I like the beginning of the chapter, but the end, not so much. It really just sets up for the onslaught of action next chapter. Again, thanks for all the support I get. (Marshmellowtime, Brightcloud of the Clans, Mossshine, Violetsong, Moonfur10, The Blue Joker, Phantomflower, KTDLover, SilverWolf1499, Lamplighter at Midnight, Mintfrost29, Stormbreeze of WindClan.)

Time: Day 3

Character: Blossomfrost of OakClan

Ch. 11 Rogue

"And do you see that fallen tree right over there, beyond that small crest. You do," rambled Jay. She had only stopped talking for meals and when we curled beside a thunderpath for some sleep. "Well that is where BloomClan camp is."

I had to smile at the loner. She had rambled on about BloomClan's life until I knew all the warriors without even meeting them. "Jay," I sighed, playing the part as a warrior perfectly. "I know where my camp is. I have lived there all my life."

"Than you wouldn't mind me leaving you?" she asked. "I like to hang out on a island further down, and my knees aren't what they used to me. Walking all those extra steps would kill me even more." She pretended to have stiff joints just to prove her point.

"I''m perfectly fine by myself," I bluffed. "Do you want me to tell Petalstar you said hello? Maybe Rainsong will come a visit you." My voiced sounded powerful, laced with lies.

"You are so brave Blossomfrost," said Jay. "I would love it if you told all my friends I sent greetings. Maybe you could even come visit be some day in the future. I would like to learn more about the tom in your life."

I shuddered a bit as Breezepaw popped up, uncalled for, in my mind. "I don't have a mate," I told Jay. "He um, died a few moons before I left across the river." I winced at my terrible lie.

Jay didn't seem to notice. "That is too bad, but you warriors don't care much for your mates anyway. I'll see you around Blossomfrost."

With that, she moved away from me, her body moving gracefully across the flat plain. My paws stayed rooted where she left me until her beautiful silvery gray fur disappeared over the horizon.

I picked up one paw after another, moving toward the bridge Jay had pointed out towards me. A sigh escaped my throat when I saw that it had vanished from my view. My legs were already aching from all the walking I had done in the last two days.

A small puddle of water had formed at the base of the small hill. Until then, I hadn't noticed how parched my throat really was. I bent down and swallowed a few gulps.

My body loosened, feeling more relaxed then it had just moments before. I knew I would survive to BloomClan, there was no doubt about that. Squirrelleaf would be so proud of me, living the life all she-cats envisioned.

In my little haven of happiness, I didn't notice a patrol of cats approaching me. They scented the air and looked to my little hiding place. There was only three of them, one even looked like an elder.

"Stop whatever you are doing, rogue," shouted the cat in the lead. She was a powerfully built golden dappled she-cat with a ferocious snarl, but she looked like StarClan its self. "State your name and business."

I wanted to tell her my life story, but I stared stupidly at her and her companions. "You guys are she-cats and warriors."

"Are you daft?" sounded the leader, being the only one in the group to speak. "Of course we are she-cats; we are BloomClan warriors. Now, who are you?"

"I'm Blossomfrost," I said, failing at keeping my voice from shaking. "Jay, the loner, brought me from across the river. She said you guys could always use another warrior."

"I'll have to ask Petalstar about this. If she doesn't want you around, I can't have you any where near the camp." Her voice was even, but she kept looking at me, trying to size me up, see how I would do in a fight.

"I'm fine with that," I lied to the controlling she-cat. "I'll wait here until you guys come back with the verdict."

"It isn't that easy, strange rogue," laughed the dappled she-cat, finding joy in my confusion. "Rainsong and Ferretclaw, you two will stand guard."

When she ran away into the distance, I smiled to my two guards. "Nice to meet you," I said to them. To the pale blueish gray she-cat I assumed was Rainsong, I put on my kindest tone, "I think Jay mentioned you as a close friend. She wanted to tell you her island is always open to you."

She gave me a smile. "I guess all you rogues aren't the same. I really hope Petalstar thinks there is room for you. I bet you are a great hunter." She gave me such a sweet smile, my heart throbbed at my lie.

