Cold Blooded: Dapple's Downfall

Ch 8, Trail of Blood

Blood and pain is all that await you all.... time doesn't wait for you nor any other....the day comes closer.... screams will fill the night and blood will run like water in a river.... your time is running out, run before it is truly too late....do it for her before inside she's lost to this cruel fate laid down....please hear me, why can't you hear me Dapple....this is a trail of blood....
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"Dapple! Look at the sky, the clouds are getting darker by the minute. I have a bad feeling that a storm is coming." Moonshadow commented as her heads pointed up to the darkened sky.
I too looked to the skies, indeed it was in fact blanked in the ominous clouds threatening to rain down on us.
"Your right, we should hurry back before the down pour begins. I hate having wet fur if I can help it." I sighed.
Moonshadow nodded in agreement and we both picked up our pace, picking our way through the brush and undergrowth of the forest.
My heart was anxiously thumping in my chest, for this wasn't the only this that had me worried.
These past few years I've have been having very similar dreams or more like nightmares. The same Nightwatcher-like creature speaks to me in its three distorted hypnotic voices, telling me that I need to run and that blood will come to the camp soon. Not only that but of this "She" that it believes I know very well and that is to be on a path of misfortune. I have tried communicating with it but fades away after speaking to me and I can't see any features of the creature except that it was like our kind or in a way at least....As if it were draped in a cloak of darkness or fog concealing itself.
I sighed in my fixed confusion as I focused back on what was happening at paw.
"Dapple," Moonshadow shouted, I turned one of my heads to meet her gaze.
"Can you tell me the story about the gods? I never heard the whole thing, only bits and pieces from around the camp when I was little." She pleaded, her icy eyes shining with interest.
I sighed, giving in to my niece as usual. Moonshadow giggled in excitement as we finally reached the outskirts of camp just as the first raindrops began to fall.
"Hurry, up to my den Moonshadow." I shouted over the now roaring winds. Thankfully she heard me and together we raced up the stone ledge into my den.
Beside me Moonshadow panted in exhaustion from the run here as I drew in and out deep breaths. Finally I had my voice back and Moonshadow had began to settle down as well.
"Tell me the story Dapple!" Moonshadow whined.
"Hey come on, can't I catch a minute without you bugging me all the time." I breathed and then I began.
"Long ago, long before the first leader of the Nightwatchers and before the time of the Dracoweres, lived two celestial beings. They created Smoth and gave birth to twins, a male and a female. The male was said to have powers of the sun and the female had powers of the moon, together they kept balance in the world for millions of years. As time went on the celestial beings had more children, a single son and then a second set of twins, a male and a female. The male ruler of the underworld and the twins controlling life and death. The gods kept the balance of light and darkness, remaining hidden from sight from most but there is a legend that one of their powers went out of control and destroyed a vast amount of land somewhere here on Smoth. Now, to this day it harbors no life and time seems to stand still for the ruins that remain there since it was plagued many centuries ago. And they protect all life from the demons and darkness that grows, never resting and never dying." I finished softly.
Looking over at Moonshadow I saw in satisfaction that she had fallen asleep, curled up with her twelve tails around her.
I smiled to myself as I rose to my paws and stretched my legs. Letting out a huge yawn, I walked over to the pool of water and knelt down to drink.
As my tongue touched the cold water, the world around me disappeared to black.
I could feel my blood freeze and my fear creeping to the surface of my skin as I stood there alone in the dark. Mustering up all what was left of my fading courage I called out.
"I know it's you again, show yourself!" I shouted, growing ever more anxious as I heard my voice echo.
Then I saw a figure approaching me out of the darkness, again it showed no features except it's shape. I stood there, frozen in fear as it stood right in front of me.
"You will know the truth soon.... About what was and what will be..... I will show you everything.... But you can't tell any other, no matter how you try.... You couldn't hear my calls.... Still I pity you...."