BlogClan Tavern, Fifth Avenue

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There is a legend that a black cub will be born. She will be born on the darkest night, under the lunar eclipse in winter. This cub will have magical powers, and she will be hunted. Her coat is of great value, for is is the source of her power. When this cub is born, the earth will shake and the trees will glow with her power. This cub has always been considered a myth, but one cold winter night, just as the moon waned into the black disk we do not see, that cub was born. Her name is Nightshade and she is here. Look around you. She is everywhere and yet she is only where she is. Afraid. Running. Alone.

Prologue
A wolf howled. A lion growled. A hiena laughed. And the moon went black. In a dark cave, the nursery of the pride of Moon, a pregnant lion named Whisper was giving birth. Her mate, Moonheart himself, was by her side, along with her sister, River and her brother, Shadow.
River’s golden pelt rippled as she shifted uncomfortably, peering over at her distressed sister every
“This is taking longer than anticipated.” Moonheart growled, pausing in his pacing to stare at the sky.
“Is this your first birthing?” Leaf, the Lekar, or healer, of the pride, snapped at her leader. She was the only one with the courage to do so.
“No, but it’s the longest.” Moonheart sighed and laid down, placing his massive head on his paws.
The mother let out a scream of pain.
“It’s all right, Whisper,” Leaf turned her attention back to the queen.
Leaf massaged Whisper’s belly with her paws and sighed happily. “The cub’s coming.”
Moonheart’s eyes widened and he pushed through the small crowd of lions just as his daughter entered the world. The cub was pressed against her mother’s side, her fur gleaming in the starlight streaming into the cave. The cub was unlike anything ever seen before, because instead of the usual golden-tan color of lion cubs, this cub was black. Black as night. Black as smoke. Black as thorn. And, as her mother licked her nose, the cub opened sapphire blue eyes.
“Is this…?” Moonheart rumbled, hus fur rippling as he clenched and unclenched his muscles.
“The black cub?” River finished with an astonished look on her face.
Whisper stared at her cub, awe in her eyes. “I… I… I’m the mother of the black cub?”
“Yes, my love.” Moonheart purred softly and pressed his big head against hers.
“She’s incredible.” Shadow said to his sister.
“Yes, quite.” River knelt in front of the cub and looked into her deep blue eyes. Suddenly, River collapsed, her paws in the air and her brown eyes glowing blue. She stood shakily and took the same pose as the small cub, standing fully and looking through the roof of the cave and shrieking as the starlight streamed in.
“What’s going on?” Moonheart demanded.
“It’s the cub!” Leaf gasped. “She’s possessing River!”
River gasped in shallow breaths and slowly her eyes returned to dark brown.
The whole cave stared at the small black cub in shock. They all knew that she had great power, but this was unlike anything they could have imagined. This cub was dangerous. If she was allowed alone, she could wreak havoc. She could destroy the world.
“What do we do?” Leaf rasped.
“We take care of her,” Moonheart stared at his paws. “Like any other cub. She is still one of us, and she must be nurtured.”
“Will she know of her powers?” Whisper asked, curling around her baby.
“She has to,” Moonheart decided. “She needs to learn to control them.”
“Well then,” Whisper declared. “May the stars welcome Nightshade, the black cub born of the Pride of Moon.”
“And may they watch over her.” Leaf bowed her head and the rest of the lions followed her example.

_(*)_
“The moon has vanished!” Orion roared. “The black cub has been born!”
Murmuring broke out amongst the Hunters.
“We must wait, but when its powers have matured, we will hunt the cub,” Orion continued, the scars on his face flashing in the starlight. “I will form bands, and only the luckiest of you will be chosen. You will train from dawn to dusk so that you will be ready when I send you. The weak among you will fall, and they will be replaced by the strong.”
Orion shook out his thick golden-brown mane and shouted at the sky. “For only the strong survive!”
“Only the strong survive!” the rest of the lions roared, their huge hearts beating in their chests at the thought of finally being sent on the mission they had trained their entire lives for, while in the shadows, a small cub buried his head in his paws and smothered a single tear falling from his face.

