As promised, here is chapter 24! Yay! How many more chapters until the end? Only four! Then an extra bonus with sequel info. Wow, this has got to be the furthest a story of mine has ever got. I must admit, I am a bit proud of how far it has come. Once again, a huge thank you to all the people who review and keep me motivated to keep writing. You are all the reason this story has made it to 24 chapters!
Anyway, I wanted this chapter to reflect how truly miserable Rosepaw is. She is lonely, desperate, and depressed, which drives her to do everything she does. She just doesn't want to be alone. That being said, here is the fact:
Fact: If Rosepaw's siblings had not have drowned, she would have grown up as more of a balanced cat and would have stayed away from the dark path she is on now.
It made her sick. Every moment they were together made Rosepaw sick to her stomach. She could turn away, but it would always just reappear. Her life had switched from scheming and clever deception to misery in moments. Dapplepaw had joined SunClan, and no cat thought it would last. It, unfortunately, did.
Rosepaw thought that the weak she-cat couldn't take the constant pressure and disapproving looks from the SunClan warriors after her arrival. Despite this, Dapplepaw fought her hardest by volunteering for every dawn patrol, not eating until every cat was fed, and cleaning the elder's den without complaint.
Not as many cats looked down upon her anymore. Rosepaw could spin stories of her laziness, but there was no evidence. Whenever Dapplepaw was seen she was working to prove herself. It was truly sickening.
As much as Rosepaw wanted to just kill her, and the thought crossed her mind multiple times, she remembered that Ashpaw clung to her side like glue. Perhaps he had mentally guessed Rosepaw wouldn't stand for Dapplepaw's presence for long.
Dapplepaw popped into the den after a dawn patrol, her green eyes exhausted as she flopped into her nest. Rosepaw twitched an ear and rolled her eyes. The former LeafClan cat had left for another dawn patrol and returned, and meanwhile Rosepaw hadn't even gotten out of her nest.
Ashpaw leaned over and touched his nose to Dapplepaw's, letting out a purr. "Long morning?" he asked sympathetically, causing Rosepaw to gag. "You work too hard."
"It's the price I have to pay," Dapplepaw mumbled as she curled up, her eyes immediately shutting. "Oh, and don't kill me in my sleep, Rosepaw. You've been warned." With that the she-cat fell into a trance.
Rosepaw sniffed and slowly got to her paws. "Annoying fur-ball," she muttered under her breath. Ashpaw, however, heard her and shook his head at her comment. He got up as well, shaking the moss bits from his fur.
"Jealous much?" he shook his head. "Maybe you're sad that Dapplepaw is outshining you in everything and she's from an enemy clan?" He started for the entrance, his tail flicking with irritation.
Rosepaw let out a frustrated sigh, tempted to follow him and try and get back in his good graces. There's no point. Not with that fur-ball in the clan. Ashpaw had never accepted Rosepaw's advances, and promptly rejected her constantly. However, now he was just downright brutal to her. It wasn't fair, especially if he directed all his affection toward Dapplepaw.
Rosepaw padded out of the apprentice's den. The camp was slowly getting back into the swing of things with new-leaf. The fresh-kill was finally stocked and full of prey, while the sun now shined warmth all over the territory.
Rosepaw couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as she stepped into the warm rays. She glanced at the rocks that some cats were lounging on, sunning themselves and completely relaxing. She started in that direction when a voice called out to her.
"Where are you going?" It was Stoneheart, her irritating mentor. He was a senior warrior and extremely strict. It was just her luck that she would be apprenticed to him. The silver warrior trotted in her direction. His expression was annoyed, making Rosepaw inwardly groan.
"To sun myself," Rosepaw replied slowly and spoke in a tone that would compare to a warrior speaking to a young kit. "I want to lay on those rocks and be in the sun, okay?"
Stoneheart's ear twitched. "I don't think so," he meowed assertively. "I want you on patrol. And go and wake Dapplepaw. She should go too."
"She just went on a dawn patrol, then hunted!" Rosepaw snapped at him before she realized that she was defending the former LeafClan apprentice. "I'm fine with her going, though," she added quickly.
"Then why argue?"
"I automatically try and make an argument with you," Rosepaw answered, testing the warrior's patience.
"Great, then. Now you have to solely clean out the elder's den until you get your warrior name. If you get your warrior name." The warrior flicked his tail as he turned around and walked toward the entrance where a group of cats had gathered.
