I think I'm better at emotional scenes, then scenes with suspence and fear. Sorry about that. FORGIVE THIS CHAPTER! -cough- Especially the ending, which was needed, because...well, it foreshadows things.
Mapleleaf- I went as fast as I could! LONG REVIEWS! PLEASE! -begs- Remember who the WindClan deputy is!
Steeltalon- Silverpaw's motive is twisted. You'll see.
Frost-Fire15Boldheart's Loyalty- His mother? I think that I mentioned that Silverpaw's mother was Tawnyleaf. We actually get to know her later, when RiverClan starts playing a big part... she's one of those characters that some people will love, and some will hate.
Oceanwind- I took your advice!
Cinderpelt's Heiress- Thank you very much!
Pearl.H.Sweden- Wow! Someone who actually likes Streamstar! YAY! (You'll hate her by the time this is over though. I guarentee you.)
Stangefur- There will be a couple of typos here too. Trust me, I looked over it, but...well, it's a long story. And I like Silverpaw too! He's my favorite character! YAY! Once again, he might get his own fanfiction. He'd have to share the spotlight with BlackshadowxApplefur's son, Blazekit...but that's okay, (YES! A SEQUEL OF THIS SERIES MIGHT BECOME SOMETHING, PEEPS! Maybe. Depends on my mood)
Daklotles85- First off, Baykit isn't mentioned in this chapter. But TIBERKIT IS! YAY TIBERKIT! Anyways, you asked me earlier (way back) how old Silverpaw is, and I've been dying to answer, but I keep forgetting! Silverpaw is Twilightfur's age... (A young warrior) He's probably a few moons or seasons younger then Thorntail...but they are close in age.
Dragon-Star - And bingo was his name-O!
Thanks for reviewing everyone! I'll explain some of the motivations at the end of this chapter, since I'm not skilled enough of a writer to point it out in the story... -sniff-
Rosethorn felt her heart pound in her chest. It was pounding so loud, she thought that perhaps the feminine-looking tom a few tail-lengths from her would be able to hear it. But if he could pick up the sound of her heart's distress, there was no sign of it in his leaf-green eyes.
Rosethorn once again looked behind her at the river. If she jumped in, was there any chance of her survival? The water was pounding against some rather large rocks, and was flowing fast. She was pretty sure that she'd meet StarClan if she followed through with Silverpaw's suggestion of jumping. But…
She flashed her gaze back at Thorntail's apprentice. She almost let out a squeak of fear, but somehow was able to hold it in. She hadn't noticed how long and sharp Silverpaw's talons were. They caught the light of the sun above them, and glittered… She could just imagine them covered with blood. Her blood.
"You're not sure what to do?" Silverpaw asked, and Rosethorn jolted her gaze from his claws, and stared at his face. She let out a hiss of surprise. She had expected for Silverpaw…to show some anger, or hatred. Don't you usually kill cats when you dislike them – or are furious at them? Not that Rosethorn would know…but it seemed from all the legends and such that those two emotions were what usually motivated murder. But Silverpaw… He didn't have either of those two feelings anywhere on his face. He didn't hate her… He wasn't angry… In fact, he just looked rather friendly. And his tone was as if he was soothing her after some traumatic incident. Like almost being murdered, or something. Ironic.
Silverpaw rolled his eyes when Rosethorn didn't answer his question. "If you jump in the river, you'll die instantly. However, if you force me," he emphasized the word 'force' as if Rosethorn was threatening to rip his limbs off if he didn't kill her… "to slash your throat, you'll probably suffer for awhile. I'm doing you a favor. How do you wish to join this StarClan of yours?"
Rosethorn felt a shiver. There was nothing cold or malicious in Silverpaw's tone. Why… Why then was he killing her, if he didn't seem to dislike her? She didn't bother to ask. Instead, she growled, "Don't you know the penalty for killing a Clanmate?" her voice wavered like a leaf in the water, as she felt pure terror give energy to every hair on her pelt.
