Just under 11 pages. YAY! It's not a monster! But it will be after I answer all your reviews:
Dawnfeather - Ebonypool...hmmm...
Silversnow of the Moors - It is a romance fic. -gives cookie-
Flamepelt's Wrath - Thorntail kinda-sorta explains his reasoning in this chapter...but...not really.
Peachfoot - Yes, I like that name too. Morninglight. Not to be too cocky, but I think it has a nice ring to it.
Rabbitstorm - I liked your review! THANKS!
Spottedmoon - Shadenight has Owlpelt, and reminds Thorntail of bad memories - like stealing her from Graywhisker - But another pairing may spark up...unless Rosethorn can work her magic!
Daklotles85 - I think you were the only reviewer to catch the fact that Tiberkit's careless peeing almost killed Blackshadow. I didn't describe it well enough! -sniff- Ah, well. That's life. At least you caught it. Or...did you? -narrows eyes-
xx-secrets-xx - I'm glad you're not mad. -huggles-
Strangefur - I thought of naming Beakclaw, Beaktail instead...I really did throw it around in my head...but you know, ThunderClan has/had many-a Somethingtails already. Thorntail, Flowertail, Dusktail, Shrewtail... just too many. I wanted to add some variety. Anyways, thanks for the grammar tip - I do try to use them, but sometimes I slip up! I'll have to fix that... Anyways, yes, I used Flyingeagle. And YES, you did spot Deadgrass. I didn't think you would, but that tan cat...was Deadgrass. YAY:)
Skysong-Brooksilver - Find out. :D
xXBrambleclawXx - All is explained soon.
lmblovesmilk - I read everyone's reviews. -smacks- :)
Starsnow of Eveclan - It was odd, but it foreshadowed something...it was the strongest hint to the obvious Ebonypaw thing... And I could've put in 'Aquapaw and I wanted to go mate' instead of 'Aquapaw and I wanted to go do warrior things' but...it's all about the same. I needed to give Beakclaw a reason to sniff Ebonypaw like that. xD
Pearl.H.Sweden- Your awesomness can't be described. Anyways... Flamesoul's a medicine cat. He wasn't going to downright refuse to help the kit... He's a ra- you know. But he's not a murderer...or is he? -thinks- I dunno.
Steeltalon- RosethornxFlamesoul... yes, it is very wrong. But I can only speak one language...so... I'll just put it in all caps: WRONG!
The Twitcherz - Thanks for the review!
Wow. That was hard. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm disappointed in it - not as emotional as it should've been - but I hope you forgive me...
Enjoy,
"I felt I should tell you," Thorntail's voice was a soft rumble, "that this is probably the last time we'll ever speak to one another as Clanmates… Blackshadow, tonight I'm crossing the border to meet up with Owlpelt and Puddlespots. I'm going to leave ThunderClan for RiverClan."
Blackshadow regarded Thorntail for a moment, the full meaning of his friend's words not clawing him until a few heartbeats of thought. He recalled Owlpelt – that was the annoying minion that Shadenight had had follow her around when she had been padding after Thorntail, and Puddlespots had been a close friend of Thorntail's when he had been in his mother's birth Clan, RiverClan. But…why was he meeting up with them?
Then, the delayed reaction of understanding Thorntail's very blunt and open announcement took over. Blackshadow felt his legs get numb, and he had a peculiar sensation that he was floating off the ground. Then, for the next few heartbeats, he couldn't believe it. Thorntail was leaving ThunderClan? Had he, or had he not just fought tooth and claw to defend it from ShadowClan? Had he, or had he not just – finally – earned the long-deserved trust from every single one of his Clanmates?
Then the surprise melted away, and Blackshadow felt a jolt of rage hit him like lightning. Thorntail was leaving ThunderClan? Thorntail was going to betray ThunderClan! Blackshadow knew that Thorntail would waste virtually no time to inform RiverClan of all of ThunderClan's weaknesses – like the recent ShadowClan attack, the breach in the Clan's defensive wall that no cat had ever bothered to fix because the hole was so cleverly hidden, the best place to hunt, and the personal weaknesses of each of the warriors! Like…Twilightfur's almost sick need to defend boundaries, Beakclaw's belief that his tail would conquer the forest and bring down the warrior code, and Blackshadow's own intense fear of ravens!
