1. Sorry for not updating for a super long time. I just wasn't happy with the way I wrote this the first few times, then I was out of town, then so much make-up school work. UGG!

2. I really think the song "Take Me Under" by Three Days Grace really gives this chapter 'the mood' :) Listen to it when she dreams if you wish.

Thanks! R&R! R&R!

-Lunaclaw1

Chapter 3: The First

After Lilysong, regretfully, returned home, Shard knew she would need a new medicine cat. She couldn't ask her best friend to stay away from her clan, and stay with the tom who broke her heart.

Chill, the new deputy, and Ripple, the new leader of the Elite Warriors, took them to find a new medicine cat. In the meantime, the kits were let out to play in the clearing. They batted around a pebble, while under the supervision of Eclipse. It was a warm new-leaf night, and Shard knew she should be getting her lives soon. However, she didn't plan to get them from Starclan, and doubted they would grant her them. Instead, she would see her father that night.

Shard told Eclipse she was going to take a short nap, and to wake her if anyone returned. Eclipse nodded, not shifting on the flat stone near the kits as she lay out in the moonlight. Shard got to her paws and headed up the rocks to her den, grabbing a sparrow from the fresh kill pile on the way. She set it aside in her den to eat later. She closed her eyes, and she appeared in the familiar Dark Forest. She sat, waiting quietly until 9 cats appeared in a semi-circle around her.

First, her father padded up to her. He unsheathed his claws, raking them across her face. The claw marks grew dark and shadow-like. He said to her. "Shard, I give you the gift of Courage, to stand up to enemies larger than you, and to be stronger than them." He stepped back, his teeth on his collar jingling quietly.

The next was a dark-brown tabby tom. He smiled, padding up to Shard and also clawing her. The marks on her flank grew dark as well. "I give you the gift of strategy. May your plans always lead to victory."

"I give you the gift of greed," sneered another white-bellied, dark brown tabby tom, ", so the leader of ONE clan isn't enough, to help you to rule over ALL those worthless, pathetic cats-of-the-stars." His hooked claws ran across her right side. His icy-blue eyes narrowed at her, his smile on his scarred muzzle pulled up in a malicious grin.

As the next cat approached her, a ragged, pale grey tabby tom, he spoke with a voice of malice and hate. "I give you the gift of determination, to never back down from a fight, and that it will drive you to your victory." He unsheathed his claws and dug them into her shoulders. She didn't even flinch, though the pain grew stronger. Smirking, he stepped back, taking his place in the circle.

The next cat was a massive, scarred, well-muscled, dark brown tabby tom. He settled his blind, amber eyes on Shard. Unsheathing his claws, Shard felt them run down her left side. They burned like the fire in his voice. "I give you the gift of
barbarity, so you shall train your clan to be the strongest it can be. Compassion makes for soft Starclan-worshiping cats." He stepped back, his scarred eyes still fixed on Shard.

A small, lithe brown tom, with one black ear, stands and walks toward the she-cat with happiness, as if he were overjoyed to inflict pain on another cat. He slashes her neck, giving her the same marks as him. "I give you the gift of loyalty, so you may continue your alliance with the Dark Forest, forever and always."

Shard starts to feel weak, as if she's lost a lot of blood, but she keeps on her paws, no matter how shaky they are. She puts on an emotionless mask to hide the growing fear and weakness inside.

A skinny, sleek, large, hard-muscled, dark grey tabby tom, with black stripes is next. His yellow eyes formed a deceptive, cunning glare pointed toward Shard. As he stalked forward, she braced herself to be hit on her back, as that was where his eyes were locked onto. To her surprise, scores of claws raked across her stomach. She opened her eyes, and the tom padded back in front of her. "I give you the gift of deception, to trick your enemies with a deceitful tongue."

A spiky-furred, unevenly mottled, grey tom with a white face called the cat back, and then stepped forward. He grinned, showing yellowed fangs. "I give you the gift of battle skills, to destroy your enemies and never show any hesitation." With that, he sinks his sharp claws into her chest.

A tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat padded up last. She looks at Shard with bitterness in her eyes. "I give you the gift of jealousy, to inflict suffering on those who think they are better than you, and to seek out revenge at any cost." The cat unsheathed her claws, and plunged them into Shard's eyes. Shard bit back a yowl. Her vision was blurred with dark spots and shadows that seemed to make her blood burn with hate.

The she-cat stepped back, and Scourge stood in front of his daughter, facing the others. He spoke with a proud voice. "This cat will become the first leader with Dark Forest lives. She shall now be known as Darkshard!" The marks inflicted upon her pelt seemed to give off a dark glow, then fade. The Dark Forest cats dipped their heads at the new leader.

Scourge continued. "You will find a piece of obsidian, left behind by Twolegs near High Stones. It is above Mothermouth, in another cave. If you ever need our guidance, travel there." Darkshard dipped her head. "Attend the Gathering tonight, and let the other clans know of your presence in the forest."

"As you wish, father."