Hey y'all! Here's the latest installment!, Oh, yeah IMPORTANT NEWS!!!! WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PACK! HIS NAME IS SILENT DRAGON! HERE IS HIS PROFILE! I LIKE THE CAPS LOCK BUTTON!!!!
Dragon: Full name Silent Dragon. An abnormally large male wolf, with white paws, tail tip, and ear tips, and otherwise black. He cannot speak. From what they can desipher from his sign language, he ran away from his original pack after his father killed his mate and friend, Steel. It is unknown at the moment what else happened in his silent past.
Firewolf: I think you reviewed right before I updated, so I didn't get your review until after, but I did add Dragon!
Oh, yeah! I GOT A RAT!!! YEY!!! HER NAME IS RENEGADE CESSNA MONTARIO GUINTERA CHIPOTLE BUIPICKLE BISCUIT DISHWASHER (RENEGADE OR RAT FOR SHORT!)!!! ONCE AGAIN, I LIKE THE CAPS LOCK!!!
Okay, on to the actual stuff.
Replies:
Wolfclaws: Thanks! I'll use them for other purposes, of you don't mind (cough cough read chapter cough cough) because I had a name in mind for him already. Enjoy!
Chakrastrings: I know you do!
Cinderfoot: Cool! I did name her Renegade! Ev
Readingfan14: Hehe. You told me that yourself!
Crowfeather's Loyalty: Well, thank you! When I have the time I will check your story out and see if it is true! (I doubt it, because personally, I think me writing stinks!)
Softhit of Polarclan: Of course she isn't! There just wasn't enough room with 20 or so wolves for her to be constantly in there. ;) So instead she darted in and out, injuring the buck all the while! Anyway, I've been thinking of starting an Eragon story, (have you read Eragon?) one about what if ANOTHER dragon hatched for him. Another sequel with a twist, yada yada….and also a movie commercial thing, which I thought would be fun!
Blaze ocean dragon: I know! And I feel bad when I couldn't use ALL the names! But, to see if he got in? Read on!
WildTotodile: Thank ya! I took me a while finding good stuff to fill in the blanks. ;)
SpottedstarL Yey! I was right! BTW, thank you for the terms! I'll probably need mor!
Oceanwind: I will!
Disclaimer: Blah. I don't own….
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Silverpaw followed Sparks, flanked by Rust and Shadow, towards what Silverpaw guessed was the camp. Rust would always look coldly ahead while Shadow would occasionally glance at him, her eyes guarded. Sparks occasionally looked back, his eyes excited, and his tail was wagging the entire time.
Sooner than he expected smells reached his nose, and as they rounded the bend, Silverpaw saw maybe two dozen wolves all crowded into a clearing. Comet had told him about pack stuff, and their numbers, but these were bigger numbers than he expected.
Standing guard was an abnormally large wolf, although he didn't seem to have the build of a leader. His eyes were slightly confused at the sight of the dog, but he nodded in greeting.
"Hey, Sy. This is Silverpaw, although that's not really his name. He really doesn't have a name, he told me. He's here to see Deathmoon," Sparks explained.
Sy nodded, and they continued on down the little slope.
"We have an unusually large pack this past season and a half," Sparks whispered. "One of the members, Eerie, joined our pack when I was a young pup, and he brought with him his two pups, Kichi and Virgo. The thing is, though, we have enough territory to support our pack, although Deathmoon told me that soon some may start to drift away. Kairu for one," he pointed to a grey wolf. "Gem would go with her. They never go anywhere without each other."
A tan-ish red wolf perked her ears when she heard her name, and turned to stare at the new comers.
Words seemed to dart into Silverpaw's ears and out without their actual meanings registering in his mind. A large black wolf opened his mouth, his teeth snarling, and his cold eyes met Rust's. The cinnamon wolf nodded and veered off from the group and listened while the black wolf whispered in his ear. Shadow came to his side.
