Wolf Saga: The Secret

Chapter 2

 Blizzardstar awoke groggily, and tried to rise, but failed -ropes bound him muzzle-to-paw, and dirt clotted in his fur and between his claws. He struggled, testing the strength of the bonds, but they were stronger that a constrictor's grip. Blizzardstar wheezed, and thrashed, hoping to gain the attention of a guard, but no one gave any sign that they had heard. Abandoning the attempt, he reclined against the dirt wall, taking in his surroundings. He was in a hole five wolf-lengths deep, made of tightly packed earth. It was completely dark apart from the small gaps of light peering in thorough the woven trapdoor above him. Blizzardstar raised his muzzle, taking in scents, and picked up the warm, milky scent of Owlheart, her grief emanating from her in eaves that reached down to Blizzardstar, invoking guilt. Frozenpup must have been her pup, and some sort of claw had killed her.

"Owlheart!" he called, and he saw the dim form of the she-wolf stiffen. "I'm sorry! I don't know what I did, but please forgive me!" Suddenly, the trapdoor was thrown open, and Blizzardstar was blinded with light. Owlheart stood silhouetted above him, her eyes blazing angrily.

"How dare you speak the name of my pup that you murdered?" she shrieked, claws gouging the edge of the pit. Soil was flung at Blizzardstar as she snarled, "I dare you to say that one more time and I swear by the Star Pack that I will kill you!" Paws pounded outside, and Snowleaf's face appeared next to Owlheart's furious one.

"He's awake," she announced crisply. "Drag him out on trial." Owlheart leapt down right on top of Blizzardstar, claws digging into his pelt. She dragged him toward the wall, and Snowleaf leaned down to grasp her scruff. Once out of the hole, Owlheart dragged Blizzardstar unceremoniously out of the den and into the piercing sunlight. The Winter Pack was crowded around the entrance of the den, and parted to let Owlheart through. The she-wolf dropped him at the foot of the Moonrock, and then retreated into the ranks of wolves.

"Greetings, Blizzardheart," came Pheasantwing's voice from atop the rock. "You are here today in defense of yourself for the following crimes: murdering Frozenpup, being possibly involved in the death of Rockfall, attempting to kill Owlheart, harvesting the substance used against our- my pups, and infecting the eagle that was used to slay Frozenpup. What have you got to say for yourself?"

"I was Tainted," Blizzardheart began, unaware of why he was being demoted from leader to warrior in the short span. "I did not realize it, and neither did Frostfeather, my escort.

I was visited by the Star Pack, and they confirmed that it was entirely possible that the Taint was heavily disguised. While I was captured in the Dark Pack, I noticed an onyx- it shone without any light, and was guarded fiercely by Swanpelt, who was wearing it around her neck. Whenever I was in her presence, I felt as though my senses were leaving me. All of my former memories were wiped, and I could barely remember anything the longer I stayed exposed to the onyx."

"You have no proof of any of this," Owlheart snarled, her claws ripping savagely into the ground, as if it were Blizzardstar's pelt. "How should we believe you?"

"Wait," Frostfeather intervened quietly. "I'm sure you all know about my power by now, and I have figured out how to set a Record- if I can obtain all of Blizzardstar's memories leading up to now, I can project it before everyone." Pheasantwing nodded her consent, and Frostfeather padded over to Blizzardstar. She touched both of her wing-tips to his heart, and Blizzardstar felt a presence leave him. To his amazement, a smoky, vapor-like replica of himself separated from his body. Frostfeather guided it onto the ground, setting it down carefully, and then the figure exploded. Blizzardstar shielded himself, but suddenly, the memory appeared, right in his own eyes, as though he was seeing it over again. Beside him, he could hear other experiencing the same.