So sorry for not updating very quickly… really terribly sorry, I've been awfully busy. But I won't delay you any longer! I'd advise you to read the past chapter because even I've nearly forgotten what I've written… I have big plans for the sequel to this story… but since I decided it will be a tom (with some she-cat POV's) I'm still stuck on the title: Twisted in Brambles, Brambles of the Night, or Entwined with Secrets. Next chappie is the last one… oh I'll miss you Roses in the Dark… by the way, there is a little hint for the future in hear, if you look carefully…
Foxbracken: Thanks for reviewing and your compliments! :)
HawkHeart-and-Sandflower: Sorry! I have big plans for the future, and names are important! :) And who said Rosewater was having a litter? Hehe! I will add a Quailkit to a different litter if you like though?
Pengirl: Sorry! I didn't mean for that to sound… offensive… I've been terrible about updating! I'm very sorry, I know I have terrible excuses! I'll work on it though! It must be frustrating to be you; again, sorry.
Willowstripe: Heh, well said about Adderstar and Rosewater! And of course you can use Mistyflower, I don't own the name. And I love Rushfall too! She's just had… a very difficult past so to say… she used to be a loner until she joined WindClan thinking they'd help her in her health and that she'd find good friends there… poor Rushfall. Thanks for reviewing!
Rini the Flareon: Hi there! Thanks for the reviews and compliments! I would read your story but I'm not really a fan of Pokemon… sorry! Thank you again! I hope your story gets reviews!
Wildstep: Wow! Thank you so much for your support and compliments! I really can't thank you enough!
Emberstar of IceClan: You summed it up there! Of course you must save it for last! :) Thanks for reviewing!
Cinderleaf of SnowClan: Haha so many cats needed to die :3 I was having a hard time keeping up with myself! Wonderful wonderful name. I am hereby obsessed with it… I could say it all day really… Cinderleaf! Thanks for reviewing!
MysteryWriter000: Hello! Why yes… that first thing would be quite interesting… And oo… perhaps Swanwhisker's death is a good thing? Hehe… And thank you so very much!
Frostbliss: EEEP! Adderstar had better run for his life! Haha! Aw I love Goldenkit too! I find him adorable… and I wrote him… hehe. Thanks so much for reviewing! I love hearing from my readers!
Stuck in a mirror: I can say now he is on his last one, he lost several to battles he caused, one to Oakstar and one to Rosewater (so far). Thanks for the compliments!
Blazingnight: Here you are! :) Thanks for reviewing!
Wow… 12 reviews on that last chapter… that's insane! Thank you guys so much!
Chapter 37: Fearless
Fear was a funny thing. How abruptly it can come up, like strike of lightning, no warning except for the storm around you; though even that may not be enough. Now Rosewater was truly terrified. She quivered, trying to find the courageous young kit she used to be. Fearless.
Rosewater turned to face the large dark tabby immediately to see that he had risen to his large paws with an unmistakable scowl on his face. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. With a growl, Adderstar launched himself at her. Rosewater ducked the side, his claws missing her by a hair. She squeezed her eyes shut for an instant. How is he alive?
"How do you have nine lives!" she gasped.
Adderstar smirked. "I'm a leader of course, mouse-brained fool!" he snarled in her face, his breath stinky.
Rosewater leapt away from him, launching a paw towards him as she went claws to their full extent. "Why would StarClan give you nine lives?" Rosewater yowled, ducking at one of his life-shredding blows. She countered with a barrage of small strikes to his head, drawing quick blood, in fury of Oakstar's death.
"Obviously I tricked them!" Adderstar growled. "Mouse-brains!" he spat. "All of you!" He gave a slight grin. "They thought I was only ambitious and protecting my family! The idiots they were fell for it!"
Snarling, Rosewater dove at him, flashing out her claws at him to send a non-stop attack to his chest. Adderstar screeched and withdrew for a moment before leaping up in the time it took for a heart to beat; he was behind her, his claws raking down her back.
"Enough yet?" Adderstar growled. Rosewater screamed, she spun around in an instant and lashed out a paw for his legs. She hit him just in the right spot for them to buckle for just a moment. Rosewater took advantage of this; she looked at the back of Adderstar's neck, his scruff. Tough shot. She thought, though it was the only lead she had right now.
"So are you going to attack me or not?" Adderstar scowled, getting to his paws. Rosewater's heart thumped in her chest, her eyes flashing, she lunged forward.
Then, right there she realized who'd she had lost. Who he'd killed. It bundled up inside of her like a re-sparked fire. Her heart went out to the innocent cats caught in the crossfire of Adderstar's rage. His own Clanmate; Thornpaw, Snowfeather's sister. How hard it had been for Rosewater to lose her own sister Brightpaw, it must've been worse since Thornpaw was Snowfeather's only known kin.
