Oh dear, it's yet another chapter of this disaster story :) Hello again my pretties, here is the new chappie you have been just dying for, right? Review Answers!
Mistyflower68: aren't they? I can just feel the story getting juicy! They shall become warriors soon enough. I need to make something happen firsstt...and the climax is also coming soon enough! Man, I didn't realize how far along this story is already! The prequel to this was only like 24 chapters or something...
Spottedflame: So glad you're happy! I want you to be happy! Indeed, what will happen...
CrimsonEyedWolf112: got that right! xD I can't wait to see what unfolds!
The Freak of Nature: She does indeed, she does indeed. Rosepaw is quite an angry little chica ;D and I LOVE YOU MOSTEST! (not a word I know, but hey, it is in my vocab)
Hawkpaw44: Oh dear lord, how I've missed your amazing reviews! Thank you for all the sweet compliments! They were completely undeserved but totally appreciated :) I'm so glad I keep you guessing. That really is one of my main goals. I would just DIE if someone told me my stories are predictable. Just. Die. And I really loved Darkflight too and I still love Featherpaw. Gosh, I love them all really. Even Shadowfur. They're all heartbroken in their own ways, you know? How could I not love them? Thanks again you! Review soon, okay?
Galefire: You are ever so welcome :D I shall add to that collection! *hands Ravenwing plushie* Now you have one more ;) I don't like it either, but sometimes I just can't help myself :( But I promise to try really hard!
AXGHunterMae: She isn't just mad...she's sad beyond belief, hurt beyond repair, broken beyond healing, and yes, furious beyond imagination. I just love Rosepaw more and more with each passing second. I'm so glad you're not giving up! I am most certain you are NOT bad writer! If anything, you're probably way betta than me :)(no joke there) I understand if you want to delete it, but keep chasing that dream! Take some time off, get your inspiration back, and you'll be back as good as new in no time :) And here's mine: "Being happy takes work. A lot of it. The results are always worth it, but some people just don't seem to get that. So whenever you can, make someone smile. It might just save a life" ~Me
Raintail of RiverClan: Haha, thank youu :) I am most certainly trying, which is why this A/N is so disgustingly peppy x) There are so many reasons I don't deserve to live. I mean I could seriously go on and on. Here's a few: I'm ugly, stupid, worthless, selfish, mean, too skinny, slow, dimwitted, drained, etc etc etc. But above alll those is one, the biggest one. I'm too imperfect. And gracias once again for your amazing compliments! You make me smile :D And I'm sorry if I made you feel weird! I'll try hard not to call you "dear" anymore, pinky promise!
TearStainedAngel24: I thought you would enjoy her little bit in that! xD And as for the ThornxFeather, we shall see...I think you'll all be veryy surprised by the ending of his love life *evil smirk*
Silvertail of ShoreClan: need not fret! Featherpaw is still alive and...well alive by the end of this chapter, promise :)
Random Falcon: Awww, it's sweet how much you care for them! I can promise you, Featherpaw lives...through this chapter *another evil smirk* And I am really really really trying to stop all this craziness...harder than you think haha. I am so so so so sorry I hurt you. I really try not to, really I do! It's just so stinking hard *shuts eyes* anyway, crazy people are da BEST! Love crazy people xD
starbomb: don't you worry, I got it all unda controll xD
Tangleflame: do not thank me for merely stating the truth :) And thank you!
Icestar0921: good to be back :)
Squirrelheart: So happy you cried! I LOVE it when my readers cry because of my writing :) And I personally LOVED CrowxFeather. They were soo sweet and they ended so tragically :( Feathertail will be missed.
Darkflight of DeathClan: you see MUCH more of Darkpaw in this chapter. So sorry I kinda left her out before. I'm trying hard to incorporate everyone's character in this story :) She'll be getting her own POV soon! And I believe I assigned her...Yellowtail. Yellowtail isn't really important, so she hasn't had any dialogue, but in the "Shadow Sisters'" (as I call them) POVs, Yellowtail and the others' mentors will make an appearance :)Love you toooo!
