Well, I'm alive! And no, this was NOT another bout of depression xD I got a huge writer's block and then my laptop got taken away for a bit there. But I'm back and running into gear! My style has changed a little, as you may tell. It's more reflective than usual in this chapter and I personally like it a lot better :) I am so so so so so so so so sorry about the horrendously long wait you guys! I never meant for it to stretch so long. I joined track so I kind of struggled to adjust for a few days and make time for writing. I'm afraid updates are going to be longer and fewer in between because of that, and I apologize most profoundly for that! But they will keep coming, I promise you! Review Answers, at last!
kingszey: shucks thank you :)
TearStainedAngel: Well, I feel kinda bad now xD I do hope you're okay...I haven't heard from you in a while deary. Everything going all right?
Spottedflame: hehehehehe xD
Raintail of RiverClan: deary, what makes you think Leafstar is going to die O_o
Snowflower3618: Is she really? Guess you'll seeee xD
Mistyflower68: HAHA! Answering any of those would just give away the entire epic ending I have planned xDDD
Silvertail of shoreclan: We are reading that book too...do you like it?
Ashheart15: indeed she does xD
Darkflight of DeathClan: why does everyone automatically assume she's dead? She's the leader! Nine lives, rememba?
starbomb: *facepalm* Atticus Finch is NOT from HP. Atticus Finch is from To Kill A Mockingbird, a piece of historical fiction written by Harper Lee. NOT Harry Potter. No.
Juniperleaf of BlazeClan: They make everyone anxious xD And thank you for those songs. They. Were. Awesome. Indescribable really. Oh gosh, I just love them. New fave songs, I swear.
Tangleflame: *cough* Leafstar, dearest. Leafstar.
Blitzhorse: Wow, your review makes me realize how long ago that update was. Shocking. I shan't answer your questions! For time shall tell and I shan't give away ANY of the ending. If you read close enough however, you may be able to find hints to the ending...
Icestar0921: How do you not cry? Makes no sense to me...
XxBlazestormXx: Que pasa?
Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: haha, I just loved your review for some reason xD
Tatyana: Ah yes, I remember that! How is the lovely kitty doing dear?
Random Falcon:*evil smile* Don't you just loovveee cliffies?
Sierra of the Stars: How are you sure anyone diedd? And you know, at first I put "tinge" but then my computer said "ting" so I said "hum, I must be wrong then". So now I am utterly confused...Google time!
Viper3332: you are most certainly welcome!
DapplenosethecoolCat: Aw thank you honey bunch ;D And the names have been decided! I think. Still kinda stuck on Feather's, but almost there xD
theBubblegumKitty: UPDATED xD
Bearer of Secrets: nothing to forgive :))
Ja'CkIwR: oh sweet jesus, I did not feel like spelling your entire name out, sorry xD Thank you so much! 600 already, I can hardly believe it!
sol de luna: don't worry bout it :)
XSpiritwingX: Thank you. Okay, because that is totally sad and I am so so sorry for your loss, I will include the cat. LAST exception everyone! She will appear in another story, most likely All I Want To Be. And please, if you ever want to talk, I'm here :)
Nonameknight: Life has this thing with getting in the way huh?
Runningmist: I haven't answered your reviews? Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I have no idea how that could have possible happened! I can't believe I inspire you, that makes my heart sing. Thank you so much for everything you said in those sweet reviews :') They were appreciated with all my heart and are most cherished, I promise!
Love My Writing Or Else: *hands Darkflight plushie* WELCOME TO THE FAMILIA! So, it's reviews like yours that just make me wanna dance for joy. I hope you know that I utterly worship that review. I must've read it like five times before I completely absorbed it all in. Thank you so much! Keep reviewing, please, and I am so happy you enjoy Feather so much :))
ON WITH THE CHAPTER!
Chapter 24
Thornpaw
Thornpaw froze. The tom he had pinned beneath him squirmed free as Thornpaw's grip loosened. The black apprentice was too focused on the limp form his mother was bent over to care.
Rosepaw slid to Ravenwing's side and gaped her jaws in a soundless yowl of horror. She turned her angry gaze on Cloudstar, who stood nearby with a stunned look in her eyes. "You pathetic excuse for a leader!" his sister screamed, almost incoherent with fury. By this time, Thornpaw was shoving his way through the cats, fear numbing him. Who had she killed?
