Woohoo! I reached 20! Next up, 30 (I know that's asking for a lot, sorry!) I apologize that I didn't answer reviews last time, I will now:
Starbomb: Well sadly, in my story WindClan is mean, but they were made that way by Adderstar. And yes, isn't Rosepaw fearless? And Leopardheart will be missed.
zestia240: I liked Turtleblood too; glad to hear Rosepaw is popular and not hated.
Pengirl: Well I'd prefer if you didn't post a whole two chapters on the review part, sorry, but it's sort of just for the reviews, but I was wondering, why don't you just publish it yourself? Do you have an account? Also, I think your story sounds really good! But can you explain a little more on the dragons?
hi1000000: Oh hi hi1000000! Welcome to my story, glad to hear you've liked it so far!
Onward! This one is kind of dramatic, and sad, and it made me sad… what's with all the depressing chapters you ask? Because Rosepaw needs to experience the treachery of the prophecy. StarClan isn't too kind to her.
Chapter 9: Live and Let Go
Rosepaw trotted happily after he mentor. "So where are we going?" She asked. Hailwhisker cast a glance back at her. "To the Sky Oak." She meowed. "It's a big oak tree down by the lake." "Why are we going there?" Rosepaw was determined to learn. She wanted to be the best warrior ever!
"Leaf-bare is here." Hailwhisker meowed. "All the prey has gone into the warmth of the undergrowth. I want to train you how to stalk there. The snow is coming soon as well." Rosepaw cocked her head curiously.
"How do we hunt in snow?" Rosepaw asked. "For another day, Rosepaw," The gray and white she-cat answered, coming to a stop. Rosepaw walked to her, tilting her head back to see the giant tree. The Sky Oak. She thought. Suiting name.
"So how do I learn the famous ThunderClan stalk?" Rosepaw asked, dropping low and wavering her tail in excitement. Hailwhisker mrrowed in amusement. "Not quite, watch me," she meowed. Rosepaw turned to her mentor and studied her carefully.
Hailwhisker's gray and white body was very low, her belly fur not quite brushing against the frozen grass. Her tail was as straight as a stick, pointing out behind her, not rustling any ferns. She began to slink forward, her paw steps too quiet for Rosepaw to hear.
"That's amazing!" Rosepaw squeaked. Hailwhisker sat up quickly. "Thanks Rosepaw, but could you please be quieter, you're going to wake up all the prey in the forest." "Oh, yeah sure thing," Rosepaw meowed, her voice quieting.
"So what do I get to stalk?" she asked. Hailwhisker sat before her, as if expecting this question. Has she had an apprentice before? Rosepaw wondered. "Tell me what you smell." Hailwhisker meowed. Rosepaw twitched her ears and inhaled deeply through her nose.
"There is a mouse." She murmured, taking another breath. "A squirrel too." She meowed brightly. "Up in that tree." She flicked her tail up the Sky Oak. "I bet that would feed three warriors." She meowed.
Hailwhisker nodded in agreement. "But you have to think, Rosepaw." She meowed. "You could risk your life going up that tree to chase a squirrel." "I'm not scared!" Rosepaw insisted. Hailwhisker blinked at her. "You have to take precautions seriously." She meowed. "You could risk your life for a squirrel that would last a day."
Rosepaw nodded in grudging agreement. "So I'll go after the mouse then?" Rosepaw asked. Hailwhisker gave her an encouraging nod. "Go ahead." She meowed, flicking her tail to the ferns where the mouse hid.
Rosepaw drew in a sharp breath. She stepped lightly on her paws, creeping over to it. Her blue eyes pin-pointed on a large mouse scuffling in the fallen, dried up leaves. I can do this. She thought. She felt her paws itch to jump. No! Not yet, just a little longer.
The mouse walked closer to her. Rosepaw launched off her forelegs, sending her flying into the mouse. She hooked it up in her paws and tucked around it, killing it with the sharp stabs in it she had made with her claws.
"Good job Rosepaw!" Hailwhisker cried in triumph, racing over to her apprentice. "Thanks!" Rosepaw meowed, feeling her creamy brown pelt grow hot with embarrassment. "Now," Hailwhisker returned to mentoring her.
"What do we do if we want to gather more prey?" she asked. "We bury it." Rosepaw answered, dropping the mouse at her paws. Hailwhisker nodded. "Very good, but I think that this mouse will do for now, let's bring it back."
Rosepaw nodded in agreement, scooping it up in her jaws. "Let's go!" she meowed. Hailwhisker purred in amusement. "All right," she meowed. "Lead the way!" Rosepaw nodded, racing towards camp. She and Hailwhisker reached their shortly and headed in.
I can't wait to see what my Clanmates think of my first catch! She thought as she walked in. She was surprised to see her brother, Lionpaw, surrounded by ThunderClan cats. She padded closer to see him standing triumphantly over a fat pigeon.
Morningfeather sat right next to him, smiling widely. "I can't believe you caught this on your first try Lionpaw!" she meowed, pride filled in her eyes. Lionpaw just smiled. Rosepaw dropped of her mouse before pushing her way through the crowd to stand by her mother.
"Oh, Rosepaw, your back!" Morningfeather meowed. "So, what did you catch?" she asked. Rosepaw struggled to hide her embarrassment in herself. "A mouse." She meowed. Rosepaw could catch Morningfeather effort to hide her disappointment in her mew. "Well good catch dear." She meowed.
Rosepaw nodded glumly, casting a glance over to her brother, who just stood there smiling, taking in all the admiration. He deserves it. She thought, trying to sound upbeat for her brother as she walked over to her mentor.
