Here is your new years present my beloved reviewers! And I believe you're really going to hate me, especially after the end. It's a very agonizing cliffie, I must say xD to be honest, not alot happens in this chapter. It's mostly a lot of emotions and dilemmas

Squirrelheart: aww shucks, thank you :) I don't find you to be a creeper, i actually find that to be kinda sweet xD And I lovee Crowfeather soo much! He's amazinng! And I'm glad to find someone at least half as weird as me xD

Frostpool of LightningClan: Thank you :) I also loved that chappie too, and she has both eyes, as you will see in this chapter haha.

Galefire: wasn't it just? :)So, i sense you are a Thorn loverrr? Yeah, yeah? Well, since you love him so much, here you go my sweets. *hands Thornpaw plushie*

Darkfang of DeathClan: I'm so glad my readers liked that chapter so much!

starbomb: hello, I know you! You reviewed Raven's Wing...and you reviewed almost every chapter xD Nice to see you here deary! don't you just love that kinda bond?

Juniperleaf of BlazeClan: Featherpaw was indeed thinking of killing them, as you will see in this chapter :) I also hope this chapter is just as great haha xD

Spottedflame: Ohmygosh, happy belated birthday! I wish I could have told you on the actual day! isn't she?

Silvertail of shoreclan: you are my most realistic reviewer, you know that? I find your questions refreshing and aggravating at the same time my dear :) To answer them, they are answered in this chapter! The reason nobody heard nor scented the badger was because no one was in the forest at the time!

xXBlazestormXx: thank you :) I find that many are really enjoying that last chappie!

Duskflame: Thank you for your undeserved compliments! Although I have noticed that there aren't very many good ones anymore. I also completely fell in love with how much Rose and Thorn bonded in this chapter.

TearStainedAngel: very short review my dear. And an evident lack of enthusiasm, I must say. However, I assume you were in a rush or such, and it could not be helped. I look forward to the review for this chapter though :)

Tangleflame: aw, thank you :)

Icestar0921: she is indeed, as is made evident by the end of this chapter.

Falcon: you're backkk! Idk why I said that, just wanted to I guess...okay, enough wierdness.I know. Trust me, I like started crying while I was writing that chapter. It hurt me so bad to hurt Rose like that. :( i am also curious as to how this story will turn out.

Viper3332: thank you! Those tings are not true, But I appreciate them ever so much!

spottedfire98: awww, how sweet :)

The Bearer of Secrets: I must ask, who is Brandon? xD

AXGHunterMae: how sweet, I wish me and my brothers were like that :) i do love your quotes! Here's one of mine: "Run until you can't run anymore. Then, you will fly."

kingszey: hello again old friend! so glad I made you cry! I do enjoy that! thank you for your compliments!

On with the story!

Chapter 12

Rosepaw

Rosepaw sat in her nest, staring into nothing. Beside her sat her family; her mother, who wouldn't stop fidgeting, her father, silent and impassable, and her brother, pressed up against her comfortingly. Barktail gently tore the cobwebs off, taking extra care with her face.

Rosepaw had been in the medicine cat den for a week, regaining her strength and healing. Her brother had escaped after two days, but had returned each day and had slept each night with her. Gingerpaw had also visited every day, bringing food and jokes. Featherpaw dropped in and would share the events going on in camp. The only big thing was that Snowpelt was expecting kits, though no one knew who the father was. Considering Whitefoot was the only other tom she would have kits with, Rosepaw was willing to think he was the father.

Leafstar had visited, if only to gather the fully story of the attack.

After Rosepaw had run out of camp, Leafstar had assumed she meant to find her brother and had ordered she be left alone. Ravenwing hadn't been able to stand it anymore and had run out to search for them when Thornpaw had staggered into the ravine.

Leafstar had sent warriors to track the badger. They had returned with news that it had veered towards WindClan territory before they lost the trail.

Gingerpaw, Lilypaw, and Stormpaw were to become warriors. Gingerpaw had begged the ceremony be postponed until Rosepaw was well enough to attend, and his siblings had agreed.

Now, in what felt like the sunhigh light, Rosepaw blinked as Barktail finally finished. She slowly turned her face towards her parents. She heard Ravenwing take a deep breath, and her father made a small noise in his throat, the only signs they were upset. Rosepaw looked at her brother.

"Is it…is it bad?" she whispered. She could sense her brother's reluctance, but she had made him promise that when this moment came, he would be honest.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad," Thornpaw mumbled, and she could feel the guilt tearing him up inside. Squaring her shoulders, she stood and padded to the pool, hoping for a flash of vision. She needed to see this.

Little one, Stonepelt's voice murmured in her mind. Rosepaw shook her head fiercely.