He stopped short when the full body came into view. Cloudstar signaled her warriors and left, no cat trying to stop them. Enough damage had been done.
Leafstar lay crumpled at Ravenwing's feet. Her body was covered in long gashes and a still bleeding wound at her throat. Her eyes were open and blank, carrying no light.
Not a sound escaped the ThunderClan warriors. Rosepaw sat down near her leader's head, whispering into her ears. Thornpaw settled down next to her, grief stabbing at him. Leafstar couldn't be dead.
She just couldn't.
After what seemed to be an eternity of waiting, their leader stirred. Rosepaw gave a small cry and Ravenwing seemed to breathe again. Leafstar lifted her head and gaze around at her warriors.
"Is anyone seriously injured?" the leader rasped. Thornpaw found himself choking on his purr. Beside him, Rosepaw rushed forward and buried her head in Leafstar's flank.
"Are we seriously injured? Leafstar, you just…" Rosepaw trailed off, stumbling on her words. Thornpaw brushed his fur against hers comfortingly. Leafstar heaved herself to her paws, breath coming heavily. Ravenwing supported her steadily, eyes flashing determinedly.
"Let's get you home," his mother whispered. Leafstar offered no protests.
Thornpaw watched his sister pace furiously outside the medicine cat den. It was well past moonhigh; however, the clearing teemed with activity. The warriors cleaned their wounds and awaited the medicine cat's verdict on their leader's condition.
Rosepaw's muscles were taut beneath her white fur, and her face was gaunt with worry. Even Thornpaw was surprised by the fever of her anxiety for Leafstar. Padding up to her, Thornpaw draped his tail around her shoulders, forcing her to pause.
"Rosepaw, it's okay. That wasn't her last life, everything is going to be fine, I promise," Thornpaw murmured. His sister swung her head around to face him, eyes blazing furiously.
"Don't make a promise you can't keep," she hissed in response. Shrugging his tail off, she resumed her pacing, tail tip twitching.
At last, Barktail emerged, followed by Leafstar. In the moonlight, her silver fur was bleached silver, giving the illusion that she was StarClan themselves. Her green eyes were striking, filled with every ounce of fire and passion she had ever shown. Thornpaw felt his breath catch. His leader looked as powerful as the moon, as ageless as the stars, and as majestic as the sunset. Gone was the frail cat these last few weeks, the one teetering on the brink of collapse. Here, now, was the Leafstar of old: eternal, wise, all-knowing, ambitious, passionate, and fiery.
The cats all bowed their heads to Leafstar as she ascended the Highrock, muscles showing no strain although her flanks were covered in cobwebs.
"ThunderClan, tonight we fought bravely against WindClan. The next full-moon is in a few days, and you can be assured, Cloudstar shall not escape without answers for what she has done!" Leafstar announced. Her words were followed by yowls of approval from the warriors assembled, the light of battle in each of their eyes.
The moonlight turned them all ghostly, phantoms with glowing eyes the colors of life. Whites of fangs flashed and Thornpaw felt a thudding in his heart and a pounding through his veins. His claws thirsted for revenge and his ears hungered for the wails of pain. All too soon, the strange fit passed, leaving him empty. He wondered at it.
As the cats slipped away to nurse wounds and rest, Thornpaw stayed hidden by shadows. He watched Rosepaw stumble into the apprentice den, exhausted and in pain. He did not go to her.
He felt…hard. Like a rose whose thorns have finally grown. Ever since his father's death, he could no longer laugh with the same care free abandon. Nor could he simply lie in the sun, soaking in its wondrous warmth. The fate of an entire Clan rested upon his young shoulders and Thornpaw was suddenly determined to save his Clanmates, whatever the cost may be. Even if it be his own life, so be it. So be it, he thought grimly.
Rosepaw
She could not sleep. Exhaustion dragged at her bones and an aching weariness radiated throughout her small body. Yet, Rosepaw could not rest.
The fear that tightened her heart and shortened her breath refused to leave her, whispering in her ears constantly. Rosepaw could sense eyes watching her wherever she walked, could feel the forest closing in around her. It sought the secrets harbored in her dark heart. It sought the anger she had pushed away for seasons upon seasons.
