It's a snow day, so I'm dishing out chapters! Enjoy!
"Thorntail, I'm serious." Blackshadow snarled, as the two warriors charged through ThunderClan territory so they could cross into ShadowClan's. "Stay away from Rosepaw! Not only is she an apprentice, she's a medicine cat."
"Blackshadow, if you want her," Thorntail sighed flicking his friend playfully with his tail. "You can have her."
"I don't want her!" Blackshadow snapped. "She's…she's not like other cats," the black tom explained, as the two cats left SnakeRocks behind them, and were staring ahead into the darkness of the forest once more.
Not like other cats? What the heck did Blackshadow mean?
"She's…she is female, right?" Thorntail asked, not able to hide his curiosity.
"Look," Blackshadow sighed slowing his pace a little. "I think she's tom-phobic."
Thorntail almost burst out laughing. Tom-phobic? That had to be one of the most ridiculous things he ever heard. He was about to comment on Blackshadow's good joke, but when he stared into Blackshadow's sapphire eyes he knew: Blackshadow was dead serious.
"How do you know?" he asked curiously.
"It was a little before you joined the Clan," Blackshadow explained. "I think it was a little after I earned my name. I was out hunting with alone. I accidentally came upon Rosepaw. She was gathering herbs or something, I believe…and she was crying. I knew that her mentor up and left on her, so I padded over to her to give her some emotional support, right? I touch her shoulder with my tail, and she bounced back, and gave me such a cold glare. She didn't even try to hide her disgust! She didn't lick her shoulder clean. I saw her late wash it in the stream up by FourTrees."
"Maybe you were just dirty?" Thorntail asked curiously.
Blackshadow leapt on him, and Thorntail didn't have time to react. He was pinned down by the warrior in an instant.
"Want to fight?" Blackshadow snarled into Thorntail's face.
"I guess every Clan has a person like her," Thorntail sighed, pushing his friend off of him.
"I think it's just ThunderClan," Blackshadow pointed out, as they started padding off again.
"Trust me, Thorntail." Blackshadow continued. "You can't help but be annoyed with her. She's so timid…"
"She does draw your attention, though." Thorntail pointed out. "Anyways, come on. Let's hurry up." He flicked his tail in Blackshadow's face, and broke into a run.
The two toms passed a ThunderClan patrol.
"Where are they going?" a big black and white tom asked a ginger she-cat beside him.
"Weren't you listening at the meeting?" Applefur asked him. "They're going to spy on ShadowClan, and see how powerful they are."
"Has Streamstar gone mad?" Badgerclaw spat digging his claws into the earth. "Blackshadow and Thorntail? Spying? Those two together always get into trouble. They'll be caught in an instant. Watch – just watch. Soon a few of our warriors will be sent on a rescue mission."
"I don't think so," Applefur purred. "Thorntail will complete it with flying colors – you just watch."
"I will," Badgerclaw purred staring lovingly at his younger sister. "And you'll find that I am right."
"We'll see."
…
"Okay, so what are you doing here again?" Ravenfeather, a ShadowClan warrior asked the two curiously.
"I explained this to you," Thorntail meowed, digging his claws into the earth. Just his and Blackshadow's luck! They run into a ShadowClan patrol first thing. And Ravenfeather was leading it. Thorntail knew he wasn't one of Ravenfeather's favorite cats since the incident.
Besides the sleek black she-cat that was Ravenfeather, was a large golden-brown tom with pale amber eyes that Thorntail recognized as Goldenclaw. And beside him, was a thin little gray she-cat that Thorntail was not familiar with.
"My friend and I," Thorntail flicked his tail over towards Blackshadow. "Were sent by Streamstar to give you news."
"News?" Ravenfeather growled, narrowing her icy eyes. "Would you mind telling us this piece of…news, Thorntail?"
"Sure," Thorntail purred dipping his head. He had to think fast. Real fast. What would work? Something that ShadowClan would care about… and not rip off his pelt for telling them.