Show me, she commanded, waiting for the blackness to clear. Gradually it did, and she was left looking into the scarred face of a white she-cat.

Her other eye, though able to open, had a scar running across the eyelid. Half her face had the fur torn off, so she was left pink in those areas. Her flanks were covered in scratches that would never fully heal, and one of her ears had a nick in it.

Rosepaw felt her legs tremble as her vision went black once again.

She turned back to her family.

"I want to go outside," she stated firmly, making her way to the entrance. Thornpaw pressed up beside her, and their parents followed silently. Rosepaw braced herself for the cats' reactions. She braced herself for the breaths she would hear being drawn, for the whispers being muttered, and for the pity about to be thrown in her direction.

Rosepaw, for the first time in a week, felt full sunlight hit her and a breeze dance between her ears. She took a deep gulp of the brisk leaf-bare air and for once savored the feeling of snow beneath her paws. As she stood there, breathing and blinking, she felt all movement around her cease. Her family tensed and she heard a low growl rumble in Darkflight's chest. Rosepaw merely stood there and lifted her head even higher, daring any cat to voice their thoughts.

The warm scents of Fernstep and Lilypaw flowed over her and she heard them stop in front of her, looking over her silently for a moment.

In the distance, Rosepaw heard a bird singing and leaves rustling. In the camp, not a cat stirred and Rosepaw's pelt began to heat up under all the piercing stares.

"Rosepaw…" Lilypaw trailed off, unable to voice her thoughts. Rosepaw dipped her head.

"Horrendous, I know," Rosepaw muttered.

"…you look beautiful," her friend finished quickly. Rosepaw jerked her head up, looking at Lilypaw in surprise. Fernstep pressed up against her, warming her cold fur.

"You will always be a blooming rose, Rosepaw," Fernstep murmured, giving the apprentice a lick on the ear.

Just as Rosepaw was about to respond, Leafstar yowled for a clan meeting. Rosepaw could sense the overwhelming excitement flowing from Lilypaw.

"You deserve this," Rosepaw purred, brushing up against her friend. Lilypaw mewed rushed thanks under her breath. Rosepaw could feel her trembling.

"I, Leafstar, Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you in return. Stormpaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Leafstar yowled.

Rosepaw felt a thrill of excitement go down her spine. The only warrior ceremony she had ever experience had been Branchfur and Rainstorm's when she was a cat. Now, she was excited for her friends. Especially Gingerpaw…

"I do," she heard Stormpaw meow, voice deep and strong.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Stormpaw, from now on, you shall be known as Stormfur. StarClan honors your bravery and skill, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan," Leafstar finished.

"Lilypaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lilypaw, from now on, you shall be known as Lilyspeckle. StarClan honors your skill and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Rosepaw could barely bite back a chant, impatient to rejoice with her friends in their new name. She listened eagerly as Gingerpaw received his name.

"Gingerpaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," the young tom replied, voice confident and eager.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Gingerpaw, from now one, you shall be known as Gingerstrike. StarClan honors your courage and determination, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

The clan called the new warriors' names to the sky, chanting with enthusiasm and genuine affection. Their mother, Fernstep, almost knocked them over with her loving nudges and licks. Leafstar waited patiently for the clan to calm down before continuing.

"We also gather to thank one brave apprentice, who though cannot receive her warrior name tonight, we honor for her courageous actions in the battle with ShadowClan. StarClan honors your bravery and intelligence, Rosepaw, and ThunderClan honors your sacrifices," Leafstar yowled.

Near the prey pile, some cat began to chant her name. The clan instantly took it up, and Rosepaw gaped in shock as her clan mates chanted her name to the cold leaf-bare sky. Her brother began to purr, and her mother and father chanted her name the loudest.

"Rosepaw, Rosepaw!"

Rosepaw felt tears filling her eyes and warmth filling her body. She had been injured one cat, and had been healed another.

When the clan had finished, she bounded up to Gingerstrike, Lilyspeckle, and Stormfur, purring her warm congratulations.

Stormfur mewed a thank you before padding off to the prey pile. Lilyspeckle chatted with her for a bit until she padded off to join Branchfur at the prey pile. That only left Rosepaw and Gingerstrike.

"Congratulations, Gingerstrike," Rosepaw mewed, overcome by a sudden shyness.

"Thank you, Rosepaw. I'm glad to see you look better," he replied, just as embarrassed. Rosepaw looked away.

"If by better you mean permanently scarred and disfigured, sure, I guess I'm better," she muttered, ears flat. Suddenly, she sensed an overwhelming anger from Gingerstrike.

