Hey guys! Due to my surplus amount of laziness in updating my stories, I have a new order in which they will be updated in! It goes: Roses in the Dark, Calm before the Storm, and then A Scared She-Cat of the Ancient Clans. I will update my other stories maybe when Roses in the Dark is finished… Anyways… HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Yeah a little late… I know… and this chapter isn't very romantic. So consider the last chapter your Valentine's Day surprise! You know… Larchwing being expecting and all…. Anyways, onward with the story!

Galefire: Haha! Yes the kits will most likely look like Lionfire because Badgerstorm is black and white and both Larchwing and Lionfire are golden kitties! Here you are with the next chapter! A bit of a surprise guest in this one!

Pengirl: Actually, I had something very special in mind for Bailkit, sorry but would you please change the first part of her name? Sorry it's just that it's not like an object they would know considering a 'bail' is a legal paper. Again, sorry about that. Also, what does she look like? What's her personality? Thanks for reviewing buddy! Post ASSOTAC (did I get that right?) anytime!

Kittyluv: Thank you! Keep reviewing!

Starbomb: Haha why yes, yes she does

Chapter 23: What to Do

Rosewater waded through the water. It reached up to her neck, but she could walk now. Why was she doing this? She couldn't be caught again at the Moonpool, sharing tongues with StarClan. Especially now since she was a warrior. She had to be more mature now or she'd loose everyone's respect.

Her paws fleeted across the ground swiftly. Thoughts splashed inside of her mind. She looked up at the moon, mostly covered by the dark clouds of a storm. Great. She thought. Just what I need. Foul weather to match the fortune that tonight has brought.

She couldn't help but not feel very joyous about Larchwing's recent news. Lionfire had seemed excited; after all he was becoming a father. It's who he was becoming a father of's kits that really irritated Rosewater. A cat from another Clan. How great was that? Should she be proud of him? Or not?

With a sigh, Rosewater gave her chest fur a comforting lick. What would StarClan think of this? They would probably tell the Clans to banish Lionfire and Larchwing. It was against their code after all, and Rosewater couldn't blame them for being angry after all.

She thought back to the nursery stories she had heard as a kitten… back with her… mother. She quickly pushed the thought of Morningfeather to the back of her mind. She needed to focus now. The ancient tale told of Firestar's daughter, the medicine cat Leafpool who had (SPOILER!) had kits with a WindClan warrior. Leafpool hadn't been banished, only demoted from medicine cat as legend tells at. Not to mention, her kits, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf had turned out to be part of a prophecy that saved the forest. Maybe that would count for something… right?

Rosewater shook her head of the thought. StarClan would judge on what happened now, not what happened in the past. Who knows, maybe Lionfire and Larchwing's kits would be important to a prophecy of some sort.

Rosewater drew in a quick breath as she reached the small stream that lead to the Moonpool. She continued along it before casting a glance back at the island. It was too far away to tell if Larchwing and Lionfire were still there, but at the moment it didn't matter to her. She had a duty for them, or as she'd rather her brother.

The grass felt sharp against her paws and the gentle warm wind blew her light brown fur back. She blinked her light blue eyes as she saw the small cover nearing. She heard the soft trickle of water inside of it. She drew in a long breath and padded inside. Nobody would catch her this time. Nobody could catch her.

She walked inside, engulfed in darkness within a matter of seconds. She let her eyes adjust to it before walking onward, until she saw the reflection of the moon in the calm dark waters of the Moonpool. Rosewater smiled. Every time she came, she was overcome by its beauty.

She padded over to it and crouched down beside it. I'm ready. She thought. She opened her jaws and lapped up some of the water. Great StarClan it tasted so pure, it was after all, the water of their ancestors. She sat up from it, feeling a new exhaustion dab at her eyelids. Stifling a yawn, Rosewater padded over to curl up in a ball and drift asleep.

Rosewater stood in a grassy clearing, surrounded by thick, large, healthy and enchanting trees. Rosewater drew in a breath and was met with the cold crisp air, and of course the lovely smell of the pine. It was simply delectable. As much as Rosewater hated to admit it, visiting StarClan seemed a break from her current reality, it was so admirable and relaxing here, and Rosewater loved it.

However, she had to do something right now, for the greater good of her family and Clan. She flicked her tail and looked around, waiting for somebody to show up. A sudden scent caught her nose.

Mother!

Rosewater whipped around to be nose to nose with none other than Morningfeather. Pure joy emitted from her soul and she broke out into a loud purr. "Mother!" she cried.

Morningfeather smiled at her, her green eyes brightening as well. "Ah, my daughter, how good it is to see you." She meowed. "You have already seen me after my death though, haven't you?" she asked, lazily wavering her furry striped tail back and forth.

Rosewater thought for a moment. "Oh yes!" she meowed, remembering back to her warrior ceremony. "Of course!" she purred. She stepped back to get a better view of Morningfeather. The she-cat's brown tabby and white fur was long and luscious, floating with ease in the crisp air. Her green eyes were bright as the sun and small stars were entwined with her fur.

"Oh, but you didn't just come here to see me now did you?" Her mother asked.

Rosewater faltered for a moment. She didn't want to have to talk to her mother over Lionfire's current situation. "Well… no…" she murmured. "But it is so good to see you again!" she added, trying to lighten the mood that had just fell over you. "I've missed you so much! So have Shinedove and Lionfire! And Grayblaze of course!"

Rosewater felt surprised as she said that last name. Grayblaze. She hadn't spoken to her father much since Morningfeather's death. Rosewater had expected him to move on as had the others tried. Rosewater crinkled her nose to try and think to how he might be doing.

"I have missed you too my daughter. But we must discuss the current matter." Morningfeather meowed, clearly detectable seriousness in her meow.