"I have never hunted in my life," I confided in her. "I have been trapped from this wonderful world my whole life. It wasn't until this moon that I felt grass under my paws."

"You were a kittypet," spoke the older brown she-cat. "I have never meet one, and I never thought I would when I moved to the elder den. You aren't nearly as fluffy as I imagined."

My small understanding of the inner working of a Clan shattered. "I thought elders had to stay in camp where they were cared for." Memories of Snowleaf and Jay's explanations moved to the forefront of my mind.

"They can't keep me in there when the weather is fair," she smiled, a tooth missing. "It is weird to not be on the plains when the sun shines on the billowing grass."

I nodded, but I could understand her longing. Now that I had felt sun basking my skin, the wind blowing thought my fur, and grass slipping through my paws. "I know," I told him.

"Wait," said Rainsong, still stuck on the whole kittypet thing. "Why are you away from your Twolegs? Don't they feed you and everything."

"I wanted to see the world," I told the lamed she-cat. It wasn't exactly a lie, I did want to see everything there was to see. "I couldn't do that from my Twolegplace."

"I guess that makes sense," said Rainsong slowly. "Do you want to know how to hunt? Ferretclaw and I could start teaching you now."

"Actually," I said, thinking back to my friends still held in OakClan's grip. "I think I'd rather learn how to fight."

Ferretclaw looked at me uneasily. "I don't Leopardheart would approve of us teaching you that," she said after a brief silence. "What if you aren't excepted into the Clan? You could use those moves on us."

"I just want to learn to defend myself," I whimpered, drawing on the real pain from my life and twisting it into a lie. "I saw my friend get attack by a fierce street cat. I just don't want the same thing to happen to me." Tears welled to my eyes as I imagined Redfrost and Shadowfrost being hunted down like mice.

"We can teach you that," said Rainsong quickly, obviously feeling bad about Ferretclaw's speedy denial. "I can't see any harm in learning to protect from attacks. Petalstar's warriors would be able to beat you if it came down to it."

"Yeah," replied Ferretclaw. "It will be like a kit learning tiny moves from older apprentices before becoming one themselves. I can't see the harm."

"So you will teach me," I said, my excitement not escaping my voice. I was one step closer to helping all my friends in their resistance. "How about as we wait for Leopardheart to return?"

"It is perfect," purred Rainsong. "You'll be like the apprentice I never had." She moved quickly to the position in front of be, despite her crippled paw.

"When Rainsong swipes a paw at you," explained Ferretclaw, seeing something useful she could do, "jump back quickly." To show a point, she hopped cleanly back.

"It unsettles your opponent while keeping your face clean," said Rainsong. "Do you want to give it a go; I won't unsheathe my claws."

"Of course," I cried. I was trying furiously to remember everything I was being told, so maybe, I could tell the other queens. Maybe if I learned enough, we could fight for our freedom.

Suddenly, without warning, Rainsong lashed out her good front paw, leaning on her crippled one. I suddenly saw Breezepaw instead of the kindhearted she-cat. Knowing I couldn't avoid a beating, I let the blow land.

The pain snapped me out of my morbid thoughts, as my vision faltered for the briefed moment. Breezepaw changed into a concerned Rainsong. Both of the she-cats rushed to my side.

"I thought you would jump back," cried Rainsong, feeling traumatized by the incident. "I really didn't mean to hurt you. Are you sure you want to learn how to fight?"

I felt even more determined after that. Maybe, my mind never would have deceived me if I had been better prepared. "Let's try again."

Both Ferretclaw and Rainsong seemed more assured at my confident and chirpy answer. As she moved to face me again, her movements were slower. It was like she was afraid to move to fast around me.

Suddenly a voice sounded over the rippling grass. "What do we have here" sneered Leopardheart. "Are you two teaching Blossomfrost how to fight? You are super lucky Petalstar wants to speak to such a strange cat."

"We were just teaching her to defend herself," said Rainsong. "There was no harm in that since we could easily beat her anyways. I just thought, if she wasn't welcomed, she could have a chance at living in the wild."

"You are lucky your kind heart put us ahead," said Leopardheart as two cats flanked her sides. "I'd be careful because if it doesn't in the future, blame goes on the lame."

