So, sort of a shortie chappie. Thought I would ease you guys into the mainies again, and plus this chapter is crazz-ayy! And that's comin' from me! What am I speaking of? Read to find out! Oh, and if you guys could check out my A/N at the end. It has a few stories I highly recomend, better than my own by miles, trust me. Go read them, their great!

Sierra of the Stars: *gasp* Of course I've read those books! The whole series is so addicting and just amazing. Can't wait for the moviee! Moving on, your crazy reviews certainly get my blood moving :) And i always have an issue with commas. I either use them too much (I love commas) or too little. Or just not properly. Grr. (make sure you read my bottom A/N. You might just like ittt...)

TearStainedAngel: Thank you deary :) Dying alone is a very real prospect for me too. As for sleeping, here's what I do. Stop trying to sleep. Stay up, write, draw, listen to music, whatever. Eventually, you'll just fall asleep naturally. Trust me, it works. Sleeping is my only escape sometimes. Ugh. And I do love you! With a passion! I eagerly await your reviews, happy or sad. YOU'RE amazing and incredibly original. I enjoy reading what you have to say :)

Darkflight of DeathClan: Oh dear. We have a "kawall" user. Oh dear. I still love you, and thank you ever so much, but oh dear. That word.

Ashheart15: When it's me, who knows indeed? ;)

Mistyflower68: ALL READERS/REVIEWERS PLEASE NOTE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR OWN CATS. I AM MAKING AN EXCEPTION! Anyway, I would be honored to put your cat in my story. As you know, All I Want To Be is going through some editing, so I shall insert him right away. I am making an exception for you because I know how painful it is for a pet you've known for so long to pass away. It's like a piece of you just kinda breaks away :'( RIP Socks/Whitefoot/Whitestar. He shall be dearly missed.

Blue Watcher of Stars: I see you like spewing random letters too xD Thank ee very much :D I didn't think it was that good. I just wanted to portray the bone-deep sorrow Raven feels after her mate is torn away from her. Glad to know I succeeded xD

CrimsonEyedWolf112: Ugh, stupid life right? I'm a freshman and it's starting to catch up with me, lemme tell you. Yuck. And I love rambling reviews! The best ones, they make me laugh xD Or cry. Whichever :) Loves you! Review whenever you can, no pressure dear.

Icestar0921: Challenge Accepted. Be prepared to cry a river of tears! And how do you not cry during Marley and Me? I cried during the book and the movie! It was just so sad!

starbomb: Thank you! :D

Random Falcon: MY GOD, I HATE it when my internet decides to have a bad day. I wanna murder it and just alkdjafk! Continuing, chocolate. Food. Of. The. Gods. Chocolate is my friend. My dear friend xD And yes, it's true. MLP has crept its way into my life. I am seriously frightened.

XxBlazestormXx: Are we thinking of the same cat? Darkpaw is Snowpaw's sister. SISTER. And I don't do the fem slash thing. Not against it, I just don't write it haha. And aren't sappy moments everyone's weakness? 0_o

theBubbleGumKitty: Hello new reviewer! or did you review before and I just don't remember? Either way, WELCOME! *hands Ravenwing plushie* Enjoy the craziness dear! Oh, and this is a sequel hehe. Be awkward to write a sequel for a sequel, you know? go read Raven's Wing, the prequel. Might make more sense xD

Silvertail of Shoreclan: Ohhh, that's not a bad ideaa...

Raintail of RiverClan: Ditto, my dear friend, Ditto.

Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: Yes, poor Ravenwing. And last year? Well, how old are you?

Viper3332: Here is Rosepaw ma' chere! Just as you requested :)

kingszey: Isn't it? And wasn't it? I felt like I was back in Raven's Wing again. *sniff* Good times those were.

Sara: All reviews make me feel better :) Thank you for reviewing deary! And Ravenwing just gets one for now...maybe another one later on :)

Snowflower3618: S'all good deary xD I honestly still can't believe it either. He's just...gone. *sigh* If you'll excuse me, I must go huggle my real Darkflight.

Galefire: I was thinking the exact same thing while I was typing it up. He's just such a sweet character, it makes sense doesn't it? I especially loveee his devotion to Ravenwing. Makes me miss him even more! YESSS! I made you cry! AT LAST! I feel complete ;)

Tangleflame: Thank youu! :) And almost? What is this almost business? I must be losing my touch...hmmm...

On with the Story!

Chapter 21

Rosepaw

Rosepaw rasped her tongue gently over the scars on her face, trying hard not to wince at the still tender wounds. While it had been many weeks since the attack, if probed too hard, the wounds would ache all day. Sighing, the young she-cat stood and made her way to the gorse tunnel, pushing away the doubts and worries.

