Brightclaw237: Finally have this chapter finished! I hope that you all are enjoying the story so far. I have some good news as well! I have the next few chapters done as well for this story! I only own the angel-hounds.
Current Teams:
Rosie's team: Venator- Gaia(male), Maia- Flower(female), Dimorph-Torch(male), Plesio- Mist(female), Siamo- Sushi(male)
Holt's team: V-raptor- Odin(male), V-raptor- Thor(male), V-raptor-Steve(male), Ptera- Crescent(female), Elazmo-Wave(male)
Lucy's team: Allo- Allo (male), Jara- Jar (male), Tro- Don(male) Penta- Pent(male), Brachio- Brachy(male)
Duna's team: Paki- Dew(female), Dilopho- Seafoam(female), Thalasso- Rain(male), and Delta- Swift(male)
Raptin's team: Metria(male), Hoplo(male), and Cerato(male)
Rex's team( Rex is Saurhead in my story, not the BB Bandit's dog member. The dog will still be known as Rex though) : T-Rex- Crimson(male), Sungari- Volcan(male), Guan- Corona(male)
Dina- Dimetro-Flick (male, main vivosaur), Dimorph-Sun (male),Menchi-Soot (male), Berto-Flint(male)
Dino- Areos-Omega (male, main vivosaur), Tabo-Hurricane (male), and Nycto-Falcon (male)
Todd- Stego-Courage (male, main vivosaur), Gyole-Thorn (male), and Spinax-Gale (male)
Pearl and Dag's team: Carno-Macky(male, Pearl's main vivosaur), Ourano-Tilde(female, Dag's main vivosaur), and Seismo-Waffle(female)
Brightclaw's team: Spinax- Slash(male), Shanshan- Storm(male), Coatlus- Whirlwind (main Vivosaur, male), S-Raptor- Fang(male), Korona- Sea-Rex(male), Toba-Tsunami (male), Igno-Ryuu (male, guidance vivosaur), and Frigi-Kiri (female, guidance vivosaur), Raja-Ace (male), Thalasso-Cress (male), and Nycto-Typhoon (female)
Brightshadow's team: Krypto-Krypt (main vivosaur,male), Allo-Chaos(male), Tophis-Orochi (male), and Guera-Snoozer (male)
Sparky's team: Sucho- Gator(male), Spino- Tiger (main Vivosaur)(male), Cryo- Shard(male), Fubati- Thunder(male)
Yuki's team: Thalasso- Dewdrop(male), Angato- Ivy(female), Paki- Frostbite(female), Despino- Spirit(female)
Frost's team: Cryo-Snowcone (main vivosaur, male), Alectro-Spark(male), Delta-Jaguar(female), and Shoni-Cutlass(male)
Drago's team: T-Rex-King(male), Gorgo-Predator(male), Dimorph-Sulfur(male), and Fubati-Torpedo(male)
Draco's team: M-Raptor- Forest(male), Epidex-Venus(female), and Ptera- Gust(male)
Star's team: Paki(female), Tricera(male), and Brontoth(female)
I scramble up another tree trunk, and wrap my tail around the nearest branch. Using the momentum, I swing myself onto the branch like a monkey. I part my jaws and try and taste the air, but it's no use. "Darn it! The wind is all over and the rain has washed out about every scent in the surrounding area." I growl. My claws start to shine all of a sudden, but in a different way than usual. "Strange, they haven't done this since I left the forest." I bark. I then feel an energy guiding my claws. My heart is full of worry, with each step I take. "I don't care what Dino says, I will protect you with my life, Dina." I bark, my pelt drenched with rain. My fur clings to my body, and weighs me down. "I haven't felt this tired since the day…" I stop talking as the memory of me greeting my partner. Tears roll down my face, but the rain hides them. Grief claws at me like a rampaging T-Rex. My vivosaurs gather around in my mind, comforting me one by one. "Wherever I go, destruction follows." I bark, looking down at my paws. "I will not give into the darkness though, I must protect my family." I bark, starring up at the storm clouds. "People are counting on me. They expect me to be there to give them guidance and hope. But…" I pause. "None of them know the truth about me. They all rely on me, yet they know nothing about the power that I possess." I sigh, continuing on to find the hotel. Three minutes later, I find the hotel that is for the tournament's Fighters. I know that most of the angel-hounds that are taking place here are undercover, helping me in the search. About half are from the forest, and the other half are from the alleys. "If I try to enter the hotel as I am now, I'll just get thrown out." I say looking at myself. My clothes are absolutely filthy, caked in mud, grass, and leaves. My fur is also caked with mud, and grass, but I do not care. "I am no prissy pampered pup. No, I am a proud guardian!" I bark. "If people call me a beast for this, then what would they call a dog that is covered in mud, and runs through a recently cleaned house afterwards." I bark. I then decide to scale up the side of the hotel. I do realize that I am leaving a trail of mud and leaves, but who cares about that. "This isn't a resort, it's a place where people come to battle. Battles aren't always clean and spotless." I bark. "I mean, in the battles that I had to fight in, I was covered in many wounds." I bark.
