-pant- LONG CHAPTER! -pant- But I got it out...in -pant- one -pant- day...so I hope you -pant- enjoy.
Anywho's, I hope you forgive this chapter for once again...being mostly dialogue. But its good dialogue! I swear! Spottedstar's out of the way for now...Applefur's being friendly...we needed to set up the new problem, yes? OH DON'T WORRY! This isn't one of those fanfictions that won't end. Its just very long! WHOOT!
Anyways, I have a question for all my reviewers. In the next chapter or so, should I re-write the allegiances and put them up? You know, because I killed off/made turn traitor quite a bit of cats...and you might need some help keeping track, yes? Tell me your thoughts. :)
Rabbitstorm- Yes, Shadenight is ebil. -shifty eyes- I dislike her too...
Dakotles85- DANG IT! Everytime I see your name I'm reminded that I have to read your story - but I keep forgetting! I have read a little bit - RosepawxBrokenpaw kind of...am I right? That's the impression I got from what I read...heh heh heh. Anyways, yeah, Owlkit is Owlpelt and Shadekit is Shadenight...it really has nothing to do with the story in particular, but it was kind of interesting, yes? I always get happy whenever I read fanfics that mentions the character's past with other characters...so I put a bit in mine. Thanks for reviewing! keep it up!
PearlH.Sweden- THANK YOU SO MUCH! KEEP REVIEWING!
Oceonwind- AHH! No need to infect me with The Blood! I updated! -points down- SEE?! SEE?!
I hope you all enjoy. And I hope you gasp in surprise and alarm once or twice...and if you do tell me in the review. Heck, if you don't tell me in the review - just to be a nice person, and lie to make me feel better. OH! OH! ALSO! Please give me some tips and such to make my writing better - and tell me what you like to see and WOULD like to see more of. I'll get REALLY happy if you do that. and the happier I am about a story...the faster I update. SO PLEASE REVIEW FOR A ROSETHORN PLUSHIE!
Shadenight's pool-blue eyes glowed with such warmth as they gazed at Thorntail that Rosethorn thought that the snow around them would melt.
"Shadenight!" Thorntail gasped, and within his eyes, Rosethorn knew that Shadenight wasn't the only one taking the sun's job and warming the forest with her gaze.
The breeze that had warmed the ThunderClan medicine cat a little while earlier, now chilled her to the bone as she was forced to see her mate – that had possibly been about to declare his love for her, show affections for another, more attractive, she-cat. The RiverClan medicine cat apprentice, Shadenight.
But as Rosethorn watched his eyes, she suddenly felt warm once more. She had been mistaken before, when she saw Thorntail stare at Shadenight with what had seemed to be love. She must've been, because now he was staring at her like she was just what she was! A trespasser on their territory.
"I missed you so much!" Shadenight murmured, possibly not catching the look in Thorntail's eyes. "I thought you ran off and became a loner…"
"It's good to see you again, Thorntail." Owlpelt piped up from his position beside Rosethorn, speaking for the first time since he had arrived. "You know, when we aren't in the thick of battle." Thorntail nodded at his old RiverClan apprentice-pal. "It is nice to see you too, Owlpelt." He purred, and Rosethorn gave Thorntail's old RiverClan friend a curt nod. Owlpelt seemed to notice her for the first time, and the RiverClan tom rested his amber eyes on her.
"Hello!" he purred, and Rosethorn couldn't help but feel her joy rise, as she noticed how cheerful and friendly Owlpelt was being. "You're…Rosethorn, right?"
Rosethorn simply nodded.
Owlpelt let out a purr. "I'm Owlpelt," he explained – though Rosethorn had met him once before, and Thorntail had just made a loud exclamation of the cat's name. Rosethorn had known his name. Owlpelt continued, "I'm sorry we're trespassing on your territory…but we scented you, and well…I just had to thank you." Rosethorn flicked her ears, curious to why the RiverClan cat would have to thank her.
"Because of your discovery of the ThornTail," he explained, "My sister, Sapphirepaw, would be in StarClan." Rosethorn wasn't able to meet his gaze, she was so embarrassed. She hadn't really thought until then how many cats she had saved. However, her joy diminished with Owlpelt continued. "And, if you hadn't named it so cleverly, Shadenight and I…probably never would have been able to find the cat Thorntail."
