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Post by Heather on Oct 7, 2010 20:45:29 GMT -4
[ CATS GIVING LIVES ]
former leader: cruelstar
- - - [ hate ]
former medicine cat: snowfern
- - - [ compassion ]
former apprentice: nettlepaw
- - - [ hope ]
former mother: autumnbreeze
- - - [ protection ]
former father: solarspot
- - - [ determination ]
former sister: whitepaw
- - - [ justice ]
former brother: boulderpaw
- - - [ endurance ]
former deputy: tigerheart
- - - [ courage ]
former mate: ambitionsoul
- - - [ love ]
A single star shot across the night sky dying out in a blaze of glory as the darkness of the night absorbed its life. I shivered as the cool night air whispered along my tabby calico colored fur. The night sky was dark even though the moon was full. No stars lit up to show the way to the Highstones; to mark my path to the Moonstone. A whisper of doubt wove it's way into my mind, yet somehow the pull of the Moonstone was stronger now then ever. Sending a wondering glance up into the darkness above me, I padded forward my mind troubled. After all I had done in life,did I not deserve the title of leader? I fought my way up, clawed past rivals and friends alike to reach where I am now. I deserved my place. Victory to those who wait. After all, I spent my life betraying my friends and family alike for this goal. Wasn't it my right to gain the highest spot of respect now that I had reached the top?
My paws slipped against the smooth grass underfoot, the slender stalks bending under my weight. The air was brisk, if not a bit chilly. I ducked my head slightly, tucking my chin in towards my chest while ignoring the icy chill that swept up my spine. I glanced upon for a quick second, my gaze traveling up once again to the inky, blank, starless slate above me. The sky was starless on the night I was to receive my lives. Did this mean that Starclan would not accept me as leader? Starclan has never refused a leader before. Will the statement change after tonight? After all, I'm a betrayer. A traitor. But I won this battle. Starclan would not refuse me tonight.
I shook my head, clearing my mind of the thoughts of refusal, and padded up toward the tunnel entrance. I'd decided to leave the Medicine Cat at camp. There had been a bout of green-cough and many of the clan was still caught in the sicknesses grip. I'd witnessed firsthand what the sickness could do to a cat in Cruelstar's death. I would not allow more of my clan to suffer the same fate by taking away their Medicine Cat.
I peered into the darkness stretching before me. It had a tangible quality to it. The shadows swirled and eddied in ways that reminded one of a stream. A stream of darkness and fear. All things evil waited in darkness. Tendrils of the blackness reached out, caressing my fur. I shuddered away from the tunnel. Never had it appeared so uninviting to me. I still recall the night I was called to the Moonstone before my warrior ceremony, as all apprentices are. Back then, the tunnel to the Moonstone was an adventure, something that brought chills across my skin; but in excitement, not fear. As I was now, anything could be waiting below, hiding in the darkness. Waiting for me to enter before destroying any hint of hope I'd mustered upon entering.
With a sharp intake of air, I rolled my shoulders back, steeling my will. Nothing was stopping me from receiving those lives tonight. Not even hoards of living dead. I would persevere through it all. It was either that or give up all that I had worked so very hard to accomplish.There was no way I was backing out now. I'd worked too hard, betrayed too many. Their lives would not disappear in vain.
I ducked my head and stepped into the tunnel. The darkness enveloped me, wrapping me in shadows and whispering in my ear. Every nasty comment, sarcastic tongue lash, and devilish thought I'd ever thought out, raced through my mind once more. Terrifying images of Cruelstar, my former leader who'd caused me so much pain, flashed before me. I recoiled back into the cool stone wall, my breath catching in my throat. The images were so vivid, so clear. It was almost as though Cruelstar was standing before me once more. I screwed shut my eyes, attempting to block out the images. Some memories were best forgotten. I remained still until the shadows settled to tame breezes at my ears, not daring to move a single muscle. Only when the air stilled did I open my eyes and continue blindly down the tunnel.
