Still having problems with the site...uh...heh heh heh. Anyways, er...here's the new chapter. I hope you enjoy it... I got a request for more drama between Rosepaw and her mother on another site, and I decided to please my reviewers! Yay! I got a lot of compliments on Streamstar on the other site too...I wonder why you guys seem to like her so much. Admittedly, she's one of my favorite characters that I created...
Anyways, I guess I can answer some reviewers now!
Loyalflame- Thanks for reviewing! Yay! Heh. Yes, Streamstar is a little...crueler then Firestar and Bluestar in the books, but that's something that makes her her different, doesn't it?
Greenpool's Loyalty- You like Robinwing? I kind of liked the arguments she and Thorntail had too...
Strangefur- That would be cool! I don't like Spottedlight much either. Not only do I think she's a traitorous piece of fox-dung, I think I failed at making her...interesting. I'll see if I can give her some depth in later chapters.
Mapleleaf- Ha! I updated! Twice in two days! Happy?
Also, to all my reviewers: Thanks for reviewing! I really appreciate it!
And, I was looking through my plan for the story...and I realized that this is going to be a really really really really long fanfic! I might have to break it up into a trilogy of some sort... Question though: Would anyone want to read it in trilogy form, or would they just like to read a really really REALLY long fanfic? Because I'm going to switch villains more often then I change my clothing! Well...not really. I change my clothing every day...but you get what I mean?
Anyways, enjoy this chapter!
L...F
Rosepaw's paws felt heavy, as she trudged into her mother's den, the HighRock. As usual, Rosepaw was amazed at the size of the den, and curious at how it had gotten there in the first place. Of course, she had heard the elders' tales many times about how a stream once charged through, making a nice hollowed area in the HighRock – perfect for a den. Streamstar, the owner of the den and the pretty cat who had called her in, was settling herself down on a bed of moss. The ThunderClan leader shifted position several times – most likely to get comfortable. Once Streamstar was done, she rested her gaze on Rosepaw, who felt a shiver crawl down her spine. She had noticed before that Streamstar's eyes were a different shade of blue then her own – they were a paler shade – but she never noticed how ghostly they looked.
A shimmer of moonlight was starting to peak into the den from the top, and the warriors of Silverpelt started to dance in the leader's silver fur. And with the ghost-like eyes, and the shimmering fur, Streamstar looked like a StarClan warrior who had come down to greet Rosepaw. A furious StarClan warrior who had come down to punish Rosepaw – that was a more correct sentence.
The medicine cat apprentice shivered once more, and tried to speak, but it only came out as "M-m-thorn-star-Swift-Squirrel-The." Which didn't make much sense. Rosepaw looked away from her judging leader, and decided that it was Streamstar's freaky appearance that was making Rosepaw even more terrified then what she should be. "Mother," Rosepaw began once more, and was joyous when she realized that she had spoken a legitimate word. "Spottedlight…she lied…we didn't go anywhere during Fourtrees, and," Rosepaw was going to go on – though she knew it was too late…Robinwing had already paid the price, but Streamstar silenced her with a wave of her tail.
"Rosepaw," Streamstar murmured softly –and to Rosepaw's surprise it was m ore soothing then scolding. "I warned you about Thorntail." Streamstar continued her voice hardening. "I ordered you to stay away from him."
"We didn't…" Rosepaw began, but she trailed off. It was really no use arguing. The Clan had already had suspicions about Rosepaw and Thorntail – throw Spottedlight's accusation into the mix and the Clan was positive about the two cats' love.
"Rosepaw," Streamstar meowed, "Do you remember a cat named Skysong?"
Rosepaw was startled that her mother would change the subject, but Rosepaw accepted it, and thought. The name rang a few bells…but…
"No," Rosepaw murmured softly. "Her name sounds familiar though,"
Streamstar nodded and was silent for a few moments. Finally, she meowed, "Do you know how your father, Crimsonspirit, died, Rosepaw?"
"Of course," the young she-cat answered without hesitation. "Greencough,"
To Rosepaw's surprise, the pale light in Streamstar's eyes died for a moment. The light returned, but it was duller, and graver. "No," Streamstar meowed softly. "He was murdered."
Rosepaw felt like a bear h ad just lumbered over to her and swatted her down. "How?" she gasped. "That-that's impossible! I know he died of Greencough!"
"He had Greencough," Streamstar agreed. "But Flamesoul said he was better - remember? He didn't die from it, he was sent back to the Warrior's den with the order to take it easy." Streamstar's voice got softer, and her ghost-blue eyes clouded slightly, as she remembered. "Rosepaw," Streamstar meowed again. "Skysong was in line for deputy. She was…she was a fabulous warrior," she purred. "One of the best hunters we ever had….an outstanding fighter…But…she was such an ambitious she-cat!" Streamstar dug her claws into the moss she was lying on, and seemed to be staring through her daughter instead of at her. "When Heatherpelt who was deputy before me…decided to retire, Rainstar…he…he was leader then, Rosepaw, chose me – a queen! Think of that, a queen! - as deputy to replace her…Skysong always felt that she should've been chosen instead…she held that against me for…for countless moons," Rosepaw stared at her mother curiously. She was interested in Skysong, who she was starting to believe was the cat who murdered her father…but why was her mother telling her now?
"And when Rainstar died, and me – Streamglow, become Streamstar…I chose Swiftfoot as my deputy."
Rosepaw nodded. Swiftfoot had been Streamstar's first deputy, and would've been the last if ShadowClan hadn't reared their ugly heads.