Silverpaw stared blankly at her for a moment, and then let out an exasperated sigh. "Why don't you understand?" he asked. "I don't want to kill you. I want you to jump into the river all by yourself." Silverpaw started to pad towards her, and Rosethorn stumbled backwards to stay as far away from him as physically possible… when she felt one of her back paws slip into the large dip – that if she fell in, would eventually take her to the river. She quickly got her four paws back on the earth once more, and Silverpaw continued. "You know how I already killed Goldclaw? Well, I think a second murder would look bad." As if one didn't look bad enough! Rosethorn wanted to yowl that out to him, but held her tongue. This was no time to argue with him! It might just make him make his decision quicker. "I got blood all over me…" Silverpaw spat crossly. "It was no fun at all. Besides, I'm pretty sure that Thorntail got those two annoying deputies on the lookout for me- Ravenfeather and Sandpelt." The ShadowClan and ThunderClan deputies. Rosethorn was suddenly grateful for Thorntail's eternal suspicion of the silver tom. However, at the moment it didn't seem to be doing her much good. Fear was pulsating through her veins. Silverpaw actually wanted her dead…there was no doubt…
"The only cat in the forest, who really understands me…" Silverpaw meowed, "Is Thorntail." Rosethorn looked sharply at him. She wanted to yowl to him that Thorntail was different from her wanna-be killer (who might not be such a wanna-be soon). Thorntail was warm, and kind! He had his moments…but that was only because…well… She didn't need to think about why! He was a loyal, strong, ThunderClan warrior who gave all the cats around him a feeling of safety (unless his claws were aimed at you!) Silverpaw on the otherpaw… Well, he wanted to kill Rosethorn. It wasn't exactly a feeling of safety.
"And you," Silverpaw continued, narrowing his eyes as he took another few pawsteps towards her, "You infected him with your worthless views." Rosethorn noticed for the first time, that Silverpaw seemed to be annoyed with her. It was hard to tell, however, since the tom wasn't yowling out his words. In fact, his mews were almost without emotion. "That's unforgivable." Silverpaw meowed – letting some cheerfulness slip in finally. "Only if you disappear from this forest, will Thorntail find his old self. His true self." Silverpaw emphasized. Silverpaw cocked his head to the side, and looked thoughtful. "Just like he was four seasons ago, when Graywhisker died." Rosethorn felt her eyes widen. For an instant, she forgot about her fear, and was filled with wonder. How did Silverpaw know about Graywhisker? Most of ThunderClan didn't even know… the only cats in the forest who knew the full story were Rosethorn, Thorntail himself – and possibly a few RiverClan cats. Silverpaw didn't fit into any of those categories!
She noticed his claws again, and forgot her wonder – and her terror returned, and took its rightful place of making sure that she focused on Silverpaw, and got ready to fight for her life.
"That's the real Thorntail." Silverpaw meowed, and Rosethorn found herself shaking her head in disagreement. The real Thorntail was not what Silverpaw thought he was! The real Thorntail was the one that hid in her den to make sure she was alright, the one that rescued her from creepy WindClan leaders that comforted her about her mother, that defended her from Applefur's jealous wrath – because he had promised that he would protect her…even if the whole forest slandered her name! The fake Thorntail – a pitiful substitute- was the one that threatened to claw Rabbitfur's eyes or ears off, who had bitten Silverpaw's tail-tip off…the one that had purred with Silverpaw at the thought of murder! That was the fake one! Silverpaw was wrong! Wrong!
…
Thorntail's legs thumped against the earth – and he was well aware of how loud he was being. But right now, he wasn't worrying about silence – he needed to go fast! He had said something to Silverpaw yesterday that his apprentice probably hadn't enjoyed…and if Silverpaw had even bothered to ask a RiverClan warrior like Owlpelt if they had seen Rosethorn…then…then…well…
The image of Rosethorn's broken body laying in SunningRocks flashed in his mind.
Even if Silverpaw was an easy opponent for Thorntail, Rosethorn had never received any Warriors training. At all. She had spent all her apprenticeship trying to learn how to be a medicine cat without a mentor. Heck, she could barely hunt! Silverpaw, on the other paw, had received some Warriors Training, both from the late Goldclaw…and probably just on sheer practice too…
Thorntail shook his head. He was probably just worrying too much… Would Silverpaw really be crazy enough to kill the medicine cat on her own territory?
He slowed down a tad, and let out a soft chuckle. No cat would be that out of their mind…
Then he remembered how Silverpaw had murdered his own mentor, in ShadowClan territory – and hadn't even tried to hide it.
Thorntail broke into a run once more.
