(She/Her ⢠Writer) Hey everyone! I'm new to the app and wanted to give it a try. I've been looking for a new place to share my writing, and I thought this would be an interesting option. A little context about what I write: a lot of it is inspired by one of my favorite series, Warrior Cats, but I tend to add a mythological twist with my own lore. I got into writing through roleplaying on a community within Amino, where I became interested in creating stories thanks to a friend's inspiration. For about two years, I posted my writing there until I eventually left the app. Now, Iâm really hoping I can find a place where I continue to enjoy both reading and writing. If you have any questions about my writing or anything else, feel free to ask! Iâm always up for a chat. Thanks for reading!
Angel, a once-loved house cat with the perfect cozy life, has her whole world flipped upside down, leaving her spiraling into a world of torment and abuse. Can she survive the darkness that now surrounds her?
Angel spent most of the day lying in the window, waiting for her human to come home. Her curious blue gaze watched the outside world. She had never seen anything quite like it before. Everything was so whiteâsnow covering everything. From the sky, tiny, fluffy white snowflakes floated down from puffy gray clouds.
Angel had never been outside before, but she was fine with that. She enjoyed just watching it from the window. She loved her home; she was always warm, happy, and safe, at least for a while.
Soon, she saw the big yellow car pull up to her home, and her human climbed out, wearing her favorite pink jacket. Angel quickly jumped from the window and sat by the door, waiting for her little human to come in. She waited happily and proudly, anticipating the attention she always received.
When her human walked in, Angel immediately noticed something different. The girl looked awfully tired and not very happy. Angel went to rub against the girl's legs but was pushed away by the mother, who gently booted her aside.
Angel sat back at a distance, watching with a tilted head as the two spoke. After their conversation ended, the little human turned and walked into her bedroom. Angel was confused but didn't question it too much; she figured her human must have had a bad day.
Angel spent the rest of the evening playing around the houseâplaying with toys, jumping up to her favorite spots, and running around like a bat out of hell. She was full of energy and needed to get it out somehow. Usually, her human played with her, but not today.
By nighttime, her human still hadn't left the bedroom, and Angel's food was running low. She was puzzled as to why her human hadnât fed her yet or even left the room.
Curious, Angel crept into her little human's room. She looked up at her human, who was fast asleep in her bed. Angel let out a tiny mew, but her human didn't budge. Angel meowed again, and this time her human rolled around, looking down at her tiredly.
Suddenly, the mother burst in, snapping some words at Angel. She quickly moved to the side of the bed, and Angel scampered out of the way. She sat in a dark corner of the room, watching the interaction between her little human and the mother. Angel noticed the concern in the motherâs voice and expression.
Soon, the mother kissed the child on the forehead before leaving the room. Angel remained in the corner for a while. Once she was sure the mother was gone, Angel crept closer to the bed, leaping up onto it near her humanâs feet, which were covered by blankets.
Angel carefully padded closer to her human, making happy noises. She climbed onto her human's chest and curled up. The girl began to stroke Angelâs back, and Angel started to purr, slowly drifting into slumber. She knew something wasnât right with her human, but it always seemed to make her feel better when Angel lay with her, and that was how she helped.
Sometime later she was abruptly woken when a larger hand literally threw her off her human. Angel barely managed to land on her feet. As her eyes adjusted, she saw the mother carrying the little human out of the room. Angel padded after them, meowing a few times, but got no response. Soon, they all disappeared out the front door, including the father, leaving Angel completely alone.
For days, Angel was left alone in the dark house. Her small supply of food and water had run out, and she wandered around, trying to understand what was happening. She felt alone, lost, and scared.
Suddenly, she heard the door open and ran towards it, expecting to see her family. But only the mother and father humans entered the house. Angel tilted her head, staring at them. They looked drained and upset. Where was her little human?
Angel moved closer to the mother and father, hoping they might give her some food. As she tried to rub against the mother, she received a sharp kick to her side, sending her flying backwards. The father then turned and spat harsh words at her.
Angel crouched, staring up at him with confusion and fear. Although the mother and father had never shown her much affection, they had never intentionally harmed her before.
Before long, the mother and father turned and walked deeper into the house, leaving Angel with no food or water. This was when everything changedâŚ
Angel, a once-loved house cat with the perfect cozy life, has her whole world flipped upside down, leaving her spiraling into a world of torment and abuse. Can she survive the darkness that now surrounds her?
A young blue-point Siamese cat, no more than 12 months old, was curled up at the foot of a child's bed. Her light blue eyes remained open, watching the darkness that hovered around the room. The only light came from under a small wooden door that closed off the rest of the house.
The small cat stretched out her paws before pushing herself up, arching her back as she stretched. Her jaws opened, revealing her bright pink tongue as she let out a silent yawn. She turned her head as she felt movement on the bedâwhere the small human rolled onto their side. The cat stood still, silently watching. Her blue gaze drifted to the child's face, just visible above thick blue-and-white blankets.
It was a young girl with long black hair, messy and tousled. Several strands lay across her face, lifting slightly with each soft breath she took. The cat loved to watch the girl sleepâshe looked so peaceful, so lovable, so innocent. This girl was the one who had given her the name Angel. Angel loved her name and knew it well, but she could never love it more than she loved her human.
Angel's ears pricked up at a faint scuffling sound. Her head swiveled around, trying to locate the source, but even with her keen vision, she couldn't find it. A new sound, footsteps approaching the door, made her ears twitch again. A shadow hovered under the door where the light crept through.
The door soon opened, and another human stood thereâthis one older but similar in appearance to Angel's human. It was the child's mother. The mother spoke a few words, waking the little girl, who pushed off her blankets with a yawn. This was a routine occurrence; the young human had to get up early for something, though Angel wasn't sure what.
Angel quickly leapt from the bed with a small mew, leaving the room to enter another one. This room seemed popular with the humans, where they spent most of their day. They liked to sit on a large bed-like thing, but no one ever slept in it. They simply sat there, looking up at a colorful, noisy screen hung on the wall. Angel didn't understand it, but she enjoyed sitting with her humans and sometimes even watched the screen with them.
Angel walked gracefully around the large bed-like thing, her silver bell jingling softly with each step. Attached to her bright blue collar, the bell had been an annoyance at first, but she had grown used to it over time.
She paused by two small metal bowls on the wooden floor, then turned her head to look back. Almost immediately, she saw the small girl approaching, a tired but cheerful look on her light-colored face. The girl was wearing different clothes from the ones she'd worn to bed. Angel never understood why humans wore clothes or changed them, but she didn't mind as long as they didn't put any on her.
The girl bent down, reaching into a noisy bag beside the bowls. She took out a cup full of small pellet-like objects and dumped them into one of the bowls. Angel happily rubbed against the girl, who giggled in response and stroked a hand over Angel's back. The girl spoke some soft wordsâwords Angel didn't understand but loved to hear.
After a few more affectionate rubs, Angel dipped her head into the bowl and began to eat, soft purrs rumbling in her throat.
Suddenly, Angel's ears pricked up again as she heard the girl's mother yell something. The girl ran to her mother, grabbed something, and slipped it over her back before running to the doorâthe one near where Angel was. Shortly after, the girl's mother followed her out.
Angel took a moment to take a few more bites of her food. Then she sat back, her gaze drifting up to a ledge. She crouched before leaping onto a window ledge.
Outside, she spotted her human walking through a snow-covered landscape before disappearing into a big yellow car. Angel never understood where her human went, but she always knew the girl would come back. She did every day.
Angel's ears twitched as she heard the girl's mother return through the door, followed by another human entering from somewhere in the house. This was the motherâs mate, as Angel had learned. The two shared gentle words, but they didn't turn to her. Angel noticed that neither of them seemed to pay much attention to her. Neither the mother nor the father ever gave her much notice, but Angel didn't mind. She had her little human, and she knew they would be together forever and ever. Or so she thoughtâŚ
TW: This story has a lot of religious themes to it, mixed with my own lore and ideas. If stuff like this upsets you, please do not read.
After the fall of Lucifer, Azrael, the archangel of death, faces relentless suspicion and mistreatment from his heavenly siblings. Despite his neutrality during the ancient war, they believe he's destined to follow in Lucifer's footsteps. As eons pass, their constant accusations ignite a growing anger within Azrael, threatening to unleash a power that could shake the very foundations of Heaven. Will Azrael succumb to the darkness they fear? Or will he find a way to rise above their doubts and prove them wrong?
Several characters in this story are not my own, but owned by a friend of mine who assisted me with their dialogue. These characters include: Diablo, Michael and The Father.
Prologue ⢠Chapter 1 ⢠{Chapter 2}
Azrael was pushing his way through the overworld once again, his tail lashing behind him in irritation. The blood from the younger angel still stained his paws and maw. He was on his way to meet up with his brother again, hoping that a conversation with Diablo would help him calm down and clear his head.
