AHHH! Long time no see ya' guys! Well, I'm back, just in time for Christmas! Yes, my computadora has been fixed and *gasp* updated! Yippeee! So, for the first time in a lonnnggg time, review answers!
Darkfang of DeathClan: indeed, it was deplorable. But it's back and betta than eva! Yay! Missed ya old pal!
Falcon: and I missed your amazing reviews! Shucks, my chapters aren't great at all deary!
Nonameknight: well, cry no more! (seriously don't, you'll make me cry!) our highlights are back ma' dear!
Sun on the Horizon Sun: unfortunately, I have scrapped Pearl's part in all this. It just didn't flow AT ALL, if ya' catch ma' drift :) I'M BACK!
Goddess of Darkness: Almost as much? ALMOST? Nah, I'm just joshing you. It's kinda hard to love a sequel more than the original, have you noticed that? Anywhoo, here's the update!
Spottedflame: yesss, i hate it too. But it's fixed now, so we have a mutual agreement. If I don't kill my computer, if agrees NOT TO DIE for the next few weeks at least xD And thank you ever so much for your warm defense :) Really warmed ma' heart!
TearStainedAngel24: Aww, thank you! I just love you so much! And also, thank you for defending me haha! Your guys' loyalty just really touches me :)
Ashheart15: I apologize for any unreasonable fear! Tehe, I'm back, though not as soon as I'd wished! And honey, I want you to know...I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON THIS STORY!
fakeRunningmist: look here buddy ol' pal, two things about you ticked me off. 1. is that you impersonated one of my reviewers. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but even so, quit it. Now. Or I swear, I'll report you. It's not nice, it's annoying, it's not funny, and it's not cute. I don't want to sound rude or anything, but when you mess with my reviewers, you mess with ME! and 2. is this. I'm sorry if lately I've been kinda scarce and scatterbrained. It's not my fault, and I'm trying super hard to bring myself out of it. So please, some understanding during this period is much appreciated. Thank you.
realRunningmist: I am so sorry about the mix-up. As you can see le above, it shouldn't happen again! If it does, feel free to tell me and I'll report that idiot in a second.
Snowflower3618: you know, I've played wizard 101...it's not half bad actually, just not really my thing ya' know? Hope you enjoy it haha! Being sick does indeed suck, especially when you're sick for like three weeks! yuck! So, Snowpaw should be coming up next chappie, cause I'm going to fast forward a bit, to speed it up a bit. This chappie is really slow I noticed, but hey, I'm going to fix it...NEXT TIME! haha, anywhoo, the little darling is doing wonderfully. And you never know, she may just have a chapter all to herself :)
AXGHunterMae: aw, thank you! I do try to make her amazing. I myself adore her completely! And here's the answer to your question: I'm not exactly sure if cats can or cannot cry, but in this case, I decided to tweak it a bit. I feel that crying is the only way to completely express their grief, you know? SO, I, like all writers, shall keep it that way for my own unique, odd reasons! xD
Mae: I know, I know, I really need to proofread a little more closely. I am honestly trying to work on that little issue! And I love all my characters for their own unique special reasons! Except Whitefoot...he kinda annoys me, but hey, oh well. And I love your little quote! Here's one for you, although it's a bit of a cynical view on love: Love exists only where people believe perfection persists-me!
Duskflame: Honey. You. Could. NEVER. LET. ME. DOWN. Just wanted to make sure you understood that! If anything, I let you down! I didn't update for a week because of selfish reasons and here we are again, like a month later! I'm so sorry my dear! And my life is going okay actually. It's kinda been sliding again, but I'm hanging on! And I do enjoy your vents my sweet! I hope your life is as fantastical as possible! And I wish you have a most fabulous, wonderful, magical, Merry Christmas!
sol de luna: hello new reviewer! *hands Thornpaw plushie* How are you? I hope you enjoy my stories deary! Welcome to the family!
ON WITH THE STORY! (man it felt good to type that again!)
Chapter 7
Rosepaw
Rosepaw woke up slowly. Lying in her nest, she allowed the last black tendrils of sleep to drift away, still able to taste the terror of her latest nightmare. In this one, a ginger tom, she was guessing Gingerpaw, was waiting for her at the bottom, with bloodied and torn fur and eyes that stared at nothing.
Shuddering, she twisted her head towards Gingerpaw, who continued to sleep peacefully beside her. With a pang, Rosepaw wished she could see him, wished she could watch his sides rise and fall, could see his eyes glow as he spoke. Biting back a sigh, she contented herself with giving his shoulder a quick lick.
Gingerpaw stirred, breathing quickening as his bedding rustled. He gave a rusty purr.
"I see you finally came around," he joked, standing and stretching. Rosepaw tossed her sleek head, standing and slipping out of the den.
"Don't push it," she called over her shoulder before she was plunged into something soft. And really cold.
"What?" Rosepaw sputtered, standing. Raising her head, she opened her jaws and drank in the clean, sharp morning air.
"First snow," Gingerpaw muttered from behind her, attempting to hide the amusement in his voice. Rosepaw diplomatically ignored that as she responded.