Chapter One
Starlight and Sunlight
Nightshade tumbled over her sister, snarling. What had been a play fight had quickly evolved into something bigger. They had been practicing battle tactics when Nightshade had accidentally let a claw slip out. She had scratched her sister’s leg, and Star in return had scored a set of slashes down Nightshade’s side. Now bleeding profusely but numb with anger, the sisters were nearly in a full blown battle when their father, Moonheart, had leapt into the clearing.
“Stop this!” he roared, pinning Star to the ground with one paw. “What has gotten into you?”
“Into me?” Star snarled, while Nightshade hung her head shamefully. “I didn’t start this! Nightshade was the one that scratched me first, so I just scratched her back!”
“Is this true?” Moonheart lifted his paw from Star and looked at Nightshade.
“Yes, but look at her leg!” Nightshade protested. “The scratch is so small!”
Moonheart sighed and rubbed his face. “Nightshade, be more careful next time. Star, you-”
“I didn’t do anything except what she deserved!” Star snarled. “You’re always giving Nightshade special treatment just because she’s the Black Cub and has all of these powers and stuff. Nightshade helps around in the nursery, she hunts and guards, sure, but I do all of the same things, but I don’t get rewarded or even praised while she gets fawned over and the first pick of the kill. It’s not fair!”
Before Moonheart could say anything, she let out a sob and stomped off to her den.
“I’m sorry.” Nightshade began, but her father cut her off.
“You didn’t do anything.” he grunted. “Go see Leaf to get your scratches taken care of.”
“Okay,” Nightshade glanced in the direction that Star had gone. “Will she be okay?”
“She’ll be fine,” Moonheart growled. “Go get healed.”

_(*)_

Nightshade padded back to the entrance to the Pride Walls. Her side was crusted with a thick paste that Leaf had plastered to her side. The black lioness held a rabbit in her powerful jaws, her mouth watering. Nightshade slinked around a thorn bush when she smelled a peculiar scent. The scent of another Pride. Nightshade raised her hackles and dropped the rabbit.
“Who’s there?” she demanded.
“Go!” a voice snarled, and three lions, a female and two males, launched from the bush.
Nightshade’s eyes widened. She snatched up her rabbit and streaked to the Pride Walls.
“Invaders!” she screeched when she pushed through. “Two males and a female, coming fast!”
The lions broke through the walls after Nightshade just then, causing everyone to scatter in shock.
“Give us the Black Cub!” the female demanded.
“And no one gets hurt.” one of the males added with a snarl.
Nightshade stared up at her father with flashing eyes. Certainly he wouldn’t give her up.
“Why are you here?” Moonheart stood in front of his daughter. More lions crept from their dens to see what was going on. Star caught Nightshade’s gaze.
What’s going on? Nightshade guessed she was thinking.
Nightshade shook her head. Nothing bad, I hope.
Despite the fight the day before, the sisters were close. Star padded over silently and pressed her side against her sister’s. Nightshade gratefully pressed back, welcoming all comfort.
“We have been sent by Orion,” the female was saying. “We want the cub. In three days, we will come back. If she is not ready to come to us, the Hunters will destroy your pride.”
“Come in three days,” Moonheart meowed. “We’ll discuss further then.”
The three Hunters growled once more and dashed out of the Pride Walls.
“What are you going to do?” Whisper, Nightshade and Star’s mother asked.
“I’m not giving Nightshade up,” Moonheart glanced at his daughter. “In three days, be ready to fight.”
“We don’t need to fight those Hunters too soon,” Whisper said grimly. “I’ll send a Guard to see that they’ve gone.”
“We’re going to fight?” Nightshade said shakily.
“You need to learn to use your powers,” Moonheart said. “We can’t afford to lose anyone else.”
“She’s not ready,” Star called from where she was preparing to leave with the Guard. “She needs to see what can really happen if she can’t protect us.”
“Nothing would happen,” Moonheart glared at his daughter pointedly. “The rest of us would just step in.”
“She’s not soft-hearted any more,” Star pointed out. “We can show her. Night, come with me.”
Nightshade cautiously followed her sister. They went to Leaf’s den, where River lay on her side in the middle of the floor.
“Is she okay?” Nightshade peered curiously over at her aunt.
“Night,” Star said softly. “Go closer.”
Heart pounding, Nightshade padded over so that she was standing over River. She wasn’t moving.
“Is she asleep?” Nightshade asked, panicked.
“Look.”
“She… she…” Nightshade closed her eyes tightly. “She’s dead, isn’t she.”
It wasn’t a question. She knew the truth. Nightshade’s beloved aunt, the one who had brought her rabbits when her mother said no, the one who took her and Star to the watering hole when they were cubs to see the beautiful sunsets, was dead.
“How?” was all she could manage.
“We think it was the Hunters,” Star licked Nightshade’s face. “A hunt band found her this morning, just before you came in shouting about them.”
“It’s all my fault,” Nightshade stared at her sister with big sad eyes. “I attracted them here, and they- they killed her.”
“It’s not your fault,” Star said. “You didn’t choose to have these responsibilities.”
That didn’t help. Nightshade knew it was her fault, and no one could change her mind.
“I can’t stay here.” Nightshade stared at Star.
“What do you mean? Of course you can stay here! This is your home.” Star insisted.
“But what if the hunters come again?” Nightshade pointed out. “It’ll be because of me, but if I leave, they won’t have any reason to come here.”
“If you leave, I’ll come with you,” Star said quickly. “I can teach you how to use your powers, and you don’t want to be alone on the run.”
“Thank you.” Nightshade pressed her face against her sister’s neck.
“Let’s go ask father.” Star and Nightshade walked side-by-side out of the den with their dead aunt, the whisper of her ghost flitting along beside them.

