Loyalflame- I suppose he is, isn't he? Well, maybe one day Owlpelt will realize that...but let's face it, Owlpelt...well...maybe not-so-obviously had a crush on Shadenight, and he's such a plain tom...and so nice...I thought maybe I should give him the cat of his dreams, just for being so thoughtful to her feelings.
Pearl.H.Sweden- Well...originally, I thought I would do that...but everyone seemed to want me to make a trilogy...and I kind of want to. Therefore, this chapter is, officially, the last one. It ends at a cliffy though. I had to FORCE You all to continue. -glares- Thank you so much for your loyalty...(heh heh heh! I sound like a Clan leader! )
Oceanwind- Yes, Owlpelt has a crush, at least, on Shadenight...but I don't really explore that relationship much - or EbonypawxMarshpaw (except in instances when Rosethorn will poke her head into their business!) because this is Thorntail's and Rosethorn's story.
Thank you all for reviewing, and/or reading. I'll begin working on the first chapter of the next story...and I might have it up by later today...or tomorrow. I'll tell you in one last author's note what it's called, so all you people who don't want to check or have me on your author's alert will be able to find it! I think it'll be called Silver Thorns, Burning Roses...or Burning Roses, Silver Thorns. Something like that. -shakes head-
Anyways, I don't like how this chapter, begins, ends, or the middle. -blinks- Well, I don't really like this chapter. It isn't my best...so once again, -puts on check list- I might have to re-write it. But enjoy! Or try to not have your eyes bleed.
Ebonypaw's leaf-green eyes rounded with amazement, as she rested her gaze on the legendary Moonstone for the first time, as it ignited with a brilliant emerald light. She looked around wildly, until she noticed her mentor, Rosethorn, whose pelt had tinted silver as the light bounced against it.
"Touch your nose to it," Rosethorn urged her. She softened her gaze, as the young black she-cat pushed her muzzle forward, and almost instantly succumbed to the chill – and went to dream with StarClan.
Rosethorn sighed, and settled herself down to gently watch her apprentice as she slept – not bothering to attempt to speak to StarClan herself. A pang of jealousy rose up inside her, as she realized that she probably never would…
She shook that thought away. She didn't really deserve to speak to them. Ebonypaw, however, in her youth and innocence, did. Technically, the black she-cat was still pure in the eyes of StarClan…Rosethorn hoped.
She blinked, and recalled for a moment her sorrowful good-bye to Thorntail, as they had to leave him to go to HighStones. She couldn't help but worry – Rosethorn had used Thorntail's betrayal as a powerful example to Ebonypaw of why she shouldn't see Marshpaw anymore… But, without thinking…she and Thorntail had shown great affection for one another…Would Ebonypaw follow Rosethorn's pitiful example, and start toddling over to the ShadowClan border to catch the young tom?
Rosethorn looked down at her paws. Was she really in the right to scold Ebonypaw for seeing Marshpaw in the first place? She was such a hypocrite!
Gazed thoughtfully at the Moonstone. Hopefully a conversation with StarClan would set Ebonypaw straight. The warriors of Silverpelt could be very convincing when they tried.
…
Ebonypaw's whiskers twitched, as she glanced at her surroundings. To say the least, it was peculiar.
She seemed to be in FourTrees… Though the last time she had been there, the Great Oaks had been bare of all leaves…and it had been colder then. But now, the oaks' branches were covered with their green plumage. Ebonypaw also noticed…that it was much warmer now. Warmer then she ever could in the forest. Though…that was possibly because she had been born in Leaf-fall…and couldn't remember the times of Newleaf that the warriors were always ranting about.
"Hello?" Ebonypaw called out – and to her surprise, she didn't get an answer. Just an echo. "I'm here to speak to a StarClan cat. If you happen to be of StarClan, and can hear me…kindly show yourself! Yup! Yup! Yup!"
No cat answered. Heck, she couldn't even see a cat, let alone hear one!
"Please?" she asked. Still no answer.