A pearly laughter came from a black striped she-cat, but it never reached her blue eyes. "Let's bring her back to camp quickly. I did a morning patrol too, and I want to rest." She faked a yawn, showcasing a row of sharp teeth.

I gulped, just imaging them sinking into my neck. Ferretclaw must have sensed my unease because she lightly taped my on the shoulder with her tail. Just the small gesture made me feel like I had a friend.

"I want to eat too," said the deputy, "let's get moving." She started off at the head of the column. "It is almost midday, and I haven't scared Stormclaw yet."

I wanted to follow at the back, but the yawing warrior would have none of it. Just as she moved, Leopardheart started to call out orders. "I want Smokefrost on one side with Ferretclaw and Rainsong of the other. Dawnlight," she told the blue-gray she-cat who hadn't spoken, "you will follow behind us."

It felt like a death march to their camp. The beautiful scenery around me couldn't distract me from the fact that five cats were no guarding me. For what reason, I didn't know; I posed no danger to them whatsoever.

We came across a gentle flowing river, that I thought we'd have to swim across. I couldn't recall anything Jay had told me just before she left. "I have never swam in my life," I whispered to Rainsong. "How will I make it to you camp?"

She leaned over to tell me, but she instantly snapped back at Leopardheart's harsh words. "Stop talking to her; Petalstar hasn't made her final decision yet. We may still cast her out."

Ferretclaw must have decided that, as an elder, she could get anything she wants. "There is a fallen tree that spans the length. It is just behind that shrub."

The deputy didn't say anything, but set a nasty glare in my direction. Ferretclaw let a small hiss escape her throat. "Pay our overconfident Leopardheart no concern. She doesn't know she will never be leader."

I faintly heard a snarl come from the golden dappled she-cat, but I was swept away as she pushed a bush to the side. Ferretclaw had told me the truth, not that I doubted her.

An uprooted tree lay the length of the river. Birds fluttered of the smooth surface when they saw us approach and loose pieces of bark splashed into the the quickly trickling water.

Before I could speak, the quiet blue-gray she-cat spoke. "Yes Blossomfrost," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "we are going across the Fallen Bridge to our island camp. You should learn where it is if you become a warrior."

"Oh thanks," I told her, feeling grateful they were slowly explaining everything to me. My words trailed off, trying to hint I wished for a name.

"Dawnlight," she said with a small smile gracing her lips. "Us Clan cats aren't as terrible as some loners would tell you. We only eat bones in really bad winters, and they are only fish bones."

The deputy must have felt she was losing control of her small band, so she cheerfully announced when the camp was within view. It looked a great deal like OakClan's camp, and the muscles in my stomach clenched with nervousness.

Rainsong mistook my dread for something else. "I'm sure all the cats will like you. You aren't the only loner we took it. One of the apprentices was found as a kit; she was born a loner."

I wanted to tell her that wasn't what I was nervous about, but I couldn't find the right words without giving my entire situation away. Would they still except me if they knew I was from a different Clan where I had been beaten my whole life?

"Everyone can help themselves to the fresh-kill pile," said Leopardheart, clearly addressing the warriors. "The sun-high hunting patrol should have returned by now. I sent them out at before I left."

"You can eat by me," offered Rainsong. "I'm sure Frostbreeze would love to meet you," her smile made me wish Leopardheart wouldn't say what I knew was on the tip of her tongue.

"Blossomfrost will go with me to talk to Petalstar," said the deputy, much to my prediction. "It hasn't been decided if she will prematurely join the Clan so don't get to attached to her." She fixed her green eyes on Ferretclaw and Rainsong in particular.

The elder smiled weakly at me as we crossed the bridge. I was terrified my paws would slip from the smooth bark, and I would tumble into the river. Any hope I have stored in the back of my heart would be buried forever.

As I touched upon smooth ground, Leopardheart took me aside. "The rest of you may go. We will follow you. I want to talk to our little rogue alone."

I got a pitied look from Rainsong, but she shuffled after all the other cats. If I wasn't eaten alive, I would love to know her better. Skyfrost would love the gentle she-cat.