Blackshadow set aside all of his rage of the treason Thorntail was going to perform…and thought about what this new development would do to his kits. Blazekit. Baykit. Petalkit. Nightkit. Blackshadow had given up his rights as a father to them, not to keep Rosethorn and Thorntail's relationship strong, but to keep Thorntail's honor intact!
How mouse-brained of me to try! Thorntail doesn't have any honor to protect!
To make matters worse, if Thorntail went to RiverClan… Blackshadow's kits would be regarded as half-Clan! Would they be believed to have torn loyalties? Would they have torn loyalties towards the cat who they believed to be their father?
Blackshadow flexed his claws, and narrowed his eyes coldly at the gray tomcat. He felt something awaken within him. "Traitor." Blackshadow was surprised at how cold his tone was.
Thorntail eyed Blackshadow's unsheathed claws curiously, before he meowed, "Yes, I suppose I am…" Thorntail looked thoughtful, but didn't say anything more.
Blackshadow let out a furious hiss at Thorntail's blunt answer – a hiss loud enough that it made the three new warriors keeping vigil, Beakclaw, Morninglight, and Aquamist, turn their heads to see what all the commotion was about.
A heartbeat later they went back to their normal head-position, while at the same time Blackshadow let out a growl, and asked the question that would either redeem Thorntail, or force the black warrior to condemn the gray cat to a bitter former-friend-now-enemy relationship.
"Why?"
Thorntail's carefree air just enlarged the anger that was building up in Blackshadow's chest.
"Why?" Thorntail echoed, flicking his tail dismissively. "I belong in RiverClan, for one thing. That's where my mother was born, that's where I was apprenticed… Truthfully, I doubt that RiverClan even really expected me to stay in ThunderClan forever…" the stone-colored warrior paused for a moment, his sapphire eyes calmly meeting Blackshadow's burning amber. "I never really belonged in ThunderClan… I mastered your gung-ho fighting techniques, and your stalking hunting abilities… but I belong where there is a flowing river. What's more, look what ThunderClan is being led by. A Clan leader, who is definitely doing the best for her Clan, but in doing so, is throwing her daughter thoughtlessly to some… piece of fox dung!" Thorntail spat crossly at the earth. "And then there's Flamesoul… all my superiors are selfish little…"
Blackshadow couldn't contain himself anymore, and cut Thorntail off. "Streamstar and Flamesoul are selfish, are they?" the ebony-colored warrior meowed, his voice as cold as ice. Thorntail looked surprise at both the tone, and the words Blackshadow had used. Confident, Blackshadow went on. "I admit. Streamstar could've handled the situation better, and should've found a different way to keep ThunderClan striving. And Flamesoul…there is no excuse for what he did to Rosethorn. But I just find it odd that you even dare call any cat selfish, Thorntail."
Thorntail curled his lips into a snarl, and opened his mouth to argue, but Blackshadow swept on. "I'd say you're probably Streamstar's deputy when it comes to selfishness. You are selfishly leaving your Clan that has accepted you even though you were not born within it, when it needs you the most in a battle with ShadowClan – that is definitely not over! A battle, mind you, that you provoked! You are leaving four kits of mine that will be regarded as halfClan – and they will even think themselves to be half-RiverClan. And most of all, you are leaving Rosethorn! Great StarClan, Thorntail! It's bad enough that you are betraying your Clan, but this is your mate!"
Thorntail's legs started to shake, and Blackshadow, suddenly recalling how much more skilled at battle the larger cat was, shrank back. Normally a cat would hold themselves back from attacking a Clanmate so they wouldn't risk rebuke from the Clan leader. But what would Streamstar do? Exile him? Yeah, that would really get under Thorntail's fur.
