Flamespirit- You did it by accident, but you made me realize that I made a fatal mistake. I first called him Flamespirit, and then went on to call him Flamesoul...I'm going to continue calling him Flamesoul, and I suppose I'll have to re-upload that chapter!
Mapleleaf- Awe...thank you so much.
Anyways everyone, this chapter doesn't have much action in it...and yet it is extraordinarily long. Why? Because this is one of those explanation-chapters, you know. Giving some back story, revealing some secrets, etc. And please forgive me for its longness! Please review! Constructive Critisism (And I cannot spell that word. Critisize me about that.) is welcome, and makes me happy, AND it helps me out as a writer! So please help me out!
As the warriors of the Clan of Sky and Water spoke among themselves, Rosepaw tucked her paws beneath herself, and watched with minute interest as Applefur and Blackshadow spoke softly to one another, in a sweet rhythm. Rosepaw couldn't hear the words, but she was almost positive that they weren't saying anything at all – just sweet nothings to one another.
Rosepaw felt a cold jealousy rise up within her, as she realized that they could act like that in front of everyone's eyes, and no cat could say there was anything wrong with it. Two pure-blooded ThunderClan warriors, in love, making goo-goo eyes at one-another? It was expected, it was a blessing, it was a joy to the world. Rosepaw's ears suddenly picked up the words: "I love you," coming from Blackshadow's mouth, and she heard Applefur rumble an answer. Love… Rosepaw was suddenly left wondering. Was she loved? She had never heard Thorntail say it to her, even when they were alone. She had never had any siblings – which Rosepaw could remember, at least. Streamstar never said such things. Occasionally the leader would say, "I care about you, Rosepaw." But Streamstar said the same thing to Silverpaw, and other apprentices too. Streamstar had gotten pregnant with Rosepaw when she was leader, and even when Streamstar was alone with her, she always kept her poise, and never told Rosepaw she loved her daughter more then anything in the world. She never told Rosepaw, as other mothers did, that she was the most beautiful she-cat in all the Clan, and would one day grow up to be leader, or a fabulous medicine cat. In fact, Streamstar had never told her, even when Rosepaw started her training, that she would one day be the greatest medicine cat in the forest. Rosepaw didn't think that she would become a great medicine cat, but isn't it nice for kin to tell you sweet lies like that?
Her father had. Her father never wasted time in telling her that she was the most beautiful kitten in the Clan, and would one day grow up into a beautiful she-cat. He loved her, and made it known. Not only with the three magical words, but with his actions, the way he'd look at her lovingly, lick her head, roll around with her playing kit games – because there weren't any other kittens Rosepaw's own age to play with. Her father had loved her.
Her father was dead.
And now, Rosepaw was surrounded by more joy then ever before, admittedly. She had Applefur, who had become a loyal friend, Blackshadow, who she knew cared for her as he would his sister, Thorntail, who…was the one who came the closest to loving Rosepaw.
Rosepaw sighed quietly, so she wouldn't ruin the beautiful moment that Applefur and Blackshadow were sharing, and raised her eyes to Streamstar, who was still on the Great Rock, and lashing her tail furiously as she turned to Ravenfeather, as if the ShadowClan warrior had said something rude.
Rosepaw looked around FourTrees. Applefur and Blackshadow weren't the only cats who were in love. She saw several RiverClan cats sprawled out next to each other, with their fur tips touching, as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes. And the ThunderClan cats, were doing as Applefur and Blackshadow did now, and mewing softly into each other's ear… Rosepaw recalled Streamstar's orders in a flash.
Streamstar's orders had been to rest, true.
But… Rosepaw chuckled to herself. None of the warriors from either Clan seemed to want to jump into rest so quickly. She suddenly saw a pair of RiverClan cats, a tom and a she-cat, leap to their paws and run up the hollow – possibly to get some privacy so they could mate, but they were driven back by Furyheart, the RiverClan deputy, who was one of the cats guarding the hollow, to make sure no WindClan cats overheard, and no cats left to betray their Clans.
It seemed to Rosepaw like a Gathering- a gathering of only RiverClan and ThunderClan (Okay, and two ShadowClan cats), the way everyone was chatting. Rosepaw sighed heavily, no longer caring what Blackshadow and Applefur did – they seemed to have forgotten that she was there anyway. She suddenly felt an intense loneliness – Thorntail was still with Blueherb, and all of Rosepaw's other ThunderClan friends – Blackshadow, and Applefur, were still…busy. And she didn't really know anyone in RiverClan, besides Puddlespots and Speedtail, and they were acquaintances, not friends. So Rosepaw was left alone, in a hollow filled to the brim with cats.
