This is a fanfiction by Nighty. It is part of the Nevermore series.
What if everything around you isn't real?
What if it's all an illusion to keep you safe from the outside world?
What if everything you've ever known was suddenly...gone?
Enter the Nevermore.
See for yourself.
Crew
Head: Colonel Grayscar
Vice-Head: Lieuntenant Colonel Fangslice
Advisor: Sir Windwhistle
Medic: Flameclaw
West SunClan Recruits:
Lightpelt
Eagleslash
Riverpelt
Blackfur
Kestrelsong
Wolfcry
Freeheart
Strongpelt
Rocktail
Birdcry
Bladeclaw
East SunClan Recruits:
Ravenwing
Redfur
Dawnfleck
Duskdapple
Lightningstrike
Snaketooth
Leaffur
Yellowsun
Grasseyes
Snowfoot
Moonecho
Reserve Fighters:
Rippleheart
Sharkfang
Frostpelt
Forestclaw
Doveflight
Jaystripe
Berrybush
Dewfleck
Other Important Cats:
Lieutenant Infernoheart- Leader of the Red Hawks Squadron
Lieutenant Stonebreak- Leader of the Badger Fighters Squadron
[Note: This is not the entire crew. The Nevermore's complete crew is around five-hundred.]
Also:
CA- Clawscratch Abyssians
ESC- East SunClan
WSC- West SunClan
Prologue
"We're under attack!"
Sirens wailed as countless cats swirled around purposefully. Some crouched behind cannon-like objects, protective plates of stone criss-crossing their bodies. Others rushed underground into a network of tunnels, while some stood outside, barking out orders frantically.
"Birdcry, status report!" a gray tom snapped, his fur whipping in the wind.
"Clawscratch Abyssian Army is firing on us, sir!" replied a brown tabby tom, struggling to keep his paws as he saluted.
"Fox-dung," the gray tom hissed under his breath. He turned to a group of cats just emerging from the network of tunnels. "You there! Messengers!"
The cats coming out stood alert at the tom's call. "Yes, sir!"
"Alert the Badger Fighters, Red Hawks, and Seven-Fifty-Nine Squadrons!"
"Yes, sir!" The cats saluted, then dashed off. A few seconds later a huge mass of cats emerged from the tunnels, each saluting quickly and then standing rigid.
"Squadron leaders!" snapped the gray tom. Three cats came forward. "Squadron leaders, are your battle plans ready?"
The three cats nodded, wearing solemn expressions.
The gray tom jerked his head. "Then go! We're under attack!"
Two of the leaders dashed off, but one remained. The remaining leader, a stern-looking she-cat with firey orange fur and blue eyes glared at the tom.
"Are you crazy, Grayscar?" she snarled. "We'll be slaughtered! Have you seen the CA's army?"
Grayscar glared at the orange she-cat. "Infernoheart, you answer to me, not yourself. Go send out your squadron," he hissed behind gritted teeth.
Infernoheart glared venemously at him. "When we lose half of our recruits, you'll be the one we blame. This is suicide, Colonel," she snarled, and turned away, her long tail whipping out behind her.
Grayscar tried to disregard her words--what did she know? She was only a she-cat, and a she-cat lieutenant at that. But they kept coming back to his head. Am I really condemning all my fighters to death?
Shaking off Infernoheart's words like morning dew, he turned towards the battlefield, where his cats and the CA's cats were fighting viciously. "We will win this war," he meowed, "as sure as my name is Colonel Grayscar."
Chapter One: Lightpaw
Lightpaw's nose twitched as she smelled the mouse. Slowly shifting her weight to her haunches, she crept forward as silently as a snake. Placing one pale golden paw in front of the other, Lightpaw stalked the mouse. She surged her weight backwards, preparing to pounce...
"Lightpaw!"
The mouse's ears pricked, and it looked up, alert. The creature saw its hunter and quickly dashed away. Lightpaw hissed angrily.
"Lightpaw! Lightpaw!"
Lightpaw's eyes shot open, finally dragged out of her dream. A smokey gray she-cat was leaning over her with wide blue eyes, prodding her side with a paw. "Lightpaw! Are you awake?" she asked.