Further and further I spiraled down, the air turning musty and biting. My whiskers brushed against the stone walls on each side. The tunnel was closing in on me. I could feel my breathing picking up speed; matching the rapid thumping of my heart. I almost gave up hope of ever finding the end of the tunnel when all of a sudden, I caught sight patch of moonlight seeping out of a crack in the wall. I whisked around the corner in a frenzy, my eyes stretched wide in panic. The moonstone greeted me as i skidded to a halt in the center of the large room. I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Closing my eyes for a second, I willed my heart to calm and my breathing to return to normal. It was all in my mind. There was nothing in the tunnel apart from my own imagination. Padding forward until I stood flush with the stone, I glanced up at the triangle of open roof where the moonlight sparkled down from. Still, the sky remained starch black. No stars in sight.
So Starclan was still shunning me. My gaze on the sky narrow dangerously. Starclan could hide their stars from me but they could not hide forever. Sooner or later they would be forced to come to me and then I would demand my lives that I rightfully earned. I folded my legs underneath me, settling into a crouch before the moonlit stone. I remember watching as Cruelstar had visited the Moonstone once when his last life was reaching the end and the sickness was eating away at him. The time spent here, at Highstones, was the only time where I ever saw Cruelstar close to desperation. I closed my eyes for second to gather my nerves before reaching my head forward toward the rock. The first connection, when my nose touched the icy rock, was like diving into the river during the dead of leaf-bare. I inhaled a gasping breath as my eyes flew open. Water built up in my green eyed gaze at the pure shock of touching something so utterly cold but I could not stop. I quickly blinked my eyes rapidly before shutting them completely.
The world remained dark. No dreams rushed forward to greet me. No gathering of starry cats waiting for me. No list of previous leaders to welcome me to my ceremony. I blinked open my eyes and glared at the rock before me. So Starclan had refused me. I snarled a hiss out before pulling myself up onto all fours. They would not refuse me my lives
tonight. I wont allow it.That much I was positive of. Whether I had to sleep here, beside the moonstone for a moon, Starclan would give me what I earned. The frantic whisper of my paws across stone followed me back and forth as I paced the length of the cave. I was going to receive my lives no matter the cost. Suddenly, with conviction fueling my determination, I dropped down to the ground once more and shoved my nose hard against the rock. The stab of pain that shot up my nose sent lightening bolt shooting across my vision. The icy shock that accompanied the smoothness of the Moonstone was just as intense this time but I pushed though it willing the starry forms to appear before me. I concentrated on the icy rock below my paws and against my nose. Perhaps if I thought hard enough, they would be forced to come. They could no deny a cat who so willingly called them.
Nothing happened at first. The darkness behind my eyelids was absolute. Then it all rushed forward at once, much like an arrow speeding from the darkness to pierce it's target.
The ground underfoot shifted to soft dewy grass, springy and rich with the scent of new-leaf. The sky, still starless, stretched out above a gathering of dark green trees. The moon, voluminous at it's full, appeared magnified in the sky. I turned in a full circle, my gaze drifting over the entire clearing. It was still night-time and the air was full of sparkling lights. Fireflies. They blinked in and out of existence, covering the clearing in a blanket of flashing stars. I reached a paw up as one of the bugs drifted closer to me. It landed on my paw for a mere second before twirling away, as if caught on a breeze that was denied from me. I watched in frustration as the tiny bug flitted away to join the others, it's light blinking in and out. Perhaps it was a sign. Starclan was unsure about coming.
Still, I waited for the ancients of Starclan to appear and begin to chant nonsense. Or perhaps start spouting off random bits of wisdom. Of course none of this happened. I waited for minutes for something, anything to happen, but the starless forest remained as silent as the grave, the only movement coming from the twinkling fireflies that covered the clearing.
I resumed my frantic pacing once more. Starclan had allowed me into their dream-state but refused to show up. How long was I expected to wait for them? I blinked my green eyes a couple times. I would wait forever. If this was Starclan's territory then could I die? No, Starclan was infinite which meant that if I stayed here, I could not perish. The thought calmed me and I leaned back until I was sitting on the sparkling grass. Starclan would come in time. They always did. It was their duty, their job.