Rosepaw flashed her gaze over to where she had seen the gray warrior, Thorntail speaking with the medicine cat, but she now realized that he was gone, and now sharing tongues with Badgerclaw, a ThunderClan warrior. Smart – showing his first loyalty was to the Clan.
"Rosepaw,"
Her name was yowled out, and Rosepaw pricked her ears in curiosity. To her surprise, several tail-lengths away, she saw Blueherb standing there, with her apprentice, Shadenight at her shoulder. Rosepaw was once again stricken by Shadenight's beauty – she was definitely the most beautiful she-cat Rosepaw had ever seen in her life, but Rospaw attempted to hide her awe.
"What is it?" Rosepaw asked curiously, dipping her head in respect to Blueherb, and then giving Shadenight a curt nod. Once again she felt her jealousy of Shadenight rise up inside of her. She was sharing Blueherb with Shadenight.
"When the warriors set out for the first attack," Blueherb began, emphasizing the word 'first', and Rosepaw felt a shiver – how many attacks were they doing? "We will search everywhere for a cure." She flicked her tail to Shadenight, Rosepaw and herself – they were the 'we'.
Rosepaw doubted they would find anything. She had searched her territory high and low, she imagined Shadedhope, the ShadowClan medicine cat had searched hers, and the two RiverClan cats had probably turned over every rock in their own territory to find a cure – none of them had found anything. All three territories – nothing!
Suddenly, it dawned on Rosepaw like the rising sun.
The three territories. If WindClan had been the source of the disease…then… WindClan would most likely be the source for the cure!
"How will we know that it's a cure?" Rosepaw asked, doubt hitting her like a badger's claw.
"We'll have to wait for a sign from StarClan," Shadenight mewed simply, her tone annoying Rosepaw slightly. Shadenight was acting as if she were an elder, speaking down to young Rosekit. Rosepaw was about Shadenight's age! It just took longer for medicine cats to get their dang name! Even longer for Rosepaw, considering Flamesoul left! "They'll tell us when we find it."
Rosepaw wanted to curse under her breath. Not about Shadenight speaking down to her… But because StarClan didn't speak to her! She KNEW that Spottedlight sign HAD To be a fluke. A coincidence…
In thinking of Spottedlight…Rosepaw flashed her eyes over towards the Great Oak that Spottedlight had been napping in. She was gone!
Rosepaw shook her suspicions away. Spottedlight probably couldn't sleep, and had decided to share-tongues with some of her pals. Probably. Besides, there's no way she could've gotten out. She knew that Robinwing, and the RiverClan deputy Furyheart, had been patrolling Fourtrees to make sure nobody exited, as Rosepaw saw a demonstration of.
Rosepaw looked up from the hollow, where she saw the lithe, tan shape of Furyheart pacing around the rim of the hollow…but…
Where was Robinwing?
"So get your rest," Blueherb concluded, knocking Rosepaw back to reality. "Oh-oh yeah." She purred dipping her head. "Of course, Blueherb."
The two RiverClan medicine cats padded over to their Clanmates, and Rosepaw was once again left semi-by her lonesome. Applefur and Blackshadow were with her the whole time, but she doubted they even noticed Shadenight and Blueherb. The two cats had stopped their quiet mewing, and had escalated in their communication. They were looking lovingly into each other's eyes.
"Hey, Rosepaw."
Once again, an obnoxious feminine voice reminded Rosepaw to keep her paws in the forest, and keep her mind from going to StarClan just yet.
Rosepaw stared blankly at the she-cat before her, and recognized her immediately.
"Sandpelt!" she purred, nodding in respect to the senior warrior, her heart brimming with joy that she could talk to a cat in her own Clan. But…wait… "Aren't…you…a queen?" she asked, staring at her skeptically. "Shouldn't you be at Sunningrocks with Swiftfoot and the others?" Rosepaw emphasized the word Swiftfoot. The former deputy was Sandpelt's mate, and Sandpelt was after all, carrying Swiftfoot's kittens. The tom probably wouldn't want to lose her – especially now.
