The Reaper's Footfalls Book 1
Mar 11, 2024 15:30:56 GMT -5
via mobile
[INACTIVE], -Brightheart86, and 2 more like this
Post by Ravenshadow on Mar 11, 2024 15:30:56 GMT -5
*disclaimer. If you please, refrain from taking any content from this story. I’ve worked really hard on this and hope to add more details eventually. Anyway hope you enjoy the read even if it’s a short one. Oh and graphic content warning*
Prophecy: The one who seems true will take revenge upon those who have wronged against them / Five will fall / one will rise / the battle will be won by those who learn to accept / hear the silence of the reaper’s steps / feel the protection of the pride / death and light will meet.
Chapter one:
As Ravenshadow crept through the brush, she thought of the punishment that she would receive if she didn’t catch the prey. Badgerface was much more demanding lately, and she had saw what happened to the last cat who came back empty pawed. Let’s just say he didn’t get back up after being clawed to a shred.
She shivered as she thought of it, and the motion caused her pitch black fur to ripple in the most mesmerizing way.
She had a slender build, with all black fur that blended in with the surrounding darkness. Her ears were large and pointy, like lynx ears, with black tips at the end. Her tail was a mix of large and small, the dark fur moving like a shadow when she walked. As for her face, she had dark green eyes, but if you looked deep into them you could see the flecks of gold and copper that shone back. Her teeth were white, but like everything about her, they didn’t shine. The thin legs attached to her were deceivingly slender. But in battle, they held much more power than would be assumed. The claws that showed as she anticipated the death of the prey were the epitome of how a cats claw should look. Rather large for her small paws, they were razor sharp and were majority of the time held unseen by the softest cotton tufts of fur. Her whiskers were the only thing light about her entire appearance, the black but shiny bits of keratin that poked out from her face. Overall, she knew how to stalk and gave the impression of a shadow gliding effortlessly and silently across the ground. Sticking to the shadows was usually her mode of attack. She wasn’t the biggest cat, but when she had the element of surprise she was deadly accurate. She leaned forward on her hind paws, charging up to pounce…
With a small death squeak, the mouse fell as her claws tore into its light grey fur. Picking up between her teeth, she licked her lips as the blood filled her mouth. So tempting… but her life was more important at the moment than a measly mouthful of flesh. She turned and began the walk back to camp.
While she supposed it was a scenic route, the only thing on her mind was if they would except her small mouse without protest.
Even while the sun shone on the snow, creating the most dazzling sparkles, she payed no mind.
As the camp came into sight, she saw Oatstalk guarding the entrance. She sighed internally, as he would most likely make a big deal out of the singular mouse she brought back. Sure enough, as she approached he yelled out in his grouchy voice, “Oh look who it is! The shadow returns, and with an absolutely humongous piece of prey too!”
He smirked and stuck out his paw at her as she attempted to pass. She snarled and stomped on it with her claws out. With a yelp of pain he stumbled back, nursing his now bleeding paw. She paused and glared at him, daring for him to make another comment, tail lashing. He lowered his eyes with a sour expression and stepped back for her to pass. Giving him a look that could have frozen over the Hotrocks, she passed.
Chapter 2, The Camp
As she entered, the smell of blood invaded her nostrils. Another fight had broke out. A burly tom with copper colored fur was attempting to scratch the underside of a smaller tom who was snarling fearfully. The other cats egged them on, exited at the potential of bloodshed.
As she passed she overheard a she cat excitedly telling her friend who had just showed up why the toms were fighting. The she cat’s silvery white fur was spread taught over her hips, the smallest ripples of kits showing clearly. She was obviously on her third or fourth litter, and was used to the lack of mobility. Ravenshadow felt lucky, most cats who didn't hunt had already been Chosen. She was part of the select few who were Free. She paused to listen to the conversation, her curiosity showing by the smallest twitch of her whiskers. “- and I heard it’s because Watersplash did the unspeakable to Smallrumbles mate, but of course that’s just conspiracy.” She finished with a swish of her tail, as if to relish the fact she knew why they were fighting.
Ravenshadow made a face and continued walking; the news of cheating mates was common and in her opinion, nothing to get so worked up about.
The uneven surface of pebbles crunched under her paws as she walked, the small bits of stone not bothering her thick paw pads however. She passed under the small ark of holly, the red berries shining brightly in the new light. The sun was just coming up, and the little light that now reached where she was, was watery and faint, as if apologetic for even daring to enter the domain. A large tom was seated guarding the prey pile entrance, and he looked up at her approach. Grinning he looked at her small mouse and the embarrassment on her face.
“Well, look what we have here. A little she-cat. And oh, what’s this? A little tinsy weensy mouse? Honestly, it maybe would have been better if you didn’t bring anything at all.”