"I want to know where you came from," she lashed out verbally as soon as the warriors were gone from view. "Jay has never brought us a loner before, and I don't think she would start at her age."

I dug up all the hatred I felt for Nightclaw, my deputy, and pushed them into what I wanted to tell this she-cat. "I will only speak to the leader, not a fake cat like you."

I could sense anger boiling in her veins, but she gave me a sickly sweet smile. "Let's not waste any time. The day is slowly ticking away."

She led me into the camp, past the stares of curious she-cats. Even the kits stopped their games to watch me walk slowly behind the deputy. It hurt me a little because it reminded me of OakClan, only with the roles reversed.

When she led me into a cave, it painfully looked like Adderstar's underground lair. Only the silhouettes of three cats led me to believe there was no perilous cliff for me to fall down. I still watched where I placed my paws as the darkness swallowed me.

"So you are the strange rogue with a Clan name," spoke a dark-haired she-cat who seemed to blend in with the stone walls. "The one Jay brought across the river."

"Tell us why you are here," shouted a ball of fluffy white fur. It appeared to be a kits no older that five moons. "We won't except any nonsense from a cat like you."

"Brightkit," scolded the black she-cat, the one obviously in charge. "You will never get information out of her if she is scared. You shouldn't act like a leader because you won't be one for a long time."

Leopardheart stood rigid beside me, but it wasn't her that spoke, it was the patched she-cat. I shuddered a bit when she looked at me with milky, blind eyes. They seemed to see me even thought they shouldn't be able to.

"She won't be answering any of your questions," said the blind she-cat. "I might be blind, but I can tell she is exhausted. I bet she doesn't even realize she is shaking in her paws."

It was as if someone mentioning it made it all the more real. I became more aware of myself, not just those around me. "Maybe the blind she-cat is right," I said. "Some rest would be good for me. I have been walking practically since dawn yesterday."

"Alright Cloudblossom," huffed the black cat. "You can take her to your den for some sleep, but I want her here as soon as she wakes up." Her blue eyes looked cruel in the minimal lighting.

My heart was warmed with the kindness of a cat I have never seen until this moment. As she led me confidently outside, she gave me a smile. "It looks like you needed time to collect yourself. Petalstar can be a little imposing, Brightkit too."

"Thanks, Cloudblossom," I told her, remembering the name Petalstar, the black she-cat, had called her. "I could use some sleep now that you mention it. Jay was too antsy at the Twoleg Island to get much sleep."

She led me into the den with the telltale scent of herbs and medicines. "Flamewhisper," she called into the darkness. "Lynxpaw, we have another guest."

"Not Brightkit," sighed a cream she-cat who appeared from a chamber deeper in the den. "I don't think I could put up with her or any other kit."

"No," she said, pushing me forward with her tail. "It is a rogue who might be joining the Clan. She looks likes she might be about your age."

"Oh," she said, clearly shocked to see me. "Do you want me to show her to a nest? Her eyelids look like they are drooping."

"Please do that," she said to Lynxpaw, who I assumed was her apprentice. "Flamewhisper will help you out if you need any assistance. She can use the same one as Brightkit."

With a short nod, she disappeared into the back. "You know, Blossomfrost," she said to me. "You can follow her. When you lay down, you will realize how much you really need the sleep. It happens to all the warriors afters an especially hard day."

I stiffed a yawn and slumped into the moss den Lynxpaw had laid out for me. "This is the most comfortable thing ever" I told her as my eyes closed and my world turned black.

I think the real real action is going to start next chapter with Breezepaw. I think he is everyone's favorite character. He will be followed by Blueflower, Blossomfrost, and perhaps, Duskkit. Also, I need suggestions for warriors names for a couple characters who may or may not be getting them.

Please review some for Cloudpaw of BloomClan, Lynxpaw of BloomClan, Breezepaw of OakClan, and Pinepaw of OakClan. Maybe even give a reason if you want. I just want ideas from my loyal reviewers.

I just started highschool and got my wisdom teeth pulled, so my updates are either going to be farther apart or less words. I ask you to please bare wih me as I get situated with my new schedule.

Lastly, the poll on my profile for the prequeal is still open. If you haven't voted, review then check it out.