'True, I have seen your memories and they are quite fearsome.' Sea-Rex says.
'Same here, Brightclaw.' Storm says. 'I saw what Drago had really been like, and what he had almost done to you and your brother.' He growls.
'Yet, there are memories where you had actually been happy.' Slash says.
'Though that is not how things started for you, Brightclaw.' Whirlwind says.
"Yeah, back when I had first joined the clan, I was avoided by everyone. Even after earning the name Brightclaw, some still were scared of me." I bark as I reach a ledge. "Enough of that though. That is all in the past, I need to stay in the present." I bark, scrambling up onto a ledge. As I regain my stamina, I shake off all of the mud, leaves and stuff. I even take my jacket off, and tie it around my waist after shaking a bit more of the mud and plants off of my pelt. Seeing the mess that I have made, I use my tail to sweep the debris away. I crane my neck to see that the rain has stopped, but the clouds still block the stars and moon. "This isn't good." I bark between clenched teeth, my claws starting to fade. A feeling of uneasiness knots my stomach, and feels as heavy as an iron weight. "Without the light of the stars or moon, I will grow weaker than ever." I bark, sniffing the air. I then notice that the scent of fear clings to the air. The stench overpowers the forest's own organic smell. "The angel-hounds and alley-hounds…No, all of the creatures on this island sense something. They're all terrified of something on this island, but what could it be?" I bark, closing my eyes and parting my jaws to taste the air once again. "Ugh!" I growl, tasting something foul and putrid. The air has another scent in it, something evil and dark. "Guys, it seems that destiny has another adventure for us." I bark. "Not only will we have to find Hunter and Blaze, but something on these islands has awakened. We must stop the darkness that threatens this world once again." I bark, dashing up the wall and jumping from ledge to ledge. I make it to the top floor and my claws shine bright once more, but I am out of breath and collapse on my side.
"Brightclaw!" Dina gasps.
"Hey there Dina." I bark, before putting my paw over where I was injured.
"Are you okay, Brightclaw?!" Dina asks as she hurries over to me. I remove my paw from my shoulder and see a few spots of scarlet on my fur. "You're hurt!" Dina says, running back inside to grab the first aid kit for me.
'Even though you guys managed to patch my wound up for now, it still is possible for it to reopen.' I think as I begin to lick the gash on my shoulder. 'These wounds that are received in the dark forest are taking much longer to heal than regular wounds, not even multiple healing techniques can fully close the gash up.' I inwardly growl.
"Brightclaw, I've never seen you do that before." Dina says, setting the first aid kit down next to her.
"What do you mean?" I ask, continuing to clean my wound, cringing as blood enters my mouth.
"You're licking that horrible gash, when you always use antibiotics." Dina explains.
"There is a reason for me to do this, and I will explain once I finish cleaning the wound." I bark, spitting out the blood that is on my tongue.
Dina then walks over to where I spit. She stares at the liquid in curiosity. I spit the disgusting liquid out of my mouth once more. "Brightclaw, why is there black in your blood?" Dina asks, pointing at the spit.
"What?!" I bark, walking over to where Dina was. I then look down at where she is pointing, and my eyes widen when I see that my spit has my blood and some kind of purplish black substance mixed in with it. "So this is why it is taking so long for my wound to heal." I bark, bending down to sniff the liquid. "This has the same smell as the air." I bark.
"What do you mean, Brightclaw?" Dina asks.
"Dina, this may sound strange, but please do as I say?" I ask.
"Okay." Dina says.
