Hey guys! In this chapter it is pretty average and mild but nonetheless, I hope that you enjoy it! 2,180 words, which isn't my best but its okay! Thanks for all the good reviews you guys! I really do appreciate it! It makes my day whenever I get a new one! Thanks! And yes I know I am breaking my pattern by posting this, but I really wanted to write this today!
ScrougeXScarlet: Yes, she does need to get used to Snowpaw, hope they become friends! Thanks for reviewing!
Hundredth Reviewer: Hi! Thanks for reviewing! So would you like to claim your prize which is: You get to chose Redpaw's warrior name, and enter a kit for any Clan? Or should I give it to the 99th reviewer?
Kittyluv: Thank you for your time to review! And for sending in a nice review as well :)
Galefire: Oh you're fine for not reviewing :) I don't mind! Thanks for reviewing at all! And there is a little RoseXStone in this one; there will be a lot in the next one though! These next two chapters are pretty fluffy I have to say :)
Starbomb: She'll get there eventually :) Good idea for the summary too, maybe I'll post a poll about it :)
Echoflight66: Hi there! Thanks for all your compliments! And well… it's been awhile since Lionblaze and Jayfeather were here, not too long though. Look at it this way: The elder; Squirrelfang is the made-up daughter of Lionblaze and Cinderheart :)
Click Clock: Hi! Haha, thanks for calling it cute :) And don't worry; this story won't be over for awhile… I'm planning on maybe 31 chapters? I LOVE your story by the way!
Question of the Chapter: Does anyone know any good stories for me to check out? I could use a new one right now….
Chapter 26: Almost There
Rosewater shuffled her paws nervously as she gazed off in the direction of the Apprentice's den. Her pelt itched with nervousness. Snowpaw was in there, her apprentice, but Rosewater felt no obligation to take her out. Why couldn't I have gotten Leafpaw as my apprentice? I would be able to like her! She felt a warm sturdy body press against hers.
"You have to take her out sometime you know." The deep voice was unmistakably that of Stonefang.
"Why don't you take out Redpaw?" she suggested. "I'll take out Snowpaw some other time." She murmured lowly, her fur bristling.
"No Rosewater. I know that you've been through plenty of suffering lately, but that is no excuse to ignore Snowpaw." Stonefang's voice rose up to a challenge.
"Why don't I just catch up on my sleep?" Rosewater rambled, desperate to change the subject. "We're meeting Rushfall and Burningheart tonight, we'd better make sure we're wide awake." She saw perfect logic in her idea. Maybe she could get Stonefang off her tail.
"No Rosewater." Stonefang said more sternly. He gave an inward sigh. "You do know that she doesn't know of her past, right?"
"What?" Rosewater felt surprise flicker inside of her.
"Nope." Stonefang meowed. "Featherfoot and Firestripe let her believe that she was one of their own, and that she was simply the older sister of Silverkit." He explained briefly. "She has no idea why her mentor ignores her. What do you think Hailwhisker would think of you?" he challenged.
Rosewater sighed. "Hailwhisker would be disappointed." She whispered. "But she would understand. She knows that Snowpaw and I just don't get along." She heard a whine rise up in her mew but quickly pushed it back.
Stonefang frowned. "Look, Rosewater, you can come with Redpaw and me patrolling the territory if you bring Snowpaw along too." He meowed, his voice deep. "We could bring Flightbreeze and Thornbird with us too." He suggested.
Rosewater let her muscles relax for a moment. "Fine." She mumbled. "Go wake them up for me though, will you? I'll gather Thornbird and Flightbreeze and tell Stormwhisper where we're going."
Stonefang stayed solid for a moment but then gave a curt nod. "Fine." He meowed. "See you in a few." He meowed. He got to his gray paws and padded off towards the Apprentice's Den, his tail flicking swiftly.
Rosewater sighed and turned away from her view. She saw Stormwhisper and Oakstar lazily sharing tongues off in the distance. She quietly walked over to them. "Hey Stormwhisper?" she meowed.
Stormwhisper raised her dark gray head up to face the she-cat, her blue eyes dark. "Yes Rosewater?" she asked.
"I was wondering if Stonefang, Snowpaw, Redpaw, Thornbird, Flightbreeze and I could go on a patrol around the territory. Maybe catch a few fresh-kill too?" She asked, twitching her long-furred tail.
Stormwhisper nodded briefly. "Sure." She meowed.
Rosewater nodded slightly. "Okay," she mewed. "Thanks," She took a shaky breath and looked over to see Thornbird grooming himself in the shade. "Thornbird!" She called. He looked up at her. Rosewater flicked her tail, motioning for him to come and he bounded over.
