The Legend of SnowClan Continues


Chapter One: The New Legend Begins

The sun slowly reached its way up the horizon, so it could shine the light of life all over the snow-covered world.  A large Kishu Inu stood on the edge of a ravine, looking down on the creatures roaming on the surface.  His beautiful white fur shone off, his brown eyes sparkled, and two old scars lay right on his forehead.  His name was Yuki, the legendary hero of SnowClan.
Yuki’s eyes shifted down when he saw a black figure struggle to climb up the ravine.  “What is it, Niro?”
The elderly black cat was an old friend of Yuki’s, his eyes dropped with tiredness as his fur was ruffled in the wind.  He panted once he got high up enough so Yuki could hear what he has to say. “Kyo….she had your pup!  It’s a girl!”
Yuki perked up his ears in alarm, then kicked off the ground with his muscular legs and raced down the ravine.  Niro sighed, he already used up all his energy climbing this cliff, now he has to go back down again?!
They reached to the bottom of the ravine, and headed to a small den in the ground.  Yuki peered in and saw Kyo laying there, nuzzling a little orange ball of fur.  
“You can come in…” Kyo said, her voice pouring out like sweet, thick syrup.
He cautiously entered, keeping his eyes on the tiny bundle lying next to his mate.
“No need to be shy,” she giggled.
Kyo swished her long bushy tail, signaling her mate to come in.  Yuki calmed down and peered down at their newborn. Her fur was like a dazzling flame with three red stripes and red tips on her ears.  The little pup lifted her head and tried to touch her muzzle to where Yuki was, her eyes shut close.  Yuki reached down and licked her muzzle, the puppy yipped with joy to have found her dad.
“She’s beautiful…” Yuki smiled as he reached to nuzzle Kyo.
Kyo smiled, her green eyes filled with soft forest greens.  “I was thinking of the name ‘Flamepelt’…”
“That’s a perfect name….Flamepelt….”

Chapter Two: Mother and Daughter

Six months has passed, the snow covering the SnowClan forest has finally melted away and flowers have already grown in the tall, bright green grass.  Butterflies scattered themselves all over every cluster of bushes and plants.  
A young female puppy leapt into the long grass and gave chase to an orange butterfly, yipping with joy and amusement.
“Flamepelt, don’t stray too far!” Kyo called over to the pup.
“Okay, mamma,” Flamepelt replied.
Kyo has been a bit cautious lately ever since her father left three months ago.  Yuki was called off when he found out that there was trouble somewhere else in the forest.  He didn’t want his family to get harmed, so he told Kyo and Flamepelt to remain here, while Niro’s Clan stayed close by just in case.
Flamepelt padded over to Kyo after the butterfly flew too high for her to reach, and then sat down.
“When will daddy ever come back?” Flamepelt asked her mother.
Kyo’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. “I’m not sure….Your father has a lot to deal with since he’s the leader of the forest…”
“Oh yeah...” Flamepelt said in awe, she was proud to have such a legendary father, nearly every creature in the forest knows who she was.
“Mmhm…” Kyo smiled warmly at her child. “And one day…you will become leader of SnowClan…”
“Really?” Flamepelt wagged her tail; her green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “So everyone will do what I say when I’m leader?”
“Yes…” Kyo nodded, but her eyes looked more serious now. “But you must remember…being leader of SnowClan requires lots of responsibility…You must always fight for your Clan’s protection no matter what, you must be strong and respecting…”
Flamepelt sighed; she didn’t really want to hear a lecture right now. “Alright, mamma…”
Kyo licked Flamepelt’s forehead as the young pup leapt to her paws again.
“Come, time to go back to the den…” Kyo whispered calmly as she turned around, Flamepelt followed close by.
“Tell me more…”
“Hmm?”
“About my dad…”
“Oh yes…” Kyo smiled. “What exactly do you want to know about him?”
“How did he become a hero…to SnowClan?” Flamepelt looked up with round, curious eyes.
“Well…” Kyo began. “Yuki was only about your age when he lost his parents to a horrible monster…”
“A monster?”
“Yes….he was the devil, a demon wolf…named Bakemono…” Kyo said, her eyes darkening as she remembered the savage devil. “He later met a dog named Suji and me…”
“How did he get the scars on his head?” Flamepelt cut in.
“Well, Bakemono came to attack again when Yuki became friends with Suji and me…this was the first time Yuki ever fought back against him…Bakemono gave Yuki the scars he still has today….Meanwhile, Suji sacrificed his life to save us…”
“Wow…Why was Bakemono attacking you?”
“He wanted me…I am a cragon, a  mystical creature that is part cat, part dragon…if he gained my power, he would be able to destroy us all…Suji was meant to protect me, but after he died, Yuki replaced him…”
“Am I a cragon too?” Flamepelt asked.
“Yes, part cragon…but just as strong…that’s why you were able to transform into different animals while others cannot…” Kyo looked down at the pup.
Flamepelt wagged her tail. “Cool!”
Kyo turned her head to the sky where the sun was setting down the horizon line. “In the end, Yuki and Bakemono came into a huge one-on-one fight…and Yuki defeated Bakemono and saved SnowClan…” Kyo smiled down again at Flamepelt.
“Were just Bakemono and Yuki fighting?” Flamepelt asked.
“Well….Bakemono had his own army…they’re still around today, but they’re hiding where they belong…and Yuki had his own army as well, which is SnowClan today…”
Flamepelt started in awe of the story. “Will I ever become a hero like my daddy?”
“Who knows…?” Kyo giggled. “There are no troubles going on in SnowClan now-a-days, but perhaps one day, you will become a respected leader just like Yuki…”
Flamepelt smiled with excitement.  One day she would become leader of SnowClan just like her dad!  This was a dream come true!  
Kyo and Flamepelt finally entered their den.  Kyo wrapped herself around Flamepelt as they lied down.
“Sweet dreams, young one…” Kyo nuzzled Flamepelt as the little puppy closed her eyes slowly, surrendering to sleep.
Feeling the cozy warmth around her fur, Flamepelt felt herself dance off into dream world, fantasizing about the wonders of life and becoming a hero just like Yuki.
“But I will never be able to do something heroic like how he did…” she thought to herself.