Rosepaw ignored the fact that no matter how much she and Thorntail felt…affection for one another (No love. Thorntail never said the words.) she could never carry his kits, for the fear of both, StarClan's and ThunderClan's punishment.
Sandpelt shrugged her shoulders, and explained her situation. "I couldn't stand just sitting there and doing nothing." She meowed. "So I came here. Swiftfoot tried to stop me, but he couldn't…but he made me promise to have you check to see if I can fight." Rosepaw must've looked doubtfully at her, so Sandpelt put in quickly, "I'm hardly even a half-moon pregnant," she meowed. "Except from my scent, you can't tell."
Rosepaw sighed. True…the kits wouldn't stop Sandpelt from fighting any less harder…but…If a WindClan cat got a good claw at her stomach, Sandpelt would have complications during the birth. Though, if Rosepaw tried to stop her, she doubted Sandpelt would listen. But she would have to listen to the Clan leader.
"I won't stop you." Rosepaw meowed carefully. "But Streamstar might have something else to say. With Turtlefeather gone, we don't have as many queens and kits…" Turtlefeather was one of those she-cats who trained to be a warrior, but truly never had any intention of being a warrior. She had been born for mother hood, and the young she-cat had done nothing but give ThunderClan many warriors, before she died.
Sandpelt's eyes strayed to the Great Rock, where Streamstar, Ravenfeather, and Duststar were still planning an effective strike. They were laughing now, and Rosepaw was doubtful that they were still plotting…most likely just chatting now. Of course, Ravenfeather probably wouldn't have been to happy about that, and Duststar was always the generic down-to-earth leader, but Streamstar was probably air-headed enough to take them all to StarClan.
"I'll ask her when she's done," Sandpelt sighed. Rosepaw was about to tell her that they probably weren't doing anything, but Sandpelt interrupted her. "…I love the battlefield." Her sentence came out to random, and so much like Thorntail, that Rosepaw nearly fell over her own paws. Rosepaw vaguely wondered if Sandpelt never wanted to be a mother, just keep going with the hunting patrols and such. But Sandpelt didn't explain her love of it at all, just swept into another sentence. "They say that there are StarClan warriors, and demons on the battlefield…I think…I think Swiftfoot must've caught the eye of a devil."
Sandpelt's voice was full of sorrow and regret, and Rosepaw wondered if she felt guilty about her love of to spill other warriors' blood. So Rosepaw left her to do just that for a moment. "I once heard a kittypet tell a patrol that I was on…" Sandpelt continued, her eyes clouding with the memory. "That all of us warriors have the eyes of a killer. I wonder if that's true…"
"Why are you talking like this?"
"Because…I was thinking about all the warriors that will get hurt tomorrow." Sandpelt murmured. "Its hard to see the cats you care about get hurt. I know the wails of WindClan warriors will be heard from our camp…and their grief will make StarClan wail in sympathy…but still I'm going to fight." Sandpelt's gaze swept across Fourtrees. "All of us are going to. Just to satisfy how need for revenge." Sandpelt looked thoughtful for a moment, and raised her gaze to StarClan. "Tell me, Rosepaw." Sandpelt murmured. "Did the WindClan kittens do anything to harm us? We will be killing their mothers. Maybe even the kits themselves, if they get in our way. What about the apprentices? They're blood will definitely be spilled. And some of the warriors are innocent. I'm sure there were protests against Runningstar's plan… but they will die too. We will bring that Clan to their knees, weaken them to the point of no return. Leaving maybe one or two warriors…maybe not even that many."
Rosepaw lowered her gaze. That was true. She had already thought about that. Numerous times. That was one of the reasons she had become a medicine cat…
"As a warrior, I understand the need to defend the Clan at any cost," Sandpelt went on, coming back down the forest, and staring straight into Rosepaw's eyes. "Or…or at least…I thought I understand…until Swiftfoot got hurt…When…he wasn't regaining consciousness…I got scared…But what can I do? That's the tom I fell in love with…The tom I feared I would never see again…" Sandpelt leveled her gaze with Rosepaw's. "Love…hurts, Rosepaw. One day," Sandpelt chuckled to herself. "One day, ThunderClan will make a mistake, and make another Clan furious at us. It might be RiverClan, who are our allies now, or ShadowClan…or possibly, WindClan. But either way, one day they will satisfy their need for revenge, by spilling the blood of our kits, our parents…" Sandpelt's voice suddenly took on more meaning, as she spoke another sentence. "Our mates."
