New Chapter Everyone! Finally! Heh. I'm sorry I didn't update sooner! Enjoy!

Chapter 6 -

In the camp Thorntail's eyes flashed around, and he noticed the brown tabby lug that was Bearmoon lounging outside of the Warrior's den, sharing tongues with his friend Shrewtail. Duskpaw was padding into the nursery with a vole in her jaws, most likely for Sandpelt. The ginger deputy, Robinwing, was at the fresh-kill pile sniffing a pigeon curiously. Spottedlight, forever shunned for an earlier act of treachery, sat quietly beside Robinwing, waiting for the deputy to pick out her meal.

In other words, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Here we are," Thorntail announced spitting out the bundle by Rosepaw's rosy paws. Her icy eyes glowed with gratitude, and she bent down to sniff them. "I love the smell of catmint," she murmured softly, taking in a deep breath. That was the most personal comment Thorntail had been able to get out of her, really. She raised her head again, and leveled her gaze with Thorntail's.

"Thank you." She purred. Whether that was for the herbs, or his little pep talk was a toss up.

Thorntail opened his mouth to say reply, when Bearmoon's shrill voice rang in his ears. It was clearly unintentional, as Bearmoon had his back turned to the gray warrior and the medicine cat… but it was loud enough to make WindClan warriors simply have to prick their ears to listen in.

"So Thorntail's a RiverClan cat?" Bearmoon gasped, his emerald eyes widening at the news. Wow, Thorntail realized. He was more popular then he had thought!

"Thorntail announced it at the gathering. I don't know. He defended RiverClan pretty fiercely…I'm not sure where his loyalties lie." Shrewtail answered, lowering his blue eyes to look at his paws.

"I wonder why he left…" Bearmoon flicking his tail towards Thorntail.

Rosepaw was going to listen to more, but Thorntail's rumbling voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Those two are the type that doesn't die," Thorntail growled flicking his tail over to the two gossiping cats.

"Wha-"

"They don't…go all out in battles," Thorntail growled. "I know. I've seen the two fight numerous times, and…well…they don't give it their all when fighting. They'd rather live, then die defending their Clan…"

"Do…do a lot of warriors die in wars?" Rosepaw asked curiously. "You…you see, whenever ThunderClan fights very rarely there are…are deaths…"

"Because of the reasons I stated," Thorntail explained, licking Rosepaw's ear affectionately. Rosepaw wasn't sure about this open display of affection, but nobody seemed to be paying much attention. Robinwing had gotten into a heated argument with Gingerleaf over a thrush, and everyone's eyes had strayed over to the quarreling cats. "Fighting…is such a rush." Thorntail explained, flicking his tail over towards Swiftfoot who was lounging outside of the Warrior's den, with Heatherpelt, he continued. "If I had to trade the feeling of fighting for anything – they way Swiftfoot had to - …I think I would rather die."

Thorntail examined Rosepaw's expression for a moment. He opened his mouth to say something more, when for some reason the young she-cat broke out in uncontrollable sobs. Silently, he thanked StarClan for the thrush, and asked them to bless the cat who brought it – this was a private moment for him and Rosepaw.

"Rosepaw?" he mewed touching her shoulder with his tail, still flicking his eyes about to make sure nobody was being nosy.

"I know you were just in the moment…but when you said you'd protect me earlier, it made me happy…and gave me courage…"

"Rosepaw." Thorntail purred. "You know almost everyone in ThunderClan would-" He was about to say more, when a yowl from behind Rosepaw interrupted him.

"What have you done to her?!"

Before Thorntail could register who it had come from, Thorntail felt a sharp pain in his flank, and then ext thing he knew he was on his side, on the ground, staring up at a silver she-cat. Streamstar.

Thorntail blinked up at her, unable to hide his shock. He had missed canning over towards Streamstar's den to see if she was peeking out! Dang it! Why did leaders think that they had a right to lead other cat's lives?

Thorntail told himself not to answer that question, as Rosepaw continued.

"Mother!" Rosepaw growled. That got Streamstar's attention. Very rarely did cats refer to their parents as 'mother' or 'father' once they had exited the nursery. "Stop! It's not what you think! I was sobbing over something…frivolous, and Thorntail comforted me."