"Well," Thorntail meowed taking a breath. "There's an odd disease going around…we didn't want ShadowClan to succumb to weakness."
"Of course you wouldn't," Goldenclaw growled sarcastically. "We only murdered your deputy. ThunderClan would never have a vendetta against us!"
"Hush." Ravenfeather ordered her voice curt. "Very well. Tell us…the symptoms of this disease…" Thorntail opened his mouth to tell her, when Ravenfeather turned her gaze onto Blackshadow. "You. You tell me…what's your name?"
"Darkflower." Blackshadow answered. Thorntail had no clue why he would not give Ravenfeather his name. And, Thorntail decided, if he was going to come up with a new identity, he should've used a more…masculine name.
"Okay…Darkflower…" Ravenfeather growled. "Such a feminine name. Is ThunderClan too mouse-brained to tell that toms can't carry certain names?"
"They changed mine." Blackshadow explained. "You see, the disease…makes…toms…" he looked at Thorntail curiously. "Pregnant?"
Thorntail wanted to leap onto the other warrior and rip open his stomach and then blame it on Ravenfeather. Blackshadow had to be one of the worst liars in the whole of ThunderClan.
"I'm so sure." Goldenclaw snarled, unsheathing his claws. "Ravenfeather, may we attack? I believe we have spies."
"I know we have spies," Ravenfeather growled. "And bad spies. But however bad they are, they will be given the penalty of all spies."
"You'll let us go?" Blackshadow asked hopefully.
"No," Ravenfeather answered. "Death."
Goldenclaw and the gray cat started to creep around to Blackshadow and Thorntail's flanks.
"Ravenfeather, do you really want to do this?" Thorntail asked as he unsheathed his claws. "Have you forgotten…?"
"No," Ravenfeather answered narrowing her eyes. "I'm just vengeful. Attack."
Instantly, Thorntail found himself wrestling on the ground with Goldenclaw. The golden tom's fangs sunk deep into one of Thorntail's flying legs. Thorntail was able to bat him off, and leap to his paws. He stared down at the golden tom. Thorntail had somehow won the high ground. Because of this, Goldenclaw looked hesitant to attack.
"Come fight if you have any guts," Thorntail jeered ignoring Blackshadow and the gray cat that were fighting mere tail lengths away. "And if you do we'll be seeing them soon."
Apparently Goldenclaw could only talk big. At Thorntail's small challenge, the tom fled.
Apparently Blackshadow had done well for himself as well, because the black tom now stood with him and the gray cat was nowhere in sight.
Ravenfeather however was.
"Thorntail this is your last chance. Surrender."
"I don't think so," Blackshadow answered. "I think you will be doing the surrendering, Ravenfeather."
The ShadowClan warrior chuckled. "I don't think so, Darkflower." She growled. "I still have some fight in me!"
Ravenfeather seemed to fly towards them. Well, Thorntail. She landed straight on him, and went in for the kill – unlike that silly Goldenclaw. She dug her fangs into his throat. Thorntail writhed around, but the she-cat would not let go. Thorntail's vision started fading.
To his relief, the fangs retracted out of him, and Thorntail started to regain his senses.
He looked around wildly. "Ravenfeather?" he asked.
"Gone." Blackshadow answered. "But she and those other two will probably get reinforcements. I think we failed."
"You're kidding." Thorntail spat, slowly getting to his paws. "We know plenty! ShadowClan are out for our blood, Ravenfeather's pure evil, Goldenclaw's a coward, and we can hold our own pretty well even when we're outnumbered."
"Try telling that to Streamstar." Blackshadow sighed. "Come on. We should get home."
Thorntail grunted agreement, and took a few steps. To his surprise, he tumbled to the ground. "Ouch…what the heck?"