As if my thoughts had summoned them, the fireflies all shot towards me in bursts of speed. They swirled around me, twisting and turning.Their flashing lights blocked out the rest of the clearing, and I wheeled trying to keep track of the bugs. All of a sudden, the flying bugs exploded outwards, careening towards the green trees and disappearing from view. In their wake, they left a trail of stars that settled into hazy figures. Yes. The gathering of cats. Starclan. They soon appeared in row after row, becoming more and more distinguishable and clear. Lines of starry ancient cats, fur bristeling with fire and moonlight. Stars sparkled at the tips of their fur, cascading down their bodies like living flame. I watched, entranced as the swirling groups of stars settled into distinguishable features. At the front sparkled familiar faces. I took a sharp intake of breath and flattened my ears. These were my enemies and friends alike. Cats I had betrayed, standing before me. At any moment they could speak up about my wrong doings. If they did, would I be denied and throw from here? Would I not receive my nine lives?
I glanced around the clearing taking inventory of their numbers. The starry outlines were innumerable. So many in such a small forest. I must receive my lives. I must. The mantra raced though my head. I just had to remain strong until I received my lives. Once I did, Starclan could not take then from me. My ears slowly straightened out and I swiftly took stance on the soft ground digging my claws into the dirt.
The starry figures remained silent. Their moonlite gazes were trained on me, searching and studying for what, I could only guess at. We were at an impasse. I would not leave until I received my lives and the members of Starclan were unsure if they truly wanted to give them to me. After some time, the cats finally seemed to relax, their faces dropping the careful scrutiny. Tails dipped and fur reclined against skin once more. I let out a minuscule sigh. So far so good.
"Ebonysoul.You are here to receive your nine lives. If you so wish it, your lives will be bestowed upon you shortly. Ebonysoul, Is it your wish to lead Shadowclan with purity and conviction? With justice and courage? Power and humbleness?"
I blanched. Humbleness? How was I to lie to these powerful starry figures? I wanted nothing to do with humbleness. I wanted power. Power and fear. I'd worked this far, I had to pull off the ending or my struggles would account to nothing. If he had taught me anything at all during his life, Cruelstar had taught me to chase after power no matter how far away it seemed. I was to never, never give up. Losers gave up on their dreams when they believed that they were too weak to reach them. The strong persevered on even though they knew that what they were aiming for was absolutely hopeless. I swallow a breath and steeled my gaze. I would say what I had to in order to comply with their starry cats. They held the key to my power, my reign.
I studied the starry figure who I think had spoken. Was it just me or were his eyes accusing me?
"It is."
My voice faltered at first, but I narrowed my eyes and my words grew stronger. The gathering of cats seemed to dip their heads as one, accepting my vow at what I figured to be face value. Bodies shifted slightly allowing for a narrow gap to appear in the group of cats. A lone figure emerged and began trotting toward me. The snowy fur and midnight blue eyes betrayed her identity long before she stopped before me.
"Snowfern."
I dipped my head respectfully to my former medicine cat. Her white fur sparkled with stars, and her midnight blue eyes were twin pools of liquid fire. She was killed defending innocent kits from a rival clan raid during a hard winter, but Snowfern had forever gained my respect in those last few seconds of her life when I watched her sacrifice herself. She may not be an example I intend to live my life by, but she knew her role in this world and wasn't afraid to accept it. She accepted death, which is something not easily accomplished. For that, I admire her. She was a good medicine cat, strong and fierce of will. Her word was law, even Cruelstar was at her mercy before she passed on to Starclan. I watched as she dipped her head in return to my earlier greeting.
" With this life I give you compassion. Use it well to care for cats weaker then yourself."
