you, and I want you to know, it wasn't your fault, the voice seemed to sing, fading away. Ravenpaw watched the cat, her sister, fade away into nothing. Tears fell from her eyes, mixing with rain pouring down her fur. Just like the moment when she realized her sister was dead.
She turned her head to see Darkflight looking at her, concerned. She nuzzled him gently, lovingly.
"I was so scared for you," he choked out, drinking in her sweet scent.
"I'm sorry. Darkflight, I love you. And I'm so happy your okay," she whispered, looking at him with grief-filled eyes. He let our a short purr.
"I love you too. You're my raven, and I'll never let you fly away, not until I grow wings and can fly with you," he murmured, licking her head. Ravenpaw closed her eyes, soaking in this moment, while the rain pounded her pelt, the thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wind howled in her ears. Beautiful.
Ravenpaw looked outside in dismay where she crouched in the now-empty den. Snow. The first snow had fallen overnight. Oh dear StarClan, Stonepelt is going to freak, she thought, tail flicking.
It had been two weeks since the rogue attack. The clan had taken its time healing, every cat shaken. Darkflight had spent two nights in the medicine cat den before he could patrol again. Fernstep had moved into the nursery, her belly beginning to swell. Shadowfur had been grumpier than usual, him and Lionclaw spending a lot of time whispering. Echostep had been in a fabulous mood, on the other hand-or paw. Whatever. Stonepelt was often caught with his tail flicking, fur fluffed up, eyes worried, as he watched the skies for the first snow, signaling the beginning of leaf-bare. She knew it wasn't just worry for the clan, but for Fernstep particularly.
Yawning, Ravenpaw stood and stretched, reveling in the strength of her young muscles. It was good to be alive.
Closing her eyes now, Ravenpaw could barely remember what it was like to be Raven, a human. She could recall a few memories of Robin, and the last images before she died, but her parents' faces were a blur. Sighing, she opened her eyes.
Stepping carefully outside, she shook her pelt out, a black splotch in a land of white. It is cold, she thought, sweeping the snow from a spot before sitting down to groom.
Once done, she observed the wakening clan through narrowed eyes. Stonepelt's fur was fluffed up as he plodded through the snow to Leafstar's den. Jaypelt poked her head outside before withdrawing instantly at the cold. Echostep and Blackfur padded out for a hunting patrol, while Oakshadow, Lionclaw and Shadowfur disappeared through the gorse tunnel for dawn patrol.
Ravenpaw padded over to the prey pile to see what was left over. She was left with the choice of a scrawny rabbit and an even scrawnier mouse. She chose the rabbit.
Chewing thoughtfully, she waited for Stonepelt to reappear. When he finally did, he gave his chest a quick lick before padding to his apprentice.
"All right, today, we are focusing solely on hunting. Your bird techniques need some shaping up," he meowed before striding quickly to the gorse tunnel. Ravenpaw padded quickly after him, tail waving excitedly to see the forest.
The sight took her breath away. She gave a kittish squeal, eyes widening, bouncing up and down. The trees were covered in a layer of pure white, icicles gleaming in the weak morning sun. Stonepelt looked at her, amused.
"Deceptively beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured, voice quiet in the hushed forest. She nodded, eyes still wide. They padded deep into the forest, pausing beside the Great Oak.
"Hunt here for a while, and when you've caught enough, just wait until I get here, understand?" he asked, tail flicking. Ravenpaw tilted her head, confused.
"I thought we were working on my hunting techniques," she questioned, a little annoyed.
"You are…alone. I'm going to hunt also, just in a different part of the forest," Stonepelt mewed, tail flicking even more now. Ravenpaw looked at him skeptically.
"Then why did you say we were working on my bird-hunting techniques back at camp?" she asked, a little exasperated. Her usually calm, collected mentor was acting like an idiot.
"Forget what I said, listen to what I'm saying now," he snapped, tail lashing now. Ravenpaw felt her fur bristling and her temper rising.
"Why can't you just tell me what you're doing? Maybe I could help. If its hunting, we stand a better chance together, don't we?" she pointed out, keeping her voice tightly controlled.
"We stand a better chance apart. Now, do as I say, Ravenpaw," her mentor meowed coldly. She stood, now officially angry. She hated, hated when people or cats dismissed her like that. Her dark tail lashed and her eyes flashed.
"What's the matter with you? Are you worried or something? Your acting like a mor-mouse-brain!" she snapped, temper flaring, claws sinking into the cold, wet ground. Stonepelt's eyes widened.
