PearlaH.Sweden- Heys. Thanks for the compliment. But...I know I'm not that good. Go look at some of Ruthie of the Wildcats' work...SHE'S amazing. I didn't read much of her Tigerstar work - heh heh heh, I don't want to be TEMPTED to steal for another fic I'm writing, but from what I've read on her other stories...(i think I'm talking about the correct writer) She is AMAZING.
Mapleleaf - Okay, thanks for the compliment...but I think you're exaggerating a tad. :)
Steeltalon- Nope. It goes on. I'd say we're about a third done...that's why I was thinking of making it a trilogy, you know separate it. And it might be longer! You see, I had a basic plot outline, and guess what - the whole Spottedlight plot was originally not that...big of a deal. A small thing, settled in a few chapters. She was going to be a small plot thread...and now...she's taking center stage! Wow! Spottedlight IS a clever she-cat, and she's fictional! -shivers-
Star Healer's Heart - I wondered where you went. Yeah, I noticed that Streamstar's different too...but she's not THAT great.
Nameless Nightmare- Wow... this fic is loong... Maybe I should do the trilogy thing...
Anyways, to everyone else thankies so much! I hope you enjoy!
Rosepaw padded from Streamstar's den, unable to keep her mind away from the leader's parting words. What did she mean it would haunt her for the rest of her life? Streamstar knew about the…incident that happened many moons ago…and she knew that Rosepaw was already haunted every day – and night. Wasn't she plagued by the past enough?
Rosepaw pushed the thought out of her mind. She couldn't do anything about that right now…
As Rosepaw scooped up the ThornTail herb, she suddenly felt an aching in her heart. Thorntail and she had been found out. What would happen to their relationship now? Prior to Thorntail…Rosepaw had felt like such an outsider to the Clan. Almost as if she wasn't truly apart of it. But because of Thorntail, she had met Blackshadow, and Applefur – admittedly she and Applefur could've started out better – but finally, for the first time in such a long while, Rosepaw felt that ThunderClan was her Clan… But now that he was to be out of her life forever, what would happen to her? Would she take a step away from her Clanmates once more, and become more like a loner then a Clan-cat?
As Rosepaw started bounding towards her den, suddenly remembering Icepelt and how she should probably try to cure her, she noticed some furious glances that were thrown at her. Meanwhile, Thorntail was surrounded by admiring warriors. Why was it that Rosepaw was receiving the brunt of ThunderClan's fury, while Thorntail got scolded, and that was about it?
Rosepaw shook the thought away. Right now, she should cure Icepelt…
She slipped into her den, and dropped the ThornTail on the earth.
"Icepelt," she cooed, noticing the pretty white she-cat lying on her side, her sides rising and falling softly as she let out shallow breaths. "Its me, Rosepaw. I…I might have a cure…"
Icepelt's white fur was matted with blood – Icepelt's blood, and Rosepaw knew that unless she did something soon, another ThunderClan warrior would join StarClan's shimmering ranks.
Rosepaw settled herself down beside Icepelt, and drew her glance over to the ThornTail. Okay, she found an herb. Right then. But what did she do with it? Mix it with some other herb? Feed it to Icepelt? Wrap it around Icepelt's wounds? What?
Rosepaw was still wondering, when she heard a faint mew of pain from somewhere else in the den, and she zapped her mind away from the herb. Icepelt wasn't the only cat alive?
"Hold on," Rosepaw meowed to Icepelt, as if the white female could hear her, and padded over to where she heard the mew. It had come from deep inside the den – where Rosepaw had been taught to keep her herbs. As the apprentice entered the storage part of her den, she instantly noticed not one cat, but three sickly cats on the ground, their fur matted with blood.
One was a small brown tabby kitten – one of Flowertail's litter. Rosepaw remembered helping Flowertail give birth to the young tom, and recalled the queen naming her first born. Twigkit.
Beside him, was another kitten. One of Turtlefeather's daughters – Raykit's and Morningkit's sister. The kit's pelt was as black as the night sky, and Rosepaw recognized her as Ebonykit. The third cat was also a kitten. It was Ebonykit's sister, a blue-gray she-kit that carried the name Aquakit.
All of their pelts were wet with blood, and for a moment Rosepaw wondered if the mew had been a hallucination, and they were all dead, when she saw Aquakit sneeze in her sleep, and Ebonykit's tail twitched…But what about Twigkit? Shrewtail and Flowertail would be heartbroken if their first born was dead!