His taunting words stung her like bees, cutting through her defenses. She struggled to come up with an excuse for the small prey, but could think of nothing. So instead she gave a small hiss through her teeth and shoved through. His smiling face followed her as she walked and her skin crawled as she heard his voice call out behind her, “you know, he's not gonna be happy about that small mouse of yours. If I were you, I would have already started running."
She yelled back, “Ha, well at least I'm not a spineless mousebrain like you.”
Attempting to scourge his comments from her mind, she continued along the stone hallway before entering the third room to the left. Sitting upon his throne, there sat Badgerface.
His muscles shifted under his grey fur, the large silvery claws attached to his paws shining in the sliver of light. His face lifted to see who was approaching, the electric blue eyes glimmering in the dark. His large tail was wrapped around his lower body, keeping him warm in that dark pit of a room. On his head was the sign of highest supremacy. A singular rat skull with twine wrapped around it with dried leaves encircling the entire circumference. It gave the impression of divineness in his opinion, and he often sat for hours in front of the pond admiring his own reflection. When he saw the pitch black figure coming towards him, he sat up eagerly, expecting a large kill from one of his most renowned hunters. But at the sight of the small mouse he gave a small hiss of displeasure, and demanded to know why she had brought back such a small morsel of a creature.
“Sorry, but there is almost no food during leafbare-“
She was cut off by a small flick of his tail.
Speaking in a quiet voice, he inquired, “why do you even bother to bring it back, when it’s size is smaller than an oak leaf?” He unsheathed his claws and raised up his paw, anger showing clearly on his face. “Do you wish for another scar?” He said it all on one breath, making the last part end in a hiss. With a snarl he swung his claw so close to her face she could practically feel the pain it would make if it connected with flesh.
Her fear did not show however, and she didn’t flinch.
“Again, sorry. Next time I won’t bring back something so small. However, I’d watch where you swing your claws next time, you might end up with a wound.”
As soon as the words left her lips, she felt the cold, deep regret for what she had said wash over her. She had no idea where the last part came from, and why. She supposed it was from her anger at being harassed, and the embarrassment of bringing back such small prey.
“What did you just say to me?” His eyes narrowed in fury, the claws sharp as ice shards revealing themselves once more.
He stood slowly, and as he did so the two toms on either side of him stood too. His lips curled into a cruel smile as she crept back from him, attempting to try to leave the room.
With one fluid motion, he had pounced and she felt the claws against her throat. His fur smelled of the underground, rotting and twisted. The claws dug further into her throat as she struggled under his grasp for air. He lowered his face to hers, clearly enjoying the scent of fear emanating from her.
“We’ll make an example of you shall we?”
Releasing her, she realized she was in more trouble than she had anticipated.
Prophecy: The one who seems true will take revenge upon those who have wronged against them / Five will fall / one will rise / the battle will be won by those who learn to accept / hear the silence of the reaper’s steps / feel the protection of the pride / death and light will meet.
Chapter one:
As Ravenshadow crept through the brush, she thought of the punishment that she would receive if she didn’t catch the prey. Badgerface was much more demanding lately, and she had saw what happened to the last cat who came back empty pawed. Let’s just say he didn’t get back up after being clawed to a shred.
She shivered as she thought of it, and the motion caused her pitch black fur to ripple in the most mesmerizing way.
She had a slender build, with all black fur that blended in with the surrounding darkness. Her ears were large and pointy, like lynx ears, with black tips at the end. Her tail was a mix of large and small, the dark fur moving like a shadow when she walked. As for her face, she had dark green eyes, but if you looked deep into them you could see the flecks of gold and copper that shone back. Her teeth were white, but like everything about her, they didn’t shine. The thin legs attached to her were deceivingly slender. But in battle, they held much more power than would be assumed. The claws that showed as she anticipated the death of the prey were the epitome of how a cats claw should look. Rather large for her small paws, they were razor sharp and were majority of the time held unseen by the softest cotton tufts of fur. Her whiskers were the only thing light about her entire appearance, the black but shiny bits of keratin that poked out from her face. Overall, she knew how to stalk and gave the impression of a shadow gliding effortlessly and silently across the ground. Sticking to the shadows was usually her mode of attack. She wasn’t the biggest cat, but when she had the element of surprise she was deadly accurate. She leaned forward on her hind paws, charging up to pounce…
With a small death squeak, the mouse fell as her claws tore into its light grey fur. Picking up between her teeth, she licked her lips as the blood filled her mouth. So tempting… but her life was more important at the moment than a measly mouthful of flesh. She turned and began the walk back to camp.
While she supposed it was a scenic route, the only thing on her mind was if they would except her small mouse without protest.
Even while the sun shone on the snow, creating the most dazzling sparkles, she payed no mind.