Rosethorn tried to hide her distaste about that.
Thorntail stepped towards her, his gray pelt turning silver in the moon light, and he spoke – all the while, Shadenight was resting her muzzle on his back. "This is Shadenight," he explained. "You probably know her. We were den mates when we were apprentices in RiverClan."
…
Thorntail tried to hide his feeling of awkwardness, as his former mate, Shadenight, and old best friend, Owlpelt were introduced to his new mate and friend, the ThunderClan medicine cat, the lovely Rosethorn.
He was about to say something else about them, but was interrupted when Shadenight stepped towards the ginger she-cat – all the while, however, she kept her tail wrapped around one of Thorntail's paws as if she couldn't bear to not have her fur mingling with his.
"I saw the ThornTail in WindClan," Shadenight murmured, as Thorntail examined her sleek, ebony pelt. "You named it really well."
Rosethorn spoke for the first time to the two cats. "Thank you," she purred, finally meeting Shadenight's piercing blue gaze.
Shadenight seemed startled that Rosethorn had looked into her eyes – possibly because most she-cats were to embarrassed to do so, but she went on as if she hadn't noticed. "I saw Thorntail leave the WindClan camp with ThunderClan…and almost immediately, I came to see him here." She jerked her tail in a circle, referring to the ThunderClan territory.
"Thank you," Shadenight purred, "Thank you," Thorntail half-expected her to go on to thank her for saving RiverClan, kind of like Owlpelt had – but she didn't. "For naming my Thorntail after something that saved countless cats."
Thorntail noticed that Rosethorn's big blue eyes widened, as Shadenight mentioned that he was SHADENIGHT's.
There was a moment of awkward silence, and was only broken when Owlpelt started to speak, "Uh…Shadenight," he murmured, "I think Rosethorn and Thorntail wanted to be alone. I think maybe we should go,"
Rosethorn flashed the RiverClan tom a grateful glance, though Thorntail wasn't sure if he could share her enthusiasm about the two cats leaving.
Beside him, Thorntail could almost sense Shadenight's anger that he had went on with his life, and had found…well, what she had probably thought was a new friend.
He looked away from her, and turned his full attention onto Rosethorn, wondering how she would answer. "Uh…no," Thorntail was startled at Rosethorn's quiet mew. "He…he was just…helping me look for something. We…we weren't doing anything special…"
Thorntail's felt his tail flop to the ground, as the medicine cat spoke. Nothing special? He was about to declare his love for her! Was she too mouse-brained to know?!
Shadenight let out a purr. "Thorntail!" she meowed, turning to face him, her eyes as round as full moons – seeming to have totally forgotten about Rosethorn – dismissing her as soon as Rosethorn had decided to let him go. "Let's go talk in the Forest of Reeds by the river – like we used to!"
"Uh…Shadenight," Owlpelt interrupted Shadenight's enthusiasm with a sharp mew, "That's in RiverClan territory. Thorntail's a ThunderClan cat now."
…
'Not to mention, you're a medicine cat,' Rosethorn thought begrudgingly, shuffling her paws as they decided where to go.
Shadenight didn't seem to take no for an answer, so she tried to explain her reasoning. "But nobody ever patrols the reeds. And its impossible to even smell yourself, the smell of fish is so strong!" Shadenight pressed. She stared at Thorntail, with her blue-eyes, begging.
Thorntail hesitated for a moment, but finally he gave in. "Alright!" he purred. "It'll b e fun!" he nodded at Rosethorn. "All four of us will sneak into RiverClan territory."
Rosethorn's heart lifted with joy. Thorntail was including her! She half-expected him not to.
"Um…okay," she purred cheerfully. They would worry about how to hide the scent later.
Owlpelt still looked doubtful, but finally he gave in too. "Alright," he sighed. "Follow me. We'll take the Stepping Stones, so you won't have to get your fur wet."
…
The Forest of Reeds was just as the name implied. The reeds seem to be twice as stall as any cat, and there were probably more of them then there were pebbles in the river.