As her icy nose pressed against my forehead, I jerked back in surprise. A blazing fire raced down my body encompassing me in an all powerful desire to protect those who needed protecting. It was a bittersweet pain, something that i had never once felt course through my veins like fire before in my lifetime. I'd never really experienced compassion like this; a fierce will to leap into battle for my clan that rose up from the bottom of my paws and completely encompassed me. I ached to protect, to care for, to help my clan and all who inhabited it. I'd never felt such emotion before in all my life. As the feeling slowly drained from my body, it left me weak with the absence of it. I shuddered closing my eyes for a brief second. I was expected to endure eight more lives of this? I shook my head slightly, almost as if shaking off water and re-opened my green eyes.
Snowfern gave me a stern but friendly look. It was the sort of look you'd receive from your father when you accidentally took the game of "Catch Father's Tail" a little too far and chomped down. Her blue eyes softened and she brushed her cheek against mine swiftly before turning around. I froze in place, shocked at the sudden touch of comfort from my former medicine cat. We had never been close, in fact, I'd never really even talked to her. Still, she cared for her clan, no matter who it was. A small smile curled up the corners of my mouth as I watched her pad away, her white fur disappearing into the mass of starry cats.
A smaller blurry cat replaced Snowfern's retreating figure. As he drew closer, I noticed his light brown tabby coat sparked with star's almost like grass sparkles with dew as the sun rises in the morning. Nettlepaw. My first apprentice. A pin prick of what could almost be taken as sadness wormed it's way into my heart at the site of the little tom. He was only 7 moons old when a monster struck him down on the thunderpath. He accidentally ran out onto the thunderpath trying to catch a squirrel; the monster came barreling down the road too fast and he was killed instantly.
Such a shame for a life to be snuffed out so quickly. He would of been a great warrior, his potential was unmatched. He was one of the smartest, strongest apprentices. Well in my opinion, but perhaps I was a bit biased. Yet, I do know that Starclan is unfair with choosing who lives and who dies. If anything I should have been the one who was killed. I've done far worse things then Nettlepaw ever could have done.
The little tom stops before me, the top of his head reaching up to about the middle of my chest. His dark green eyes blink up at mine; solemn and mature. My heart drops again. For such a young cat to be forced to mature so quickly. To accept his death as something that was supposed to happen.
I have to bend forward to allow for Nettlepaw to reach my forehead. He stretches up and presses his nose against the tabby fur between my eyes.
"With this life I give you hope. Use it well to lead your clan to greatness even in the darkest of times. With hope, anything is possible."
The jolt of energy that coursed through me was like a ray of sunshine. Bright and full of possibilities. The world was an opportunity. A chance to improve the bad, to right the wrong. I was opened to new pathways, new directions. This is what hope felt like. I wonder if Nettlepaw felt hope as he died. The little tabby tom was already retreating when I opened my eyes. Such a waste of a life.
The next figure that appeared brought back memories of the dark nursery. Of playing with my brother and sister. Chasing moss balls though the older warriors legs. The carefree life of a kit. My mother brushed her cheek against my face, a pulse of warmth across my face. A rusty purr grated from my throat.
"Mother, its been so long."
I watch her head dip slightly, her eyes filled with warmth yet sorrow. I close my eyes, blinking away the memories. Too bitter sweet, to remember the days when nothing else mattered but chasing my siblings around the camp.
"With this life I give you protection. Use it well to protect your clan as a mother would protect her kits."
Her nose briefly touches my forehead and I relax. Surely this life would be more gentle then the others. Protection was soft and loving, like mothers. As the life rushed through me, the blazing pain caught me by surprise. This life was not gentle. Anger, fierce and bitter, coated my vision in crimson. Anyone who dared to lay a claw on my clan was crow-food. They would not survive to see the next sunrise. My ears flattened against my head as another emotion wracked my body. Sorrow, so painful it was like someone had ripped my heart from my chest, leaving a gaping hole where it used to be. I was drowning in misery, the pain clouding my eyes, blocking out my thoughts. I thought I'd die. The energy dissipated as quickly as it arrived leaving a sweet lingering touch. I watched with wistful eyes as my mother returned to her expanded family of starry ancestors.