"Skysong was furious," Streamstar continued. "Of course she kept it hidden for a long time. In fact, it was shortly after you became medicine cat apprentice that her true ambition came into light." Streamstar kneaded the moss with her paws, and Rosepaw had to hold herself back from hissing in fury. What a time to start playing with moss!
"I don't truly understand her plan. But I do know that in the dead of night, she went to my den with the intent to kill me. She…she was such a good fighter, Rosepaw. I'm…I'm not that great… and I was losing. I would've died…nine times, if your father hadn't heard the battle, and had come to my rescue."
Rosepaw nodded. Her father had been a noble cat. Of course he would go and rescue his leader. And considering the fact that Streamstar was still alive, he had been successful in his rescue mission.
"She killed Crimsonspirit then," Streamstar meowed, and Rosepaw's heart plummeted. Crimsonspirit…her father…died? Of course, Rosepaw knew that eventually in the story that would happen, but to hear it from her mother's mouth…it seemed like he had died all over again.
"Luckily for me, Icepelt, Smokefang, and Howlingheart had come to my rescue then, and they killed Skysong for me…and that was the end of her," Streamstar's voice ended with its soft tone, and went back to the quick, smart tone that Streamstar was used to using at the last sentence.
"Why didn't any cat tell me?" Rosepaw asked as soon as the story was over. "Why was I left thinking that Crimsonspirit died of Greencough?"
"I don't know," Streamstar shrugged. "I'm almost positive that you knew, Rosepaw. You mourned your father… Maybe you told yourself something else? Skysong was always friendly to you, maybe you felt even more betrayed then I and told yourself something more comforting, and totally forgot Skysong altogether."
Rosepaw looked at her mother doubtfully. However, it was the best guess that Rosepaw could figure, so she accepted it.
"Why are you telling me this?" Rosepaw asked next. "There's nothing I can do about it now. Skysong's dead, my father's dead…it's over." But Streamstar shook her head.
"No, Rosepaw. It's not over…you needed to be reminded of Skysong's treachery. She was too ambitious for her own good – and to think that if Rainstar had chosen her for deputy instead of me that one time…that she'd be leader…" Rosepaw saw her mother shiver, but Streamstar went on. "There's another cat in this Clan that's too ambitious for their own good. Too bloodthirsty. Behind him is a river of blood, and it will only flow into the future. Do you know who I'm speaking of?"
Rosepaw thought for a moment. "Spottedlight?" she asked hopefully.
"No," Streamstar snapped, and Rosepaw noticed that her hackles were raised and her fur was bristling. "Thorntail."
Rosepaw's eyes widened. Did her mother really think that Thorntail was like Skysong? Yes he was ambitious…but that didn't make him evil! "Thorntail's not like Skysong at all!" Rosepaw burst out, unable to hide her words. "They're not alike in the least!"
Streamstar chuckled lightly. "Really, Rosepaw? You saw him at the WindClan battle. He would've killed Runningstar if we hadn't stopped him."
"Good riddance!" Rosepaw snapped, but Streamstar went on like she hadn't spoken.
"Oh…you should've seen him in the battle, Rosepaw. He was so happy as he fought… so…bloodthirsty. And it's obvious how much he longs to become deputy one day…"
"Most warriors want to become deputy, deep down." Rosepaw defended him.
"He killed his own brother," Streamstar went on, ignoring Rosepaw's defense. "Pushed him into a monster – can you imagine that? For a she-cat, I hear. Because Graywhisker was getting to close to a she-cat that they both liked…"
"Graywhisker killed himself!" Rosepaw hissed, wondering how Streamstar even knew that the now-dead RiverClan tom that was Thorntail's brother had ever even existed. However, Streamstar's words chipped into her. Thorntail was always…crazy about she-cats. It scared her, but Rosepaw could see Thorntail killing his brother for a pretty female.
"Funny," Streamstar mewed. "You claim that you and Thorntail feel nothing for one another, and yet…you defend him so fiercely. Rosepaw, you're a medicine cat. Are you going to throw that all away? You always loved healing cats, and walking with StarClan. You're going to leave that behind for a cat like Thorntail?"
Rosepaw didn't answer the question, and instead hissed, "If you distrust Thorntail so much why did you let him join the Clan? And give him an apprentice?"
"Swiftfoot pressured me into accepting him," the ThunderClan leader explained. "He said that we could use a few extra paws in the Clan." Streamstar shrugged her shoulders. "I trusted Swiftfoot's judgment and let the River-rat join the Clan. And I gave him an apprentice – once again because Swiftfoot pressured me too."
"You don't have to listen to your deputy," Rosepaw retorted. "You're the leader,"
"Yes I am," Streamstar agreed, anger flaring in her eyes. "And as such I want my orders followed. I ordered you not to go near Thorntail. You disobeyed me, Rosepaw. You broke the Warrior Code twice with one action. You found yourself a mate, and undermined my orders. You must be punished, you know that, right Rosepaw?"
Rosepaw sighed. That was true…she knew that she had to be punished. "I know, Streamstar." She answered.
"Good," Streamstar growled. "I've already thought of your punishment Rosepaw."
"What is it?"
Streamstar's eyes gleamed. "You'll find out soon enough, Rosepaw. Rest assured that it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Not a day will go by when you are not reminded of the wrongs you committed to both ThunderClan, and StarClan."
Rosepaw was startled that Streamstar wasn't punishing her now. However, Streamstar's words haunted her. What punishment did her mother have in mind?
"You may leave," Streamstar ordered. "Go wipe The Blood out."
Rosepaw had almost forgotten about the disease that was riding through the Clan. She dipped her head, and padded out of the den.
S...F
Hope you enjoyed! Please review!