She tried to ignore how they got tangled in her pelt, as the three cats – Rosethorn wasn't sure what to say - started to speak.
"You're so mean, Thorntail!" Shadenight hissed. "You leave the Clan without as much as a good bye!"
"We had no clue where you went," Owlpelt added, twitching his whiskers. "Then we find out you joined ThunderClan…"
"After a lot of searching!" Shadenight added. "I even went to ShadowClan and sought out your father! But all he had to tell me was that you weren't in his Clan…"
Rosethorn listened curiously. Why had Thorntail left RiverClan so suddenly? Sure, Graywhisker had died…and Puddlespots had told her that Thorntail couldn't look at his reflection in the river without freaking out…but why hadn't he told either of his friends where he was going? Speedtail and Puddlespots had seemed to know. Why hadn't any cat told Owlpelt or Shadenight?
"And you didn't send any messages to us at Gatherings either," Owlpelt put in. "Sorry," Thorntail apologized. "I was busy trying to get my Clan to trust me and such. And they all thought I was born a loner. It would seem suspicious if I told them to find you at Gatherings and say 'hi'."
"What kind of excuse is that?" Shadenight snapped. Thorntail didn't seem to have an answer to that, and instead entertained himself by flicking one of the long green reeds with his tail. Shadenight regained her composure, and went on, "Guess what, Thorntail!"
"Hm?" Thorntail's voice sounded like he didn't really care, but Rosethorn suddenly noticed that he couldn't take his eyes off of the pretty black she-cat.
"Duststar let Tawnyleaf rejoin the Clan." Shadenight spat at the earth as she said the words, and Rosethorn figured that whoever this Tawnyleaf was, she wasn't Shadenight's favorite cat.
Rosethorn might not have known who Tawnyleaf was, but Thorntail seemed to have a good idea, because he yelped in surprise. "Tawnyleaf?!" he gasped.
"I personally think that she shouldn't be aloud to come back," Shadenight growled. She flicked her blue gaze onto Rosethorn, taking the liberty to explain who this Tawnyleaf cat was. "Rosethorn, she was a medicine cat – before Blueherb. But she found a mate and got pregnant anyways. Because of that, Duststar exiled her. That was a wise decision, wouldn't you agree?" before Rosethorn could comment, Shadenight went on, "Medicine cats must live a life of celibacy. Any cat that doesn't follow through should be shunned."
Rosethorn flattened her ears against her head at how sharp Shadenight's tone was. Shadenight felt a little strong about Tawnyleaf's wrongs – a little too strong for Rosethorn's liking. How much did Shadenight know about her and Thorntail's relationship? And furthermore, Shadenight was a medicine cat too. And she didn't seem to be able to take her eyes off of Thorntail!
Shadenight let the subject drop when Rosethorn didn't answer, and turned to Thorntail, and then seemed to tell him all the news of RiverClan. "Thorntail," she meowed, "Duststar found a new mate! It's Drizzlestep! She's already a queen, and has had three kits."
"Shadenight-" Owlpelt began, but the she-cat ignored him. "What's more," Shadenight purred, "Duststar had been thinking about letting this one loner - her name is Rinoa - join the Clan. Apparently Tawnyleaf adopted her once all of her illegal kits had died…so I don't like Rinoa much."
"Shadenight-" Owlpelt tried again, but Shadenight swept on. Rosethorn could understand Owlpelt trying to stop the pretty (okay, beautiful) cat. She was giving away some interesting RiverClan information.
"Moreover," Shadenight purred blatantly ignoring her Clan mate, "Remember that small fish, Thorntail? The violet one that was in the river, that no one in the Clan could catch? Well, it has now grown into a very big fish, and still no one in the Clan can catch it!"
"Shadenight!" Owlpelt hissed, finally getting her attention. "Take it easy. We can tell Thorntail everything some other time. It's not like we won't be seeing him anymore,"
Rosethorn's tail shot up in surprise. They were in different Clans! Of course they wouldn't be able to see him anymore! What did Owlpelt mean?
"Its fine, Owlpelt," Thorntail purred, possibly not catching his old friend's words. "Let her go,"
Shadenight flicked her tail with glee, and then whipped out another tidal wave of news for Thorntail's ears.