Ebonypaw fluffed out her fur. "I said pease!" she hissed – not pronouncing the 'l', as she had often done when she had been a kit.
Ebonypaw sighed, annoyed. Was StarClan mad at her? She cursed under her breath. Maybe they were mad because when Beakpaw complained about his 'having The Blood' when he had in reality only had a cut; she had clawed him instead of offering him reassurance. Rosethorn had rebuked her for that…but come on! Beakpaw was so paranoid!
"I'll apologize to Beakpaw, if you'd like!" she called, hoping to get a response.
She sighed again, and her tail drooped to the earth beneath her. Why wasn't StarClan answering? It's not like they had anything important to do, like save the forest from ultimate destruction or something!
She was about to give up, and wait for herself to wake up from the most boring dream a medicine cat had ever had, when…it happened.
She didn't even fade into view! She just appeared!
A lovely, golden-brown tabby she-cat suddenly appeared before the young apprentice – hardly even a fox-length away! Her amber eyes burned into Ebonypaw's emerald, and the ThunderClan cat stumbled back a few paw steps, startled at the sudden appearance.
"Are…are you of StarClan?" she choked out.
The golden tabby dipped her head. "I am," she answered. "My name is Ambertail. I was once medicine cat of ThunderClan. I was mentor to Flamesoul."
"Oh." Ebonypaw blinked, in awe. She hadn't ever really given much thought to Ambertail. She had heard of her – of course. Apparently, she had been the first medicine cat to save a kit when it had caught greencough. Before that, if a small kit had gotten sick, it would be dead by sundown. "What took you so long?"
"You think that StarClan are not busy – and can cater to any young cat wishing to speak with us?" as Ambertail spoke, she shook her head – silently telling Ebonypaw that the young medicine cat apprentice that it was a rhetorical question.
"Oh." Ebonypaw mewed softly, blinking at how odd it was. She was talking to a dead cat! A dead cat, who she had never known in her life! Why wasn't she in awe? And…why…if she never knew Ambertail, did she trust her so? Ebonypaw shrugged her shoulders, and decided that StarClan must be like this with all the medicine cats. "I have a question," she mewed.
"You are unsure of your decision of a medicine cat." Ambertail mused, and Ebonypaw blinked in surprise. How did Ambertail know that? Ambertail seemed to catch her shock, because she meowed, "We've been watching you, Ebonypaw."
"'We've'?" Ebonypaw echoed, shrinking herself down slightly, as if she could hide from Ambertail's fierce gaze. She quickly pieced together that the 'we've' that Ambertail was referring to was StarClan. "Well…am I doing the right thing?" Ebonypaw asked.
"In becoming a medicine cat?" Ambertail asked, and Ebonypaw nodded. "Of course you are." Ebonypaw gaped in shock, and the StarClan warrior went on. "You are suited best for becoming one. You dislike fighting, but the scent of blood doesn't bother you. You are selfless, and almost always think of others before yourself. While most apprentices your age have already lost their innocence, you have held onto yours."
"But I'm in love with a ShadowClan tom!" Ebonypaw burst out. "I want to be a medicine cat, Ambertail…I really do… But it's getting so hard."
"You are not the first medicine cat to have this problem," Ambertail mused sympathetically.
"I know about Rosethorn," Ebonypaw agreed, but Ambertail shook her tawny-head.
"Rosethorn is not the first either. Ebonypaw, you are a cat, correct?"
Ebonypaw didn't know why, but she found herself glancing down at herself – just to make sure that she could get the answer right. "I think so," she answered dully – and Ambertail let out a raspy purr of amusement.
"Every cat has these feelings," Ambertail explained. "And therefore, so do medicine cats. It is a problem we all face. We all have hearts and therefore, we all at one point or another set our eyes on a tom…but we must guard our feelings, and remain our path that we chose."
"Maybe," Ebonypaw agreed. "But…but…but I broke the Warrior Code! I snuck out of camp to see Marshpaw!"