As if on cue, Rosewater noticed a ginger pelt slip from the undergrowth. Rosewater parted her jaws in joy. "Brightpaw!" She exclaimed to her sister, and the ginger she-cat sat up beside her mother proudly.

"Yes, it's me, Rosewater," she mewed, a joy and pride in her meow.

Rosewater felt her heart drop downward. She looked to the ground and reflected back to her thoughts the day of her warrior ceremony.

Brightpaw should be here.

Rosewater looked at her sister. Brightpaw was stuck. Stuck forever with an apprentice's name, stuck forever without a love. Stuck forever without growing up strong. Stuck forever. Rosewater felt ashamed. "I'm sorry Brightpaw…" she murmured.

Brightpaw only smiled at her, much to her surprise. "I may never be able to grow and live life," she murmured. "But I can still grow wiser each day as you do as well."

Rosewater grinned weakly. "Right…" she mumbled, shuffling her paws in shame. It was her fault that Brightpaw had died. Nobody else could deny it.

"Now, Rosewater." Morningfeather's voice broke the uncomfortable silence. "About Lionfire."

Rosewater noticed Brightpaw's head cast down as if in disappointence in her brother. We have a right to be disappointed in him. Rosewater protected her sister. And it was true. Lionfire never should have fallen in love with a RiverClan cat.

"What do we do with the kits?" Rosewater asked softly, looking to her deceased family for help.

"I say they live in RiverClan with their mother, under the impression that Badgerstorm is the father forever." Morningfeather meowed confidently. "That would lead to the most normal lives they could possibly have, and as for Lionfire, well less interaction with them would result in him potentially becoming attached. Who knows? Perhaps he could find a good she-cat in ThunderClan for him."

Rosewater hated to admit it, but it seemed her mother had some logic in her theory. And then Brightpaw spoke up.

"And I say that you split the kits up." The ginger she-cat meowed. "Maybe, Lionfire can raise one and Larchwing the other. Tell the kits' who their family, but make them swear not to tell another soul." Brightpaw meowed.

"However," Morningfeather broke in, staring sharply at her ginger daughter. "Can you hold a kit to its word?"

"Look at me mother." Brightpaw meowed. "I was barely over a kit when I died. Shouldn't that tell you something?" Morningfeather was silent.

Rosewater glanced between them. "So… which one do you both agree on?" she asked desperately.

"Well," A voice echoed from inside the forest. Rosewater glanced at Brightpaw and Morningfeather to find them perfectly relaxed and calm. Rosewater shuffled her paws nervously.

"Um… guys… who was that?" she asked softly.

"I have my own idea of what you should do." The soft voice came again; it was obviously a she-cat. "And I have experience." Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from the ferns. Rosewater looked over at the newcomer. It was a light brown tabby she-cat with a white chest, belly, paws, and tail-tip. Her eyes were a startling amber color and she stood with pride in her stance.

"Who are you?" Rosewater spoke, her voice loud and unwavering to the newcomer. She couldn't let her see her this weak right now.

"My dear," The she-cat murmured. "My name is Leafpool, daughter to Firestar and Sandstorm, mother to Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf."

Rosewater drew in a quick breath. Was it really? The one cat whose name had gone down in history along with her families? Rosewater glanced at her family and noticed Morningfeather nod to her. So it was. "Go on then." Rosewater spoke. "What is your idea?"

"I say that you tell your leaders and medicine cats already." She meowed, slightly hastily. "Perhaps if I would have told my father he would have helped me through this."

"But the leader was your father." Rosewater pointed out. "I'm certain he would have helped you, for my case on the other hand, I'm pretty sure Oakstar hates me."

Leafpool shook her head vigorously. "Oakstar doesn't hate you my dear. He is only worried."

"Worried about what?" Rosewater asked, more harshly than intended.

Leafpool sighed. "Let's not speak of this now." She meowed. Her eyes clouded over for a moment. "Our time is shortening. We must get to the point!"

"Than what do we do?" Rosewater asked, kneading her claws in and out of the soft ground below in frustration and impatience.

"I told you," Leafpool meowed calmly. "Tell both Clans' leaders and medicine cats. Start with the medicine cats, they have a stronger sense for what is right." She looked to her paws. "Well… except for me of course."

Much to Rosewater's own surprise, she padded forward and pressed her nose comfortingly into the ancient cats' fur. "It' okay." She murmured. "You are very kind and helpful." She meowed. "Not to mention forgiving… but does StarClan approve of this? They have broken your code you realize?"

Leafpool nodded hastily. "Yes, they have, and for which they shall be punished, but not in ways that we may speak of now." She meowed. "For the meanwhile, tell your medicine cats okay Rosewater? Get help."

On that final note, Leafpool streaked away back into the forest. Rosewater turned back to her mother and sister. "So…" she murmured. "What do you think of her idea?"

"It should work." Brightpaw mewed cheerfully.

Morningfeather's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Rosewater, my daughter, you must awaken." She meowed urgency. "Goodbye my pride," she murmured. She turned to Brightpaw and together they glazed back from where they came.

"No!" Rosewater was surprised at the crack in her meow with grief. "Please! Don't leave me again! Please!"

Her world was suddenly engulfed in darkness. Rosewater felt something prodding against her side. A paw. Blearily she opened her eyes to look into the face of a slim black she-cat who smelt undoubtedly of WindClan.

Oo Cliffy for ya! Hope you enjoyed this one. For some reason I had a really tough time getting inspired to write it, so I listened to a few songs and this came out of it! Also, Morningfeather's song to her daughter, Rosewater would be 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack, check it out! Thanks for reading! Who do you think the black WindClan kitty is? Review Please!

~Mistyflower~