A/N: I really hate this line. I. DO. NOT. OWN. WARRIORS.
Now that's done, the real note! Thank you for all the OC's! I'm going to try and put them all in my story one time or another, though I might have to change the clan a bit...spoiler!
So this is her past. Yep, it's fucked up- thank Starclan it's not mine. And you get to see Haku, too. You'll see why they're here, too. It's gonna be looooooong, so I'll try to keep it interesting!
"Can't catch me! "
"Can too, just wait! "
"Slow slug! Slow slug! "
"Oh, shut up, Star! "
"Make me! "
The five kids were playing together. They were surrounded by sand, sand, and more sand, the sun beaming down on the small village. They were all happy, no one was left out-
Except one girl, sitting on the swings nearby. She's watching them play, wishing she could join their games. Her hair is white as snow, reaching her waist, and her eyes are an unusual golden color. On her shoulder, she has a strange tattoo, like a half moon. She talks to no one, and no one even looks at her.
She's alone...
One girl, the one they call Star, noticed her wistful looks. She called out to the girl. "Hey, Night!" How's it like, being a monster? "The others giggle. "I'm not a monster! "The fair-haired girl cried out. "You are! You have no friends, you are pure-blooded! "They take up the chant. "Pure-blood! Pure-blood! "
The girl- Night is her name- lunges forward. They scatter. "Pure-blood! Pure-blood! "
One girl, with black, short hair, sneers at her. "Get away, monster. Get away from me. ""I'm not a monster! Raven, please, listen to me! ""Why should we, monster? "
"Pure-blood! Pure-blood! "
"No! "She cries, running away from them. "No! No! NO! "
"Pure-blood! Pure-blood!"
Then I know why she's so familiar- she's me.
I'm...a monster?
(...)
I run in the house, on the very top of the village. I wipe my tears away- I can't show any pain in front of my father. And I'm late for training- again. I run harder. Please, please, don't have taken her! Don't take Song or Wolf!
I burst in the room, panting. I see he's alone- my brother and sister are safe. Good, he didn't-
My thoughts are cut short as the man smacks my across the face. I bite my lip as four drops of blood, that horrible, sticky, red, blood, run down my cheek. "Where were you? "he hisses at me. I look up at him. Can't tell him, can't tell him..."I'm sorry, Father, I lost track of time. I was on the roof again. "I lied.
My father looks nothing like me. He's tall, with dark skin and brown hair. His name is Stag, and he's also a pure-blood. In our village, it's the worst thing you can call someone, almost a taboo.
I'm pure-blooded. Is that why I'm a monster?
He glares at me for a while, then hands me a sword. "Well, you're here, so get started. I'll be back in around five hours. One rest and it's no food for a week. "No food? But Song and Wolf need that! I stare at the sword he gave me. It's mine, ironically, given to me at birth. Its white, like my hair, but it has a pitch black handle and sheath. Shadow, Death of Night. That's why they call me Night, instead of Moon or Snow. Most people have good names, not dark ones.
"I understand, sir. " I say quietly, covering my name written on the handle. Nisha, my true name. We just use the meanings of our names here. I only know my own name. He nods and leaves me alone. I stand for a second, than pull the sword out and practice the moves I have been taught. Now it's the Dragon Dance.
Twist, duck, jab, roll, switch, fend, turn, block. I go through the moves again and again, my name echoing in my head. Nisha, Nisha, Nisha. Night, Night, Night.
Monster.
(...)
Five Hours Later
I groan painfully, forcing my body to do it again. And again. And again. I don't even hear footsteps until the person speaks. "Enough, Night. " I collapse on the spot, too tired to stand straight. "T-thank y-you s-sir. " I force out. He stares at me.
And kicks me in the ribs.
I curl up, trying to ignore the pain. "You're pathetic. "my father's voice floats in the air. "Why? Why do you take everything for them? " I growl, my habit kicking in. "Because I give a rat's ass about family, unlike you, you bustard, and I don't care if they hated me, I'll still die to protect them!" He kicks me again, hard enough for me to scream. "Pathetic. "
I stay there for a long time, until Song and Wolf find me there. "Sister! Night! Are you okay? " Yells Wolf, and Song shakes me, trying to get me to respond. "I'm...fine. D-did you eat? Are you alright? " "WE should be asking YOU that! You have to be more careful! ""I'll be fine. Just remember, if he takes it too far, you run. Okay? Just run away, don't help me. "
(...)
I stare at the kids again. Star and Raven are there, and another girl called Hawk. They're playing with a ball, and Star notices me again. My face is covered by my hair, so they don't see the scars yet. "Hey, pure-blood! Why don't you-"I look up, showing them the line that runs down my face and fixing them with a death glare. They step back, afraid. I turn and run, run far away from them.
I can't forgive them.
I run into someone, not looking ahead of me. The person exhales sharply as we start to fall. Quickly, I twist so I'm underneath him and fall on my heels, taking the force of the fall- a move I practiced for months. He- and I notice it's a he- opened his eyes at me. Silently, I push him upright while noticing how he looks.
He had black hair with silver streaks in it. He had pale skin, and wore a white shirt and black pants that fell around his legs. But what was most shocking was his eyes, like chips of water before it's frozen. Strange, it felt like you were falling in them...
"My apologies. I did not see you. "I say quietly, looking away. He grins at me. "Never mind. Only an accident, right? " He combs his bangs back with his fingers, but they just fall back in place. "I'm River, by the way. Who are you?" "I am Night, of the Sabaku Clan. " "Clan? Like the warriors?"