But Thorntail didn't lunge, he just let out a threatening growl, before he explained, "I am betraying ThunderClan. I won't deny that. But, I never asked you, nor Applefur, to name me the father as your kits. That burden was placed on my shoulders by you two. And, Rosethorn is not my mate."
"I know." Blackshadow retorted. "Because you're abandoning her. Thorntail, normally, I don't give two mouse-tails who your mate is, or how many there are. But Rosethorn… she could've been mine." Thorntail looked at him startled, and Blackshadow's anger ebbed away into shame, as he looked down at his paws, to explain. "I love Applefur, Thorntail, StarClan knows I love her, but sometimes I do wonder…" he trailed off, deciding that this was no time to go into the tangled relationship he and Applefur had – both of them still carrying feelings for another cat.
Blackshadow continued, his voice gaining back that hard edge he was starting to grow accustomed to. "And even if I never had feelings for Rosethorn, she is one of the best friends I have in this Clan. And seeing you abandon her, when she needs you and your protection the most... But, is this really so much of a surprise?" Blackshadow narrowed his eyes coldly, and dug his claws into the earth. He felt satisfied by their sharpness, and got the courage to sweep on, even under Thorntail's intense blue gaze that was beginning to light with a fire of insults. "Because it's not like I've never noticed a pattern. You are a fantastic and fearless warrior in battle, combining the best skills of the three Clans you have resided in during your lifetime. But anytime something gets deeper than fighting tooth and claw, you run away with your tail between your legs! You ran away from RiverClan, because you couldn't fight the memory of Graywhisker. And when Shadenight started to come into our territory to pad after you, you deliberately avoided her just because facing her wasn't something you could solve with violence! You're a coward, Thorntail! A weak, pathetic coward!"
"Did I ever say I was anything else?" Thorntail snapped, flattening his ears against his head and curling his lips into a snarl. "I don't know where everyone gets that I'm some indestructible warrior! I'm not! I have weaknesses just like everyone else, Blackshadow! Apparently yours is your unrequited love of Rosethorn. If you want her to be protected so much, why don't you take her as your mate?"
Blackshadow snorted. "Because I love Applefur," he explained quietly. "But the subject here isn't whether I am head-over-claws in love with my mate or not, it's that you are running away from your problems! Just like you always do! Run away, Thorntail. If you run fast enough, they'll never catch you. Avoid the problem with Rosethorn. Just like you avoided all your problems with Graywhisker." Thorntail stiffened at the mention of his brother, and Blackshadow dug to the back of his mind to find the information Rosethorn had informed him: How Thorntail had told Graywhisker a secret he couldn't handle, to purposely drive his brother off the edge. "With Graywhisker gone, life is so much easier, huh? It was much easier to see him dead then to fix the rift that was growing between you two, right? Just like you ran away from Graywhisker – Because that ended so well, didn't it? – you're running away from Rosethorn! Anything, even death would be better than facing the problems that you have to…"
Blackshadow was cut off, as Thorntail scraped his claws down the side of his face. Blackshadow cringed at the flaming pain, and was about to curse Thorntail's name, but when he saw the pain in the azure eyes that belonged to his best friend.
Thorntail deliberately looked away, as he mewed almost inaudibly, "…I couldn't protect Graywhisker from myself, and I can't protect Rosethorn from Flamesoul…"
What did Thorntail mean by that? Blackshadow wanted to ask, but the cat that had been yowling rage that had been building up was long gone in the quick break of sympathy. The normal, docile Blackshadow was back – as much as he willed the yowling, furious Blackshadow to come return.
"I'm sorry," Blackshadow meowed softly, "for bringing up Graywhisker."
There was a pause. "You were right, though." Thorntail shrugged his shoulders, and turned his head back towards Blackshadow. Thorntail leaned his head over, and Blackshadow felt a pink tongue rasp along his ear. "…Anyways, all anger aside, we'll see each other at Gatherings."
