Disclaimer: Warriors cats (c) Erin Hunter.

Author's Note: More cats, more drama. (:

PROLOGUE

Rosepath felt brambles tug at her underbelly as she scrambled to get away from the howling tomcat that was chasing her. He reeked of carrion and old twolegplace, common for a TwilightClan cat.

Diving into a berry bush, Rosepath allowed herself to turn and look at the cat who was pursuing her. He was largely built, with ragged gray fur that was missing in certain patches, and he had fury-filled amber eyes. He howled when he realized that she was in the bush, a place that she was small enough to get into and he could not chase her.

Rosepath closed her eyes and listened to her surroundings. She could hear her clanmates howling in pain around her, and the yowls of the TwilightClan cats they were fighting with. TwilightClan's leader had sent his deputy, Blossomflower, to battle for the small patch of forest near Skyrock. SkyClan cats were defending the unclaimed sacred land that wasn't their territory so all three clans could access it in times of peace for gatherings. During the battle, Rosepath had been chased by a TwilightClan warrior further away from the main battle. No cat could help her fight him off.

The TwilightClan cat snarled. "Come out and face me, SkyClan filth!" He spit. "Your clan is filled with nothing but cowards!"

Taking a deep breath, Rosepath watched the TwilightClan cat peer into the bush. When they locked eyes, she charged forward and swatted her outstretched claws at his muzzle. She caught his nose, and blood sprayed her tortoiseshell pelt and his own eyes as she scratched him.

The gray tomcat yowled, lunging blindly at her. He was much larger than her, and he managed to pin her with her belly to the ground. "You should be taught a lesson about obedience!" He hissed in her ear before sinking his teeth into the scruff of her neck.

Fear filled Rosepath's heart. She tried to call out for help, but her chest was being crushed by the weight of the TwilightClan tom.

Unable to even move herself slightly, Rosepath let her body go limp. She shut her eyes in defeat.

She could feel a sickening purr come from the tomcat. He removed his jaws from her neck and hissed in her ear.

"Get off of her!" Rosepath heard an enraged yowl from somewhere behind her. She felt the tomcat's weight suddenly taken off of her, and she was able to roll back to the base of the berry bush. Unable to stand properly, she crouched just under the leaves and looked out at the newcomer.

The cat now engaged in a staring and pacing match with the TwilightClan cat was a SkyClan apprentice named Jackalpaw. He was two moons younger than Rosepath and would soon earn his warrior name, but he was the size of a full-fledged warrior. His tan and black fur was standing on end, and his hazel-green eyes glittered with rage. Jackalpaw was Rosepath's best friend, and a very kind tomcat that she would follow to the ends of the earth.

Jackalpaw spoke again. "Leave or I will rip you apart." This threat was not empty. Rosepath and the TwilightClan tom could clearly see the ripple of muscle under the apprentices pelt.

The TwilightClan tom bared his teeth in frustration. "SkyClan filth!" He backed away, and after a few paces he turned tail and ran back in the direction of the abandoned Twolegplace.

When the tom was out of sight, Jackalpaw approached Rosepath and crouched by her side. "Did he hurt you?"

Rosepath attempted to appear calm. "He just knocked the wind out of me." She looked at the ground, remembering what he had hissed in her ear.

Jackalpaw began to wash Rosepath's muzzle with his tongue. "Rosepath, I've been wanting to talk to you about something for a while."

Looking up into the tomcats handsome eyes, Rosepath quivered.

"I want you to be safe. I want to keep you safe." He twined his tail in hers. "I love you, Rosepath, and I want you to be my mate."

Rosepath had been waiting for him to ask her this for moons, so she was not surprised. Her pain was momentarily forgotten as she was overwhelmed by her love for the young tomcat, as well as the sensation she felt as he was washing her pelt.

"Of course, Jackalpaw." She purred, pressing her nose into his muzzle. "I love you too, and I will gladly be your mate."