Chapter Two
Whispers and Currents
Moonheart unsheathed and sheathed his claws. This was a big decision. His daughters’ lives were at stake. He knew that he certainly couldn’t give Nightshade willingly to Orion. Star would kill him- or Nightshade might- to save her life. It wouldn’t be easy to teach Nightshade how to use her powers, and if she did, then she would understand how dangerous she could be, and that wasn’t safe for anyone.
The battle is inescapable, Moonheart thought grimly. I need to start planning.
Moonheart hunched over a dirt patch on the floor and began scratching marks. Slashes, circles, lines and X’s covered the den and brown dust clogged Moonheart’s golden paws.
“Moonheart?” Someone scraped at the entrance of the King Den.
“Enter.” Moonheart called. Nightshade and Star walked inside and sat in front of him.
“Yes?” Moonheart looked up from the scratches in the floor.
“I have to leave.” Nightshade said softly, her blue eyes glowing.
“Why?” Moonheart asked, although he already had an idea. His daughters would do anything to save their pride.
“I can’t risk anyone else getting hurt.” Nightshade’s voice caught in her throat and she looked over her shoulder.
“You saw River.” Moonheart meowed softly. “I understand.”
“We must leave,” Star interjected. “I’m going with her. I can help her with her powers.”
Moonheart nodded. “Protect her,” he said, though neither knew which of them he said it to. “And make sure she stays alive.”
Both lionesses nodded sharply and turned and bolted from the den with a shout of elation.
“Very brave of you, Moonheart.” a voice broke the King’s vision away from his daughters’ retreating paws.
“River.” Moonheart smiled softly. There before him stood a misty figure with brown-gold fur and bark-brown eyes. It was indeed his dead sister, or a form of her at least.
“She brought me.” River said softly, her fur glowing a slight blue tint.
“She’s getting stronger.” Moonheart drew himself up. This was a time to say that he was truly proud of his daughter.
“And more dangerous,” River looked down her smokey nose at her brother. “She is lucky to have Star.”
“Yes, but-” Moonheart shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Spit it out.” River nuzzled her transparent head against Moonheart, a feeling like snow-mist being drenched into fur.
“It’s just that I’m worried for her.” Moonheart confessed. “Star is a born protector, but if a better opportunity is presented-”
“Like a reward for killing Nightshade?” River supplied.
“Exactly.” Moonheart shook his huge head. “I’m just going to say that she always leads the most successful hunt-bands, even if they’re not hers.”
“She wants power,” River nodded. “That’s dangerous for such a young cub.”
“The scary thing is,” Moonheart said, shutting his eyes tightly in fear. “That if she knew that she was capable of overthrowing me, she could have done it long ago.”
“It’s alright,” River licked Moonheart’s nose softly, making him shiver. “She’s gone now. She can’t hurt you.”
“But she can hurt Nightshade.” Moonheart closed his eyes tighter and slowly fell to the floor, shaking slightly as a ghost whispered memories.