Rosepaw gently poked the brown kitten with a sheathed paw, and her heart plummeted. Twigkit was dead.
The Clan could mourn him later. She gently picked up the two sisters, Aquakit and Ebonykit, and carried them over to Icepelt, who had fallen into a sleep.
She placed them on the edge of the warrior's moss bed, and pulled the ThornTail towards her. She would find the cure.
And she'd find it now.
…
"Well, I was about to finish Graycloud," Thorntail meowed, his blue eyes glowing as he told his story of the most recent battle to the warriors Gathered around him as they munched on fresh-kill. "When Stumpface came along, and knocked me away. I fought like a TigerClan cat, and…" Thorntail purred, as he remembered the fight with the WindClan tom, and relayed the story to his Clanmates.
"Yeah, yeah!" the eager voice belonged to Badgerclaw, who was nodding his narrow head vigorously. "I remember seeing that! I went to help you, but I got caught up with Steeltalon,"
"Really?" Thorntail asked, surprised that Badgerclaw had been watching him. However, he didn't really care as much as he let on. Steeltalon's name dug fury into his heart. The WindClan leader had sacrificed his own deputy, who had been with him since he first stepped up to leadership, for a good defense for Spottedlight. Why did Runningstar care about her so much?
"What happened with that?" as much as Thorntail liked speaking of his battles, he had already told this story numerous times that night alone, and it was starting to bore him. What's more, he would rather be alone with his thoughts and reflections.
As Badgerclaw went on to explain how he fought against Steeltalon, the WindClan deputy, Thorntail let his mind wander. ThunderClan seemed to be treating him nice enough, but when Rosepaw brushed past them to get to her den, they threw her scornful glances. Why was he being treated so differently?
"Excuse me," Thorntail interrupted Badgerclaw's story, and the surrounding warriors turned their attention to him. Thorntail flashed a glance towards Shadowfire and Dusktail, the newest warriors of ThunderClan who were keeping their vigil, and meowed, "I think I'm going to go keep vigil with them. Scornpaw died…and I think I wish to honor him." He would've done that in the first place, but Swiftfoot had advised him to eat a little first, and from there Thorntail had gotten wrapped up in bragging.
"I'll join you," Blackshadow purred, and for the first time that night Thorntail noticed his friend. "Same here," beside Blackshadow, the black tom's mate, Applefur spoke up. "He was a good cat. He would've made a good warrior someday."
Thorntail muttered an agreement, and started to trot over towards where the tan tabby apprentice of his was lying for the last time under the stars. He gently pressed his muzzle into Scornpaw's side.
"I had so much to teach you," he murmured softly. "You fought bravely, Scornpaw. I'll never forget you. StarClan will honor you…" Thorntail thought for a moment about Spottedlight. "And I will avenge you. Spottedlight won't get away with your murder," the gray cat raised his gaze to Silverpelt. "And she won't get away with yours, either, Robinwing," he promised. He then realized that he wasn't just staying up and honoring his apprentice, but Robinwing too. The dark ginger deputy had been so brave when meeting her death- she deserved at least one cat mourning her.
Thorntail settled himself down beside the body, and he was acutely aware of Blackshadow's fur brushing his, and Applefur, who was gently grooming Scornpaw's ears. For the first time, Thorntail was suddenly hit with the realization that he would never…be with Scornpaw again. No more training, conversations, anything.
Thorntail was once again curious. What had it been like when Scornpaw died? Was he afraid? What was it like…to die?
Thorntail remembered Swiftfoot telling him how sick thoughts like that were, and chased them away. He knew there was something wrong with him. He would miss Scornpaw, yes…but he felt no sorrow. Just pure, cold anger, and a need to have Spottedlight's blood on his claws.
Thorntail raised his eyes to Silverpelt once more, and wondered if Scornpaw was staring down at him. Was Scornpaw screaming at him to forgive Spottedlight? Or was Scornpaw yowling down for Thorntail to get to his paws to snap Spottedlight's neck right then and there?
Whatever the apprentice wanted, he would be getting the latter soon enough.
…
Rosepaw backed up from Icepelt, her blue eyes shining with joy. The bleeding! It stopped! Her eyes strayed towards Ebonykit and Aquakit. Aquakit was still sleeping, but Ebonykit was already rolling on her back and batting at her sister playfully with her dark paws.
It worked! Rosepaw had simply fed the sick the herb – simple – and…they were already getting better!
