Well everyone, the battle is coming up. I bet you're getting annoyed that it is taking me forever to just have the dang thing happen- but I don't know how to do battles...so I've been reading some of the battle scenes in the Warriors Series, to see what kind of battle scenes we like. The battle will be a big one - and I hope you won't be disappointed in it. But no...it doesn't happen in this chapter. The next chapter it begins, I believe. But don't worry! This chapter isn't totally useless! It starts out in a...oh nevermind, I'll let you read it! But before I do, I just thought I should say that I re-did the first chapter. It looks better then before, if you ask me. Yay! I'll be re-doing quite a few of the chapters - don't worry. I'll just be adding more description, and fixing my grammatical errors...
Oh, and I'd just really like to thank my loyal reviewer, Steeltalon! Because of her, I've had so much fun with this story! I should also thank Silverstream/Roseheart - on another site this fanfiction is up on. Keep reviewing for me, you two!
The scarlet-colored medicine cat apprentice blinked open her ocean blue eyes, and was instantly hit with a pang of confusion when she saw that instead of being surrounded by the herbs and scents of her den, she was surrounded by the Four Great Oaks of Fourtrees. Then she remembered the upcoming battle, Thorntail's brother – Graywhisker, The Blood, and the mission she had coming up that day. Rosepaw shook her head gently, to fully regain consciousness, and stumbled onto her paws.
"Morning, Applefur." She purred to her friend, as she remembered that they had curled up against one another the night before. Rosepaw didn't wait for an answer, and instantly proceeded to rasp her tongue on her own flank, to give herself her morning bath. However, even during Rosepaw's washing, Applefur didn't answer.
"Applefur?" Rosepaw mewed, looking up from her side to glance where the ginger she-cat had settled down to rest the night before. But there wasn't even an indent in the long blades of grass that had sheltered them the previous night..
That was rather odd. Maybe Applefur had been ordered to hunt or something? That was doubtful – but a possibility. "Hey," she meowed, turning to where the other ThunderClan cats had decided to rest, hoping to see a cat she could ask. "Did you guys happen to see…"
Rosepaw broke her sentence off in an instant, confused. There was no cat in her sight. Rosepaw thought for a moment that they left without waking her, but when she swept her gaze to where Blueherb and Shadenight had rested the night before, RiverClan – and its medicine cats, were gone. They wouldn't have gone off to find a cure without her. So where…?
"Hello?" Rosepaw called, and to herself, she mumbled thoughtfully, "Where could they have gone?"
No cat rushed to give her an answer – possibly because there was no cat in earshot, but instead, Rosepaw's vision started to fade into darkness, and a cold shiver went up her fur.
She was left in darkness for a few moments, before her vision returned to her. Rosepaw blinked in surprise at what she saw. She was back at home, in her den, with some porridge leaves beneath her paws. Rosepaw suddenly realized what was going on, at that instant. What else could it be? Being transported from Fourtrees to her den…
It had to be a dream. Rosepaw settled herself down by the porridge leaves, and flicked her tail lazily as she awaited for one of the silvery warriors of Silverpelt to come and give her a prophecy, or scold her, or give her some advice. Rosepaw was still trying to figure out what StarClan would tell her when she realized that she was wrong. It couldn't be a dream... It had to be a nightmare…because…
Because in the shadowy entrance to the den, Rosepaw could vaguely make out the shape of a cat…and even though shadows were around him, she could see patches of flame-colored purr where dapples of light hit his coat.
Rosepaw's hackles rose, she knew him. This was the cat that haunted her dreams…and her life. Never leaving her alone…always at her shoulder…
When he spoke, his voice was deep, and flowed smoothly like the river. "I've been looking for you," he mewed kindly, setting one of his flaming-paws into the den. Rosepaw felt a stab of fear rise within her, as the tom stepped into the light.