Ambertail was silent for a moment, before she answered. "True, that was wrong," she conceded. "A medicine cat's first duty must be to her Clan – that is why we are forbidden to have mates, or have kits…We must separate ourselves from our kin, and Clan, and…stop looking at our Clan as individual cats, but as one whole."
"How?" Ebonypaw burst out. "Ambertail, this is more then a crush! I love Marshpaw."
"Love must go two ways." Ambertail warned. Her gaze softened. "Ebonypaw, as I said, every medicine cat has these feelings. I had a crush on a fellow medicine cat, for example." She shrugged her shoulders. "But the trick is you must guard your heart. You cannot let your emotions get the better of you. You must sacrifice yourself, in a sense, for your Clan." She leveled her gaze with Ebonypaw's as she spoke.
"How?" Ebonypaw burst out. "How do I protect my heart? How can avoid getting closer to Marshpaw?"
Ambertail didn't answer right away; instead, she gently touched Ebonypaw's black shoulder with her tail. "You know how, Ebonypaw. You do not need me to tell you."
Ebonypaw sighed. Ambertail was right, she knew. But…all Ambertail ever had was a crush! It was easy for her! Crushes don't…do anything. Ebonypaw was in love! She was…right?
"Ambertail," Ebonypaw mewed, suddenly remembering something. "…did you speak to Rosethorn about Thorntail?"
The golden tabby stiffened, and Ebonypaw flattened herself against the earth, as Ambertail growled, "No."
…
"Ebonypaw," Rosethorn meowed, glancing at her apprentice as she padded out of the Medicine Cat's den. "Do me a favor. Go into the elder's den, and check Swiftfoot's leg, would you?"
As the black she-cat scurried off to carry out her mission, Rosethorn's heart lurched, and prayed beyond hope that StarClan had somehow been able to talk Ebonypaw into…cutting all connections with Marshpaw when they had spoken to her the night before. She and Ebonypaw hadn't spoken to one another about it, but she had noticed that Ebonypaw was starting to pay much more attention to her duties.
"Hello, Rosethorn."
She blinked, surprised, as she felt another cat's pelt brush against hers, and she turned her head sharply, to see Blackshadow going towards the nursery in a swift trot. She let out a soft chuckle. Blackshadow was fascinated by his kits. He was there more then one of the queens, Sandpelt, who even though she was dangerously close to kitting insisted on still attempting to hunt for her Clan. At first, Rosethorn had worried that Blackshadow would give himself away as the father by accident, but luckily, he was able to feign fascination with Dusktail's kits that had been born a little earlier that day, as well as Applefur's.
She turned, and padded into her den – mainly because she wanted to check her herb supplies, and to her surprise, she noticed Thorntail in there waiting for her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked cheerfully, brushing his side with her tail as she padded past him.
"I just wanted to see my favorite she-cat," Thorntail purred cheerfully. "I'm due for the sun-high patrol with Shrewtail and Onepaw, so I don't have much time before I got'ta leave."
Rosethorn nodded cheerfully, and changed the subject, "I've been watching Blackshadow," she meowed, flashing Thorntail a playful look. "He's been going into the nursery to see his kits all the time. I heard Streamstar talking, and she apparently suspects that he'll want one of them as an apprentice when Morningpaw's a warrior." She chuckled lightly. "I went in, and saw him earlier, he asked Applefur over four paw's worth of questions. And he's been catering to her and Dusktail's every whim. It's so cute!" she sniffed suspiciously at a certain piece of burdock root, that looked to dry to be of any use. "I didn't know Blackshadow was the type of tom to act like that."
She waited for Thorntail to put something into the conversation, but he was silent.
"Thorntail?" she mewed, turning to him curiously.
"Huh." Thorntail didn't take his eyes off of a half-eaten squirrel that Ebonypaw had never finished. "You're surprisingly into good father figures. I have an idea," he meowed sarcastically, "Why don't you run over to Blackshadow right now and ask him to be your mate?"