Rosethorn herself didn't listen. Thorntail seemed to fit in so well with those two cats – just as he had with Puddlespots and Speedtail. He was never so comfortable with any ThunderClan cats, besides maybe Blackshadow and herself. Maybe…maybe Thorntail never should have left RiverClan and joined ThunderClan. He seemed to be a RiverClan cat at heart…which meant that…Shadenight…
Rosethorn shifted uncomfortably, as Shadenight started to explain how a warrior, Dewheart, had almost fallen into the gorge, but had been rescued by her apprentice, Ripplepaw.
Rosethorn didn't give a mouse-tail about Dewheart or Ripplepaw. She really didn't belong here. Owlpelt, Shadenight, and Thorntail were all friends…but Rosethorn wasn't a part of them. She didn't belong.
She was about to excuse herself and go back to camp, but before she could, she felt something snaking around her tail. Fear stabbing her heart like a thorn; she flashed a glance behind her to see what it was wrapping itself around her tail.
She purred.
Thorntail had intertwined his tail with Rosethorn's, silently telling her that she mattered, and that she didn't have to go.
Comforted, Rosethorn tucked her paws under her chest, and got ready to stay in RiverClan territory until…maybe until the sun rose.
Rosethorn turned her attention to Shadenight, and noticed that the she-cat was using her eyes as claws to dig into her. Rosethorn looked down at her paws. Now there was no doubt – Shadenight was after Thorntail.
Owlpelt been talking about how his oldest brother from a separate litter had been named RiverClan deputy, but before Owlpelt could mention his brother's name – and just after Thorntail had snaked his tail around Rosethorn's – Shadenight let out a squeak of alarm.
"Hm?" Thorntail's whiskers twitched with curiosity. "Are you alright Shadenight?"
"No…" she mumbled. "I feel sick."
Rosethorn looked up, startled.
"You do?" Thorntail asked – there was no denying the concern in his voice. He flicked his gaze to Owlpelt. "Maybe you should take her back to camp," he advised.
Shadenight let out another squeak – which was really starting to get on Rosethorn's nerves - and shook her head violently. "No! Thorntail…I want you to take me back,"
Rosethorn's fur bristled.
"Shadenight," Owlpelt sighed, "That's impossible. He's a ThunderClan cat. Duststar won't appreciate us bringing Thorntail to camp,"
Thorntail let out a soft, rumbling chuckle, and finally mewed, "Shadenight, don't act like a kit. If you feel sick, go back to your camp and get yourself some herbs."
Shadenight eyes flashed blue fire, and Rosethorn stumbled back a few paw-steps, fearing that if she didn't she'd get burned by the blaze. "But I haven't seen you in such a long time, Thorntail!" she cried. "Please?"
Rosethorn looked down at her paws. Shadenight really seemed to want Thorntail to take her home…and Thorntail did seem to be showing interest…maybe…
"Thorntail…" she murmured softly, and the gray tom looked at her curiously, "Take Shadenight back to camp…"
Thorntail looked at her like she had ordered him to go find a fox and force it to join ThunderClan. Owlpelt just looked confused, and Shadenight had raised her chin, defiant.
Thorntail hesitated for a moment, but finally he let out a sigh. "Fine," he mumbled. "Come on, Shadenight." He got to his paws, as did Shadenight, who, as Rosethorn examined her, didn't look sick in the least.
Rosethorn kept her seat, and Thorntail started to lead Shadenight out of the reeds, but suddenly he seemed to remember something and turned to Rosethorn and Owlpelt – who was also still seated.
"Aren't you two coming with us?" Thorntail asked.
"I'm not," Owlpelt sighed. "I have to give the same message we gave to Streamstar, to Smokestar of ShadowClan, and I should probably get going there now – if I want to come back by Sunhigh."
Rosethorn twitched her whiskers, curious to what the message was, but shoved it away. Streamstar would inform the Clan later if it was something important. Thorntail looked at her, clearly expecting an answer, but he got none. Rosethorn wasn't exactly sure herself why she was letting Thorntail go with a cat from another Clan that clearly had feelings for him…but then she knew that if he loved Shadenight, then Rosethorn clearly wasn't the cat for him.