"Mother is not going to be happy," she commented, swiveling her head to search for life in the barren wasteland that had become their camp. Behind her, she could hear Thornpaw pushing his way out of the den.
"It's cold," he mumbled, coming up beside Rosepaw and giving her a quick nudge. Rosepaw nodded in agreement. Suddenly, she caught the scent of Leafstar coming towards them. Or, in reality, plowing her way through the snow towards them.
"Gingerpaw, Whitefoot wants you to clean the elder's den before you train today. He has dawn patrol. Thornpaw, you're to help him. Rosepaw, it's time I taught you some more battle moves," Leafstar ordered, sounding completely unbothered by the weather. The two toms grumbled a little as they padded away. Leafstar stood in front of Rosepaw quietly, obviously waiting for something.
"Um, Leafstar? Are we going?" Rosepaw questioned, paws kneading the ground in anticipation.
"Oh, yes. We are waiting for Lilypaw, who will be joining us today," Leafstar answered, sounding far off and distant. Rosepaw stared at her for a moment longer before deciding to drop it. At last, after what felt like an eternity spent in the snow, Lilypaw came out, yawning noisily.
Rosepaw dashed out of camp, excited to…feel the forest covered in snow.
Standing at the top of the ravine, she breathed in the air, making herself lightheaded. The snow beneath her paws was soft, cold, and new. The forest felt muted, with few birds singing and no sound of prey scurrying about. Not even a wind blew. It was a blessed silence, Rosepaw reflected.
Lilypaw padded beside her on the way to the training hollow, warm fur brushing hers. Rosepaw kept silent, enjoying the companionship for once. Leafstar was silent, her paw steps even muffled by the snow.
In the hollow, Rosepaw faced off with Lilypaw, aiming her eyes where she knew Lilypaw's were. She heard the other apprentice give a little squirm and she struggled to keep her face emotionless. This was one of the many tactics Leafstar had taught her.
"Keep your eyes where theirs are and keep them without emotion. Don't let yourself be distracted, and don't let them throw you off in any way. This will disconcert them, and make it just a bit easier to defeat them," Leafstar ordered. Rosepaw nodded calmly.
Snapping back to the present, she realized Lilypaw had tensed, ready to attack. Focus on the ground, she reminded herself.
The second Lilypaw leaped, Rosepaw shot forward. Spinning, she could feel her paws spraying snow on Lilypaw. Knocking the other apprentice's paws out from under her, she felt Lilypaw crash and heard her grunt as she slammed to the allowed her mask to slip for a second before composing herself once more.
Lilypaw stood, shaking her coat off with a growl.
"How in the name of StarClan did you manage that?" she asked, voice ringing with incredulity. Rosepaw merely shrugged, trying not to betray how proud she really was.
Lilypaw leaped again, this time without warning. Rosepaw felt Lilypaw slam into her side. Snarling, she rolled with impact and lashed out a forepaw, catching Lilypaw's ear. Shooting forward again, she threw her whole body weight into Lilypaw's chest. Heaving for breath now, she turned to Leafstar, who sat without a word on the side.
"Good. Rosepaw, although that last move was good on Lilypaw, with any apprentice even a second faster, it wouldn't have worked. You need to let them come to you, remember?" Leafstar meowed, voice forcefully patient. Rosepaw twitched her ears irritably. What was her problem?
"Yes, Leafstar, I understand."
"Good. We're done for today, head back," Leafstar ordered, beginning to climb out. Rosepaw gaped at her, not moving from her spot.
"We just started, Leafstar!" she called, rushing to catch up with her mentor, who had set off at a brisk pace into the forest.
"And now we have ended. Go on, Rosepaw," Leafstar growled. Rosepaw snarled in return, spinning and dashing away, not caring that she had hit Leafstar with snow. Annoyance and anger bubbled up inside her, causing her to run just a bit faster. She wasn't a bothersome kit to be ordered away like that.
Rosepaw blundered through the frozen forest, probably not the best of ideas. But in the heat of her anger, she didn't care. Snarling, she crashed through a thicket of gorse only to tumble onto a patch of thorns.
Biting back whimpers, Rosepaw limped to the roots of an oak tree. Sitting down gently, she began to pull the thorns out of her fur, ignoring the stinging pain. When she was finally done, she let herself sit and simmer for a few moments. She was done with being dismissed and written off. She'd show them. She'd show them all.
Night was falling by the time Rosepaw limped into camp. She knew because she could no longer feel the sun's weak rays on her fur. Dangling from her jaws were pieces of prey. Thornpaw came rushing up, anxiety crackling off his pelt like a storm, but Rosepaw stopped his advance with a snap of her jaws. Turning, she limped out of camp again.
She made five journeys before she had all her prey collected. In that time, a crowd had gathered by the fresh-kill pile. None spoke to her, and she spoke to none. This was something she was determined to do by herself, and the others seemed to sense that.
Finally, she sat by her large pile, raising her head proudly. Warm blood trickled down her sides where the thorns had pierced her skin, and a pebble had bruised her paw, but she had done it. She'd proven herself.
Leafstar approached warily, and Rosepaw felt herself tense instantly. Strangely, she sensed no emotions from her mentor.