It was him alright. She could recognize his broad-shoulders, flaming pelt, and burning amber eyes even if she was half-blind. And even if she had a deathly cold, she would never forget his peculiar scent – like daffodils. As the tom advanced towards her another paw-step, Rosepaw shrunk back slightly.
"Don't be afraid, Rosepaw." He purred sweetly, his eyes glowing with warmth. "I won't hurt you."
Rosepaw shook her head violently. Yes he would! Yes he would! She wasn't just going on the pure instinct that yowled within her body, telling her that this cat was more dangerous to her then a badger, but from experience too.
And that was an experience Rosepaw never wanted to go through again, not in this life, or death, or even in her dreams. "Stay away," she ordered, unsheathing her claws, and flexing them out so the flame-colored tom could see how sharp they were. "If you come one step closer," she growled, curling her upper lip in disgust. "I swear by StarClan that I'll kill you." Her voice shook, and she doubted that the tom believed that she could kill him anymore then she thought she could. Rosepaw had trouble killing squirrels, let alone full grown cats twice her size.
For a moment, the cat standing before her in her den looked hurt. "I won't hurt you," she promised, though Rosepaw could tell it was a lie. His long, glinting silver claws were unsheathed, and his muscles were bunched together. If he wasn't going to hurt her, then Rosepaw was a Twoleg. And she wasn't.
"Don't worry, Rosepaw." He mused, "Don't you see how much I love you?" his words stung Rosepaw for a moment, and she simply felt a beating rage surge through her – like nothing she'd ever felt before.
He came towards her again, faster now, possibly with the intent too… but the young she-cat was ready for him. She lifted one of her forepaws and swiped furiously at him.
He doubled back and shook his head violently, sending little droplets of blood onto the ground. When he stopped, and stared at Rosepaw again, she noticed that a trinket of blood was slithering down his cheek. "Please, Rosepaw." The cat pleaded. "I wouldn't dream of harming you…"
He came at her again, and though Rosepaw attempted to slash at him again, she missed by a fox-length it seemed, and she was knocked to the ground. He loomed over her for a moment, with his pelt aflame, staring down at her with maniacal amber eyes.
"I love you, Rosepaw." He purred. "You know that, don't you? I love you."
Rosepaw attempted to struggle to her paws, but came tumbling down, and was left to the mercy of the cold-blooded cat above her.
As he made continued with his advances, Rosepaw let out a terrified caterwaul, that she thought could be heard all the way from Highstones, and to her relief – and surprise, she actually saw a dark head poke into the den. She recognized the tom in an instant – Blackshadow!
"Blackshadow, oh, Blackshadow!" she gasped. "H-help me!"
The black tom took a step into the den, and peered at the ginger tom curiously for a moment, before turning his back on them, and make a start to pad out of the den.
"Wait Blackshadow!" Rosepaw cried desperately, and to her joy the ThunderClan warrior actually stopped in his tracks. "Please! I need help!"
"Rosepaw," Blackshadow sighed, flicking his tail dismissively. "Why would I help you? That tom and I are…" he turned around, and met Rosepaw's sapphire eyes with his own burning amber. "Part of the same Clan."
"No!" Rosepaw yowled. "You're part of ThunderClan! ThunderClan! We're ThunderClan cats Blackshadow! Where's your loyalty?" Though Rosepaw knew where it was.
"To my Clan," Blackshadow answered briskly, as if this conversation was boring the dark tom. "Bye."
He trotted out of the den, flicking his tail gently in the air, leaving Rosepaw alone with the cat.
"Rosepaw," the dark ginger cat sighed, looking at her hopelessly. "Don't feel bad. Blackshadow doesn't love you – he never has, you know you." Rosepaw knew that. But she thought that they were friends…and even if they weren't…Clan loyalty and loyalty to the Warrior Code should've been enough. But the tom continued. "But I love you. And I always will, Rosepaw."