Chapter Three: Illness

The sun barely shone through the tall trees of the forest.  Bugs buzzed around, soundly searching for some water and plants to drink and rest on.  Water vapor hung in the air, damping the forest floor.
Flamepelt’s paw steps interrupted the stillness as the puppy walks along, her head, ears, and tail down.  All the bugs moved out of her way while some small creatures would stop, look at her, look at each other, then run off.
She never knew this would happen, she didn’t know what to do, her mother has been sick for weeks now.  She never figured out what it was, but all she knew is that it wasn’t good.  Kyo could barely even walk now.  How did this all happen?  The day before, she was normal and happy, she was telling her about her father’s history, but now…
She wants to help her, but she doesn’t know what to do.  Kyo told Flamepelt to try to find someone who knew Yuki and could help.
“Hello?” Flamepelt called out.  “Can someone help me?”
No one would listen to a normal dog, would they?  Perhaps if she tells whoever’s out there that she’s the daughter of Yuki, they would listen to her, knowing she’s their future leader.
“I am Flamepelt, daughter of the legendary Yuki and Kyo!  My mother is sick right now, and I need help! Can someone please help me?” she called out a bit louder and with a bit more pride.
This time, a large, dark object moved.  It worked! It worked!  Flamepelt perked up her ears at the noise, it was definitely not anything she seen before.
“I believe I can help you, little one…” a deep voice came.
Flamepelt blinked when she saw the dark object get smaller and appear as a black dog with red eyes.  She never seen a dog like this before, she could sense something about him she never sensed about any other creature she met.  This one seemed to have a darker presence, while others usually act more joyful.  
“Who are you…?” Flamepelt asked, she couldn’t stop herself from shaking, was it from excitement, or fear?
The dark dog narrowed his blood-red eyes. “My name is Twig…and I heard your calls…so you’re Flamepelt, the future of SnowClan?”
Flamepelt looked taller. “Yes, I am.  Do you know Yuki?  Are you part of SnowClan too?”
“Yes…” Twig answered. “Not many know me though, I don’t come out that much…but I can help you…You say your mother is sick?”
“Y-yea….she’s been like this for weeks…I don’t know how to help her…”
“Well, I know many healing methods…” Twig gave a cunning grin. “Just like Niro, Yuki’s prophet, I know….magic!”
Flamepelt was easily awed. “Woa…can your magic heal my mom?”
“Of course,” Twig answered. “But I need something in return…”
Flamepelt was a bit surprised. This dog is asking his future leader for something back?  Well, maybe she needs to know what he needs first before she thinks about these things.
“Alright, what is it?” she asked him.
“I need you to help me with whatever I need…I really need a lot of help, and you’re the perfect one for it…” Twig answered, narrowing his eyes again.
Flamepelt shuffled her paws a bit; something about this doesn’t feel right…maybe she should refuse this and look on for help.  Wait, her mother told her that being a SnowClan leader would mean you help anyone in need, she must show respect if she wants some in return.
“Alright…”
Twig gave a grin. “Good, I shall use my magic right away…you go home and watch over Kyo for me, and come back when it works…”
“Okay, thank you so much!” Flamepelt called as she ran off.
Twig watched the pup go. “So young and inexperienced…” he smirked, and then his black fur camouflaged in the darkness, and soon, he was gone.

