Skies of StarClan: Hearts of Darkness

''A Special in the Skies of StarClan series, Hearts of Darkness is about the Blood Reapers that Aurora mentions in 'Clash of Claws'. Their story begins when Pain of Endless Blood becomes the High Priest of the Blood Reapers.''

The Blood Reapers
High Priest: Pain of Endless Blood (Pain), A blood red tom with red eyes. Cruel and sadistic, Pain has the power to enter a cat's mind and show them horrific illusions. He is the most skilled of his Tribe when it comes to using Blood Rituals.  Second-In-Command: Chalice filled with Blood (Chalice), a golden she-cat with many black streaks. Used blood to make markings around her eyes. Very hot-headed and full of herself. The only cat she praises is Pain. She also knows many rituals.  Battle Priest Head: Esmeree, a black she-cat with a large white streak down her back. Resembles a skunk, and is blind in one eye. She leads the Battle Priests.  Claw Fighter Head: Shade, large brown tabby tom with cold violet eyes. Unknown to Pain, he wishes for freedom.  Battle Priest: Sidhe, a black and brown she-cat with green eyes and a torn ear. Mocks her brother for having no blood ritual abilities.  Battle Priest: Wolfe, a large white tom with black paws. Was Sidhe's mentor, and is skilled in the arts of Blood Rituals.  Battle Priest: Sabrienn, a grey she-cat with a blue eye and a green eye.  Claw Fighter: Requiem, a black she-cat. Cold and merciless, doesn't want to get close to anyone in fear of losing them.  Claw Fighter: Tristan, a brown tom with cruel blue eyes. Hates his sister, Sidhe.  To-Be: Tree that Grows from Blood (Tree), the next Second-In-Command. Hates being a Blood Reaper; Mentored by Esmeree. 

 (These are the "Main Characters".)

Before we begin...
Let me explain a few things about the Blood Reapers. (You can skip this if you'd like.)
 * 1) They are a creepy little Tribe.
 * 2) They use their own blood to perform magical rituals.
 * 3) The High Priest is the Leader. His/Her word is law. End of.
 * 4) Second-In-Command is like the High Priest's Apprentice.
 * 5) Battle Priests use Blood Rituals to fight.
 * 6) Claw Fighters cannot use Blood Rituals.
 * 7) They're evil.
 * 8) Their code goes like this; Don't try anything funny. Do what the High Priest(ess) says. Or you die.
 * 9) The High Priest(ess) gains a special ability. (EG: Pain can show cats evil illusions that can drive them to insanity)

Rituals
Control Ritual: Blood Barrier: The priest simply looks at the blood they want to control and their eyes turn green. The Priest then can then make the Blood go wherever they want

Summoning Ritual: Blood Warriors: The Priest draws several small circles with 'X's in them with there blood then connects them with a single line of there own blood. Cats made of blood rise from each symbol, and fight on the Priests behalf. These summoned cats have above-average physical ability.

Pain Ritual: Shared Pain Curse: A Priest draws a large triangle with a circle around it with there blood then licks up some of there targets blood. Standing in the symbol they created, the Priest becomes a living voodoo doll for there target. That is, any wound inflicted on themself is also inflicted on there target, from a scratch to a killing blow. The down side to this ritual is that the connection is only in effect as long as the Priest remains in his symbol If they are knocked out of it, the connection is lost, but the wounds they have already inflicted stay on the target. The Priests claws also lengthen when they preform this ritual, allowing them to inflict more devestating wounds on themselves.

Offensive Ritual: Bloodtooth Ritual: A Priest draws a circle of blood on the ground and draws five dots around it. Then connects the dots together, creating a star. The blood star then floats into the air and covers the Priest's teeth, making them stronger.

Control Ritual: Truth Ritual: A Priest slices an 'X' in their paw and lets the blood soak up their entire paw then the priest places their paw on the targets forehead and let's it seep in. Now the Target has to tell the truth

Control Ritual: Silencing Ritual: A priest Simply places an X of blood on a targets mouth and the target can not talk.

Summoning Ritual: Melting Snow Ritual: A Priest draws to wavy-lines that cross to form an X and think of where they want to a guest of warm air comes don melting the snow.

Elemental Ritual: Freezing Water: A Priest Draws a Mushroom like shape and all near-by water instantly Freezes

Chapter One - Slaves to a Monster
"What did we ever do to you?" Mountainstar hissed, before being forced along by the shackles of blood that held her paws.  Pain cackled in delight as he focused on the Blood-Shackles that bound SnowClan, the Clan that lived close to their territory. Oh, how he wanted to imprison them for so long...  "Pain, the prison is ready." Chalice meowed, quietly.  Over by the Golden-and-black she-cat was a cell of blood. She had clearly used the Blood-Onyx ritual to turn the cell of Blood into rock-hard Onyx. Pain forced the cats into the giant cell, before creating more bars of blood.  "That was easy." Pain meowed, licking the wound he had made on his leg. It healed, and he grinned. Being a High Priest was great! <BR>