Blackshadow padded up beside him. "Oh. While you were out of it, Ravenfeather did a number on your front paw. I suppose you'll have to lean on me…"
Thorntail shrugged. "No. It just surprised me." With some difficulty, the tom was able to get to his paws. He limped a few steps. "I'm fine. Oh! I almost forgot about the Marsh Root."
Thankfully, there was a healthy shrub of it a few paw steps away. Thorntail stretched his neck out, and snatched it. He smiled mischievously and Blackshadow, and then he and his friend made the return journey.
…
"I can't believe Streamstar!" Thorntail spat as he limped across the clearing to Rosepaw's den to get his wounds checked. "Telling me I failed the mission! Who does she think she is?"
"Your leader." Blackshadow mumbled, as the black tom brushed passed him to get to the fresh kill pile.
"Sure, if you want to get technical." Thorntail mumbled he kept padding towards the den. Suddenly, a patch of ginger fur caught his eye. To his surprise, Rosepaw was by the fresh kill pile as well.
"Hey, I sent Cheerypaw in to give you the herbs, did you get them?" he asked limping over towards her.
Rosepaw didn't answer; she just shifted through the pile, looking for something that suited her fancy.
"Rosepaw?" Thorntail poked her gently with on of his good paws. "Are you listening?" Thorntail ignored the cold glare Blackshadow was giving him. "Rosepaw?"
Thorntail didn't notice that Blackshadow wasn't the only one watching. The whole Clan seemed to be staring at the warrior who was harassing the Clan Medicine Cat.
Rosepaw still didn't answer. She did however find a squirrel that suited her fancy, and grabbed it from the pile.
This enraged Thorntail! That little…
"Are you listening to me?!" Thorntail snarled, he pushed the younger she-cat over onto her back, and the ginger apprentice's eyes widened in fear.
"Good. Rosepaw, I need some herbs for my paw." He lifted up his injured paw lazily. "Would you please help me?"
Rosepaw glared at him for a moment. She padded to her den, and Thorntail took it as an invitation to follow her.
"Anyways, did Cheerypaw give you the herbs?"
Rosepaw nodded, as she examined her supplies.
"So…it must be hard being a medicine cat with no mentor, huh?"
Rosepaw nodded again.
Thorntail sighed. This cat was impossible to talk too! He sniffed in disappointment. He really was looking forward to Rosepaw… He stepped towards her to see just what she was doing, when his paw touched something on the ground…kind of sticky.
An odd smell entered his nostrils.
It reminded him of…
"Rosepaw, what's that smell?" he asked curiously as he backed away from the goo.
"It's a Mixture." Rosepaw sighed to Thorntail's surprise. "I was trying to make something to help Turtlefeather give birth when the time comes."
"Oh." Thorntail blinked. "Sorry – I stepped in it."
"It's fine." Rosepaw answered. "I failed. It won't work – I can tell. I don't need it."
"Really?!" Thorntail asked almost leaping out of his fur. "S-so you wouldn't mind if I took some?"
"No not at all." Rosepaw answered him. She turned to him, and in her mouth were two large green leaves wrapped around three poppy seeds.
"Eat." Rosepaw answered, and turned back around to get the cobwebs.
"Y-you're kidding." Thorntail gasped. "You'll really give this to me? I mean…it smells so nice… isn't it asking too much?" Thorntail thought for a moment. "I can't just take it for free…and I can't think of any favors I could do for you right now…" Thorntail sighed. "What can I do for you?" Suddenly his eyes lit up. "I know! I'll protect you."
Rosepaw blinked. Could this be the same annoying Thorntail from earlier? Getting all worked up over a scent? Getting as jumpy as a kit…?
"I'll stand by you if anything happens!" Thorntail promised. "It's all I'm good for, really! But if the Clan ever turns on you like the Clan tends to do on certain cats, I'll stand with you. If anything happens in fact. Anything at all, you have me in your corner."
Rosepaw wondered for a moment if Thorntail had eaten the herbs, when she realized that he had. As she started to wrap the cob webs around Thorntail's paw, the tom continued.