Streamstar blinked a few times, and was silent for a moment. She flashed her icy gaze over to Thorntail, and looked at him like he had declared that all ShadowClan cats were squirrels, and had not simply been comforting the medicine cat. "Oh." She mumbled backing off. "I'm sorry Thorntail. I jumped to conclusions."

"Its fine," Thorntail answered slowly getting to his paws. Streamstar sure as heck jumped to big conclusions, for her to barrel into him like that. By now, everyone's eyes were on him. "So that's a mother's worry! Heh." Thorntail murmured nervously, hoping everyone would stop looking at him. Today.

Streamstar nodded, and stepped away, clearly embarrassed about the situation. She muttered something about kits, which was probably an excuse to pad away, and she did just that. She disappeared into the nursery.

When the leader's silver tail was out of sight, Rosepaw spoke again. "Thanks, Thorntail." Rosepaw mewed as she scooped up the herbs. Between her teeth, the mumbled: "You're always rescuing me."

…

"Rosepaw,"

The sound of her mother's voice jolted Rosepaw from her thoughts. She raised her gaze up from her ginger paws, and saw her beautiful mother.

"Rosepaw, I want to talk to you." Streamstar growled, her voice brisk, a s she tucked her paws under her chest and got herself comfortable. Rosepaw shivered. When a leader came to talk to a medicine cat, it usually wasn't good news. Hopefully Streamstar wouldn't need any help interpreting a sign from StarClan, or friendly advice. Though the other medicine cats had taught her a little, she wasn't exactly an expert yet.

"What about?" she asked, pretending to look at her herb stocks.

"Thorntail." Suddenly Rosepaw felt cold. Thorn…tail?

"You mean…his RiverClan heritage?" Rosepaw asked hopefully. To her dismay, Streamstar shook her head. "Rosepaw, I knew about Thorntail…long before that Gathering." And you didn't tell us, Streamstar? Rosepaw almost burst out at her leader, but her respect for her made her keep her mouth shut. "Then…what about Thorntail?"

"I'm going to tell this to you, very bluntly. It's an order." Streamstar got to her paws, and stepped towards her daughter. She firmly wrapped her long tail around Rosepaw's paws, and stared at her square in the eye. "Stay away from Thorntail."

"Why?" Rosepaw couldn't help herself. "What's wrong with him?"

"You're a medicine cat, Rosepaw. You can't have a mate." Rosepaw narrowed her eyes coldly. How dare Streamstar bring that up! Streamstar knew! Streamstar knew all about Rosepaw! How could she say this too her?

"We're just friends," Rosepaw purred. "There's nothing wrong with having friends, is there?"

Streamstar shook her head, and gently licked Rosepaw's forehead. "I don't want you getting hurt, Rosepaw. Thorntail…isn't…exactly…"

"New to A She-Cat's Flower?" Rosepaw finished for her, lowering her gaze.

A purr rumbled in her mother's throat. "Yes."

"But you're only seeing the outside of him." Rosepaw murmured, stepping out from her Mother's tail. "He seems like an ambitious tom cat who simply wants to be leader…but there's more to him then that… He's a good cat at heart." Streamstar's sapphire eyes burned into Rosepaw's. "I gave you an order, Rosepaw. Are you going to defy your leader?"

"Thorntail isn't a bad cat," Rosepaw mewed softly, her tone scarcely over a whisper. "And ever since Flamesoul…he's one of the few cats to treat me like a friend."

"There are plenty of friends in ThunderClan!" Streamstar murmured, curling her upper lip. "Like Gingerleaf, or Applefur…" At Applefur's name, Rosepaw suddenly felt cold. Streamstar didn't notice, and went on: "Rosepaw, I know it's hard for you. But I know Thorntail will just hurt you. He will."

Rosepaw's nostrils flared. "You know, as well as I do," she growled struggling to keep her voice level. "That a cat isn't always what they appear to be."

"But-"

Disrespectful, Rosepaw knew, but she cut her leader off. "You should know! Even a cat that seems good, and kind, and loyal, does terrible things in the shadows!"

