“We are not who you think we are…” my ears perked as Owl softly whispered those words, his face looked pained as he prepared himself to speak. What had he been hiding? My mind returned to the fight, despite the pain I was going through at the time I recalled a few snippets of a conversation Owl had with that detestable, crow-food eating Thornscar. An unbridled rage roared through me at the mention of his name and I forced myself to calm down and focus. He had called Owl Blood… something. My ears twitched as I struggled to recall before sighing and giving up. “Keep in mind that it is very hard for me to speak of my past,” Owl continued as he shifted his paws nervously. “I didn’t always go by the name Owl and Loon was not always Loon.”
“Owl and I are from a place in which we regret ever association ourselves with,” it was Loon strolled over to us and I blinked in surprise at the clarity of his gaze. The way he spoke had a way too serious tone to it and the way he held himself was of pride not at all laid-back. “Talia have you heard of Bloodclaw and Venomstrike?”
“Yes…” Talia’s one eye narrowed and a suspicious tone filled her meow. “Why do you ask?”
“Hey mind sharing with me exactly Bloodclaw and Venomstrike are?” I frowned, feeling out of the loop. Those two names meant… wait Bloodclaw… that’s right, Thornscar (that wretched fox-hearted, snake-tongued, murdering, piece of dirt) called Owl that.
Owl let out a soft sigh and for a second I wasn’t sure he would answer my question before he finally spoke. “This happened many moons before you birth Jadepaw… two rogues by the name of Blood and Venom decided to join a Clan. But not just any Clan, they joined BrambleClan. Together, the two rose through their respectable ranks both becoming notorious Fighters. Eventually they were given their named Bloodclaw, for his claws were almost always stained in the blood of his victims and Venomstrike, for like venom he would strike swiftly, painfully and at the very core of their targets. The two were unstoppable, until one day they meet this one cat…”
“This cat was very precious,” Loon picked up where Owl stopped. “Down to their very hearts, she changed them but BrambleClan noticed the slow, subtle changed of their two strongest cats. They…” Loon trailed off and a flash of sorrow filled his blue eyes. Swallowing and, with a shaky voice, he began to speak, “they captured Bloodclaw and Venomstrike, pinned them to the ground and forced them to watch as they tore her apart… they…” he was shaking and with eyes closed, looked away.
“It’s okay Loon,” Owl gently rested his tail against his friend’s shoulder. “They tortured her, killing her slowly and painfully. There was so much blood… she screamed until her voice was hoarse yet they continued until she no longer responded. That was when the two decided never to return to BrambleClan and became travelers yet again.”
“What does this…?” I trailed off as realization dawned on me. My whisper was barely audible as shock settled inside of me. “Are you saying you’re Bloodclaw… and Venomstrike?”
“Yes, we are them,” Owl sighed and he flinched from the pained look I shot him.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me?” I shot to my feet and my initial hurt was replaced by anger. “I never would have told a soul!”
“We wanted to forget our past…” Loon explained softly, and I snorted like that was a good enough reason. “But I guess no matter how hard you try to run, your past will always haunt you.”“Look Jadepaw-” Owl began, attempting to calm me down but I cut him off. “Don’t talk to me!” upon uttering my vehement words, my fur started to fluff out furiously and my eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t even look at me,” turning away I stormed out of the camp, the farther I went into the forest the faster my pace became. I found myself racing through the silent woods, and as my anger funneled away I became ever more aware of the pain shooting through me with each step.
Finally skidding to a halt, I collapsed to the forest floor and curled into a tight ball. Emotions swirled wildly through me betrayal, pain, anger. I felt so confused… so hurt. “Don’t they trust me?” they were my best friends, and they lied to me. They said that they had always been rogues, never belonging to a Clan but here they are claiming to be from the most infamous kit thief Clan… why didn’t they tell me? Am I that untrustworthy? “Hah, it seems that everyone I care for ends up dead, or hating me or betraying me,” I laughed bitterly at the thought before forcing myself to sit up. I brushed a leaf off of my head and glared coldly up at the sky. “I hope you know what you’re doing StarClan, cause I sure don’t.”
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Cursed (Book 2 of the Outcast Quartet) Is Cancelled
FanfictionA darkness hangs over the heads of four young apprentices. Decisions must be made, paths must be traveled. Every turn they make leads to more turmoil, and to more paths. They must make it through the shadows around them, or risk losing themselves in...