He must've backed up when Blackshadow had entered, because he once again had to slowly pad towards her, but Rosepaw hadn't given up hope yet! She couldn't get up – true, so she couldn't fight…but she had other friends in ThunderClan – it was her Clan, after all. Just because Blackshadow was disloyal, and had loyalty to… didn't mean that the rest of the Clan was like that too! It didn't!
"Applefur!" she yowled desperately for her friend. "Thorntail! Applefur! Thorntail! Help me! Help me please!" she pleaded for her closest friends, wherever they were to come and save her…
Rosepaw was surprised to see how quickly her smoky gray semi-mate, and her dark ginger former enemy trot into the den.
"Applefur! Thorntail! It's him! You see…"
She flashed a glance at the tom that had entered her den in the beginning of the dream, and saw him still looking at her with that odd look in his eye, but he seemed to be making no effort to retreat.
And to Rosepaw's surprise, Thorntail and Applefur seemed to be making no effort to attack him. But that surprise was nothing compared to the one she saw next. Applefur and Thorntail. Their tails were snaking around one another. Mates.
Though it was the least of Rosepaw's worries at the moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"You're dirty, Rosepaw." Thorntail meowed simply, giving Applefur a playful lick on the ear. "Dirty."
With that, the two cats padded from the den, not even addressing the flame colored tom in her den.
"I don't think you're dirty, Rosepaw." The tom murmured into her ear. "You're perfect to me, Rosepaw. Perfect…"
Rage.
Rage.
Rage.
That was the only blind emotion that Rosepaw felt – besides her hatred of the flame-colored tom in her den who was going to harm her…there was only one thing to do… in order to be unhurt…she had to kill him herself…yes… that would work…Kill him herself… And then after that…she would get Applefur…and Blackshadow too…they'd pay for their betrayal…they'd pay.
…
"Rosepaw, wake up." The voice was stern, and cold, reminding Rosepaw of the days when the she-cat speaking to her hated her with a passion.
She blinked open her eyes slowly, and saw the crimson face of Applefur, who was looking worryingly at her.
"Rosepaw, honestly!" Applefur sighed, rolling her ice-blue eyes with annoyance. "You could sleep through a blizzard! I've been poking and prodding you all morning!"
The young medicine cat grunted a response, though even Rosepaw herself didn't know what it was. Her dream had been so vivid…and real…and peculiar. Though, admittedly, she knew she shouldn't be so freaked out by it – she still had shivers crawling through her fur – she had it every night, after all. But it was the first time that her friends had been in it. Blackshadow. Thorntail. Applefur.
The shock of their betrayal still shivered Rosepaw down to the core. Dreams always meant something – even the medicine cat apprentice who was just on their first day knew that. So…did it mean that her friends really weren't her friends? If Thorntail ever found out about Rosepaw's past…would he…call her dirty, with bloodstained paws…like he had in her dream? If he did…he would be perfectly within his rights… But would Applefur really steal Thorntail from her? It made sense. Applefur had become her friend so suddenly…but Applefur had Blackshadow now. She didn't need Thorntail anymore then she needed to meet a ShadowClan patrol. …And Blackshadow. His Clan? Did that mean that if he found out, he wouldn't think Rosepaw was a true member of the Clan? Did it? No… Blackshadow had meant something else from his sentence. And Rosepaw knew exactly what he meant.
Rosepaw shook away her doubts. StarClan didn't send her dreams. And if they did, they wouldn't make it so blatantly obvious. It was just that. A dream.
But such a scary dream…usually she was haunted by the dark ginger tom and that was terrible enough. But to have her friends turn their back on her like that… That was what made her last particular dream so terrible.
She stole a glance over to Thorntail, who was lying on his side, speaking in a quiet tone to Blackshadow and Badgerclaw about some matter or another.
Rosepaw was about to ask Applefur to come with her to speak with them, but she didn't get the chance, because at that moment, a commanding voice from Great Rock boomed – as if it were a Gathering, "Cats of three Clans!"
