Chapter 7: The Owl's Curse

The wind whipped his face as he dashed soundlessly through the forest. He dug his claws into the cold ground to keep up his speed, and then an overwhelming smell of wolves engulfed him. The young apprentice wrinkled his nose at the stench, but he kept running, until he came to a clearing where the moon didn't shine, Owlpaw looked in the direction of the sky; all he cold see was darkness.

He tail lashed in confusion and fur, when he heard a cruel, husky laugh. He widened his eyes, and tired to find the source, the fur on his back stood on end as the scent of wolf became stronger and stronger. Owlpaw looked into the shadows, many pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared, but in front of all the others, a huge Wolf came out, his pelt blending in with the darkness.

The wolf had a long pelt of thick black fur that gleamed without moonlight, and his bright yellow eyes shined with cruelty and malice. His lips drew back, showing his long yellow fangs that stood out sharply from the deep black fur. His big head swung around to the other wolves that had gathered around him. He snarled orders at them, and he again turned towards Owlpaw, yellow eyes gleaming.

The followers didn't need to be asked twice as they hurriedly fled into the darkness, they weren't heading to Silverpack, a place where most wolf souls went, they vanished into the place where no light reached, the Dark forest.

As they disappeared from Owlpaws sight, the large black wolf continued watching him, as he didn't notice that the others were gone. His vile yellow eyes were studying Owlpaw's face for a long time. Finally the rough looking wolf broke into a grin. His long wicked looking teeth weren't bared aggressively, but looks could cause a cat his life. Owlpaw put on his bravest face; even staring at this rouge he felt great danger. Then the wolf began howling with laughter.

"Trying to be brave little kit? Well it's not working! I'm Raggedstar, runt!"

Owlpaw looked absolutely bewildered, he opened his mouth to defend himself but Raggedstar continued.

Raggedstar laughed a dry, loud laugh. "Can't get your little words out? Not as brave as you think!"

Owlpaw summoned every ounce of courage he could and snarled, "Why do you want me here?"

Raggedstar grinned showing his teeth, he leaned close to Owlpaw. His vile breath brushed against the apprentice's face, smelling of death and rotting meat. His eyes were dark and taunting. "Well, I wouldn't go demanding reasons from the wolf that snap your neck."



Owlpaw stood stone still, worried Raggedstar would prove his point, and he averted his dark green eyes to the forest floor, his tail twitching nervously.

Raggedstar snorted, and trotted carelessly to the other side of the clearing and sat. "I suppose you met a big owl, if he did his job right! Maybe left his mark of an owl?"

Owlpaw breathed in deeply, with his eyes still on the ground, he responded, trying to grab his courage before fear overwhelmed him, "Yes, his name was dusk." He looked across the clearing to glance at the wolf but he wasn't there. His jaw dropped and he looked around wildly, and he found himself looking straight into the eyes of the wolf. He nearly jumped at the sight.

"Surprised you, didn't I?" He whispered.

Owlpaw slowly took a single step back, his eyes glazed with fear.

Raggedstar lifted his front up and pushed him back, and began circling him, chuckling in his deep voice, "I see you met Dusk. Well I didn't come here just to chat with a stupid, headstrong apprentice!" He growled, "I came here for different reasons!"

The big wolf prodded him with his large nearly, knocking him over. Owlpaw winced, but hid it. The prod was powerful and nearly knocked the wind from his lungs.

Raggedstar narrowed eyes and with amazing speed for one so large and he tackled Owlpaw, completely without warning. He was very swift, and Owlpaw felt the ground vanish from under his paws, and felt Raggedstar's hot breath on his cheek.

Before he knew it he was on his side, and struggled under the grip of Raggedstar the Rouge. With all his young energy, and thrashed under the big paws. Owlpaw snarled and fought until his limbs fell weaker and weaker. He cried out for help one more time, then finally his escape plan was only a feeble struggle.

"Hold still you flea-brain! I have a job to finish. " Raggedstar growled with no expression of laughter.

He pressed his paw firmly onto the feather shaped spot, which Dusk had given him. First, a warm sensation covered him, and Raggedstar released him. It was relaxing warmth, like being back in the nursery curled up against Pinepaw. Owlpaw relaxed his tense body, but just as he did a bolt of pain struck him square in the chest. He cried out in shock and pain, as his entire body writhed in agony, Raggedstar just stood there, his eyes guarded. Finally the pain subsided, and he was reduced to heavy panting.

He didn't feel right, his vision keener then it had ever been. Owlpaw looked over to Raggedstar. He was laughing, louder then he had the entire time since he had come here. Shaking his foggy head to clear his mind, he narrowed his eyes. It 

felt strange. The cat looked at his front paws, there were no front paws. Moving what he thought to be his front legs it felt like feathers rubbing against him.

Panic was rising in his chest, turning his vision to his sides. His front legs were wings! He looked at his hind legs. He looked down at want was supposed to be his back paws, but they weren't. They were sharp, curved black talons built to kill mice.

He could still hear the booming laughter from Raggedstar, as he panicked.

Owlpaw had talons, a beak, wings, and feathers! What had happened? The young apprentice wasn't a cat anymore, he was a Owl!