"Umbra says that you will be driven off with just your ears to remember yourself by. Stick close to me or Sparks."
Surprised and a bit unnerved, Silverpaw nodded, and Shadow brushed licked his cheek. Some of the on looking wolves snickered, but Shadow snarled in response. Sparks just raised his eyebrows.
By the time Silverpaw had reached a raised plateau the entire pack had gathered.
Who Silverpaw guessed was the leader Deathmoon stepped forward, and all wolves lowered their tails in a sign of respect.
White fur around the old wolf's muzzle and his deep eyes showed the wolf was wise beyond his years, and even Silverpaw, although an outsider, felt the need to dip his head respectfully.
"What is your story?" the leader asked, only curiosity, no hostility, in his voice.
"My story isn't one for all ears," Silverpaw said.
Growls from near by wolves rose, defending their leader. A wolf by Deathmoon's side snarled.
Umbra stepped forward, slightly dipping his head in the way of a bow, and addressed the old wolf.
"Have we not accepted enough wolves, not to mention a dog, into our pack? We have far exceeded the amount of wolves necessary or wanted in this pack. Accepting another worthless pup would be unwise."
"I'm not worthless," Silverpaw growled, but a thought struck him. An important and worthy cat wouldn't have turned on his own leader.
Shadow brushed her thick tail over her nose before addressing her grandfather.
"He didn't run away when Sparks attacked him, in fact battled back, as if he had been taught to fight before he became a loner."
"I'm no loner," Silverpaw whispered. Shadow ignored him.
"Where did you learn to fight?" Umbra asked.
"My story isn't for all ears," Silverpaw repeated, this time more forcefully.
"We can always force you," Umbra growled, stepping forward eagerly. "You are a trespasser on our boundaries, therefore you aren't our guest."
"Any creature, hunter or prey, who does not wish to steal our territory, should be considered as a guest," A light brown wolf with darker shades on his back said, although he still stared distrustfully at the dog. "What is your name?"
"Silverpaw," he replied, exasperated.
"Renegade," he said curtly. "The beta of this pack. You have such an unusual name. Not only your paws are silver, but your tail and ears and back too."
The dog was in no mood to explain why his name was his name, or to ask why he Renegade had such an unusual name as well.
A slight disturbance in the crowd caused Silverpaw to look over to one of the members, who looked more like the omega than anything, because of his different build and size.
Shadow stood and wagged her tail, and Silverpaw assumed that this was the half wolf's father.
"You look familiar," the dog growled. "Like a long lost memory and that is a memory that I don't want to relive."
"Blaze, you are a dog. Does this animal have any chance of survival?" Umbra growled.
Blaze met the black wolf's gave evenly. "If he is who I think he is, then he has a very good chance indeed."
"And who do you think he is?" Renegade asked.
Blaze said nothing, only looking at Silverpaw curiously.
"Deathmoon, we have taken in so many wolves, and even a lesser. We do not need another hindrance," Umbra said.
In Silverpaw's opinion, Umbra seemed to want to take control, and an uneasy feeling twisted his gut. Knowing that his future was on the line, he spoke up boldly.
"You don't know that. Give me a chance!"
"Give a chance to a lesser that smells thoroughly like a cat, has a past he wont talk about, and will eventually learn our secrets that might give us away to other contenders that want our territory is not something we do lightly," Renegade whispered, loud enough for the pack to hear.
Most of the wolves nodded, and Silverpaw felt his hopes sink.
"He could also, eventually, tell us those secrets, and teach us some of his secrets. This pack has become too biased," Shadow spoke up.
A black wolf with splashes spoke up. "Look at him. He might be a lesser, but if I had seen him from a distance I would've easily thought him a wolf, maybe even a leader. And he is still growing! Look at his paws!"
"They're silver," Sparks whispered to himself, and Silverpaw almost snorted.
It was true, though. He was almost as large as Umbra, one of the largest wolves of the pack, and about the size of Deathmoon himself.
