Chapter 13: The Darkness is Rising

I didn't know what to expect when Hollystar called her Clan to the hazel branch. There were confused murmurs, some bored groans, and nervous shuffling. Once everyone gathered, Hollystar glared down at the crowd, prepared for the worst outcome.

"Cats of ShadowClan!" She began, "Today we bring a new apprentice forward to join our ranks." Of course, there were growls and outraged shouts. ShadowClan cats didn't like to be so weak to have to invite a simple rogue or kittypet to join them. Luckily, I'm not just a simple rogue, "This is no ordinary rogue, though. You all know that several other rogues have been scared into our territory by a so-called demon that tears any mouse-brain to shreds. Leaving nothing but blood and bones."

"What does this have to do with anything?" A cat called from the crowd, "Is he one of those scaredy-cats?"

"Crackfoot!" Another warned, "Don't do anything mouse-brained!"

Hollystar growled, and everyone backed away with fear, "No, in fact, this is the demon himself." This brought on some protests. Yowls and howls and growls. Hollystar just signaled me to come out of the shadow I was hiding in. There were looks of disbelief, hatred, and plain anger. But...all I smelled was fear. his time, there was something different then just wanting to kill them all. This time, all I could think about was how many cats they had killed, and how much they deserved to die because of those cold-blooded murders. That made my claws itch. I had to control myself...if I could.

"This is Cat, now know as..." I held my breath as Hollystar paused for a not needed dramatic pause, "Darkpaw. He will have no official ceremony, but he will have a proper mentor. That mentor will be me." The laughs kept, along with more protests. Hollystar did nothing to stop the now rioting cats. I looked over at her, but only saw fear. Funny, because I couldn't scent it. Then I realized, she was waiting for me to stop them. She was afraid because she knew that one of her warriors would die. I knew it was a bad idea, everything would be a bloody mess when I was done.

I jumped down from the hazel branch. Everyone stopped laughing or protesting, "Why are you laughing?" I asked as loud as I dared, "When you are afraid?" No one moved, "I can scent your fear. So why pretend like you aren't afraid?"

"I'm not afraid of you." A cat called out. The same one from before, "That's why I'm laughing." A light brown tom with gray flecks walked up to me, "You don't sound like such a big shot. You don't look like one either. So you're black with red eyes, that don't mean a thing."

"I would watch your mouth if I were you." I growled, "You haven't heard the rumors? The demon is a black cat with red eyes. Do you see any other black cats with red eyes?"

"I think," He spat, "that you got you buddies in the twoleg place to run into our forest and spread false truths to us, making this all one big act. Who knows? Maybe you're a spy for one of the other Clans, sent out here to gather information on us."

That sure ruffled me. But for once I didn't feel the absolute need to kill him. And I saw something I never saw before. In his eyes, there was a graveyard. Five cats. That's how many he killed out of cold-blood. Ten more by 'accident'. Two of those from his own Clan. He deserves to die. So I grabbed his neck, claws sheathed.

"W-what are you doing?" He stammered, then realized he didn't feel the familiar sting of claws digging through his fur, "No claws? Are you afraid to kill me? Worst demon I've ever seen."

So then I unsheathed my claws. Not even caring about the number of cats trying to get him away from my grasp. They probably sliced my fur a million times. Nothing happened. There was no blood. No sting of claws. Nothing. It's like I said. I've fought a million rogues. I leave without a scratch. Why should this time be any different?

"He has Lionblaze's power!" One cat yowled, "He can't be beaten!"

Crackfoot smirked at me, "So you decided to cheat, huh? Doesn't seem very fair to me."

I smiled. My usual smile. The one I haven't used since I fought Hollystar. Which seems like moons ago, but it was only a couple sunrises ago, "Well demons don't play fair. They break the rules."

Then Cloudbreeze got in the way. Right as I was going for the killing blow to his neck. Lucky for her, I killed him before she got to me, but after I kill someone, I rip them to shreds. It's all a part of this crazy mind of mine. No ones ever dead unless all their bones are showing. So Cloudbreeze got in the way of my deathly rampage. I left Crackfoot on the ground, my original purpose with him gone. I paid attention to Cloudbreeze, and only her. With me still craving blood. She turned and ran as quickly as she could. But I was quicker. It happens every time I kill a cat. All of my senses improve immensely. And her fear was delicious. In her eyes, I could see guilt. For the numerous cats she let die. For the supply of deathberries in her den. Maybe I should raid those sometime. You know how much I love deathberries.

"Darkpaw!" It was Hollystar, but I didn't pay attention to her, "Darkpaw stop!"

Then that black and white she-cat with Joann's eyes got in the way. And those eyes made me stop. I realized that they were expressionless. If I looked past that, I saw they were just normal blue eyes. No frost in them. No negativity. Just simply there. I shook myself free of any blood-thirst. Every cat was staring at me.

"Go to the medicine cat den." The expressionless cat whispered, "I will be there soon."

And I stalked off. Oh well. I had a new name. Darkpaw. Fitting. Along with everything else that happened that day? It was pretty great.