Authors Note: I have official finished this story, but it'll take awhile to upload it all!
Chapter 8: A change
Owlpaw yowled in panic, but it came out as a shrill cry, from his owl body. He hobbled toward Raggedstar, thinking he was the cause for all of this. But in his rage he had no balance and fell onto his broad face. His beak clicked in frustration. All he knew was that he was an owl and there was nothing to change that for now. He probably should just test out his wings. He flapped his mighty wings, will limited success. It just seemed too awkward to be only on two legs. Owlpaw felt like a mangy two-leg.
A big owl swooped in, and landed himself on Raggedstar's back. Dusk, the big brawny owl gazed at Owlpaw with big yellow eyes, harboring no emotion what so ever. Boiling anger brimmed from Owlpaw's odd green eyes; he wanted nothing more than to spill blood to raise a blood rage. He growled, but it sounded like a low rumble in the owls' throat.
Getting to his feet, his feathers ruffled in anger. Raggedstar seemed unfazed by the owl, actually he seemed quite amused. But Dusk seemed very intrigued. The old owl hopped from the black wolves back, and hobbled toward Owlpaw.
Owlpaw waited for his chance to sink his black talons into flesh. The urge was too much. Dusk finally came into range. He launched himself at the older owl, talons extended. To his great surprise, Dusk swiftly moved to the side. Tumbling forward, Owlpaw again ruffled his feathers and clicked his beak in dislike.
Dusk shook his horned head, "Calm down." He hooted in Owl language.
Raggedstar frowned, "He acts like another Wolfhowl." He said mostly to himself, "You might've made another mistake this time."
Dusk shot him a glare. "I doubt that Raggedstar," he looked over at Owlpaw. "Get up." He ordered in a serious tone.
Owlpaw only looked a bit surprised as he got to his feet. He looked at Dusk with such a piercing gaze it could've beaten out an angered foxes. Finally he forced words from his beak. "Why am an owl!?" He rumbled his hoot was raspy.
Dusk looked at him a long time, "For ages ago, we learned that a one that is pure to their family line, that's what you are." His eyes gave him an ageless look, "And one with a terrible temper and tongue."
Owlpaw looked confused, and grumbled, "Um, sure, let's go with that." He glanced at Dusk his eyes angry, as if the old owl had said nothing at, "Return me to a cat, and you might live until the moon rises into the sky."
Dusk understood, the full meaning of his threat, the apprentices' sinister eyes never left the large owl for a moment. Blazing with confusion and fury, his only notion was to fight and kill.
Swooping toward him, Dusk put a pinion feather of the middle of Owlpaw's forehand; he could feel rage surging through him. "Owlpaw, to return to your cat form you must image yourself in your mind"
Owlpaw looked at him as if there was more to it, and then closed his eyes. He controlled his anger, and denied himself the pleasure of killing the owl. He imagined him, a powerful looking young apprentice with dark green eyes. Then when he opened he is eyes, he could feel the ground again.
The apprentice nearly leaped in joy, nearly. Owlpaw remembered Dusk still standing there, his feathers unruffled, eyes calm. Feeling that no threat would disturb him he looked at him with his owl like glare, but said nothing. With gritted teeth he finally asked, "Why did you turn me into an owl?"
Dusk glanced at Raggedstar, he was on his back mindlessly biting his nails, to clean them, and Owlpaw didn't see the point. He was dead, and he didn't seem to run miles anymore. The apprentice just snorted.
The owl stretched his wings and glided into a pine tree, soundlessly. He looked at Owlpaw with round yellow eyes, "I think you have a right to know the truth. We have already explained some, but there is more."
Owlpaw watched quietly, his whiskers twitching with interest.
"There once was a Powerful young tom, which was your kin, Owlpaw. At first he was only ambitious and headstrong, with terrible plans of his own that were just dreams. But he was swayed to continue his plans, when he was summoned by Raggedstar, and was given the ability to phase into a wolf even bigger then Raggedstar! He killed more that's then you could imagine, families were erased from history, and great cats died. He caused all of his kin to have a cursed life, in return for killing so many."
Owlpaw stared at him, his face open shock. No one had told him of his vicious ancestor. They were all hiding the shame from him, now he was hearing it from a talking owl.
Raggedstar seemed to enjoy Dusk's little story, and happily paid attention.