Deathmoon's piercing yellow eyes looked straight at Silverpaw's own, and the dog felt like he was being searched from the inside out.
Finally the leader spoke up. "He will be staying here for a week, and from there we can tell if he is able to join. Shadow, Sparks, since you two support him, you can be his tour guides."
Silverpaw sighed thankfully while Shadow let out a cry of surprise and outrage. He snorted, as did Sparks.
"But, even if you don't stay, you must still have a name, because, as Sparks informed me, you don't technically have one."
Sparks looked away from Silverpaw's glare, but his lips were turned up in a smile.
"I'm fine with my own, really," he insisted.
"Even if you are, it is not a wolf name. Blaze had his name changed, now will you. Your name is your being, and it cannot be a lie. The fact that yours suggests that you only have silver paws is a lie. Do you understand?"
Silverpaw nodded, and a pang of homesickness struck him as he thought of his old mentor, Squirrelflight.
Silence echoed throughout the clearing, and all eyes turned to the leader.
Deathmoon had closed his eyes and was breathing deeply. When he opened them, they were slightly red, and he was gazing at the dog's fur.
"Your heart has a black past, as does your thoughts, as does your pelt in the night. Wolves consider themselves creatures of the earth's light, and you will be a fierce and worthy opponent. Your first name will be Black."
Confused on how he knew this, or why this was his first name, Silverpaw just nodded.
"Your heart also has a crack, a ridge, of different loyalties. You don't know where to turn, but all you want to do is go home. The thing is, you don't know where home is."
Silverpaw doubted the last. He knew where his home was! It was at the hollow, with Sunpaw, Sorreltail, and Squirrelflight! With the rest of the clan!
"Your second name, the one that you will be known as for this moment forward, is Ridge. Black Ridge, please meet the pack."
Ridge opened his mouth to say hello, but instead the pack took up a howl. It had no words, but the sound struck something inside him, an instinct that was now forgotten.
Sparks was the first one to finish, jumping up onto his back legs in excitement. Ridge decided that he liked this wolf, so carefree compared to some of the others.
Sparks led him from the meeting area to Shadow, who was arguing with the leader.
"I don't want to be the wolf who tells that lesser about this pack! Let Sparks!"
"Then why did you support him?" Deathmoon asked.
"Because it seemed like a good idea at the time," Shadow began.
"And still might be a good one. Now, we should properly introduce ourselves. Ridge, I am Deathmoon, leader of this pack, and this is Shadow Flight, my granddaughter."
Ridge nodded, confused.
"This is Lightning Sparks, and he will be the one who shows you around. It is a special job, one that you should take on proudly, Sparks," he said.
Sparks puffed his chest out in pride, and Shadow opened her mouth once more.
"Why is it special when he does it, but a duty to me?"
"Because you have no self control, and I felt like teasing you," Deathmoon said, his muzzle bursting into a smile.
Sparks snorted, and Ridge wagged his tail. Despite being elated, he also was very tired.
Sparks noticed this, and motioned with his ear for Ridge to follow him.
"Deathmoon is always lenient on younger wolves," Sparks informed him. Glancing at him from the corner of his eye, he added, "And dogs. But, still. I thought for a second you were cat food!"
Silverpaw blinked at the mention of a cat, and almost smiled. No cat in Thunderclan would ever eat him. They'd never get past the fur.
"You're probably tired. Here, lie down. I'll wake you when you are ready."
Ridge nodded and turned, expecting a den, but in reality found just found a soft patch of earth.
He looked back at Sparks for help, but not taking the hint, Sparks just sat there, waiting for him to settle down. The silence lengthened.
"Do I just lay there?" Ridge finally asked.
"Well, what were you expecting, a den? Only birthing mothers get that honor."
Ridge didn't even bother saying that he had spent his entire life in a den, instead just circled the spot before settling down in to sleep.
He heard Sparks remark to himself," A den. As if we would actually fir inside the entrance!"