Nonameknight: Thank you so much :) put a big fat smile upon my facee you did. I am so glad you pulled yourself out of that. I hope you never have to go through anything like that ever again! And if you do (God forbid) I am always here to help :)
Ashheart15: Tis indeed BUSTED! xD
kingszey: Exactly :/ But, I'm getting betta, as I hope you are now :) One of my old friends that kinda drifted away is back now, and we're closer than ever so that helps SO much! It is really hard. I cry myself to sleep so much and sometimes, I just lay in the dark wondering what my purpose on this earth is. Writing is the cure for everything I have found. I honestly believe it's the only reason I still live
XxBlazestormXx: you were forgiven before you apologized :D
Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: She most seriously isss xD
sol de luna: She just saw the part from Featherpaw burying the bodies to when she murdered Darkflight :)
The Bearer of Secrets: It's indeed conflicting xD
Continuing with da story!
Chapter 15
Featherpaw
Trapped. Trapped in a hell of shadows and demons. Featherpaw had never been so terrified in her life. Before her, red eyes glinted and a voice whispered to her of her dark deeds. Flickering images of her mother's dead body and the faces of ravaged creatures moaning for help. Flames licked at her, burning her steadily, and she was unable to escape.
"Stop it! Please!" she begged, unable to stand the fiery pain anymore. The flames showed no sign of abating. And that's when she began to run.
"Stop!" she screamed. Her paws were moving but she didn't seem to be going anywhere.
Suddenly, a voice drifted through the hell, barely reaching her.
"Featherpaw," the ghostly voice whispered. The apprentice searched desperately for the source.
Blackness swamped her vision and she found herself blinking her eyes open into the worn, grieving face of Thornpaw.
Featherpaw took a deep breath, realizing her paws were soaked with sweat and her fur was slicked back with moisture. Her heart was still racing and memories of her dream raced rapidly through her mind.
"What is it?" she croaked hoarsely, heaving herself to her paws. Darkflight's face flashed in front of her and she suddenly felt her shoulders curl forward, as though carrying a huge burden. Featherapw felt as though she had aged a hundred seasons.
"Me and Rosepaw, we need to-ah-talk to you," Thornpaw meowed haltingly. Featherpaw just shrugged, shuffling her way outside with him. She couldn't think of anything but last night, her claws piercing Darkflight's throat, staining her paws a deep red. The blood of an innocent life.
"…something Dapplepaw told Rosepaw," Thornpaw was meowing when Featherpaw finally tuned back in.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked, struggling to focus. He'd led her outside of camp, to a small thicket surrounded with thick gorse. In the center, bathed in moonlight, Rosepaw sat, hunched over. Her eyes blazed a pale green and her muscles were tense.
"You killed him," the she-cat growled, her voice reverberating in Featherpaw's mind.
Killed him… Featherpaw gaped at her, unable to fully process what she had just said. Then, it hit her, like a storm.
"Yes," Featherpaw whispered. Thornpaw drew away from her, unable to look at Featherpaw. Dimly, Featherpaw realized that hurt. Bad.
"You killed my father. In cold-blood," Thornpaw whispered. Featherpaw could only nod.
Rosepaw hissed, lunging forward and pinning the other she-cat effortlessly. The white apprentice's blind eyes probed Featherapaw's, seeing every crevice of Featherpaw's twisted soul.
"How dare you?" Rosepaw hissed fiercely, sliding her sharp claws out. Featherpaw made no protest, no struggle against the furious she-cat.
"I know," Featherpaw muttered, closing her eyes painfully. Blinking them open, she saw Thornpaw's gaze was filled with pain and hurt.
"I trusted you," he moaned, tears building in those beautiful eyes. Featherpaw felt herself tearing up too.
"I know. I've done something unforgivable. If you wish, I can try to explain. If you don't want me too, go ahead and kill me. You deserve justice," Featherpaw meowed, her voice surprisingly strong and filled with sorrow.
The young tom blinked. He flicked his tail against Rosepaw, who looked at him in shock. He pushed his head into her fur and she got off Featherpaw, albeit reluctantly.
"Speak while you can," Rosepaw spat, eyes and voice filled with derision.
Featherpaw proceeded to tell the whole story, from her birth to the previous night. They listened in pregnant silence, both of their eyes widening in disbelief as the story continued. When she had finished, they remained silent for a time. Then Thornpaw spoke.
"You're telling…the truth?" he asked hesitantly. Featherpaw nodded solemnly. Rosepaw took a deep breath and Featherpaw tensed, readying herself for a spew of hatred.