"First, I want you to hold your head up high." I bark, and Dina does as I say. "Now open your mouth, take a deep breath, and try to taste the air." I bark, but I put my bandana around her neck for safety measures. I then put on my spare toxic proof bandana.
Dina does as I say once again, and she flinches after doing so. "What is this smell?!" Dina grunts, covering her nose from the stench.
"That is the scent of fear from all of the animals on this island. They are completely and utterly terrified of something. I don't know what though." I sigh, the clouds starting to part. The moon shines its light down on me, an something unexpected happens.
"A war shall occur between dark and light. Clouds of destruction will steal the light's power, and terror shall rule over all life. Eight new warriors must fight alongside the light, and revive the forgotten guardian. To reclaim the lost peace, the light must shatter the dark once and for all, or fade away in the enemy's grip." A voice echoes throughout my head.
I am brought back to reality by Dina shaking me. "Are you alright, Brightclaw?" Dina asks.
"Yes, but you worry too much about me, Dina. I can handle things myself." I bark.
"Then what about that gash? I thought that I was just having a nightmare." Dina asks.
"That was no nightmare. That was a place of no light, the Dark Forest." I growl.
"The Dark Forest?" Dina questions.
"A place where cats, wild-hounds, or alley-hounds go if their hearts are too far gone. I have only heard tales of it from the elders of my clan, but no one actually knew if it was true." I bark. "Those who's dreams are haunted by the Dark Forest dwellers, are able to be wounded in their sleep." I explain, as I stitch my shoulder up. "Somehow the Dark Forest's energy has entered this world, and it is most likely powering a different enemy." I mutter under my breath.
"So, are we in any danger, Brightclaw?" Dina asks.
"No, I don't think so, Dina." I bark, giving her a reassuring smile, but in my mind, I fear that we are in grave danger. I have experienced enough things to know that danger could be lurking around any corner of this tournament. I don't want to worry Dina or her family though. 'If worse comes to worse, I will send the three away on the two other Coatlus that I have revived a few days ago.' I think as I stand up. "Now, let's see if you sustained any wounds in the forest." I bark and we head inside the room. I check Dina's arms for any sign of injury. 'Thank Starclan that she wasn't wounded in that forest.' I think as u smile at Dina. "Looks like you're all good Dina." I bark. "I'll tell you something, you remind me of myself when I was much younger!" I laugh.
"Really?" Dina asks.
"Yeah, I was always raring to go for a battle, but I would always hold my tongue." I bark.
"Didn't seem like that when you snapped at Rupert and Comet." Dina says, reminding me what I had done.
"I used to hold my tongue, but that all changed when I had enough of being pushed around." I bark. Dina doesn't say anything, but her face tells me everything. "I know that you were saved by Starclan, Dina." I bark, starring up at the stars. "Before I had awoken, I noticed the familar surroundings of Starclan." I bark. "In my greatest times of need, they have guided me towards the right path, and helped me in battle." I bark.
"Fossil Battles?" Dina asks.
"No, different kinds of fights that could determine the outcome the clans that I had lived with." I bark.
"Clans?" Dina asks.
"Yes, but I won't get into that right now. The battles were not for fun, but for survival." I bark. "It was many years ago since I've had to fight against someone with my own two paws." I bark. "I was very small compared to the other wild-hounds. Of course I was bigger than Brightshadow, but I was much smaller than Yuki and Sparky." I bark. I then head back outside and notice that dawn is beginning to break. "I had better leave. Dino still doesn't trust me that much." I bark, jumping onto the balcony's ledge.
"Brightclaw, Dino just has a hard past involving a creature that looked like you." Dina says.
"Heh, your brother reminds me of a familiar angel-hound from a few years ago." I bark.
"Really, who was it?" Dina asks.
"Cherry's brother, Blaze. He is one of the two that went missing those three years ago." I bark.
"Oh, why did Blaze hate you?" Dina asks.
"Blaze really didn't hate me…" I begin, but I stop myself from saying anymore.
"Then what was it?" Dina asks.
"I will tell you when you're ready." I bark, my voice cracking with emotion. "When I am also ready to tell you." I bark, holding the tears back. I then jump down and do a somersault in the air, before landing on all four paws.
"Brightclaw." I look up to see Dina frowning at me. I give her a reassuring smile, and run off towards Mt. Krakanack.
Brightclaw237: End of this chapter. Please read and review.