Chapter Three
Moonlight and Nightshade
“Let’s go!” Star pushed Nightshade through the Pride Walls. The sisters had just gotten permission from Moonheart, and they were raring to go. Even though it was a run for their lives, Star and Nightshade were still excited for an adventure.
“Where should we go?” Nightshade asked as they ran over small hills and past scraggly bushes.
“Let’s head for the mountains,” Star suggested, pointing with her nose to the misty peaks in the distance, illuminated against the setting sun. “They’ll never find us there.”
“Good idea,” Nightshade agreed. “Let’s hunt first, though.”
They followed a strong scent that smelled slightly like antelope mixed with zebra. Nightshade sniffed in a clump of coarse grass and touched something squishy with her nose. Her head shot up and she called over to Star.
“Over here!” she meowed. “Some kind of meat, I think….”
Star prodded the meat with a claw. Nightshade saw something glisten in the dark from the corner of her eye.
“Don’t!” she warned.
“Why?”
“There’s something attached to the meat,” Nightshade broke off a piece of the grass and poked the meat. Nothing happened.
“Maybe I was wrong….” Nightshade dropped the stick and bent down to pick up the meat. As soon as her jaws clamped down, a silver wire lashed up and tightened around her muzzle. Nightshade screamed in pain, but the wire wouldn’t come off. Star grabbed the end of the wire and yanked on it, but that just made it tighten more.
Nightshade shook her head, spraying blood over Star’s light golden coat and a sleek white one… a white coat? The Black Lioness turned her head and stared into red eyes surrounded by glowing white fur splattered with Nightshade’s blood.
“Relax.” she said. Nightshade laid down and, breathing hard, tried to ignore the pain in her muzzle. The white lioness took hold of the long wire and pushed it into the gap between the knot and Nightshade’s face. The wire came loose. Nightshade put down the meat and licked her own muzzle, wincing at the taste of blood.
“Who are you?” she asked the white lioness.
“Are you a ghost?” Star stood rigid facing the lion.
“No,” the lion chuckled. She didn’t look much older than Star and Nightshade; fully grown, but still young. “I’m albino.”
“Why are you here?” Star asked. “There are no Pride Walls or even Pride territory nearby.
“I’m not in a pride anymore,” the albino siad. “I was driven out when I was a cub because of my albinism, but I live fine on my own.”
“I’m so sorry!” Nightshade tried to brush the stranger’s ears with her tail, but she ducked.
“What’s your name?” Star asked, obviously amused.
“Moon.” Moon said, and dipped her head. “What are yours?”
“I’m Nightshade.” Nightshade bushed up her fur and small burst of light shot from the end of her tail.
“I’m Star,” Star cocked her head. “What was that, Night?”
“I don’t know.” Nightshade stared at her tail, the fur shining with black light.
“Hang on,” Moon unsheathed her claws. “Is your fur black? I didn’t notice in the dark.”
“Yes, it’s black,” Star snapped. “Are you blind?”
“No, I just wasn’t paying attention to her fur color while I was trying to save her life.” Moon retorted. “Why is it black?”
“Well, I, um,” Nightshade shuffled her paws. “Have you heard the legend of the Black Cub?”
“Yes, everyone has,” Moon cocked her head in confusion, and then her ears stuck straight up. “Are you it- I mean her?”
“Yes,” Nightshade grimaced as Moon bowed. “You don’t have to do that.” She noticed a mutinous look evolving on Star’s face and added, “But Star is much better at pretty much everything than I am.”
“Does she have powers as well?” Moon asked.
