Chapter 7

Buzzardpaw watched as the brown apprentice leapt onto the rock to sit beside Darkenedstreak, his chest heaving and pelt slicked with blood. A small cut was on his left brow, a trickle of blood flowing down his face and onto his eyelid. Still, Eaglepaw's eyes shone with pride, and he gave Buzzardpaw a small nod in acknowledgement. "Hello, Buzzardpaw."

Stunned, Buzzardpaw couldn't answer, his tongue thick in his mouth. He glanced at Darkenedstreak who was smiling warmly at the two, her amber eyes glowing. Finally finding his voice, Buzzardpaw was able to squeak, "Y-You're the second cat?"

Eaglepaw nodded, idly swiping his paw over his cut. "Mhm. What, you dont think I'm capable?"

"That's not it at all." Buzzardpaw murmured, staring at the other apprentice. He's the second cat! Is that why I got that funny feeling at the Gathering?

He was disrupted from his thoughts by Darkenedstreak's voice, who had placed her tail on his shoulder. "Yes, we have chosen well. You two are the cats chosen for the prophecy, and you two will be the ones to lead the clans to greatness." She turned her attention back to the crowd of cats, their eyes twinkling as they listened. Viperhiss sat beside her, a solemn look on his face as he listened. He must be proud of his apprentice. "As the leader of the Dark Forest," Darkenedstreak continued, "I will be the cat that issues the prophecy." She padded to the very edge of the stone, standing tall and proud. Her voice seemed to echo throughout the forest as she chanted:

"Before there is peace, four will-"

"WAIT!" A voice called from the crowd, stopping the she-cat. She stared into the throng of cats menacingly, her tail lashing angrily.

"Who dares interrupt me?"

"I do." A stocky brown and white tom thrusted through the mass of cats, pushing his way to the front of the rock. His dark emerald eyes shone defiantly as he looked at the she-cat above him. The cat was very familiar.

"Who do you think you are, maggot? You're disrupting the fate of the clans." Viperhiss growled, standing to his paws as he glared at the tom. The tom shook slightly under the powerful Shadowclan warrior's gaze, but kept his head lifted proudly.

"I am Spottedpaw of Riverclan." Spottedpaw! The tom from the Gathering! "And I wish to challenge Buzzardpaw."

"Challenge? Ha!" Darkenedstreak scoffed, leaping down to stare the apprentice in the eyes. He cowered back slightly, but kept his paws rooted in place. "And what makes you think you are worthy of such an act, hm? This cat holds a power that you could never even fathom to possess."

"And that's why I feel that we should test it." Spottedpaw's voice shook slightly, but he kept his head lifted, "Eaglepaw had to fight Birchwing to prove himself, and I think it is unfair that Buzzardpaw doesn't. Don't they both have equal parts in the prophecy?"

Buzzardpaw looked at the cats around him, shocked. Viperhiss's lip curled in annoyance at the apprentice, but his pelt was less bristled. Eaglepaw watched Spottedpaw, his golden eyes glittering in amusement as he flexed his claws. Darkenedstreak's tail had stopped lashing, and her previous angry expression was replaced with a more thoughtful one. The cats gathered around him leaned forward, their eyes glittering as they awaited the she-cat's decision. Am I going to have to fight him?

Staring into the apprentice's eyes for a moment, Darkenedstreak narrowed hers. "You have a fair point. Very well." She leapt back onto the rock, lifting her head to shout, "I will postpone the prophecy to make sure both cats are treated equally." She tapped Buzzard on his rump, indicating for him to leap down. The brown apprentice did so, his eyes wide in shock.

"Buzzardpaw has been challenged by Spottedpaw, and must prove himself to be worthy of the prophecy." Spottedpaw slowly circled Buzzardpaw, his tail lashing behind him. "May the best cat win."

Looking around him, Buzzardpaw stared at the faces of the cat's gathered, their eyes glittering hungrily at the thought of another fight. He caught Dragonflywing's gaze, who was staring at him with a small smirk on his face. Why does he want to see me fight? Shaking his head, the apprentice turned back to his challenger, who had his lips drawn back into a snarl.

"I've been waiting to sink my claws into your worthless pelt ever since you've disrespected me at the Gathering." Disrespected you? I didn't even say anything to you! Buzzardpaw wanted to snap back at the apprentice, but unsheathed his claws instead, getting into a low crouch. The two toms glared at each other, their pelts bristling as they waited.

"Begin!" Darkenedstreak yowled, watching the fight from above. At the sound of her voice, Buzzardpaw pounced at the other apprentice, his teeth bared.

Spottedpaw leapt away from his attack, raking his claws at the other apprentice's back. Buzzardpaw had dashed away however, only allowing the tom to snag a few hairs from his tail tip. Hissing, the Riverclan apprentice lunged at his opponent, slashing his claws down Buzzardpaw's face. Buzzardpaw hissed in pain, leaping back to regain composure.