As the camp came into sight, she saw Oatstalk guarding the entrance. She sighed internally, as he would most likely make a big deal out of the singular mouse she brought back. Sure enough, as she approached he yelled out in his grouchy voice, “Oh look who it is! The shadow returns, and with an absolutely humongous piece of prey too!”
He smirked and stuck out his paw at her as she attempted to pass. She snarled and stomped on it with her claws out. With a yelp of pain he stumbled back, nursing his now bleeding paw. She paused and glared at him, daring for him to make another comment, tail lashing. He lowered his eyes with a sour expression and stepped back for her to pass. Giving him a look that could have frozen over the Hotrocks, she passed.
Chapter 2, The Camp
As she entered, the smell of blood invaded her nostrils. Another fight had broke out. A burly tom with copper colored fur was attempting to scratch the underside of a smaller tom who was snarling fearfully. The other cats egged them on, exited at the potential of bloodshed.
As she passed she overheard a she cat excitedly telling her friend who had just showed up why the toms were fighting. The she cat’s silvery white fur was spread taught over her hips, the smallest ripples of kits showing clearly. She was obviously on her third or fourth litter, and was used to the lack of mobility. Ravenshadow felt lucky, most cats who didn't hunt had already been Chosen. She was part of the select few who were Free. She paused to listen to the conversation, her curiosity showing by the smallest twitch of her whiskers. “- and I heard it’s because Watersplash did the unspeakable to Smallrumbles mate, but of course that’s just conspiracy.” She finished with a swish of her tail, as if to relish the fact she knew why they were fighting.
Ravenshadow made a face and continued walking; the news of cheating mates was common and in her opinion, nothing to get so worked up about.
The uneven surface of pebbles crunched under her paws as she walked, the small bits of stone not bothering her thick paw pads however. She passed under the small ark of holly, the red berries shining brightly in the new light. The sun was just coming up, and the little light that now reached where she was, was watery and faint, as if apologetic for even daring to enter the domain. A large tom was seated guarding the prey pile entrance, and he looked up at her approach. Grinning he looked at her small mouse and the embarrassment on her face.
“Well, look what we have here. A little she-cat. And oh, what’s this? A little tinsy weensy mouse? Honestly, it maybe would have been better if you didn’t bring anything at all.”
His taunting words stung her like bees, cutting through her defenses. She struggled to come up with an excuse for the small prey, but could think of nothing. So instead she gave a small hiss through her teeth and shoved through. His smiling face followed her as she walked and her skin crawled as she heard his voice call out behind her, “you know, he's not gonna be happy about that small mouse of yours. If I were you, I would have already started running."
She yelled back, “Ha, well at least I'm not a spineless mousebrain like you.”
Attempting to scourge his comments from her mind, she continued along the stone hallway before entering the third room to the left. Sitting upon his throne, there sat Badgerface.
His muscles shifted under his grey fur, the large silvery claws attached to his paws shining in the sliver of light. His face lifted to see who was approaching, the electric blue eyes glimmering in the dark. His large tail was wrapped around his lower body, keeping him warm in that dark pit of a room. On his head was the sign of highest supremacy. A singular rat skull with twine wrapped around it with dried leaves encircling the entire circumference. It gave the impression of divineness in his opinion, and he often sat for hours in front of the pond admiring his own reflection. When he saw the pitch black figure coming towards him, he sat up eagerly, expecting a large kill from one of his most renowned hunters. But at the sight of the small mouse he gave a small hiss of displeasure, and demanded to know why she had brought back such a small morsel of a creature.
“Sorry, but there is almost no food during leafbare-“
She was cut off by a small flick of his tail.
Speaking in a quiet voice, he inquired, “why do you even bother to bring it back, when it’s size is smaller than an oak leaf?” He unsheathed his claws and raised up his paw, anger showing clearly on his face. “Do you wish for another scar?” He said it all on one breath, making the last part end in a hiss. With a snarl he swung his claw so close to her face she could practically feel the pain it would make if it connected with flesh.
Her fear did not show however, and she didn’t flinch.
“Again, sorry. Next time I won’t bring back something so small. However, I’d watch where you swing your claws next time, you might end up with a wound.”
As soon as the words left her lips, she felt the cold, deep regret for what she had said wash over her. She had no idea where the last part came from, and why. She supposed it was from her anger at being harassed, and the embarrassment of bringing back such small prey.
“What did you just say to me?” His eyes narrowed in fury, the claws sharp as ice shards revealing themselves once more.
He stood slowly, and as he did so the two toms on either side of him stood too. His lips curled into a cruel smile as she crept back from him, attempting to try to leave the room.
With one fluid motion, he had pounced and she felt the claws against her throat. His fur smelled of the underground, rotting and twisted. The claws dug further into her throat as she struggled under his grasp for air. He lowered his face to hers, clearly enjoying the scent of fear emanating from her.
“We’ll make an example of you shall we?”
Releasing her, she realized she was in more trouble than she had anticipated.