Oh my gosh! 100 REVIEWS! That is absolutely amazing! Thanks you so much! I seriously can't express this in words; but to sum it up: I love you guys! Thanks you! I really never thought that this story would reach 100 reviews! It absolutely dumbfounds me every time I say it! I could just have this whole chapter saying: Yippee! Hooray! I got 100 reviews! But what fun would that be? This is a really long author's note but… I'm excited! Also, to my 100th reviewer (you know who you are!) You did not post a name when you put up your review which is kinda tough because I had a reward for whoever was my 100th reviewer! I will tell them if I ever find out who it is, otherwise it will go to my 99th reviewer. Thanks you guys! And for the POV change, it narrowed down to either Rushfall or Stonefang so please give me your input! Either would work for the chapter after this one! I'm in a good mood today also because there was a storm! And I LOVE storms! A character with the prefix 'Storm' or 'Rain' will probably be coming up here sometime… hehe… Despite my fabulous mood, this chapter is pretty dramatic and depressing… huh… well here we are!
ScrougeXScarlet: Ooo cool new name change; didn't take me long to figure out you are zestia, haha! And thanks, the new POV will be next chapter too
Starbomb: Haha yes, Rosewater is liking Stonefang she just hasn't admitted it yet
Brighttalon: Okay, I will, thanks!
Pengirl: Oh yes, Rosewater hates Snowkit :(, but it won't last forever! I wouldn't make your kitty hated! Thanks for reviewing! Post the next chapter for ASSOTAC as soon as you like! :3 I really wanna know what happens next in it though!
100th Reviewer: Yes, you know who you are… but I don't! Thanks for the compliments, but please let me know who this is! Thanks again!
Question of The Chapter: Can anyone think of a better summary for Roses in The Dark? I don't think that my current one is very good. Appreciated if you can help
Chapter 25: Anger
Rosewater gave a hiss of frustration as she felt a drop of water splash against her nose. She jumped back in surprise from it. She shook her soggy pelt and looked ahead of her. Mouse-dung. The vole got away. She looked up to see raindrops pouring out of the sky which was covered in long gray clouds that drifted drearily across it. She didn't know why they had to be hunting at the moment, under the conditions of very heavy rainfall, but she didn't have a say in it, and the Clan needed to be fed anyways.
It had been about a moon since she had first discussed the issue of Adderstar with Rushfall, and she felt nervous about the upcoming meaning. She had Stonefang to keep her safe though… not that she entirely needed him, it just felt good to have a friend with her.
She blinked. Was that all that Stonefang was to her right now? A friend? She had a feeling their relationship had been taken a little further, but she wasn't quite sure. She wasn't really good on the whole 'toms' subject, they were so confusing (Boys say girls are confusing, girls say guys are… hehe, I agree with girls on this one!). She sighed. Maybe Shinedove could help her out a bit; she needed a bit of sisterly time anyways.
Another subject had come up to. Redkit, Ravenkit, Leafkit, and… Snowkit. Were ready for their apprentices' ceremony which would be later today. Rosewater was hoping that she could maybe mentor Ravenkit, Redkit, or Leafkit. She wanted to keep her hopes up on that. She felt that it was time for some experience on her part.
"Rosewater!" The light brown she-cat stiffened up at the sound of Hailwhisker's voice. She couldn't help but feel as though Hailwhisker, being her former mentor, would always have the authority to scold her over any other cat. Nonetheless, Rosewater felt attached to the gray and white she-cat as though she was her mother. Maybe just like a replacement.
"Yes?" Rosewater turned around to see Hailwhisker padding towards her.
The she-cat's whiskers twitched. "Did you catch anything?" she asked with a flick of her tail.
Rosewater ducked her head. "A mouse and a thrush." She mewed, pointing over to the small lump in the ground under which they were buried.
Hailwhisker shook her wet pelt and gave Rosewater a curt nod. "Very well." She mewed. "It's rather wet out here, I'm surprised that you turned up with that bird." She meowed.
Rosewater nodded. "Me too." She admitted. "It was hiding in the shade of the Sky Oak." She meowed. "I found the mouse just underneath it."
Hailwhisker smiled. "Good to see that you are putting my training into use, someday you'll make a fine mentor." She praised with a purr.