…
Silverpaw's muzzle was hardly a mouse-length from Rosethorn's, as she spoke. Her voice wavered slightly, especially as she noticed how he was flexing his claws, but somehow she was able to choke the words out. "Even if I die," she growled, "Thorntail won't change!" If only she believed her own words! After Graywhisker, Thorntail had lost his mind – but he been able to get some sanity back after awhile. But how would he cope from losing Rosethorn as well? Then it hit her. Thorntail wouldn't ever become like that again. He had two loyal friends back in ThunderClan – Applefur and Blackshadow – who would comfort him, and make sure he stayed sane. What's more, he was stronger now… "No matter what happens," she meowed, and she noticed that her voice had stopped shaking – even as Silverpaw's leaf-green eyes burned into her sky-blue, "Thorntail won't ever become the cat you want him to."
Silverpaw let out a purr of amusement, and raised a claw. "Really?" he asked. "How interesting. Then let's see if your Thorntail, or my Thorntail, is the real Thorntail." At that, Silverpaw backed away a few paw-steps, and Rosethorn felt a flicker of hope. Would Silverpaw wait for awhile, to see Thorntail's true colors? She took a few tentative steps away from the edge of the drop to the river.
Instantly, once she was in range, she felt Silverpaw launch himself at her. She let out a yowl of fear, and she vainly tried to struggle away from him. She was overjoyed, when she miraculously was able to push him off of her. He tumbled a few fox-lengths away, and she leapt to her paws. In a mad dash, she started to rush off. But she hadn't gotten even four tail-lengths away, before she noticed that at some point, Silverpaw had gotten up – and had run ahead of her. He was now blocking her path, and before she could register that she should probably veer into a different direction, he padded towards her, and swiped one of his claws out in front of her – and Rosethorn, trying to avoid being slashed, fell onto her side.
Silverpaw loomed over her, his eyes blinking with confusion. "You still won't jump into the river?" he asked curiously, and for a fleeting moment, Rosethorn felt that that would be a welcome possibility. It didn't seem that she would be getting away any time soon… But…
She shook the thought away. She wouldn't give up. She wasn't a coward, who couldn't face life – she wasn't Graywhisker!
At her silence, Silverpaw nodded. "Look like I'll have to help you."
Before Rosethorn could react, Silverpaw flicked his head out, and dug his fangs into her neck. She felt the sharp points of them dig into her, and she let out a yowl of pain. Never before had a cat ever fought her like this – or tried to kill her. She was a medicine cat, so whenever their camp was raided, the enemy warriors usually tried to bat her out of the way…
She felt the energy begin to leave her body, as well as her blood. Her vision faded – Silverpaw was now just an ominous blur in front of her.
She flicked her gaze about, to take in all of the blurs around her. Her instinct's voice was now hardly more than a squeak, but it was still loud enough for her to hear its advice on finding some way to get out of this bad situation…
Then she saw it. Silverpaw was concentrating so far and killing her by digging his fangs into her throat that he hadn't even given a second though of where his paws were. One of them was very close to her muzzle. She wrapped her jaws around it, and dug her fangs into her attacker's leg, just as Silverpaw was burying his fangs into her throat. At her hard bite, he let out a yowl of pain. It took Rosethorn a heartbeat to realize that he had let go of her throat.
She stumbled to her paws, but fell to her side again. Silverpaw had taken a lot of blood… Her limbs were in no mood to listen to her.
She stared up at Silverpaw, who was now furiously licking his blood off of his front leg. When he was done with that, he turned his attention to her, and Rosethorn let out a small squeak. His whole muzzle was covered in blood! She knew that she hadn't been able to draw much blood from his leg…Then she realized that the scarlet on his muzzle…belonged to her! She exhaustedly looked around, and noticed that she was practically lying in a pool of her own blood. If Silverpaw wanted to, he could just leave her – and she'd die on her own from blood loss, eventually.
Silverpaw trotted over to her, and gave her a quick lick on the ear – and she shivered, as she realized how affectionate the lick was. She blinked, as she remembered Silverpaw's crush on her. Great StarClan! Did he still have those feelings? If so, this was no way to woo a she-cat! Killing her never worked!
She didn't get to think of that sickening possibility long, because Silverpaw spoke again. "Looks like you really don't want to die." For some reason, his voice was shocked. "Haven't all those tragedies been enough?" At his words, Rosethorn looked up, startled at him. How did he know…? "I know all about your past, Rosethorn." He meowed, rubbing his muzzle against her bleeding neck. He lowered himself, and stared at her square in the eye. "You can find out anything, if you try hard enough. Speaking of…" he looked around curiously, and lowered his voice. "Does Thorntail know yet?" he blinked. "Would Thorntail still pretend to love you, if he knew?"