"I know exactly what you mean," Ridge whispered, drifting into an unconscious sleep.
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"I can't find him. Not without leaving your territory. And if I do, I might never find the way back," Comet whispered to the blue-gray she-cat beside her.
"I don't even know if he is alive! How could he do this to me! Why haven't you foretold it?" She snarled, her eyes turning red. Bluestar looked back, unconcerned.
"Not everything can be foretold, and not everything foretold comes true," she said wisely.
"Well, then why weren't we looking out for him better?" the dog snarled.
"He made his own choice. Now he must live up to it. He is strong, and he can make it."
"Do you think he really is the one the prophecy foretold of?" Comet asked, calming slightly.
"I don't know, Comet. I don't know. But right now, where ever he is, he is without the help of Starclan."
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"Wake up, Sleepypaws! By the way, that name fits you much better than your old one. Actually, I take that back. Not only your paws are sleepy, so it would be a lie. Forget I said anything," Sparks rambled good-naturedly, and Ridge smiled. The sun was almost at the highest point in the sky, and Ridge already felt much better.
"I'm supposed to introduce you to some of the members of the back. You know some already, like Sy, for example. He was the one who was doing guard duty last night. Remember?"
Ridge nodded, and followed Sparks through the clearing. Some wolves looked up at him with their eyes showing their hostility, but most just ignored him.
They reached the entrance to the clearing, and the same wolf from last night guarded it. Ridge happily identified the wolf as Sy.
"This is Silent Dragon, known as Dragon, but I call him Sy," Sparks explained.
Dragon nodded his head in greeting, but said nothing. Ridge wondered if this was a rule.
As they moved away, Sparks explained in a low voice.
"He came to our pack two seasons ago. We don't know why, although he tries to tell us. So far we have managed to decipher that his father had killed of his own pack, and killed his mate, Steel. He arrived in our territory with a throat wound and Rocky nursed him back to health."
"Decipher?" Ridge asked, puzzled.
"He can't speak," Sparks said gravely.
Ridge widened his eyes, and he felt the urge to destroy the wolf that had caused such pain to Dragon.
"He's been with us ever since. We know how to speak with him, though. From what Deathmoon says, there used to be an universal language of wolves, one Shila invented so we could hunt without riling up the prey with our voices. Want to hear it?"
Ridge nodded, and Sparks settled himself onto the leaves.
Clearing his throat, he began.
"Shila is our mother wolf, the alpha of the pack of the dead. The lives on the moon, and as the moon gets larger and larger, it is because Shila is gathering the dead about her. That is why we sing and howl when the moon is full, because it is the best time for us to cry to our dead. That is also why we trade our most used name for the surname moon when we become leaders, to show our respect."
Ridge nodded. This was like the clans. Kind of…
"Now, before Shila became pack leader, she needed a pack. So, creating a pack of the dead, she called them Estres. The Estres are now the stars.
"But, Shila reflected on how there was nothing to actually protect, which is the wolf's greatest instinct. To protect pups, pack mates, honor, and pride, to name a few. So, Shila created the earth, and from the earth, she created the Kayuh.
"Kayuh is our word for wolves, as it also means mountains. We were born from the mountain that swallows the moon as the sun rises."
Ridge blinked with so much knowledge being fed to him, but cocked his ears to hear more.
"Now, at night the stars watch and wink at the Kayuh, protecting them with their blanket of darkness. A wolf can be the most at home in the dark, especially when the moon is full.
"Now, one wolf in particular was Miki, a small wolf compared to all the others. She alone was looked down upon with scorn, for she could not speak.
"Now, there comes a time in all wolves' lives that they go on the big hunt. The pack had not been fed for maybe a moon or more, because every time they got close enough, their voices would alert the animals they were huning.