Blackshadow flinched. For a heartbeat, he had thought Thorntail had changed his mind. This time, no rage welled up – only sorrow. Thorntail had been Blackshadow's best friend. Applefur and Rosethorn were fine, but Thorntail was a tom. They had been through so much together. From annoying their Clanmates with kitten-like pranks, to defending their Clan from attackers - both from the outside, and in. There would be no more of that. Well, they would both still defend their Clans from attackers…but it wouldn't be the same one. In fact, the next time they met, could be in battle… Blackshadow didn't want to think about that. Through all the faults of Thorntail's that Blackshadow had ruthlessly picked out when 'Angry Blackshadow of FuryClan' had reared his long-hidden head, Thorntail was a good friend… But their friendship wouldn't be able to last over Clan boundaries. Thorntail seemed to be good at that – considering Puddlespots and Owlpelt still seemed to think of the gray cat as their pal – but Blackshadow wasn't sure if he could…
Thorntail was right. This was the last time they would ever speak as Clanmates. And, possibly, as friends.
"Gatherings." Blackshadow agreed in a half-hearted voice. . "I'll look forward to them, Thorntail…"
Thorntail nodded cheerfully, and there was a long silence that seemed to last forever, before the gray warrior got to his paws. "I should probably get going…"
"Yes," Blackshadow murmured, his voice starting to ache. "Would you like me to come with you?"
Thorntail shook his head – and Blackshadow suddenly felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. Hard. "I should do this alone." Thorntail explained. "It would be a little awkward at the border, with you there, and Puddlespots and Owlpelt there…"
"Yeah…" Blackshadow rasped.
Thorntail turned to leave, but a thought struck Blackshadow, and he mewed for him to stop.
"Thorntail…" Blackshadow meowed softly. "I'm just wondering… you left RiverClan because of the guilt of Graywhisker's memory – and Shadenight, right?" Before Thorntail could answer, Blackshadow went on. "How can you go back?"
Thorntail flicked his tail, and turned back to Blackshadow. "I never said I was sorry for meeting Rosethorn, did I? I think…she helped ease my guilt a little bit… And, now that I think about it, I'd rather be where Graywhisker was… it would seem more like he's close to me. And Shadenight…well, let's just hope she's content with Owlpelt as her mate."
"Yeah..." Blackshadow narrowed his eyes, as he felt a flicker of rage and curiosity ignite within him. "…But…if something gets hard there, like it did in ThunderClan…will you leave RiverClan, too? You can't go switching Clans your whole life."
"Fox dung, there goes my life's dream," Thorntail meowed sarcastically. "I'm going to stay in RiverClan for the rest of my life, I promise you. There won't ever be problems like there were with Rosethorn and Shadenight. From the way I see it, I don't think I'm the type of cat who keeps a mate for more than one night. It's just fun, and there are a lot less complications…" Thorntail licked a paw, and rubbed his ear. "Any other questions, Blackshadow?"
"No…" Blackshadow took a pawstep towards Thorntail, and rested his tail on the gray tomcat's shoulder. "But…I do want you to try to use some of that common sense that Rosethorn taught you. As in, don't go taking a WindClan she-cat as your mate the heartbeat you are accepted into the RiverClan camp."
"Oh…" Thorntail shifted uncomfortably, and Blackshadow couldn't help but wonder if his friend had actually thought of doing something similar. "Wait…WindClan is full of she-cats, isn't it – besides one crazed tom? Huh." Thorntail looked thoughtful. "Maybe I'm joining the wrong Clan. Maybe I should go, kill Silverleaf, and join WindClan…I mean, look at all the she-cats. And I'd have them all to mysel-"
Blackshadow cut him off with a rumbling purr. "Just go to RiverClan, Thorntail."
"I was kidding," Thorntail mumbled. "Most WindClan cats are dusky little things anyways…I like pretty, sleek ones, like RiverClan, or…feisty ShadowClan cats…or petite, feminine…"
Blackshadow couldn't take his gaze away from the still-speaking ThunderClan warrior, as Thorntail started to pad into the darkness of the Gorse Tunnel, his rant about pretty she-cats echoing through the night.
It certainly was a suitable way to remember Thorntail.