The brown and white tom smirked, his tail lashing as he leapt again. Predicting the move, Buzzardpaw bolted away, sending the other tom crashing into the rock behind him. The impact made the apprentice fall to the ground, clearly winded. Buzzardpaw backed away, looking to Darkenedstreak to end the fight. He was disappointed when she didn't, instead hissing at him to continue. Looking back to his opponent, Buzzardpaw yowled in shock as he was crashed into, falling onto his back.

Spottedpaw sneered into his face, digging his claws into Buzzardpaw's chest. "Darkenedstreak really thinks you're the cat of the prophecy? Ha! You're weaker than a kit." Writhing under the heavy Riverclan cat, Buzzardpaw hissed in pain as Spottedpaw slashed at his ears, a drop of drool hanging from the brown and white tom's jaws. He looked at the cat's on the rock, their expressions dark. Darkenedstreak's eyes were wide as she looked on, but the she-cat did nothing to stop the fight. Viperhiss' expression was stern, his shoulders hunched as he watched the apprentices through slitted pupils. But worst of all, Eaglepaw stood at the edge of the rock, his golden eyes seemingly pleading with Buzzardpaw to continue on. I can't give up! I have to prove myself!

Unable to throw the muscular tom off him physically, Buzzardpaw gathered a wad of saliva in his mouth and spat it into Spottedpaw's eyes. The Riverclan apprentice hissed, lifting one of his paws to wipe the gunk away. Taking his chance, Buzzardpaw threw his opponent off, battering his ears and driving him backwards. Spottedpaw lunged at Buzzardpaw, his eyes livid, but Buzzard had predicted this and leapt aside, slashing his claws down the sleek tom's flank as he skidded past him. The brown and white tom hissed in pain, whipping around to face his opponent once more. But Buzzardpaw had dashed to his other side, delivering a heavy blow to his head. Spottedpaw shook his head from the attack, feebly raising his paws to counter strike. But he was too slow, and Buzzardpaw crashed into the apprentice's chest, pinning him down onto the soggy ground.

Spottedpaw scrabbled his hind paws strongly against Buzzardpaw's underbelly, but the Thunderclan apprentice held on, pushing him deeper into the forest floor. "Surrender!" Buzzardpaw growled, panting heavily.

"Never!" Spottedpaw hissed in defiance, his teeth bared angrily. His kicks grew stronger as he tried to dislodge his attacker, making Buzzardpaw hiss in pain. In response, Buzzardpaw placed his black paw onto the other apprentice's throat, applying pressure. "Surrender now!"

The Riverclan apprentice continued to glare at Buzzardpaw, his feet pummeling harder. Buzzardpaw's eyes widened in a silent plea. This cat is crazy! I don't want to keep fighting! Still, the brown tom pressed his paw into the other's throat, Spottedpaw's pulse beating wildly underneath his pads. Please Spottedpaw!

The two tom's were nose to nose, emerald piercing golden, one full with worry, and the other filled with hatred. After what seemed like forever, Spottedpaw's attacks grew weaker and sloppier, his nose making a loud wheezing sound. "I surrender." The brown and white tom rasped, his voice barely audible. Relief washing over him like a wave, Buzzardpaw stepped off of the tom, allowing him to shakily rise to his paws. He looked up to the cat's above him, all three beaming down at the winner.

"Buzzardpaw has emerged victorious," Darkenedstreak's voice range out, her chest puffed with pride, "And has proven himself to be the cat in the prophecy!" Yowls of congratulations rang out around Buzzardpaw, the cats pressing around him closer. Glancing into the crowd, he spotted Dragonflywing, who had an angry expression on his face. Catching Buzzardpaw's eye, the black and white tom let out a loud huff, stalking away into the forest. What's his problem? I won! I did it for Thunderclan!

He was shaken from his thoughts as Spottedpaw let out a loud cough next to him, his paws wobbling as he struggled to stand. Buzzardpaw leaned over to help, but was met with a loud hiss in response. Spottedpaw glared at him, his eyes glinting with malice and hatred. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead was stopped by a violent coughing fit. Finally, the brown and white tom was able to choke out, "This isn't over." He slowly tottered away deeper into the throng of cats, leaving Buzzardpaw in the circular space alone. Darkenedstreak smiled down at him, waving with her tail for him to join her on the rock again. He did so, standing next to Eaglepaw, who gave him a good natured nudge with his shoulder. Looking down, Buzzardpaw glanced in the direction where Dragonflywing was sitting, noticing that the Thunderclan warrior wasn't there. Instead, a striking white she-cat sat in his place, her icy blue eyes staring at Buzzardpaw intensely. Buzzardpaw stared back, mesmerized. He was snapped back to reality by his mentor's voice.

"Now that the disruption is over," Darkenedstreak started, her voice annoyed, "I will now deliver the chosen cats their prophecy." She turned around to Buzzardpaw and Eaglepaw, her posture strong and dignified. She opened her mouth to speak, her eyes glowing an eerie white:

"Before there is peace, four will become one, and the raptor's prickly talons will be the only sanctuary against the sun's unrelenting golden rays."

