Darkpaw
Darkpaw's delicate paws seeped into the fluffy, oozing lush pasture. Close by a glistening waterfall fell into the chasms of a minor pond, blossoming bouquets scattered around the beautiful area. Mashpaw strolled elegantly in front of Darkpaw, not even taking a slight glimpse back to see if the black wolf was ok. Around them, butterflies fluttered in the air, mingling in with the luxurious forest. With Darkpaw's concentrated scent, he could detect the fragrance of other wolves ahead.
"Are we near?" Darkpaw asked.
"Yes," Mashpaw answered.
Darkpaw gazed throughout the forest tentatively, sensing an unusual aura. He chose his tracks intelligently trailing closely behind Mashpaw. Each move he grasped was hushed and he retained a deep stance.
"I sense something observing me, Mashpaw," He muttered lowly.
"Well, stay close. We're almost there," She stated, still not facing the wolf's eyes.
Darkpaw swallowed noisily, still traveling casually. Suddenly he overheard a soft growl, very muffled but was obvious. He shuffled his head to the left where the noise was emanating from. Fresh blood eyes were illuminating in the darkness, but Darkpaw did not respond. He held frozen, glaring intensely into the eyes. From the depths of the obscuration, a black-coated wolf, similar to Darkpaw's coat, sprang towards the frozen brute exposing its needlelike fangs. In an instant, the razor-sharp teeth drilled into the shoulder of Darkpaw, gore spurting everywhere. He yowled in agony and Mashpaw abruptly swung around.
"Darkpaw!" Mashpaw yelled in distress. The old she-wolf rushed to aid, slamming her head against the ribs of the criminal. The attacker withdrew apart from Darkpaw and growled intensely from a distance, ready to strike once again.
"Mashpaw! You traitor!" The attacker barked. "How can you deliver a Shadow Clan member to our base!"
"Hear me out, Scar!" Mashpaw commanded, standing in front of Darkpaw, securing him as if she was a shield. "He is not an intruder and means no harm to nobody, I assume. But that's not the case. I guided him here because he was infiltrating our region. He also declares he does not recognize anything. I can't just leave a weak pup out in the wastelands."
"How can you believe such lies!" Scar shouted. "Have you gone mad to believe, that a member of Shadow Clan, the Clan of Deceptions, is telling you that he does not remember anything!"
"Well, that's exactly why I took him here, to see if he is actually telling the truth. If he truly is lying then we'll slaughter him," Mashpaw responded. The rusty she-wolf strolled towards Scar and planted her lips firmly to his ear so Darkpaw couldn't hear. "We are lacking warriors as well. We have been in plenty of fights with the other Clans and many of our members have died tragic deaths. If we figure out he isn't lying he can join our Clan to fight with us. We need as many warriors as we can get."
"Tch! I guess you have a point," Scar admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'll take my eyes off of you, Shadow Clan member. Anyway, I doubt Accailia will accept this nonsense. I'm off!" The charcoal-coated wolf bounded away back toward the shadows, giving Darkpaw one last snarl.
"What a warm welcome," Darkpaw grumbled licking his raw injury.
"Don't mind him, he's always fretful. C'mon, I'll treat your wounds once we get to the camp," Mashpaw stated. She commenced to walk once again and Darkpaw couldn't anticipate what came next.
A ginormous tree stood in front of the two wolves. Compared to the gigantic bark, the two wolves were just insignificant ants. A huge gateway pierced through the trunk of the tree and two silver-coated wolves guarded the pathway. As they grew closer they lowered their heads towards the rusty old she-wolf, appreciating her residence, permitting her inside. But of course, they mysteriously eyed Darkpaw as if they desired to snap his head off.
Inside the pathway was a moderately deep tunnel directing to who knows where. But with Darkpaw's rather peculiar sharp eyes, he could see light far ahead. Mashpaw on the opposite hand didn't mind the uncomfortable darkness and strolled casually.