"I'm just walking her to camp," Thorntail soothed her possibly sensing her worry. "I'll be back soon…but wait for me to get back."
Rosethorn blinked curiously. "Where?" she murmured softly.
"By the Owl Tree,"
Rosethorn nodded. The Owl Tree. She and Thorntail both had fond memories of that particular wall of bark. "Be careful," she commanded softly, and was quiet for a heartbeat before she mewed, "Bye."
Thorntail let out a sigh, and gave her a curt nod, before he and Shadenight disappeared into the reeds, leaving Owlpelt and Rosethorn alone.
The two cats sat there for a few moments, as if unsure what to do, when suddenly Owlpelt offered, "I could walk you part-way, if you'd like. I'm going North Anyways…"
Rosethorn hesitated, unsure how she should take the offer, when Owlpelt went on quickly, "Its dark out, Rosethorn. There might be some loners around, or something. It's dangerous for a cat to be alone."
She couldn't argue with that. When she was alone, bad things tended to happen to her. "Alright," she sighed, giving in.
…
Though the river was frozen, Rosethorn wasn't taking any chances of the ice breaking – and nor was Owlpelt, and she braced herself to make the leap to the first Stepping Stone.
"I'm sorry," Owlpelt apologized, as Rosethorn was firmly on the rock she aimed for and prepared herself for another leap. "I'm pretty sure that it was a rare, special time for you two, when Shadenight and I came."
Rosethorn shook her head, hoping to lift some of the burden from the RiverClan cat's shoulders.
"You deliberately gave that special time up, didn't you?" Owlpelt mused, as his four paws landed firmly on the next smooth, round stone.
Rosethorn didn't answer him at that. She simply kept on leaping, until she was firmly on land once more. Even though it was leaf-bare, the earth felt so warm compared to the harsh chill of the Stepping Stones.
However, Owlpelt didn't seem to care that she wasn't answering. "In fact," he went on, padding alongside her stride for stride, "I had my suspicions ever since I was told the name of the herb. ThornTail? You're his mate, aren't you?"
Rosethorn's eyes widened, wondering if the whole forest had the same suspicions as the RiverClan tom. Was it that obvious? She turned to him, her blue eyes round and wide.
…
Thorntail's whiskers twitched, as he noticed how fast Shadenight was going. For a sick cat, she was as fast as a rabbit! A suspicion nagged at him.
"Are you okay?" he asked, trying to sound concerned.
Shadenight slowed down a tad, and flashed him a loving look. "I feel much better," she purred, "Now that you're here."
Thorntail sighed, he was right. Shadenight had just been faking the whole time. He shook his broad head. Nothing he could do about that now. He was just taking her back to camp – not much could happen…
"Hey! I have an idea!" Shadenight purred, stumbling to a halt. "Let's go to the Hawkeye hill! Like we used to! Remember? We could see the whole of RiverClan territory from there!"
Shadenight didn't wait for his answer, and started changed direction – and almost instantly broke into a swift run.
"Wait…" Thorntail murmured running to catch up to her, and she flashed him a playful, sapphire glance. As he stared into his eyes, a shiver crawled down his spine. It reminded him so much of…
"Don't forget," Shadenight purred, batting her eyes playfully, "You promised to take me back to camp. I'm going to the Hawkeye Hill first – you have to come with me!"
…
"How should I put it," Owlpelt sighed – referring to Shadenight, while Rosethorn breathed in the familiar scents of ThunderClan territory. She was home! Finally! Now Owlpelt was the stranger! "Shadenight's like a newborn kit." Owlpelt purred firmly, and Rosethorn nodded in agreement with him. That was the impression she had gotten too.
"But…" Owlpelt was quick to defend his Clanmate, "She really doesn't mean any harm." Rosethorn couldn't meet Owlpelt's eyes. Didn't mean any harm? She had just talked Thorntail into escorting her to the RiverClan camp! "She's just self-centered, with well…everything," he continued – chuckling to himself gently, as Rosethorn flicked her gaze to the sky. It was starting to lose its dark, foreboding appearance, and was now igniting with the blood of Emberstar. "You've seen her yourself!" Owlpelt went on, slithering under a low-hanging tree branch. "She's…she's just so cute!"