Before Azrael could reach any of the Wishing Wells, he heard rustling nearby and soon spotted a demon walking calmly toward him. Azrael instantly assumed a defensive stance, his glowing white gaze locking onto the demon. âI am not in the mood.â
âA little quick to judge, arenât we?â the demon purred. âI'm not here to do harm. I'm here to talk.â
âWhat do you expect? Demons never bring anything but trouble,â Azrael growled.
âAre you sure that's not just what Heaven wants you to believe? Assuming that all demons are trouble is like assuming all angels are pure and innocent. You and I both know that couldn't be further from the truth.â
âWhat do you want?â Azrael sighed.
âI just want to help you, Azrael. I know you've been dealing with a lot in Heavenâa lot of unfair treatment,â the demon said.
Azrael gave them a suspicious look. âHow do you know?â
âI have my ways.â
âWho are you?â Azrael questioned.
âWho I am isnât what matters, and it's not what you first asked,â they pointed out.
âI don't like how vague you're being,â Azrael growled. âJust get to the point!â
âI have some friends, and we can help you out. All you have to do is open up Heaven to us,â the demon said darkly.
âNot in a million years!â Azrael snapped. âI'm not an idiot, you know!â
âThink about it, Azrael. This might not be a bad idea. Do you seriously think the treatment you've been getting will ever get any better? Has it done anything but get worse?â they questioned, beginning to circle around him.
âDo you honestly think if you do nothing, it will all just go away? The assumptions, the questions, the insultsâthey won't stop, Azrael, and you know that better than anyone. It won't go away, it won't stop. Not unless you do something about it.â
Azrael let out a low growl as the demon circled around him, his sharp gaze locked on them. Part of him wanted to tear them apart for what they were saying, but another part held backâa part that wanted to hear more.
âWhat are you saying?â Azrael asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
The demon smirked. âRevenge, Azrael. Revenge. If you let us in, that will show them you're not going to take it anymore. We can show them the pain you've been feeling for so long, but in a more physical manner. If you let us in, you'll be sending a messageâa message that says youâre done with being accused. At least then, theyâll finally have a reason to shame you.â
âSo what do you say, Azrael? Are you up for it or not? Or would you prefer to keep letting them treat you like an outcast?â
Azrael stared hard at the demon, his expression cold. âFine.â
The demon looked almost as shocked as Azrael felt. âBrilliant! We'll meet you here tonight.â
Azrael watched as the demon padded proudly into the shadows. What had he just agreed to? Did he even realize? In a way, yes, he did. And he knew it wasn't good, but he needed a solutionâsomething to show them he'd had enough! Some way to make them listen. And perhaps violence really was the only answer, the only way. Besides, it would at least give them all something to hate him for, just like they'd always wanted. . .
Amid the windswept moorlands, hidden dangers and dark secrets threaten to tear a fractured Clan apart. When the line between loyalty and betrayal blurs, who will rise to power, and who will be left in the shadows?
Book 1 ⢠{Book 2} ⢠Book 3(WIP)
Short Story
The sky above gleamed with a brilliant shade of blue, devoid of any clouds against its canvas. The sun cast its radiance down, illuminating the entire camp. Within the camp, feline chatter filled the air, centered around a large heap of broken stone known as Shattered Stone. Perched upon this structure was Soulstar, the leader of RaptureClan, his brownish-gray and white fur catching the sunlight. He was a well-respected leader, and I couldn't deny the positive impact he had on our Clan, at least not yet.
"Attention, everyone!" Soul's commanding voice pierced through the chatter, instantly silencing the clearing.
"We gather today to mark a special occasion. This young kitâ" he gestured to the small orange and white kit below Shattered Stone, "âhas reached the age of three moons. Yesterday, each Elder tested him to determine his future role within the Clan. Today, I reveal the results."
Foxkit, with eyes brimming with excitement, looked up at Soulstar. His tail betrayed his anticipation, fidgeting eagerly.
"It's been decided that Foxkit will train as a Hunter. Ashleap will be his mentor, guiding his training and progress. Until he proves himself worthy of the title, he'll be known as Foxsprout," Soul announced. Cheers erupted, welcoming the new apprentice. Foxsprout, ears pinned back, seeming overwhelmed by the attention, reminiscent of my own early days as a Scout.
After the excitement subsided, Soul addressed another matter. "Crypto, please step forward."
A charcoal-colored Bengal cat approached the stones, eliciting a low growl from me. Soul couldn't seriously be considering this alreadyâthere was no way!
âYes, Soul?â Crypto responded, his tone overly respectful.
"You've been with us for some time now, and I believe you've demonstrated loyalty. If everyone agrees, it's time to officiallyâ"
"I object!" I interjected, pushing my way forward, locking eyes with Crypto, who returned my gaze innocently. Pathetic!
I wasn't the most trusting of outsiders, and this cat gave me bad vibes. The Clan's trust in others always irked me, but this was different. There was something off about him that I couldn't shake.
âSuggesting we fully accept this cat already? We should be cautious, especially considering our recent journey from the mountains. We can't just let anyone in!â I growled, tail lashing.
âBadgerclaw, I understand your concern, but we've seen no reason to doubt Crypto's loyalty. He deserves official recognition,â Soul explained calmly.
âDoes anyone else object?â Soulstar asked, but no one spoke in my favor. Frustrated, I stepped back, my Clan mates murmuring amongst themselves.
âThis is outrageous! We need more time to assess them properly!â I shouted.
âThe decision stands, Badgerclaw. Please take your seat,â Soul's tone carried a warning.
Grumbling, I complied, though my tail twitched with irritation. I didn't care what my Clan mates thought; I'd spoken my mind, whether they liked it or not.
Soul continued, âNow, Crypto. After careful consideration, it has been decided that you'd fit best among our ranks as a Hunter. How do you feel about that?â
âI'd be happy to help out the Clan in any way I can. If that means being a Hunter, then so be it,â he replied. âHowever, I have one request. I would prefer to keep my name, as it holds a lot of importance to me.â
Soulstar dipped his head in understanding. âThat can be arranged. So, Crypto, do you vow to do whatever it takes to provide for your Clan?â
âYes.â
âThen, by the power of StarClan, we welcome you as a full Hunter and official member of RaptureClan.â
Immediately, cheering broke out, everyone shouting for Crypto. Everyone except me; I remained silent, ears pinned to my head as I stared at Crypto through narrowed eyes. Regardless of what the Clan or the leader said, in my mind, Crypto would never be a member of this Clan.
Shortly after the ceremony, Crypto approached me. âHey, I know you don't have the best opinion of me, and I'll accept that. I understand that you're concerned for your Clan, and I respect that. I do hope someday we can become friends,â he said in a friendly tone. Oh, how I hated it.
âWe will never be friends. You will never be a part of this Clan...â I growled. Before he could say another word, I walked off into the crowd.
A little later on, the Fighters were called to patrol the territory. We were still getting used to it, learning it, but had a decent grasp on the land. Everyone was chatting with each other, but I stayed at the back, not saying a word.
âMaybe if you just took time to get to know Crypto, you might actually like him,â Hailclaw suggested, slowing to my pace. Her voice was calm and friendly, yet her words only caused me irritation.
âDon't start telling me what to do!â I snapped at her. âI don't care what anyone says; that cat can't be trusted!â
âHow do you know? You don't even know the cat,â Hail pointed out.
âExactly! No one does. We know absolutely nothing about where he came from, who he is. Nothing! Frankly, I'm surprised he even told us his name, if that's even his name!â I growled.
âEveryone has a right to keep their past to themselves,â Lion jumped in. âTake Soulstar, for example. The Clan knows little to nothing about his past, yet there isn't a single cat in the Clan who doesn't trust him.â
âThat's not the same thing!â I hissed.
âWhat matters is Crypto has shown us he'd make a good member of our Clan and has not proven to be any threat. And I really don't think we can afford to be picky. Our Clan desperately needs cats if it is to recover. I think Soul made a good choice,â Lion stated.
âJust because we're desperate doesn't mean we should accept just anyone! That could end badly for us, especially if we let the wrong cat in.â
âSoul knows what he's doing, Badger, and frankly, I don't see why we shouldn't trust Crypto, especially if Soul does. If you go your whole life without ever trying to trust someone, how would you know if they can be trusted? You need to stop being so suspicious of everyone. And you wonder why I was made Elder Fighter instead of you.â
It was at that very moment the patrol fell dead silent. Lion's words rubbed me the wrong way. How dare he bring that into this! I was the oldest of all the Fighters and most experienced, yet Lionclaw had been given that role. I had always resented him for that, and he knew it.
âThat has nothing to do with this,â I growled. âAnd it's very immature of you to bring it up!â
âImmature? You think that's immature? You causing a scene during Crypto's ceremony is what's immature.â
âA scene? I was simply stating a fact!â I spat, fur ruffled. My unsheathed claws dug into the ground. At this point, the patrol had come to a complete stop, all eyes on me and Lion. The tension between us couldn't have been any clearer.
