Chapter Twenty

She marched on through the snow as her kits dangled helplessly in her jaws. The cool leafbare air didn't help things as Rosescar carefully made her way towards DarkClan territory. She knew that she wouldn't be welcomed there. But she had already found a place where she could thrive along with her kits, just beyond DarkClan camp. It would also be the perfect place to spy on the Clan when she wasn't looking after them.

I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you, she thought bitterly. And I broke that promise.

Her heart was torn once again when she pictured Swallowkit's tiny body laying in the nursery. She couldn't do anything to save her own daughter. She wouldn't let her other kits meet that same cruel fate.

"What do we have here?" Rosescar stopped at the sound of a tom's voice. "I'm sure that I haven't seen you around these parts yet." A dark brown tabby tom stepped out from around the bushes, amber eyes glowing with malice as he watched her. "What an ugly looking she-cat you are," he spat after recoiling when he looked at her scars. "How can something like you have kits? Surely you stole them from one of the Clans."

Fury surged through Rosescar. She wasted no time in gently putting her kits down before lunging at the tom. Her claws unsheathed as she swiped them across his muzzle, startling the tabby. He tried fighting back, but Rosescar moved easily to the side before nipping at his paws. The tabby yowled in surprise when she suddenly pinned him to the ground, bearing her teeth at him.

"They are my kits," she snapped. "And I will not let you taunt them for being so." The tabby barely had a chance to react when she swatted her claws across his forehead with such force that he was rendered unconscious. Rosescar rolled her eyes as his body fell to the ground. "Useless rogue," she muttered crossly.

She quickly gathered her kits before finding a place where they could call 'home'. For the longest time she had been wandering through this forest. Now she had no Clan to back her up if she got into any trouble with DarkClan. But at least her remaining kits would be safe.

Finally she found a hollowed out tree that was just outside DarkClan's camp. Rosescar's ears pricked forward as she carried each kit into the hollow, ignoring any signs of danger. Luckily it had been unused for many moons, much to her relief. She saw what looked like a dried up, dusty nest lined in the center of the hollow. Rosescar narrowed her eyes at the sight. What sort of creature would want to live near these cats?

She shook her head at the thought before picking up Echokit. The little kit let out a wail of surprise as she was placed beside her brother, Thornkit. Rosescar held back a sigh of frustration before gently lapping Echokit between the ears. Fortunately that seemed to calm her down.

Rosescar closed her eyes as wariness settled over her. She had lost too much over the past few moons. Nothing would ever bring back Swallowkit or Thorntail. But she did promise that she would do anything to protect these kits, even at the cost of her own life.

"You are wandering down a dangerous path." Rosescar looked up in surprise when she found herself in a different forest. Her heart nearly skipped a beat as she saw Silverleaf staring back at her. Silverleaf's eyes were dark with worry as she studied Rosescar up and down. "The path you seek will only become that much more treacherous," Silverleaf warned her. "I am here to warn you that if you do not change your ways, there will be no place for you here."

Rosescar only glared back at her, all hostility towards her mother suddenly returning. This was all her fault! She wouldn't be in this position if Silverleaf had lived. Maybe Raintail would actually love her... maybe the Clan would actually have treated her fairly.

"I don't think you have any right to speak to me like that," Rosescar spat. Silverleaf looked at her in surprise as Rosescar's fur began to stand on end. "I'm strong enough now to take care of myself, and my kits. And if you or anyone else lays a claw on them, I will flay you."

Silverleaf only stared at her in shock before bowing her head in defeat. There was no point in arguing. Rosescar knew that once her mind was made up, she didn't need anyone to change it otherwise. Besides, it's not like these cats had ever cared for her to begin with.

Once Silverleaf had disappeared, Rosescar was left alone to herself. She sighed in relief before glancing over her shoulder. She had kits to watch over, and she wasn't going to let them down.

...

For a while darkness swirled around her. She could hear voices shouting at her. One of them sounded like her brother, Foxwhisker. The other, she wasn't too sure of. The pain in her chest was almost unbearable. She struggled to stand up and open her eyes, but she couldn't. Something was keeping her from doing so.

"I'm tired of waiting," she heard Foxwhisker growl. "How much longer before she either dies or wakes up?"

Dies? Horror surged through Brightfire at the thought. She couldn't die, not when the Clan needed her now more than ever!

"She's not bleeding as heavily as Ashstar was," another voice said. "Please, back away and give her some space." It sounded vaguely like Quailnose's voice.