Rosewater sat up straighter in pride. "Thanks." She murmured. This has got to get me some points on the chances of mentoring one of the kits. She thought eagerly, flicking her tail. "Did the rest of the patrol catch anything?" she asked.
Hailwhisker gave a weak smile. "Well, me, Rockheart, you, and Forestclaw did." She meowed, as if trying to sound cheerful. Rosewater cocked her head. Why did the she-cat sound so nervous?
"What about my father?" she asked, remembering that Grayblaze had come on this hunting patrol as well.
Hailwhisker breathed in a deep sigh. "He didn't catch a thing." She meowed. "But you know how he's been… since your mother's death." Her voice dropped low and she glanced at her paws.
Rosewater frowned. She hadn't really spoken to Grayblaze since Morningfeather had died, which was sad considering it had been several moons. She had noticed him occasionally eating by himself or walking through the forest, alone. Her father truly looked as though he'd lost his last friend. But he still has Shinedove, Lionfire and me! She thought desperately.
"Let's head back." Hailwhisker meowed gently.
Rosewater nodded, padding over to her pile of prey and uncovering them to swiftly scoop them up in her jaws by their tails. She trotted after Hailwhisker quickly, eager to return to camp. She followed her to where the other cats waiting patiently. Her heart fell in her chest when she saw Grayblaze staring blankly down at the ground, his green eyes hazy.
Hailwhisker took lead with Rockheart flanking her and Forestclaw fell in behind. Rosewater fell into step beside Grayblaze. She took a cautious glance over to her father who looked ahead, his green gaze empty and meaningless, his long gray fur matted and tangled. How have I let this happen to him? Rosewater thought sadly. It was her fault. Maybe if she had comforted him when Morningfeather died than he wouldn't have gotten to this stage.
It didn't take too long for the patrol to clomp through the puddles of water and grass until they got to camp. Rosewater pushed in through the bramble entrance to be engulfed by the scents of her Clanmates. It was much drier in camp, thank StarClan. She padded to the fresh-kill pile and dropped off her catch.
"Hey Rosewater," Rosewater turned around to see Stonefang approaching her, his dark gray fur slimmed into his muscular body from the amount of water that clung to it. He gave his pelt a shake, spraying the clear droplets of water onto the creamy brown she-cat who stood before him.
"Hey!" Rosewater gaped, bouncing backwards from the tom, though her light blue eyes sparkled in amusement.
Stonefang purred at her and padded closer. "So, happy hunting?" He asked, tilting his head towards the thrush and mouse that had been recently dropped.
"Good enough." Rosewater grumbled.
Stonefang nudged her. "Lighten up!" he meowed, pressing his sturdy body against her smaller one.
Rosewater smiled weakly. "I'm worried about my father." She murmured to him.
Stonefang's eyes glistened with sadness. "Don't worry too much." He mumbled. "I've noticed that he's been more down lately, but it won't last." He gave her a reassuring lick to the ear. "All will turn out well."
"I wish," Rosewater scoffed, blinking her eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "We have to meet Rushfall and Burningheart tomorrow night, Grayblaze is depressed over Morningfeather's death, Larchwing is expecting Lionfire's kits, and we still have the overall threat of WindClan looming over us." She hissed, her fur fluffing out.
She felt the rhythm of a tongue across her fur. "Stonefang! Whatever you do can't make it better!" Rosewater whimpered, her voice wavering. She noticed Stonefang back away in surprise. "This isn't a nursery story! WindClan could wipe us out! Lionfire could be banished! Rushfall and Burningheart could attack us! Our likeliness of having a 'happy ending' is very low."
She heard Stonefang heave a sigh but stayed tense. This wasn't how things were supposed to turn out. Not at all. She felt a dark rage boil inside of her. Nothing would go well for them. How could it? How in the name of StarClan could it? "Rosewater, let me take you out tomorrow night, just like back when we were kits; remember? I was the WindClan warrior and you RiverClan?"
Rosewater just nodded her head feebly, making no attempt to take the words that Stonefang said to heart. She shouldn't be mad at him, not at all. All he had done was help her. But something had just snapped inside of her when she had looked at Grayblaze's condition.
"Okay then, it's a deal? After our meeting with Rushfall?" Stonefang asked his tone light but his eyes dead serious.
"Sure Stonefang." Rosewater grumbled.