âA fact? That was nothing more than your stubborn nonsense! You've always been a cranky cat who no one has ever been able to please. Couldn't you just try for once in your life to be happy? To be nice? Just stop being so judgmental all the damn time!â
âI'm sorry for being so concerned for the safety of our Clan! I didn't realize that wasn't important to everyone else!â I growled. âWhy don't we just start inviting foxes in while we're at it!â
âEnough, you two! This is childish behavior!â Hailclaw spoke, stepping in between us. âWe have more important things to do than argue with each other.â
Lion let out a sigh, hanging his head. âYou're right, Hail, we do. Badger, go back to camp. You clearly need time to calm down.â
âFine, I didn't want to be a part of this patrol anyway!â I growled, storming off before anyone else could say a word.
On the walk back to camp, I grumbled to myself until a scent caught my attention, immediately silencing me. I recognized that scent. To confirm my suspicions, I began to creep through the rocky moorland, using the rocks for cover once I got close. Peeking around, I found my suspicions to be correct. It was Crypto, accompanied by two other cats I hadn't seen before.
Curiously and cautiously, I crept closer until I was just within earshot of the group.
âCan't believe they actually fell for it!â One of the cats laughed.
âYeah, it didn't take long for them to trust you. Quite surprising,â the second cat remarked.
âThey're too gullible!â Crypto chuckled, a smug grin crossing his muzzle. âBut that just makes this easier for us, doesn't it? Plans will hopefully move along quicker.â
âSo the whole Clan bought it, huh?â The first cat spoke again.
âAll but one. However, I highly doubt he's a threat to our cause. Just some cranky old-timer, whoââ he cut off, seeming to sense something. âWho's there? Come out!â
I froze for a moment. How did he know I was here? Oh well, I wasn't afraid to confront them, especially not Crypto.
âYou traitor!â I hissed, jumping out from hiding.
Immediately, the two cats with Crypto jumped up as if to attack me but were halted by him. âPerhaps I underestimated you a bit.â
âCrypto, shouldn't we do something about him? What if he tells the Clan?â
âYou're darn right I will! Ain't nothing you say or do gonna stop me!â I growled.
âGood luck getting them to believe you,â Crypto chuckled.
âTheyâll take my word over yours any day!â I growled.
âNot unless the evidence says otherwise.â
âWhat are you talking aboutâactually, you know what, nevermind. I'm not gonna waste my breath on you. I'll leave that to Soul.â Without another word, I turned and ran back towards camp. I found it strange that Crypto didn't try to stop me, but I didn't dwell on it too much.
When I got back to camp, I immediately ran towards Soulstar's den. âSoulstar, I need to speak with you! It's important!â
Soulstar soon trotted out. âWhat's the matter?â he asked in concern. âIs the patrol alright?â
âYes, that's not the problem. It's about Crypto. On my way back to camp, I found him talking to some other cats, and I think they're up to something against the Clan! I don't know what, but the way they were talking was disturbing,â I explained.
âCrypto? He's supposed to be hunting with the other Hunters. And I thought you were supposed to be patrolling?â Soulstar questioned.
âWellââ I started to explain, but was interrupted as all the Hunters and Fighters walked back into camp, with Crypto among them, a large hare dangling from his jaws. Spotting them, Soul immediately headed in their direction.
âWhat's going on here? Badgerclaw, who I thought was supposed to be on patrol, has just reported seeing Crypto speaking with some strangers?â Soulstar inquired.
âI sent Badgerclaw back to camp because he was being hostile, so I wanted to give him a chance to cool off,â Lion replied.
âAnd as for Crypto, I don't understand how that is possible. He was hunting with us the entire time,â Cougarleap stated, with the other Hunters nodding in agreement.
âWhat!? That's not possible! I saw him out there, speaking with two other cats! Neither of which were from our Clan!â I hissed.
âHe was with us the entire time, Badgerclaw. I am sure I would have noticed if he wasn't. We all hunt together, after all,â Cougar pointed out.
Crypto, looking confused, put down his prey. Oh, how badly I wanted to claw that look off his face. âI don't recall coming across Badger at all.â
With a sigh, Soul turned to me. âBadger, this is getting ridiculous. I know you don't like the fact that Crypto has been accepted into RaptureClan, but I wasn't expecting you to take it to this level.â
âYou think I'm lying!?â I gasped in disbelief.
âWhat else am I supposed to think, Badger? There is nothing to support what you claim to have seen. Therefore, it leads me to believe you are resorting to childish lies to get Crypto in trouble. This needs to stop.â
âBut I'm not lying! It's true! I don't know how the hell he pulled this off, but there's got to be some explanation!â I insisted.
âBadger, just drop it. This is your warning,â Soul scolded, then walked back towards his den, leaving me staring in bewilderment and irritation. What the hell was going on? I wondered to myself. I know what I saw was real! Crypto was there!
âThat's a nice catch you got there,â Lion commented on Crypto's large black hare. âY'all better save that one for me.â
âThanks!â Crypto replied after placing it in the prey pile.
âI want to apologize for Badger,â I heard Lion say to him. âHe tends to have some trust issues. Andââ I walked off before I could hear the rest. I wasn't in the mood to hear cats talk behind my back. With that, I stormed into the hunters den and curled up for the night. I was fed up with today, especially with Lion. I wasn't the only one mistrusting of outsiders, he was too, especially of other Clans, but I didn't see anyone shunning him for it!
The next morning, I woke up to commotion in camp. Everyone gathered anxiously in the clearing, and I stepped out of the den, still groggy with sleep. Moments later, I saw Soulstar storming out of the healer's den and toward me. Oh no, was all I could think.
âYou have officially gone too far. I can't believe you'd do something like this. I don't even want to believe it,â Soul's words left me puzzled.
âWhat are you talking about!?â I questioned.
âIt appears you've tried to kill Lion,â Soul replied.
âWhat!? That's ridiculous! I would never do such a thing!â I hissed in disbelief.
âWhat evidence!? What are you talking about!?â
âThe hare that Lion ate this morning was found filled with deathberries, and Hazelleaf happened to find a tuft of your fur on one of them,â Graylight meowed coldly, immediately sparking murmurs throughout the clearing.
âAre you saying I tried to poison him? This is outrageous! I would've remembered doing something like that! It wasn't me!â I hissed.
âHe was in earshot when Lion claimed the hare Crypto caught,â Cougarleap called out.
âYesterday, he and Lion got into a fight on patrol,â Hailclaw added.
âAnd I'm pretty sure I saw him leave the den last night,â Crypto spoke, and I immediately jerked my head towards him. I hadn't left the den last night! This had to be his doing, it just had to be!
âHow do we know it wasnât Crypto? He has to be trying to get me in trouble because of what I saw yesterday!â I hissed.
Soulstar only shook his head in reply. âI don't want to have to do this, Badger, but you've given me no choice. For the safety of RaptureClan, you will be exiled!â
âExiled!? Exiled!?!? I can't believe this, I did nothing wrong! Why doesn't anyone believe me? This is unfair! I am telling the truth! What I saw yesterday, all of it! It's nothing but the truth! And I did not try to kill Lion! Why don't you believe me?â I yowled in frustration.
âThe evidence doesn't lie, Badger. I'm sorry, but I must do what is best for the Clan,â Soul spoke.
âDo what's best for the Clan!? If you want to do that, then get rid of that treacherous cat!â I growled. And without warning, I went to lunge at Crypto, but before I could reach him, I was intercepted by the rest of the Fighters.
âHow about you don't try to harm anyone else, okay?â Lionclaw spoke coldly.
I let out a low growl, slowly backing away from them. They began to force me towards the camp entrance, the rest of the Clan watching in silence. âYou all will regret this! One day you will all see that I was in the right all along!â I shouted.
As I was being shoved forward, I managed to look back for a moment, and there I saw Crypto, his attention completely on me. Upon his muzzle lay a twisted smirk of satisfaction. He'd gotten his way, and there was nothing I could do about it.
TW: This story has a lot of religious themes to it, mixed with my own lore and ideas. If stuff like this upsets you, please do not read.
After the fall of Lucifer, Azrael, the archangel of death, faces relentless suspicion and mistreatment from his heavenly siblings. Despite his neutrality during the ancient war, they believe he's destined to follow in Lucifer's footsteps. As eons pass, their constant accusations ignite a growing anger within Azrael, threatening to unleash a power that could shake the very foundations of Heaven. Will Azrael succumb to the darkness they fear? Or will he find a way to rise above their doubts and prove them wrong?
Several characters in this story are not my own, but owned by a friend of mine who assisted me with their dialogue. These characters include: Diablo, Michael and The Father.
Azrael pushed his way through the thicket of the mortal realm, his wings pinned to his sides. They dragged on the ground several feet behind him, due to their immense size. By the time he managed to push through, his majestic gray coat and especially his light gray, feathery wings were covered in leaves and other vegetation. He shook this off, but not completely. Much of the plant life clung to him, most of it stuck in his wings.
He immediately began to scan the clearing he was in. It seemed oddly darker than the rest of the forest and was mostly devoid of life. The only thing that stood out was a small pond of strange water further back in the clearing. This was one of the many so-called Wishing Wells the Devil had cleverly planted in this realm. This place was like a mousetrap, but not for mice...
