Chapter #9 The Flower -
Firestar called another gathering under Highrock. He was to make a apprentice a warrior but this was no ordinary gathering because Brambleclaw and Firestar believed that StarClan have sent a sign. Wrenpaw and Blackpaw came out of the apprentices den, their eyes filled with sleep.
"I have had a sign from StarClan. They told me who would be the next warrior. But not just any warrior, a true warrior who could defend the camp and fight amazingly in any battle, who could hunt, leap, and hunt like no other."Firestar paused and looked at the cats and stopped at one. "Wrenpaw, Littlepaw, and Blackpaw, It was between you three but StarClan has sent the sign that chose which one." Brambleclaw padded up to him.
"StarClan has sent this... Black Rose!" Brambleclaw said holding the rose in his mouth. It's pettle were pitch black and the thorns on it looked like the ones from the thorn bush. Then Blackpaw knew it was her, it all worked together. The rose was from the thorn bush from so long ago and the same three thorns were on it because of the light blood stain. The blood smelt fresh even though it was from when she was a little kit.
"Blackpaw..." Firestar paused, "It is you, StarClan sent. I call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon this apprentice. She has learned your noble code and is ready to become a warrior. You shall now be known as Blackrose, I believe you will be the next true warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar bowed. Other cats stared at her with envy and awe but the only cats that looked at her longingly were Mousefur, Rainwhisker, Sootfur, and... Ravenwing!
"Blackrose.. what a beautiful name..." Ravenwing walked over to her and gave her a quick lick. He picked up something off the ground. "I found this next to me in the warrior's den." It was a black flower pettle from the black rose. Blackrose looked at it sadly, she did not want to be the cat everyone looked up to, Sootfur was right she should be in ShadowClan.
"I'm not meant to be here," She wailed, "I must not be who StarClan is talking about! I'm a terrible apprentice and I should be among ShadowClan!"
Mousefur stared at her daughter and the cats around stared at Mousefur.
"You are half clan?" Ravenwing asked.
Mousefur sighed, 'They should know' She thought. "Rainwhisker was not my mate and Blackpa-- I mean Blackrose is not his kin." Mousefur paused. "A while ago we went to ShadowClan to ask then how the Twolegs were treating then and that's when I caught Cedarheart's eye, and It was love at first sight..."
Almost everyone gasped. Firestar walked over to Mousefur and looked at her sternly, "No more visits to ShadowClan for you! I want you to stay in the camp for now on!"
"That's it? I've been doing that for moons, I've been avoiding gatherings to just so I can't see his face again. I cannot put Blackrose through that trouble, It's because I took her to ShadowClan that she has those wicked scars, I could of killed her and I never want that to happen again. That rose is a reminder of that pain. Please destroy it..."
Firestar could smell Mousefur's fear scent and he knew that she was not lying.
The only one who talked to Blackrose for half a moon was Ravenwing. His warm body cuddle hers as they slept happily in the warrior's den. He kept close to her like a mother and her kit, a predator stalking prey, a Twoleg and it's monster. Blackrose could tell he truely loved her and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life, but something else was also on Blackrose's mind.. Cedarheart. He never went to the gatherings that Blackrose went to and when she asked Ravenwing to help he couldn't find him either. Reports of a battle between WindClan and ShadowClan buzzed around her mind like a bee and it's lovely flower that it was to suckle like a hungry kit. She urged to know what happened, she didn't want her father dead and Mousefur sure didn't want that either. Rainwhisker was at her side almost all the day. But today Mousefur looked happy and merry and she padded over to her daughter, love was filled in her eyes.
"Blackrose, I have great news!" Mousefur exclaimed, Rainwhisker boldly and proudly standing beside his mate.
"What?" Blackrose wanted to know very badly, she needed good news.
"Rainwhisker and I are going to have our first kits, together!" Mousefur mewed loudly and then she licked the dark gray warrior.
"That's wonderful!" Sootfur said padding up to his former apprentice and brother.
"Wow, it's great!" She looked at her mother's swollen belly and wondered why she hasn't noticed it before. Her future half-brothers and sisters squirming around inside her mother's belly made her purr. She licked her mother and said a silent good-bye to her kin and walked over to Ravenwing who was gnawing on a vole. Her belly churned.
She walked over to the black cat and sat down beside him. "Guess what!" She smiled.
"What?" The dark cat's green eyes met her violet ones.
"My mother isn't the only one who is kitting soon..."