Rosethorn nodded. Whenever Shadenight was at a Gathering, she was always shrouded with compliments – even if not to her face. Rosethorn had once heard a ShadowClan cat remark to his companion about the RiverClan cat's looks. Shadenight was beautiful. She could never deny that. With her pelt as black as night – sleek, from hunting in the river…and her eyes, which sparkled like sapphires.
"So of course," Owlpelt continued, "Everyone in RiverClan spoils her and protects her. She's never been clawed once at a battle really…she's a good fighter, yes…but she also has the whole of the Clan's toms defending her more than they defended their own kits."
Rosethorn raised her gaze to look at Owlpelt, slightly startled. Was Owlpelt exaggerating? She at first thought so, but the look in his amber eyes was deathly serious.
"If you want to blame someone," Owlpelt purred, referring to Shadenight's self-centered…ness. "Blame RiverClan for spoiling her so much."
No problem, she thought begrudgingly. Rosethorn lowered her gaze, and ground her jaw for a few moments, trying to figure out a way to word her question. "Shadenight…" she murmured, "Is Thorntail's…ex-mate, correct?"
Owlpelt didn't answer that verbally, he just stared at her sorrowfully with his darn amber eyes.
"I knew it," Rosethorn sighed, "from the things she said…"
…
Thorntail followed Shadenight slowly, as the ebony-colored she-cat bolted up the Hawkeye hill, squealing his name in delight.
Once she got to the top, with Thorntail a tail-length away, she stared at the earth below, her eyes round with amazement. "Wow!" she gasped. "I haven't been up here since I was an apprentice! Look!" she flicked her tail in the distance. "You can see some of The Great Oaks' upper branches! Wow!"
Thorntail grunted agreement. "But…" he blinked curiously. "Aren't you still an apprentice, Shadenight?" he asked referring to her earlier sentence. "Training under Blueherb?"
Shadenight looked at him curiously for a moment, but finally shook her head. "Nope," she purred. "I dropped out once…" she trailed off, and then pointed out some other interesting feature she noticed. But Thorntail was quick to figure out what words Shadenight had left unsaid. I dropped out once I found out where you were,
Shadenight pointed out a few more interesting land-marks that she could see, before she blinked – as if bothered by something…as if a wasp had suddenly stung her.
"Are you angry?" she asked.
Thorntail shook his head no. "I'm just a little bit surprised," he answered, "You're still the same as before."
Shadenight was silent for a moment, as if unsure how to answer. Finally, the black she-cat meowed, "I really was sick earlier, you know."
"You haven't changed at all," Thorntail repeated hoping to dig it into her brain. He began to list all the things she still was, "Still selfish," he began, "And fickle."
"Like the river!" Shadenight purred cheerfully, and Thorntail stared at her blankly, wondering how she could possibly take what he had been saying as a compliment. Then he remembered.
"You still remember the words you said," Shadenight purred flicking her tail with glee. "You still remember exactly what you told me…" she turned her whole body towards him now, and dug her gaze into Thorntail's eyes like a starving cat digs its fangs into a piece of fresh kill. "You said that's what you liked about me…" she murmured. "Do you still like me now, Thorntail?"
"Didn't you tell me…" Shadenight went on, her sapphire eyes now burning with that emotion – love – that Thorntail was beginning to hate, "that…that's what you liked about me?" she shook her head violently, "You must!" she meowed before he could answer, "Because you remembered what you said to me!" Shadenight started to leap up and down with joy, as she remembered too. "You said to me, 'Shadepaw, you are so selfish, and fickle. Why are you so much like the river? You never consider other cat's feelings. And you change the way cats look at you every day. But…'" Thorntail cut off her quote at that, and then absent-mindedly began to finish it for her.
"But I like it, forever and forever," he murmured softly. "'I can't stop loving you,'" he went on, "'No matter how much you change the way cats look at you…"' he felt his eyes cloud, as he remembered the meaning behind these words. The words he was saying could be applied to…many things. And they reminded him of something that dug a thorn in his heart. "'I still want to be with you,'"
Shadenight was silent for a moment, and Thorntail noticed that her eyes looked like they were about to overflow with warmth…and love… "You remembered!" she cried out. "You remembered!" she repeated, and then forcibly snaked her tail around Thorntail's. "Oh, Thorntail…" she murmured, digging her muzzle into his flank. "Why did you disappear? Why did you leave me all alone?"