Rosethorn blinked; startled that Thorntail was so bothered. All she had done was comment on how Blackshadow was hanging around the nursery a lot. "What are you mad about?" she asked.
"I'm not mad," Thorntail meowed. "It's just that I'm not a real father, never will be, and therefore will never be this fantastic daddy that hangs around the nursery all the day long when he should be hunting or patrolling. In fact, besides when Applefur's kits were born, I've never been in the Nursery." His voice was oddly flat. "In fact, I've never gotten that odd kitten-smell on me once I became an apprentice…unlike most she-cats, and some toms do because they play with kits to much. All I ever smell like is like a RiverClan cat who was hunting in ThunderClan far too long."
Rosethorn thought for a moment. It was true, Thorntail did have a different scent then any of the other warriors…but… "Well, I like that odd RiverClan-ThunderClan scent." She meowed firmly, padding over to him, and touching her nose to his – which was rather difficult, considering he had been so busy examining the squirrel. She gently used her tail to touch his back. "You have some burrs in your pelt," she murmured. "I could give you something to help you get them out." She slowly got to her paws, to go get him the right herb, but before she could, he intertwined his tail with hers.
Rosethorn purred – especially as he pulled her close to him, and began to groom her ears.
"Thorntail…" she purred gently, enjoying his show of affection. However, before she could stop him, he used his front paws to push her down onto the earth, and lay on top of her – still vigorously licking her face, all the while rubbing her side as he warmed himself up to…
…
"Rosethorn," Thorntail purred between licks, as he felt the pulsating warmth flush through his body, as it realized what it was about to do.
Excitement jolted through him, as his body informed his mind of the joy that would about to happen. Finally! After two long moons of waiting! He would finally gobble Rosethorn up, and make her his mate!
He flicked his tail to rub her strawberry underbelly gently, but he was surprised to realize how tense she was.
"Th…Thorntail!" she choked out. "D…don't you have to go on the Sun-high patrol?"
"Hm." Thorntail didn't answer, and went on grooming Rosethorn's face, in an attempt to comfort her so they could both truly enjoy what was to come.
However, before he could do what nature intended, Rosethorn practically dug her front claws into his shoulder, and used her back legs to push him off.
Thorntail shook himself, and glanced up at her, confused. She was panting heavily, and was looking around wildly.
"Rosethorn…was I being to aggressive?" he asked curiously, and she didn't answer.
Instead, she meowed, "I'm getting hungry…and you have to go on that patrol…"
Thorntail sighed. "I don't care about the patrol," he muttered, but if Rosethorn heard him she made no acknowledgement.
"Bye, Thorntail!" she called, as she pounded at of her den.
Thorntail sighed, and hung his head, as he cooled down. "I just want to gobble you up, sweet Rosethorn."
…
"You're kidding me!" Applefur's mew was sharp, as she glared at Rosethorn like she never would get the chance to again. "You and Thorntail aren't mating?" The ginger queen voice was rather loud, but she lowered it as one of her kits – Nightkit – let out a startled squeak as he sensed his mother's anger. She soothed him quietly, before she glanced at Rosethorn again. "I can understand with you…but Thorntail…There's no way that he would settle for that!"
Applefur shook her head, as if that made about as much sense as StarClan coming down to the forest and announcing the squirrels were the new rulers of the Clans. "I can't believe that a tom who likes a she-cat thaaaaaaaaat much," Rosethorn blinked as Applefur stretched out the word 'that', "wouldn't try and touch you!" she finished.
Rosethorn hesitated for a moment – and glanced around the nursery, to make sure that Dusktail or Sandpelt hadn't come in unnoticed during the conversation, before she answered. "Well…there were a couple times where something like that happened." She sighed, and recalled the incident that happened just earlier that day in the den. "But…I always push him away…or pull myself away…"
"Why would you pull away if you love him?" Applefur growled, her hackles rising.
Rosethorn looked down at her paws, not sure how to answer.
