Shattered

Dear reader,

''If you know what I know, you wouldn’t be here. So I’m guessing that you don’t know. Which is bad. Very, very bad. Because if you don’t know what happened, then I suggest you leave now. Right away.''

''I promise you, you don’t want to know what happened. You really, really don’t.''

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Prologue
The Murderer was waiting. Waiting for its next victim, waiting for a chance to sink its claws and teeth into the flesh of another animal—dead or alive. It would lunge at any movement and any sound, even the slightest twitch of a wing or whisper of a breath.

And that was exactly what Hope was afraid of as she made her way down the haunting walls of the abandoned castle. She could sense the Murderer's presence as she made her way silently to the winding staircase that would take her down to the dungeon.

As Hope stepped slowly into the foggy prison, she felt something tugging at her wings. She shook them out and folded them neatly across her back but she still couldn't shake the odd tugging feeling. Blinking rapidly she crept forward, peering down the row of ancient cells. They were all abandoned—except for one.

“You came,” a voice hissed. Hope couldn't see through the fog, but she heard the slam of wings against the metal bars.

“Of course I did.” Hope tried desperately to keep the tremor out of her voice.

“Now will you free me?”

There was an awful silence before Hope finally replied.

“No. No, I won't.”

A screech rattled the dungeon and the wings continued to bang against the cell bars. Hope ducked her head with a high-pitched whine as the prisoner's curses flew.

“They don't want me to free you,” Hope sobbed, collecting all her strength.

“Why?” the prisoner snapped.

“The Murderer's awake, and he's hunting you down,” Hope replied evenly, fanning her dark wings.

There was a quiet brush of wings against stone. “I'm not scared of some myth.”

Hope clenched her beak. “It's not a myth.”

“To me it is.”

The dungeon was deathly silent for the next few moments. Hope didn't understand how she could convince him that the Murderer was real.

“He'll come to kill you,” she whispered.

“No he won't.”

“If I say your name, he will.” Hope's eyes were bright with fear and anger as she spoke.

The prisoner chuckled softly. “Fine, then. Go ahead and summon this horrible monstrous beast known as the Murderer.”

“He's not a—”

“Say it!” the prisoner barked. “Say my name.”

Hope shook her head. “I can't. You'll get killed.”

Once more came the sound of wings slamming furiously against metal bars. But Hope felt no remorse for her choice. Maybe he didn't believe in the Murderer, but she had no intent on killing this prisoner, neither directly nor indirectly.

“Say it, Hope. I want to die.” Hope was touched by the pain and grief in his voice.

“You're going to live,” she growled stubbornly. “I'm going to make sure that you do.”

With a furious snarl he slashed his claws against the stone walls of his cell. “Will it work if I say my own name?”

Hope trembled in fear. She didn't know the answer to that question, but she dreaded it. “I-I don't know.”

At first, she couldn't even understand what he was saying. But then he repeated it louder and louder, and a word formed in the foggy darkness.

“Angelo.”

“Angelo.”

“Angelo.”

The sound of the word drowned out everything, and soon Hope was transfixed by his lulling tone of voice. “Please, stop saying that,” she begged him.

She heard him gasp in surprise. “What's my name, Hope? What is it?”

Hope shook her head firmly even though he couldn't see her. “You were just repeating it.”

“Well, I forgot,” he snarled. “Tell me what it is.”

Hope couldn't breath. The air inside the prison was stifling, threatening to choke her. She shook out her wings furiously and shook her head. What should she do? Why the Murderer was so attracted to one word she did not know.

I only have to say one word, she thought in despair. One word and then he'll be dead.

“Hope! What's my name?”

Hope sighed and shook her head. “Angelo. Your name is Angelo.”

Chapter One
“Smoke!”

Smoke groaned, rising slowly to his feet with a yawn. The pale light of dawn filtered through his nest, though it was partially obscured by Rainfire's beak as he stuck it through the entrance.

“Coming,” Smoke replied groggily, shaking out his wings. As soon as Rainfire was gone he dug under his nest to retrieve two things: a long, twisted seashell and a black feather dotted with white. The shell had been his mother’s, and the feather had been his father’s. His parents had died at the claws of the mysterious Murderer, a deadly assassin feared through the grffins’ home.

At the sound of rustling wings nearby Smoke shoved his belongings under his nest and scrambled into the camp. He could tell that Spiderwing had called a gathering, as many of the griffins were gathered around the craggy rock in the center of camp where the leader stood to give announcements.

Smoke's wings twitched in apprehension. What could the meeting possibly be about? A ceremony? Reports about the Murderer? Smoke shuddered, hoping that this gathering wasn’t going to be about the latter.

Spiderwing scrambled to the top of the stone, and the crowd quieted down. Spiderwing folded his giant wings across his back and sighed before he began to speak.

