Its a shorter chapter then my usual - basically 'cause I wanted a fun cliffy. I hope you enjoy it! Please R&R!
Also, I've decided to do what I usually do - and that is chat with my reviewers using this space that I give myself! I would've started before...but there wasn't much to comment on... but!
Steeltalon: Ah, if I told you THAT, there wouldn't be any fun in the story, would there?
Well, nothing else to say to you reviewers! I'm glad you guys like my story! Keep reviewing, or I will be forced to hit you with a hard blunt object.
The moon was high in the sky, flashing a shimmering silver light on the group of healthy cats who were slinking through the night.
Rosepaw's sapphire eyes glowed in the darkness, anticipation tingling her fur. Blueherb. The RiverClan medicine cat had always been dear to Rosepaw's heart. Heartfur and Shadedhope – the other medicine cats, had taught Rosepaw some, but Blueherb was the one who taught Rosepaw how to interpret signs from StarClan – though, besides the Spottedlight and Glory sign, there hadn't ever been any. Even during her trips to Moonstone….Once again it made Rosepaw wonder about Spottedlight's sign. Why had she gotten it? She stole a glance at Spottedlight, who already had her popularity with the warriors of the Clan improving. She was with Bearmoon. His mate had been Dawnshimmer, who died. He had his tail intertwined with Spottedlight's. Well. He got over his grief fast.
Spottedlight's fur was golden, with blobs of brown, black, and everything in between dotting her fur. Although in the moonlight, her fur, like most of the ThunderClan cats, had turned silver. But her pale emerald eyes – which kept flashing over towards Robinwing who was silently padding beside Streamstar.
Why?
Rosepaw didn't have much time to dwell on that thought, as she realized she was beside the hollow that was Fourtrees. Below she could scent the smells of the RiverClan warriors…Great StarClan! She also scented ShadowClan! Could RiverClan have actually teamed up with ShadowClan, to attack ThunderClan, instead of the original plan on to attack WindClan?
Apparently she wasn't the only one who thought so, because she saw Robinwing's tail straighten up in an instant, as the deputy's hiss of fury was echoed by the other ThunderClan cats.
"Streamstar, should we go in?" Robinwing asked carefully, thought it was clear she was furious – anger was flowing from her eyes like water flowed through the river.
Rosepaw's mother looked thoughtful for a moment – unphazed at Robinwing's fury. "Yes," she meowed after just a moment's hesitation. "I trust Duststar…he wouldn't double-cross me like that." She flexed her claws, as if she saw a traitor right before her. "He knows that I don't tolerate traitors."
Except Spottedlight, Rosepaw almost said, but bit back her tongue.
"Duststar always was a fair and just leader," Thorntail agreed. To Rosepaw, it seemed he was just asking for trouble. But then again, Thorntail always did seem to enjoy arguments. Maybe he was in the mood for one? Or maybe he was mouse-brained. Both were very plausible explanations. "And RiverClan hold us in higher regard then they do WindClan and ShadowClan. I'm sure they'd prefer us roaming our territory, and then sharing it with ShadowClan."
"Well," Bearmoon sneered from beside Spottedlight. "You would know about that, wouldn't you?" Rosepaw cringed. Bearmoon took the bait!
Thorntail opened his mouth to make the smart comeback he must've had cooked up, but Spottedlight spoke first. "Bearmoon," she hissed, her hackles rising. "You can't judge a cat on their birth. Thorntail had proven his loyalty several times over." Spottedlight's voice rang out around them, in a strong and clear tone. To Rosepaw, she sounded more like a leader and more noble then her own mother. But why was Spottedlight defending Thorntail so much?
"Which is more then we can say about you!" For a moment, Rosepaw thought that she had said the words, but to her surprise, it was Robinwing. Spottedlight's mother. Robinwing always had trouble forgiving cats, Rosepaw reflected. She supposed it accounted for her own daughter.
Even though Spottedlight looked hurt, Rosepaw couldn't help but rejoice. She wasn't the only one in the Clan who distrusted Spottedlight! And from the murmurs of agreement, coming from even Scarface, Spottedlight's sister, and Scornpaw – her closest kin, ThunderClan wasn't in any mood to forgive Spottedlight's treachery. Even if Streamstar was.
Wait, no. Never mind.
"Spottedlight is more loyal then that RiverClan carrion!" Bearmoon snarled, sticking up for his mate, and once again throwing Thorntail's name in the mud. Shrewtail, Bearmoon's ever-loyal friend hissed an agreement, and other cats seemed to agree as well.
"That isn't saying much though," Lightheart, a pretty golden she-cat pointed out. "Thorntail's extremely disloyal. A traitorous piece of fox-dung like Spottedlight IS more loyal then him, but then again…" Lightheart sniffed the air for a moment. "That pile of mouse-dung over there," she meowed flicking her tail into the bushes. "Is more loyal then Thorntail."
"Silence," Streamstar hissed. "We must be unified now more then ever! Spottedlight has earned her place in this Clan once more, and is a loyal, intelligent, graceful, beautiful, honorable warrior of ThunderClan! And Thorntail….Thorntail's a warrior too."
"Gee, thanks Streamstar." Thorntail muttered sarcastically. "I never knew I was held so highly in your mind. A warrior? Me? Next you're going to tell me that I'm a cat, aren't you?"
Streamstar ignored the comment, and lifted her tail into the air, and jerked it down as if it were a gathering, and she was leading her Clan down to meet the other Clans for a truce – and not leading them into potential death at the claws of ShadowClan and RiverClan warriors.
Rosepaw swept down, following close behind Thorntail, with her claws unsheathed. If ShadowClan and RiverClan were there to fight…they'd have...a puny ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice to recon with. Not exactly threatening…
Rosepaw ran closer to Thorntail. The tom slowed down, and she saw that the whole Clan was standing behind Streamstar now, who had come to a stop.