…
"Are you serious? Blackshadow gasped, as he took a ferocious bite out of his vole – and as Thorntail settled down beside him and grabbed a robin from the fresh-kill pile. "I can't believe you two haven't mated yet." Blackshadow looked thoughtful for a moment, but then shook his head. "Wait, no, I can understand with Rosethorn." Blackshadow conceded. "But you…since when did you become…like that?"
Thorntail sighed, and meowed, "She gives me these looks."
"Looks?"
"These no-no looks." Thorntail informed him. "Every time she looks at me like that, my feelings…just end up cooling off. I don't know what to do," he admitted.
Blackshadow's amber eyes narrowed into slits, as he seemed to attempt to weigh the possibilities in his mind. "Are you being too aggressive?" he asked. "Rosethorn's inexperienced…unlike you."
"How rude!" Thorntail snapped. "I'm not some sort of…beast or something!"
"You were," Blackshadow growled – taking another bite out of his vole, "Before you got close to Rosethorn. How many she-cats did you mate with?" The black tom gave a good-natured growl. "You had it too easy. You deserve to suffer a little!"
Thorntail stared blankly at his robin, having no true desire to eat it, as he meowed, "Is…is…well…mating such a bad thing?" he asked curiously. "I mean…it's a natural desire to all cats, isn't it? Why can't medicine cats…just…I don't know." He shrugged. "Do you think it's because she's a medicine cat?"
"It's possible," Blackshadow mused. "But if that's the case, then she can't very well call herself your mate. She can't have the best of both worlds…maybe you should tell her that…"
Thorntail sighed, and quickly contradicted his last statement. "Personally, I don't think it's that." He meowed thoughtfully. "If it was, she wouldn't make up excuses. She'd just tell me about the Warrior Code…again. I'm starting to think that she doesn't like me…" Thorntail finally took a tiny nip of his robin, deciding that if he didn't eat, he'd get hungry in the middle of the night, and have to climb over Shrewtail to leave the den – and he'd probably end up waking up the annoying warrior, and Shrewtail would then accuse him of treachery or something…and it would be a very hectic evening.
"Hey," Thorntail mewed off-handedly, hoping to get his mind off of Rosethorn for the moment. "Where's Streamstar? Doesn't she usually eat with Sandpelt and Swiftfoot by the HighRock around this time?"
Blackshadow looked at him blankly for a few heartbeats before he finally rolled his eyes. "Didn't you listen to the Clan meeting earlier?"
"No."
Blackshadow's fur bristled at that – and Thorntail couldn't help but purr in amusement. "Well," Blackshadow hissed, "I was patrolling with Badgerclaw, Morningpaw, Icepelt and Aquapaw, and we ran into the cats that ShadowClan told us about at the Gathering."
"ShadowClan mentioned cats at the Gathering?" Thorntail echoed, completely confused.
"Yes!" Blackshadow snapped. "Anyways, we didn't chase them out right away…because…well…Icepelt said we shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"Silverpaw…" Blackshadow began, but Thorntail cut him off.
"Who's Silverpaw?"
The night-colored cat let out a threatening growl, and Thorntail took the warning and closed his jaws. "Anyways," he growled, "We came back, and informed Streamstar of the predicament, and she wanted to go and speak to them. Sandpelt did too…"
"Why?" Thorntail realized that he was starting to sound like a new-born kit with all of his 'why's' but he quickly forgave himself- because he really was confused.
Blackshadow didn't seem to have as quick of an answer for that one. "I don't know." He confessed. "I'm worried though. Streamstar seemed fascinated by the news at the Gathering…not as amazed as Timidleaf, but still interested." Blackshadow explained.
Thorntail quickly pieced the story together. "So…you think Streamstar might ask them to join the Clan?" he thought for a moment. "How many are there?"
"Two she-cats and a tom." Blackshadow meowed. "One of the she-cats is still a kit…four or five moons, I think, and the other two look about Dusktail's age." Dusktail was the youngest she-cat with her warrior name in the Clan – having gotten it just a half-moon ago.