"You speak the truth. I can feel it. You've done something neither of us can forgive, but you did it for reasons we can…understand at the very least. The point is the clan can't afford to lose you. You know more about Shadowfur's plans than any of us. So the real question is what to do now?" Rosepaw mewed, tail flicking restlessly.
They fell into another heavy silence, broken only by the singing birds and the nighttime forest sounds. When Thornpaw spoke again, it was slowly and haltingly.
"I think we must wait. Until we're warriors at least. Mention this to no one but Dapplepaw and her sisters. They have a right to know the truth," Thornpaw meowed. He avoided Featherpaw's gaze and she began to wonder if she would ever earn his trust again. Meanwhile, his sister nodded.
"I agree. The clan will be more willing to listen to warriors than apprentices," she replied, standing. Featherpaw followed them back to camp, where the cats rested peacefully despite the drama that had happened just the previous night.
As the two apprentices walked into camp, Featherpaw paused, looking down into the peaceful clearing washed in moonlight. Her heart ached at the picture painted before her, of Shadowfur ruling with his paws stained with blood. It was too easy to imagine. And Featherpaw realized with an intensity she had never felt before that she didn't want that to happen.
She didn't want these cats to die because for once in her life, she had felt like she was accepted into a family. Instead of feared and hated, she was loved and cherished here. Her abilities led to admiration, not animosity. Instead of enemies, she had made friends. Instead of destroying, she had created a new life for herself here. And Featherpaw didn't want that to end.
No, she would stop Shadowfur. If it was the last thing she did.
For you, Mother, and for Darkflight, she vowed silently. The only answer was night song of a jay nearby. Above, the stars shone brilliantly in the black sky, offering no answers to the many questions the young she-cat had been left to answer.
Thornpaw
The full moon shone down on the clearing packed with cats. Leafstar would appear any moment to lead them to the Gathering. Thornpaw and Rosepaw were going, but Featherpaw was staying behind this time. Good, Thornpaw growled in his mind.
His feelings on the she-cat were rather muddled at the moment. On one paw, she had killed his father, the only father he would ever have. But, on the other paw, she'd had admittedly reasonable reasons for that. Her upbringing had been twisted and foul, and when confronted, Featherpaw had admitted freely that she had killed the tom. No excuses, no lies. Just pure truth.
Thornpaw sighed, following Rosepaw out of camp. Gignerstrike bounded along beside her and Lilyspeckle on her other side. Stormfur was chatting excitedly with Grayclaw, who listened patiently.
Leafstar's silver fur glowed in the bright moonlight. Beside her, Ravenwing's sleek black pelt shone with the light of the stars, and her eyes glowed brightly for the first time since Darkflight's death.
It had been two weeks, and things within the clan were slowly turning back to normal. Every cat had been shaken to the core by his death, and every cat had accepted Featherpaw's lame badger explanation.
Thornpaw gazed at the clearing, ShadowClan the only cats there. Already, he'd spotted Snowpaw's distinctive coat and her sisters beside her.
Rosepaw led the way to the she-cats. Gingerstrike and Lilyspeckle both went off in search of their own friends, not before Gignerstrike gave Rosepaw a brief lick on the cheek.
Their relationship had grown, as Thornpaw had observed. It was still subtle and small, but obviously everything Gingerstrike had ever wanted. He stuck to small caresses from time to time, a quick lick, a brush of the fur. But from the way his eyes glowed when he gazed at Rosepaw, it was obvious he loved her more than life itself. And Thornpaw couldn't be happier for her.
"Hello!" Snowpaw chirped, interrupting his thoughts. Rosepaw gave a purr of welcome. Darkpaw's eyes flashed green fire. Neither of them showed any surprise at Rosepaw's pink scars, running across her face and flanks.
"Dapplepaw told us about Darkflight. I'm so sorry," Darkpaw mewed, head bowed. Thornpaw just gave a curt nod, not wanting the memories of his father to come crashing in again.
"We're dealing. Listen, we have news," he swept on. The three she-cats listened intently as he told them all Featherpaw had said. Rosepaw interjected here and there, helping him with the parts he'd forgotten. When he had finished, the shadow sisters sat silently, exchanging quiet glances amongst each other.
"We're going to help you," Dapplepaw meowed, tail swishing the ground restlessly. Rosepaw immediately began to shake her head.
"No, this isn't your fight. This is between me and my brother now," his sister meowed shortly, eyes emotionless. Thornpaw looked at Dapplepaw.