Rosepaw jerked her head towards the Great Rock, her ears pricked with interest, and she saw the gray tabby Duststar – the (admittedly) noble leader of RiverClan staring down at the cats below him, with his pale green eyes shining like Silverpelt.
"Today is the day where we avenge those of our Clans who have fallen!" he purred, and a few cats around Rosepaw yowled with agreement – and she noticed that one of them was her personal favorite tom, Thorntail. "One day," Duststar continued as if no one had interrupted. "You will be an elder, and will tell the kits of your Clans of the great day when WindClan fell to their knees and paid for the grief, and pain they caused the great RiverClan, ThunderClan and…" Duststar hesitated for a moment but finally admitted, "ShadowClan." The ShadowClan warrior, Ravenfeather beside him flashed him a furious glance for his hesitation, but Duststar ignored it – though he didn't speak again. Instead, ThunderClan's leader – Rosepaw's mother, stepped forward and spoke.
"WindClan have broken the Warrior Code!" She snarled, curling her upper lip in rage. "WindClan - Runningstar most of all - must pay!"
Rosepaw flexed her claws at the mere mention of that name! That pathetic coward! He had been after RiverClan's territory for some time now – and had in fact, been at war with ShadowClan. It had made sense for him to attack those Clans. But most likely, he had simply ordered The Blood to infect ThunderClan too because there were cats in that Clan who knew his secret – that he molests young she-cats! Rosepaw shivered, wondering how many other cats he had gotten within his own Clan.
Most likely, he had had another reason to attack ThunderClan besides how Thorntail had humiliated him at a Gathering, but Rosepaw didn't even want to think about it anymore then she had.
"We shall commence an attack right now – with half of our warriors. Spottedlight of ThunderClan shall choose which of our warriors will attack first, and which will fight in the second wave."
A small murmuring broke out among all the cats below. Spottedlight? She wasn't deputy! Usually that was the deputy's job to organize warriors and such. Streamstar trusted Spottedlight with so much… Rosepaw stole a glance over at Robinwing, who was the true deputy of ThunderClan. Her eyes were burning with an icy fury, and she was digging her claws into the earth beneath her.
"And Furyheart will organize RiverClan." Duststar murmured, with a curious glance at Streamstar. Furyheart was the deputy of RiverClan, so it made sense for her to organize that Clan, so there will no murmuring.
"And Foxpaw will be in the first wave," Ravenfeather shrugged. "I'll go into the second." ShadowClan only had two cats fighting, so Ravenfeather was able to organize them quickly.
Rosepaw knew the leader's plan. Two groups of fighting warriors. Even though Duststar went on to explain the plan, Rosepaw knew what it was. There was going to be chaos in WindClan's camp for the rest of the day. They would receive no rest. One group of warriors would fight until Sunhigh, or when they were driven out – but then the second wave would fight. While the second wave clawed WindClan's fur off, the first wave would be able to rest, eat, get their wounds checked by medicine cats…and when the second wave returned, WindClan would be hit again. They were out for WindClan's blood – simple as that.
"And Blueherb, Shadenight, and Rosepaw," Ravenfeather purred – why it was Ravenfeather who made this announcement, Rosepaw would wonder until the end of her days, "will look in WindClan territory for the cure of The Blood."
Instantly, the warriors of both Clans broke into yowls of joy. Several cats started to even chant the medicine cat's and the medicine cat apprentice's names out. They all chanted in a different order, so it came out as:
"BlueNightPawRoseHerbShade," as the words melted together, which made no sense, but Rosepaw still sat higher. She could finally do something for the Clans – even though she probably wouldn't find anything… Blueherb, or her apprentice, that pretty Shadenight would probably find something…
Spottedlight started to weave through the ThunderClan cats, muttering to them if they were going or not. She backed away from Lightheart, who was told to go on the Second Wave, and trotted towards Applefur.