Chapter Four: Deceived

Morning dew damped the grassy floors of the SnowClan forest.  Flamepelt awoke when some cold dew slipped off a long blade of grass and onto her black nose.  She pulled away and shook it off.
What happened last night? Was it all a dream?
Everything flooded back to her mind. Twig…did he really do what he said he would do?  Was her mother finally healed?
Flamepelt craned her neck to who she was sleeping by, Kyo.  Her fur was much silkier like how it used to be now, her body heat finally cooled down, and her nose wasn’t dried up anymore.  Twig did it!  Her mother was no long sick!
Kyo opened her eyes, which weren’t glassy anymore, but bright and lively.  “Flamepelt…?”
“Mama,” Flamepelt murmered, “you look a lot better now…”
“I feel a lot better,” Kyo responded as she stretched.
So it was true!  Flamepelt wagged her tail and got to her paws.  Then she remembered, she had to go right to Twig to tell him it worked.  She wished she could spend more time with Kyo, but she could always do that later, right now, she has to get to Twig!
Flamepelt ran off to the forest.
“Flamepelt, where are you going?” Kyo called, surprised.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right back!” Flamepelt barked over her shoulder.
Kyo stayed where she was.  “What has gotten into her?  Where is she going?” she wondered.
Flamepelt slowed down her pace when the environment around her became familiar.  
“Twig, are you there?” she called out.
“Yes, Flamepelt, I’m always here…” Twig’s voice faded in.
Flamepelt looked around, where is his voice coming from?  It sounded like he was everywhere.  The sound of silence caused her senses to go crazy as her heart raced.
Something didn’t feel right…
Flamepelt took a step back, feeling something move behind her.  She spun around, fur bristling.  Who was there?
Nothing…
She couldn’t hear anything now, as if no one else but she was here.  Flamepelt let her fur lay flat and her heart to slow down to normal.  Maybe she was just being too paranoid.
She took one step forward and suddenly felt large, sharp fangs pierce her shoulder tightly.  The next moment, she felt the grip pull her right off the ground and flung her right over and onto her side.  
Flamepelt opened her eyes, her head was spinning.  What just happened?  She could only see the forest floor smothered in her own blood.  She saw a large blue paw land lightly in front of her.
As she looked up, she saw the blue paw led up to a horrifying black wolf with glowing, blood-red eyes.  He looked like the devil Bakemono himself.
“Who are you…?” Flamepelt whimpered in fear.  “Bakemono…?”
The dark wolf narrowed his evil eyes at the young pup.  “No…” he answered in a demonic tone.  “I am Darkshadow, son of Bakemono, and the new devil!”
“’Darkshadow’…what are you doing here?  What do you want from me?”
“You owe me, remember?” Darkshadow smirked and showed his ivory fangs.
“What…?” Flamepelt then realized what he meant. “You were disguised as Twig!”
“Yes…” Darkshadow looked down at her. “There is one little lesson in this….NEVER make deals with the devil…It is only I who get the benefits of the deal…” he broke off with an evil laugh, sending shivers into Flamepelt’s body.
What was he going to do?  What does he mean that he will only get the benefits?  
She felt Darkshadow sink his fangs into her neck again and lift her up a bit.  Flamepelt couldn’t move, but she felt her own blood trickle down her back.  
“Now, we can never be apart after I finish with this…” Darkshadow hissed in her ears.
Before Flamepelt could respond, she felt herself lose conscious.  She tried to move, but she could only feel herself get thrown into the air and plunge right into darkness…
Flamepelt awoke again; all that surrounded her was black.  There wasn’t even a floor to place her paws on.  Where was she? Did Darkshadow trap her in some dark world?  Perhaps, but it also looked like she was caged in a world of nothingness.
She couldn’t see anything, she couldn’t scent out anything, she couldn’t hear anything…
Wait…she COULD hear something!
Flamepelt twitched her ears towards where the sound originated from.  Once again, it was from everywhere…
She could hear….a scream….but who’s screaming?  Wait; there was also a vicious snarling…Perhaps Darkshadow?
“What was he doing though…?” Flamepelt asked herself.  
The answer came to Flamepelt as if it heard her questions.  Images flashed right in front of her eyes.  It went like the speed of light, but she spotted out an image of a dog in pain, someone slashed its throat, blood was gushing everywhere.  Wait…that was no ordinary dog…That was Kyo!  Someone killed her mother!  She has to help her, but she was trapped in this world!  Flamepelt narrowed her eyes, her green eyes darkening with anger.