Streamstar opened her mouth to counter Rosepaw's words, but instantly closed it – Rosepaw knew she had won the argument. With her leader.

"The order stands," Streamstar murmured. "Stay away from Thorntail." Rosepaw's feelings of victory vanished. "That's an order." Streamstar got to her paws, and padded from the den before Rosepaw could argue.

Rosepaw sighed heavily, and examined her paws for a moment. How could she have talked to her mother – who happened to be Clan leader – like that? Was she mouse-brained? This would surely bite her in the tale later.

However, there was absolutely no good in thinking about it now. Rosepaw thought for a moment. She should probably make herself busy with something, to distract her from her worry. A sprinkle of light snuck into her den, alerting Rosepaw that the sun was rising. "A perfect time to look for Cobwebs," she told herself, remembering how clearly cobwebs showed when the sun was rising and setting.

Rosepaw purred to herself at her intelligence, and started to leave her den.

As soon as Rosepaw set her front paws on the cool earth outside of her den, she noticed something odd. When she looked at the ground, the light was not covering it. Only in slight patches.

Rosepaw blinked curiously, and raised her eyes. Above her head – floating down towards her was the largest Oak Leaf she had ever seen. It seemed to be alive, as the wind tossed it towards her, and how its…long hairs blew. It was full of holes – a bug of some sort had been feasting on it at some point.

It was beautiful. But Rosepaw wasn't astounded at its beauty. She didn't know how to read signs very well, but she could use common sense. The leaf shed spotted light on her, because of the sun behind it and its holes. The Rising Sun- it meant Glory. In other words, the Warrior Spottedlight would bring glory to the Clan. At least that's how Rosepaw read it.

Wait… Spottedlight? The spotted she-cat w as never popular. She had been mentored by Swiftfoot, and was the daughter of two great warriors Robinwing and Howlingheart. In other words, she had been expected to go far. But, she had shattered everyone's hopes when Spottedlight had undermined Streamstar, and betrayed ThunderClan to WindClan at one point when they were at war – giving away all their secrets. Streamstar had been merciful, but Spottedlight had been branded as a traitor. Rumor had it, the WindClan leader, the rotten Runningstar, had offered her a pretty nice position for her help. Whether it was leadership in ThunderClan or WindClan, it never happened.

So how would Spottedlight bring glory to the Clans? She seemed to bring only shame.

Rosepaw sighed. She had to tell Streamstar, but after arguing with her like that, would she listen?

Either way, she had to try. Rosepaw padded towards her leader's den.

….

"Thorntail!" Applefur snarled padding towards the gray tom. "What are you doing with Rosepaw? She's a medicine cat!"

"We're friends." Thorntail answered flatly, wrapping his tail around his paws knowing that Applefur was probably going to rant.

"Why did you have to help her gather herbs?" Applefur spat. "She usually has apprentices help her with that."

"Somebody ambushed her, and she was a little shaky." Thorntail answered. "Why are you interrogating me like this?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Applefur growled. "All of a sudden, you're hanging out with Rosepaw all the time! It is annoying!"

"Why do you hate Rosepaw? She's the medicine cat. Don't worry." Thorntail growled curling his upper lip.

"Thorntail," Applefur sighed. "Why did you mate with me?"

"You're changing the subject." Thorntail murmured. Suddenly he registered it. "You ambushed her didn't you? Isn't that a little…traitorous?"

"Why did you mate with me?" Applefur repeated ignoring his question. That was a yes.

Thorntail shrugged his shoulders. "You're in ThunderClan. You're a she-cat. You asked. You were fair game." He purred. "It was fun."

"But it was real for me!" Applefur snapped, lashing her tail. "I won't let some medicine cat take you from me! I won't!" without waiting for a retort, Applefur sped into the Warrior's Den.

"Give this. Take that," Thorntail rolled his eyes as Applefur rushed off. "What am I? A scrumptious piece of prey?"

Thorntail shrugged his shoulders, and followed her into the warrior's den. Either way, he was going to have to keep an eye on Applefur, until she got over her obsession.