Rosepaw snorted and wanted to go and claws his ears off. Hold yourself together. A couple more days until your warrior ceremony. Keep yourself in check. She constantly reminded herself that Stoneheart had the deciding say in whether or not she became a warrior.
With a sigh, Rosepaw started for the apprentice's den. Dapplepaw was sound asleep inside, her fluffy tail curled over her nose. Rosepaw paused to stare at her, feeling a stab of jealousy. Dapplepaw was beautiful. It was no surprise she caught the attention of every tom. Then Rosepaw felt a stab of anger that she admitted this.
"Wake up," Rosepaw spat, giving Dapplepaw a shove with her paw. The sleepy apprentice blinked her eyes open, slightly surprised to see Rosepaw standing there.
"What do you want?" Dapplepaw muttered, rolling her eyes. Exhaustion clearly weighed down the new apprentice, making Rosepaw grow smug. Dapplepaw propped herself upright to be able to meet Rosepaw's contempt glare. "I barely get moments of sleep before you wake me up? No shock, I guess."
Rosepaw snorted and shook her head, disregarding everything she said. "I wish I could take credit for waking you up. Sadly, I can't. Stoneheart had the idea. He seems to dislike you as much as I do. That's one thing that I like about him, I suppose."
The white she-cat didn't wait for a response before she dramatically marched out of the den, tail high. She heard Dapplepaw's pawsteps behind her and felt a wave of irritation flood her mind. Couldn't Dapplepaw just ignore orders for once?
As the patrol changed direction so that they headed toward the camp again, Rosepaw quietly slipped away. Her frustration had been growing all morning, and now she was far to annoyed to walk with the patrol anymore.
She found herself crossing the thunderpath without thinking about it. Rosepaw hadn't sought out Spruce's attention ever since she had framed him for Pinepaw's murder. He obviously didn't want to talk to him, and Rosepaw feared that if she tried to trick him to be on her side again then he wouldn't fall for it, resulting in him exposing her to Hollowstar.
He, still, was Rosepaw's only "friend". Every other cat openly admitted that they did not like her and barely tolerated her. Spruce was the only cat who was eager to be around Rosepaw, and she had completely butchered any feelings he might've had.
Rosepaw's new and developing plan had fallen through in the name of Pinepaw, who meant nothing to her. She had intended to kill Dapplepaw, but the annoying furball named Pinepaw had leapt in her way. She had him pinned to the ground and could have easily freed him. However, she just had an intense desire to hurt Dapplepaw, so she killed Dapplepaw's brother.
Because of that, now she had no ally at all.
Rosepaw's thoughts led her to the fence that separated Spruce's yard with the thunderpath. She crouched down and sprang over the wall in one quick and agile movement, yet her foot barely hit the edge. Her landing was fairly good, but she was out of practice and that made her more clumsy.
The air spelled like Spruce, renewing Rosepaw's hope that he was still there. She cautiously started padding around the lawn, aware that she wasn't in Spruce's good graces.
Surely he knows I had to frame him. It's not like I wanted to! I did feel very bad...sort of. The point is that one argument or slight disagreement shouldn't change our partnership. I bet he's still in love with me. He is so clingy and annoying, but a useful scapegoat. Rosepaw found herself lost in her thoughts when a voice broke the silence.
"Rose...Rose is that you?"
Rosepaw jumped, whirling around to find Spruce glancing her up and down. Sure, he had a right to, but did he have to do it with such contempt in his eyes? It's not like his life was over or anything tragic like that! However, she breathed a sigh of relief that he was there. "Spruce...hey. I wanted to talk to-"
"How could you?" Spruce whispered, hurt clouding his vision. "You turned your back on me! You used me! I let you get away with it, too! I thought we were friends! More than that, even. I guess I was wrong if it was so easy to just betray me like that!"
It took all Rosepaw had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She tried to put on her best devastated face and gave a small nod. "I-I know, Spruce. I took you for granted. It was a mistake putting the blame on you like that. I'm sorry." She paused, a feeling of sickness washing over her as she prepared her next words. "I did lead you on to believe I loved you. Over all the time we had together...well, I began to believe my own lies. I think I do love you."
Spruce's offended expression switched to confusion. He was silent for a while, causing Rosepaw to wonder if she would have to speak again. As she was about to, he started talking. "I was going to join SunClan for you. How could I not? I thought we were completely in love."