"Miki was hiding, watching like the rest of the pack, and then realized one of the bucks had a limp. Wanting to tell the leader, but not being able to speak, she used body language to communicate. Her only friend, Sakari, realized what she was saying from across the clearing, and then notified their leader. They caught the buck, and all had a feast. From then on the wolves used their body instead of their voice to hunt, and soon it became an instinct. From then on, the body language became a important part of the wolf. It could be used to say, 'I surrender' or 'I'm leader,' and countless other messages."
As Sparks concluded, Ridge looked up searched the sky for Shila, but the moon was sleeping, and only the sun stared back at him.
"Well, how do you like it? Do I tell a good story?" Sparks asked, concerned.
"Very good. I feel like I can see Shila right now."
Sparks beamed, and Ridge felt another question rising in his throat.
"Why do you trade names? What are the rules of names?" Ridge asked.
"We trade our most used name as a sign of the most utmost respect. We have two names, really. Here, let me explain."
Sparks burrowed his brow in concentration, and started to explain.
When you are born, the mother gives you a name. This name is the name that describes you. Should you have been born in our pack, your name might've been Silver, not Black, because the first name you are giving describes the wolf inside you or outside you. Are you with me?"
Ridge shrugged, motioning for him to carry on.
"You are called that name until you have developed a personality. I'll use my own name, as an example. When I was born, I had this lightning colored fur that came from my nose to my back. My mother called me Lightning.
"When I became old enough too actually hunt, Deathmoon thought me ready enough to actually have earned my name. So, based on my personality, Deathmoon asked Shila what to call me, and she said Sparks. My full name is, then Lightning Sparks. But Lightning only describes my fur, not me, and just the description does not symbolize the wolf. Therefore I am called Sparks, for that's who I am. The very essence of me is my name. Now do you understand?"
Ridge just looked at him blankly.
Sparks sighed, as if he was teaching a particularly dumb student.
"Your old name, Silverpaw, didn't portray you, your very being, but instead could be called a lie. Our name is nothing special, but our real name, the name that is us, is what you are called. So now, instead of Silverpaw, your name is Black Ridge, Black being your appearance, and Ridge being what you are, a split soul."
Ridge now nodded, comprehending.
"But what about Dragon? That isn't really him, is he? What is a dragon?" Ridge asked.
"Silent Dragon," Sparks repeated, thinking.
"Silent is his appearance, he appears silent. But his actual name, his being, is a dragon. A dragon is a creature that befriended the wolf. Would you like to hear another tale?" Sparks raised his brows.
Ridge nodded.
"This is the tale of the dragons, the enemy who befriended the wolf. Okay, let me see. I haven't been told this story since I was a pup," Sparks explained. "I'll just give you the basic stuff of the story.
"There is this creature who was the enemy of the wolf, called the dragon. Shila made it when she was angry, and he created fire that killed the vegetation, which starved our prey, and from there, us. Shila was made from fire, and tehrfore fire is her greatest element, and the one we, the wolf, fear.
"Now, what Shila thought would happen would shake the wolves, so they would always see Shila as the alpha, but instead an evil dragon, Holly, was born blood red, instead of the classic black, orange, or midnight blue. Even Shila was surprised, and as she watched him grow, she loved him above all creatures, even her own children; the wolf.
"Holly used this to his advantage, and soon he had twisted all that was happening to the wolves and dragons had done around, changing everything so that he was the only one who actually believed and supported her.
"The dragons had been sent to earth to scare the wolves with their fire, for they can spit fire from their mouth. They can also fly, something that saved them from many attacks. Now, Shila started to send hardships down to the earth, meant specifically for the dragons and wolves, all because of Holly.
"Many of the dragons died, as did wolves. Soon, only two remaining packs and a dozen dragons remained. They got together, although it was fairly difficult, Dragons were made to slay and scare wolves, and being in the same area was really painful. Not to mention the wolves were not the best friends of the wolves, either. But they found out that they weren't that different in the first place.
"While one was a large, fire-breathing flying lizard, they were both strong and noble hunters, a proud race that had mates for life, and loved their young and family. They also could think.
"Not many animals can think, can devise hunting strategies, to think about things other that instincts. That might be the only reason they could work together in harmony.