The words seemed to echo around the clearing, the cats below becoming deathly silent as the she-cat spoke. Buzzardpaw felt his paws tingle with every word, and he noticed that the hairs along his spine had raised visibly. He glanced at Eaglepaw, who seemed to be experiencing the same effect, his golden eyes wide and his tail sticking out stiffly behind him. Buzzardpaw felt a sudden pressure on his chest, as if an unseen cat were digging their claws into his heart. Hissing in pain, the apprentice dropped to the ground, his eyes tightly shut. He felt a massive weight pushing him into the damp earth, which slowly became cold and solid. As quick as the feeling started, it was gone, and Buzzardpaw weakly opened his eyes.


He was shocked to be in a new location. Everything around him was pitch black, and the soggy forest ground had instead faded into a smooth stone. Opening his mouth to speak, Buzzardpaw felt that same pressure on his lungs, preventing him from even letting out a whimper. A bright light appeared before him, causing him to squint his eyes against its brilliance. Once the light had died down, Buzzardpaw slowly opened his eyes, a small white shape floating in front of him. Wrinkling his nose in confusion, he slowly stepped closer to it, causing it to jerk back. What the…

He stepped closer, prompting the shape to move back again. He leapt at it, making it leap back as well and making him tumble to the ground. Am I supposed to follow it? Rising to his paws, Buzzardpaw gave the shape a determined glare, then bounded after it, full speed. The shape always stayed the same distance away, but the black space slowly began to change into vivid scenery around the apprentice. He suddenly ran into a solid object, knocking the wind out of him.

Opening his eyes, Buzzardpaw was confused to see no obstacle in front of him. He poked one of his paws outwards, touching an invisible solid surface. The white shape was nowhere to be found, and Buzzardpaw found himself in a lush green forest.

Quiet, jumbled whispers rang in Buzzardpaw's ears, belonging to invisible cats that surrounded him. The whispers then began quiet, replaced by a deafening screech that made the apprentice cower to the ground. The sound of cats battling filled the formerly peaceful forest, staining the ground a dull rusty color. The horrible sound suddenly stopped, and the forest returned to its quiet calmness.

Three silhouettes of cats appeared on a hill in the distance. Buzzardpaw opened his mouth to call out to them, but found that he was still unable to speak. The three silhouettes stood powerfully, a golden aura seeming radiating around them. The white shape from before suddenly appeared in Buzzardpaw's face, startling him. He reached out to touch it, his paw covered by an odd coolness as he did. The prophecy rang in Buzzardpaw's ears again, this time spoken by a deep, unfamiliar voice.

"Before there is peace, four will become one," The voice spoke, echoing quietly. The white light changed shape, four small protrusions jutting out from its sides. They then receded into the light's center, leaving a small floating circle. The circle looked weak and delicate, looking as though a slight breeze could break it apart.

"and the raptor's prickly talons," The voice continued, the speaker sounding closer now. Buzzardpaw looked at the cats on the hill, noticing they were moving. Two of the figures faced each other, seemingly in an argument, their hackles raised. The other figure looked on quietly, a thick red fluid flowing from underneath its paws. The two arguing cats then parted ways, one looking upset, the other looking angry. Suddenly, the sadder looking cat began to contort violently, falling to a lifeless husk on the ground. A strong, powerful bird emerging from the cat's body, it's piercing golden eyes sending a chill down Buzzardpaw's spine. The bird soared up high, filling the tom with a light-headed feeling. The mighty avian flew in front of the seated third cat, who had their head hanging down.

"will be the only sanctuary against the sun's unrelenting golden rays." The voice finished, the ground shaking violently at each word. The third cat suddenly opened its eyes, bright golden beams bursting from them. The soaring bird screeched painfully as it struggled against the blinding light, it's wings twisting and its body jerking violently. The bird plummeted to the ground, it's talons twitching weakly as it was disintegrated by the extremely bright rays of light. Buzzardpaw felt an excruciating pain in his chest, making him cry out. The cat the bird emerged from weakly faced the third cat, much smaller and pathetic than it was originally. The cat with the light beams was about the size of a monster, and the bird cat was as small as a mouse. The beam cat reluctantly opened their eyes once more, but instead of bright beams emerging from them, a pitch blackness shot out instead, engulfing the forest scenery. Buzzardpaw felt the ground beneath him disappear, sending him falling into an endless abyss.

"Be wise, young Buzzardpaw." The disembodied voice boomed, seeming far away now, "Great troubles are coming, and the fate of the clans rests in your paws."


Author's note: (IMPORTANT)

Hey there, MeltingPopscicles here. Here's the newest chapter to Darkest Secrets. It is important for me to note that I have changed Hawkpaw's name to Eaglepaw, as I feel that the prefix Eagle is more suitable to his later development. (also I didn't want him to feel like a Hawkfrost clone :P) I should also note that I should be able to get another chapter up this week to make up for my disappearance.

Thanks for reading!