It sought the fury she refused to release.
Standing, she strode out of the apprentice den, not caring it was the middle of the night. Deaf to all about her, she did not notice her brother in the shadows, eyes tracking her every move.
The fury was about to be unleashed.
Racing through the silent forest, Rosepaw was keenly aware of the lack of night sounds and the way her pawsteps seemed to echo through the trees. She simply didn't care anymore. Coming to a halt in what felt like a small clearing, she raised her head to the stars.
"You don't exist!" she yowled, releasing the secret. Releasing the lie.
The only response was the distant call of a raven. The faint memory of her father tugged at the back of her mind, but Rosepaw pushed it away. This wasn't about Darkflight, or Thornpaw, or even Ravenwing. This was just about her, Rosepaw. The blind apprentice of ThunderClan.
"If you existed," she whispered, struggling to fight the despair building within her. "Why did you take my father away? Why did you make me different? Why did this happen to me?" While she half-feared the answer, the majority of her begged for a reason, a reason for all that had happened to her.
"If you exist, why do you try so hard to break me?" she asked finally, feeling very small and foolish. No response came from the stars, if indeed they existed. She could picture them twinkling coldly above her, mocking her pain. Her agony.
"The stars won't answer you," a queer voice muttered. Spinning, Rosepaw relaxed when she realized it was Thornpaw. She instantly tensed again when she realized what he might have heard.
"I-I just…" she stammered. Then, she just gave up. "I'm tired, Thornpaw. I'm tired of lying every day so everyone else is happy. I'm tired of hurting and hurting and never seeing an end. I just want it to stop! I just want it to end!" By the time she finished, her voice had raised a couple notches, coming out strangled and high-pitched. Her brother made no response, drawing closer.
Rosepaw waited warily for him to say something, his words echoing in her ears. The stars won't answer you.
"I know. I know it hurts, Rosepaw," he began, voice low and steady. In it, Rosepaw could hear a powerful love and an angry desire. Fear began to poke at her chest, shortening her breath. This was not her brother. "But you must stay strong." His words pulsed in her mind, creating a deafening racket that was impossible to hear through. Yet somehow, his voice cut through.
"You must fight back when all seems lost and you must spill blood whenever necessary to prove that you are mighty. That you can become something more than another meaningless warrior. Rosepaw, you have to burn with the thirst to tower over all others when everything has gone dark. You must be strong!" As Thornpaw spoke, his voice rose to a yowl, echoing through the trees and in Rosepaw's ears. Her paws began to shake and a violent trembling took possession of her body.
This was not her brother. This was not her brother. She took a cautious, shaky step back, her voice coming out weak and pathetic as she mewed, "What's happened to you?" Thornpaw suddenly sighed and she heard him slump to the ground.
Whatever had taken over his body seemed to drift away, leaving an empty shell in place of her brother. Rosepaw edged closer warily, pain stabbing at her as she realized she had become distrustful of her own brother. When had this happened?
"Thornpaw?" she asked, still trembling. Tears began to well up in her eyes and a few moments later, she was slumped on the ground beside him, sobbing. Thornpaw began to cry with her and together, they wept for the end of innocence and golden days. Both knew that kithood had ended and it was time they faced the real world. Rosepaw's scars were an everyday reminder of that.
Both were faced with the future of not just their clan, but all four Clans. They were endangered by a tireless menace who wished for nothing but sweet revenge, the product of a broken heart. And they were only apprentices.
"I'm sorry, Rosepaw. I'm so, so sorry," Thornpaw kept repeating, burying his head in her fur. Rosepaw lifted her eyes to the stars, wishing desperately she could see them, and asked the one question that had haunted her for moons now.
"Why did it have to be us?"
*sigh* Poor Rosepaw and Thornpaw. I missed them so much and then to have to write this about them. I love them so much. And you guys.
606 reviews. I can't.
I am most literally blown away. Thank you guys, from the bottom of my heart. I never dreamed so many of you would enjoy my stories, never mind review them. Again, I can't believe how much you guys mean to me and I hope you guys know that. I love you, and you're all dear to me. You've made me...better. So thank you. Again and again. Thank you :D
~Ciao, Monkey~