After a moment of scanning to ensure no one was present, he called out the name of his brother: Diablo. Moments later, he saw the Devil emerging from the shadows.
âI swear you do that simply to show off,â Azrael said, with a hint of teasing in his tone.
"Perhaps," replied Diablo with a small chuckle, "but you always liked seeing my tricks.â
âYou keep telling yourself that,â Azrael said with a small eye roll. He soon moved closer to the well, his fluffy tail laying neatly over his paws. He spread out his wings to their full height, twice his own size. He flapped them roughly to get rid of the remaining dirt and leaves.
âI just like seeing you whenever I can,â he continued. âIt helps me take my mind off... things.â
Diablo, sticking his tail into the water, fixed his fiery gaze on Azrael. "By 'things', I assume you mean all the stuff going on with you in 'Paradise'." With a black star in tow, he withdrew his tail from the depths of the Well. "What has Heaven become since I've been gone? Honestly, I feel like I kept those sheep in line.â
âA disappointment, that's what. I didn't want to say anything, but I honestly thinkââ He began, but was cut off by a figure leaping from the shadows. Azrael turned his attention toward them, a bit surprised. It was another angel.
âSo the rumors are true!â they huffed in disgust.
âDid you follow me?â Azrael questioned, tilting his head to one side, his hard gaze locked on the other angel.
"Oh look, the little lamb thinks they've got dirt on the lion," taunted Diablo, his eyes blazing with black and red flames.
The other angel turned toward the Devil, rolling their eyes. âEveryone is going to find out about this. After all, Azrael deserves to be revealed as the torturous, sorry excuse for an angel he is!â they huffed, turning to leave. Their words caused Azrael to let out a small sigh of irritation, with a hidden growl right behind it.
He was about to say something when he noticed the angel had come to a complete stop. Upon further inspection, he realized their legs had begun to turn to stone. The angel immediately looked down at their paws in confusion.
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen. Say what you want about me, but you will NOT talk shit about Azrael." Diablo stood to his paws and stepped up to the angel, who was becoming more and more petrified. At this point, the angel was completely immobilized, and they began to panic. "Such exquisite wings you have," he jeered, scraping his claws along their stone body. "They'll make splendid additions to my throne..."
âH-hey, let me go! This isn't fair!â they squeaked, desperately trying to move but failing.
Dark, maniacal laughter escaped the Devil, along with the pitch-black smoke of sulfur that left his lungs as hellfire began to build inside him. "What isn't 'fair' is you mindless deadbeats scorning someone who has done nothing to you. Why is it you're all beginning to hate Azrael? Because he simply wants to have a real conversation and not the rotten lies spoon-fed to you ants? What utter bullshit!" With his fire now burning fully black, he made sure everything but the angel's head was turned to stone before continuing, "As the one facing execution, tell me how you'd like me to kill you.â
âP-please, no. I-I- promise I won't tell anyone, just please let me go,â they begged, the terror clear in their tone. The angel turned their pleading gaze toward Azrael, who only looked back with the same cold expression he always had.
âAzrael, please don't let him,â they begged. Their whines, their pleas caused Azrael to pin his ears back in pure annoyance.
He suddenly spoke. âI don't think you should. Heaven would just find some way to blame their death on me,â Azrael sighed.
Diablo glanced at Azrael with a sigh, "Oh please, not a single one of them will know about this insignificant fuck. As a matter of fact, I'll show you." As quick as a bolt of lightning, he sliced the angel's wings clean off, the severed parts turning back to normal. The angel screamed in pain and began to beg more and more. "Trust me, I get angels in Hell too many times to count, and I've personally ensured that not one of them made it out alive. It'll be just like those.â
âWell, I hope you're right, because the last thing I need is more suspicion against me,â Azrael muttered.
âY-you can't let him, Azrael, you just CAN'T!â the angel whimpered. âYou standing there and watching him kill me would be no better than killing me yourself! You'd be no better than Diablo!â they pointed out, their voice filled with pain, panic, and desperation.
"Wow. The only thing right about that is my name." Becoming bored, Diablo shattered the stone with a quick strike from his tail. In pieces, but still alive, he stepped onto the severed head and began to crush it under his paw. "Say hello to the other angels I sent to the Void for me, will you?" No more pleas or cries left the angel, as Diablo had ended their life, their head reduced to a gory mess, splattered across the clearing.
With that done, Diablo's flames began to return to their normal red as he sat back down by the Well. "Sorry 'bout all that. I'm not about to let you suffer more abuse from those idiots.â
Azrael stared at the mess before them, seemingly unfazed, at least by that. âIt's fine, at least someone cares. And the fact that it ONLY seems to be you is just downright depressing. No offense.â
"No, I get it," he responded softly, a rare gesture from him. "The last anyone would expect from me is a caring approach.â
âTo be honest, you're the only thing that's been keeping me from just losing it. I just ain't sure how much more I can take. You'd think after all this time I'd be used to it. But I guess that's not how it works.â
Diablo scoffed, "When they say 'time heals all wounds', they don't say anything about the scars sticking around. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it's been for you since the Fall.â
âYeah...â Azrael sighed, turning his attention away from his brother. It was quite obvious this topic was making him emotional, and he didn't like that. âI should go.â
Diablo was silent for a moment, letting out a sigh as the fire in his eyes dimmed, leaving behind only embers. "All right. Make sure you take a holy water bath as soon as you're able; the last thing you need is someone finding sulfur on you.â
âDon't worry, I will. I know what I'm doing,â Azrael spoke to his brother, and without another word, he stood to his paws and began to walk off.
It didnât take him long to reach the heavens once more, but before he had the chance to walk off and do anything, he spotted someone approaching from the distance. As they got closer, he was able to make them out better. They were a large angel with a pure white pelt, gray wings, azure eyes, and a very obvious scar over his left eye. Azrael frowned slightly when he realized who it was: Michael, another one of his siblings. The relationship they had was not one of like or dislike, more of mutual respect. Not that they really interacted much. Azrael was puzzled as to why Michael was coming toward himâMichael never approached him unless it was something important.
He watched with a rather blank stare as Michael approached him in a neutral manner.
âCan I help you?â Azrael meowed curiously.
"Am I not allowed to greet my siblings?" Michael's tone was heavy with sarcasm. "Others have seen you go down to the Overworld a lot more lately. I'm just here to do my job and ask a little about it.â
âI simply go there to get away from Heaven, believe it or not. And that's IT. So don't you dare start assuming shit like everyone else has for eons,â Azrael said coldly.
"Good to know. Also, I'm not assuming anything," said Michael, his wing brushing against Azrael for a moment before pulling back. He sniffed at his wing and looked back at his brother with an expression that condemned Azrael, though his face remained neutral. "Last I checked, nowhere in the Overworld has the smell of brimstone like this; the volcanoes don't come close to hellfire smoke.â
Azrael met his brother's look with a cold gaze. âSo? What's the problem?â he said with a slight challenge in his tone.
"The problem is that everyone will think you're colluding with Satanâor whatever the hell he calls himself now. I'm not one to act on suspicion, Azrael, but this seems like pretty solid proof that you've at least been around demons." Michael's light-filled eyes grew brighter as he continued, "For now, I'll let this slide. Rinse off that ungodly stench, and for the love of Father, don't go near any more demons unless you're killing them."
âIt's a little late for that, isn't it? Everyone already thinks thatâthey've always thought that! Even when I didn't do anything! And personally, I don't exactly see how me speaking to our brother is a problem. It's not like I'm inviting him into Heaven!â
"Azrael," said Michael, his halo and the light around him beginning to mix with his azure eyes. "Ever heard of the right to remain silent? I'm not going to stand here and argue with you about whether talking to our fallen siblings is right or wrong." He spoke, turning away.
âJustânever mind, it's not worth it,â Azrael huffed, and without another word, he walked off.
He stormed through Heaven, his feathers ruffled in irritation from the conversation with his brother. He didn't like it when anyone questioned himâbecause that's all anyone ever did. It was either that, or they assumed things that weren't true, and he was just getting sick of it!
He was on his way to wash out his fur, hoping to take some time to relax for a little while and not be disturbed. However, these hopes were crushed as he spotted more angels approaching him.
With a sigh, he faced them. âWhat do you want?â
âOur friend followed you to the Overworld. Where is he?â one asked.
Azrael paused for a moment in thought; he had a feeling he knew exactly which angel they were talking about. âI don't know. I didn't see anyone else when I was there.â
âHe should be back by now!â the same angel spoke again, the other two nodding in agreement.
âI told you, I did not come across them. They probably couldn't locate me,â Azrael spoke firmly. âNow, leave me be. I'm busy.â He tried to walk off once more, but the trio blocked his path.
âThereâs no way he didnât find you. You must have done something to him! Otherwise, heâd be back by now!â
âI did not do anything to him, so stop assuming. Also, you all should know better than to spy on someone anyway; it is not very polite.â
âWell, then stop plotting with the devil!â
âYou know, it really irritates me when everyone keeps making these outrageous assumptions,â Azrael sighed.
