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 28 Swiftflight's jaws opened in a silent howl of pain and terror as Onyxclaw's paw swooped through the air, as quick and as deadly as a poisonous viper. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaws. I will not die a coward! she yowled in her mind. In fact, I will not die at all... You may deserve this but you must live to fight another day... Think of Pebble's pups and Alpha and- As she thought these things, they filled her with an inexplicable strength and fury. Using her front paws, she dragged herself onto all fours, wincing as the thorns and jagged splinters from the tree stump sank deeper into her fur and skin. A moment later, Onyxclaw's paw met the side of her neck. Agony shattered through Swiftflight's neck and she stumbled in pain. Her shoulder hit the floor and through the pain she saw a few droplets of her blood spray in a wide arc. "No!" she rasped, her paws scrabbling for purchase as she tried to get up to lunge at Onyxclaw. "Yes," Onyxclaw snarled. "You are a murderer! The killer must be killed..." He reared back, paws tracing sinister patterns in the air as he lunged for her throat. Panic welled up in Swiftflight, overtaking the fury. She desperately raked out with her hind paws. Onyxclaw's yelp of pain seemed to shatter Swiftflight's eardrums and she whimpered, dragging herself away. The black wolf had collapsed onto the floor, his flanks beaded with sweat. A dark pool of crimson blood was slowly pooling under his belly, soaking into the ground. Swiftflight's ears rang and she gave a faint whine of pain. Her eyes flicked weakly across the spectators and the other contestants. She seemed to be seeing doubles, but she managed to stagger to her paws, still and wrinkle her lip in readyment for any form of attack. Rocksnarl was the first one to move, ignoring the rasping Onyxclaw, he lunged at Swiftflight. I can't fight him in this state! Swiftflight thought, shaking her head desperately to try and remove the fog-like haze in her vision. Rocksnarl never reached her. As Swiftflight tried to brace herself for the agonising crunch of his fangs on her bone, Titan had leaped bravely at Rocksnarl, throwing the shaggy grey wolf to the floor and raking his sharp claws down the smaller wolf's side. Swiftflight, after much shaking finally managed to remove the wisps of mist from her vision and she gasped. Rocksnarl didn't move for a second. His bloodshot, haunting eyes were wide and glazed. "Is he.... dead?" she asked softly, almost to herself. Titan's ears were pinned back and he looked more fierce than Swiftflight had ever seen him. She limped brokenly for a few steps, blood dripping down her neck and soaking the ground when the still form of Rocksnarl suddenly surged up, throwing Titan off with brutal force and lunged at Swiftflight. Swiftflight gave a howl, her eyes widening as she realised there was no chance now. She had to fight.... for her life. She leaped forward to meet Rocksnarl in mid-air and the two wolves tumbled to the floor, jaws snapping and claws slashing. Agony splattered through Swiftflight's side as Rocksnarl raked his huge claws through her flesh. With a rippling jerk of her whole body, Swiftflight managed to push him off. She bared her teeth in indignantly at him and limped a few steps. To her complete and total shock, the great male wolf - much fitter than she, cringed away from her. A feeble whimper escaped his lips and there was clear panic in his eyes. I need to end this, thought Swiftflight grimly. She jumped forward, opening her jaws and preparing to sink them into her enemies' neck when... Suddenly, Rocksnarl gave a jerking shudder, his eyes bulging and a gurgle escaping his cracked lips. Swiftflight leaped back with a muted shriek of confusion and terror. Rocksnarl's whole body convulsed and he gave a spasm, foam caking his jaws. His eyes glazed over - became glassy and faraway and slowly his pelt melted away, leaving disgusting, raw, burnt skin. Swiftflight heard a screech of shock from Obsidian. The grey Alpha surged through the air in a wide circle, landing neatly next to Swiftflight. Swiftflight juddered and her whole body felt cold, but she couldn't look away. Rocksnarl's nose bluntened and his ears flopped over. Swiftflight could clearly see, through the haze, that the life was slowly seeping from him. Finally, with one last spasm and a strangled croak, the third wolf was still. Swiftflight froze and slowly opened her eyes from where she had them closed. In Rocksnarl's place was a limp form, a reddish, furless demonlike creature with huge, heavy jaws and powerful paws. "Rocksnarl..." Obsidian choked out. "Rocksnarl was a Broken Warrior!" Swiftflight gave a gasp as well, her tail slinking low between her legs. Broken Warriors were either Lunar or Shadow Warriors,
Warriors that couldn't control their transformations and when they did... they were killed. It was like an allergic reaction - except fatal. Swiftflight staggered back from Rocksnarl, jaws opening and closing helplessly. No word came out. No word could come out. I didn't like Rocksnarl, she thought hopelessly. No wonder he was such a pain and seemed such a coward - he was scared that any reaction from us would trigger his transformation. Grief welled up inside of her, and slowly she tilted back her head and howled. Chapter 29: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/498247400/