"Greetings, Streamstar." Duststar stepped towards Rosepaw's mother, and dipped his dark-gray head in greeting.
"Same to you, Duststar." Streamstar meowed diplomatically. Rosepaw saw her eyes flash around Fourtrees, where healthy, strong, and agile RiverClan warriors and apprentices were waiting. "My warriors smelled ShadowClan. Where are they?"
"ShadowClan?" for a moment, Duststar looked acutely surprised. Then the leader seemed to remember something. "Oh, yes. You should remember them." He turned around, and nodded towards two warriors, who were standing in a mass of RiverClan cats, who got to their paws and padded towards them.
One was a sleek-furred black she-cat, who Rosepaw recognized from an earlier gathering as Ravenfeather, and the other was a fox-colored apprentice who Rosepaw didn't recognize.
"ShadowClan," Duststar explained. "is sick as well. And they offered to help us fight WindClan."
"A warrior and an apprentice?" Streamstar asked, raising an eyebrow. "I see that their leader is very generous. What could these two possibly do?"
"This is all ShadowClan can afford to give. Ravenfeather and Foxpaw are the only cats healthy enough to leave the camp. Excluding their leader of course, but he's needed at camp."
"How'd they know of our meeting?" it was Robinwing who asked the question, her eyes narrowing into slits.
"We smelled the sickness," Duststar pointed out. "So I sent Puddlespots to lead a patrol and find out what's what. In the end, we got a few extra paws to help us out. Oh, don't look at me that way, Streamstar!" Duststar mewed. "Ravenfeather is legendary for her skills, and Foxpaw is…er was mentored by Reedsong – and she was one of the fiercest fighters in the forest."
Rosepaw sighed. She knew exactly what her mother was thinking. They never got even with the dark Clan about Swiftfoot's injury. And Ravenfeather, being one of the most respected warriors of ShadowClan, probably had been there to help injure him. And as for Foxpaw… well, he was a ShadowClan cat. Untrustworthy.
"Fine," Streamstar sighed, though she looked unhappy. "Ravenfeather, I assume that you will be representing ShadowClan?"
"I will." Ravenfeather answered, her voice level, and her eyes meeting Streamstar's sapphire gaze with her own pale-emerald, without flinching.
"Then let's get cracking." Streamstar purred, in a joyous tone – a joyous tone that seemed to sweet to be true. To her warriors, she added, "Go talk amongst yourselves. Rest up too. I'm sure the battle's….tomorrow?" she asked looking at Duststar. The RiverClan leader bowed his head in a yes.
"Y-you mean we're sleeping here?" Rosepaw heard Shrewtail burst out.
"Unless you'd prefer our disease-ridden camp." Streamstar snapped. "It's easier this way. First thing in the morning, we can start for WindClan territory."
Duststar started to pad towards the Great Rock, and the two she-cats, Ravenfeather and Streamstar followed him.
Rosepaw stared around at Fourtrees doubtfully. There wasn't much shelter there…
She suddenly noticed that Dewheart of RiverClan, and Shadenight – the medicine cat apprentice that Rosepaw had met before, had already climbed up one of the great oaks, and had settled on one of the lower branches. She noticed that Shrewtail, Bearmoon, and Spottedlight were following suit.
"So, Thorntail where do you want to…Thorntail?" she had been right behind the tom, and now she had lost him! Her gaze flicked about. Where was he? Thorntail!?
Suddenly she saw him. The gray tom was speaking to the RiverClan medicine cat, Blueherb.
Rosepaw sighed. Better not to disturb them. She caught the eye of Applefur, who was quietly sharing tongues with Blackshadow, and rushed over to her friends.
…
"You lied to me." Thorntail meowed coldly, cutting right to the chase as he stared into Blueherb's surprised ice-blue eyes. "You said I was better." He then explained to her that he had passed out when he saw a ShadowClan cat commit suicide. Most likely to escape The Blood, as Furrytail had done.
"Oh…" the RiverClan medicine cat looked thoughtful for a moment, and Thorntail wanted to claw her pretty little face. He didn't enjoy being lied to, especially since he had trusted Blueherb so much! She, and her scarless pelt, her deep blue eyes, her blue-gray pelt which held the colors of the moon and night within it…and…
"Thorntail," she mewed after a moment, and slapping Thorntail right out of his little daydream. "When…" Blueherb was going to start to defend herself now. Three foxes…Two foxes…One fox…Cue Blueherb: "Duststar brought you to me, you were in terrible condition. He didn't understand that your problem was…not physical, which is what medicine cats heal. But emotional. And with emotional problems, they don't go away… But…" she trailed off, maybe from the icy look she was getting from the ThunderClan warrior. Finally she continued. "But," she repeated, "With a few calming herbs and such, I was able to get you to a normal state after some time." Thorntail must've still looked like he wanted to strangle Blueherb with her own entrails, because she went on hastily: "With emotional injuries…it's not about getting better, or not getting better. Thorntail, it how you overcome them."
Thorntail sighed. That made sense…but apparently he wasn't overcoming his very well, if he saw passed out and stopped breathing whenever he saw a cat one the Thunderpath like that…
"Thorntail," Blueherb swept on. "D-do you still think that?"
"Think what?" Thorntail asked curiously, even though he knew exactly what Blueherb was going to ask. Blueherb had spent so much time digging it into his brain – as had Puddlespots, Speedtail, Duststar, Streamstar, Swiftfoot, and Sandpelt. They kept reassuring him… but they didn't know what he knew.
Blueherb hesitated for a moment. Finally, she spoke, her words sounding like they had been ripped out of her. "You know. That…that you caused Graywhisker's death?"