âIt isnât an assumption; itâs the truth,â one of the others said confidently.
âWhatâs the proof then?â Azrael challenged.
âOur friend went missing after following you, which means he probably saw something you didnât want him to see, so you got rid of him!â
âThatâs ridiculous! I am nothing like that! I may be the angel of death, but that does not make me a murderer, so I suggest you stop making these outrageous assumptions and find something more important to do with your time!â Azrael growled.
âIf none of itâs true, then why was Michael speaking with you today?â another questioned.
âWhat? That is really none of your concern. You really need to stop messing around and spying on Archangels. Find a different hobby before you get yourselves in trouble.â Azrael warned, now pushing past them. He wasnât going to stand around and hear this nonsense anymore, and if they knew any better, they'd leave him alone.
âIf anyone is going to get in trouble, it will be you!â One of them growled after him. âI hope you get banished for what youâre doing, just like you should have been with Lucifer long ago!â
Hearing those wordsâthose words so similar to what many had spat at him before, what many had been saying for literally eonsâcaused something to snap in Azrael. Normally, heâd just take these words, burying the pain and anger they caused deep inside him, but this time, it was different. He couldnât control it. Azrael jerked around, lunging at the angel, his claws and teeth tearing into them aggressively. The angel immediately began to let out cries of agony, the other angels begging Azrael to stop. But he didnât.
By the time the realization of what he was doing kicked in, he immediately jumped back, his jaws dripping with blood as he stared down at the torn-up body of the angel, now limp and lifeless. The other two were staring at their friend in terror. Azrael only stared on in pure confusion. He wasnât sure what had happened, or how it had happened.
Without saying another word, he turned and ran off through Heaven, his eyes wide with confusion but at the same time, pain and anger. He had so many thoughts going through his head and so many mixed emotions swelling up inside him, he just didnât know how to handle it. For the first time in his life, he was unable to contain them, unable to push them aside. Had he finally reached his breaking point? He honestly didnât know . . .
After the devastating discovery of FlurryClan's death, RaptureClan faces a grim choice: abandon their home and brave the unknown in a desperate bid to escape the merciless grip of a brutal winter. As they struggle to leave the treacherous mountains behind, their weakened Clan confronts formidable obstacles at every turn. Will they reach safety at the bottom, or will the harsh journey claim their remaining strength?
{Book 1} ⢠Book 2 ⢠Book 3(WIP)
Prologue
"Soulstar!" An urgent voice pierced the quiet of the den, followed by the entrance of a she-cat with a patchwork of gray and white fur, her ears pressed back in distress. A mere glance revealed the stark outlines of her bones beneath her thin coat. Her round, sorrow-filled blue eyes settled on Soulstar, a brownish-gray tom whose attention was fixed on a dark corner of the den.
"Soulstar?" she called again, her tone laced with confusion and concern.
"Yes, Graylight?" Soulstar finally responded, turning his weary gaze towards her. Exhaustion etched deep lines on his face, mirroring the scrawny look evident in the she-cat's form.
"The patrol you dispatched to check on FlurryClan... they've returned with news," Graylight informed him.
"And?" Soulstar prompted, his head tilting slightly, bracing himself for the grim news.
"They found the Clan decimated. Not a single cat remains. Most appeared to have succumbed to starvation; some looked to have been... half-eaten," she relayed, her voice trailing off.
"You needn't say more, Gray. I understand," Soulstar sighed, his gaze dropping to the ground. Though expected, the reality was no less difficult to bear.
"What do we do, Soul? Our Clan is dwindling, we are out of prey, and spring doesn't seem like it's coming anytime soon. We must act, or risk the fate of FlurryClan!" Graylight implored.
"I'm well aware, Gray. Perhaps more than anyone. But our options here are limited. There's nothing more we can do," Soulstar admitted wearily.
"Are you suggesting we give up?" Graylight gasped, disbelief coloring her voice.
"No, Gray, I am not. But we must give up on this place if we are to survive," Soulstar clarified.
"What do you mean?" Graylight's confusion was evident.
Meeting her gaze squarely, Soulstar declared, "We must leave."
"Leave? But this is our home, Soul! And what awaits us beyond our territory? We don't know what weâll run into!" Graylight protested.
"Indeed, Gray, we cannot be certain. But here, we face only death. Our Clan, RaptureClan, will perish if we remain. Out there, we at least have a fighting chance," Soulstar reasoned.
"I suppose you're right. Even if it's perilous, leaving might be our best hope. It's just... I fear how the Clan will react," Graylight admitted.
"They'll have to understand if they wish to survive," Soulstar asserted. "Inform them. We depart at sunrise."
Main Story
The snow whipped around us, a relentless flurry obscuring our path ahead. I squinted against the biting wind, trying to shield my eyes from the stinging flakes. Glancing at my Clanmates, I could see the weariness etched into their expressions. We were all exhausted, drained, even though we had only just departed from our camp.
Turning my gaze toward one of the few remaining queens in RaptureClan, Sweetleapâan orange tabbyâclutched a tiny bundle of fur in her jaws. It was Foxkit, her sole surviving kit. Despite her name, Sweetleap wasn't exactly known for her sweetness; she had a sharp tongue, but who could blame her after all she had endured?
"We can't go on like this!" a voice called out above the howling storm, causing the cats at the front to pause. Those of us behind craned our necks to see what was happening.
"We can't stop here. We need to press on until we find shelter!" Graylight's voice cut through the wind.
"Agreed. It's too dangerous to stop," Soulstar added.
Despite the murmurs of protest, they were drowned out by the relentless gusts. I didn't like the idea of continuing either, but they were right. Stopping in the midst of a storm in the mountains wasn't the smartest idea.
As we trudged through the deepening snow, the path grew steeper, the terrain more treacherous. Suddenly, a yelp pierced the air, and I whipped around to see a cat sliding backward down the slope. Thankfully, others managed to stop their descent, but the incident left us all on edge, slowing our pace greatly.
"Are we there yet? I can't feel my paws..." Haresprout, a young tom, complained beside me. His sister, Snowsprout, a white and black she-cat, teased him mercilessly.
âStop being a big baby!â She huffed.
"Enough, you two," Fireleap, an orange she-cat, scolded. "This is no time for bickering."
"Sorry, Fireleap," they muttered in unison, and silence settled once more. But soon, a new voice ahead shouted, "There's a cave!"
Excitement rippled through the Clan, and we quickened our pace, eager for shelter, consequences not really something we were thinking about. But Soulstar's voice halted us in our tracks.
"We can't rush in blindly. We need to ensure it's safe first. We could be walking into danger," he cautioned, his disappointment evident.
"Now, I want Fighters to go and check it out. Once you're sure it's safe, let us know," Soulstar ordered, his gaze settling on Lionclaw, the eldest and most experienced fighter.
"Yes, Soulstar. Fighters, with me," the large creamy orange tom commanded, leading a group of cats towards the cave.
"Wait! I'm coming!" Snowsprout called out, trotting after them, but was stopped by her guide, Stormclaw.
"No, Snow, stay back with everyone else where it's safer."
"But I can handle it! Please!" she pleaded.
"I said no, Snow. Stay here, that's an order," Stormclaw replied firmly.
"Fine..." she grumbled, slouching back to her brother, who giggled teasingly.
I watched as Stormclaw caught up with the other Fighters, and the entire Clan stood still, anxiously watching them disappear into the blinding snow. Silence hung heavy as we waited, each moment stretching into eternity.
Finally, a figure emerged from the stormâit was Lionclaw!
"It's safe," he reported.
"Great! Alright everyone, let's go," Soulstar ordered, and we all followed toward the cave where the Fighters were already settled inside. Stepping into the shelter was an instant relief. The biting wind and snow were left behind, and a sense of comfort spread through the Clan. The cave wasn't large, but it was enough to fit us all.
"Can I get everyone's attention?" Graylight's voice rang out, and everyone fell silent, turning to the Deputy.
"We need to take attendance to ensure everyone is here. When I call your name, respond. Starting with Fighters. Lionclaw?"
"Here."
"Falconclaw?"
"Here!"
"Hailclaw?"
"Present."
"Stormclaw?"
"Here."
"Badgerclaw?"
"Alive." He grumbled.
Graylight nodded. "Alright, that's all the Fighters. Now Hunters. Rabbitleap?"
"Present."
"Cougarleap?"
"I'm here."
"Fireleap?"
"Here!"
"Sweetleap?"
"Me and Foxkit are both present," Sweetleap replied.
"And Ashleap?"
"Here as well," I responded.
"Great. Now onto Healers. Hazelleaf?"
"Here," Hazel replied.
"Frostleaf?"
"Here too!"
"Honeyleaf?"
"Present!"
Graylight nodded again. "Now Scouts. Haresprout and Snowsprout?â
"We're here!" Both Scouts called out, jumping into view.
"And Sandsprout?" This time, silence followed. No voice replied.