Her steely blue eyes flashed ice fire and she bared her teeth in a snarl. Her mottled fur was bristling and her tail lashed now.
"We will stick with you to the end. Don't argue Rosepaw," Dapplepaw hissed. Rosepaw opened her mouth to retort before the other she-cats broke in.
"You can't stop us, and you know it. We're helping," Darkpaw meowed, voice deceptively calm. Even Snowpaw looked riled.
"We're not going to just leave now, not when we've come this far," the white she-cat hissed, dark eyes flashing.
Rosepaw sighed, turning her blank gaze on Thornpaw.
"Thornpaw?"
The three she-cats turned their eyes on the young tom expectantly. Snowpaw's begging, Darkpaw's threatening and Dapplepaw's just calm. Thornpaw gazed into her blue eyes and immediately felt the storm within him cool down.
"Let them. They could be invaluable to this," Thornpaw meowed.
"Invaluable to what?" a deep voice rumbled from behind them. All five cats tensed as Thornpaw whirled around to find Runningpaw and his brother Blackpaw right behind him.
"Great StarClan, don't scare me like that!" he hissed. Blackpaw's warm amber eyes were alight with laughter and Runningpaw gave a purr of amusement.
"I'm surprised Rosepaw didn't hear us coming," Blackpaw laughed, padding around to sit beside the Rosepaw. His sister gave a purr and nudged him.
"Oh, I heard you. I just didn't feel like spoiling the surprise," she mewed. Blackpaw suddenly caught sight of her face.
"What happened?" he gasped, immediately regretting it. "I-I mean…" he trailed off, trying to think of something to fix his foolish words. Rosepaw nudged him lightly to let him know she took no offense.
"Badger attack," she muttered. The ShadowClan apprentices' eyes all widened and Runningpaw gave a grunt from where he sat beside Thornpaw.
"Is that how you got that?" Dapplepaw asked, nodding at a long, pale scar on his shoulder. Thornpaw nodded, glancing hurriedly at Rosepaw. The horrible memories of those days were threatening to overwhelm him.
She too was obviously struggling not to lose it. It had been even harder on her than on him. Her eyes glistened with emotion. His sister had never been the same since that day. She spent a lot of time staring into the distance. And when Darkflight died…
Then Thornpaw glanced at Dapplepaw again. He was immediately pulled into her eyes. Her amazing, ice blue eyes. They glowed comfortingly at him and he found himself forgetting all his troubles, letting them fall away.
"Let us gather beneath the Great Rock!" Leafstar yowled, jerking Thornpaw to reality. He turned away from Dapplepaw hurriedly, discomfited.
Thornpaw couldn't sit still as the leaders gave their reports. His sister was unusually still and her eyes still gleamed unnaturally.
"We bring to this Gathering both sad and good news. Darkflight was attacked by a badger and killed. We have found no traces of it in our territory since then. His family and clan grieve his loss," Leafstar stated, eyes darkening with sorrowful thoughts.
Cats murmured among themselves and wails of grief echoed. Darkflight had been an honorable warrior and popular among the clans. Ravenwing bowed her head, obviously stemming a flood of tears.
"We also bring three new warriors. Stormfur, Lilyspeckle and Gingerstrike have all earned their names," Leafstar went on. Cats yowled congratulations and Thornpaw caught sight of Lilyspeckle's sleek head ducked in embarrassment.
"ThunderClan suffers no other losses," Leafstar reported before stepping back, eyes narrowed dangerously as Nightstar, who ignored her as he went on to his report.
After the leaders were done, Thornpaw turned to tell his friends good-bye. Blackpaw stopped him before he could even say a word.
"Snowpaw told me about Featherpaw and everything. Me and Runningpaw will help also," he stated firmly. Runningpaw stood at his side, eyes challenging him to argue.
Thornpaw glanced at Rosepaw and sighed.
"Alright. Meet us here at quarter moon. We'll talk it all over then," Thornpaw hissed. All five cats nodded. Suddenly, Dapplepaw rushed forward and gave him a quick nudge.
"I really am sorry about your father, Thornpaw," she whispered painfully before turning and hurrying away.
Thornpaw was left staring after her, wondering about the new emotions surging in his chest.
All right, we must bid adieu to ThunderClan for a bit! We are going to do some different POVs for a few chapters from here, so look for them in like three chapters!
~Ciao, Monkey!~