"First Wave," Spottedlight mewed simply. "Definitely first wave."
Applefur purred, and thought for a moment. "Who else is on the first wave?"
"Lots of cats." Spottedlight meowed briskly. "Applefur I'm busy – I can't tell every cat who they're-" Applefur cut her off abruptly.
"Is Featherfrost on it? What about Blackshadow or Thorntail?"
Spottedlight looked like she wanted to claw Applefur's ears off for taking up so much of her time, but finally she sighed. "I'll assign Thorntail and Featherfrost with you. But Blackshadow has to be Wave Two – his skills even that one out more."
Rosepaw shrugged, that made sense. She was happy that Thorntail was going to be with Applefur – Applefur had promised to watch over Rosepaw's friend during the battle, this way she could actually do it…but…why had Applefur mentioned Thorntail's name? If she didn't care about Thorntail why ask? Was Applefur just using Rosepaw's friendship to get closer to Thorntail – and Blackshadow to get the gray cat jealous?
Rosepaw shook her head. She was always so morbid! She should just trust Applefur, she decided…but…
Streamstar must've leaped from Great Rock to be with her Clan, because she padded over to Rosepaw, and pressed her muzzle against her daughter's flank.
"You'll do just fine, Rosepaw." She purred. "Be careful though – I care about you."
Rosepaw nodded at her leader and mother, happy that she had even bothered to give her support. She was about to say something kind to her mother, but Spottedlight interrupted.
"Streamstar, will you be on Wave One or Two?"
"One," Streamstar answered. "Robinwing will be with me."
Rosepaw blinked. Then who was leading Wave Two? Streamstar must've sensed Rosepaw's wonder, because she answered.
"Howlingheart will be leading Wave Two."
Spottedlight dipped her head in understanding. Rosepaw had half-expected Streamstar to declare that Spottedlight was leading Wave Two, but she supposed her mother sensed everyone's curiosity that she had chosen Spottedlight to organize the Clan.
"I'll be with you on Wave One," Spottedlight mewed. "Well, that's it then. ThunderClan's organized."
Streamstar purred, and then stalked off towards RiverClan, most likely to speak to Duststar.
Rosepaw watched her go for a moment, slightly put out that she didn't get to spend as much time with her mother as she had wanted, when suddenly she felt a cat's fur brush against hers.
"Hiya, Rosepaw…" Thorntail purred, gently touching her flank with his tail. Rosepaw rumbled a greeting back towards him.
It just hit her now. The battle. The down-to-earth, we're going for blood, kill 'em battle…was coming up.
"Thorntail!" she burst out. "Come back, alright?" she begged, staring into his sky-blue eyes hopefully.
"I'll come back," Thorntail promised. "But you better be here waiting for me when I come back,"
"You'll see me," Rosepaw promised, licking his ear gently. "I swear by StarClan."
Thorntail looked like he wanted to say something, but Streamstar's yowl from the top of the hollow called him away. "Bye, Rosepaw. Pray for me, alright?" he then started to bound up the slope, flicking his tail with joy at the prospect of a battle. Rosepaw was surprised to see all the cats from the Clans bound up – what about Wave Two? Suddenly she knew. If Wave Two was by the camp, when the first wave of warriors retreated, they could dive into the camp without giving WindClan a moment of rest.
Rosepaw suddenly remembered Thorntail's request, and she sent a silent prayer to StarClan. Can you hear me, StarClan? She asked, closing her eyes. It's Rosepaw – you know. The medicine cat of ThunderClan. She thought it best to remind them who she was – who knew how many prayers they were getting, and if they knew it was a medicine cat they might listen more clearly. I have a request. Please, StarClan. Please. Take care of Thorntail…protect him. Rosepaw suddenly remembered Sandpelt's ominous words about the battlefield the night before. Please smile upon him, she begged. And above all, don't let him catch the eye of a devil.