"Sandsprout?" the deputy called again, but still nothing. The Clan began to chatter nervously.
"Where is she?!" Fireleap's frantic voice broke the quiet. Sandsprout was her daughter. "I thought she was with you two!" Fireleap demanded, looking at Haresprout and Snowsprout.
"She was, but I don't know where she went," Snow admitted.
"Neither do I," Hare added.
"But you must know! You have to know!" Fireleap scuffed.
"But we don't!" Snow protested. "It's not our fault!"
"They are right, Fire, it's not their fault. You can't blame my kits," Soulstar spoke, approaching the agitated mother.
"Are you saying she's dead!?"
"No one is saying that, Fire, but we have to consider all possibilities," the leader said calmly.
"She's not dead!" Fireleap snapped.
"That is a possibility, but we don't know. I understand this is hard for you, but we aren't giving up on her yet. Lionclaw, I want you to take a few Fighters and see if you can find her."
"Yes, Soulstar. Badgerclaw and Hailclaw, with me," Lionclaw ordered, moving to exit the cave.
"I'm going too!" Fireleap said sternly.
"Fire, it would be more beneficial for the Clan if you stayed here," Lionclaw pointed out, his voice a low growl.
"That is my kit out there, and if you think for a minute I am just gonna sit by and do nothing, you're dead wrong! You'd have to kill me to keep me from searching!" she hissed.
"Just let her tag along, Lionclaw. It couldn't hurt," Soulstar encouraged.
Lionclaw sighed, rolling his eyes. "Alright, you can come. Let's go before dusk hits..."
Moments later, the four cats walked out of the cave into the blinding snow, which appeared to be calming down slightly. Throughout the cave, everyone muttered about whether Sandsprout was dead or not. Personally, I doubted she'd survived.
"We may wanna send the Hunters out now, Soulstar, while the weather is dying down," I heard Graylight suggest.
"Agreed. Rabbitleap, can you handle some hunting?" Soulstar asked the Elder Hunter.
Rabbit nodded. "We can certainly try. Let's head out, guys, and see what we can find before nightfall."
I and the rest of the hunters nodded, following Rabbit towards the cave entrance. "Come on, Haresprout, you can come as well!" Cougarleap called to his Scout.
"Yes!" Hare yipped in excitement, jumping to his paws. "I get to go out!"
"And I get to stay in this nice warm cave!" Snow teased, sticking her tongue out.
"At least I won't be stuck here bored!" Hare huffed back.
"Come on, Haresprout, let's go!" Cougar called again.
"Coming!" he meowed, running to catch up to us.
"Have fun freezing to death!" Snow called after her brother. I heard someone scold her shortly after, but I wasn't sure who. By this time, we were outside the cave. I immediately tensed up as I felt the cold wind rip through my fur once again. It made me regret being a hunter sometimes, but at least the snow had calmed down. Hopefully, we'd be able to catch somethingâeveryone was hungry, they were counting on us.
"I hope we catch something huge!" Hare said excitedly.
"Everyone's hoping for that. So let's not disappoint. Our Clan really needs a good meal if we're to continue," Rabbit pointed out. "Keep a close eye out, and watch for eagles."
Instantly, everyone fell silent, spreading out just enough to cover more ground but staying within sight of each other. I kept my attention focused on the snowy landscape, searching for any movement or scent. All I could smell, however, was cold, dry air.
"I got something!" Hare yipped excitedly, drawing everyone's attention. Moving closer to him, I began to pick up a faint scent as well.
"I think it might be a hare," Cougar commented.
"Let's go before we lose it," Rabbit meowed, and soon we were following the scent trail, Rabbit in the lead. We moved quickly but silently, not wanting to risk scaring it away. It didn't take long to spot a white and black pelt among the snow.
"Let's go!" Hare said eagerly, about to charge after the hare.
"Hare, wait!" Cougar growled, pinning the young scout by his tail but careful not to hurt him.
"Sorry, Cougar, I'm just excited," Hare admitted, embarrassed.
"I understand, but we must plan our approach before charging in," Cougar told him, and Hare nodded, stepping back.
"What's the plan, Rabbit?" Cougar asked.
"We wait," Rabbit meowed, crouching low in the snow.
"Are you suggesting we wait for a bird?" I asked, surprised.
Rabbit nodded. "Yes, it would be enough food to feed our Clan and prevent us all from starving."
"But Rabbit, we don't have enough cats for a big hunt like that. If Fireleap were here, maybe, but it's still iffy. Can the four of us manage?" Cougar questioned.
"Never know unless we try. Cougar, Ash, you both go for the wings. Hare, I want you to jump on its back and help keep it pinned. I'll go for the neck. Everyone got it?"
We all nodded in agreement. I felt a surge of nerves, but I knew everyone did. Could we handle this? I sure hoped so. Normally, Rabbit wasn't this reckless, but our Clan's desperation was clear. We laid low in the snow, following the hare and waiting for a large bird to appear in the gray sky.
To my surprise, it didn't take long to spot something diving towards the unsuspecting hare. "Go now! Don't let it take off," Rabbit ordered, and we sprang into action, racing towards the predator. Just as it landed on the hare, we leaped on it, doing our best to pin it to the snowy ground. I clung tightly to one of its wings, sinking my claws and teeth deep into its feathers, refusing to let go as it thrashed around. There were moments I thought we'd lose it, but we didn't. In the end, the bird was defeated, and we stood panting, victorious.
âWe caught it!â Cougar meowed, almost as if he couldn't believe it. I honestly couldn't either.
âTwo for one! Cool!â Hare purred, pulling the rodent from the large birdâs talons. The hare that had been in the bird's grasp was a pretty decent size!
âThis should be enough to feed everyone. Amazing job, guys,â Rabbit purred. âAnd just in time, tooâit's starting to get dark. Let's head back.â
With that, we carried our catches back to the rest of the Clan. Our arrival certainly got everyone's attention. âThis is amazing,â Soulstar commented, pushing through the crowd. âI knew you guys wouldn't disappoint.â
âWe did what we could, Soul, and StarClan was kind enough to bless us with this,â Rabbit replied, dipping her head.
âYes, indeed. We will share this amongst everyone, sleep here for the night, and leave tomorrow,â Soul meowed, loud enough for everyone to hear.
âLeave? Why not stay?â someone called out, but I couldn't tell who.
âYeah, why not? This place seems nice, and we got food!â Snowsprout added.
It wasn't long before almost everyone in the Clan was agreeing with staying. I understood why they wanted to stayâthis place was nice, dry, warmish, and we managed to catch a decent bit of food today. But for all we know, it could've just been pure luck, and we weren't even that far from our old home.
âEveryone, quiet!â Graylight snapped, quickly getting the attention of the whole Clan.
Soulstar cleared his throat and began to speak. âI understand why you all think we should stay here, but it's really not a good idea, very risky even. Firstly, we are not far from our old territory, meaning prey here is likely poor as well. I see that the Hunters managed to bring back a decent bit of prey, but for all we know, that could have been luck. On top of that, this place is not safe. Anything could freely walk in, and we have no way to escape, to hide. And, if we ever wanted to grow our numbers again, this cave would not fit us all. It can just barely fit us comfortably now. I know it's hard, but we must keep going. We must leave the mountains.â
âLeave the mountains? But it's our home! It's always been our home. We've never been beyond them! Do we even know what to expect?â Cougar questioned.
âStaying here is what caused FlurryClan to die. If we want to escape that fate, we must leave completely!â Soulstar replied, his voice stern. A few mutters of complaint could be heard, but no one could argue against that fact. Nor could they go against the word of their leaderâthey knew better.
The rest of the Hunters and I split the prey among the entire Clan, and it was certainly enough for us all. That was at least one thing to be glad about. After a good meal, the Clan nestled down for the night, nervous about what tomorrow would bring. During the night, however, Lionclawâs group returned, and they didn't bring good news. The young scout Sandsprout had been found dead in the snow. Fireleap certainly didn't take that wellâŚ
The next day, we were on the move again, pushing on through the thick snow. At least today, the weather was calmâcold, yes, but calm. And I hoped it stayed that way. As we traveled on, I noticed the terrain began to slope downwards. There were some areas that went up againâit was a mountain, after allâbut it did seem we were finally beginning to make our way down the mountain.
We eventually came to a stop, resting near a small stream that trickled down the mountainside, surprisingly not frozen by the harsh cold of winter. Everyone took this time to get a nice cold drink of water. After not having any since yesterday, it was quite relieving. Soon after, we took refuge behind a large boulder near the stream, which blocked most of the harsh winds from chilling us to the bone.
We Hunters, however, didn't get to hang around long. Soulstar had sent us off hunting again. I will admit I wasn't too thrilled, but I didn't really have much of a choice. This time, Haresprout had been left with the Clan, too exhausted for a hunt. Fireleap was with us this time, but she definitely wasn't in a good mood, which was completely understandable after losing a kit yesterday. I was surprised she even wanted to go on this hunt, but at the same time, we did need her.