Rosethorn would've gasped if she had the strength. Suddenly, her mind flashed over the moons past, and she remembered the flame-colored pelt…the emerald eyes burning into her own…as…as…
Silverpaw continued, "I'd thought that if you committed suicide, nobody would really think to hard as of why. Even your mother wouldn't be able to blame you after going through something like that." He shrugged. "It's a shame. It seems that I've changed my mind." He licked some of her blood off of his muzzle. "Now I want to kill you myself." He laid his tail on her side. "This way, it's more painful…But I'll try to make it short," he promised in a slightly-soothing voice. "I'll kill you like I did Goldclaw." Rosethorn wanted to yowl at her limbs to get up and run, but they refused to listen. They felt as heavy as the Great Oaks in Fourtrees. Silverpaw lifted one of his forepaws into the air, to finish her with a quick slash of his claw.
Rosethorn closed her eyes, waiting for the agony of what was sure to come.
It didn't come. She heard some startled mews of pain, and for a fleeting heartbeat, she thought that it was her in her dying moments…and maybe…maybe…it was time for her to join StarClan.
She slowly opened her eyes, half-expecting to see her father, Crimsonspirit, welcoming her as a warrior of Silverpaw, where she'd never feel pain, or fear again…
Her eyes widened, as she realized what was going on.
Silverpaw was floating in the air!
Wait, no.
Thorntail had come to her rescue! Her beloved Thorntail had come!
The gray warrior had his jaws wrapped firmly around Silverpaw's neck, and he was shaking his apprentice violently. Finally, growing bored of this game; he spit Silverpaw out, and started attacking Silverpaw's side in a crescendo of ferocious swipes.
Rosethorn watched for a moment. She felt odd. She knew she should be happy to see Silverpaw get what was coming to him – a death at Thorntail's claws – but…for some reason…She was even more terrified now, than she was when Silverpaw was trying to kill her. Why? Well, she knew why.
"Thorntail…" she meowed weakly, but the gray tom didn't seem to notice. He went on with his attack on the former ShadowClan cat.
"Thorntail…" she growled, somehow finding some strength in her to speak a little louder.
She couldn't see what was going on from her bleeding state on her side, but she could see that Thorntail's claws were already covered in blood. Silverpaw was lying on the ground, unmoving, and she wondered if Thorntail had killed him. But as the warrior slashed again at his apprentice – sending more scarlet flecks into the air – Silverpaw let out a squeak of pain. He wasn't dead.
"Thorntail!" she yowled and Thorntail looked curiously over at her. However, once he realized that she wasn't being harmed by another attacker, he went on with tossing Silverpaw around – like a kit would toss a ball of moss.
As Silverpaw tumbled to the ground once more, Rosethorn could just hear his purr of amusement. Why was he… purring?
"Look at the avenging warrior of StarClan!" Silverpaw meowed cheerfully – which was odd, since from even Rosethorn's position, she could see that he was covered with crimson blood. "You disgust me." The words were directed at Thorntail, who let out a snarl.
"I don't live for your enjoyment." He growled, his tail flicking dismissively. "Die, Silverpaw!" He raised a claw into the air, and Rosethorn let out a yowl of alarm. She leapt to her paws, and pounded towards Thorntail. For a moment, she wondered why she couldn't run before, when Silverpaw was trying to kill her…but her limbs were happy to listen to her now that she was out of harm's way. Then she realized. She wasn't running for herself anymore. She was running for Thorntail. If he killed his apprentice…
She threw herself on top of Silverpaw's bleeding body, and she stared up at Thorntail, her nostrils flaring.
He looked at her like she was crazy. "Get off, Rosethorn." He meowed, gently laying his tail on her shoulder. "This cat tried to kill you. He's just going to do it again. He needs to die." Rosethorn felt a shiver crawl down her spine, as she noticed the contrast between Silverpaw and Thorntail. Silverpaw had shown no hatred or maliciousness when he went to kill her – as creepy as that was. But Thorntail…his eyes seemed filled to the brim with pure loathing.