Admittedly, Ebonykit was the quickest to heal – Aquakit was still rather frail, and though Icepelt was starting to groom her ears the white warrior still had a hollow look in her eyes.
But no cure ever worked right away – except in Ebonykit's case.
"Ebonykit," Rosepaw meowed, and the black kitten stared up at her with her pale yellow eyes. "Let Aquakit sleep, alright? She needs her rest. She'll be able to play with you later. Anyways, I don't want you playing too hard either. But…" Ebonykit looked like she was going to bounce out of her fur, so Rosepaw mewed, "Go find Flowertail," she wasn't Ebonykit's mother, but she was the only nursing queen. "Morningkit's with her – along with the other kits. You can go play,"
Ebonykit purred, and started to literally leap with joy. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Rosepaw!"
Rosepaw let out a purr, and licked the black kitten lightly. "You're welcome," she purred. "Run along now."
The kit nodded vigorously, and scurried from the den. Rosepaw watched her go, slightly envious of how Ebonykit was so light-hearted and carefree – and didn't even seem to realize how close to death she had been!
"Ebonykit always was the strongest of Turtlefeather's kits," Icepelt remarked softly – it was the first time the white cat had spoken since Rosepaw began working on her, and the medicine cat leaped into the air, startled. "She'll be a fine warrior one day."
Rosepaw purred an agreement. "Yes…but I'm going to hate to see that joy leave that kit. Sooner or later she's going to have to realize that her mother and Raykit are dead."
Icepelt nodded blankly. "True enough. In speaking of The Blood, how am I faring against it?"
Rosepaw turned her attention to the warrior, and examined her curiously. "You'll live," she purred. "You and Aquakit both. You should take it easy though."
"I will." Icepelt promised, dipping her head to the medicine cat. The two she-cats were silent for a moment, but suddenly Icepelt mewed, "Rosepaw, if I recall correctly, ThunderClan was going to meet RiverClan to get revenge on WindClan. How did that go?"
The young medicine cat thought for a moment. "Welllll…" she drawled. "I wasn't in the battle, so I wouldn't know much…but I know we won."
"Good," Icepelt snorted, "I hope we hurt them as much as they hurt us," and Rosepaw purred. The she-cat would be able to patrol again soon enough – her warrior's spirit was beginning to return.
"I should report to Streamstar that the cure works," Rosepaw decided, getting to her paws to exit the den. To Icepelt, she added, "Would you like me to get you some fresh-kill?"
"I could do with a squirrel or eight," Icepelt purred, lying her head down on the moss, and fluttering her brown eyes closed.
Rosepaw nodded, and trotted from the den. She was relieved that she could speak to Icepelt without the she-cat spewing hatred at her. This was probably because she didn't yet know about the affair with Thorntail. However long it was until the new reached her ears – only StarClan knew.
…
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here, beneath the HighRock for a Clan meeting!" Streamstar's voice rang throughout the clearing, alerting every ThunderClan cat of her announcement.
Thorntail looked up from Scornpaw, and saw the silver leader with StarClan shimmering in her fur. He supposed it was time for the Clan deputy to be chosen.
"You all know why I have called you all," Streamstar began, spreading her gaze throughout all of the ThunderClan cats. "It is time to appoint the new deputy of ThunderClan." Thorntail gaze himself a silent congratulations for guessing correctly. "We pray that my choice will be better then last time…when I appointed Robinwing." Streamstar continued.
Thorntail dug his claws into the earth. Robinwing had been a fine deputy! Older then most, but had been a very assertive she-cat, who though clashed with Thorntail on numerous occasions, he had respected.
Streamstar raised her gaze towards the warriors of StarClan, and they reflected in her pale blue eyes. "I say these words before StarClan, so their spirits may hear and approve my choice."
Thorntail heart rose in curiosity, and he forgot about his anger at Spottedlight, and fury over Robinwing's death. Who would Streamstar choose? Howlingheart, Robinwing's mate? He was a fine warrior – respected by every cat in the forest… However, Smokefang, even though he wasn't the best fighter, was intensely loyal, and one of the most popular cats in the Clan.
"The new deputy of ThunderClan will be," Streamstar was silent for a few moments; as if she wasn't sure she was making the right choice, when finally she mewed, "Spottedlight."
Thorntail's eyes widened and he felt Blackshadow stiffen beside him. A traitor? Streamstar had chosen Spottedlight, a murderer, to be one of the most powerful cats in the forest? Was she out of her mind?!