We hadn't gotten too far from the rest of our Clan when we heard the loud sound of some creature echoing through the mountains, coming from where everyone else was. This caused us to freeze in our tracks.
âThat's not what I think it is . . .â Cougar muttered in a tone of disbelief.
âBear. We have to go back, NOW!â Rabbit ordered, her tone stern but filled with terror.
We all began to run back. Several things were racing through my mind as I dashed through the snow, worried about what we'd run across. What if by the time we got there, they were all dead? And if they weren't, what could we possibly do against a bear!?
It didn't take us long to reach everyone, and the scene before us was not pretty. There was indeed a bear, a large and aggressive one. In its massive jaws, it held Falconclaw, who was letting out loud cries of pain. Several of the Clan were lunging at the beast, tearing into its flesh, trying to get it to let go. The attacks, however, didn't seem to faze the massive creature. A little away from the battle, the torn-up body of Sweetleap lay still by the stream, the snow beneath her stained red. Foxkit was crouching in terror by his mother. Upon seeing this, Fireleap immediately ran to him.
âWe have to get in there!â Rabbit yowled.
âRabbit, waiââ Cougarleap tried to stop her, but before he could get the words out, she was off like a flash. She lunged for the face of the bear. Rabbitleap and Falconclaw were mates, so I assumed that was the reason for her recklessness. It, however, was a poor choice. Yes, her attack on the bear caused it to release Falcon, but it left it to attack her, tearing the poor Hunter off its face and mauling her. Everyone was certainly in an uproar as they clung desperately to the bear, not knowing what else to do. Others stayed back, afraid to get close. I was one of themâŚ
âWhere is Soulstar?â I heard someone cry out, but I couldn't tell who amidst the chaos. I began to wonder the same thing, scanning around, but the leader was not visible, at least not to me. Where was Soulstar?
As if my very thoughts summoned him, I saw the leader leaping down from the rocks above, a dangerous gaze on his face. Right as he landed, something strange began to happen, grabbing the attention of those who weren't fighting. Soul began to change, turning into something I hadn't seen before: a large, winged reptile-like creature that was massive in size. It was honestly mind-blowing. I assumed this had something to do with Soul's power, although I wouldn't have known; powers were banned in RaptureClan, a law upheld by Soul himself. Why heâd banned the use of powers in the first place was beyond me. He must have had a good reason, though, right?
I watched in amazement as the larger reptile faced the furious bear and let out an intimidating roar. That really seemed to get the bear's attention. It turned its head from the Clan, now looking at the transformed Soul. At first, it looked puzzled, but soon it let out a growl in response. Soul lunged toward the bear, which he was twice the size of. Everyone in the Clan stepped back, watching the battle play out between the two. Soul easily overpowered the bear, making it seem like a weak kit compared to him. The bear still didn't seem to get the picture until it was thrown further down the mountain, causing it to roll quite a ways. Once it finally stopped, the bear stood, shaking out its pelt. Soul stood tall, his eyes of rage staring down towards the bear, and soon let out another furious roar. The bear seemed to get the message this time, now running away like a fearful puppy.
Once, and only once it was far out of sight, Soul turned his attention towards us, his eyes flickering with rage, which sent a shiver of fear down my spine. Just as he was about to step towards us, he fell to the ground, changing back to normal. Graylight quickly ran to his side, helping him to his paws. âYou alright?â she asked, her voice filled with concern.
âIâm fine,â he muttered, pulling away from her. Gray, however, moved to his side again.
âThat must have been pretty hard for you to do again. Are you sure youâre okay? I know itâsââ
âGray, just drop it,â Soul spoke, his tone defensive and harsh. This caused Gray to step back, a surprised look on her face. In response, she simply dipped her head, respecting his wishes.
Everyone had questions about what had just happened, and especially about what Gray was talking about, but no one dared say anything. Whatever it was, it was certainly a sensitive topic for Soul. Whether the mystery would be uncovered one day was beyond me.
Unfortunately, Sweetleap, Falconclaw, and Rabbitleap did not survive. After saying our goodbyes to them and burying them to the best of our ability, we were on our way again, almost as if nothing had happened. Luckily for Foxkit, Fireleap had taken to comforting the small kit, carrying him like his mother had on the journey. I couldn't imagine how traumatic it must have been for the little guy.
By the time the sun began to set, we found ourselves at the bottom of the mountain. I couldnât believe itâwe had actually reached the bottom. It felt strange in a way, but we were still far from victorious. We needed to find a place for the night as soon as possible. Our Clan was weak, tired, cold, and hungry. If we got attacked by something again, there was no way weâd be able to handle it.
âAshleap, STOP!â Cougarâs voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and in that moment, I found my paws slipping off the ground. I almost fell face-first into a ravine, but luckily, I felt the teeth of a Clanmate grip my scruff, pulling me to safety before I could fall. I lay there panting for a moment, trying to process what had happened.
âAshleap, are you okay?â I heard the concerned voice of my mother, Hazelleaf, from my side. I could feel her tongue gently lapping at my pelt in a comforting way.
âYeah, Iâm okay. Just tired. I guess I kinda zoned out,â I admitted.
âSoulstar, we really need to find somewhere to stay for the night. The Clan can't take this much longer. We need rest, and some wounds still need more tending to,â Hazelleaf said with desperation.
âI agree, we just need to find somewhere. Thatâs why the fighters were sent ahead, toââ
âSoulstar!â Lionclawâs voice cut through as he approached from a distance. Immediately, everyone turned, eager to hear what the Elder Fighter had to say.
âYes?â Soulstar meowed, giving an encouraging nod for him to continue.
âWe found a place, further up in the ravine. A more shallow area away from the water. There's a tunnel to get down. No fresh scents either,â Lion reported.
âGreat, lead the way,â the leader ordered. With that, we began to follow them, staying near the ravine. As we walked, I found myself studying the ravine in amazement. It was terrifying to almost fall into it, sure, but it was certainly eye-catching. Even in the mountains, Iâd never seen anything like this before. As we pressed on, I caught a whiff of something from the other side of the ravineâa scentâbut before I could identify it, the wind carried it away. I shrugged it off as nothing and continued onward.
To everyone's relief, it didnât take long to reach the area Lion mentioned. It was a part of the ravine that wasnât as deep as the rest and looked to be a well-protected area. Along the walls of the ravine, rocks and cracks made it possible to climb down, which was not at all difficult for our Clan. RaptureClan was pretty skilled at climbing cliffs. Practically from the first day a kit was old enough to leave camp, they were taught how to rock climb.
Once inside the ravine, everyone began to look around in wonder. It was a lot bigger inside than it looked from above, due to the sides bending in a bit. All through this part of the ravine were cracks within the walls, which looked to have some space inside.
Everyone took this moment to plop down on the ground, relieved to stop walking. I looked over to see Fireleap place Foxkit on the ground. The tiny kit immediately clung to the she-cat for warmth and comfort. Unfortunately, Foxkit didnât have his mother to care for him anymore, but it appeared Fireleap would take on that job. At least she had something to focus on instead of the death of her daughter.
âSoulstar, this could actually prove to be a great place for a new camp. There's lots of space and plenty of areas thatâd make good dens,â Stormclaw said. Several others looked on with hopeful eyes, and agreement was voiced by many.
âWeâll see,â Soul replied. âI will admit this does seem fitting for a camp, but we still have to see if the land can support us and ensure there are no threats around. Tomorrow weâll check things out, but tonight, we sleep.â
I laid my head on my paws, curling my tail around me as I closed my eyes. It was nice to be able to relax and feel safe. I truly hoped this place could become a good home for us. Mostly because I really didnât want to walk anymore, and honestly, I didn't think the Clan could handle any more travel. RaptureClan had already been through so much; we really needed this to work out. Hopefully, thatâs what StarClan wanted as well. I prayed to the stars, hoping all would work out. After all, havenât we been through enough?
TW: This story has a lot of religious themes to it, mixed with my own lore and ideas. If stuff like this upsets you, please do not read.
After the fall of Lucifer, Azrael, the archangel of death, faces relentless suspicion and mistreatment from his heavenly siblings. Despite his neutrality during the ancient war, they believe he's destined to follow in Lucifer's footsteps. As eons pass, their constant accusations ignite a growing anger within Azrael, threatening to unleash a power that could shake the very foundations of Heaven. Will Azrael succumb to the darkness they fear? Or will he find a way to rise above their doubts and prove them wrong?
Several characters in this story are not my own, but owned by a friend of mine who assisted me with their dialogue. These characters include: Diablo, Michael and The Father. (The last two are mentioned later in the story)
The Archangel woke up in a place that wasnât home. At first, he thought he was dreaming, or perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him. He roughly shook his head, hoping the disturbing vision would vanish. To his disappointment, it did not. Standing up, he let out a small huff of irritation. Where was he? He had no idea. Looking ahead, he noticed he was in an alleyway. Beyond it, he heard the chattering of many voices and the sound of footsteps. He crept down the alley cautiously and carefully, emerging into a street that opened into a city of sorts. The city itself appeared bathed in a crimson glow from unknown sources. The pavement was stained a blood-like hue, and the buildings, made from volcanic stone and iron, exuded an aura of dark hostility. What stood out the most were the creatures infesting the streets: demons. At that moment, he knew exactly where he was. He was in Hell.
