Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Third Chapter

Ch. 28 - Return Of The Shadows

I did believe, once Shade had stripped himself of his shirt and let his friends throw darts at his bare back much later on, that he had seriously had too much to drink. I winced every time the sharp metal pierced his skin and he growled, "AGAIN!!" Over and over, blood seeping from the raw skin of his back. I halted the next male and walked over to him, "Shade, babe, I think you've had too much. Please stop." I pleaded him, little tears pooling in my eyes. I think it sobered him up slightly because his face dropped at my expression and he turned fully to glide his knuckle over my cheek, swiping away a tear I had not noticed had fallen.

A faint smile edged his lips, "Okay, then, baby." He kissed my forehead and I let him slip his arm over my shoulder. The Light Claws were all collected together and we quickly wished the Lights a safe travel before they departed, back to wherever they came from. "Party's over, my family!" Shade called, fist bumping a few friends as we ambled home to our cave. There were passed out Claws all over the place - not very pleasant, I assure you. I hadn't drunk too much, just in case what had happened, happened. Good choice, if you ask me.

I sat Shade down, on our make-do stone stool, with his back to me and I began cleaning up the burning red skin around the darts still stuck into his flesh. I dabbed them with cool water and he sighed gently at the nice feeling. I then wiped clean the black charcoal marks he'd let a friend use to draw a dart board on his skin. "I'm going to have to remove the darts, Shade. I'm sorry if this hurts." I held his hand briefly before placing my small fingers over the first of seven. I already saw him wince and I bit my lip before yanking the thing out.

He smacked his fist against the wall, "Dammit, Shadow. Be careful." He growled in pain. Alcohol working off, then? You big fucking baby. Don't drink so much you goddamn addict son of a bitch. Then maybe you wouldn't have fucking DARTS COMING OUT YOUR FUCKING BACK!!. I felt like snapping at him, but kept my mouth shut and kissed the little hole that the dart left. "I'm sorry, my love." I whispered in a strained voice and repeated that six more times, every time cleaning the little wound it left with herb alcohol, but the biggest wound was in my heart - would he act like that around our kits?

"Shade?" I asked quietly as I slipped off my jeans and top, pulling on my fluffy black pyjamas and settling beside Shade in our gentle moss bed. He was laying on his front to avoid getting his wounds dirty or more sore, but all the same, he turned his head and slipped one arm around my waist, pulling me into him. Our bodies fit together like jigsaw. "Yes, Shadow?" He kissed my hand and my shoulder, caressing my cheek with caring eyes.

"Would you still party like this if we had cubs?" My voice turned dry and fat tears pricked at my eyes. His expression changed once more and he nuzzled me lovingly, his hand tightening around my hip. He hesitated though, and I held my breath. "Not while they were young and innocent." He whispered, and I knew he was telling the truth, "Perhaps when they were older, and we could celebrate together, maybe then. Do you not like me getting hurt?" A small smile played at his lips, but is answer was all I needed to make me love him all the more. I smiled back at him, "No. It hurts me too." I pressed his hand over my heart and his eyes flickered in understanding and sympathy.

"I love it when you go all mushy." He chuckled, grinning widely. I pouted, "I don't know what you mean." I shot back. He raised an eyebrow, "Aye, ya do, lass." He imitated a Scottish bloke and I held in a giggle, "Oh, stop it you." I let it bubble out my throat.

*

It had to be around 2am in the morning when the fighting, screaming and invasion started. I awoke rapidly, my heart beating out of my chest, to see Shade slipping out of our dark cave in Claw form and into the burning mist of the night. The smog seemed to seep through every cave, home and hole that it could find and hid the enemy from sight.

"Shade!!" I shouted, shifting as fast as I could and leaping into the midst of the war field. I searched frantically for my mate, mewling our for him. Against the mist, all I could see were distorted shadows of battles that loomed over me with threatening glares. I was suddenly barreled sideways to the ground and was slashed in the face, the three long, main claws swiping over my cheek and across my muzzle. I roared furiously and painfully, using my back paws to rake my claws down their soft underbelly. It snarled and we battled for a long fifteen minutes before I finally gained the upper hand by snapping my jaws around its neck briefly.

Before the shuddering body crawled away, I could see that its fur was as dark as mine and it had wings - bat wings, like mine. I held my breath, freezing in place. Shadows? Perhaps- no, they couldn't be here... could they?

I cried out for Shade again and I found him - but he was battling a figure much larger, and much stronger than him - and it didn't look like he was winning. I shifted back, the blistering cold air hitting my pyjamas and seeping into my whole being, making me shiver and tremble. I ran to Shade, just as the larger Claw pinned him down and raised his claws.

I screamed, and the whole world seemed to come to a stop. A Chaos Claw, I suspected and from the other pack, cleared the smog that laid my senses to rest, and revealed the whole clearing.

I screamed again and ran to Shade, watching the dark Claw take a few steps back, his deep purple eyes narrowed. Those eyes... they were like mine... "Shade?! SHADE!" I wailed, tapping his cheeks and pushing his body. I squirmed, feeling vulnerable - all eyes were on me, but all I cared about was my mate on the floor, dying.

"Shade, please!" I begged, tears dripping from my eyes, and then, in some mystic way, he coughed and spluttered, groaning gently as he rolled over, shifting back to human. I breathed heavily, curling my arms around him and pressing myself against his chest that was stained with drying blood; narrowing my eyes at the intruder, I roared, "You almost KILLED HIM!!" Striding forward, I peered at the man that stood before me, shifted back from his true form.

I slapped him.

"Shadow?" He croaked, catching my hand and placing his large one against it. There was something familiar about it, but I couldn't place it.

"You almost killed him!!" I raised my other hand, but by now my strength was diminished and my voice was practically gone. The man caught the other hand and put both them down, caressing my cheek. I was frozen in place, staring into the green hazel-ish eyes. My breath hitched in my throat and I felt myself drowning in sadness.

"Shadow Claw? My baby girl?"

"Daddy?"

AND THAT IS THIS BOOK FINISHED, THANK YOU ALL GOODNIGHT. SHIT IS 'BOUT TO GO DOWN IN THE NEXT BOOK WITH UMBRIDGE AND SHIIIIIZZZLLLEE.

>:D

BOOK 4 WILL BE OUT SOON, I HOPE YOU DON'T KILL ME WITH THE CLIFFHANGER.

I'M SORRY.

JUST KIDDING.

NOT REALLY.

>:D

~Shaded