Nightpool's ears pricked as she heard Puma's vicious ceremony howl ring across the camp, seeming to rustle the green leaves on the trees. "It's time!" Tigerlily barked, bumping into Nightpool. "Careful dears, we don't want blood on this special day." Palebird said. Even if her voice was stern, her eyes shined with pride. It had been six moons from when Nightpool first went out of the Pup Zone and later, Puma decided to make them pupils. Soon, I'll be better than those bragging puffballs. Nightpool thought of Dark, Bramble, and Claw. Dark, Bramble and Claw were pretty new pupils and were a few moons older than Nightpool and Tigerlily. But on the second day of getting out of the camp Dark, Bramble and Claw blocked their way and decided it was good to tease them. But now, Nightpool was going to show them how to show respect toward other wolves. When Nightpool stepped out she felt embarrassment prickling in her belly as all eyes turned on her and her sister. Nightpool quickly padded up to the Firestone and sat beneath it beside Tigerlily. She felt her sister hyperventilating. "I Puma announce new pupils for the pack. They have shown great health and tasted the blood of prey. Tigerlily, your bubbly excitement will change to courage when you are mentored by Rock. He will be your council." Puma howled. Tigerlily yelped in happiness and let Rock rest his muzzle between Tigerlily's ears. Please, please, please, let my council be Timber. After the passing moons Nightpool would spend more and more time with Timber. They understood each other and Timber had a fine way to calm Nightpool down when she was angry. " And Nightpool's curiosity will be morphed into knowledge as our faithful Delta shares his wisdom and knowledge to her." Puma finished. Yes, yes, yes! Her heart sang. She felt as if her back was about to sprout wings and fly. She stretched out, letting Timber rest his muzzle on top of her head. Thank you… she murmured to her spirit ancestors, No, thank you. A voice seemed to be echoing back.
"So what are we learning today?" Nightpool asked. Timber looked at her. "It's already sunset, we should have some nice warm rabbit and go to sleep." Timber said, nudging her. Nightpool couldn't hide her disappointment in her gaze as she looked up at Timber. Looking at her with a sympathetic look, Timber said, "Hey, but I'll show
you the forest tomorrow, and you'll also get to sleep on your new bed!" Timber barked cheerfully. Nightpool just nodded. As they were gulping down the soft flesh of the rabbit, Nightpool asked, "Can you tell about the territories now?" She said giving Timber a puppy-eyed look. Timber almost choked on his carcass, "Hey, I will but don't give me that look, it creeps me out." Nightpool agreed, a bit confused "Our territories are a big oval." " The Sunfire Territory is at the bottom of the oval. Moonwater is at the west, while Earthstone is at east. Airstorm is on the other side of the oval from here." Timber finished.
Nightpool went inside the hollow tree trunk waiting for it to lift her up the tree. She felt herself moving. Lifting up and up, it stopped by a hole. It will stop by your den. Timber's voice echoed inside her head. Nightpool went through the hole and found herself standing on one of the highest branches. She felt her legs wobbling. She saw a long tendril of vine tied around the truck. Following the vine, she saw a hammock with a strip of thin bark on it. As Nightpool looked closely, she found herself looking at her own name, lightly scraped across the bark in neat curvey letters.
'Nightpool'
Bingo! Her mind twinkled. She was about to leap down when she hesitated. What if I fall? Thinking that her fall will be blocked by the invisible wall reassured her. But her paws were still rooted to the bark, her claws digging deeper into the branch. She looked down to the drop beneath her branch. Through the leaves, she could see the ground. She imagined herself, her body twisted, broken, and bloody after she fell. Then Nightpool looked at her hammock waiting there urging her to hop on. Hurry up, compared to your destiny, this is nothing. A soft rasp sounded in her ear. Nightpool whipped around startled. But all she could see were leaves and branches. "Who's there?" She said out loud. "Who is i-" her sentence was broken when Nightpool felt herself being pushed down to the hammock. Her paws slipped and she was flung down. She bounced on wool and moss. Startled, she felt her energy ebbing away. She closed her eyes and let sleep take over her.
Nightpool opened her eyes and saw herself standing in front of a clear pool of water. When she squinted jewels were glittering at the bottom of the pool. "Hello,
Nightpool" a deep steady voice made Nightpool lookup. On the other side of the pool was an orange wolf. Orange. Her eyes looked as if crescent moons were spotted in her eyes. The outline of her body was watery. Her paws seemed to fade as they reached the ground. "By the moons, who are you?" Nightpool gasped. Amusement glittered in the orange wolf's eye. " I am Fire. The founder of the Sunfire Pack. She said her voice barely a whisper. Nightpool felt her jaws drop. Right now, in front of her, was the founder of her pack. And she was talking to an ancient spirit. Nightpool felt her mouth run dry and she had nothing to say. Fire smiled in amusement. "Nightpool your destiny will not end until the Shadow Wolves are gone." Fire rasped. Nightpool gaped. "Destiny! Me?" Fire nodded. " But that destiny is still far away. You have to learn to contain your power first." Fire continued. Nightpool felt excitement running through her veins. "I have powers? What are they?" She asked. Fire shook her head. " You will find out when the time is right. But now, you must follow the closest path." Fire said her gaze darkened. She fixed Nightpool with an intense gaze. " You must not underestimate the power beneath your fur." Nightpool opened her mouth to ask what that meant but Fire continued. "I have a warning for you. So listen closely."
"Darkness will come, so will the light, Giving the black mist, something to fight.
Shadows will rise, death will arrive. Blood will spill, he'll do nothing but kill."