Okay, first off, let me just apologize for being gone SO long! I had my exams for a week in January (not fun) but to top it off I then got sick, and then these past weeks have just been extremely hectic! Sorry about the lack of updates. They should be happening normally now (fingers crossed)!
So this chapter is in Rosethorn perspective, and I believe it's the first in this sequel so far? Hmm...Anyway I am pretty excited for you all to see what her mind set is right now. Also there is a flash back to her early life, and hopefully you'll find it interesting to see the differences/similarities of her back then to the present.
OH! And also for those wondering about murderous Sparrow and complaining about how unrealistic that is for him...just wait and see. I promise, I have thought it out.
Fact: Some of you have noticed, but Ashfall's character has slowly become far more serious than he used to be. His personality changes on the seriousness of the situation, or how he views it.
"Dappleleaf, come on. What is the matter? I won't quit talking until you answer me."
Rosethorn was in a bad mood. Dappleleaf completely was ignoring her, and it was odd. She even acted happy - another odd thing. She wasn't supposed to be happy! What in the name of the Dark Forest was going on?
There was another thing. Rosethorn was getting weaker, and she knew it. Ever since Dappleleaf had spoken to that mangey rogue she had to try harder to move things. Did it work? Did Dappleleaf actually find a way to block me out? Those type of thoughts buzzed through her brain, and as much as she hated to admit it, Rosethorn feared that it was true.
"No...no. You are far more powerful. Just...figure it out. She's tricking you." Rosethorn shook her head. Ever since Dappleleaf had tuned her out, she had become lonely. It wasn't like the Dark Forest, even. There, at least, she could speak with others. Now she was isolated. No cat seemed to see or hear her.
Rosethorn let out a frustrated hiss and whirled around, dramatically marching out of camp, again realizing that no cat could see her. She kept her head down and walked...and walked...
Rosethorn glanced up at the sun, the longing to feel how warm it was suddenly increased. She wanted to feel like she did as a young kit with her siblings. She was so happy back then...so full of life. She had planned on becoming leader, starting a family. What went wrong?
"Oof! Hey!" Rosekit squealed, quickly scrambling back to her feet. "Not fair!" She brushed off the dust from her fur and faced her sister, who had pounced and pushed her down.
"That's three for me and none for you!" Larchkit teased, peering at her from over her ledge, the exact ledge she had just shoved Rosekit off. "Seriously, Rosekit, you need to get better at your balance, okay? You will never become a warrior being as clumsy as you are now."
"Leave her be!" Stonekit snapped at Larchkit, ramming into her side, sending the grey cat tumbling off the rock. "Stop being a bully, Larchkit! You are not so great after all."
Rosekit gave her brother a thankful nod before rushing to Larchkit's side. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly, nudging her sister to help her get up. "You didn't have to do that, Stonekit. I was fine. And she's right...I am in no condition to be a warrior."
"Well of course not!" Stonekit exclaimed, bounding down and giving their sister a mean glare. "You're a kit, for StarClan's sake! Think of Ashkit. Do you think he can preform warrior duties? I doubt it."
"Nah, actually I can," Ashkit called from the rock he was perched on. He was stretched out, relaxing in the sun and not bothering with kit play. "But I much prefer to waste my time doing nothing. StarClan knows we only get six moons to do that before we are forced into a life of cleaning elder's dens."
"Cheer up," Rosekit told him quietly, casually looking up. "Think of it! Serving our clan. Helping other cats...it'll be so wonderful."
"Then why don't you become a medicine cat?" Larchkit spoke from behind her. She padded up to her, shrugging. "Clearly you aren't cut out to be a warrior." She met Rosekit's eyes, and the latter cringed away from the coldness in them.
"I'll practice, I promise!" Rosekit meowed, encouraged. "I will become the best warrior SunClan has ever seen!"
Larchkit snorted, rolling her eyes. "Second to me, of course." She sniffed and glanced at Ashkit. "I mean, maybe third. Ashkit will be a great warrior, I know that. And he doesn't even practice!"