"How was this huge tunnel created?" Darkpaw asked, his voice echoing throughout the obscurations.
"None of us know," Mashpaw responded. "It was told that this tree was located like this. Our ancestors discovered it and decided to create the Lightning Clan headquarters here."
"Wow, this truly is amazing," Darkpaw stated in amusement. "Never seen anything like it, although the flawless darkness is uncomfortable."
No response was caught from Mashpaw, she plainly proceeded to cruise.
What a shriveled old lady, Darkpaw thought, a grimaced expression on his face.
As they got closer, the daylight began to brighten half of the tunnel. Dull flourishing vines emerged from little fissures of the trunk. Numerous birds nest at the top, chirping wildly, the noise reverberating everywhere. The brilliance became more vivid as they proceeded to get closer to the exit. Finally, the moment had conclusively arrived. They escaped the dim tunnel and were now facing the Lightning Clan base. Darkpaw couldn't believe his eyes.
It was beautiful, filled with lots of blossoming and colorful flowers, a miniature waterfall plunging into a stream where numerous older and younger pups bathed. There were several little dens built of timber and stone, even dens formed up in the trees. It was a packed community where multiple wolves ate, played, trained, bathed, worked, and so on. Darkpaw just couldn't help but picture himself living there, creating a family, becoming part of the Lightning Clan population.
That's when all the movement and activity halted and everyone placed their eyes on the entry/exit of the tunnel. They all gazed at Mashpaw and Darkpaw, mainly the charcoal-coated wolf. Some of them gasped in fright as the aroma of Darkpaw entered their snouts. All of them glared at the brute disgustingly and horrifyingly.
"Who of the Shadow Clan has entered our territory!?" A thundering voice exclaimed from inside the crowd.
The crowded wolves made a pathway for whoever had shouted. Emerging from the packed group came a silver-plated-coated wolf with bright fresh neon-blue eyes. It first settled its eyes on Mashpaw and scowled and then subsequently it glanced at Darkpaw, gazing deeply into his coppered eyes, piercing through his soul.
What a scary wolf, Darkpaw thought, avoiding her eyesight. That wolf must be the leader and judging from her voice it's a woman.
"Mashpaw, did you bring this young Shadow Clan member here?" The silver-coated wolf asked gently.
"Yes," Mashpaw replied. "He has infiltrated our territory and not just that, he claims that he doesn't remember anything as well, My Lady. He was all alone in the groves."
She carried her eyes apart from Mashpaw and glared at Darkpaw once again, this time creeping closer. Darkpaw's heart thumped against the center of his chest, an unusual aura strouding around her body, just like the other dark wolf who had struck Darkpaw.
"Who are you and what are you doing in our territory?" She growled silently.
"I-I don't know," Darkpaw stammered, withdrawing. "All I remember is my name: Darkpaw."
The wolf's eyes widened in shock and she inched backward. "What? You mean, the infamous Darkpaw, The Slaughter Lord?"
"What!?" Mashpaw exclaimed in surprise.
Behind the leader, multiple wolves gasped in terror and whispering flowed throughout the base.
"W-What are you addressing?" Darkpaw questioned in complexity. "What do you mean Slaughter Lord?"
The silver-plated wolf glared into the confused wolf's eyes, gazing deeply. Darkpaw couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"Come with me," The frosty blue-eyed wolf demanded. "Mashpaw, you stay here!"
Mashpaw instantly stared at Darkpaw in disgust as the dark-coated wolf strolled away. She appeared to be overwhelmed by the truth that Darkpaw was apparently the "Slaughter Lord." However, as confused as Darkpaw was already was, he just couldn't implement all of this knowledge inside of his noggin. His perception of what was going on was remarkably low, but all he could manage to do was accompany the Alpha of the Lightning Clan. The pack of wolves who continued observing the scene shifted aside and made an aisle for the Alpha to pass through.
