Hello peeps! I just decided to write this Scratch series called the Wolves of Obsidian and this is the next chapter. Enjoy! Cover by @squirrelflight1010! CHAPTER 24 Swiftflight pawed the ground in the Clearing of Bloodshed where the Battle for the Beta Trials were being held. It was five long moons after the attack from EmberPack and slowly, DarkPack had healed. Alpha was now drilling DarkPack in Battle Training, regularly making two equally-ranked wolves face up to each other. Luckily, DarkPack had thrown away their old ways of drawing blood in brutal Battle 'Training' fights. One wolf, Thunderheart, had actually died in a Battle Training session. Swiftflight shivered at the memory of him, eyes wide, throat open, squealing like a pup for mercy as his opponent, Cloud, raked his claws down his belly, blood spraying in a wide fountain of crimson... Swiftflight shook the memory away with an unhappy whine. Now, it was the Brave Trial. Two moons after the awful battle, Obsidian had forced the Cunning Trial upon them, persuading them they needed a Beta more than ever in these dark times. And now, they were onto the Brave Trial; one of the ones Swiftflight had been dreading most. Now, Lynx, the 'fake Alpha' had jumped onto a high rock, and was barking at Titan. "What is your worst fear, physical fear? Tell me please, young Titan." Swiftflight watched, sympathy tightening her chest as burly, gentle Titan bent down to whisper in Lynx's ear. Lynx's eyes sparked with grim energy. He straightened himself up. "Bring me a party of Warriors..." He told Obsidian, who nodded and bounded over to a cluster of anxious looking wolves. "Bring a small fawn," Swiftflight overheard her say. Swiftflight tilted her head curiously, eyeing Titan up. He was trembling. A good few minutes afterwards, the patrol came back with a bucking, terrified deer fawn. "Kill it. Imagine, you're Beta. It's the only thing you can do to save the Pack." Titan gulped, reached up a huge paw and paused, looking torn. Swiftflight held her breath. You can do it, she willed silently. As if he had heard her, Titan growled in finality and brought it crashing down on the small prey creature, killing it. There was a pause. Then happy barks erupted from the assembled wolves. "Brilliant, Titan!" Lynx boomed. Swiftflight watched, feeling sick with fear as he called wolf after wolf up, Onyxclaw first, who was made to try and attack another of his Packmates; he was afraid of being beaten in battle; Brightpool was made to try and hear a wolf's quiet whisper about something truly important; she was terrified of missing a significant point from Alpha. Swiftflight held her breath, hoping it was going to be Rocksnarl next, to give her a few moments of peace. Strangely enough, he was called up. "Now," Lynx woofed. "Tell me, Rocksnarl, your worst fear." The shaggy grey wolf raised his bloodshot eyes to Lynx's. "I am not afraid of anything," he announced. "I will not grovel towards my worst fear like a fool and a weakling; I am a survivor, unlike those lot." He flicked a contemptuous muzzle at Titan, Onyxclaw and Brightpool who sank back. Lynx's gaze darkened. "I'd have expected better of you, Rocksnarl," he growled darkly, "you're not becoming Beta if you act like this." Swiftflight looked into Rocksnarl's red-rimmed, amber eyes. He looked furious. So furious, he could have killed Lynx right there, right then. Swiftflight sighed her relief when he contained his fury. "Fine," Rocksnarl growled coolly. "I'll tell you: being made to kill one of my stupid little Packmates." Obsidian's eyes clouded with dread; Swiftflight could see. Her Alpha looked grim. "If Rocksnarl means what he says then... we have no choice." A terrified silence fell upon the assembled wolves. Rocksnarl looked triumphant and Swiftflight stiffened. "Very well," Obsidian snarled. "Who do you choose, murderer?" Rocksnarl's gaze flitted across his Packmates, each wolf yelped and flinched if his glare happened to fall upon them. Rocksnarl met her gaze. Lupus, no! Swiftflight froze, eyes widening, but she sighed in relief as his gaze left her, only to hold her breath again as she saw who he was looking at. No! she thought. She's proven herself greatly! Why, what does he have against her- "Bloodsight." Rocksnarl growled. "I choose you." The albino stiffened, her eyes loosing their easygoing look. "I have to warn you," she growled harshly. "I won't go down without a fight." Obsidian looked deeply disturbed, but she gritted her teeth anyway and barked. "Ready... set..." Both Bloodsight and Rocksnarl stiffened, shoulders hunched, prepared to pounce. "FIGHT!" Obsidian howled, throwing back her head. Then Rocksnarl lunged for Bloodsight's throat.
Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/492328841/