"You do not speak to me like that, Ravenpaw! You will obey my orders!" he growled, fur fluffing up. Ravenpaw narrowed her eyes.
"Not if their unreasonable," she stated stubbornly, ears flattening.
"Hunting is reasonable! The Clan needs all the food possible right now," he spat, ears also flattening. Ravenpaw checked her snarl. She forced her fur down, and stilled her tail. Sheathing her claws, she sat down.
"Fine," she meowed, frustrated beyond belief. Stonepelt blinked.
"Good. Now, hunt for a while, and I'll be back soon," he growled, flattening his fur, and stalking off into the undergrowth. Muttering obscenities better left unwritten, she set off to hunt.
Ravenpaw sat by her pile, which was pretty impressive, if she did say so. Three mice, two rabbits, and two starlings. Good haul, especially for leaf-bare. Of course, the starlings had practically begged her to catch them. She purred with the thought, then her purr turned to a growl of impatience. Her mentor had been gone three hours.
Sighing, she looked around for another bit of prey. Finding a vole nibbling at a seed, she swiftly lashed out paw, effortlessly taking its life. Sorry little vole. Not my fault your delicious, she thought to herself as she added it to the pile. Just as she was making up her mind to go find her mentor, he strode in the clearing, a couple of mice clamped in his jaws.
Ravenpaw glared at him, not able to believe what she saw.
"Two mice? Two mice in three hours!" she growled, tail lashing. He dropped his catch, looking at his apprentice coolly.
"I have more buried elsewhere," he responded, fur unruffled. Ravenpaw grunted, bending her head to pick up half of her catch while he picked up the other. In silence, they padded back to camp.
Ravenpaw sighed, exhausted. It had been a strange, exhausting day. First, Stonepelt's weird behavior. Then, Jaypelt's kits had gotten into Barktail's herbs, and she had spent the whole afternoon helping him. When she finally had time for the elders, they had complained incessantly of the cold and their bedding.
She now sat outside her den, munching on a vole. She was looking forward to curling up in her warm nest, and sleeping.
"Ravenpaw! Sunset patrol!" Stonepelt's voice echoed across the clearing. Biting back a sigh, she went to join Darkflight, Oakshadow and Echostep.
Ravenpaw sighed as she collapsed outside of her den for a quick grooming. She had never been more exhausted. Trudging around the forest in the snow was not as fun as everyone thought. By the end of the day, her paws were numb, her pelt wet and rumpled, her tail heavy as lead, dragging behind her. She glared at Darkflight as he approached, having no patience for anything.
"I swear to StarClan, if you tell me I have to sit up and guard tonight, I will personally claw your other ear off," she growled when he sat down beside her, chuckling at her grumpiness.
"You must be psychic. That's exactly what Stonepelt wanted me to tell you," he purred, deeply amused. Ravenpaw raised her head to the darkening sky above her, restraining a scream of frustration.
"You. Have. Got. To. Be. Joking," she muttered, tail lashing. She looked across to where Stonepelt sat beside Fernstep, sharing a rabbit with his mate.
"Stonepelt is testing you," Darkflight meowed suddenly. Ravenpaw looked at him like he had grown two heads.
"For what?" she asked, confused beyond belief.
"He wants to make sure you won't leave the clan the day things get really hard," Darkflight murmured, referring to her roots. Ravenpaw felt herself bristling.
"That I won't run away? That's what he's worried about? I thought he trusted me more than that! I've been here for three moons, have fought two battles, have almost died, for this clan! I wouldn't run away just because it got cold!" she screeched, outraged. Darkflight shuffled his paws.
"I know you won't, Stonepelt is just making sure," he meowed, looking awkward. Ravenpaw forced herself to calm down.
"I'll show him loyal," she spat, eyes glowing angrily. Darkflight looked at her worriedly.
"Don't do anything rash, okay?" he meowed, pricking his ears. Ravenpaw purred, nodding. They lay together for a bit, sharing tongues. Ravenpaw rose to her paws, ready to start her guard. Sighing, she bid farewell to Darkflight, bending to lick his uninjured ear gently.
Padding forward, she settled down just in front of the gorse tunnel. Pricking her ears, she swept her gaze over the dark forest, resigning herself to a long, cold night.
Ravenpaw yawned, stretching. It had been two days since the snow had fallen, and she had been working her butt off.