Now it made sense. Sandpelt had begun to think that Rosepaw and Thorntail were padding after one another… and in this way, Sanddpelt was silently warning her to stay away from him, or she'd get hurt.
A yowl behind her interrupted Rosepaw from responding to the ginger she-cat, and she turned towards it. To her surprise, she saw Thorntail and Blackshadow (who must've stopped staring into Applefur's big blue eyes at some point.) stalking up to one another, their snow-white fangs bared. Rosepaw thought for a moment that the two toms had gotten into an argument, and were settling it with a fight, but suddenly she noticed most cats mimicking. Applefur and Featherfrost, Bearmoon and Shrewtail…Dewheart and some other RiverClan cat…
They were practicing their fighting skills!
"Oh, look." Sandpelt purred, realizing just what Rosepaw had, as Thorntail lunged at his darker friend. "Let's get closer so we can watch better."
Personally, Rosepaw didn't need to see warriors claw each other senseless, but she had nothing better to do (except sleep, but that probably wouldn't be happening any time soon, considering all the yowls.) so she trotted over to watch.
Thorntail had his front paws placed firmly on Blackshadow's back, and seemed to be having no problem keeping the other tom on the ground. Suddenly, the black cat flipped over onto his belly, making Thorntail lose his footing on him, and toppled the gray cat over. Blackshadow reared up on his hind legs, to play-claw Thorntail across the eye when….a gray blur knocked Blackshadow to the ground. The next thing Rosepaw saw, was Blackshadow writhing beneath Thorntail once more, as the gray tom viciously clawed (with sheathed claws…so…) the overturned belly.
"Wh-what was that?" Rosepaw asked Sandpelt curiously, referring to the gray blur. "W-was that…Thorntail?" Sandpelt chuckled and agreement and Rosepaw was left gaping. "He's as quick as a rabbit…" Rosepaw had never seen warriors fight. Apprentices play-fight, and kits too…but she never saw fully trained warriors go at it.
The fight between Blackshadow and Thorntail apparently was over, with Thorntail the winner. The gray tom yowled with triumph, and some other spectators such as Lightheart and Puddlespots purred with amusement. To Rosepaw's surprise, Bearmoon stepped forward to fight Thorntail this time – most likely, he had defeated Shrewtail.
"It's good practice," Sandpelt purred. "To play-fight even when you're a warrior." Rosepaw nodded in agreement, as Bearmoon tried to stalk up on Thorntail's flank.
"Thorntail's muscles are tenser then before…" Sandpelt murmured watching in amazement. "He's really going all out now." Rosepaw felt a flash of alarm beat through her, so Sandpelt went on, "He still has his claws sheathed, though."
That was something. Rosepaw knew that Thorntail held a grudge against Bearmoon, for the endless taunts. Admittedly, this was a fight for both their honor.
Bearmoon lifted a gigantic paw, and from his position at Thorntail's side, easily knocked the gray cat down.
"Why did Thorntail let him do that?" Rosepaw asked Sandpelt curiously, to which the older warrior replied, "Watch."
Bearmoon yowled with triumph, and there were several jeers from other spectators. The large brown tom loomed over Thorntail, his eyes sparkling with delight. Suddenly, one of Thorntail's sprawled out paws flashed in the air, and it gently slapped one of Bearmoon's forelegs, knocking the big cat over. Thorntail let out a purr that Rosepaw could just hear, and the gray tom threw himself on top of the brown cat, and gently wrapped his fangs around Bearmoon's throat, signaling a victory. Once Bearmoon was out of the way, Thorntail was faced with another opponent.
"Wow…" Rosepaw heard a cat breath beside her. For a moment, Rosepaw thought that it was Sandpelt, but the queen had went to Streamstar, to get the veto she needed to fight. "When you see that kind of fighting," the cat continued, and Rosepaw turned her head, to see Puddlespots staring at Thorntail somewhat enviously. "It's obvious that the cat knows how to be aggressive." Rosepaw had to agree, even as Thorntail pinned down another challenger. "I can't believe the kind of skill and loyalty RiverClan has lost…"
This confused Rosepaw. "Loyalty?" she echoed. "Wouldn't a loyal RiverClan cat have stayed with his Clan?"