A ripple of shock spread through the ThunderClan cats, and they were silent for a moment. Thorntail wondered, hopefully, that maybe they did not approve of Streamstar's choice.
But then the silence was broken. A purr spread throughout the Clan, and finally, they broke out into a momentous yowl in one voice.
"Spottedlight! Spottedlight! Spottedlight! Spotteedlight!"
Thorntail flashed a glance over at the pretty she-cat. Her emerald eyes were glowing with surprise, and she looked as if she was about to stumble over.
Thorntail had to admit that she was intelligent – no cat would ever suspect her to be the murderous that she was!. And so beautiful… Thorntail recalled for a single moment that small amount of time when they were mates, but he shook the thought away. However much he had enjoyed it, Spottedlight was his enemy now. Not his mate.
The dappled deputy of ThunderClan finally was able to stutter out, "Th-thank you, Streamstar. I never expected…to…uh…gain such a high position, and I…I promise I will not let you down."
Her Clanmates started to gather around her, purring words of encouragement, and congratulations. Howlingheart, Spottedlight's father, looked especially proud of his daughter, and though he didn't go over to her, pride was beaming through the tom.
"Yes, yes." Streamstar, still on the HighRock gave her new deputy a curt nod. "Spottedlight, for your first act as deputy, gather a patrol for RiverClan and ShadowClan."
Thorntail blinked curiously, and the silver leader explained.
"We must tell them of the cure for The Blood. Rosepaw has cured Ebonykit, Aquakit, and Icepelt."
Under any normal circumstances, the Clan would have yowled Rosepaw's name respectively in honor of her success. But instead they only appeared to be happy that their Clanmates were alive – Rosepaw had fallen from grace. She'd have to find cures for a thousand diseases before she came back.
"Alright," Spottedlight murmured, and to Thorntail's distain she trotted over to him. "Blackshadow," Thorntail had forgotten that the black tom was next to him. "Take Featherfrost and Shadowfire tomorrow over to ShadowClan, yes?"
Beside Thorntail, his friend dipped his head, but was silent – he was keeping his vigil – at least someone was. Spottedlight then backed away from them, and Thorntail was relieved that she didn't acknowledge him in any way. Instead, she ordered Badgerclaw, Shrewtail, and the new warrior, Dusktail to go to RiverClan with the news.
Thorntail watched Spottedlight curiously. She was once again surrounded by her Clanmates, who clearly loved Streamstar's choice for deputy. The one who had been framed by her mother, but had overcome all of her problems and became a powerful voice in the forest. It was like a kitten's tale – a dream come true. But considering who this cat was, Spottedlight, the dream was about to become a nightmare.
…
"Thorntail,"
The gray ThunderClan cat stared curiously at Blackshadow, who let out an exasperated sigh. "Thorntail," Blackshadow repeated, "That's the third mouse today that you let slip through your paws! What is bothering you?"
Thorntail examined the grass-covered ground for a moment, and shuffled his paws. "I guess its just Spottedlight…"
Blackshadow nodded, but was silent. "Well, there's nothing you can do about it now," he pointed out. "You should've spoken up when she was named deputy."
"That would be pointless," Thornttail pointed out, as he sniffed the air for another piece of prey. "No cat would believe me now."
"True," Blackshadow kept his mouth shut for a long time, as the two toms went on with their hunting, but Blackshadow soon broke the warm, embracing silence with a mew. "ShadowClan was really happy…" he mewed softly. "Their Clan is pretty weak right now…they looked close to dying out. But…I think Rosepaw saved them,"
"Rosepaw saved more lives in two dawns then most medicine cats do in their whole lives," Thorntail agreed.
Blackshadow sighed heavily, his eyes flashing above, to the moon. The half of it was climbing the sky, and Thorntail suddenly realized that Spottedlight had been deputy for a whole day…And had still gone unpunished.
"It's the half-moon," Blackshadow meowed, pointing out the obvious.
"Indeed," Thorntail growled rolling his eyes. "What's your point?"
