Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Fourth Chapter

Ch. 35 - Mean It, Hate It

Sorry to all Russet readers, no Russet update today. I need to get this finished! :P

"HE ISN'T DEAD!" Harry roared as Lupin struggled to contain him. I shifted and broke free from Nova's grip, and skidded over the dais, my claws clacking furiously against the harsh stone. Nova called out and a spell hit me in the side. I plummeted from the arch and crashed into a wall, my body slumping. I groaned and collapsed to the floor.

"He's gone, Shadow." Nova murmured, walking up to me and stroking my head cautiously. I saw Harry slide down a wall in absolute anguish, and James hugging Jenny, whimpering into her shoulder and howling out the emotions that he'd never felt before. Loss, panic, anxiety, disbelief and fury. Pure fury.

There was a loud noise and I bolted up, my ears flattened and my teeth bared. I cared not for the pain in my body anymore - only the bloodlust that fueled my every desire to kill Bellatrix Lestrange.

She zipped out of a door, and Harry ripped himself from Lupin's slackened grip, roaring out more words and charging after her. I stalked after him, knowing that at one point, Bellatrix would be cornered. I did not run, oh no, that would be too easy. Nova tried to stop me, but I flung some crushed bricks in her direction. She hissed and didn't pursue me, and Lupin seemed much too worried about the injuries I could do him if he tried to stop me too. Jenny still had a grip on James though, and he was too weak to join the hunt.

I was right behind Harry, and he and Bellatrix taunted each other, hatred rising in both of us like a storm - nothing we'd ever felt before. Harry ducked a spell and I shifted to swerve out the way. Harry flung himself from the fountain and cried, "Crucio!"

It didn't work.

"You have to mean it, baby Potter! Yes, mean it like you hate it!"

Nevertheless, I did mean it.

"Crucio!" I shouted.

She gasped and fell to the ground, and I reveled in her suffering. Harry glared at her as I kicked the witch in her vulnerable state, letting go of the curse. "Don't you dare touch him." I snarled venomously. She was screeching something about the prophecy too, and it was pissing me off. "It smashed, or didn't you see? Are you in too much pain?" I spat, flicking my wand again. She screamed in agony once more, and I gritted my teeth, something telling me I should stop, telling me I was under the control of my own darkness.

It withdrew and I gasped, staggering backwards. I stalked back towards Bellatrix, my wand poised, but someone grabbed me from behind and a needle sunk into my skin. I fell to the ground and that was the last memory from that night.

*

"Shade... mm... stop that... mm..." I mumbled gently as I felt a warm hand glide up my hips, and a soft kiss press to my temple. The hand withdrew at my voice, but I grabbed at it and pulled it back, hugging it tightly to my chest. There was a deep laugh and I felt his lips on my skin again, this time on my neck.

My eyes slowly slipped open, adjusting to the light very quickly. I suddenly gasped as Shade's hand grazed a deep, blackened bruise on my stomach. He apologized and I rolled onto my back, groaning and whimpering with pain. My whole body ached, and my eyelids were heavy. "Who-... who jab- jabbed me?" I managed to hiss out.

"Your werewolf friend." Shade said softly, and I arched my back to get up. He helped me sit up, but kept me on our mossy bed. I was... home...

"Lupin. That son of a bitch." I growled, then my vision swayed and I gripped my mate tightly. "Mea umbra, please. There are children around." I shook my head gently and peered down. Sure enough, all the kits in the clan were gathered around me, and that's why my bed felt to soft. I smiled at them, "Excuse my language, little ones, your Alpha is a terrible influence." I smirked and they all giggled, cuddling me with the small, fluffy heads. There was no danger of them hurting me further, since they were so small.

Shade growled gently, "Alright, miss profanity." He scoffed, and I slapped his arm weakly. "Where's Jenny and James? What about Harry and Luna, and Neville and Ginny- oh shit, Sirius is dead and Kingsley, what about him, and Moody and Tonks and Lupin that son of a bitch, fuck this, I'm leaving." I just rambled on, trying to stand. Shade picked me up gently, and carried me outside, setting my feet on the grass gradually. My parents were laying in the sun, and Nova and Hawthorne were not far from us, cuddled up just outside their cave in the cool shade.

"Umbridge is out of business now, and all your friends are fine, Shadow. You need to relax." I scowled at him, "Fuck you. I'm not going to relax. I have shit to do." I staggered forward, toppling- Shade caught me, goddammit. "Fuck you." I said again, and he chuckled. "Language!" A little crowd giggled at me and I narrowed my eyes at the kits, "I'll eat you all if you're not careful, now go on, get out the sun. You'll burn." I pointed out, and they toddled off, giggling still.

Then realization hit me like an airplane.

Sirius was dead.

Tears pooled in my eyes, "Shade. He's dead." I gripped my mate and he hugged me carefully. "Shh, shh."

Long story short, I spent that afternoon bawling my eyes out like a new born kitten.

*

"Shade I want a baby." I gasped after I'd shed my last load of tears. He stiffened and gazed at me, "Don't play with me, baby." He growled. I shook my head violently, "N-no... I want a baby, Shade. I want a mini-us." I turned in his lap and took a hold of his face, "You r-really want a kit?" He breathed softly.

I nodded, kissing him passionately, then drawing back. "I want a kit, Shade. I want a baby."

WOO! THAT IS A LONG FREAKIN' STORY, HOLEY SHET!!

Shadow Claw: The Life Story #5 will not be upcoming for a while, I'm afraid. I must finish one of my other stories first.

I really hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. So long, shadowlings.

~Shaded