…
"So…" Owlpelt mused, flicking his ears curiously. "You know about Graywhisker's suicide?"
Rosethorn looked down at her paws. Yes, Puddlespots had told her quite a bit. But she didn't tell Owlpelt that – she didn't want the friendly RiverClan she-cat to get in trouble with her Clanmates for leaking important, private information. She simply nodded.
"I thought I would never get over it, myself." Owlpelt explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "You see, Shadenight had become friends with Thorntail and Graywhisker quickly when they had joined the Clan as kits. And when we all became apprentices, naturally I became apart of their circle – because there were only four apprentices I the den. The four of us…of course, I was always sort of distant from them…I didn't really belong." Rosethorn closed her eyes and nodded. She knew that feeling. "Shadenight…Graywhisker, and Thorntail…three of the greatest-looking cats in the forest, all living together in the apprentice's den. They were the talk of the entire Clan – everyone in RiverClan was waiting for who Shadenight would pick for her mate – Thorntail, or Graywhisker. I was never in the running…" Owlpelt let out a sigh.
"Thorntail changed a lot after Graywhisker died." Owlpelt went on. "But we all thought that his pain…you know, would only be temporary. Every cat loses kin – and Thorntail was always such a strong cat…" As Owlpelt spoke, his eyes clouded, as if he was just making a realization as he spoke to her. "In fact…" he murmured, "Whenever we weren't paying much attention…I think Thorntail collapsed – on the inside…little by little."
Rosethorn pricked her ears. She was so curious about Graywhisker's death…maybe Owlpelt would know more than Puddlespots did, and be able to tell her the whole story.
"Until one day," Owlpelt went on, "Duststar told us that we wouldn't be seeing Thorntail for awhile…"
"Had he left for ThunderClan?" Rosethorn asked, curious. Owlpelt shook his brown head.
"No…Duststar told us that Thorntail would be staying in Blueherb's den…and wouldn't be coming out." Owlpelt blinked, as he remembered. "We even had to expand it, so there would be more room…"
"Wait!" Rosethorn interrupted, "Why did he have to stay there? Was he injured?"
"Not on the outside…" Owlpelt murmured. "Rosethorn, Thorntail went insane."
Rosethorn's eyes widened in surprise. Insane? Thorntail was a little…odd, sometimes, but insane? Suddenly she remembered a comment Speedtail had made at FourTrees – about how it was wrong to expect Thorntail to be normal after going through what he did. But…insane?
"How do you mean?" she choked out, still having trouble believing that the one she loved…wasn't…normal.
"Well…" Owlpelt drawled, "He would…he'd randomly get really violent – for no reason at all. And…he almost drowned himself, because he started to try to fight the river. He hated his reflection…" Rosethorn nodded. She had known that. "He seemed to have lost…any feeling of empathy for other cats…" Owlpelt continued. He shook his head violently, trying to shake the feeling away. "And once Thorntail was ordered to stay in Blueherb's den…nobody was aloud to see him. Blueherb got him food, and moss to drink from…but she aloud to visitors…well, no…" Owlpelt shook his head. "That's not true."
"Who was aloud to see him?" Rosethorn asked, half-expecting it to be his mate, Shadenight.
"No apprentices – but warriors were aloud to," Owlpelt mumbled – and Rosethorn suddenly remembered that Owlpelt still would've been an apprentice during Thorntail's time with Blueherb and therefore would have been denied entry. "I guess it got really bad at some point…I wouldn't know how or what happened, but Blueherb sent out patrols, to get the WindClan, ShadowClan, and ThunderClan medicine cats to come and help her out…To be honest," Owlpelt meowed, "I don't know what they were doing to help him. Maybe give him some sort of herb?" he shook his head. "I don't know. But…but he was in there for awhile. And every day he was gone…Shadenight got more and more…" he paused, as if searching for the correct word, "abnormal. Every day she'd ask Blueherb about him…and wonder if he was okay…I myself thought that Shadenight was going crazy as well, and warned her that if she kept on acting so weird that she'd be stuck with Thorntail in the medicine cat's den for awhile…" Owlpelt let out a small mew that Rosethorn couldn't understand once he had finished his ramble, but quickly continued, "He was let out…after a stay that seemed to last forever. But…there was still something off about him. And we all quickly realized that the old Thorntail had died on the Thunderpath with his brother. It wasn't long after Blueherb set him free, that he left to join ThunderClan." He shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose he felt that he could leave his past back in RiverClan…"
Realization hit Rosethorn like an enemy's cuff.