“As you know, our tribe and camp have been in grave danger lately.” As he paused there was a ripple of quiet murmurs. Unfortunately, Smoke had guessed correctly.

“There is a so-called murderer,” Spiderwing continued, “that is stalking us and posing a great threat. Therefore, we need lookouts, guards, and patrollers constantly. We can’t let this enemy claim anyone else.”

Smoke felt tears gathering in his eyes. His parents, who he barely known, had been killed by the Murderer. The memory had never left him; in fact, it replayed in his mind everyday, dragging him back to the storm of fear and grief he had witnessed the day of their death.

Shaking out his wings, Smoke turned his attention back to Spiderwing, but he wasn’t interested in hearing more news about the Murderer, even if it was important. Glancing quickly at Rainfire to make sure that the pale-feathered griffin couldn't see him, he slipped out of camp and charged into the forest that stretched along the eastern border of the griffins' territory. Smoke didn't know where he was going—he only wanted to get away.

Suddenly something flashed out of the shadows and grabbed Smoke's left wing. Smoke whipped around with an alarmed screech and attempted to claw at his attacker, but he faltered. The griffin perched in the tree was slightly smaller than him, and he glowed with a soft silver light. The griffin released Smoke’s wing, much to his relief, and then leaped down from the tree branch where he had been perched.

Smoke opened his beak to ask the griffin’s name, but he interrupted.

“Smoke,” he snarled. “Go back to camp. It's not safe out here.”

“I know, but I can't stay there. They're talking about—”

“There's no way to avoid the Murderer.” The griffin’s voice slightly spooked Smoke with its sad, eerie tone. “It's everywhere.”

Smoke lashed his tail. “It killed my family!”

“I know.”

Before continuing Smoke paused and took a deep breath. “Who are you, anyway?”

The griffin’s eyes glistened with sadness as he replied. “Your brother. I was killed—” He paused and Smoke drew in a sharp breath.

“By the Murderer?”

“No. By Spiderwing.”

Smoke nearly shrieked aloud. “What?” he snarled. “Spiderwing? Is Spiderwing the Murderer?” His eyes flashed with wild fury and rage.

“No, Spiderwing's not the Murderer. But he was manipulated by the Murderer into killing me and all the other cubs. You and Berry were lucky, though. You were playing in the forest, outside of camp, so he didn't notice you.”

Smoke’s face twisted into a look of perplexion. “Did we have any other siblings that were killed?”

His brother nodded. “Two. Our sisters, Petal and Shade. And then me, Ash, of course.”

As much as he hated crying, Smoke couldn't prevent the tears from rolling rapidly down his face. “Why?” he cried, slashing the ground and nearby tree trunks with his sharp talons. “Why did he do this?” By now he was screeching, slashing his talons across every visible surface. He was stopped only by the sharp growl of his brother—Ash.

“Like I said before, be cautious,” Ash warned. “If you keep screeching like that, the Murderer will surely find you.”

“I guess you're right,” Smoke growled softly, examining his long, curved claws.

Ash nodded. "You'll be safest in camp," he told Smoke, folding his wings across his back. Glancing at his brother, Smoke realized he had no choice.

"But where will you be?" he asked Ash before taking flight.

Ash grinned. "I'll be there when you need me." Before Smoke could reply he disappeared in a flash of starlight.

Alone, Smoke picked his way slowly back to camp, making sure to enter through his secret route. This way he would have a lower chance of being caught. His secret entrance was also near his den, meaning that he could quickly retreat to his nest and pretend that he had been resting.

But unfortunately, Spiderwing's sharp eyes caught him squeezing through the hedge into camp. Smoke stood frozen at the edge of camp, watching the leader and dreading his reaction. Since it appeared that none of the other griffin's had witnessed Smoke's attempt at a stealthy entrance, he didn't draw attention to the young griffin. He only dipped his head and made a waving motion with one of his talons. Smoke padded forward slowly, keeping his head and wings down in a display of submission.

"Come to my den," Spiderwing growled under his breath. Smoke lifted his head, inhaling sharply.

Oh, great, he thought angrily, silently cursing himself. I'm in big trouble now.

Chapter Two
"Where were you?"

Smoke grimaced at Spiderwing's fierce tone.

"I-I didn't want to hear about the Murderer," he admitted. "It made me think of my family, and I--"

Spiderwing flared with giant wings and glared at Smoke through sharp yellow eyes. "You know very well, Smoke, that with this situation going on, leaving camp by yourself is the easiest way to get killed."

Smoke crouched submissively, debating whether or not he should tell the leader about his encounter with Ash. He glanced up at Spiderwing, who was still glaring at him. It was as if there were flames in Spiderwing's eyes, dancing wildly with anger and threatening to burn Smoke if he stared for too long.

"I-I know. Yes sir."

"Don't do it again, understand?"

"Y-yes, sir," Smoke whined, sounding like a newborn cub.