"No!" she yowled, and she looked down at the bleeding cat she had thrown herself on top of. Silverpaw seemed a little miffed at her himself, and she wondered if he had hoped to die by Thorntail's claw. She shook the thought away, and looked back up at Thorntail. "You can't kill him. You'll regret it eventually." She knew he would. Maybe not today – or even in the next few seasons. But eventually, he would start feeling a pang of guilt that he had killed his apprentice – when he could have avoided doing so. The Warrior Code said that you should only kill if there was no way around it… And there were numerous ways to get around Silverpaw right now. "Please, Thorntail." She pleaded. "Don't do this."
"Get off of Silverpaw, Rosethorn." Thorntail growled.
"Only if you promise that you won't kill him." She shook her head. "I don't want to see you go through what you did with Graywhisker! I don't, Thorntail."
The gray warrior looked like he wanted nothing more than to strangle Silverpaw with his own lungs, but he let out a sigh. "I promise, Rosethorn."
Trusting her mate, Rosethorn attempted to roll off of Silverpaw. She failed, miserably. Thorntail grabbed the scruff of his neck, and – Rosethorn wasn't alert enough to realize how – somehow got her onto his back.
He gently licked her ear, before he turned his attention back to Silverpaw, who was staring up at the two cats very calmly.
"If you ever do anything like this to Rosethorn again," Thorntail vowed – gently rubbing Rosethorn with his tail as he spoke, "I swear by StarClan that I'll kill you." Silverpaw started to purr, but Thorntail ignored it and went on. "No matter where you go. No matter where you hide. No matter what you do. Even if StarClan themselves beg me not to. I will kill you."
Seeming to think that that ended the matter, he slowly started to pad off, with his mate safely on his back, but Silverpaw stopped him with a soft mew.
"Thorntail, I think I've figured out the reason that you hate me." Silverpaw let out a purr. "Because when you run from me, it's like running from yourself!" Silverpaw paused for a moment, and then yowled, "Closeness breeds hatred!" it was directed at both Thorntail and Rosethorn, but neither cat answered.
Thorntail, with his mate, padded through the ferns, and left the crazed cat.
…
Rosethorn let her legs dangle from Thorntail's side, as he carried her back to camp. Now that it was all said and done, she couldn't get Silverpaw's words out of her mind. How had he known about… well… It. There were only three cats in the forest that knew. Streamstar, Rosethorn herself…and…and…the other one. How had Silverpaw learned about that dark splotch on her life?
She couldn't think of the possibilities long, however, because Thorntail started to give her some brisk advice.
"Whatever you do, stay away from him." Thanks for the tip. As if Rosethorn didn't know that already…however…something tugged at her paws. She knew that she had to speak to Silverpaw now… She shook her head. No reason to worry Thorntail about that. "And don't leave camp alone." Thorntail meowed, flashed a glance onto his back, and at her. "When we get back to camp, I'm going to speak to Sandpelt right away. No matter what, I'm not dropping this issue with Silverpaw…" Thorntail stopped in his tracks, and looked down at his paws. Rosethorn felt that he was shivering from her position on his back. "That piece of fox-dung's really insane." Thorntail's voice was scarcely over a whisper. "He was going to kill you for absolutely no reason other than to satisfy his own desires. He was going to…" he trailed off, and was silent for a moment, before he spoke again. "And me. To think that I was really going to kill him…"
"That's different." Rosethorn spoke for the first time since her small explanation on why Thorntail shouldn't kill Silverpaw. "You were trying to protect me."
"No." Thorntail's mew was sharp. He flashed a glance back at her, and held her blue gaze with his own. "You don't understand what I was really thinking." He shook his head gently. "By the end it was just because I wanted to kill him. It sounded like fun… I hated him and couldn't stand it!" he touched her with his tail. "If you weren't with me, Rosethorn…if I didn't need to take you back to camp… I'd probably go back there, and claw off every mound of flesh on his body. I'd slash him until there wasn't a drop of blood left in his veins!" his voice started to shake. "Have I gone crazy?" he asked to no one in particular, and Rosethorn didn't know how to answer that one. "Am I…am I really like Silverpaw?"
Not knowing what else to do, Rosethorn gently lifted her head to lick his ears.
…
Rosethorn blinked open her eyes, and looked around curiously. She must've passed out on the way to camp at some point, because she couldn't remember Thorntail ever putting her into the mossy nest… which was where she was, with Ebonypaw looming over her, a worried look in the black cat's green eyes.