Adderstar had killed Troutclaw too. The brave old tom that died as he lived, fighting for what he loved and for what he thought- No, what he knew was right. And of course he was the indirect cause of death for Iceblossom and Snowfeather's injury, though Rosewater blamed herself equally for that. And Rushfall, poor Rushfall had been simply torn apart by the claws of Adderstar.
Rage flared up inside of Rosewater. She dug her claws into the soft ground, an old flame reunited. She bared her fangs, furious. "Doesn't matter who you fooled!" she spat, her teeth enclosing around the back of his neck. She tugged against it as the larger tom struggled beneath her, kicking and squirming, screaming in pain.
No mercy. Not for him.
She tore open a hole in his neck and blood pooled out, warm against her muzzle. She twitched her whiskers to shed the blood and leaned back. Adderstar's eyes flashed angrily as he attempted to get to his paws. He staggered and stumbled back to the ground, his eyes rolling in the back of his head.
Rosewater stopped, standing still to pant for breath, her blood dampening her pelt. The cobwebs that Petalwind had stamped against her neck had torn off and now her wound was spewing out fresh blood. She lowered her head for a moment, peering over at Adderstar's trembling body. He's losing a life. She thought.
"I've killed him twice." She murmured. "How many lives does he have left?" She shook her pelt, struggling to recover quickly from her injuries.
It'll take Adderstar awhile to recover as well. If I can jump on him the moment he wakes up I could get him to lose another life more easily. Her heart sank slightly at the thought. It's playing rather dirty… but it's all I can rely on now.
She positioned herself behind him, crouching down low. Eventually, Adderstar lifted his head delicately. His tabby tail lashed, he twisted his head in different directions, and Rosewater could feel confusion coming off of him. She couldn't waste time.
Silently, she lunged forward, grasping the open tear that she recently made in the back of his neck. She wrinkled her nose at the scent of his blood. Shock lapsed through her as Adderstar flipped over on his back, crushing Rosewater beneath him. She lost her breath, trembling underneath him.
StarClan no! I've only got one life! She thought desperately. Adderstar stood up, pinning her down with his claws. Rosewater hissed, snapping her head back and forth. Terror flooded inside of her, filling her up.
"Why do you do this?" Rosewater asked desperately, her blue eyes squinted.
Adderstar smiled. He leaned down to hiss in her face, his breath smelled of rotten blood. "Why not?"
In an instant, his jaws enclosed around her neck, his teeth pressing further in. Rosewater shrieked in pain and fury. This is it. She gave a soundless cry as blood poured down her face.
"My…"
Adderstar's head suddenly snapped up. Rosewater gasped as she was released. Her head thudded against the hard ground. What was that? She wondered. She looked uncertainly at Adderstar. The tom's eyes were glazed over with confusion. It sounded so familiar… but I can't waste time. She told herself again.
With a screech, Rosewater pushed herself up, knocking Adderstar back. Her breath came in ragged, struggling from the blood dripping down it. Adderstar seemed over his moment of confusion. The bulky tabby stalked towards her.
"What was that?" he hissed. "One of your ThunderClan friends trying to distract me?"
"No." Rosewater mumbled. Her thoughts turned in her head. "It was your daughter."
Adderstar froze. His fur erect, his eyes dark. "She's dead."
"I know." Rosewater meowed, followed by a cough. "But she's not on your side."
"She wasn't there. She wasn't there to give me my nine lives."
"Because she knew." Rosewater murmured, dipping her head.
"Knew what?" Adderstar growled, blinking his eyes.
"That you were a murderer." Rosewater snarled. "And how many lives do you have now? How many have you taken?"
"I don't keep track." Adderstar grumbled. "All I know is one more gone, and another." His eyes darkened.
"Not anymore." Rosewater snarled.
In a flash, Adderstar had lunged towards her. Rosewater jumped straight up in the air, everything happening so quickly she could barely keep track of her own actions. She landed on Adderstar back and he crumpled underneath her weight. She snapped her head down, her heart burning with fury.
"Not anymore."
She whispered in his ear. The tabby tom struggled underneath her, Rosewater could tell he was weak, but then again; so was she. She had to be the stronger cat. She snapped her jaws just above his scruff, enough to be able to deal more damage.
Then she tore it open, using all the strength she could muster. Hot blood poured onto her paws, soaking into her fur. Adderstar screamed- a horrific, blood-curling screech. Then his head fell down onto his paws, twisting in an awkward angle.
Rosewater stepped off of him, her breathing jagged, her wounds weakening her. She looked at Adderstar's body, her vision dotted with small black stars. He's not coming back…
Thank you.
A voice whispered inside of Rosewater's head. She recognized it after a moment to be Adderstar's tawny daughter, Bloomkit.
Rosewater mustered a smile, her legs trembling beneath her, struggling with the effort to hold herself up. She tipped her head back to the sky to see the stars starting to appear dimly before her. Her gaze flickered back to Adderstar's body. Finally, it was over.
Underneath the night sky, lying in a pool of blood was the dead body of Adderstar.