Finally Brightfire opened her eyes, and found herself inside the medicine cat's den. Quailnose looked at her anxiously while Foxwhisker stood in the background. Brightfire looked at each cat warily before struggling to her paws, until Quailnose stopped her.

"Take it easy," the medicine cat told her. "You lost a lot of blood back there." Brightfire blinked warily, just what had happened to her?

"Glad to see that you're okay," Foxwhisker muttered, sounding almost annoyed. "I guess the Clan won't have to worry about who's leading them."

With that, Foxwhisker whisked away from the den and joined his Clanmates. Brightfire only stared at Quailnose anxiously. What was he talking about? What had happened to Ashstar? Quailnose seemed to read her thoughts and shook her head, a look of despair flashing in her eyes.

"Ashstar lost his life defending you from the fox," Quailnose murmured, her voice so quiet that Brightfire had to strain to hear.

Shock rippled through Brightfire. She could only gape at Quailnose when she realized what had happened. Something else had flashed in Quailnose's eyes though, something much more terrifying. She looked scared, as if she was afraid of what the future would now hold.

"I-Is everyone else okay?" she managed to ask, her voice hoarse from lack of use.

"Yes, just worried about you," Quailnose replied. She started nosing through the herbs before giving Brightfire a leaf that made her lungs burn. "Take this and eat it, it will make you feel better. I have some poppy seeds in it as well."

Brightfire held back a sigh as she realized Quailnose was only trying to help. But she needed to make sure the Clan was safe. If Ashstar was gone, than that meant... that she was their leader. That thought alone was enough to make her stomach churn with anxiety.

I'll never make a good leader, she thought bitterly. I've done too many wrongs. Yet she knew that Ashstar was no better. If it wasn't for him, than Rosescar would still be in the Clan, and so many cats might not have died.

"Sorry, Quailnose," she muttered, pushing the leaf away with her paw. "But I need to check on the Clan, and travel to the Moontree to receive my nine lives."

Quailnose looked at her doubtfully, but luckily she didn't argue. Instead she stepped back and allowed Brightfire to stand up. That movement alone made her wince in pain. Her eyes squeezed shut as she limped out of the medicine cat's den. Bright sunlight greeted her the moment she walked outside, but a blast of cold air had also hit her like a rock.

"Brightfire, thank StarClan you're okay!" Shrewfang was the first to greet her as she emerged from the den. Brightfire nodded to her Clanmate warmly, trying to keep on a passive expression. She didn't want them to worry, not when so much weighed on her shoulders already.

"Has everyone gotten their fair share of prey?" she asked, glancing around warily as the Clan gathered around her. Shrewfang nodded and turned towards Aspenfur, who sat quietly in the background.

"Aspenfur sent out hunting patrols while you were out," he explained. "He said it would be a good idea to keep the apprentice's busy, so they wouldn't have to worry so much."

Brightfire let out a sigh of relief when she heard that. Aspenfur was always a kind and caring cat. He had a good nature and would have made a far better leader than she ever would.

"Good, is everyone else okay?" she asked, concerned that something might have happened while she was out. She hadn't bothered asking how long she was out. At this point, all that mattered was making sure the Clan was safe.

"Other than the usual injuries, I'd say we're fine," Aspenfur replied with a nod. "You should get some rest; Quailnose said you might suffer from fatigue." She only rolled her eyes at that remark.

"Does it look like I am?" she demanded, and Aspenfur shook his head in response. "Good, I have to go to the Moontree and receive my nine lives."

No one bothered arguing at that. Brightfire sighed in relief before turning over to Quailnose. The medicine cat would know what to do. She had only been an apprentice when Ashstar received his nine lives. But hopefully she would remember what her mentor had done.

I promise I will be a better leader than Ashstar, she thought silently. I won't let bad things happen to cats like Rosescar. She closed her eyes at the thought, and suddenly wished that her old friend was there to support her. But Rosescar was gone now. She had nothing to look to but the future of the Clan.

AN: I'm so sorry it has taken so long to get this posted! Let's just say these last couple of weeks have been crazy. And I tried logging in yesterday and the day before, and of course the site wouldn't let me. So, yeah... Unfortunately I do not have time to reply to all of your wonderful reviews, so I'm just gonna throw out a big thank you to everyone! This story has gotten far more popular than I could have imagined, and it's only thanks to you wonderful readers :D You guys are awesome!