"Patrol?" he asked.
"Hunting and border." Rosewater explained shortly. "Stonefang and I will bring out new apprentices." Thornbird smiled and nodded. "Stay here for a few; I need to go get Leafsparrow." She meowed.
Thornbird nodded. "I think she's still in the warrior's den." He put in briefly.
Rosewater nodded. "Okay, thanks." She mewed, trotting off for it. Her eyes glimpsed through the cracks of the apprentice den for a moment. She could see a flash of white fur and peered closer. It was Snowpaw… of course. Why couldn't Oakstar have given her a different apprentice? She just kept repeated it into her head. It brought back too many memories of Morningfeather…
"Rosewater? You've come to get me?" The voice of Flightbreeze broke Rosewater from her thoughts.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah, a patrol." She meowed, watching the light ginger she-cat rise to her paws. She led her out to find Stonefang sitting with Redpaw and Snowpaw practically trembling with excitement at his paws. Rosewater padded over to them, her strides short.
"Hi Rosewater!" Snowpaw said loudly, flashing a giddy smile. "What are we doing today? I can't wait to go out! This will be my first time out of camp! I wish Silverkit could come with us though, I wish that she was an apprentice already!"
Rosewater inhaled deeply as Snowpaw blabbered her thoughts. She felt Stonefang shoulder against her. "She's just an apprentice." She murmured lightly.
Snowpaw's green eyes turned expectantly to her mentor. "So?" she piped. "What are we doing today?"
"Patrol to see the territory." Rosewater replied curtly.
Snowpaw's gaze shown in confusion for a moment. "Okay!" she mewed before barreling into Redpaw. Her attack caught the tabby apprentice off guard and sent him bowling off of his paws.
"Hey!" he squeaked, batting at her with his paws from where he lay on the ground.
"But you'll have to act like an apprentice." Rosewater's lecture was directed at Snowpaw. "Not kits."
"Lighten up." Stonefang's voice whispered into her ear.
Rosewater looked at him with exasperation. "I'm trying!" She hissed through closed teeth.
Stonefang leaned forward and licked her forehead. "I know." He murmured, his green eyes met hers for a heartbeat and Rosewater felt stuck in place. A ragged cough broke it.
"Excuse me," She looked over to see Thornbird speaking. "But are we going or not?" he asked shortly.
Rosewater nodded. "Yes, we're going." She meowed. "Follow me," She flicked her tail and exited camp. The feeble sunlight leaked through the shadowed leaves over the cats. The leaves seemed to drip the sun off of themselves and onto the ground, warming the fur of Rosewater. This was going to be a long day….
Rushfall's POV
Rushfall sat in the tall yellow grasses of a large; seemingly endless meadow. The grass barely toward over her but it acted as good cover for all WindClan cats. She leaned out over a small pool of water; the result of last night's silver rain. The puddle reflected the image of the sun on its surface, making it light up to a silvery-blue color.
Rushfall peered at herself over it. There she saw her reflection. A scrawny she-cat stared back at her, its liquid-blue eyes filled with sorrow and pain. Her midnight-black fur was dusted to a brown-gray color, holding no sheen to it at all.
Rushfall's stomach growled in hunger. She hadn't gotten any food for the past two sunrises. Adderstar insisted that they eat in an order now, first himself, next his deputy, then medicine cat. Then all the 'higher-class' warriors would eat, ensuring the most strong and large and generally cold-hearted would survive. This had resulted in many things.
Even though Rushfall had been appointed the apprentice; Thornpaw, she was not considered a 'high-ranking' warrior. She often ate just before the elders, queens and kits. Because of those groups eating last, WindClan had lost their only elder; Poppybloom, who happened to be the former deputy; Talonfox's mate, though she had to retire early due to horrendous wounds. They had also lost the queen Bluewhisker's two kits; Blackkit and Barkkit, leaving her daughter Dewkit an only child.
Rushfall could guess that there would be more deaths to come, although Adderstar was clearly thriving. At first glance he looked absolutely menacing, no other way to describe it. And it only got worse from there. He still trained kits which had killed Thornpaw's sister Shadekit. And her other sister; and her other sister; Snowkit had been rescued by a ThunderClan patrol, much to Rushfall's relief.
WindClan was, in short; a living hell (I know cats don't really have that, but I just needed something really terrible to put in… and a 'living Dark Forest' didn't sound very good…) Rushfall despised it here. She generally had no friends. However, the 'High-ranking' warrior; Burningheart seemed to care something for her.