"Now, neither the dragons nor the wolves knew it was Holly who was behind the plagues, they had just thought that Shila was angry at them. Unusually angry. When they finished their plan of how to corner Shila and find out why she had been treating them so, Holly burst from the sky, roaring and spitting fire from his jaws. The wolves just stood frozen, stunned that a fellow dragon had turned against them, while the dragons took to the air, realizing what Holly had done. Thee met the red dragon's challenge, and while half pinned Holly down, the olther were burned to a crisp by their own fire."
"Wait," Ridge interrupted. "How? And what about the wolves?"
"I'm getting to that," Sparks snapped, then smiled. "Am I that good at telling stories? I always thought that Eerie was the best. He is really good at that kind of thing."
Clearing his throat, he continued. "Shila was protecting Holly against what he had convinced her was traitors. They very dragons that she had created had turned against her.
"She was killing left and right, brainwashed and confused, while Holly just looked on gleefully. Only two dragons remained, and they were standing protectively over the wolves. As one of them fell down dead, the wolves took up a chilling ang haunting howl, the very same howl Shila herself had sung to create the wolf.
"That sent Shila into a frenzy, for only her most loyal followers can emit that howl. 'But Holly himself told me they were traitors. How are they then howling with such faithful hearts?' she thought to herself. Holly meanwhile was trying to get past the last dragon, for the wolves were convincing Shila that Holly was the traitor. As the last note faded, Holly sent a fireball bigger than any animal thought possible straight at Shila. Then, the last dragon, who had protected the wolves until her last breath, sacrificed herself to save and honor Shila, her creator. No wolf ever found out who that dragon was. That is one of the reasons that the alpha gives up his name, to honour Shila and the unknown dragon."
Sparks voice faded away with wonder, and then shook his head. "Rust, my brother, said that Shila and all the creatures she created never existed, for it happened before man. Rust thinks that no stories that we are told are real, and that I'm a pup for thinking so," Sparks whispered.
"Some brother he is!" Ridge exclaimed, then froze and looked away, ashamed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
Sparks smiled, although somewhat sadly. "It's okay. We aren't very close. WE weren't even supposed to be born."
"Why?"
"My mom, Lika, loved Jade, a loner. And had me and Rust. But only the alpha and his mate are allowed to have pups, and in Deathmoon's case, his daughter, Light, who died when giving birth to Shadow and her three siblings."
"Shadow has siblings?" Ridge asked.
"They died," Sparks whispered.
Ridge said nothing.
"Anyways," Sparks continued. "Lika had me and Rust, but instead of driving us out, Deathmoon let us stay. But still some wolves think us unworthy of living, which is why Rust is padding along after Umbra. He's even saying things like soon Umbra will be known as Warymoon, or something like that." Sparks growled. "He's even started lagging after Shadow. She doesn't like it to well," Sparks chuckled. "I think she might prefer you over him, myself."
"But she hates me!" Ridge burst out.
"Naw, I don't think so. She only acts mean to wolves who she actually likes. It's hard for her to open up to a wolf, because of her half dog heritage. You might have it easier with her than Rust!"
Ridge felt his fur burn hot, and tried to change the subject.
"What was Deathmoon's name, before he gave it to Shila?" he asked.
Sparks raised his eyebrows, but didn't comment, only replied.
"I think it was Death Strike, called by his real name of Strike. But once the alpha trades his name, we usually don't repeat it, for he gave up his being to become part of the moon, in a way. Does that make sense?"
"No, but it sounds impressive," Ridge commented, his eyes still downcast and his fur hot.
Sparks threw his head back and laughed, and Ridge joined him. The wolf's eyes were bright sparks, and Ridge knew one thing. Sparks name didn't lie.
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Thats it! Feedback! I feel hyper today:P (that was a lot of words that I had to type!)
FLYING LIZARDS RULE!!! WAHOOO!!!
Hehe.