"Whoever calls you ugly is a mouse-brain. You're beautiful, and I think your scars only prove that you are stronger and better than any of us can ever hope to be," he meowed with fire. Rosepaw could just imagine his eyes and the way they would be glowing as he said this.

"But how?" she whispered, suddenly scared and shaken.

She wondered if there would ever be a day that passed that she wasn't reminded of the badger that stole anything stable within her. She was broken.

"Because they show how no matter how hard you fall, no matter how hard you're broken, you come back stronger and better than before. This is where your true beauty shines through, Rosepaw," Gingerstrike meowed, and suddenly, he was beside her, fur against hers.

Rosepaw turned her head away from him, unable to bear it, yet unable to voice her true fear.

What if I never heal completely?

Featherpaw

You have to love it, Feather. You have to find pleasure in the spilling of blood over your claws. Your thirst for revenge must be as great as your thirst for blood. Remember this, my daughter. Remember this, and you will always be welcomed as my true daughter, and a true assassin. Emotions, feelings, they are all weaknesses. Do not let them muddle your senses! Focus on your goal. To kill. Always to kill, Feather.

Feather sat in the shadows at the edges of her camp, listening to the peaceful murmurings of the clan. Memories from her old days in the group crowded her mind and blurred her vision. Above her, the stars shone and danced, birds sang their night songs. Yet, she ignored it all, trying to keep herself from exploding.

Shadowfur had once said that emotions were useless, weak. Not for them, not for them, not for her. Never for her. And Featherpaw believed him. Or Feather. Both were her, yet Featherpaw had trouble separating them now.

She wasn't sure she could do it anymore. The killing, the coldness, the murder. The cats she had killed, all in cold blood, weighed upon her heart. For the first time in moons, she saw their faces in her dreams, saw the families they had left behind.

The point was, Featherpaw's carefully constructed walls were falling. And all because of a stupid tom and his stupid sister.

Rosepaw. Though Featherpaw hated to admit it, the she-cat was her hero, her idol. She was fearless and after the badger attack, stronger than possibly imaginable. Rosepaw was intelligent and fierce, brave and independent. Proud and passionate, everything Featherpaw had ever wanted to be.

Then, there was Thornpaw. The way his fur shone in the sunlight. How his eyes glowed when he looked at Rosepaw, and lately, her. His kindness to all around him and his protectiveness over his sister. Thornpaw was everything Featherpaw had never known, never felt. He made her happy and warm in a way none but her mother had ever made her feel. When she had found him staggering, bloody and torn, dragging his sister, her heart had almost stopped.

Then she had remembered her mission. It could have been so easy, killing them. Rosepaw was half-dead, and Thornpaw wasn't too far off. A claw in their throats and everything could be solved. And she couldn't do it. She just couldn't. What was once so easy and effortless, had now become nearly impossible.

Featherpaw didn't know what had changed inside her. She didn't know if maybe she was weaker or stronger because of it. All she knew was when she wasn't by Thornpaw, he missed him with a stabbing ache. Something that had never happened before. And she didn't know how to fix it.

Featherpaw sighed, glancing up at the half-moon. Time for her meeting with Spot. With leaden paws, she snuck out of camp, slipping effortlessly through the shadows. As she approached the tunnel, she knew immediately something was wrong. The heavy scent of blood hung in the air and a new, still familiar scent reached her faintly. A scent that nearly drove her crazy with terror.

"Spot?" she whispered as she slunk into the tunnel, fearing what she would find ahead of her.

Above, a hole allowed moonlight to filter in. The nighttime scents were overlaid by the stench of blood. Featherpaw drew in a sharp intake of breath when her paw touched a warm, sticky liquid. Looking down, she realized it was blood.

Drawing around a bend, she caught sight of something that would haunt her nightmares for seasons to come.

Spot's ginger-white fur was torn and bloodied, his throat torn open and pulled out. Blood still flowed freely from the ugly wound, and his tail had been torn full off. Yet, even more horrible, next to him lay the body of her mother, Leaf, even more bloodied.

Her belly had been sliced open, her tail pulled off, an ear torn off, and her throat laid open in the same way as Spot's. Her tortoiseshell fur was unrecognizable under the blood. Both of the dead cats' eyes were open and blank, staring at nothing.

Next to the bodies, taking no heed to the blood staining his fur, sat her father, Shadowfur.

"Hello, Feather. I believe we need to discuss some issues," her father purred silkily, blue eyes glinting malevolently at his daughter.

Featherpaw had never been more afraid in her life.

hope you enjoy the cliffie xD And yes, I know Ginger's name is super lame, even though it took me fifteen minutes before I thought it would be okay. Ugh, that name took me forever. And also, I need an opinion from you all. Should Lilyspeckle end up with Branch of Gray? Need help!

~Ciao, Monkey~