A test of power
This chapter is based on an idea one of my reviewers PM'ed me about. So you can see all of your ideas are helping me shape this fic, so thanks to everyone doing so. I hope to see more ideas soon!
I really enjoyed writing this chapter out, even though it's shorter than what I hoped it would be.
Also Hungry_AloeLeaf came up with another fic inspired by one of my AU Dump stories! Go check it out! (It's on A03 for all you fanfiction people out there though)
Please review!
It was a strange feeling, his body felt strange yet right. He could feel it was different; something about his body wasn't quite right, not the way it used to be. He felt bigger almost.
He also felt powerful, every twitch of his muscles exuding pure power. He felt like he could rip apart anything that comes his way. He could feel his fire rise up in his chest, burning hotter than he was used to. And yet, it felt right. It felt powerful.
This was how he was meant to be though right? He was meant to be powerful!
He felt tiny pricks at his sides, and Firestar opened his eyes to see dark shadows of cats attacking him with their claws. Huh, they were so tiny! Their claws weren't doing a thing to him, the only thing the attacks were accomplishing were torn claws and rising annoyance. He was amused, seeing these tiny shadow cats trying and failing to hurt him. Couldn't they see that he was much too powerful for them?
The attacks were getting annoying though. He just wanted to sleep! So he rose a claw into the air and brought it down, smashing the shadows like they were bugs. That's what they were, really. Annoying little bugs that needed to be squashed.
They fell easily, and he gave a laugh at the feeling of pure power rushing through him. He got up and walked over the pool of water nearby; he felt somewhat thirsty. He bent his head down to lap at the water, only for a black-scaled, horned serpentine head to greet him instead. He stumbled backwards; this wasn't him!
Firestar gave a gasp as he woke up, seeing he was in his nest curled up around Sandstorm. He gave a few pants, and tried relaxing, pondering on his dream. He had felt so powerful... but his body- it didn't feel-
He didn't know how it felt actually. It felt wrong, it felt right, it felt natural and yet it wasn't him. He laid his head back down, trying to return back to sleep. But he lay there wide awake, the dream still fresh in his mind. He shook his head; this wasn't working. Maybe if he got some fresh air?
He unwound himself carefully from Sandstorm, drawing his tail close to him and padded outside the den. His wings twitched in agitation, wanting to be used. He supposed a short flight couldn't hurt. He scanned the camp, wondering if anyone was around to see him and concluded that he was in the clear.
He spread his wings and took off, enjoying the wind flow through his fur and scales.
This felt nice...
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Tigerstar felt a growl of frustration rise up as Darkstripe stumbled forward to the big rock with a big stick in his jaws. They had kept the trainees in the Dark Forest this night, to prevent them from getting suspicious over their more recent activities. Or they weren't called at all with there being a shortage of trusted Dark Forest warriors to train them.
They were trying to find more of those stones and they figured that maybe there were more inside of the big rock. The question was how to crack it open.
Darkstripe swung the big stick, hoping to at least put a dent in the rock, only for the stick to break off as soon as it connected. He stared down at the stick before looking up at Tigerstar.
"We're going to need a bigger stick!" he called. Tigerstar fought down the urge to roll his eyes, as more Dark Forest cats came forward with bigger sticks to swing at the big rock.
This clearly wasn't working.
His eyes shifted to the black and ginger shape flying off in the distance, and his eyes widened as a plan came to the forefront of his mind. It would be in his best interests to at least test the kittypet's strengths and weaknesses, to know what to expect from him.
Maybe even know his own strengths and weaknesses if he got his paws on a stone...
He waved his tail at Brokenstar, who was watching the other warriors with rapt attention. "I need to check on something; be right back!" He got a nod back and he padded forward into the night, watching his surroundings melt back into the shadowy forest he was forced to call home all these seasons. If he wanted to make his plan work, he would need a certain something outside the territories, but to do that, he would need to return to the Dark Forest and go from there.
He continued walking, his surroundings melting once again to an area outside the clans. His eyes lit up at the fox den in front of him, and he padded inside to see two foxes, asleep. He brought his claws down on one, and it woke up with a pained howl, which woke up its startled partner. They gave enraged growls at the cat in front of them and both lunged towards Tigerstar. He dodged easily and backed out of the den, before making a run for it towards clan territory. He made sure to slow down enough for the foxes to continue pursuing him.
Once he was in Thunderclan territory, he scrambled up a tree and watched the foxes look around in confusion, trying to scent him. They pressed onwards, and he cackled, eager to see if Firestar had any weak points to exploit.
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Firestar landed near the Shadowclan border, just wanting to stretch his legs before going back. He weighed his options of either walking or flying back. Flying was fun, but he didn't want to use these wings all the time.
But why not? They were his weren't they? They were one proof of his power!
'Where are these thoughts coming from? I'm not trying to prove anything!'
The scent of fox hit him all at once, and he scanned the area wildly, hoping that they were on Shadowclan's side of the border. His clan didn't need to deal with a fox at this point of time! He stumbled backwards as two foxes crashed through the undergrowth and lunged towards him. He rolled to the side, giving a yelp of pain as one of the foxes managed to clip his side. He stared down at the bleeding in disbelief; his scales couldn't be penetrated but he couldn't say the same for his fur!
They lunged at him again, fangs bared in a attempt to take a bite out of the ginger leader.
Threat, threat, threat, threat, threat, threat, kill, kill kill kill KILL KILL KILL HOW DARE THEY HURT HIM
He shook his head as his eyes turned red, and he met their lunge with his own with an enraged growl. He let instinct guide him and he took great amusement in watching the two predators get torn apart under his claws.
He spat a stream of fire at them for good measure, and they finally fell to the ground dead and charred. He tilted his head, wondering if fox tasted good. He had never considered the possibility of eating a fox, but it seemed appetizing now. Maybe his mate and hatchlings would be grateful for the extra food?
Roar...
He blinked at the foreign whisper as his eyes returned back to their forest green color. Why would he want to roar? He slowly stared at the corpses of the two foxes before the realization that he killed them set in and he backed away in horror.
He had just took down two fully grown foxes with minimal injury. And he couldn't really remember how he did it. He sat down on his haunches in shock.
'What's happening to me?'
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Well, that had been interesting to watch. The kittypet had taken down two foxes with almost no injury. Tigerstar grinned; if he had such power, nothing would be able to stop him. He hadn't really learned anything that he didn't already know, except one key piece of vital information.
Firestar's scales couldn't be penetrated and couldn't be hurt. A cat was more likely to hurt themselves raking their claws down on his scales. But his fur on the other paw...
His fur was still that of a regular cat. The majority of his body could still be injured, which included his vital areas. There was no doubt in Tigerstar's mind that if he could just pin down the ginger fool and slice his throat open, he could easily win and Starclan and the clans would fall.
He tapped the tree he was perched on lightly with his tail, pondering what to do with this new information. Firestar was strong yes, but surely he couldn't take on multiple enemies at once right?
Even with all this power, he still had his limits.
The dragon wants to assert its dominance but Firestar is holding himself back from doing anything he deems weird. Roaring? Way too weird for him- he's a cat not a lion! But he's slowly warming up to his new body- mainly cause the stone is changing how he thinks and feels about himself.
Tigerstar is still wasting his time looking for more stones, but that doesn't mean he can't look for possible weak points Firestar may have. Know thy enemy after all.
Tell me how I did.