"Is the older she-cat pretty?" Thorntail asked.
Blackshadow gave him a warning glance, and didn't answer at first. However, Thorntail was very persistent in his curiosity of the she-cat's looks, so finally Blackshadow gave in. "She's attractive, I suppose."
Thorntail purred. "Good." He growled. "I hope Streamstar lets them join. We're running low in she-cats."
"We have Icepelt, Dusktail, Applefur, Aquapaw, and Morningpaw." Blackshadow pointed out, but Thorntail shook his head.
"I mean pretty she-cats."
Blackshadow let out a threatening hiss – probably because Thorntail had unknowingly insulted Applefur. Realizing his mistake, Thorntail corrected himself. "And...er…cats that aren't taken."
"Don't forget it." Blackshadow growled.
"But I'm forgetful!" Thorntail whined, and rose up onto his hind legs to yowl it to the heavens to make a point, but as he did so, he felt his back ram into…another hunk of fur. Startled, he felt back down onto all fours, and turned his head sharply, to realize that he had accidentally knocked a…very…pretty silver she-cat unto her side. Not particularly caring that she didn't look or smell like a ThunderClan cat, he meowed, "Oh! Gee! Sorry, did I run into your face?"
The silver she-cat didn't answer right away. She shook her head gently, sending scarlet flecks of blood into the air, before she finally meowed, "I…I'm okay." Thorntail blinked, and stared into her leaf-green eyes for a moment, before he tore his gaze away.
Thorntail's whiskers twitched, as he looked around to notice that the pretty silver she-cat wasn't the only newcomer. There was another pretty cat – her pelt was bluer, however, like the sky, and in her jaws she carried a tiny ginger kitten – which, as Blackshadow stated, did look about four or five moons of age. Her eyes were wide open, and she was looking around at her new surroundings wildly. They were flanked by Sandpelt and Badgerclaw – while Aquapaw padded over and urged the silver cat that Thorntail had knocked down to her paws.
Thorntail wasn't sure what was going on, but watched blankly as the three new-comers – along with Sandpelt and Streamstar, padded over to the HighRock. Once they were out of earshot, Thorntail turned to Blackshadow.
"Did you see the cat I knocked over?" he asked. "She was so cute!"
"She's a tom." Blackshadow meowed, and the black cat's words still hung in the air as Thorntail stumbled back, horrified. "His name is Silverpaw."
Thorntail glanced over at the HighRock to see the silver tom licking his pelt gently, and he shook his head. "You're lying." He growled. "Toms aren't…pretty."
"I'm not lying," Blackshadow sighed. "Aquapaw and Morningpaw were going crazy when they found out – there's a tom as cute as a she-cat."
"Tom, I can't believe it." Thorntail breathed, unable to tear his gaze away from Silverpaw. "He's not like a she-cat…he is a she-cat! Are his…well…is his..um…bodily functions in order?"
"He had to make some dirt and rain when we found him. Aquapaw and Morningpaw snuck off to make sure…He's a tom through and through." Blackshadow wrinkled his nose, probably not finding it very tasteful of Aquapaw and Morningpaw to do that.
"That's sick!" Thorntail hissed. "Just because they can't get an actual tom…"
…
"But…you're serious about Thorntail, aren't you?" Applefur cried, and Rosethorn shrunk back at how much Applefur was pressuring her into this. "Why can't you…if you really love him?"
Rosethorn looked down at her paws. "It's not like I can't," she admitted. "I…I just think that everything's fine the way it is. We're having fun the way we are."
Applefur regarded her friend for a moment, but then started up again. "It's not like I can't understand that," the queen mewed, "But…if you really like the other cat, you'll feel like you could forgive him for anything. You want to get to know them more," she urged. "How sharp his claws are…how his muscles ripple under his pelt…" as Applefur spoke, she gently wrapped her tail around herself and closed her eyes, "How broad his shoulders are…And to be wrapped up nice and warm with his tail…And become one as she bury your muzzle into his chest…" her blue eyes jolted open. "Or…or am I just weird?"