"You…did well, Rosepaw," Leafstar hesitated before continuing. "However, you disobeyed a direct order, and for that you must be punished. Not to mention the recklessness of your actions."
Rosepaw bowed her head in acknowledgement; she'd known she would be punished to some degree. Leafstar heaved a sigh, suddenly sounding much older.
"No battle training for a week and you're not to hunt alone for two weeks. You will care for the elders every day," Leafstar mewed, obviously struggling to sound strong. Rosepaw just nodded and she could sense a weary affection radiating from Leafstar.
"Now, go get yourself to Barktail. You need to be cleaned up," Leafstar murmured before turning and padding away. Rosepaw sat for a moment longer before heaving herself to her paws. The pain of her wounds suddenly seemed much more than before, and they ached dully. As she began to shuffle away, she was keenly aware of everyone's eyes on her back. She ignored them.
Her brother came to her side and pressed himself against her, supporting her, not mentioning her recent episode.
It was in moments like those she loved her strong brother with a fierce passion.
Featherpaw
Featherpaw watched as Thornpaw escorted his sister out, his broad shoulders supporting her fragile frame easily. The other cats watched them for a moment before starting forward and taking prey from the huge pile.
Above her, a black night had fallen, the nearly full moon shining far above. The stars glittered coldly as a breeze blew in, ruffling Featherpaw's still thin fur.
Sighing, she tilted her head to the dark sky.
Lionclaw…
She'd gone to the elders, had listened to the stories. And while they had fascinated her, they hadn't helped her confusion. Why did that name mean something to her? Why did it echo in her mind? Getting up, she went searching to the cat that had been closest to Lionclaw in life. Ravenwing.
"Ravenwing?" Featherpaw asked timidly. Her mentor twitched her ear at her, giving her mate a quick lick before following Featherpaw to a dark corner.
"What is it?"
"Can you tell me about Lionclaw?"
This seemed to give her mentor a pause. In her eyes, Featherpaw saw deep grief, agonizing sorrow, and utter love. Her mentor sighed heavily, shoulders drooping ever so slightly.
"Why the sudden curiosity?" she asked, voice forcibly light. Featherpaw opened her mouth and closed it, trying to choose the right words.
"It's just, I heard it a couple of days ago, and I don't know. It seems important to me for some reason. I can't really place it, but I feel like…I know him," she murmured, trailing off. Ravenwing gazed at her for a second before replying.
"He died moons ago. You can visit his grave, but I can't tell you a lot," the black she-cat muttered before walking away, head low. Featherpaw narrowed her gaze, knowing she was lying.
Curling up in her nest, she prayed to whoever or whatever was listening for a dream, a sign, an answer, anything. Anything.
She felt herself fall into the black world of dreams almost instantly.
Featherpaw found herself standing in a moonlit clearing, staring at a handsome brown tom. His dark blue eyes glinted at her with warmly and he padded towards her gracefully. His paws and tail-tip were black and his build was sleek and agile.
"Featherpaw, don't others' lies lead your life," he murmured before vanishing. Featherpaw raced to where he had been, searching desperately for a clue.
"Wait! Who are you? What does this mean?" she cried as the wind began to pick up and the world began to spiral into an inky darkness.
"Stop!" she screamed desperately.
Featherpaw woke up thrashing in her bedding and crying. Sitting up quickly, she shoved her way out of the stuffy den, yearning for air to clear her head. Behind her, she heard another cat follow her.
"Go away," she muttered, hunched over. The snow was cold beneath her, soaking her belly. To her utter surprise, Rosepaw pressed up beside her, clear eyes glinting knowingly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" the young she-cat murmured with uncharacteristic gentleness. Featherpaw shook her head, realizing she was trembling violently. She didn't understand why the dream had shaken her so much. Rosepaw simply nodded.
"I get nightmares too, you know. And I've only ever talked about them maybe three times with Thornpaw. I just don't like to think about them," she continued. Featherpaw glanced at her in surprise. The she-cat always seemed composed, calm. She couldn't imagine her of all cats concealing demons.
"I never knew," Featherpaw whispered, voice harsh and rough from screaming.
"I hide it well."
Featherpaw gazed at her den mate in awe, respect for the she-cat spiking. From the way Rosepaw said it, she guessed her nightmares were awful and frequent. And she never heard her complain, never heard her whine about having a fitful sleep. She was…silent.
As the two she-cats sat in silence, Featherpaw found herself contemplating the job she'd been sent to do.
Things had suddenly gotten a lot more complicated.
So, because I'm a bit bored and just trying to waste time until I have to sleep, here's a list of songs I've been obsessed with lately. Hope you like them!
Wonderful-Lady Gaga
Don't Stop Believing-Journey (Glee version)
All of the Shinedown songs! (best band in the history of music! LOVE THEM!)
This great artist called We Should Whisper. He's really good, and I love his songs Ain't the Same, Memories and Meltdowns, and one that really connects to me, Top of Rock Bottom.
And I think that's just about it...UNTIL NEXT TIME! Oh, and I have to know. Is anyone else as in love with popcorn and Criminal Minds as I am? Just wondering!
~Ciao, Monkey!~