“No, but I don’t know how to use mine, so I technically don’t have any either.” Nightshade inched away from her sister’s growing fury.
“Sorry, but not everyone’s special.” Star growled, gestring to Moon’s luminous fur with her nose.
“Special?” Moon growled, her extending claws sharp as mulberry thorns. “My specialness is the reason my family hates me.”
“Can we not fight?” Nightshade stroked her sister with her tail. “I was hoping Moon could join us on our journey.”
Moon’s gaze softened. “Thank you,” she muttered. “I need a Pride.”
“We’re not your pride.” Star spat.
“We are now.” Nightshade glared at her, and gestured for the two other lions to follow her. “Let’s go to the mountains.”
“Is that where you’re going?” Moon asked. “Why are you traveling away from your pride, anyway?”
“The Hunters are after her.” Star told her.
“The Hunters?” Moon gasped. “Then she has no chance. They will tear her apart unless she can use her powers. We need to teach her how.”
“We?” Star stared at her.
“I’m not a terrible fighter, believe it or not.” Moon puffed out her chest.
“I’m grateful for any help,” Nightshade put her paw in the middle of the trio. “Are we all ready for a journey?
“I’m ready.” Star placed her paw on top of her sister’s.
“I was born ready,” Moon placed her white paw on the sandy and black ones. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Four
Storm and Stone
The sun glowed overhead as the three lionesses gradually made their way towards the peaks of mountains. Nightshade had had to break up three of Star and Moon’s fights that day, and she was tired of it, so when Star turned and snapped at Moon to stop breathing on her tail, Nightshade blew up.
“Can’t you two just get along?” She snarled, her back fur bushing up and her eyes glowing blue. “We’re going to be on this journey for who knows how long, so we need to learn to get along like every other lion!”
“Night?” Star asked meekly, “Are you doing that?”
Nightshade whipped around to see hundreds of rocks hovering above her and her friends’ heads. Boulders and small stones hung suspended in the air. Grains of sand gathered in a cloud of miniscule bullets. The ground itself seemed to rise, and, as Nightshade stared at it, the storm of stones slowly, one-by-one, began to plummet.
“Run!” Nightshade bolted, Star and Moon on her heels.
The stones had spread in a sheet above them, and even as the lions ran, they felt the occasional smack on the head from a small stone, leaving them dazed for a few seconds. After a while, it became clear that there was no escaping the rocks, so the three lionesses stopped running, panting and coughing as the sand particles were sucked into their lungs.
Hacking up flecks of blood, Nightshade rasped to her friends; “Wait, I’ll try to control it.” she could see that Star was doubtful, but hope gleamed in Moon’s red eyes.
Her face scrunched up with determination, Nightshades crouched down and splayed her paws. The rocks around them fell quicker, but every one missed Nightshade, Star, and Moon. Nightshade started when she felt warm fur against her own pelt, all of the rocks she was dispelling falling an inch or two closer to them. Moon shifted against Nightshade, her brilliant white coat now brown and grey from stone dust.
“You can do this.” Moon whispered in her friend’s ear.
Nightshade was filled with courage, but the time it took her to nod at Moon was just enough time for the rocks to start plummeting.
“Run!” she screamed, shoving moon away from her and pelting into the shelter of a nearby cliff-cave.

* *this is where I got writers block* *