"Sometimes you can't," Puddlespots flared, defending Thorntail. "Sometimes…morals have to come first. As much as I know we should be furious at Thorntail for leaving us…" the RiverClan she-cat shrugged her shoulders. "To us, he'll always be a RiverClan cat." Rosepaw looked down at her paws. Thorntail had seemed more at home with Speedtail and Puddlespots when they were escorting them back to their territory, then he had been with ThunderClan warriors.
Puddlespots suddenly seemed to understand her mistake. "B-but I'm sure he's a true-blue ThunderClan cat now." She stuttered. "S-sorry. I wasn't implying anything…"
"You seem like Thorntail's friend." Rosepaw murmured softly, as she saw Thorntail swipe at Lightheart, his new opponent, with a sheathed paw. "Have you known him for a long time?"
"Yup." Puddlespots purred. "I had a paw in mentoring him."
Rosepaw looked thoughtful for a moment. Graywhisker… she decided that it would be better to ask now then later. "Then…did you know Graywhisker?" Puddlespots looked at her like she had asked if she had known some kittypet who rolled in tuna for fun personally, so Rosepaw elaborated. "I…I want to know more about Thorntail." She explained softly. "And…I know I shouldn't ask this, Puddlespots…" Rosepaw emphasized the suffix in Puddlespots' name, in order to show some respect for the she-cat's rank of warrior, as Rosepaw was still just an apprentice. "But what kind of cat was Graywhisker?"
Puddlespots looked around, as if her words she was about to speak had to be hidden, even from the likes of StarClan, and once she was sure nobody was listening (too busy with the whole 'let's claw each other's fur out' thing), she spoke. "Graywhisker and Thorntail? Completely opposite cats. Nothing alike." Rosepaw flicked her tail for Puddlespots to explain, and that is exactly what the RiverClan warrior did. "Graywhisker was kind, and very quiet." Yup, opposites. "He….loved to heal cats." Puddlespots murmured.
"So… he was a medicine cat?" Rosepaw asked wondering why she had never seen the gray tom before he died.
"No…" Puddlespots mused. "He probably wanted to be, deep down – he was always experimenting with herbs and such, but he trained as a warrior."
Rosepaw sighed. Graywhisker clearly had a calling as a medicine cat. She wondered bleakly, why he didn't he follow StarClan's wishes? If he had, would he have still been alive to that day?
"I once caught him staring at Thorntail from a distance…" Puddlespots continued, and it seemed to Rosepaw that she was speaking more to herself, then to the ThunderClan cat. "I told him that if he wanted to look at himself, he could just go to the river and see his reflection. But…he told me that he and Thorntail had a completely different aura, and personality. Which is true, I guess." Puddlespots shrugged off Graywhisker's random comment, and Rosepaw wondered why the pale-gray she-cat had even mentioned it. "It was true, though. They were totally opposite, and yet they depended on one another. It reminded me of the Clans," Rosepaw flicked her tail for Puddlespots to elaborate, so she did. "The Clans are opposite of one another, and have their differences that a half-blind kit can see…but we depend on each other, don't we?" Rosepaw dipped her head. That made sense.
Puddlespots' ice-blue eyes clouded, as she re-lived a memory. "I remember one time, Thorntail got hurt in a battle over the WindClan border. Graywhisker wouldn't leave his side in the medicine cat's den, not even to eat…he almost collapsed." Puddlespots lowered her gaze to her paws. "Gr-graywhisker said that if Thorntail died, he himself wouldn't be able to live on. I think that that loyalty to your brother is touching and all…but it's sick to be so attached to something. Anything. A kit, your leader, your mate…At least that's my opinion…Anyways, I always thought that what Graywhisker said at that time wasn't just a sudden outburst of his emotions. He really meant it. If there's no Thorntail, he doesn't have the strength to live on. Or…didn't."
"D-did…" Rosepaw felt like she was trying to make the sun shine in the darkness, as she put the facts together. "Graywhisker kill himself when Thorntail left to join ThunderClan?"
"No." Puddlespots' answer was blunt, and almost cold.
"B-but…" Rosepaw suddenly remembered Thorntail's reaction to the cat on the Thunderpath. "He did commit suicide, didn't he?"
