Chapter 77

"Rosestripe, what have you done?!" Jaystar exclaimed, forcing her paws to pad over to Stripepool's limp body. As she stared at the brown tabby's unmoving body, Jaystar wondered if maybe something had happened while they were hunting. Had ShadowClan attacked them? Jaystar thought that seemed next to impossible because ThunderClan was still allies with ShadowClan. And even if they didn't like ThunderClan anymore, ShadowClan still owed something to Jaystar and Rosestripe. Memories from the ShadowClan fire whirled in Jaystar's head. That had been another lifetime ago; the lifetime of a younger, more carefree cat who was dead now. Jaystar didn't feel like the joyful apprentice right now as she stared at Rosestripe. The two of them had been such great frieinds in that time so many moons ago. What had changed between them? Lifting her gray eyes away from Stripepool, Jaystar glared at Rosestripe, remembering that she had to take control in the present. The past was dead just like Stripepool. It was time to take charge. "Rosestripe, did you murder Stripepool? If you did, you have broken the warrior code severly. ThunderClan will no longer honor you as their deputy or a clanmate. So tell me the truth? Did you kill Stripepool?!"

Jaystar already knew the answer. This was what Blackstar had been trying to warn her about in the prophecy she received. That memory seemed so distant now. Maybe it was because so much had changed. Jaystar remembered speaking to Sandstorm, Thornclaw, and Brackenspot, but she couldn't remember the words shared. It was as though it had taken place much longer than only a couple heartbeats earlier. Jaystar's mind still whirled as Rosestripe answered her leader's question, "Yes." Jaystar felt like someone had choked her. What had happened to Rosestripe? Jaystar remembered the dark ginger she-cat when she was, but a kit with her. Jaystar remembered running towards the ShadowClan border with her and then saving Snowbird's kits with Toadflower and Flowerpaw from the blazing flames. Jaystar remembered mourning Flowerpaw with her and then appointing her as her trusted deputy. Had Rosestripe's promises been only lies and nothing more? Jaystar wondered if Rosestripe felt any loyalty to her Clan. Whatever remained of the young warrior Jaystar had once known moons ago was dead like Stripepool. There wasn't any word for Rosestripe now... except for monster.

"But why Rosestripe?! What had made you killed Rosestripe?! Your own clanmate!" Jaystar meowed angrily, looking down at Stripepool's unmoving corpse. Jaystar felt like she wanted to die. Yesterday, Jaystar had thought that Stripepool was her sister and even though the ThunderClan leader knew the truth now, that didn't stop her for wanting to yowl to StarClan. Even though they never shared blood, Jaystar would always remember Stripepool as her kin as well as her kits. Brackenspot, Brownfeather, Heavystorm, and Moonwhisker would always have Jaystar to look after them even though they shared no a single drop of blood. Stripepool's youngest kits- Rustkit and Tigerkit- would need to be given to Rushleaf to take care of until they were old enough to leave the nursery as apprentices. Jaystar promised herself that Stripepool's kits would not suffer anymore than necessary from their mother's death and her murderer would pay the consequences. Jaystar promised this as well.

"I'll tell you why! She stole Spiderleg from my mother! They were getting along fine until she came along and made him convinced my mother wasn't for him. Then she gave birth to Brackenspot... his other daughter! The one he obviously preferred over me! Then came Brownfeather, Moonwhisker, and Heavystorm. More replacement kits for the half-kittypets he had already fathered seasons before and abadoned for a better family. A better pure blooded Clan cat family! And then Firestar forced me to mentor Heavystorm! As if he didn't already know that I hated her and her brothers for making my father choose them first. There were many times when I attempted to kill Heavystorm, but she always thought I was just training her too hard. She never showed anyone the scars. Never has she ever turned me in to you or Firestar or this whole scene wouldn't come as a great surprise. You know what's really mousebrain out of all this? I thought you would be on my side! I knew before you that you were a kittypet and I thought you would take my side instead of the sister who lied to you. So what will it be kittypet? Are you going to kill me now?! You can try, kittypet!"

"If that's the way it has to be," Jaystar surprised herself by remaining calm throughout Rosestripe's explosion even though she wanted to murder her clanmate. Jaystar's claws were unsheathed and she scraped them against the forest floor everytime Rosestripe dared to utter the word 'kittypet.' She was a kittypet for StarClan's sake! A couple leaves rustled above them and Jaystar glanced up, wondering if the strange wind that had blown in so randomly was a terrible omen. Was StarClan trying to warn her about something that was going to happen? As Jaystar thought about this, Rosestripe took this moment to attack her Clan leader. Jaystar clawed at Rosestripe's ears and she was suddenly having flashbacks from seasons upon seasons ago when she had wrestled with Rosestripe playfully. Neither of them had known that one day they would have been attempting to kill one another.

Jaystar yowled in pain as Rosestripe slashed her claws across her eyes and she sprang away from the dark ginger warrior, scattering drops of blood as she moved. Rosestripe sprang towards her and Jaystar raised her claw to defend herself. Jaystar was surprised when she slashed at Rosestripe's throat and blood emerged. Rosestripe gasped and fell over to her side, her tail twitching. Jaystar let out a low moan as the stench of blood flooded her nostrils. Did she really just kill a cat?! Jaystar had never killed a cat before and Rosestripe seemed like a pretty poor choice for her first time. Had StarClan planned this battle from the very beginning? Was this why Jaystar never killed a cat? Was Rosestripe meant to be her first?

Jaystar padded towards Rosestripe and looked at the dark ginger she-cat. One of Rosestripe's ears were torn and her eyes were closed, probably from the wound. Jaystar glanced at Rosestripe's throat and thought that it didn't look that bad. Suddenly Rosestripe's eyes flew open and she leaped onto Jaystar's arched back. Rosestripe sank her teeth into Jaystar's shoulder and the ThunderClan leader fell over, one of her paws breaking as she landed underneath the dark ginger cat. Rosestripe took this moment to sink her claws into Jaystar's stomach, slashing at the ThunderClan leader's exposed stomach as though it was, but grass. Suddenly everything went dark and Jaystar knew she was losing her second life.