"Oh, also. If you ever feel like fooling around…I'll lend you my body."
The tom turned around to leave, when Rosepaw's eyes widened.
"Wait!" she called. The gray cat stopped in his tracks. "Will…will you lend me your body?"
The gray cat leaped into the air, and turned around, his eyes wide and confused as if he couldn't believe that Rosepaw could have said such a thing. Rosepaw couldn't even believe she'd said it herself!
"Wh-what?" Thorntail gasped.
In all the moons of Rosepaw's life, she had never acted like this. Ever.
"I'd like for you to lend me your body… to experiment for herbs and stuff…" she explained.
"Oh…" Thorntail looked at her funny. For a moment, Rosepaw thought that he was about to say 'No' but he didn't. He simply dipped his head. "Anytime, Rosepaw."
Rosepaw purred. "Not now though. It's the half-moon tonight. I-I'm going to go to Moonstone with the other Medicine Cats.
"Oh," Thorntail purred. "Good luck. I'm going to go talk to Swiftfoot. He's in here somewhere isn't he? He said he wanted to see me correct?"
"Yeah." Rosepaw mewed softly. "I should go."
Before Thorntail could stop her, Rosepaw disappeared from sight.
"So how are you?" Thorntail asked, as he noticed Swiftfoot a few tail-lengths away.
Swiftfoot must have been napping, because at Thorntail's voice the former deputy jumped.
"Oh, hi." Swiftfoot purred. "Has Robinwing destroyed the Clan yet?"
"Not yet. She's working on it though." Thorntail answered. Swiftfoot purred.
"I knew it. Anyways," Swiftfoot sighed. "Streamstar came in and spoke to me earlier. She said she sent you on a mission. How'd it go?"
"Could've gone better. We ran into a patrol."
"Ouch."
"Yeah."
Thorntail stared at his friend for a long moment. "Were you scared when you saw the patrol?" he asked unable to hide his curiosity.
"When I saw the patrol, no. When they all ganged up on me, no. In fact, it was like I was dreaming almost. I lost control of myself. I was fighting almost in a trance – and badly at that. My body went limp, and I blacked out…" Swiftfoot trailed off, and stared up at Thorntail curiously. "Thorntail?"
No answer.
"Thorntail?"
"Huh?"
"Quit looking like that," Swiftfoot instructed him. It's sick to be so…interested about hearing someone die."
"It's not that," Thorntail insisted. "It's…it's just, that…dying. Everyone goes through it. Yet, we have no clue what happens. You die, and then BAM! Its over."
Swiftfoot glared at him for a moment. "Anyways, Thorntail, that's not all Streamstar and I discussed."
"What else?" Thorntail asked licking a paw.
"You know Scarface?"
"The ugly she-cat."
Swiftfoot gave Thorntail a disproving glance, and Thorntail shrugged. "It's true."
"Well, Streamstar decided that you should mentor one of her kits."
"Hope they're not as ugly as their mother," Thorntail growled.
"Thorntail! Do you not understand this? I've been bushing for moons to get you an apprentice, and now it's happening. Train the kit well, and make it shine. Get Streamstar to notice you. Keep your name in her head!"
"I'm not stupid, Swiftfoot." Thorntail growled. "I know. I'll be deputy yet."
"Once you learn respect, maybe." Swiftfoot snapped. "I want you to achieve your ambition, but don't do anything stupid, alright? Keep your mind focused. You have to first redeem yourself for your failing mission, and then you have to come out better then the rest. By the time Robinwing retires, you have to be an…astounding warrior. The best there's ever been – and make it obvious to Streamstar.
"Understood, Swiftfoot." Thorntail purred. "Don't worry so much. With you coaching me, and giving the good word to Streamstar, I'll be fine! I'll be the greatest deputy the forest has ever known! You watch."
"I will. And I think I'll be disappointed." Swiftfoot sighed.