On a fierce leaf-bare morning, ten kits were born simultaneously from three mothers. They each had an extraordinary destiny, though two would truly change the world. Those mothers bore these kits with fierce love, knowing that there would be a day that they would be removed from the living world, the day when their kits memories would be wiped of their motherly gaze. They knew those kits would grow to forget, to hate them. But they refused to turn down the offer- to bring in their kits to this dark world.
The first mother who finished was a cat named Dovewing. She had bore two kits by the name of Fluffkit and Thistlekit. Fluffkit was claimed to have the longest fur in the Clan, so said the medicine cat. The second kit had spiky fur and looked like Thistleclaw, Redstar had exclaimed.
The second mother was Cinderheart. She bore four kits by the name of Emeraldkit, Darkkit, Blackkit, and Shadowkit. Emeraldkit had emerald-green eyes. Darkkit was born with a dark look upon his face. Blackkit had eyes as dark as the night. Shadowkit was born with such a crepuscular pelt that they could hardly see him in the shadowy den.
The last mother was Ivypool, the most hated cat (according to the Dark Forest). She had bore four kits by the name of Streamkit, Scourgekit, Firekit, and Bloodkit. Streamkit had river blue eyes. Scourgekit resembled Scourge perfectly. Firekit resembled the great Firestar (it took plenty of pleading and promises to stop Redstar from killing him on the spot). And Bloodkit had blood-red eyes with extremely long claws and fangs, favored by everyone who was a major supporter of the Dark Forest. Even Tigerstar had an intrigued eye on the promising kit.
Naturally, most cats strayed far away from Bloodkit, fearing her gaze and fearing that she was hatching a nefarious plot. But if you stayed with her long enough, talked with her, you would've known she was by far the kindest cat in the Clan. She chose to be best friends with Fluffkit because she was blind, especially after another kit had teased her. Emeraldkit always hung out with Streamkit, and they discussed things like fur and how they looked. The toms mainly played games and played pranks on the warriors.
Of the ten kits, there were three normal, two special, two important, and two evil. And, no matter how much cats hate them, even the evil ones, they will remain a vital part of the Warriors world.
Emeraldpaw lay contently on her side, waiting for the reports of her fellow denmates. It was the day of her last assessment, and she was paired with Bloodpaw.
"Yes! Woohoo!"
As she looked up, she saw the Shadowpaw and Darkpaw explode out of the gorse tunnel. "I got the killing bite," her brother claimed. Darkpaw snorted. "And I'm the Lone Star? Give me a break! I dealt the most blows to him!" "Nuh-uh!" The two cats' bickering drew her attention. Killing bite? Blows? This isn't any ordinary assessment- this is live or die.
She glanced towards her partner, knowing by experience that Bloodpaw's mind was sharper than her claws. The red eyes met the green, and for a moment, the two she-cats were silently discussing their words.
Did you notice my brothers and their conversation?
Yeah, I noticed all right.
Do you think... do you think it's more than hunting?
Oh... not just hunting. Were hunting for cats. Cats of the Night.
What?
Cats who've defied Tigerstar's code and followed StarClan. Ivypool, Dovewing, and Cinderheart were, to name a few.
And we have to-
Kill.
Emeraldpaw couldn't find the strength to stare deep into Bloodpaw's eyes so she slowly dropped her gaze. "Shadowpaw, Darkpaw! That's quite enough of y'all. Get out of the she-cats' way!" The country accent reached her delicate ears and she knew that Jet had arrived. They were found by Shrewfoot and put up quite a fight against Scorchfur, so Redstar had decided, why not let them join?
Sometimes she never knew what was going on in his scattered brain.
"Let me go!"
"I will never stop!"
"Firekit doesn't deserve this!"
"You should be glad that I'm leaving two of your siblings. You won't be lonely."
"But- NO!"
"Bloodkit, things will never fix themselves. It requires the strength of a true warrior to right the wrong."
"But... but Tigerstar always said that Redstar and Scorchfur were good examples. They always kill, spill blood, cause pain and misery!"
"I will die very soon. It is near sun-high. I must pass on the secrets so that you may share it with your allies."
"But-"
"Hush, now. First of all, I am a Cat of the Night."
"Wha-what?"
"I do not support Tigerstar. I support StarClan."
"Was daddy one?"
"Cinderheart, Dovewing... Bumblestripe, Lionblaze, your father, to name a few. I was the leader; at camp I was known as Shatteredstar."
"So what is the secret?"
"You must promise me you will fulfill the duty of a true Cat of Night. You must work hard to accomplish our one goal: To defeat the Dark Forest and their supporters."
"I-"
"Promise me!"
"I... I promise."
"Good. Now goodbye, Bloodkit."
"Wait- what?"
"Remember that after I die, you will be my successor."
"The leader?!"
"Revo Ekat Llahs Thgin."
"What does that-"
"Hush... Bloodkit. It is time for me to die."
"Mother? MOTHER!"
Bloodpaw narrowed her eyes as she and Emeraldpaw whipped through the forest, following a faint scent. Their assessment was to track down and kill a Cat of the Night, or a Shattered. They had been given a tuft of long, brown fur that reeked of blood and dirt. She had a sinking feeling she knew who he was, but she wouldn't dare say her prediction out loud.
Her memory over time had developed into a nightmare. Her mother's last words chilled her blood every time she woke from her nightmare. "It is time for me to die."
Was Ivypool being suicidal? Did she too, give up against the tenacious invisible grip that refused to set her free, to let her continue her righteous path as a Shattered?
As they finally stumbled into the marshes, Bloodpaw scented a familiar stench near her left. "This way," she hissed.