Puddlespots was silent for a moment, and the only sound Rosepaw heard was Thorntail yowl with triumph once more. After a few more moments, Puddlespots spoke again. "Yeah. R-right in front of Thorntail," Rosepaw suddenly felt a shiver rise up her spine, and Puddlespots went on. "An apprentice was the first one to notice that Graywhisker wasn't in camp – and he should've been…he was supposed to be sitting his warrior's vigil the evening before… so… the deputy organized a patrol to look for him, and she put Thorntail on it… They followed his scent into ThunderClan territory…and it started leading them to the Thunderpath. Most of them started to think that Graywhisker was going to ShadowClan to be with his…" Puddlespots shook her head, as if that little bit of information wasn't important. "The patrol split up, around ThunderClan territory to find him however… Thorntail searched by the Thunderpath, and…he saw Graywhisker sitting near the center." Puddlespots' voice started coming out raspy, and it hurt Rosepaw's ears – and heart, to listen. "Thorntail called for Graywhisker to come back…but he didn't. Thorntail went onto the Thunderpath to lead Graywhisker to safety, but he stood strong. Then a monster came…instinctively, Thorntail ran out of the way…but Graywhisker didn't. Nor did he want to. Graywhisker died, pretty much instantly. And poor Thorntail…poor Thorntail saw the body of a cat that had not only been one of his best friends throughout his lifetime, but also looked, and smelled exactly like himself. It was like seeing his own body…" Puddlespots trailed off.
Rosepaw could only stare in horror. She couldn't imagine going through that… a cat that had been there your whole life…committing an act of suicide right before your very eyes…
"Why did Graywhisker do such a thing?" Rosepaw burst out. "He must've known what it would do to Thorntail!"
Puddlespots shrugged her gray shoulders, and looked defeated. "I don't know, Rosepaw. There was nothing that went on to indicate that Graywhisker would do such a thing! Nothing. We can only guess…" Puddlespots looked uncertain for a moment, but then went on stronger. "We of course, questioned Thorntail on what happened…and he said the strangest thing. He said that he had pushed Graywhisker…"
"Did he?" Rosepaw asked, casting a glance over at the warrior, who had stopped his practicing, and was now sharing tongues with Blackshadow once more.
"There were a few other cats that saw it happen. They told us that Thorntail did no such thing. So we assumed that it was just the shock of losing his brother and best friend so quickly that made him that way…" Puddlespots looked thoughtful for a moment. "And shortly after that, Thorntail would…act funny."
"Funny?" Rosepaw asked curiously.
"Funny." Puddlespots repeated. "He couldn't hunt by the river anymore, because he'd freak out whenever he saw his reflection. Even in pools and puddles too. Thorntail hated to look at himself. Probably because he sees his dead brother looking back at him…and randomly, he would get incredibly violent." Puddlespots let out a purr. "He defeated every warrior in our Clan, twice. Duststar asked Blueherb to do something about it, calm Thorntail down somehow…and she did it. Of course, Thorntail hated the smell of herbs almost as much as he hated his reflection… Well, anyways, later, Thorntail's father asked him to come home. And he put some pressure on us to make it happen…"
"Father?" Rosepaw echoed. She had heard that Thorntail's mother had died, but his father? "Isn't he a RiverClan cat?" If so, why would he ask him to come home?
"You didn't know?" Puddlespots asked. Rosepaw shook her head. Puddlespots sighed, and looked guilty for spilling so much of Thorntail's life…but she answered. "Thorntail's a half-Clan cat. Half RiverClan, half ShadowClan. His father's a ShadowClan cat."
Rosepaw blinked in surprise. Really? That explained a bit – like Streamstar's comment on how Thorntail should know ShadowClan territory so well, and Thorntail's knowledge of half-Clan cats. "But…if he has kin in ShadowClan," Rosepaw murmured. "When he left RiverClan…why didn't he go to ShadowClan, to be with his father? And why did he leave RiverClan in the first place?"
"I think he felt too much guilt to stay in RiverClan – that's just my opinion…" Puddlespots murmured. "To be honest, I have no clue why he'd go to ThunderClan, the Clan that Graywhisker chose to die in. But he did. Why he didn't go to ShadowClan…"
"Was probably," a new voice snapped, interrupting Puddlespots, as he started padding up to them. Rosepaw turned her head, to see Speedtail standing there, lashing his tail. "Because his father is a piece of fox-dung!" to Rosepaw, he added, "When Thorntail's mother died of Greencough, up in ShadowClan, that father of his sent them right down to RiverClan! His own kits!"