Rosethorn let out a sigh. "No." she admitted. "It's really cute. It makes me jealous. …I…I'm scared." She mewed. "It's so fun to be with Thorntail, and I like him so much…"
"You know how I mated with Blackshadow?" Applefur asked bluntly, and Rosethorn let her gaze stray to the kits that had been the result of that mating, and Applefur chuckled nervously. "It's true…that the Blackshadow from before and the Blackshadow now are a little bit different. But…" Applefur let out a purr. "I think I've changed too. To be best friends, or like siblings…was really fun, and comfortable." Applefur informed her, "But I'm happy to see him as someone special now. Blackshadow lives inside of me…and well, I," she purred – embarrassed, "I live inside of Blackshadow, and we both live in these kits." She swept her tail over her young ones – and as she did so, Blazekit, still blind, lifted up a paw to try and pull down his mother's tail, but he failed, and let out a disappointed mew. "That strange feeling makes me happy." Applefur meowed thoughtfully, cocking her head to one side. Her voice suddenly got colder, "I hate to say it Rosethorn," she meowed, "You might be okay with how things are going between you two now…but…I wonder about Thorntail. If another she-cat shows up that likes him…" Applefur trailed off, and Rosethorn glanced at her paws. She hadn't ever thought about it like that… But…
She was about to bring up another point, but some arguing outside of the nursery rang in their ears, and it instantly woke up the two kits of Applefur's who had been napping – Baykit, and Petalkit, and instantly the two young kits started to make annoyed mews at the top of their little lungs.
"Shh…" Applefur instantly lowered her head and began to sooth her kittens with gentle licks – but between them, she mewed softly, "Rosethorn, go shove a squirrel down the throat of whoever is making all that racket."
The medicine cat leapt to her paws, and slipped under the brambles of the nursery, and blinked, as she realized that Streamstar at some point or another had called a Clan Meeting – every cat in the Clan, except for Applefur it seemed, were sitting around the HighRock, gazing up at their leader with hungry stares.
Curious to what was going on; Rosethorn slipped in the cluster, and settled herself down beside Blackshadow and Thorntail, glancing warmly at each of them, before she asked, "What's going on?"
"Streamstar's letting three newcomers join the Clan." Blackshadow informed her, his voice hardly over a whisper. Rosethorn quickly assessed that the argument they had heard from the nursery was warriors voicing their disinterest in their leader's decision.
"Why?" Rosethorn asked, and she couldn't help but wonder why Streamstar hadn't consulted her, the medicine cat about the matter – but shrugged it off. Streamstar never asked her about anything. At one point, Rosethorn had wondered if she just didn't trust her daughter's skill as a medicine cat, but then it had occurred to her that Streamstar never consulted Flamesoul, the former medicine cat, about anything either.
"Because she's wacko," Blackshadow muttered – and Rosethorn suddenly heard Badgerclaw, who apparently had seated himself beside her grunt an agreement.
"Well…what's the reason she gave?" Rosethorn meowed, unwilling to say anything bad about her mother…yet.
Blackshadow flashed her a glance. "Something about warriors and a shortage of them. But personally, I'd rather have two loyal warriors then ten disloyal ones."
Rosethorn nodded, not even sure herself if she was agreeing with Blackshadow, or acknowledging his statement, but then turned her attention to Streamstar, who at some point or another had begun to…assign mentors to one of the new cats.