Dusk's stare burned right through his kitten fur, "No one in Silverclan thought Wolfhowl would do such wrong deeds, not even Raggedstar, and as a result, Wolfhowl killed him, and Wolfhowl began thinking his family tree was better than anyone else's, and never touched his own family, unless challenged "
Owlpaw suddenly felt his face heating with inner shame, Wolfhowl; his kin had murdered innocent lives. His ears laid back, eyes looking to the ground.
The owls' eyes darkened, "But he was tormented to the brink of insanity, by prophecies. His last one involved one like you, and now the time has come to right the deeds of your ancestor."
Owlpaw looked at him, and to Raggedstar. They both looked at his with grave dim eyes that told him they were completely serious.
"You expect me to right the wrong he deeds of one's worse than my brother?" It was all coming down on his shoulder like a sycamore trunk "How am I to do that?"
Dusk shook his head, "If we knew we would tell you, return here tomorrow at sunset, I will expect you here!"
"But tomorrow is the gathering!" He objected.
Dusk glanced at him, "Fine, three sunsets from today. I will be waiting."
Owlpaw nodded a smirk on his face.
The two animals stared at him for a moment; he wondered if that was regret in their eyes and they disappeared.
His dark green gaze grew wide with shock, when they both just vanished, and there scent was gone. It surprised him enough to jump back a few paces. The fine mist around him slowly evaporated into the endless forest. Checking his place, the trees hugged him close. Glancing over into the forest clearing, he made show no wolf shadowed him while he returned home.
The apprentice ventured into the darkness, dawns first light peaked over the tops of the trees. His green eyes scanned every shadow with apprehension, while his paws carried him home. The young apprentice lifted his head and scented the air. All the prey seemed to be out the moment he didn't want to hunt; it mocked him as he refused to hunt.
His battered body felt sore from when Raggedstar had tackled him, and he didn't want either the wolf or the owl to see how hungry he was, he wasn't even sure if they watched him still.
When he felt it safe he immediately crouched down and stalked the closest scent, mouse. His paws were as light as a feather as he glided across the forest floor. Dawns dim lights welcomed the new day, dew sparkled on the patches of grass that still shone through the leaf litter. A leaf twitched, a small furry head appeared. Owlpaw didn't waste any time, he pounced onto the helpless mouse. It died instantly, he wanted to eat it terribly but the warrior code prohibited him to eat it: The clan must me fed first.
A growl rose in his throat, he wasn't going to let a silly bit of the warrior code stop him. Owlpaw devoured the mouse ravenously.
With his energy refreshed, Owlpaw, started to return back to camp slowly. His mind replayed what had just happened.
The soft light filtered through the shrinking tree tops, everything was peaceful in Owlpaw's endless home.
Silence fell over the forest.
The scuttle of nearby prey was all around even though the winter moons were approaching. Branches swayed in the calm breeze, Owlpaw fluffed up his fur. The young apprentice gazed at his home, such beauty for such a dangerous place. Wolves could be lurking in the shadows, the vicious clans always a threat for Serpentclan.
Darkclan with their distrust of everyone in the forest, with their leader Bogstar, Mistclan and their slyness to take territory from any clan it could get it from, even with the kind leader, Silverstar. The most loyal clan he knew was Moonclan, only stories told of their kindness they had in the olden days when war was not upon them, now they were their largest threat, with their cunning leader, Windstar.
Owlpaw started at a trot to the camp; slowly the faint scents of cats came around him. Owlpaw crouched low near the entrance, the clan seemed alive with activity even though it was early. Two little kits played outside the nursery, little Cricketkit and Lizardkit.
Without a second thought Owlpaw jumped up and boldly walked into camp. Everything froze; even the senior warriors turned their heads to look. He felt many gazes scorch his fur, Are they mad at me? Owlpaw Wondered.
Owlpaw was reminded of reality as Pinepaw ran toward him. Her eyes searched his face, they were wide and alarmed. Owlpaw touched noses with his stressed sister. Her eyes wandered to his torn fur, and battered body.
"What happened?" She asked, her voice quivering slightly.
"Nothing, well not anything out of the ordinary for me." Owlpaw responded his voice reflecting grim thoughts.
Pinepaw looked at him her tail lying limply in the sandy ground, "Owlpaw, Shrewpaw is gone."