"If…if…Graywhisker hadn't of died…" she realized out loud, "Shadenight and Thorntail…would still be mates." She twitched her whiskers, and leveled her gaze with Owlpelt's. "Am I right?" she asked.
Owlpelt hesitated for a moment, and Rosethorn closed her eyes. She was right.
"It sounds like…you don't know…" Owlpelt meowed, and Rosethorn's eyes shot open, "why Graywhisker committed suicide,"
"Uh…" Rosethorn shook her head. "I was told it might've been because he was picked on a lot by some of the RiverClan warriors."
Owlpelt let out a choking laugh, "So you really don't know," he sighed. To himself, he mumbled, "It's always me that has to tell the bad news. Always me…" he leveled his gaze with Rosethorn's – amber meeting sapphire. "Shadenight…" he began, "Was Graywhisker's mate first."
Rosethorn's eyes widened…if Graywhisker was Shadenight's mate first…then that meant that…
"Thorntail stole Shadenight from Graywhisker." Owlpelt voiced her thoughts. "Not long after that, Graywhisker committed suicide by running into a monster on the Thunderpath."
"I was the first cat to notice that Graywhisker wasn't in camp – and he should've been," Owlpelt added, "It was the night of his warrior's vigil." Rosethorn nodded. This fit in with Puddlespots' account perfectly so far. "I was also the one who first noticed Graywhisker by the Thunderpath – and told Thorntail to hurry over…" Owlpelt shook his head violently, as he said the last sentence. "While Thorntail was running over to his brothers, I went to find the rest of the patrol. However…Shadenight had been with me…and was left alone when I ran off…and she saw the whole thing from the side of the Thunderpath. And she saw – I didn't – what happened. All alone – Graywhisker run into the monster – on what should've been the happiest dawn of his life – he was made a warrior after all…and she saw Thorntail…and everything…and was all alone. I can only imagine what she felt…and the guilt…"
Rosethorn swallowed deeply. Now she knew. Graywhisker had committed suicide because his brother had stolen his one true love from him... and Thorntail and Shadenight would still be mates if Graywhisker had told himself that there were other fish in the river and started padding after another she-cat. Its one thing if two mates go their separate ways because they share different views or argue…but…there had still been love between them!
"When the rest of the patrol and I got to the scene," Owlpelt went on, "It was already too late." Owlpelt shook his head again, and Rosethorn held her breath. What other news did he have to share with her? "But…but what I couldn't believe…was what Thorntail had said."
Rosethorn blinked. "What did Thorntail say?"
Owlpelt hesitated. "He said that he killed Graywhisker – and pushed him into the monster."
Rosethorn closed her eyes, pained. Puddlespots had said the same thing, but Rosethorn hadn't dwelled on it long. She hadn't thought that Thorntail would be capable of such a thing…but… if Graywhisker was out of the scene…then there would be no room for Shadenight to change her mind and pad on back to his brother.
But…Shadenight had seen the whole thing! He couldn't have…
Unless Shadenight wanted him out the way too…
Rosethorn gulped.
"And that's…well, that's the real reason I wanted to talk to Thorntail," Owlpelt mewed. "I…I wanted to know what really happened on the Thunderpath. But I didn't get a chance too…Shadenight whisked him away before I could bring it up…and I didn't know that you knew and didn't want to embarrass him."
Rosethorn nodded blankly…she could understand that…
Owlpelt was curious, just as she was. But Owlpelt was wondering if he was friends with a murderer – Rosethorn was wondering if her mate was a murderer.
Remember to review, if you want that Rosethorn plushie!