“Who did this?  Who killed my mother?” she snarled, her heart burning with the dreaded feeling of fury that she never knew she had in her.  
Flamepelt looked around in the darkness, frantically.
“Who did this?  Tell me!  How dare someone kill my mother?  How did this happen? TELL ME!” she barked.
Out of the darkness, a white light grew.  Flamepelt squinted her eyes, trying to see what was in the light.  The darkness was blown away as the light grew bigger and bigger.  Gravity returned, and Flamepelt found herself falling.
Where was she going?  What was going on?  Who did kill her mother?  Was it just all a dream?  Flamepelt hoped it was…
The feeling of her body hitting the cold ground told Flamepelt that she was back in reality.
“What happened…?” she muttered as she got to her paws.
Her mind was still spinning from the strange dream.  Her limps shook as she tried to get herself up again.  Everything she saw was just a blur.   
Slowly everything cleared up.  She saw grass, ground, leaves, twigs, and…..blood?!  Flamepelt gasped and looked down at herself.
Blood was dripping down her mouth all the way to her chest.  Blood everywhere!
She turned around and saw her mother lying limp on the ground, dead.  Blood was all over Kyo as well; her throat was torn up by fangs.  
“No….” Flamepelt rasped. “NO! MOTHER!” she collapsed and cried by her mother’s cold, stiff body.  
Her spirit slipped down as her muscles stayed paralyzed.  She knew she couldn’t go on anymore, not without her beloved mother!
“This is what happens when you make deals with the devil, daughter of Yuki…” Darkshadow’s voice sneered and echoed all over the forest, only entering Flamepelt’s ears.
“You….you did this, didn’t you?” Flamepelt cried out to the sky.  “You killed my mother!”
“You allowed me to…” Darkshadow responded, Flamepelt didn’t know he was actually listening.
“Where are you?” Flamepelt howled out in rage.
“Like I told you before…we can never be apart…I’m always here now…and there’s nothing you can do!  Kyo was only the first victim…soon there will be more.  Get used to it!” Darkshadow snapped.
“’There will be more’….?” Flamepelt repeated in shock.
Does he mean there will be more deaths?  Of who…loved ones of her?  No….is Darkshadow thinking of killing Yuki next?  Flamepelt panted in fear, she was so confused, so weak, so hollow, so lost…Where is she supposed to go now?
Thunder crackled above Flamepelt as dark cloud formed into threatening storms.  Flamepelt lowered her ears and ran for cover.  Raindrops fell down; the rain got heavier the longer Flamepelt stay outside.  
The frightened pup ran in the cold wet water.  The blood smothering her fur slowly washed off, and soon, Flamepelt was soaking wet.
“Please, someone help me!” Flamepelt cried. “Anyone, please!”
Well, anyone BESIDES Darkshadow at least…
Flamepelt continued running until her muscles screamed for her to stop and her stomach made her sick. Her front paw slammed against a rock and sent her tumbling onto the muddy ground.  She didn’t even bother to get up…
Flamepelt laid her injured paw on top of her muzzle and cried a bit more.
“Who goes there?” demanded a rasping voice of an elderly cat.
Flamepelt looked up, blinking out tears and rain from her eyes.  Standing there was a large black cat with yellow eyes.  Behind him were a male cat about her age and some other strong-looking cats.
“Flamepelt, daughter of Yuki….” Flamepelt said her voice faint.
“Flamepelt…?” the black cat echoed. “I am Niro, Yuki’s prophet…What are you doing out here?”
“My mother…she…she…” Flamepelt choked on the words, it hurt her to bring up the horrible truth of her mother.
Niro looked at her calmly understanding.  “Don’t worry…we’ll take you back with us so you can heal…then you may explain what happened…Kaijin!” Niro turned his head over at the little gray cat.  
“Yes, father?” he answered, looking up with bright, round yellow eyes.
“Go back to our territory and tell your sister and the others that we have Yuki’s daughter that needs healing!”
“Yes, father!” Kaijin returned before running off.
“Don’t worry, Flamepelt…” Niro said, looking back at the frightened pup. “Everything’s going to be alright…”
“But nothing’s alright…” Flamepelt thought to herself. “My mother is dead…and she’s never coming back…all because of Darkshadow…”
“It’s not only my fault…” Darkshadow’s voice spoke in her head. “You’ll see soon…you’re just as responsible as I am…MWAHAHAHA!”