The golden she-cat sighed and rolled her green eyes, sitting upright. "No, Stormpaw, I'm fighting badgers," she snapped sarcastically. Stormpaw just grinned, her friend's harsh words rolling off her like morning dew.
"Well then get up, lazybones! Your assessment's today!" Stormpaw mewed, nudging Lightpaw's tail with a tempest-gray paw. The lighter she-cat suddenly sat up, her eyes wide and alert.
"I forgot about it!" Lightpaw exclaimed. Leaping out of her moss nest woven with bird feathers, she quickly licked a paw and pulled it over her ears frantically, stretched, and dashed away, shouting a quick good-bye to Stormpaw. Feathers drifted lazily from the floor in the young she-cat's wake.
Panting heavily, Lightpaw finally reached a small clearing in the forest. Soft, springy grass blanketed the ground and the gentle new-leaf sun made dancing patches on the green carpet. Sitting quietly beside a huge oak was Redwing, a lithe russet tom. His amber eyes twinkled with amusement at Lightpaw's tardiness.
"Glad you could make it," Redwing meowed, laughter twinging his voice.
The golden apprentice just grunted, and took her place in front of him. "So... what now?" she meowed, impatient to get on with this and become a warrior already. A trickle of nervousness seeped inside of her of its own accord as Lightpaw strained to extract and dispose of it.
Redwing's tail flicked back and forth over the dewy morning grass. "Your warrior assessment is fighting. This is particularly challenging on the slick grass." The tom got up cooly and stood five fox-lengths away from his apprentice and waited for her to make the first move.
Lightpaw instantly relaxed. This'll be a breeze--I'm a great fighter. Crouching low to the ground, Lightpaw darted forwards and swiped, claws sheathed, at Redwing. She leapt to the side, intending to strike again quickly and then to dart back, but instead felt the quick jab of the russet tom's paw, nimble as a trout, strike her side. The golden apprentice fell clumsily to the ground, the breath knocked out of her. She stared with wide eyes at Redwing.
"What was that?" she hissed. Redwing had never hit her that hard, claws sheathed or not.
Redwing's gentle, amused appearance dissappeared and was replaced with an expression of scorn. "An enemy won't be that kind to you, nor keep his claws sheathed."
Lightpaw frowned. Enemy? There are no other Clans that border West SunClan, except for East SunClan, but they're a part of us.
Redwing's stern apprentice was suddenly gone, and replaced by his normal cheery attitude. "Nothing, nothing," he meowed nonchalantly, backing up to his original spots. But Lightpaw saw something... was that a hint of panic in his eyes? "Attack me again."
This time, Lightpaw knew (or thought she knew) what to expect. She darted in, jabbed at her mentor with a paw, and then darted back out. The golden she-cat leapt high in the air, twisted, and landed on Redwing's back. Triumph and elation filled her. I did it! I caught him off guard! I di--
Her thoughts were interrupted when Redwing quickly shrugged her off, and struck her exposed belly with sheathed paws. Lightpaw rolled over and leapt up, immediately dashing forward to deliver a flurry of blows to his ears. Each blow was blocked by two russet paws every time, though. The pale golden she-cat kept trying, though. Her blows grew faster and more complex, but they were still blocked easily by Redwing.
Finally, the young she-cat collapsed to the grount, gasping for breath. Redwing didn't even look mildly tired, he watched her with faint amusement. After one final gasp, Lightpaw sat up and glared at him. "There. Happy?"
The russet tom was unfazed by her comment. "Very good, for an apprentice."
"What about the hunting challenge?" Lightpaw meowed.
"It isn't needed--you have proven yourself."
That part really confused Lightpaw. Hunting was one of the most important things in West SunClan--if you were a good hunter, then you had it made. Redwing, sensing her confusion, flicked his tail and her. "Come," he meowed, motioning for his apprentice to follow. Lightpaw got to her paws and followed him back to camp.
Something is not right about this.
And, though Lightpaw didn't know it at the time, she was right--something was very wrong.