"You're awake!" Ebonypaw meowed, relieved, as she pressed her muzzle against Rosethorn's side, which was covered with cobwebs. "Oh, are you okay, Rosethorn?"
Rosethorn thought for a moment. "I ache a little, but…" she looked at herself curiously. The bleeding had stopped – it seemed to be because of the cobwebs. "And I feel a little weak, but other then that, I feel alright. You did an excellent job, Ebonypaw." She meowed referring to how skillfully the cobwebs were wrapped around her wounds.
Ebonypaw dipped her head, accepting the praise. "What happened, Rosethorn?" she meowed. "Thorntail told me that you were attacked, but he didn't tell me!" she pouted. "He went to speak to Sandpelt as soon as he saw that you were going to be taken care of…"
Rosethorn blinked, wondering for a moment what had happened. Then she remembered. She decided not to tell Ebonypaw yet, however. "I'm sure Sandpelt will tell you soon enough." She sighed, and Ebonypaw let out a soft hiss of fury.
The black apprentice opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could, she was practically knocked over by one of Sandpelt's kittens. Rosethorn recognized him instantly – it was the tom-kit. The golden-brown tabby tom, Tiberkit. He was now crawling around on Ebonypaw's shoulder, before he noticed Rosethorn.
"Oh! She's awake! Hiya, Rosethorn!" he leapt off of Ebonypaw, and toddled towards her and Rosethorn let out a purr. "Ebonypaw's watchin' me and Robinkit while my Mommy talks to Thorntail!"
Rosethorn nodded blankly at the tiny tom, and wondered for a moment where Robinkit was. Then she noticed the pretty black-and-ginger kit peeking out from behind Ebonypaw.
"Is…is…is Rosethorn contagious?" the kit asked the medicine cat apprentice curiously, and Ebonypaw purred good naturedly.
"Very. If you get to close to her, you might get Leader's Disease."
Rosethorn sustained a purr, and Tiberkit turned his gaze up the night-colored she-cat. "What's Leader's disease?" he asked, and Ebonypaw licked her lips, clearly enjoying the thought of filling the kit's minds with nonsense.
"If you get to close, StarClan will force you to become leader of a Clan one day!"
Tiberkit gasped with joy, and rushed towards Rosethorn. He placed a small paw on her side, and Rosethorn gently licked him between the ears.
He let out a joyous purr, and turned to his sister. "Call my Tiberstar!" he declared. "I'm going to be leader of ThunderClan!" he swiped his claws into the air. "I dare any cat to oppose my rank!"
"Robinkit opposes your rank!" Ebonypaw meowed, using her tail to usher the small kitten out from behind her. Robinkit squeaked with alarm, and instantly went back to hiding. Ebonypaw let out an exasperated sigh. "Don't you want to be leader, Robinkit?"
"No!" The kitten cried. "I just want to be a queen, and have kits! Is that so much to ask?"
"No! Be a queen! Give ThunderClan many warriors!" Tiberkit started to pace around Rosethorn. "Meanwhile, I'll protect the medicine cat!"
"Yes, yes." Ebonypaw purred. "Now, Tiberstar, could you take that nursing queen there," she flicked her tail towards Robinkit, "And go find the rest of your Clan? I'd like to speak to Rosethorn alone for a few moments." By the rest of Tiberkit's Clan, Rosethorn knew that Ebonypaw was referring to the rest of the kits. Tiberkit nodded in agreement, and called for his sister. Then the two kits rushed out, and darted towards the nursery – where Rosethorn could just see Dusktail greet them.
"How long have I been out?" Rosethorn asked her apprentice, and Ebonypaw shrugged.
"Not long." She purred.
Rosethorn sighed heavily. "How is Streamstar? And the other cats?"
Ebonypaw sighed heavily, and looked at her paws. "Streamstar isn't much better…and…well…I'm not sure if Petalkit will be with us much longer." Rosethorn closed her eyes, pained. Poor Petalkit! Applefur would be heartbroken!
"What about Flowertail and Onepaw?"
Ebonypaw didn't answer for a moment. "Onepaw died." She rasped. "And Flowertail…she's on the border between ThunderClan and StarClan. Blackshadow's with her now." Blackshadow was Flowertail's oldest son. But…Rosethorn flicked her gaze about. She couldn't see any of them…or scent them.
Ebonypaw seemed to sense Rosethorn's curiosity, because she explained. "We're in Spottedlight's old den." She meowed. "I didn't want you to catch Greencough."