They crouched and stalked around a large oak tree and waited, hidden behind deep green bushes. Peering between the cracks in the thin branches, she spotted a huge tom with a long, swishing tail and a rounded muzzle. His scent reeked of dirt and mud, his pelt was smeared with blood. Scratches were bleeding heavily, deep wounds pulsed, and there was a thick scar placed just around his eyes. It was Scar.
"Emeraldpaw, go to over to the other side. I must question his, ah, whereabouts."
Emeraldpaw merely nodded. She had developed a major crush on the handsome tom- finding him here was unexpected.
Bloodpaw took a deep breath, then strode into the clearing, her head high. "Why, hello Scar. You're looking quite, ah, interesting today. May I so please ask why you are in the Shattered Clearing?" She glared at his defiant brown eyes, which looked quite chilling with the scar near his eye. But she didn't say a word until he answered.
"I... it's none of your business," he growled, hissing as Bloodpaw, her deadly claws unsheathed, cuffed his ear.
Bloodpaw glanced down at her claws to see a large bloody lump of meat pierced on the tip of her claws. Trying to ignore Emeraldpaw's horrified gaze (while simultaneously trying not to puke), she leaned in and whispered, "Revo Ekat Llahs Thgin."
Scar nearly doubled over in shock, but he quickly steadied himself. "Who are the other Shattered?" she growled, trying to tell Scar it was only a trick for her partner. Scar nodded and whispered in her ear, "Camp is in the lake. You must swim to the center, then dive down. You will see a hole; you must go through there." Bloodpaw nodded. "Where is the camp?" she pressed loudly. "When you get to camp, you will see many cats, as well as Firepaw. Do not, I repeat, do not tell of this to anyone. Understand?" he hissed, glancing around. Bloodpaw suppressed a purr of relief. It had been too long since her last meeting with her brother. She continually requested a visit, but she was constantly denied. "I must kill you now," she growled, and this time, Scar realized it was true. She yowled and prepared to spring but soon Emeraldpaw jumped on his back, her claws sheathed. "Emeraldpaw? What-" she started, but Emeraldpaw cut her off. "I... I need to kill him," the she-cat replied. Bloodpaw hissed but backed into the bushes.
"Scar, please, listen to me, I can get you out safely!"
"Why? Why should I believe you?"
"Because... because I love you."
There was a long silence. Even the birds weren't chirping- it was as if they too were stunned by the news. Bloodpaw herself was frozen- she had merely thought Emeraldpaw liked him, not loved.
"You do?"
"Yes."
Silence. "I... I liked you, but... my mate is Jet."
"What? But..."
"Forgive me. Jet was my mate before you were born."
"She was?"
"Yes-"
There was a roar and Bloodpaw exploded into the clearing, wondering who made the Clearing shake, the bushes hiss. Emeraldpaw was hissing and biting and scratching Scar like she'd never seen before. Scar blinked and angrily swiped a humongous paw at Emeraldpaw, causing her to fly into the trunk of a nearby tree. "Kill him," Emeraldpaw whispered before she went out cold, blood beginning to pool under her head.
Seeing this, Bloodpaw closed her eyes.
She knew this was going to happen.
Yes... she knew.
It didn't have to be this way.
Long deep breaths.
Will she still live?
Breathe.
What if she dies?!
BREATHE.
Sighing, she looked up at Scar.
Something sparked inside of her. A faint red haze appeared.
"I will not kill you, no need to worry about that," Bloodpaw growled.
Relief flashed in Scar's eyes. Bloodpaw waited.
And waited.
Surely any Cat of the Night would feel some guilt, some sorrow?
Bloodpaw searched his eyes, willing Scar to flash a silent signal. Any word. Any movement. But she saw nothing.
The spark grew to a young flame. The redness turned darker.
"But I will Banish you. Even from the Shattered. If anyone spots you," she spat, "Then you will receive no mercy."
Scar's eyes widened. Horror. But no guilt.
It fueled to a burning flame. The red turned dark, obscuring the edges of her vision.
"Get out. Stay away, leave. Get caught, I don't care but I never, ever, want to see you AGAIN!" Bloodpaw screamed the last word out.
Scar narrowed his eyes. Anger. Revenge.
Still no guilt.
The fire erupted into a roaring wildfire, ready to burn through anything in their path. Blood-red obscured her vision.
Before she knew it, she struck.
She was leaping. When she reached his tail, she bit and clawed his tail while in mid-air.
With a jerk and a splash of blood, she landed, his tail in her mouth.
Jet was howling on the ground with pain, fury, and hurt.
But there wasn't a trace of guilt.
Bloodpaw stalked over and spat the large tail next to Scar. A stream of dark blood snaked its way towards the nearby pond. Bloodpaw did nothing to stop its path.
The pond will be a trophy. Her trophy.
She took one last look at Scar, his stump-of-a-tail twitching.
"I am Shatteredstar. And you have failed me."
She spat at his bloodstained paws.
WEEWOOWEEWOO! Alarm! Violence sighted!
Sigh. No need for the alarm. I put rated T for violence, mousebrain. Anyways.
So, this Night of Blood series is kinda like my version of Game of Blood by Huntress of Sacred Dreams (now batmaaan), but it has challenges instead of just placing cats in an arena and making them fight. Also, whoever won the Competition would become the Dark Star of Blood, Death, Life, and Love. So... yea.
It's Labor Day Weekend... NO SCHOOL! ...for one day. D:
Oh, and also, for my series, can you give me some cats for my upcoming chapters and whatnot? Just post it in reviews and put #Mommy. Thanks y'all (lol).
~Blood :3