As Thorntail's tail disappeared into the darkness, Blackshadow couldn't fight the feeling of sorrow that welled up. It was over. Thorntail had left the Clan… his best friend had left the Clan…
For some reason, throughout the whole argument he and Thorntail had had, it had never seemed real to Blackshadow. He had thought that Thorntail would change his mind, and settle into the Warrior's Den, and they would chat for a little while, before they both tumbled into the world of dreams.
Trying to use humor to make a bad situation a little easier – like a certain gray cat liked to do – Blackshadow let out a chuckle to himself as he got to his paws to go on his way. "I suppose I can take the second-warmest nest in the den all for my own now."
Blackshadow tried to ignore the sorrow that clung to his heart like moss on a tree, but somehow…he couldn't.
…
"But, honestly!" Applefur complained, shifting uncomfortably around her kits in the nursery. "What kind of crowfood eating mousebrain claws a queen?!" she ran her tail down her new battle scar, flinching as she realized how deep it was. "It hurts so much…I can't sleep like this!"
In the nest beside her, Applefur heard Sandpelt snort, as if her pain was something trivial. Applefur was about to snap at the deputy, but a tail on her shoulder stopped her. She turned her head, to stare into the yellow eyes of Dusktail.
"If it hurts so much," Dusktail meowed softly, "maybe you should go and see Flamesoul, to get some poppy seeds."
Applefur shuddered at his very name. It was agonizing to know that a cat like that was her superior – even if he had saved Baykit's life earlier. "Do you really think I should go bother Rosethorn about it?" she emphasized her friend's name purposely. Rosethorn was the full medicine of the Clan, Flamesoul was just some heartless piece of fox dung, that, if StarClan was merciful, would be savagely ripped limb from limb by a passing ShadowClan patrol.
"It's better than keeping me up all night." Sandpelt mumbled, rolling in her nest. She grunted, and let out a soft growl. "Tiberkit, did you make rain in my nest? Great StarClan, how many times do I have to show you the area behind the nursery?"
"But it's so far away!" Tiberkit whined.
Applefur wrinkled her nose in disgust, and asked Dusktail to watch over Baykit, Petalkit, Nightkit, and Blazekit while she was away, before she padded out of the nursery.
Almost instantly, the night air seemed to refresh her. For a few heartbeats, she just stood in the three-quarter-full moonlight, and bathed in the silver star shine. She looked around the camp briefly, and noticed Blackshadow staring in a funny way at the Gorse Tunnel, for reasons she couldn't explain. What's to explain? She reminded herself sternly
Blackshadow's a tom, so he's a mousebrain. I've known this for moons.
She began to pad towards Rosethorn's den, pausing (again) to look at the three warriors sitting vigil. She shuddered, as she recalled her own. It had been in the middle of leaf-bare, and had been freezing. How she had survived it, she still had absolutely no clue.
Either way, she hadn't sat as calmly and magnificently as Beakclaw. The tan tabby warrior that had been her brother's apprentice was sitting on his haunches with his ears erect to the sky, his tail wrapped delicately around his paws, and – amazingly – not even a whisker moved. Aquamist was sitting beside him, and seemed to try and copy his distinguished sitting-vigil ability, but occasionally her ears would flick away a traveling fly, or her whiskers would twitch.
Applefur glanced at the tortoiseshell, Morninglight, and had to sustain a purr of amusement. The young warrior wasn't even trying to try and imitate Beakclaw's calm look. She was on her back, with one leg twitching, and staring lazily at StarClan above.
Applefur shrugged. As long as Morninglight stayed awake, it didn't matter how undignified she acted.
Applefur quietly slipped into the fern tunnel of the medicine cat's den. She opened her mouth to call for Rosethorn, but stopped herself when she noticed Flamesoul.
The big, orange tom had his back to her…and was caressing something with his tail. Concerned, Applefur used the best of her stalking ability to stay silent as she padded forward to see what the "medicine cat" was doing.
Her mouth rounded into a gape, as she realized he was rubbing his tail against…Ebonypaw! The black apprentice was sleeping calmly in her nest, and Applefur guessed that she had gone to sleep long before Flamesoul had padded in!