She woke up before dawn to hunt a little, trained until it was almost sunset, with or without Stonepelt, patrolled, hunted again, slept for a couple hours, then repeated. Not a complaint passed her jaws. She did her duties obediently, and well. She barely had time for eating, and she was slowly growing skinnier, the prey disappearing.
More and more desperately did she rake the forest for food, urgently trying to find enough for the queens and elders. She hadn't eaten at all yesterday, leaving the prey for cats who needed it more. She had given her share to Jaypelt, whose kits were beginning to eat meat now.
Stonepelt seemed to notice the change, for he tried to get her to sleep a little more and eat something constantly. She refused stubbornly. The Clan needed her more, and she couldn't waste time sleeping and eating.
She, secretly, was exhausted. She knew that if she kept this up, she would be in trouble. But she couldn't slack off, not this time. She kept running, she kept hunting, she kept fighting. Desperation burned in her heart, desperate to prove herself not just to the Clan, but to herself.
Padding out, she hunted, catching a few mice. It's not enough, she yelled in her mind as she padded back into camp. Dropping her catch on the pitifully small prey pile, she looked around for Stonepelt.
He walked up to her, sternness shining in his gaze.
"Ravenpaw, you need rest," he rumbled. Ravenpaw flattened her ears.
"The Clan needs me more. I can do it Stonepelt," she meowed stubbornly.
"No. You need to eat, and you need to rest," he stated impassively. Ravenpaw glared at him.
"The queens and elders need my food more than me, and I told you, I'm fine," she growled.
"Ravenpaw, you being half-starved and dropping from exhaustion does not help the Clan," her mentor growled back, tail flicking.
"I'm not either of those things! Why can't you see that I'm choosing this? I'm trying to help our clan. I'll eat a mouse, but I don't sleep until tonight, like usual," she mewed, exasperated. Stonepelt just sighed, following her to the prey pile and watching her eat.
Standing, Ravenpaw felt a little refreshed from her paltry meal.
"Now, no training today. You can spend the day patrolling and hunting. I've assigned you sunhigh border patrol. Just you and Lionclaw," he meowed, not aware of Ravenpaw's tail twitching.
"Um, just me and Lionclaw?" she asked, trying to keep the fear from her voice. Stonepelt nodded curtly, narrowing his blue eyes at her.
"Couldn't Darkflight or Blackfur come?" she mewed fearfully. Stonepelt looked at her silently for a moment.
"Darkflight will have hunting patrol. I suppose Blackfur could join you though," he meowed thoughtfully. Relieved, Ravenpaw nodded, tail twitching.
The patrol passed uneventfully, except for the dirty glares Lionclaw threw her way. Ravenpaw's fur twitched just looking at him. In the days that had passed his ceremony, he had started to look a little better. Well, physically.
His pelt had been restored, and his muscles pounded beneath his fur, greater than ever. His claws were long and unnaturally sharp. His eyes though…his eyes haunted her.
Their depths suggested something trapped that couldn't break out. In them Ravenpaw saw hurt, hatred, anger, regret, fear, loneliness, and a swirling mixture of terror and anticipation. Every once in a great while, she caught a glimpse of the Lionpaw she had known, most often when he laughed, which was rarely. His blue eyes would sparkle, and for a moment, just for a moment, she would see the Lionpaw she missed so desperately.
The Lionpaw that was trapped in the Lionclaw. The Lionpaw she wished she could break out from his dark prison. And in that moment, memories would come rushing back, haunting her with their beautiful yet destructive melody. She would remember warm days, tussling, laughing, eating, purring, crying, and just living with Lionclaw. A pain would stab at her heart, as she knew that that Lionpaw was gone, maybe forever. It hurt. It hurt so much, to look at him and see what had once been, and what she had destroyed. She swore to herself that someday, she would see the old Lionpaw.
Am I weird because I was choking up when I wrote the last bit about Lionclaw? (btw, did you guys like the names? Echostep's took me awhile) I really was almost crying. It just makes me so sad, to see what kind of character he was, then what I made him. Trust me, he's gonna get even sadder :(
ah well, you guys know the drill! Review pleasee! Maybe another chapter today, but not sure about that, so almost definitley a chappie tomorrow!
Oh, and I need descriptions of Fernstep's kits. I'm thinking a litter of four, three toms and one she-cat (i just realized how many she-cats this clan has, so I'm cutting it down) If you guys want, you can PM me ideas of fur color, eye color, all that jazz. Please no weird colors, like violet eyes or anything like that. Oh, and names would also be appreciated! Thanks guys!
And I think that is it! Till next time!
~Au revoir, Monkey!