Spiderwing examined him with a gaze that had shifted from anger to disgust. "Get up," he demanded. "Even though I'm leader, I don't appreciate those pointless submission rituals."

"Of course!" Smoke replied, scrambling to his feet. He kept his head low, though, just for the sake of respect.

"Now get out of my den," Spiderwing snarled. "And don't leave camp by yourself, even if you have permission."

Smoke only nodded in reply before darted swiftly out of Spiderwing's den and into camp, where he was greeted lavishly by his friends.

“Where were you?” Berry cried, darting forward. She threw her wings around Smoke in a tight embrace.

“I-I got in a bit of trouble with Spiderwing,” Smoke mumbled, staring at his talons. “But I’m fine now.”

"Oh, don't mind Spiderwing," Reed replied jokingly. "He's just a big grump."

Berry gasped, whacking him gently with her wing. "You wouldn't say that if you had been born here!"

Reed rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, O Great Berry."

Berry snorted and shook out her wings while Smoke watched his friends in amusement. Reed had been taken into the tribe recently after he had been found abandoned in the forest. Therefore, he hadn't been around when Spiderwing had been manipulated into the killing all of the cubs.

"Do you guys want to hunt?" Smoke suggested, folding his wings across his back.

Berry hesitated for a moment before grinning. "Sure!" she replied. "Come on, lazywings," she added, poking Reed with a talon.

"Urghhhh," Reed groaned. "Fine, I'll go."

Smoke stifled a laugh as Reed dragged himself after Berry, towards the forest. Smoke followed close behind them, keeping his senses alert. Grief for his family washed over him as he painfully remembered his conversation with Ash. He turned his head away, trying to conceal the tears from his friends. Luckily neither one of them were paying much attention to him.

"Over there," Reed hissed. "A rabbit. I'm going to go after it." He slipped away into the undergrowth, and as soon as he was out of sight, Berry turned to Smoke.

"Are you okay?" she asked him worriedly. "You seem. . . I don't know. Different."

Smoke sighed and his wings drooped. "I-I'm just thinking of my family," he replied. "Earlier, when I was out in the forest, I was visited by my brother, Ash."

Berry raked her talons across the ground thoughtfully. "I understand," she murmured. "I miss my brother every single day, all the time. The Murderer. . . it's ruining our lives."

Smoke nodded in agreement. "I wish someone could find out who it is."

There was a long pause before Berry answered. "Do you think it's a griffin from our tribe?" she asked softly.

"I really hope that it's not. But I think it is."

"I mean, who else could it be? Lone griffins are usually peaceful, and I don't understand why a griffin outside of the tribe would want to kill us so badly."

Smoke grunted irritably. "I just want my life to be normal," he grumbled. "I don't want to live this life, shrouded in fear and uncertainty."

"I know exactly what you mean," Berry agreed. "Someone needs to deal with the Murderer. Find out who it is, trap it, kill it. I don't care, as long as it stops murdering."

Smoke opened his mouth to reply just as Reed appeared, carrying the rabbit's limb body in his beak.

"Good catch!" Berry called to him. Reed just nodded, unable to speak with the prey in his mouth.

Smoke nudged Berry softly with his wing. "Should we go hunt now?"

Berry nodded eagerly. "Follow me! Usually there's good hunting by the river."

She took off, Smoke close behind. As soon as Smoke could hear the faint rushing sound of the river, his heart filled with joy. He skidded to a halt on the bank, staring into the clear, fast-moving water.

He stood there next to Berry for a moment, both of them staring into the water and watching the fish wriggle by. Reed slowly approached them, and the three friends stood in silence.

Berry took a tiny step forward, reaching with a talon to touch the water. "Wow," she breathed. "The river is so--"

But she didn't finish. She slipped and crashed into the water, instantly sinking below the surface.

"BERRY!" Smoke screamed, throwing himself into the water. With his mind blurred by fear, he hadn't about an easier way to rescue her. However, Reed had obviously thought of it. Smoke watched Reed as he dropped his rabbit, leaped into the air, and flew across the water towards Berry. Outstretching his legs, he grabbed Berry's wings in his talons and hauled her towards the bank, where she instantly collapsed.

Smoke thrashed around wildly, wishing that he had made a plan before blindly leaping in. Luckily, Reed was still willing to help him as well, and he dragged Smoke to the bank and dropped him next to Berry.

"Thanks," Smoke gasped. "I-I we. . . sorry, I should've--"

Reed cut him off with a dismissive wave of his talons. "It's fine. I'd do anything to help my friends, as they are very much my superiors."

"No, Reed! That's not true!" Berry had started to recover, and she shoved him playfully. Reed snorted with laughter.

Curled up on the bank of the river, Smoke watched his friends argue playfully and thought about how even with the Murderer lurking through the forest, he still had great friends and a loving tribe.

More coming soon!