"Soft, like hers…" Flamesoul was murmuring softly, as he rubbed his muzzle into Ebonypaw's jet black fur. "Silky…like… hers…but not quite as beautiful as my Precious'."
Applefur felt her fur bristle with rage. That crowfood-eating, mouse-dung smelling, piece of fox-dung! Thorntail had been right: Cats that do that force themselves on she-cats always do it again!
"Flamesoul," she snarled, stepping forward. She felt a glimmer of satisfaction to see him jump at her presence. "What were you-."
"Applefur,"
She jerked her head with rage, to see who had been the cat who had interrupted her. She narrowed her eyes, when she saw Blackshadow stumbling into the den. "There's something you should know."
"This is more important." Applefur snapped. "Unless ShadowClan are attacking our camp with dogs and Twolegs in their service, I don't need to know it right now!"
Blackshadow narrowed his eyes. "You'll want to know it, Applefur. I guarantee you…"
She flicked her ears, curious. Momentarily forgetting about Flamesoul, she started towards Blackshadow. Her mate calmly told her that Rosethorn should probably hear it too, and asked her if she knew where the scarlet medicine cat was.
Deciding that it was an apprentice's duty to find a particular cat, Applefur let out a loud meow. "Ebonypaw, wake up!"
The black medicine cat leapt into consciousness, her emerald eyes wide and looking wildly about the den. "Look, Marsh…" Ebonypaw trailed off, probably at seeing Applefur's blank expression. Ebonypaw chuckled nervously. "Look, marshes… are fun. We should go steal some ShadowClan territory, because I like marshes a lot!"
"Tell your plans of stealing territory to Streamstar – right now, I want you to find your mentor." Applefur ordered.
Ebonypaw stared curiously at her for a moment, before she flashed a green gaze at Flamesoul. "Well, that was easy." She mumbled. "G'night."
Applefur let out a hiss of fury. "Rosethorn is your mentor, mouse-brain!"
At the harshness of the queen's tone, Ebonypaw leapt to her paws and scurried out of the den to find her true mentor.
Applefur flashed an icy glance at Flamesoul, telling herself that she could deal with him later – he wasn't something that could be dealt with overnight anyways. And Ebonypaw probably wouldn't be able to sleep when she was done with all her scurrying…
Applefur started to pad out of the den, and flicked her tail for Blackshadow to follow her.
Once they were outside, Applefur rounded on him, furiously. "This had better be important," she growled.
Blackshadow nodded. "Applefur, Thorntail…well he told me that he's leaving ThunderClan for RiverClan. He's meeting Puddlespots and Owlpelt at the border and…"
Applefur didn't hear the rest. That River-rat! She thought hatefully. She opened her mouth to yowl at Blackshadow for not stopping him, but before she could, Rosethorn came bounding forward.
Rosethorn stumbled to a halt, and flashed a confused blue glance from Applefur, to Blackshadow, to Applefur again. "I was looking at a wound on Swiftfoot's shoulder, when Ebonypaw came to tell me that you two needed me…"
Blackshadow gazed helplessly at the scarlet medicine cat, before he meowed slowly, "Rosethorn…I don't know how to tell you this but…"
Slow! Slow! Why was Blackshadow speaking so slowly?! Rosethorn had to go catch up to Thorntail and bring him back to the Clan before he crossed the border! She needed all the time she had!
Applefur burst out, "Rosethorn, Thorntail has left ThunderClan, and is right now padding towards the RiverClan border! Go! Go! Catch him!" Rosethorn stood still, and this irritated Applefur to no end. "Why are you just standing there!? Go! Now!"
Rosethorn held her friend's sapphire gaze with one of her own for a moment, before she looked down at the earth. "It won't do any good…" she murmured softly. "I already told you, I hurt him too deeply. I can't help it that he would hate me so much…that he would leave ThunderClan just to escape…"
Applefur let out a ferocious growl. Weak! Why was Rosethorn as weak as Blackshadow was slow? Applefur shuddered, as she realized that Rosethorn had become the more like the aloof apprentice she had been during and post-Flamesoul. Thorntail had pulled her out of that hole, but it seemed she had fallen back in.