"Twilightfur, Gingerkit, and Silverpaw, we welcome you to ThunderClan," Streamstar purred – and as she did so, Rosethorn heard Aquapaw and Morningpaw, in particular, yowl with joy – for reasons that were probably entirely their own. Rosethorn blinked. Perhaps she had been wrong about Streamstar's intention of giving a cat a mentor – Streamstar hadn't said anything yet… "Silverpaw, your old life as a ShadowClan apprentice is no more," Streamstar was saying, and Rosethorn quickly assessed that she had heard correctly, and that the leader had just been welcoming the three cats to the Clan…But suddenly, the cats' origins hit her, and she flattened her ears. Before WindClan's recent strike against all the Clans, ShadowClan had been the most aggressive and hostile Clan towards ThunderClan. "And you must begin your new life as a ThunderClan cat, with a new mentor." Rosethorn stretched out her neck, hoping to catch a glimpse of Silverpaw, but to her distain, she couldn't even see a single hair on… (it was most likely a she-cat…) her pelt. "Thorntail," Rosethorn's tail shot up in surprise – Thorntail was actually going to mentor another cat? Streamstar continued, "You are now ready to take on an apprentice a new apprentice, since the tragedy of Scornpaw's death. You will be mentor to Silverpaw. Thorntail, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of courage and strength. I'm sure you will pass on all you know to this apprentice."
Rosethorn glanced at Thorntail, and congratulated him on his newest achievement. The gray tom looked a little confused, admittedly, but he didn't exactly look disappointed. He leapt to his paws, and weaved through the masses of cats – and seemed to intentionally bump into Shrewtail – before he touched noses with Silverpaw – who – as Rosethorn was finally able to take a peek, was a very pretty she-cat. Beside her, her sibling (they looked a lot alike) flicked her tail with glee, and Rosethorn couldn't help but notice how Twilightfur and Silverpaw looked almost identical – especially in age. How come Twilightfur had her warrior name, but Silverpaw had yet to earn hers?
She shrugged. It didn't really matter, much. Of course, she would probably have to actually rebuke her leader for accepting the cats into the Clan…but then realized that Streamstar was watching Twilightfur and Silverpaw very carefully, and Rosethorn couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief – Streamstar would probably watch them very carefully, until they earned her trust. And they probably never would – Thorntail had yet to. Rosethorn supposed Streamstar would find it easier to keep an eye on them if they were all clumped together.
Rosethorn turned to Blackshadow, to comment on Thorntail's newest responsibility, only to find that every hair on the tom's black pelt stood on end, and his amber eyes were rounded in fear, and Rosethorn couldn't help but be curious to as why. What was so scary about Thorntail getting Silverpaw as an apprentice? It wasn't like the silver she-cat was a murderer of her mentors, or anything like that.
To Be Continued...Book 2
Yes, in the last of Rosethorn's POV she referred to Silverpaw as a girl - because...Silverpaw looks so much like a she-cat! She...er...he...just does. That's how I picture him, and that's how he is! And we all know what Silverpaw did in ShadowClan...er...we think...so yeah. I didn't really end it, admittedly. Ebonypaw still might be crushing on Marshpaw (and Ambertail didn't help much, I don't think),Thorntail and Rosethorn are struggling with their relationship - Thorntail wants to mate Rosethorn's pushing him away, and there's a maybe-crazed tom in ThunderClan - along with his two siblings, who come into play...well...later. I know - Streamstar's decision sudden, correct? I'll go into her motivation, and goals, and blah blah blah in the next one, a bit.
It hurts me, but this is the end. Unless you guys pull a fast one on me, and don't review the other story...in which case I'll be evil and just make it a really long fic...but don't make me do that! PLEASE!
I'd like to thank you all...as I did before...especially Pearl.H.Sweden, Daklotles85, Brooksilver, Steeltalon, and Mapleleaf, who, whenver I saw that they reviewed, I jumped with glee. Other peeps who made me have lots of fun writing this, as I mentioned previously, were Rabbitstorm, Oceanwind, Strangefur (Strangefur was like, my #1 crique! I loved that! THANK YOU STRANGEFUR!) Loyalflame, Greenpool's loyalty, Shiori Sakurazawa, lmblovesmilk, Watersoul... and anyone I may have forgotten!
If you review in the next twenty minutes, you'll get a limited edition (HA! I'm EBIL) of a Thorntail and Rosethorn plushie - who have their tails tied together in a cute 'lil heart shape! YAY!