Stonefang leaned over and gave her shoulder one last lick. "Don't worry too much Rosewater." He whispered. "Things will turn out alright." With that, he left her side. Rosewater suppressed a deep sigh. Things wouldn't get better. They'd get worse. She knew it.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Rosewater felt surprise enter her when she heard Oakstar's creaky yowl. She turned around to see the brown tom standing proudly. Rosewater's gaze drifted over to where Redkit, Ravenkit, Leafkit, and Snowkit sat, their different colored pelt glistening.
Oh right. Apprentice ceremony. Rosewater thought. She padded underneath the Highledge to sit beside Shinedove. Her sister watched in excitement.
"Isn't this great?" the silver tabby and white she-cat purred. "I just love ceremonies! Do you remember when we had our apprentice ceremony?" she asked, nudging Rosewater lightly. "Hey Rosewater… you okay?" she mumbled, turning her blue eyes on her sister expectantly.
"Yeah," Rosewater blinked. "I'm fine." She meowed dryly.
"By naming apprentices, we show StarClan that ThunderClan remains strong." Oakstar paused for a moment. "Redkit, Leafkit, Ravenkit, and Snowkit-"Rosewater cringed when she heard that last name. Was it Snowkit's fault as well that Grayblaze was so sad? "-have reached the age of six moons, and they will be commended as apprentices upon this." Oakstar was meowing deeply.
"Redkit, come forward."
Rosewater noticed the reddish tabby tom's eyes glisten in excitement as he padded up to his Clan leader proudly, carrying his small body upright with dignity.
"From this moment on until you've reached your warrior name you'll be known as Redpaw." Oakstar meowed. Redpaw smiled widely, his eyes scouring the cats underneath the Highledge. "Stonefang," Rosewater couldn't help but grin when she heard her best friend's name be called. How great! He was getting an apprentice! It lightened her mood slightly.
"You will mentor Redpaw. I trust you to pass down your wisdom and intelligence to him." Stonefang padded towards his new apprentice as ThunderClan chanted the red tom's name. The two touched noses, Redpaw blistering with excitement.
When the chants died down, Oakstar continued. "Leafkit," The brown tabby and white she-cat timidly stepped forward. "From this day until you reach your warrior name, you will be known as Leafpaw." Oakstar's eyes searched over his Clan. "Shinedove."
Rosewater could feel the surprise break out from her sister who sat next to her. She leaned over and touched the silver cat's ear. "Congratulations." She murmured.
"You will mentor Leafpaw." Oakstar called. The Clan chanted her name in happiness, as if putting all their worries and concerns beside them. If only Rosewater could do the same.
"Ravenkit," The leader meowed deeply. The black and white tom padded over to the leader. He stood confidently and proudly. "You will now be known as Ravenpaw. Your mentor shall be Dawnpool. I trust her to pass her hunting-skills and understanding to you."
Rosewater could figure why Oakstar appointed Dawnpool as Ravenpaw's mentor. The black tom carried a bit too much cockiness in his stride. The Clan shouted out. That left one cat left. Snowkit. Looked like Rosewater wouldn't become a mentor after all.
The white she-cat sat nervously all by herself as her friends had gone to join their mentors. Her green eyes skittered across the Clan.
"Snowkit," Oakstar meowed. Snowkit rose to her paws and shyly advanced towards the ThunderClan leader. "From this moment until you've reached your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw."
Rosewater looked about her Clan, curious on who would be mentoring the former WindClan cat.
"Rosewater." Her blood froze when he said that name. He couldn't be serious. He couldn't. He knew Rosewater's feeling towards the white apprentice. He surely wasn't sane. This wouldn't end well. Rosewater and Snowpaw were fire and water to one another. They didn't get along nor would they ever.
"You will mentor Snowpaw."
No.
"I trust you to pass down your fighting-skills and quick-thinking."
No!
"Snowpaw! Snowpaw!" All of ThunderClan chanted except for Rosewater. She numbly walked over to her new apprentice, struggling to hold her lip down to keep it from curling up into a snarl as she leaned down to the white she-cat. Snowpaw noticed her hesitation and Rosewater could smell fear-scent emitting from her. Nonetheless, she bravely stretched forward to touch noses with her new mentor.
This wouldn't end well.
Yeah, sort of a sad ending. Thank you so much on helping me get 100 reviews! Again, if you are the 100th reviewer, please say so, because I need to find out who you are Happy trails!