My father followed after Mother. His broad shoulders gleamed with stars, his yellow eyes carried that "I know more then you'll ever understand" look. Ah Father. Such a stickler for the rules you were. He came to an abrupt stop before me, his nose brushing against the fur on my forehead.
"With this life I give you determination. Use it well to follow what you believe in even if it means making the harder choice."
The life that flowed from him to me was full of a desire to press forward. To follow through with my wishes, allowing no one to stop me. Determination to prevail over every single obstacle that appeared in my path to ultimate power. Nothing would stop me. I was invincible, all powerful. Father padded swiftly away not even sparing a parting glance my way. That was how Father always was. Afraid to show he cared, to show his emotions. He closed himself off from us. For that, I'll always resent him but that didn't change the fact that he was my father, someone I was supposed to look up to. His coat melted in with the ranks of cats, disappearing from view.
A smaller white she-cat appeared next, her green eyes soft and hesitant. Whitepaw. My poor little sister. She didn't deserve what I did to her. She should have lived a long life, had kits, become and elder. Not killed as an apprentice. It was my fault. I was the one who led her out to the quicksand patch. I didn't mean to push her that hard, I didn't know that she'd get stuck in the sand. She died that day, suffocation. The clan was helpless to save her. They asked me what happened and I lied. Pulled a lie from the air and spilled it like I was explaining a hunting tactic. I betrayed my sister and destroyed her memory. Told the clan that she was upset and walked into the sand herself. I told them that she wanted to die. They believed every word of that lie. And now my sister, who I betrayed, was here to give me a life.
She paused before me, gazing up into my identical green eyes. Something in her expression told me that no matter what she said, I would never quite be forgiven. I took away her life, destroyed her only chance living. Stomped it out like one might crush the life from a mouse. For that, I was forever shunned in her eyes.
"With this life I give you justice. Use it well to determine what is right from what is wrong."
Her voice sounded strained on the word justice. She reached up swiftly and touched the top of my head. Before the energy even flowed into my body she was bounding away, placing as much distance between the two of us as possible. This life was everything that I had spit upon when spinning that lie. Right from wrong. I'd wronged Whitepaw and that was something that could never be altered. My world flipped. Burning pain shot through my heart, stabbing my side, my back, my chest. This was justice. This was the pain Whitepaw felt as she suffocated. My lungs screamed for air as my throat closed up. I was choking on sand. It filled my nose, my mouth, my eyes. I was dying. The world went black for a second. As my vision returned I blinked back tears. Poor Whitepaw. Such a stupid mistake that cost her, her life.
I peered through the crowd attempting to visualize who would appear next. I had an itching feeing about who it might be, but when I saw his smoky grey fur flickering towards me, my stomach dropped. Boulderpaw, my little brother. I couldn't help the smile that lit up my face though. Boulderpaw was my accomplice, my partner in crime. Where ever I was, you were sure to find the smoky tom as well. Only, him being so close to me was, in the end, what killed him. I didnt mean to but horrible things always seem to happen to those around me.
Boulderpaw was with me one day, we were out on a hunting assignment. I asked him to go back and get the rest of our prey. He wanted to retrace our steps but I told him about the short-cut. He didnt want to take my route, but I insisted. While on his way to get the prey, a rusty old twoleg trap caught him. I didnt know, and headed back to camp where we were supposed to meet. He never showed up. The clan went to search for him but when we found him it was too late. He'd bled to death.
Boulderpaw stopped before me, a spark of his old humor flashing in his gaze. I turned my gaze away from his, too ashamed to look at the brother who I failed. I closed my green eyes as his nose touched my fore head.
"With this life I give you endurance. Use it well to keep up with the many tasks your clan places before you."