He immediately shrank back into the darkness of the alley, pressing himself against one of the walls as he sat back. What was he supposed to do now? How was he supposed to escape this prison? And how did he end up here in the first place? So many questions and no answers. With a sigh of frustration, he began to scan the alley, searching for anything that might help him get back to Heaven. How? He had no idea.
His gaze suddenly stopped, landing on the mangled body of a deceased demon. How it ended up like this was beyond him, but he couldnât care less. He approached the body with a look of displeasure. He had an idea, though he certainly wasnât looking forward to it. Letting out a sigh of defeat, he began to roll in the blood pooling from the deceased demon. Once he was covered enough to mask his scent and part of his appearance, he turned back toward the street. Without hesitation, he made his way through the city, trying to find a way out while avoiding drawing attention. The smell that covered him was absolutely foul, but it helped keep his true identity hidden. The last thing he wanted was a fight with demons.
Things seemed to be going well as he traveled through the city; no one suspected a thing. That was until a group of demons approached him, their suspicious eyes scanning his bloodstained pelt. "Can I help you?" Azrael asked the group, keeping his tone mellow and devoid of emotion.
"My friend here says there's something off about you. And I think I smell it too. Who are you?" The tallest of the group, closest to Azraelâs size, asked, their tone laced with suspicion.
"That is none of your concern," Azrael replied bluntly.
At that moment, they got right up in his face, their blood-red eyes blazing with a threatening gaze. "There's something off about you. Thereâs no way youâre a demon."
"Neither is that guy, but I don't see anyone else complaining," Azrael meowed dryly, pointing his tail behind them. They foolishly looked behind them, giving Azrael the chance to turn and run. He pushed his way through the city at a quicker pace, hoping to lose them, but they managed to keep up, though they couldnât catch him.
He found himself nearing a larger building with a mountain of stairs leading up to a church, right in his path. And of course, he couldnât go back; the pesky demons were pushing through the crowd in the distance. With no other choice, he climbed the stairs and walked inside. It didnât seem the group had followed him up, which he found odd. Today really wasnât his day, and he couldnât believe it could get any worse. Could it?
Taking a deep breath, he tried once again to figure out what to do. He had to get out of there somehow and wasnât sure if the demons from before were outside. He was about to turn back and check when he noticed the music that had been playing had grown quiet, replaced by a commanding voice.
"You look lost. Though, all demons who enter are lost in a sense."
He looked around the interior of the church, which had rows of pews and an altar at the end. A little ways behind and above the altar, he spotted what appeared to be a throne, and on it sat the owner of the voice. But who this was, he didnât have a clue. What he did know was that this was a bad situation. Azrael grew still and did not say a word. What was he supposed to say? This had been the last thing he wanted: any attention on himself. Yet here he was, with a room full of demons staring at him.
"Have your masters taken your tongue? Come, lost imp, and greet your sovereign," the voice spoke again.
Azrael sighed, finally choosing what to say. "Apologies for the intrusion, but I stumbled in here by accident. I really must be leaving," he said loudly.
"None enter the Church of Heresy by mistake. What must be so important that you deny yourself a prayer? I implore you; come and find what you seek!"
Azrael hung his head, knowing he wouldnât escape this. After a few moments of thought, he began to make his way down the aisle, his expression revealing no emotion. He felt the eyes of the other demons watching him, which made him uncomfortable, but he didnât show it. He stopped by the altar, his pure white gaze looking up at the gruesome creature. It was only a matter of time before someone realized who he was, and Azrael was just waiting for that moment. It seemed the universe truly had something against him.
"Now, what is it you seek, imâ" The creature began, only to stop as he looked down at Azrael, a realization blazing in his fiery gaze. "What is this aura I sense from you?" he said, standing as his tail touched the angel wings decorating the back of his throne.
Azrael jumped back, his feathers slightly ruffled as the creature jumped in front of him. "Yes, that halo; the light of Father! Who are you, angel?!"
Azrael locked eyes with him, showing no fear or emotion. "I told you. I came here by mistake, but you didnât listen," he said coldly.
Laughing, the creature spread his torn and tattered wings. "I thought angels didnât make mistakes." He noticed a change in his tone, now less aggressive. "Why do you look familiar? Which of my siblings are you?"
"Siblings?" Azrael questioned, more to himself, confused and a bit shocked. Heâd thought this was just another of the many royals ruling over Hell, but something about him was different, almost familiar. But what? And why?
"If you must know, I am Azrael, the Archangel of Death," he said, his voice still cold, though puzzled.
There was silence in the church, broken only by the crackling of the creatureâs eyes. Then he started laughing, seemingly out of disbelief. "I knew I recognized you! That also explains why you donât recognize me, Az. You werenât there, after all."
Azraelâs expression showed a rare sign of emotion: shock. "Lucifer? Is that really you? I canât believe it..."
"Been a while, hasnât it? Come," he said, "let me show you around PandĂŚmonium, since you got lost before." He gave some orders to his demons in Latin before leading Azrael out of the church. "By the way, my name isnât Lucifer anymore, brother, nor is it Satan. I am Diablo now, and I am the Devil."
"Diablo, huh? Thatâs going to take some getting used to. You look so different. I never would have recognized you. I still canât believe it. I never thought Iâd see you again!" Azrael said, his voice filled with shock, though his expression was mostly back to its emotionless state, except for a small shine of joy in his pure white eyes.
"As I you," replied Diablo. "And do watch your step. The Cleaners havenât burned todayâs dead yet, so there are still some corpses on the streets." Diablo warned.
Just as Azrael was about to say something else, he slipped on exactly what Diablo had warned him about, face-planting into one of the dead bodies. He jumped up, spitting off to the side in disgust, his ears pricking at the chuckles of passing demons. "Today is just not my day..." he said with a frown.
Diablo chuckled and continued down the street, all demons moving out of his way. "If you were anyone else, youâd be dead already. As you can guess, Iâm not too fond of our siblings up in Heaven anymore."
"I wouldnât think you would be. And if Iâm honest, no one is really too fond of me anymore, even though I didnât do anything..." Azrael muttered, a slight hint of anger in his tone, barely noticeable.
"Well, you know them, hating everything related to my ideas. Though, that doesnât justify discriminating you."
"No, it doesnât. And I never really had any problems until you were cast out. Everyone views me as a traitor, convinced Iâll continue what you started. Itâs just not fair." Azrael sighed. "What did I even do?"
"I'm not surprised they started targeting you for merely associating with me. Even if you were neutral, I suppose they see you as..." He glanced over his shoulder at his brother, sighing away a sulfuric breath. "...Just another rebel who didn't take action."
"Which is not true," Azrael said dryly. "Even after all this time, it still hasn't changed." He turned his attention off in the distance for a moment; his gaze held some kind of emotion, but it was hard to tell what. "I've really missed having you around. I don't have anyone I can just talk to anymore."
Diablo stopped for a moment and stretched himself out. "Same here. You have no idea what Hell has done to me." Turning to Azrael, he took a quick breath and continued, "Well, looks like we're at the docks now."
"Yeah... You know, I never thought I would be disappointed about going back to Heaven." Azrael said, slightly amused, as if he couldn't believe his own words. "I'm surprised haven't questioned why I'm here."
"Not really much to question, is there?" Diablo answered sarcastically. "You either climbed down from the Gates or you appeared out of nowhere."
"Well, actually Iâ" Azrael began but was immediately cut off by his brother.
"About time, Charon. A little bit behind, aren't you?" Diablo spoke as the ferry approached the docks. His attention then turned back to Azrael again, his head tilted a bit as if being weighed down on one side. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"Oh, nothing. It's not important." Azrael replied, then turned to step off the docks but paused, looking back at his brother. "You know, this doesn't have to be the last time we ever speak again..." He pointed out, a bit of hope sparking in his tone.
Diablo smiled with joy. The first time he'd seen his brother smile in eons. "Then I will await the day with delight."
"Is this one traveling, Diablo?" asked Charon as he swapped the loads the ferry was carrying. "If so, where to?"
"Here," Diablo said, moving his wings mysteriously. Then out of thin air, he pulled a couple of gold coins. "A coin for your travels, brother," he said, tossing the coins to him, "and another for anything you wish to ask Charon. Speaking of which," he continued to Charon, "he'll be heading for Mount Brimstone in Wrath."
Reaching out an oversized wing, Azrael caught the coins on his feathers, which were still stained red with blood. He'd definitely have to clean that off before he got back to Heaven.
As he boarded the vessel, he cast a small smile towards his brother, a rare sight indeed. As the ferry began to move once more, he kept his focus on the docks, watching as Diablo grew out of sight. He looked forward to when they would meet again and hoped it would be soon. Seeing his brother again gave him something he hadn't experienced in a long time: happiness. This happiness, however, would become his very downfall...