Applefur narrowed her eyes. "Why do you always feel like your worthless, Rosethorn?!" she snarled. "Why do you always blame yourself?! For once in your life blame someone! Streamstar! Flamesoul! Even me, if that suits your fancy! But stop blaming yourself for every single problem that pops up in your life!" Applefur's pelt tingled with annoyance, as still, Rosethorn just stood there. She wasn't going to go after Thorntail?!
"Rosethorn, maybe it hasn't occurred to you yet: But as soon as Thorntail crosses the border in RiverClan, it is over!" Applefur jerked her tail about. "There will be no hope! He will never look at you with love in his eyes again! Never! Doesn't that mean anything to you?! He will pad after some RiverClan she-cat, and she will take the place in his heart that should belong to you! She will be the cat that he fights for! She will be the cat that he loves! Not you! Never you!"
Rosethorn still examined the ground. Applefur literally flinched in surprise, but regained her footing quickly. Her heart wrenched, as she thought of all that Thorntail and Rosethorn had been through to stay mates. Spottedstar revealing – albeit briefly – their relationship, Shadenight's padding after Thorntail, Silverleaf's obsessions…
"You two have gone through so much for one another…why are you giving up now!?" Applefur questioned. "If you really love him, you need to tell him what's in your heart! You need to keep him in ThunderClan! Even if it feels mousebrained, it doesn't matter." Rosethorn looked up. Applefur, feeling she had her friend's attention, went on, "Go catch him, Rosethorn. Yowl. Throw a fit. Use the most mousebrained, idiotic way, if you have to – as long as it makes him stay, isn't it worth it?"
Applefur half-expected the medicine cat to take off for Thorntail right then and there, but still, Rosethorn just stood there, as if she felt like it was time to let Thorntail go.
"Fine, don't go after him." Applefur growled with a forced shrug of her shoulders. "I don't really care. He isn't my mate… I'll stop annoying you about it Rosethorn…on one condition." Rosethorn looked up at her curiously. Applefur met her gaze calmly, as she growled, "If you can look me in the eyes, and tell me in all honesty, that everything you and Thorntail have gone through means nothing to you anymore."
…
Rosethorn stared hopelessly at Applefur. Why did her friend always meddle in things that were out of her control? Why didn't Applefur understand that she had hurt Thorntail too badly! She had betrayed him! She had promised that she would never deny him, yet…she had! For what? A twisted piece of fox dung named Flamesoul?
Thorntail deserves better!
As Applefur fought to convince her, Rosethorn tried to close her ears. She was dirty! Did no cat understand that? She had been used already! She wasn't pure! Not in StarClan's eyes – not in anyone's eyes! And Thorntail…he didn't deserve to get lost in the pool of filth that Rosethorn waded in every day she lived. He was a good, handsome, strong warrior – StarClan had blessed him. StarClan loved Thorntail! He should be with a cat that StarClan loves too! Not a dirty, impure, used medicine cat that StarClan despised!
But as hard as she could, she couldn't block out Applefur's final convincing argument "…look me in the eyes, and tell me in all honesty, that everything you and Thorntail have gone through means nothing to you anymore."
Rosethorn opened her mouth to tell a lie, and say that it meant nothing – it was all in the past… But she couldn't.
Everything she and Thorntail had been through…
First meeting…
"Oh, you must be the medicine cat!" Thorntail's eyes had sparkled, as he glanced at the moat of mud firmly surrounding the herbs she had been collecting. "And you…need the chervil root, right? Guess what, I'm your newest Clanmate! I know, weird huh? Anyways, I'll get the chervil root for you. Medicine cats shouldn't get their pretty for dirty, eh?"
Why was it she remembered that meeting? It had been nothing… Right? She could let go – for Thorntail's sake, right? Surely…separating would be best…
Without Rosethorn's orders, Thorntail's words sparkled into her mind, Rosethorn, we have to pad along together through life – with our tails intertwined, and our pelts brushing against one another…otherwise we might lose each other in a dark forest. And then we'll lose the courage to escape the forest of tragedies…so…Why are we separating?