Sitting, she waited patiently for the rest of the dawn patrol to make an appearance.

The air smelled clean and new, a sure sign new-leaf was on its way. Rosepaw found herself breathing it in, savoring the taste of it on the roof of her mouth. Her ears twitched as she listened joyfully to the songs of jays and robins alike, all singing to the sound of nature. The leaves rustled all around and it seemed as though harmony had become a living thing, possessing the forest for a brief moment to create music so wild and free, it sent Rosepaw's heart racing.

"Ahem," came the quiet sound. Jerking to reality, Rosepaw realized Snowpelt stood in front of her, waiting patiently for her to move aside. Stammering apologies, Rosepaw whisked aside, bowing her head in another apology.

Behind her, she realized Thornpaw had also come up and she began to fear her hearing was fading. "I-I didn't h-hear her is al-all," she stuttered, clamping her jaws shut and glaring at the ground. She heard Thornpaw give a near silent sigh and allowed her chin to be tilted upwards by his tail.

"Rosepaw, are you okay?" he meowed worriedly, anxiety crackling off his pelt. Rosepaw shuffled her paws nervously and kept her mouth shut. Her brother heaved another sigh, louder this time. "Rosepaw, you've apologized maybe three times in the entirety of your life. You just apologized at least five times in the same sentence. What's going on?" Still, his sister kept her jaws closed tight, eyes glaring at him mutinously.

Rosepaw knew the problem, wanted to tell him, wanted to lean into him and soak his endless strength until she became the cat she had once been. But she just couldn't. Darkflight's death had shaken her to the core, leaving her to wander a vast, dark forest she couldn't escape. Her whole world was suddenly filled with lies and whispered secrets and underneath it all, the underlying worry that she would never be good enough. Of course, she said nothing aloud.

Leafstar's appearance, followed by Grayclaw and Stormfur, stopped Thornpaw from asking any more questions. Rosepaw could feel his eyes boring into her back as she took off into the forest, heading towards Tallpines.

As Rosepaw trotted along, she endured Stormfur's endless boasting and Leafstar's oppressive silence. Grayclaw seemed as cheery as usual, padding along without a care in the world. At last, as they neared the open spaces of Tallpines, Stormfur fell into a nervous silence, feeling what all Clan cats felt in the open.

Creeping along, the sharp scent of crushed pine needles hit Rosepaw full force and she had to focus to keep herself from going lightheaded. After long, breathless moments of pure silence, they at last found themselves under trees again, breathing inward sighs of relief.

Leafstar called Rosepaw to her, testing her on the hiding spots of mice and voles, asking her about certain techniques. Rosepaw answered promptly, enjoying the ease with which they conversed. Things had been tense after her father's death, and Leafstar had barely had time to take her out to training. Echostep had filled in, training both Thornpaw and Rosepaw, drilling them in advanced battle moves and hunting strategies. They had started to hunt as teams, working together to trap a rabbit and pin it before it could dash away.

Now though, Rosepaw was pleased to be mentor and apprentice again, listening carefully as Leafstar spoke and shared stories of her own apprentice days. At last, they halted at the edge of Sunningrocks, the sun hitting their pelts and warming their skin. Rosepaw listened delightedly to the river as it went about its own path gleefully.

Beside her, she heard Leafstar drawing in a deep breath, sorting the scents out carefully. Rosepaw lifted her head and did the same, as did Stormfur and Grayclaw.

Immediately, the almost overpowering stench of RiverClan hit the roof of her mouth. After a few moments, she realized it was just the borders, which had been freshly marked. A vole had foraged here a while ago and a squirrel scent wasn't too far away. Turning to Leafstar, she reported her findings almost habitually, not even waiting for her to ask.

Her mentor gave a faint purr of approval, setting off once again to finish their patrol up by the sandy hollow.

Arriving at the little clearing, the leader dismissed the two toms and led her apprentice to the middle. "Let's practice your defensive moves," she mewed. Rosepaw heard her paws sink deeper into the sand and sensed her mentor's eyes piercing her fur.

Crouching, she hissed back, lashing her tail. Approval flowed from Leafstar once again, an instant before her paws left the ground. Timing it perfectly, Rosepaw slid to the side in one smooth movement, balanced precariously on her hind legs, and shoved her mentor's flanks with her front paws.

A huge huff told her that Leafstar had landed in the sand heavily. Rosepaw hurried over to her, worried she had hurt her leader. She found Leafstar already standing and was struck by the way she gasped for breath and how she struggled not to sway.