Rosepaw almost choked on air at the comment, but tried her best to remain calm. "You never talked to me about that. We should've discussed it. But we can be together after-"
"After what?" Spruce flinched away from her, distrust written all over his face. "After you used me? I mean, that's what you planned to do all along, right? I'm stronger now. I can fend for myself." He took a step back, shaking his head. "Goodbye, Rose. I am done with you."
Rosepaw's eyes widened with shock. Rejection from Ashpaw had stung, but he was a reasonable tom. Rejection from a lowlife kittypet? That was a slap in the face. She hadn't considered a "no" for an answer. It just wasn't possible. Not with her charm or her appearance.
In a flash Rosepaw intercepted him, cutting him off on the path he walked on. "No," she snarled, her voice no longer soothing and sickeningly sweet. "No. I made you this way. You owe me my favor, or did you forget? You promised me a favor!"
Spruce jumped at her sudden menacing attitude. "I took the blame for you. You murdered Pine, but I took the fall for it. That is your favor! I don't owe you anything. Not anymore." He started to step around her when she blocked his path again. "Move," he growled mildly, still not grasping the concept of being cruel.
"I won't," Rosepaw snapped, shaking her head. "I can easily kill you. So now you owe me another favor for choosing not to kill you, okay? I've decided what you must do for me now."
Spruce snorted, turning away. "You cannot kill me. Maybe when I was a soft house cat. Now I can fight. Need I remind you that you were the one you trained me how to kill and hunt? You couldn't take my life like you took that innocent apprentice's."
Surprised by his harsh words, Rosepaw took a step back and sat down. "You think so? You really think you could win a fight against me?" She rolled her eyes. "Pathetic. But if you're feeling so confident, then why not put your words into actions? Fight me. If I win, you owe me a favor. If you win, well, then I will come clean about Pinepaw's murder."
Spruce looked down at his paws before he met her fierce green eyes. "I don't accept that challenge. I-" He hesitated, hardness setting in his gaze. "Actually, I do accept. I believe, truly, that I can beat you."
Rosepaw rolled her eyes and let out an amused purr to irritate him. She tilted her head to the side. "Make the first move then, warrior." She didn't get to her paws but waited, confident that she could beat him. "I'm ready."
Spruce's eyes flooded with concentration and he stiffened, analyzing how he would beat her. Rosepaw waited silently, though in her head she pleaded that he would just make a move. Her patience was thinning.
In a flash, Spruce launched at her with his claws outstretched. Rosepaw was considerably faster than him and dodged his attack easily. It didn't help that he now ate kittypet food again, which increased his weight. That, in turn, made him slower.
His failed attack made him stumble for balance again. A wave of doubt flickered in his eyes before he lunged at her again, a slight improvement in his speed. Rosepaw still ducked out of the way and slammed into his side, knocking him over. Instead of seizing the opportunity to pin him to the ground, she jumped back. However, his reached his paw out just in time to trip her, causing Rosepaw to lose her own footing.
Spruce was to his feet and attacking her in the moments before she could regain her composure. Rosepaw let out a hiss as her strength weakened after his continued hits.
In a swift motion, Rosepaw darted away from him, her pelt stinging all over from his repeated claw swipes. She let out a hiss and eyed him carefully, noticing a dent in his armor. He was tiring. The odds were that he most likely did not practice in the time she and he had been apart.
Knowing she had to strike soon, Rosepaw sprang at him, aiming at his left side but swerving to the right side at the last moment, tumbling him off his paws. In a flash she was on top of him, placing her paws tightly on his throat.
"I win."
"Fine," Spruce choked out, his voice hoarse. "You win. Now what do you want?"
There it is! Let's say...231 for a new chapter? I can honestly say that I wanted to make myself have Spruce win the fight. It couldn't happen, reasonably. He hasn't been trained nearly as much as Rosepaw and eats cat food and sleeps all day.
Next chapter (excited for this one!): The night of a Gathering, the same day they received their warrior names, Cream(?) stumbles upon Rose(?)'s plan to eliminate Dapple(?). When she tries to stop her, she is unaware that Rose(?) has manipulated her and ends up as part of the plot, leading to a showdown with all three sisters and Rose(?) with her accomplice.
Question: As mentioned in the preview, the characters get their warrior names. So, I want suggestions! I have some in mind, but tell me what you like. If I like it, I might just change my mind!