Something in Rosekit's mind just broke. She was so tired of being pushed around by Larchkit! It wasn't fair! Rosekit let out a hiss of irritation and faced her sister. "You aren't so brave yourself! You can't even swim! But I can!"
"I can swim!" Larchkit objected, giving her fur a few embarrassed licks. "It was just that one time that my leg hurt. I would prove it to you, but I can't. We have no ponds in camp."
Stonekit shrugged, a glint of mischievousness glowing in his eyes. "So? Let's sneak out. I know there's a river close to camp. Prove it, if you're so great. Let's go swimming."
Rosethorn shuddered at the memory. They did sneak out, like most kits do, but only Rosekit came back. Stonekit and Larchkit both drowned due to Rosethorn's dare. Ever since then water terrified her.
But Rosethorn wasn't terrified now. She needed to continue her plan. Dappleleaf couldn't see her, fine, so it was some mind game that that strange loner Ginger taught her. She could still do it, and she could still hurt Dappleleaf in the process.
That's right. Get it together, Rosethorn. You are better than them. You can beat them. She shut her eyes and started back, her hopes growing with each paw step closer to camp. "I just need to try harder..."
Dappleleaf wasn't her target. No, Rosethorn preyed on a weaker cat, an unsuspecting cat. She would need to apologize to him, maybe give him the consolation that he wasn't her first pick.
Ashfall was in Goldenspot's den. He didn't appear injured, and he seemed concerned. "So it's possible?" he spoke. "That she saw Rosethorn? I just thought it was stress and everything. She still mourns Creamstep, you know?"
Goldenspot shrugged, shaking her head. "I've heard tales of the dead actually appearing to the living. I thought maybe it was kit tales, but if Dappleleaf says she sees Rosethorn then she might be telling the truth."
Rosethorn went rigid. Since when did Ashfall believe his babbling mate? She felt a rush of fear run through her. "You can do it!" she encouraged herself, shutting her eyes.
She focused hard...really hard. She wanted so badly to become visible to Ashfall. The want was what would break into his mind.
Strength drained from Rosethorn, making her legs go weak, and yet Ashfall seemed oblivious to her efforts. "No!" she let out a hiss, shuddering. She had failed. She was a failure. "This cannot be happening!"
Rosethorn whirled around and ducked out of the medicine cat's den, furious. "It's not fair! Why me? I didn't deserve to die! I deserved Ashfall as my mate. Dappleleaf could have any tom she wanted, and yet she chose mine? The thief!"
Rosethorn stormed to the edge of camp, worry picking at her gut. She was so captured in her thoughts of pity, however, that she missed the small commotion that was seizing SunClan.
"Right there!" A tiny apprentice cried out, staring in her direction furiously. "A rogue...a loner! Why aren't you doing anything?" She glanced up at her mentor, curious. "Why is she here?"
"No cat is there!" the warrior snapped, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Mistypaw, you might want to check in with Goldenspot. You clearly didn't get enough sleep last night or you are sick."
Mistypaw let out a hiss of annoyance, her gaze fixating on Rosethorn. "I know what I see," she muttered, turning around and padding to the freshkill pile, her tail lashing.
Rosethorn perked up. What? Is she talking about me? Hope surged in Rosethorn. She leapt to her paws and darted to Mistypaw's side. The apprentice flinched the closer Rosethorn neared, but remained silent.
"You are not seeing things," Rosethorn blurted out. "Well, yes you are. You are the only cat who can see me...you're special." She could work with this mess, she could still have a plan. "I'm Rosethorn...from StarClan."
"Rosethorn?" Mistypaw whispered in disbelief. "I heard stories about you. Weren't you the cat who started a war? Murdered?" The apprentice sniffed. "You got what you deserved when Dappleleaf killed you herself."