She had first spoken to Burningheart when he had given her a rabbit while the high warriors were feasting. He said he couldn't stand to see other cats starving, so he had given her it to eat. Rushfall had thanked him quickly, not quick to trust him.
But over time, as he was chosen to lead patrols, he often picked Rushfall to accompany him, and they had become fast friends. Rushfall nearly regretted telling Rosewater that she would have Burningheart come with her. She had been unsure about how the ginger and white tom would react. She still hadn't confronted him, and it was nearly time to leave as the sun bled out onto the horizon.
Rushfall heaved a sigh, dripping her black paw into the pool to watch the mirror ripples blow off of the momentarily dimple that she had left in it.
"Hey Rushfall!" Rushfall drew in a sharp breath of surprise as the gentle and low voice of none other than Burningheart. Rushfall watched as his long orange tabby fur emerged from the long grass. His amber eyes met hers as he padded over to sit beside her, wrapping his tail around his paws.
"Hi Burningheart." Rushfall meowed, her gaze flickering back down to her black paws.
"What are you doing out here?" Burningheart asked, clear concern tucked away in his meow.
Rushfall took in a deep breath. I'd better tell him now before it's too late. She thought. She looked over at him. He met her gaze cheerfully, his eyes bright. "Burningheart… you need to come with me to the Moonpool tonight." She said slowly.
Burningheart's tail wavered in surprise. "Oh?" he meowed. "Why's that?"
Rushfall tucked her tail over her paws and told him. Told him everything. Afterwards, she looked at him expectantly, searching his ginger face for an expression of some sort. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. What if he said no?
"Of course I'll come Rushfall." Burningheart meowed.
Rushfall let out the breath she'd been holding in. "Thank you." She whispered.
"We'd better head out now." Burningheart meowed, gazing at the sky. Streaks of pink, yellow, and orange were spread across it, tinting the clouds the same beautiful coloring. The sun had nearly disappeared behind the trees in the distance. "It's getting late." He observed.
Rushfall nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's go." She meowed, rising to her paws and giving her dusty pelt a shake. She noticed Burningheart glance at her sympathetically but brushed it off. She could take care of herself.
"I've never been to the Moonpool." Burningheart meowed, looking off uncertainly in the distance.
"Just follow me, Burningheart." Rushfall meowed, lightly brushing her tail against his flank. She took off in direction of the cave, excitement and fear boiling inside her like blood.
Stonefang's POV
Stonefang smiled as he crawled through the bramble entrance. Redpaw dragged along ahead of him. The reddish tabby tom was exhausted from the long walk around ThunderClan territory. Snowpaw walked alongside him.
"Wow," The white she-cat heaved. "That was fun!" she bounced over to where Rosewater sat, her long light brown fur blowing daintily in the breeze. Great StarClan she is pretty! Stonefang thought, absentmindedly. He couldn't help but love the fiery young warrior. There was just some part in him that wanted her to love him.
Rosewater's light blue eyes widened as her apprenticed bounded up to her. "Um…" She stuttered. She and Snowpaw hadn't spoken much on the border patrol, mostly avoiding eachother and never interacting along on. "We could go hunting?" She meowed, though it sounded like more of a question than a command.
"Great!" Snowpaw yowled. "Can Redpaw come with?" For the first time around Snowpaw, Stonefang noticed Rosewater smile slightly.
"No." she meowed gently. "But maybe Leafpaw or Ravenpaw can." She suggested.
"Okay!" Snowpaw meowed, padding over to Redpaw. "Let's share that mouse and then go to sleep." She meowed, flicking her tail over to a mouse lying in the fresh-kill pile.
Stonefang felt a stab of pity for the white cat. Poor Snowpaw. He thought. She has no idea that she was actually a WindClan kit who was nearly killed… He wondered when the time would be to tell her of her past, but pushed that thought to the back of his mind as he approached Rosewater. "Hey Rosewater," he began.
"Yes?" Rosewater tilted her head, turning it so that her blue eyes met his. Stonefang could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest with emotion.
"I told you that we'd go out into the forest before meeting Rushfall." He whispered, his tail flicking urgently.
"Oh," Rosewater murmured. "Yeah… that's right." She mewed. Her blue eyes flickered with an emotion that Stonefang couldn't name.
"Should we go?" he asked.
"Sure." Rosewater mewed.
Stonefang turned away from her, his pelt heating in embarrassment. "Alright." He murmured. "Follow me," he invited her warmly. Rosewater smiled at him and padded over to his side. They were so close that their fur was brushing. Stonefang could feel himself smiling widely inside. Maybe for just once he could give Rosewater a time that she would enjoy.