"Good thinking." Rosethorn muttered, and realized that she must be even more out of it then she had thought, because she hadn't even noticed that she wasn't in the medicine cat's den. Suddenly, she remembered something she had to do. "Ebonypaw," she meowed softly, "Has Silverpaw returned to the camp yet?"
Ebonypaw nodded blankly. "Yeah. He was injured pretty badly…was he with you when you were attacked?" Oh, if only Ebonypaw knew!
"Something like that." Rosethorn mewed softly. "I'd like to speak to him, alone." she stared into Ebonypaw's emerald eyes. "Could you fetch him for me?"
…
As Silverpaw slipped into the den, Rosethorn felt her heart lurch. Okay, she admitted it. She was completely out of her mind for actually asking Ebonypaw to fetch him… But… she had to settle this. This was something she had to do, before Silverpaw was forced to leave the Clan.
Silverpaw settled himself down beside her, and gave his chest a few licks. "When I heard you wanted me, you gave my quite a scare, Rosethorn." He stopped his wash, and lowered himself so he could stare into Rosethorn's ice-blue eyes. "Aren't you afraid of me after what happened?"
His emotionless leaf-green eyes sent shivers down Rosethorn's spine. "Of course I'm afraid." She meowed, and she was pleased to see that though her voice was soft, it didn't waver. She didn't flinch from his gaze, as she went on. "But I'm envious of you too."
Silverpaw's whiskers twitched.
Rosethorn looked at her paws. "To be able to do what you desire…I guess I wish I could do that too." She unsheathed her claws, and thought of all the times she had longed to dig them into an enemy's flesh – but had stopped herself. "If everyone you hated went to join StarClan…" she found herself purring at the thought, "I guess that would be very satisfying." Silverpaw chuckled, and Rosethorn flicked her ears. It was rather pointless to hide anything from him – he did, after all, know the part of her past that she had kept hiding from every cat. Even from Thorntail. He most likely knew what she was referencing…and he probably knew who she wished she could have sent to StarClan.
"But…to have to kill to get this satisfaction…" Rosethorn shrugged. "I guess I wouldn't mind." She let out a purr, and stared Silverpaw square in the eye. "I mean, if I was crazy."
Silverpaw let out a ferocious hiss, and Rosethorn felt fear jolt through her. But she was in her own Camp. If he tried anything… a yowl would be all it would take. Just a yowl.
"You're right." She conceded. "I'm just a normal medicine cat of ThunderClan. I'm not insane." She narrowed her eyes, and decided it was time to dig this into Silverpaw's mind. "You think you're living a life where you're free to do anything. But in reality, you've lost yourself. You've forgotten who you are. Forgotten your dreams." She sighed. "You're doing nothing but existing – you have no real purpose." She gave her chest a few self-conscious licks. "When I spoke to Thorntail, I told him that a lot of colors come to mind when I think of him. Warm colors. Protective colors…and some colors that I can't even name." she thought for a moment of a title for the color, but couldn't think of one. "It's very hard to name all the colors that make up his personality. It would take me moons to name them all." She stared triumphant at Silverpaw. "But it would be easy to name yours. It's simple, Silverpaw. The only color that I can sense from you is black. Nothing." She pressed.
"You're nothing like Thorntail." She curled her upper lip into a snarl. "You can't change anyone." Her voice was firm, and though terror was burning through every limb in her body, she wanted to dare Silverpaw to argue with her.
But he didn't. He just stared at her for a few heartbeats, before he padded out of the den.
Yes. Bad ending. Now, I didn't go into Rosethorn's head much in the last bit...why? Because that would give out MAJOR spoilers. I think within the next two chapters we'll get the whole story on her past...but I could be wrong.
Anyways, I wanted to give her some backbone - and get a final dig at Silverpaw, before I kick him out of my story. For now...
Yes, I didn't kill Silverpaw. But that's because he is that DA DA DA DA main antgonist! He disappears for a little while, but he comes back, and you'll all curse at the heavens! Hopefully. When you get a villain that most people hate, you keep him around. That way, I think you guys will root for Thorntail and Rosethorn more - yes? But don't worry. He'll be gone for a little while.
Anyways...if you review this chapter, you'll get a Tiberkit plushie! YAY TIBERKIT! The son of Sandpelt, and Swiftfoot! YAY!