Thorntail's own very words…
Rosethorn felt her heart thump quickly in her chest, just thinking about the warrior. His broad shoulders, his pointed ears, his pink tongue…every gray hair on his pelt…
"Don't you love him, Rosethorn?!" Applefur burst out.
Rosethorn struggled. She had to say no! Thorntail deserved a nicer, purer, more innocent she-cat! A better one!
Thorntail's pesky words popped up again: I love you, He had waited then…for her to answer. She had been so shocked about his comment she hadn't been able to…
Surely you owe it to him to love him too? No…no…I owe it to him to stay away… You love him, mousebrain! Act like it for once in your life!
She clashed with herself for awhile, before she answered,
"Yes, I love Thorntail."
Without hesitating for another moment – knowing if she did, she might fight with herself again – she charged out of camp. She had a tomcat to stop.
…
Rosethorn pounded through the forest, not caring in the least if she woke up some of the mewling WindClan kits with her racket. She didn't follow Thorntail's scent trail; the tom had taken so many detours as if to enjoy ThunderClan territory as long as he could. She knew where he was going. She would get there before him, and round him off.
Rosethorn cringed, and forced her legs to move faster as Applefur's ominous words echoed in her mind. As soon as Thorntail crosses the border in RiverClan, it is over! There will be no hope! He will never look at you with love in his eyes again! Never! …He will pad after some RiverClan she-cat, and she will take the place in his heart that should belong to yours! She will be the cat that he fights for! She will be the cat that he loves! Not you! Never you
Rosethorn wanted to cry out at the very thought! She also wanted to claw herself for not trying to wrap him around her paw to retrieve him as her mate before! She loved Thorntail! She…she needed him! The only reason she had agreed to allow Flamesoul into the Clan…was because she thought Thorntail would stay by her side! And it was over now…all over…
Not yet, she reminded herself in an attempt to be optimistic. You can still catch him at the border…
The border was coming ever closer, and Thorntail's scent ever stronger. Almost instinctively, Rosethorn let out a few piercing cries. "Thorntail!" she leapt over a branch, "Thorntail! Don't go! Thorntail!"
Had he heard her?
Was he even there yet?
She rushed forward. Her heart began to pound from exhaustion, but Rosethorn kept running – her heart would be feeling a lot more pain if Thorntail left!
She padded to the border – the very edge, by the river – and looked around curiously. Where was Thorntail? She kept her hopes up, kept telling herself that he was somewhere behind her, and was going to mew a, "Hiya, Rosethorn," at any moment.
But he didn't.
Her heart lurched, when she heard a splash.
She looked wildly into the river, hoping to see a fish that had leapt through the air before tumbling back into his watery prison…but instead she saw Thorntail swimming like a fish in the river, as if he had never left. She felt herself go numb, as he crawled out of the water – on the other side of the border. A tabby and a blue-gray she-cat padded to meet him.
She wanted to yowl his name. She had to cry out to him… But her mouth wouldn't form words.
As the three cats disappeared from sight, deeper into RiverClan territory, Rosethorn's legs buckled beneath her. Thorntail would never greet her in the morning. He would never catch her something 'extra special' from the fresh-kill pile. No more arguments, no more sweet words, no more dangers faced together, no more shared pains, shared purrs…no more love.
"No…" was the only word her voice allowed her to rasp. She glanced helplessly at the starry sky above her. StarClan no…I don't…I don't want it…to end yet. It can't be over! It can't be…
I told you it wasn't emotional enough. But that's okay...I hope. Anyways, I've run out of plushies to give. Uh...Dusktail? She hasn't ever had a plushie...
THE GENERIC QUEEN DUSKTAIL! We know virtually nothing about her... But...she seems like a nice queen, doesn't she? Sort of like the generic queens Frostfor and Goldenflower - did they even have different personalities? They seemed to be exactly the same to me...but all well.
Review, you get Dusktail plushie. Don't review... and you'll never see your CINNAMON ROLL ever again.