Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Third Chapter

Ch. 13 - Lost Forever

"I only wish to know if she is alright."

"She's sleeping. Leave her the fuck alone or I'll rip out your precious fur."

"But-"

"Get out of here. Now."

I reach out for my mate, only to find James and Jenny tucked under my wings. With only the mere scent of Shade to comfort me, I whimpered and cracked open my eyes, letting out a small mewl of sadness. "Shh, shh, it's okay, sweetheart. Go back to sleep." Shade crouched beside me and stroked my soft ears, making me purr ever so happily. I spotted Estos lingering in the stairwell, but no Nova beside me, or even Lost for that matter.

I whined, "What's going on?" I whisper groggily, letting out a big yawn, exposing my razor teeth. Shade kissed my muzzle and growled under his breath, "The Light Claw claims he only wants to see if you're okay, but I think he wants something else." He tensed and I licked his hand, "There, there. I'm sure I belong to you, somewhere in that sexy mind of yours." I teased and he pouted, sitting by my paws and stroking them whilst leaning on the side of my neck. "I am pretty sexy." He mumbled, and I hummed with amusement, "You are very sexy." I nibbled on the ends of his calloused fingers, and he chuckles, folding his fingers into his palm.

"No biting." He warned playfully and I nipped his hair, making him nuzzle my cheek, "Nu-uh. Naughty." He grinned, finally noticing that Estos, the Light Claw, had disappeared from the clock tower and was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Nova? And Lost?" I asked, laying my head in his lap so he could stroke me easier. He kissed my ears, which flicked him in the face, making me giggle. He mock glared at me and I shrug, "They have a mind of their own." He laughed softly, making my insides shiver and quake at such an angelic sound. I sighed dreamily.

At that moment, a thundering roar echoed from the birch forest.

Nova's roar.

I leapt to my feet and looked down at sleeping James and Jenny. They'd have to wait. Shade jumped on my back, tapped my neck and I nodded, spreading my strong wings and leaping off the balcony. The wind whipped past my fur ferociously and the atmosphere just seemed off - wrong. I soared over the place where Nova's roars still echoed around, then dove into the trees, careful to keep my mate on my back who was whispering words of encouragement into my sensitive ears.

I landed heavily and lowered my body to the ground so Shade could climb off. He kissed my cheek, "Good girl." He praised, nearing Nova, who appeared to be in a frozen state of depression. She was sat, with her head bowed and her wings drooped, in a messy clearing surrounded with claw-marked trees, shredded leaves and uprooted bushes. "Nova, what's wrong?" Shade asked warily, placing a hand on her furry back and stroking down her back. In any other situation, I would have been jealous, but not that time.

"Lost." She croaked, "My baby boy." Her body trembled, the weight of her loss pounding on her shoulders. I frowned gently, "Where is he, Nova? Where did you see him last?" I padded up to the two and licked her shoulder sympathetically. Nova looked up ever so slightly, showing us where she saw him last. "I turned my back f-for one second, and h-he's gone. I scented those Light C-Claws around." She dug her claws into the ground and I gave her a small nod, "Okay, Shade can go find him. He's an expert tracker, right babe?" I almost glared at him - this was no time for modesty. "Right." He stroked my ears gently, "I'll be back soon, alright Nova?" He smiled and walked off, shifting and bounding into the trees.

*

I coaxed Nova to the ground and curled around her slightly, making her feel slightly better. "I'm glad I have you guys." She whispered softly. I purred to let her know I appreciated her appreciation, "I'm glad I have you too." I hummed, lifting her spirits. "Don't let those nasty Light Claws get to you." I said to her encouragingly, and she nodded, lifting her head to ask me something.

"What do you have against the Light Claws, Shadow? Apart from the fact that they're all big jerks." We both giggled lightly, "That's a story for another time, perhaps." I laughed, shuffling my wings. In fact, I did not actually plan to tell her, for it was a secret passed on for many, many generations, starting from the first ever Shadows.

And no, I wasn't going to tell Jenny or James either.

*

Shade called to me softly, waking me from my light nap. Nova had fallen asleep, curled up contently. I lifted my head and stood up, stretching my legs and yawning once more.

I cocked my head once I smelt the blood in the air. I saw a few drops on his paws and he shuffled them uncomfortably, worry and anxiety evident in his eyes. "What's wrong, babe? Where's Lost? Did you find him?" I asked quickly, getting more and more scared by the passing seconds. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, gesturing for me to follow him.

I whimpered and lowered my ears, leaving Nova to go with my mate.

If only; if only I had not followed him.

The sight was horrific.

Disgusting.

Vile.

Pungent.

Impure.

There, in a small, hidden clearing, lay Lost, his little body hardly recognizable through all the blood. His patched fur torn to shreds, his little legs crooked and unnatural, his adorable face mangled, his small belly split open, his excited tail cut off, and his big eyes clawed out. I took two paw-steps back and gagged, leaning on Shade for support. Who would so such a thing?

Lost's gut had been sliced and blood seeped from his mouth, staining the bottom of my paw pads. His intestines hung limply out of his belly, and somehow, the innocent cub no longer seemed real. I wished Nova had never found him - I wished we could have save him. Lost's, usually always loud, mouth was eerily quiet.

"S-Shade?" I whimpered in both sadness and pain.

"Light Claw." His fur bristled, "It's got Light Claw bastards written all over it."

It.

Lost was no longer a living cub, and he was no longer a part of our lives. But he had been - and shouldn't that have counted for something?

"What are we going to say to Nova?" I shift, unable to support my Claw body anymore. Shade shifted back and stroked my hair, pulling me close to him and letting me bury my face in his neck. "I don't know, mea umbra. I don't know." He kissed my head and rocked me slowly.

I did not cry, for my soul was wasted on anger.

I was vexated - I was antagonized - I was maddened - I was insane on rage.

I was going to get revenge, even if it destroyed the last humane part of my soul.

Oh, by my word, by my existence, I was going to get my revenge.

*Hides behind big rock*

Plz dunt kill meh.