"Wait…the mother was a ShadowClan cat?" Rosepaw blinked. Then how was Thorntail half-RiverClan?
"Lightsnow – Thorntail's mother – was born in RiverClan, she was a pure RiverClan cat. But she fell in love with a ShadowClan cat, and left the Clan, without much thought…" Speedtail was clearly furious, because the tom started to shake. "Once Lightsnow died, when the two kits needed their father the most, he sends them to RiverClan, and never even asks at Gatherings how they are going. He never mentions them again! Thorntail and Graywhisker were the only true kin one another had! And then for Graywhisker to die in such a way… We can't expect Thorntail to be a normal cat under stress like that! If he was, now THAT…THAT would be abnormal."
Rosepaw lowered her gaze to her paws, as she remembered how much her own father had loved her, and how much Streamstar was always looking out for her – even if Rosepaw couldn't call it love. Rosepaw couldn't imagine one of them sending her off to another Clan… and then never speak of her again. But…
"Why did RiverClan accept the kits?" Rosepaw asked.
Puddlespots answered this time, with a shrug of her shoulders. "Lightsnow was once a RiverClan cat, and was always popular. And we're not so mouse-brained that we'd turn down two future-warriors. Thorntail's father is fierce, and he's half RiverClan…" Whoa. RiverClan and ShadowClan seemed to be attracted to one another, for the same thing to happen to two generations so close to one another. "And Thorntail's mother was wise… and there was loyalty in them – the mother hadn't betrayed RiverClan as much as she could've, she did GO to ShadowClan… so we accepted them, and raised them as we would any RiverClan kit. Lightsnow's sister had lost her litter too…so it seemed like a sign from StarClan."
Rosepaw nodded. That made sense…
"I still can't believe that father!" Speedtail hissed, flattening his ears against his head. "Doesn't even deserve to be called a father… I feel so sorry for Thorntail that I could just-"
"Could you guys stop talking about me?" Speedtail's hiss of fury was interrupted.
Rosepaw nearly jumped out of her fur, when she recognized the voice that spoke. She turned her head slightly, and saw Thorntail standing there, twitching his gray tail gently.
"H-how long have you been there?" Puddlespot asked.
"Long enough," the gray cat mewed simply. To the two RiverClan cats, he mewed, "Could you leave us alone for a moment?"
Puddlespots dipped her head in acknowledgement, and stalked off to a group of RiverClan cats. Speedtail hesitated for a moment, but finally padded after his mate.
Thorntail licked Rosepaw playfully on the ear once he was sure his RiverClan pals were gone.
"I-I'm sorry, Thorntail." Rosepaw mewed truthfully, unable to meet his gaze. "I shouldn't have been so curious."
Thorntail didn't comment on her nosiness, and spoke as if she hadn't said anything, his voice cheerful, as if he were telling a joke, or saying that he had chased off a ShadowClan patrol. "My life isn't as bad as Puddlespots and Speedtail make it out to be," he purred.
"I've been hurting you, haven't I?" Rosepaw asked bluntly. "Puddlespots said that Graywhisker was always trying to heal…I bet I remind you of Graywhisker…if it makes you feel better, you don't have to come into my den to greet me anymore." Rosepaw murmured, every word hurting her. She couldn't imagine life without Thorntail…but if she was hurting him…she didn't want to do that anymore then she wanted to murder Robinwing to become deputy – which was impossible anyways.
But Rosepaw was relieved when Thorntail spoke once more. "Its okay," he purred, touching Rosepaw's flank with his tail. "Because it's you."
His words filled Rosepaw with such warmth. It was wrong, she knew…but why did something that made her so happy - like Thorntail – against the warrior code?
Thorntail continued, possibly because Rosepaw was silent for so long. "I'm a little afraid," he admitted, referring to being with Rosepaw, a medicine cat, shuffling his smoky gray paws in embarrassment. "But…I still want to be with you. Before, I always thought…" Rosepaw stared at him hopefully, that…odd emotion filling up her chest once more. Rosepaw initially thought it was fear, the way it came up so strongly, almost instinctively. But…no it wasn't.
Thorntail continued. "I always thought that there was nothing in the entire forest to worry about. Not badgers. Not foxes…not enemy patrols…nothing." Thorntail paused for a moment before going on. "But when I met you, I've got a lot of things to be afraid of. What I'm afraid of most, is when you're with me by the Clan borders – you know, when you're searching for herbs in Sunningrocks by RiverClan, or by WindClan…" Thorntail purred to himself, and shuffled his paws again. "I absolutely can't let my guard down…because…I can't lose you."