The black tom – who was nearly invisible in the darkness, let out a growl as well – of annoyance. "Rosepaw will be going to HighStones…"
Thorntail nodded blankly as the memories came jogging back. The last time she had gone, she had been molested by the leader of WindClan…that poor medicine cat had been through so much. The death of her father, her mentor leaving the Clan, being molested – and now being branded as a traitor by the Clan by failing her duties as a medicine cat – by falling love…
Though no cat had told him, Thorntail was pretty sure he and Rosepaw were being separated. It wasn't even funny how many patrols he had done, and how many pieces of prey he had killed. Every time he entered the camp, Spottedlight or Streamstar was on his shoulder, barking an order at him. He hadn't even seen Rosepaw since the night before, and he hadn't gotten to say much to her…He wanted to escort her thorugh WindClan – considering the leader of that Clan was rather sick in the head, but he knew that…that would only tarnish Rosepaw's situation even more.
She'd just have to hold her own…
…
The dark ginger she-cat emerged from Moonstone, relieved as she breathed fresh air into her eager lungs. Mothermouth was so stuffy, and she had always found it harder to breathe in there then out there.
Beside her, Shadedhope, the ShadowClan medicine cat murmured something soft into Blueherb's ear, and the RiverClan medicine cat dipped her head in understanding.
"Rosepaw," Blueherb murmured softly, resting her gaze on the ThunderClan medicine cat, and Rosepaw flattened her ears against her head. Was she going to be condemned by the other medicine cats now? Exiled from the rank, so to speak? "Stop looking so afraid," Shadedhope scolded. "Oh, you're lucky you chose the path of a medicine cat. If you were a warrior, you would've had your blood spread across the battlefield long ago," Thanks for the mental picture, Shadedhope. "You're so timid,"
Rosepaw shrugged her shoulders. Warrior wasn't good for her…medicine cat didn't work…what could she be?
"A medicine cat deserves her name when StarClan thinks that they deserve it," Blueherb murmured, and Rosepaw looked sharply at the RiverClan cat. Alright, what was going on here? "You deserve it," Blueherb meowed. "StarClan showed you favor when they sent you the cure for The Blood…even though you've stumbled…StarClan is very forgiving."
Rosepaw flared to defend herself. "He and I…didn't do anything?"
"He?" Rosepaw had forgotten that Blueherb's apprentice had even existed, until now because she spoke. The young RiverClan medicine cat, Shadenight had her eyes were fixed on Rosepaw. "Who's this 'he'?"
"Hush," Blueherb snapped to her apprentice.
Rosepaw's paws started to tingle, as she forgot Thorntail and her worries for a moment. Her medicine cat name! She was finally getting it! Finally! It was hers!
"Come forward," Blueherb twitched her tail, gesturing for Rosepaw to come towads her, and the ginger she-cat obeyed.
Blueherb tipped her head back slightly, and Silverpelt reflected in her eyes as she spoke. "I Blueherb, medicine cat of RiverClan and one of the mentors of Rosepaw, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons."
Rosepaw nodded vigorously, even though no question had been asked. Her heart flew up into her mouth, and her excitement was such that she thought she would burst.
"Rosepaw," Blueherb mewed. "Do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat," Rosepaw was failing there- Thorntail, "to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan," failing at that too – Rosepaw didn't exactly have mutual feelings towards WindClan. "and to protect all cats equally even at the cost of your own life?" That was something Rosepaw could do – and was doing that. She would lay her life down for the Clan…
But Rosepaw was torn. Once she said 'I do'…there would be no turning back. Her paws would be glued to the path of a medicine cat…and…she wasn't sure if she wanted that. When Thorntail looked at her, her heart leaped. She loved the way he spoke, the way he looked, the way he lived his life…everything about him. She loved him. She truly loved that gray tom…
Rosepaw was still uncertain but before she knew what she was doing, she was meowing, "I do." Oh! What had she just done?! Rosepaw felt Thorntail slip through her claws. She could've turned back before – switched to training to become a warrior instead…But now…now it was far too late!
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Rosepaw from this moment on you shall be known as…" Blueherb paused, and seemed to be hesitant with Rosepaw's name. Didn't cats usually decide full names long before the ceremony begins?
Then Rosepaw knew.
"Rosethorn," Blueherb finished. "StarClan honors your courage and faith…"
Rosethorn was agape. "What?" she burst out. Rosethorn! That was a cruel name, considering the circumstances! "Why?"
"Well…" Blueherb murmured. "Streamstar sent a patrol over to RiverClan…and they told us of what…what you and that tom did. And apparently…Streamstar requested that you are constantly reminded of your wrongs…by having his name within yours…"
"Every time a cat speaks to you, Rosethorn," it was Shadedhope speaking now, her eyes round and sympathetic, "you will be reminded of what you done."