Warriors? What does he mean? He notices my blank stare and laughs quietly. "Oh, yeah, you guys don't have the warrior books around here. I'm a traveler, from far away, near the mountains. "
"Books? Mountains? We have scrolls, if that's what you mean, but I thought there was only sand and the desert around us. There's no water, so no one can come here." He grins again, a crooked grin. "There is, if you know where to look. How about this? You come to my home tomorrow, and I'll teach you about the outside world."
Learn about the outside world? SO COOL!
"Let me ask my father. If he allows it, I'd love to. "
"Let's go, then! I would like to meet him. "
"Trust me, you don't..."
"Wha? "
"Nothing! "
(...)
I look at my father, my hands shaking. "Four hours today, Night. And if you don't master that move..."he leaves the threat hanging and turns to leave. "W-wait! " He turns and looks at me. "Today, I met someone from outside our village. He said he could teach me about it. Please, Father. This could benefit our knowledge, and maybe he knows how to get water easily! "
He furrows his brow. "Fine, but only after you learn that move- and I want you back in two hours."
"I understand, sir. "
(...)
I run to the gate, panting. Wait for me, wait for me...
I burst out, looking for River. He's not there...was it just a joke? I think as I see Star walking toward me. "Hey, pure-blood. " I growl and look for River again. "Star, just go away. I'm not in the mood for your stupid jokes. ""What did you say? "she demands. I'm about to tell her exactly what I said when I feel a hand on my shoulder. River.
"She said, she's not in the mood for your pathetic jokes, and neither am I. "His voice is soft, but colder than dry ice- yes, we have that. "Now I would be very thankful if I never had to talk to your ugly face again. You insult Night, yet she is ten times more beautiful than you will ever be, Star. "I blush slightly. "Her? Beautiful? Ha! She's a monster! She killed her mother! ""And saved your lying neck! She tried to kill my sister, if you forgot! "I snap, only a hair's breath away from slapping her with all I have as I remember that night.
Sister, where are you? Save me, help ...
"That's enough. Night, come on." I turn away from Star and walk toward River, my head down. "Ok, look up."
I see the village gates. I blink, confused."My home is outside the walls. Here, go through." He shows me a secret door. By now, I don't care if he wants to kill me or something- I'll be outside!
I wince when sunlight pirces through the tunnel we've been following. It turns out there's a maze of tunnels underground, and his home is half an hour away. It looks like we're near. River turns and smiles at me, a gentle smile that makes me feel safe. "Welcome to my home, Night."
(...)
His home is an oasis.
His home is an oasis.
The first thing I notice are the palm trees. I've seen pictures of them before, but I thought they weren't real. Then there's grass, real grass- not the weeds and cacti that grow in the city. There's waterfalls colliding into each other, feeding the dry, thirsty earth and small flowers are growing everywhere. The smells are stronger, the colors more vibrant. Stone walls are surrounding us everywhere, but they don't look like stones, they look like-
"Obsidian." River nods. "A long time ago, this place was volcanic. The lava cooled and made these stone walls, and for some reason, this place attracts a lot of water." He leads me toward a small hut, the trees bending over it. Inside, I blink in suprise. That smell...it smells like scrolls!
"These are books." he explains as he hands me one. "I got them from the outside world."
The book cover has lightning on it, darting across the sky. Trees are spread underneath it, and in the middle there are three cats- one gold, one grey, and one the top there's one word- Warriors. Under that it says The Sight. "What is this about?" I ask River. His face lights up and he tells me about the world of warriors.
He tells me about the four Clans, and about their ancestors, Starclan. He tells me about the different ranks of kit, apprentice, warrior, mentor, queen, deputy, and leader. He tells me about the giving of nine lives, and how the leader gets the name star. And I'm listening and listening to him, and I'm amazed at how organized it all is! "Well, what do you think?" he asks me. I look at him and grin. "It's amazing! The different Clans, all living together and fighting for honor, for their family. I want to be a warrior!" "Yeah, me too! I made up a cat and everything!" "Really?" "Yeah. My name's Bloodfur, after my blood-red pelt. I have black eyes, and I belong to Thunderclan." "Wow, that's cool!" "I know, let's make one up for you!"
I think and think. I know the perfect name.
"Wolfsong of Thunderclan." I say.
Yeah, I know. Not the best thing I wrote so far, but I did this in one day and its nine pages long.
…my expression too.
Anyway, five bucks you can guess who River is. I made it too obvious. I'll explain the name in the next chapter. I'll update in a few days, I'm trying to get an upgrade on my karate- I'm a yellow, I need to go up or ILL DIE- so no flames for me updating late, please!
So, some people are like 'It's summer, these people should have enough time to write more often'. People, we have lives. Please keep this in mind.
For all those people that reviewed: Thanks for the help, once again, and also for the Oc's.
And now for the sneak peek!
(...)
The Crane. Dodge, feint, stab, parry, disarm. Over and over again. Three hours- the only thing different is that Stag's watching.
The sweat rolls down my face as I pant for air, but I don't dare to stop. I have to get stronger, like a real warrior. I jump back, my claws behind me.
Yes, I said claws. After River lending me the Warrior books- and Naruto tapes- I designed claws that could be used in battle. My former blade I now hold in my mouth, and I've gotten even stronger. Stag was impressed- he now let's me see River as much as I want. He helps me train, too. Sometimes I have a feeling he's proud of me. He doesn't hurt Wolf or Song anymore…
A scream pent through the air. I stare up at it, then at my father. He has an evil look, and his eyes are lighted with insanity.
"What did you do?" I cried out. "What did you do to them!"
I like cookies.