Rosepaw drew near carefully, supporting the older she-cat's frail frame with her shoulder. Frail, she thought in dismay as her leader shrugged her off. Leafstar's build was decidedly skinnier, her fur was patchier and Rosepaw was alarmed by how it took her a long while to get her breath back. Her mentor and friend was growing older and older without Rosepaw realizing it.

"That was great, Rosepaw. Let's practice your fox moves now, okay?" her mentor wheezed. Rosepaw nodded obediently, taking a position in the middle of the clearing.

When a chill fell over the clearing, telling Rosepaw it was nearing sunset, Leafstar called a halt. "You're coming along nicely, Rosepaw. You and Thornpaw both. You'll both be receiving your warrior names soon," Leafstar purred, voice weary. Rosepaw nodded excitedly, pushing her head against Leafstar's now bony shoulder.

"Thank you, Leafstar, so much. For everything," she murmured. The tall she-cat rested her sleek head against her apprentice's, both sitting still for a long moment and breathing in the early evening scents. At last, Leafstar drew away and Rosepaw stood, casting her mentor one last grateful glance before setting off into the forest for camp.

Trotting along under the trees, Rosepaw was keenly aware she was alone in the darkening forest. Her heart began to pound and the memory of the badger stench sprang to the front of her mind. Telling herself she was being silly, she struggle to calm herself down. Adrenaline was coursing through her muscles and she found herself wishing to be anywhere but here.

The badger had haunted her nightmares. Falling, she had felt claws rip at her fur over and over again, forcing her to thrash wildly. As she reflected on her own inner hell, she was unaware of the loud rustling to her left.

Then, the stench of badger wafted over her, and Rosepaw froze in her tracks. No, she wailed inwardly. She turned slowly, ears pricked and mouth open as she backed away towards camp. Panic nearly drove her insane and her paws itched to run and never stop.

Loud snuffling sounds echoed from her left again and she swung her head in its direction. Cursing her blindness, she began to hurry towards camp once again, resisting the urge to sprint. If she did that, the badger would be on her in a moment.

The smell came again, stronger and right in front of her. "No, no, no," she whispered, swinging to the right and beginning to run, hoping to circle around it. Lumbering steps followed her and she found herself struggling not to whimper. Badgers moved fast when needed, and it was nearly dark, perfect for badger sight. Of course, Rosepaw lived in darkness constantly.

The loud steps began to fade a little, and Rosepaw relaxed slightly, hoping she had shaken it. Then, her paw caught in a small hollow, sending her sprawling. Pain shot up her entire leg and she gave a distressed cry.

A growl sounded just across the little clearing she was in, and Rosepaw froze in horror. The badger smell was overpowering and brought back suffocating memories. She could hear it advancing, ever so slightly, seeing its prey trapped and injured. Rosepaw tugged at her paw fruitlessly.

It was stuck. She was stuck.

"Help!" she screamed, finally managing to get her paw free. Agony tore her apart as she attempted to put pressure on it. All the while, the badger kept advancing, faster and faster.

"Stop!" she wailed, collapsing to her side. Whispers echoed from all sides, screams tore the air, and all the while the badger's growls came closer and closer.

"Rosepaw?"

Rosepaw's head shot up. The angry whispers faded away and the badger's scent was suddenly gone. Gingerstrike's scent flowed over her now, and concern emanated from his warm body. Hurrying over, he gave a small gasp.

"Your paw! Oh StarClan, what happened Rosepaw?" he muttered, leaning down to give her a reassuring lick. Rosepaw was shaking violently and she found her swinging her head around violently.

"Th-the badger! Where is the b-b-badger?" she stammered, still panicked. Gignerstrike moved back a bit, obviously confused.

"Rosepaw, what are you talking about? There's no badger. Not even a scent," he meowed. Rosepaw listened as he scented the air carefully.

Moisture made her paws slick and Rosepaw's legs shook spastically as she tried to stand. Spikes of pain shot up her leg as she set her twisted paw on the hard ground. Gingerstrike caught her before she fell.

Her head was spinning and Rosepaw found she couldn't move anything properly. "We need to get you to Barktail," Gingerstrike murmured.

The feeling of the earth beneath her limp body came faintly before Rosepaw fell unconscious.

Uh-oh, is Rose going konkers? To be honest, I don't really know ;) So, I don't know how many of you actually read this, but I just want to reccomend a few stories to you guys, my own personal faves!

Sidestep- Unknown Shadow Soldier

Float (sequel to Sidestep)- Unknown Shadow Soldier

Nightfall- Sierra of the Stars

Nightfall only has a couple of chapters, but it is just fantastic! Go check it out and make sure you review please! It's utter awesomeness!

~Ciao, Monkey~