Rosepaw wanted to purr, but she couldn't. For some reason, nothing was coming out. Not even a squeak. So instead, Rosepaw gave Thorntail a quick lick on the ear – not a lick that mates would give one another (too many witnesses, thank you very much) but a courteous greeting between Clanmates. Finally, Rosepaw could speak.
"You won't lose me." She promised, staring into the gray cat's eyes with as much admiration as if she were staring into a StarClan warrior's eyes.
Thorntail curled his tail with delight, and licked his lips, as if he were enjoying a tasty morsel of prey. Rosepaw had a feeling she knew what he was imagining.
"Night-night," Thorntail purred, and Rosepaw suddenly realized that besides the quiet mewing of a few late-nighters, and the leaders' (and Ravenfeather's) arguments/purrs, Fourtrees was silent. She noticed that the two Clans had separated, and ThunderClan was in a big clump together on the far side of Fourtrees, while RiverClan cats huddled together on the opposite side of them. Rosepaw for a moment, though she was dreaming. She had seen Fourtrees be filled up before, at Gatherings, and such, but she had never seen any cat sleep in it – let alone so many. In fact, Rosepaw had never seen so many cats sleeping – end of sentence.
Thorntail had started to trot towards where Blackshadow was waiting impatient, but Rosepaw called him back.
"I'm curious about something," she admitted. Truly, she was curious if Thorntail DID kill his brother…but now that she was under Thorntail's intense blue gaze, she couldn't say the correct words. So…instead she asked,
"If you and Graywhisker got your warrior names in RiverClan," she breathed. "Why did you earn it in ThunderClan too?"
Thorntail shrugged. "I made arrangements with Streamstar before I left RiverClan," he explained. "She told me it would be easier for the Clan to except a rogue, then a former RiverClan cat. So she introduced me to the Clan as a rogue named 'Thorn' gave me the name Thornpaw, and a moon later I re-earned my warrior name, which was identical to the one I got in RiverClan."
Rosepaw nodded. That made sense. The Clan had been much more lenient on questioning Thorntail's loyalty when they thought he had been born a loner, with loner parents. Once they found out he had RiverClan blood, they turned on him like he was the weak rat, and they did everything they could to draw that RiverClan blood.
"Oh," Rosepaw purred, trotting with her friend now towards the ThunderClan cats. "That makes sense." Rosepaw was slightly disturbed though. Streamstar lied to the Clan so easily…what else could her mother have lied about?
Thorntail muttered a 'good-bye' band went over to Blackshadow, who flicked his tail in greeting. Rosepaw longed to go over with him, but the Clan had enough suspicions about their relationship as it was – though Rosepaw and Thorntail could hardly be considered mates.
The semi-medicine cat apprentice suddenly locked eyes with Applefur, who indicated with her tail for Rosepaw to come over.
Rosepaw dipped her head in acknowledgement, and trotted over to the warrior, noticing the dark pelt of Robinwing as she went – and Spottedlight too. They had returned from wherever they had gone…
Rosepaw swept her gaze across her Clanmates then. Featherfrost, Sandpelt, Gingerleaf, Badgerclaw…Blackshadow…Thorntail…cats would die tomorrow – she was almost sure of it. Streamstar, Duststar, and Ravenfeather wanted the blood of WindClan, but to be so…thirsty for death, usually backfired and affected one's own Clan as well.
Rosepaw shook her head, and told herself to stop being so morbid, and settled down beside Applefur, who muttered something that might have been a greeting.
Rosepaw had a long day ahead of her, she knew. Find a cure, heal injured cats, and maybe heal sick cats too…
Before Rosepaw let herself fall into a much-needed rest, she stared up at Silverpelt, where the starry warriors shimmered.
"Graywhisker…" she rasped softly, so she herself could hardly even hear, as she prayed to StarClan. "Please…watch over your brother…"
Rosepaw then lay her head down, and felt relaxed by Applefur's shallow breathing. Rosepaw could almost push the fact that ThunderClan was going to be murdering some innocent cats tomorrow, and that ThunderClan had already murdered some of its own warriors – almost – so they could embark on their journey of revenge, out of her mind.