Chereads / Wildclaws||Shadows Rising|| / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

Timber and Nighpool strodded into camp. " My pupil caught a hare on the first try! I didn't even tell her how to do it!" He said as soon as they were in camp. Nightpool felt warm with Timber's praise and hot with embarrassment. As Timber went away to share the news with the senior wildclaws, Nightpool heard Bramble grunt. "I could catch a sheep. She only caught that because she was lucky." She whispered to Dark. "Well she's luckier than you." Tigerlily said appearing beside Nightpool. Dark whipped around to Tigerlily admiration in his eyes, but hatred when he looked at Nightpool. " You better hold your tongue before I rip it out." He snarled. Nightpool curled her lip and let out a low growl echoing in her throat. " Back off." she said. Bramble yipped and lunged at Nightpool stopping in front of her, their nose almost touching. "Watch what you're saying bugbrain." she growled. Tigerlily growled back and pushed Bramble over. "Watch where you are sticking your nose into." She said crouching for a spring. "Put away your claws." a deep voice sounded beside Nightpool. Nightpool's eyes widened as the Beta stepped up and gave Bramble and Tigerlily a glare. Turning to Tigerlily he narrowed his eyes. "Your first day as a pupil and your already picking fights." He then turned to Bramble who had a smug look on her face. "Bramble, you are older, more experienced then these two. But you are acting like a pup." Risinglake growled in front of Bramble's face. Bramble's smug face turned into shame. " But, Beta.." She was broken off when Risinglake gave a sudden snarl of fury. "You've got some nerves to counter the words of your Beta. Go fill up the water pool and get lost!" He growled. Bramble's head hung as she walked off. "She deserved it." Tigerlily whispered in Nightpool's ear. Nightpool buried her muzzle in Tigerlily's shoulder. "Thank you for standing up for me out there." She said. Tigerlily puffed up her chest, "Nobody bullys my sister."

Nightpool told Tigerlily about what she did today when they were sharing the rabbit she caught. Tigerlily sighed. " Lucky, I did see the territories, but I had to gather new moss and clean the hammocks." Tigerlily said. Something flickered in her eyes. Jealousy? "Hey, I bet you will learn how to hunt soon. Maybe tomorrow!" Nightpool said, trying to cheer Tigerlily up. Tigerlily's eyes brightened. "Yas! And I will catch a sheep!" She said. "But I will catch a cow!" Nightpool retorted not wanting to lose. "I

will catch a bald eagle!" Tigerlily said whipping around to Nightpool. "I will catch a HIPPO!" Nightpool said facing Tigerlily. Then they both broke off laughing.

There laughing died off as Claw stepped up nervously. Tigerlily immediately stood up and growled. "Are you here to tease us. Why weren't you there in the argument? Too scared to show your face?" Tigerlily said. Claw took a nervous step back. "No.. uh.. I just wanted to say…" He nodded at the rabbit. "Nice catch." Then he turned away and walked to the prey center to get some prey. "Hmph, who made him your approving guy." Tigerlily snorted. Nightpool couldn't agree. She felt something pulling her towards Claw. As if her heart wanted to become friends, as if Claw had changed…. Nightpool shook her head. She couldn't judge him already. He was one of the "Bully Trios" after all.

Nightpool yawned and slumped down in her bed tired after her day. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fall asleep. She wished her energy drained out just like last time. She wanted to meet Fire again… she suddenly drifted off. When I was little I thought my destiny was to be the best wildclaw in the world. To help my

pack. In the normal way… but my destiny has changed… I don't want it to change though. Do I have a choice? She closed her eyes and sighed a thought coming up her mind. I do have a choice. And I know what to choose.

Nightpool woke up in the same place again. And to her non-surprise Fire was there. "Oh hey Fire. Uh…" Nightpool started and drifted off. Fire looked up and gazed at Nightpool. "I have forgotten to tell you what this place is. My apologies" Fire said, dipping her head. Nightpool stared at the shimmering pool as she squinted she noticed something she didn't notice before. There were jewels in the pool. Diamonds and rubies, sapphires and aquamarines. So much. It was glittering in the pool like thousands of stars. She suddenly knew the name. It had come to her. She looked at Fire who nodded in approval. "Welcome Nightpool, to The Pool Of Thousand Stars."

Fire dipped her head into the water and snatched a jewel nodding to her to do the same. Nightpool glumped up air and dunk her head into the water, warm and cold liquid swirling at the same time. She gasped and snatched a jewel the closest she could find she didn't need to hold her breath. She could breathe. She could breathe underwater. It was like breathing in air in damp air. She lifted her head noticing that her muzzle was completely dry. She looked up and saw clear see through stairs crystallizing above her following Fire, she stepped up feeling as if she was flying. It was a miracle. So real even if it was a dream. She set her jewel in a flower where Fire set hers. The flower jerked and swallowed the flower up with such elegance. Nightpool took a deep breath and went through the portal. It felt as if millions of tiny bees were buzzing in her pelt as she stepped through the tunnel. As she arrived she felt as if the power of the world was in her paws. She felt the strength of the four elements. Fire, water, air and earth.

Nightpool looked around in amazement. she couldn't believe where she was "We are now in the boundaries of Manaluna, welcome to the Territory of Thousand Stars." Fire said. The sun was warm against her fur as Nightpool breathed in the soft fresh air of the wind, it was a miracle that she was here. The trees sprouted from the grass in the soil. The shining rays of sun scorched grass. " We are here to guide you. To guide you to your destiny." Fire said. Nightpool felt awkward and shy. She knew she had to tell Fire. But what if Manaluna punishes her for not following their wishes? Fire must have sensed her nervousness because she turned around and looked at Nightpool curiously. " What's wrong ?" Fire asked. Nightpool looked down feeling embarrassed. It was hard to not meet Fire's intense gaze as she looked up. " You see? I don't want to do the world saving things that you want me to do." Nightpool murmured. Fire ears flattened, stiffened scandalized by Nightpool's brave courageous words. "Why? WHY!" Fire's last words rose into a high pitched bark of anger. Nightpool flinched at the infuriated voice and backed away step by step. " I just want to be the best wildclaw I can. I don't want to be in this kind destiny. I'm still a pupil, I'm barely a wolf, why did you choose me?" Nightpool said, forcing all her feelings into these words. Just shook her head sadly. "We didn't choose you, the elements did." she said. Fire sighed and shook her head once more. "You will learn Nightpool, you will learn there is no way to escape one's destiny." Fire said. Nightpool blinked in confusion as her vision blurred into darkness her paws swayed underneath her; the world around her faded as she was swept away by the tide of shadows to the world of reality.