Erin Hunter Fiction: Stormcloud's Destiny: The time of Nightmares

Chapter 1 <DRAFT>

"No! You can't!"

Thunder howled.

"She's a half-pack. A cross between a traitor and a weak and cowardly pack wolf. Wolves like that cannot live on either sides."

Nightmare growled.

"Or would you rather let her be of some use to me and show her loyalty to me. If she even has it."

A gray furred wolf stalked up to Nightmare. He looked like his fur was covered in soot.

"Fine. Let her prove her loyalty to you. Just don't harm her."

Soot growled.

"If she fails, she will die. Unless you don't want her to prove herself."

The rogue leader sneered. Soot bunched his muscles, ready to leap at Nightmare.

"Don't you dare touch Night!"

He snarled.

"Well, then she must pass the test."

Nightmare turned to Falcon, a burly white wolf.

"Fetch her."

He ordered.

Falcon gave a quick nod and headed to where Night was being guarded.

"I need to get her."

Falcon growled at the wolf who was guarding.

"And disobey our leader?"

The wolf sneered.

"How foolish of you to think that I would disobey Nightmare just because of a scrawny pet."

Falcon narrowed his eyes.

"Nightmare's orders."

The guard wolf grunted but he let Falcon pass.

Falcon brought Night to their leader.

"I have an assignment for you."

Nightmare growled, his eyes on the rising moon. Night fixed her ice- blue eyes on their leader.

"If you wish to prove your Loyalty to me, then you will sneak into The Pack of Thunder and take pups. Young pups. I want them alive."

"I will not steal pups! Do what you like to me- no matter what you do, I won't do it."

"How about your life? What about your Honor? Will you do what I ask then?"

Defiance glittered in Night's Leaf-green eyes.

"Never! I would never steal pups! Honor? You have no honor! I will not let you do to wolves as you did to my parents!"

With that, Night launched herself at the rogue leader. He merely sidestepped, as Night skidded to a halt. She spun and faced Nightmare.

"You were always a fool. Just like your parents. I gave you a chance, but now, you have clearly proven me wrong. The rogue leader suddenly flashed out a paw, tripping her. Night's eyes widened in shock. Then as quick as the shadows, he finished the battle, before it even started, sinking his teeth into her neck. Nightmare let go of Night and stepped back, his eyes cold. Night's mouth moved but all that came out was a whimper. She collapsed on the ground and didn't get up again. Hawk and a couple of other wolves heard the commotion. Weed, a skinny gray wolf whined, his tail between his legs as he stared at Night's lifeless body. "Hardly any blood, yet such a terrible death." He whimpered.

"You can't see all the blood."

Nightmare's deep growl made Weed jump.

"What?"

Hawk asked, confused.

"In the waking world there is visibility. But a nightmare attacks and as quickly as a battle starts it ends, but there is no blood. Yet Night is filled with agony, and blood flows out yet it is invisible, as the pain is real."

Nightmare growled. Weed whimpered. Hawk flattened his ears.

"Surely she didn't deserve to be killed like that?"

He licked his lips, afraid of offending the rogue leader.

To Hawk's surprise, Nightmare just shook his head.

"She was given a chance to prove her loyalty to me. She started the battle. Besides, I killed her swiftly, and a traitor like her deserved to be in moments of agony but her death was quick."

Weed shuddered beside Hawk.

"Nightmare never strikes first. It is the one who summons the nightmare who is destined to die."