This life was pure exhilaration. No pain, just...freedom. I was flying. Soaring over the ground, my paws skimming the grass. The world was mine and I could run for miles along it. I could fight a thousand battles without getting winded. Emerge without a scratch upon my body. If I could choose a single life to live forever, it would be this one. I blinked open my eyes expecting the feeling of weightless freedom to disappear but it only dimmed slightly. Boulderpaw still stood before me, and amused expression glimmering in his eyes.
"Sister. I do not blame you for what has come to pass. The only one pointing the blame is yourself."
He touched my nose to his in a goodbye and padded off to join with the rest of the starry gathering. If only Boulderpaw was alive today. He would have made a far better leader then I would have.
A sleek tabby replaced Boulderpaw. I dipped my head slightly to my former deputy, Tigerheart. He dipped his head in return as he approached. Tigerheart was like Snowfern. He gained my respect when he'd been killed during an enemy attack. Relationships with Thunderclan had been testy. I was just an apprentice at the time. During the middle of the night Thunderclan attacked us. Caught us completely off-guard. We might had lost the battle if it hadnt been for Tigerheart. He fought like a warrior from Tigerclan, defending the nursery and every single cat in the camp. As the last Thunderclan warrior was driven away, his injuries killed him. His bravery saved the clan from turmoil. I succeeded him as deputy after his death. Tigerheart reached forward and brushed his nose against my forehead.
"With this life I give you courage. Use it well to pursue what you believe is right no matter how hard the choice may be."
The life that blazed though me was everything that Tigerheart must have experienced during that last battle. My claws ripped though enemy after enemy, tearing, shredding, defeating. I was absolute in my power. Nothing could defeat me. I'd give my life for this clan and all who inhabited it. The fierce will to do what I believed to be right consumed me. It overpowered my mind and took over every sensor along my body. All there was was me and this will to do what was right even tough I knew I would die in the end. I felt Tigerheart brush his cheek against mine before padding away to join the others. If only I could be as courageous as my former deputy, then things in my past might have turned out differently.
A familiar cat approached next a sarcastic smile curling up the corners of his mouth. Ambitionsoul, my childhood rival. We quarreled over everything from what kind prey to eat, to where the best spot to sleep in the apprentice's den was. He made each day interesting, never a dull moment with him around. I grinned at him in return as he paused before me. He may have never know it but after a while that friendly hatred I used to bestow upon him had transformed into something warmer. The time I spent with him was some of the happiest moments of my life.The day he died nearly tore me apart. I was with him on that day, a rabid fox came at us slavering and snarling. Ambitionsoul shoved me out of the way as the fox lunged. It bit him across the back. We managed to chase away the fox but the disease was already spreading through Ambitionsoul's bloodstream. He went mad a few days later, we had to drive him out of the camp. I followed after him for days, trailing his drunken movements. I watched as he died, so lost in the disease that he couldnt even recognize me. I swore from that day on that I'd never let myself feel anything for anyone. I couldnt allow myself to go through such an experience ever again.
"Ebonysoul, it's been far to long."
He tipped his head to the side like he always used to do, his blue eyes shining. I purred slightly, happy to see him back to the way he was before the rabid fox attacked us. He leaned forward and I closed my eyes eagerly. Any life received from him was well worth the pain. His nose touched my forehead lightly.
"With this life I give you love. Use it well to overcome any obstacle that rises before you."
I stretched forward, straining on the tips of my toes. The life was life a rush of adrenaline. It was everything and more I'd felt on those happy days hunting with Ambitionsoul as apprentices. A fierce passion swept through me, burning with a will to survive for the one thing that everyone searched their whole life for. I was standing before a cliff thousands of miles above the ground. Each blast of wind threatened to push me off but I was completely content. To love was to live on the edge of hurt. one misstep lead you down into heartbreak. But wasn't that the joy of love? The fear that you might be wrong or you might be very right. A warmth settled over me and with it came a complete sense of contentment. It brought back memories of Ambitionsoul and what might have been, had that fateful day with the fox never occurred. I let out a sigh as I blinked open my eyes. Ambitionsoul lingered before me, his blue eyes watching me. He'd given me the life of love. Did that mean that he had felt the same way about me when we were younger?