As Darkpaw trailed behind the silver-coated wolf, he glimpsed around, analyzing his surroundings. From left to right there were various dens, small pups snoozing and their guardians watching over them. The trees were huge and the leaves were fresh. The cold wind breeze nuzzled through Darkpaw's fur. His heart started to slow down and beat at a normal pace. Darkpaw felt warmth and his blood flowed smoothly. He was calm and at peace, removing any worries from his mind.
"Snap out of it!" The she-wolf snapped ferociously. "The Trees of Dolo are deceptive trees. They make you feel like you're in a reality you're really not in. Those feelings that you just had were a feeling of peace. But that peace is false. There is no such thing as peace in this world. Do not believe such lies the trees whisper to you."
Darkpaw gulped nervously and lowered his eyes. After a few minutes of walking, the two wolves eventually arrived in front of a little cozy shelter. The she-wolf entered and sat down gently and so did Darkpaw.
"Sit," She demanded.
Darkpaw followed her orders and sat down, glancing around the small room. It was narrow and occupied by a collection of sticks and meat.
"Is this your den?" Darkpaw asked in confusion.
"Yes," She responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Aren't you the Alpha of this so-called Lightning Clan?" Darkpaw questioned.
The silver-coated she-wolf nodded her head in confirmation.
"If you're the Alpha, aren't you supposed to have the largest den in this entire headquarters?"
The she-wolf glared at Darkpaw for a few moments and snickered. "Your eyes have no murderous intent like most Shadow wolves. I can now sort of believe Mashpaw about you losing your memory. But, let me answer your question. I have the smallest den for one reason and one reason only. It's a rule I've followed ever since I was a small pup in training. That rule is to never overvalue yourself. Don't give yourself the front seat. It's better to be given the front seat from the owner of the feast than to give yourself the first seat and get kicked out by the owner of the feast. I am the Alpha, but rankings don't have any meaning to life. I am a wolf and the wolf has the same colored blood as any other wolf out there."
"Wow," Darkpaw acknowledged in amazement. "You are a knowledgeable she-wolf. What is your name, Alpha?"
"Accaila," She answered.
"And may I ask, why exactly have you taken me to your small shelter?" Darkpaw asked with a soothing and gentle voice.
"I have brought you here to reveal the truth," Accaila responded. A small curtain from the left opened, and then a dark-brown coated wolf with yellow eyes entered the shelter.
"Hello, My Majesty," The brown wolf said, lowering his head. "I have come just as you wanted me to."
"Hello, Rogue," Accaila greeted. I am glad you have come. "Now, you understand what you have to do, right?"
"Yes, My Majesty," Rogue replied.
The wolf named Rogue walked up to Darkpaw and gazed into his eyes. Rogue continued to stare, causing Darkpaw to feel uncomfortable.
"Do you remember anything, other than your name?" Rogue asked, still staring into my eyes.
"No," Darkpaw answered without hesitation.
After Darkpaw answered, the brown-coated wolf placed his ear on Darkpaw's chest. It thumped normally and Rogue took one last glance at him, then he placed his eyes on Accailia.
"It's sad to say this but he speaks the truth," Rogue reported.
"Good," Accailia said. "Thank you, Rogue. I can never doubt you for a second."
The wolf lowered his head and then finally escorted from the shelter.
"I don't get any of this," Darkpaw countered after he left, shaking his head in confusion. "It's like a huge chunk of my brain is just missing. I don't understand who this Slaughter Lord is and this so-called Elemental Forest and the clan I keep hearing about, Shadow Clan! It is just too much for me to comprehend. I don't understand any of it! I don't even remember how I ended up on your territory!"
Accaila stared into Darkpaw's eyes, deeply, to the literal depths of his soul and finally took her eyes off of him. "Although you are a Shadow Clan member, I will take the risk to let you stay here. But if you break the little bit of trust I have given you, I will spill your brains. For now, you will stay in a small den outside the main camp base and my eyes will be on you. Go south and the den will be there. It is getting late and I will discuss more tomorrow, but for now, you are dismissed."