Rosethorn flinched at the stinging words. Okay, so she's educated. "First off, that mangey she-cat didn't kill me. Her poor excuse for a sister did. Secondly, I've done some things that I am not proud of, but I've changed. I really have."
"I don't want to hear it," Mistypaw snapped, ears flattening. "Do me a favor and leave me alone, okay? I don't need a murderer following me around." She whirled around and started for the apprentice's den, tail flicking with irritation.
"Great. Just my luck," Rosethorn muttered, annoyed. "Well, this is all you have, Rosethorn, and you had better find a way to work with it." She rolled her eyes as she started talking to herself. It was a habit that she had picked up on ever since Dappleleaf had disappeared a few sunrises ago.
Rosethorn got up and started for the entrance. Perhaps her time was better spent trying to get some other cat to see her. Mistypaw seemed stubborn and persistent, and there seemed to be no way she was letting Rosethorn anywhere near her. Unless I prove that I have changed. I'd need a StarClan sent signal to prove that, and I doubt they're doing me any favors.
Ideas passed straight through Rosethorn. Wandering the forest wasn't helping either, unlike it had done in her apprentice days. She was at a loss. Her mind used to whip up schemes and make them happen, but now each idea seemed too farfetched and impossible.
Rosethorn may have been sent to the Dark Forest, but StarClan was on her side at that moment. The shrill yowls for help that pierced the quiet forest only made Rosethorn brighten. This was an opportunity, a chance!
Rosethorn collected herself, containing the excitement that rushed through her. Another yowl rang around the forest. Rosethorn listened to the echo, glancing around and trying to figure out the source. "Come on, get it together," she urged herself, worried.
It wasn't the screams that gave away the attacked cat's location, but the scent of fox. Rosethorn whirled around and started toward it, her heart racing as though it was an actual fight.
"Help! Help me, I can't see!"
Rosethorn burst into a clearing, glancing around. A grey apprentice was curled up at the edge, blood matting her fur, especially on her face. The fox stood tail lengths away from her, snarling.
Rosethorn hesitated, debating on her next move. As she was about to go for the fox, a patrol of cats darted through the bushes, their fur standing up. "Get Riverpaw out of here!" Sagewhisker ordered, her ears flattening.
"R-Riverpaw!" Mistypaw, who stood by the deputy, cried out. She bolted to the wounded apprentice's side, concerned. "Come on. We have to get you back to camp, now!"
Rosethorn didn't wait any longer. She needed to move quick. The white she-cat threw herself at the ginger creature, raking her claws along its stomach. "Go, Mistypaw!" she called out, averting the apprentice's attention to herself. "Get out of here!"
Rosethorn heard the muffled pawsteps as Riverpaw and Mistypaw staggered away from the battle. Rosethorn released her grip on the fox, jumping back. She stepped back, priding herself in her accomplishment. Surely saving Riverpaw, or pretending to, would gain Mistypaw's trust.
"Stop, leave me be!" Mistypaw hissed, shaking her head. "Why me, okay? Why haunt me?"
"I just want to help you," Rosethorn attempted to explain, lost for words. "I saved your sister, didn't I?" She met Mistypaw's glowing eyes, searching for any sign of sympathy.
Mistypaw snorted, rolling her eyes. "So what? I don't care, and the clan could've handled it perfectly. You are a monster."
"I have changed!"
"You haven't proved it!" Mistypaw retorted quietly, the amount of annoyance slowly building up in her voice. The she-cat turned away.
"You need to give me a chance to prove it, alright?" Rosethorn pleaded, desperation picking at her. "Give me a chance?"
Okay? So I am eager to hear your thoughts! Write a review and let me know! I'm hoping for 63 for a new chapter!
Next chapter: Suspicions about Sparrow begin to rise, throwing Rainstorm into the middle of the controversy. She tries her best to defend him, leading her to follow a trail in an attempt to find proof of his innocence.
Question: What type of cat do you think Rosethorn COULD'VE been if her siblings hadn't drowned? Let me know!