"No matter what happens, dont give in. There are people who care about you."
His voice seemed frantic, his calm eyes turned feverish. My eyes narrowed in confusing as I watched him back away from me. Where was he going? And why did he look so frantic? The clearing darkened and the starry cats began to disappear. I blinked in surprise. We weren't finished. I still had one life to receive. My heart began to beat faster, racing against my ribcage. A shiver shot down the back of my spine and I crouched down. My body only betrayed me like this when a certain cat was approached. Soon enough his broad shouldered figure appeared in my line of vision. I cringed away from my former leader, but my green eyes were trapped within his dark grey ones.
Cruelstar halted before me his gaze void of any emotion. The last time I saw him he was skeletal and dying of greencough. It was ironic that such a simple sickness could take down the mighty Cruelstar. I never found out why he decided to make me his deputy. Cruelstar had always despised me from the start. He did everything he possible could to make my life miserable. Boulderpaw had just recently died when the old deputy Tigerheart was killed. I was a wreck after their deaths. Cruelstar, seeing that I was completely unready for such a job as deputy, decided to make my life even more miserable by promoting me to deputy. I dont think he ever expected me to make it to leader, I'm pretty sure he was plotting my death from the moment he called out my name as the new deputy. Too bad he never got around to finishing the plot. The sickness took him before he could carry out his plan.
"Come now Ebonysoul. you should know better. It's rude to not show your leader the proper sign of respect when you see them. After all, it's been so long has it not?"
His voice was like toxic smoke curling around my throat and choking me. My heart contracted almost like an icy hand was twisting it. I stumbled to my feet and dipped my head repeatedly attempting to please him so that I might escape from this unscathed. The lives I'd already received pushed against my skin. The starry cats had disappeared, throwing me into darkness. I felt like I wasn't in Starclan's clearing anymore. I was somewhere much worse. Somewhere where Cruelstar reigned even now after death. Cruelstar's mouth was turned up into a sort of sarcastic smile, his eyes glittering with malice. I ducked my head lower, shiver's racing down my legs. Cruelstar leaned forward his nose icy cold as it touched my forehead.
"With this life I give you hatred. Use it well to forget everything apart from the hatred that fuels the greatest leaders."
My eyes widened as the life flew into me. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing my insides, twisting me apart. the lives I'd already received were slipping away. The love and joy I'd felt when I'd seen my friends and family was flowing out of my body though the connection with Cruelstar. Each life left me with a ripping sensation. Hatred seeped in through the cracks where the lives had resided. With each life that left, my hatred grew. All of Cruelstar's fury and hatred he'd built up throughout his life hit me like a train wreck. My claws dug into the ground and I gritted my teeth in pain. I felt empty yet full of anger at the same time. Gone were the feelings of light and life, instead the only emotion left was hatred.
Cruelstar stepped away from me he gaze aflame. I blinked open my eyes feeling like I'd been beated and shattered. Everything that I'd once held dear was gone. Emptiness was the only thing left. Cruelstar watched me with a sort of disgusted contentment.
"This is what being a leader is all about Ebonystar. Starclan has lied to us for far to long. Perhaps you will be the leader that leads us out off the light and into the darkness. Remember, everything begins in darkness, for without darkness, there is no light."
Cruelstar stepped away from me, fading into the shadows that surrounded us. I closed my eyes attempting to jerk out of the dream that had all but consumed me. After one final tug I blinked open my eyes to find myself staring into the moonstone. Everything begins in darkness. He called me Ebonystar. That meant that I was officially a leader. I rose to my paws shakily. I backed fearfully away from the moonstone, remembering all of the emotions of hatred that had raced though me at Cruelstar's touch. I turned from the moonstone, flooded with light, and fled the chamber. The darkness of the passage leading up to the surface was comforting. After all.
Everything begins in darkness.
[ word count: ] 4864
[ finished ]
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