"Why did we hunt in the roots where the little prey goes?" Rosepaw asked. Hailwhisker turned her icy blue gaze on her. "Because Rosepaw, I figured you needed to learn how to hunt for when it got colder outside and all the big prey is gone."
"But why?" Rosepaw asked. "I could have caught that squirrel in the Sky Oak." Hailwhisker's eyes darkened. "No Rosepaw, you know that would have been very dangerous. And think of it this way. With me getting you started on hunting in leaf-bare, you have an advantage when the snow comes.
Rosepaw nodded trying to sound cheerful, but she couldn't help but think back to that squirrel. She caught herself quickly. What would I be thinking? I can't even climb yet! She picked up her mouse and headed for the Elder's Den.
She ducked her head inside to see Squirrelfang dozing off in a corner and Troutclaw grooming himself in his nest. "Troutclaw!" Rosepaw mewed, padding over to the dark gray tom. Troutclaw looked up at her. "Hello Rosepaw." He murmured.
"Congratulations on your apprentice ceremony." He murmured. "Thanks," Rosepaw mumbled. "Here," she meowed, dropping the mouse at his paws. "I caught this today. Hailwhisker taught me to catch it from the roots of the Sky Oak."
"Ah," Troutclaw said nodding his head. "I remember the Sky Oak, all high and mighty." He tilted his head as though thinking back to it. "Thank you for the mouse." He meowed, settling into it. "Will you tell me about the battle yet?"
Troutclaw froze. "The battle." He repeated and sighed. "I suppose you are old enough now, aren't you." Rosepaw nodded eagerly. "Well, I was a warrior at the time. WindClan-
"Help!"
"Did you hear that?" Rosepaw asked, her eyes widening with fright. Troutclaw nodded. "Go check it out now." He meowed. Rosepaw raced out of the Elder's Den to see cats gathering where Dawnpaw stood, bloody and bruised.
"Dawnpaw!" Rosepaw gasped, pushing in front. "Badger!" she breathed. "Near the abandoned two-leg nest! I was with Brightpaw and our mentors, they're still there, help!"
Rosepaw didn't need to hear anymore. She slid past Dawnpaw and raced full out to the two-leg nest. The wind buffeted her fur back. She wasn't going to let this badger hurt her sister! She felt like there was thunder on her paws. She froze when she heard yowling.
She quickly located the black and white beast, thwacking Forestclaw aside. She saw Firestripe standing side by side with Brightpaw, clawing at the badger. Rosepaw raced forward to help. "Leave them alone!" she hissed, leaping onto its face.
She clawed at it and heard her sister gasp. The badger gave its head a tremendous shake, sending Rosepaw flying off of it. She hit the ground hard as the badger advanced on her. Its shiny black eyes shown in hatred and rage.
Rosepaw didn't feel any fear though, she felt exhilarated at the battle. That was until it struck her. She gave a cry of pain as it tore her leg. Forestclaw was lying on the ground a ways away, and Firestripe had gone to his side.
Luckily Brightpaw was there. Or rather, unluckily. The ginger she-cat ran into the badger as it was about to claw Rosepaw again. The badger roared in fury as Brightpaw leapt for its face, clawing into its beady little eyes.
Rosepaw got to her paws again, although one was bleeding profusely. Then horror struck. It struck hard and fast that Rosepaw barley got a word in. The badger, now a bloody mess, whacked Brightpaw to the ground and tore into her. Brightpaw screeched in pain.
"No! Firestripe, help!"Rosepaw yowled. Firestripe looked up from his friend and ran over knocking into the badger. Brightpaw's breathing came heavy and fast. Rosepaw knelt over her sister, grabbing a leaf to press into the worst wound to try and sustain the bleeding. "Hang in there Brightpaw." She murmured, through fear was striking her heart.
Firestripe was driving the badger back and Rosepaw rushed to help him. Together they chased it off. Just as the patrol of cats showed up. What took them so long! Rosepaw thought as she hurried over to her sister. The patrol consisted of warriors, Stormwhisper, Iceblossom and Petalpaw.
"Go see Forestclaw," Iceblossom directed her apprentice. "His conditions are worse than those of Brightpaw. The white she-cat bent over Brightpaw, unwrapping herbs from the leaf package she had carried.
Grayblaze ran over to stand next to Rosepaw. His eyes were first at Brightpaw, but then flickered to Rosepaw. "Rosepaw, you're hurt!" he exclaimed, looking at her leg. Rosepaw looked down at it. It looked mangled and torn. She hadn't noticed it much before. "It's nothing." Rosepaw said passively, her view turning to Brightpaw again.
Her sister's breaths were jagged as the blood seeped from her stomach. Then her eyes clouded and she stopped breathing.
Rosepaw froze. It couldn't be true. No. It couldn't. "Brightpaw!" Rosepaw cried, rushing past Iceblossom to push her nose into her sister's fur. No. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't. She could hear her father's cried from behind her.
Sadness clung to her pelt like a burr. Brightpaw, she had always been funny and cheerful. She couldn't die! IT wasn't fair! First it was Leopardheart, and now her own sister, Brightpaw! She gave a cry of anguish.
"Rosepaw, let go, we need to take her back to camp." "No!" Rosepaw choked, her paws felt heavy as stones. She would never get to be a warrior. Never run through the forests again. "Why StarClan!" she wailed as she stepped back.
Grayblaze wrapped his tail around her, resting his head on her chin protectively. "It'll be okay Rosepaw." He murmured. Rosepaw shook her head slowly. "It can't happen… This can't happen!" Grayblaze closed his eyes as Rosepaw was swallowed in a pool of grief.
Aw sad chappie. Lots of those lately aren't there? I need to add a little more drama in the story instead of constant action and death; I'll add some juicy stuff in the next one. Hope you liked it, review please!