Dead Rose

Chapter 9: I Like Berries, You Should Go Find Some

Blackpaw blinked open his eyes, head throbbing to the point where he was starting to see stars. His body was sunk into sand, and Blackpaw got the feeling he'd never get out of the sucking slop. I can't believe I'm alive, he thought as he tried to raise a paw from the sand. That's the last time I try to kill myself naturally. The way things are going I'm gonna have to fall from Starclan and die on impact. Then again, that probably won't work either. After a few long minutes of struggling and heaving through the mud, Blackpaw finally managed to get to the grass. He flopped back down on it, panting and heaving. His lungs hurt terribly, and he didn't understand why he abruptly leaned over and threw up. What the hell is wrong with me? Blackpaw came to the conclusion he might have given himself a concussion. I remember Violet got a concussion once when Longwhisker shoved her and she hit her head on a rock. I wonder if WAIT A MINUTE WHERE'S VIOLET ANYWAY? Blackpaws head shot up, and he winced as pain blinded his vision. And where's Rust? If he went over the falls, there won't be any hope. Blackpaw knew that if the old cat had went over, he would have died. Rust was too frail and old to make it through that kind of trauma. Blackpaw looked back at the dreaded falls, and gulped as he saw the massive spikes looming up over the angry froth. One tall spike stood out; blood coated the tip. Oh no, Blackpaws legs went weak as he started to slog through the mud again. I'll just get close enough to see if there's a body, if not then-

"Hey there, I wouldn't venture too far into the slop if I were you."

Blackpaw turned his head to see who had spoken, and was surprised to see Rust sitting a bit farther away into the grass.

"I don't know why you'd play in there anyway," Rust shook his head in disbelief. "I had one hell of a time climbing out of it."

"Rust!" Blackpaw cried out in happiness, forcing himself back through the mud over to his friend. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself going over the falls?"

"What are you talking about?" Rust snapped. "I just came over through those trees over there. Did you bring any food?"

"Pardon?" Blackpaw wasn't sure he'd heard him right.

"Food," Rust repeated, stretching the word into two syllables. "Or do you mean to tell me you ventured all the way over here with no plans to eat?"

"What... what the hell are you talking about?" Blackpaw snapped. "Did you not just see me climb out of that river and through the sand?"

"I like berries," Rust said, completely ignoring Blackpaw. "You should go find some."

Blackpaw was suddenly under the impression that Rust had either gone mad or had lost his memory.

"How did you get out of the river?" Blackpaw asked, deciding to see if he could jostle some memory in the old cat. "All I remember is falling off the falls and waking up in the mud."

"What are you talking about?" Rust asked angrily. "I didn't fall down that waterfall, are you crazy? I'd be dead!"

"Well, you did," Blackpaw was getting very fed up. "Now stop blabbering nonsense."

"I came in through those trees," Rust jerked a frail arm to the trees behind him. "I don't really know why. Actually, I have no idea where I am," Rusts eyes widened as he realized he was confused.

"Your name is Rust, and you just fell over the falls," Blackpaw explained.

"No," Rust said. Blackpaw stared at him for a second. "No?" he repeated in confusion.

"My name is Lores," Rust said in a matter of fact voice. "Yes, yes I remember now. Have you seen Denver anywhere? And why do I feel so old and sick? I can barely breath without hacking up a lung."

"I'm gonna go find Violet," Blackpaw snapped. "I don't have time for this."

"Hold your horses, I'll come with you," Rust sighed dramatically and heaved himself to his paws.

"No, you can stay here," Blackpaw insisted. "Try to find some berries and regain some sense."

"No," Rust mumbled. "I'm coming where you like it or not."

"Jeez," Blackpaw hissed under his breath. "Fine. Get on with it."

Rust struggled to his paws, looking unfamiliar with his body. "Damn, I'm old," he said.

Blackpaw didn't have the will to respond to that one.

A few minutes earlier/

Violet screamed as she was pushed off the cliff, claws sinking into the flesh of the guard. They tumbled and shrieked for what seemed like hours in the air, until their bodies hit the river below with a sickening splat. The guard crashed on top of her, cushioning his fall but at the same time forcing her skull to crack painfully against a rock. Violet threw up instantly, and when she opened her mind she could see sparks. Everything was spinning. She was dimly aware of her body being roughly jerked through the rapids, scoring long scratched along her flank from the rocks. Violet didn't have the energy to do anything, just let herself be jerked and beat. The guard she had so violently held onto before drifted away from her claws, the water separated them as quick as a blink.

And then it all evened out, like a smooth lake in the form of a river. Violets belly rose, and she choked and gargled on the water. She glided for a little while, and by now Violet was starting to feel calm. She closed her eyes, desperate for peace and not caring what happened if more rapids came.

She didn't have time to scream as she was pushed underwater.

Violet clawed and fought, clawing underwater at the blind enemy. When she finally got a chance to rise to the surface and take a breath, all her senses were heightened. As the attacker too rose to the surface, Violet realized with horror that it was the guard. He lunged again, but Violet was quicker despite her loss of energy. She dived under, and bobbed back up when she realized she didn't know how to fight any longer. She stared with a hideous anger at the guard, but it was quickly replaced with confusion. His face looked panic stricken, utterly terrified. Violet followed his gaze and gasped.

The water dropped off up ahead.

It, was a waterfall.

"We can't go back," the guard hissed as Violet struggled to swim the other way. "We're too far."

"Shut up!" Violet spat. "How dare you speak to me after what you've done?"

"I had to," the guard replied. "Orders are orders."

"Orders?" Violet cried. "From who?!"

The guard had no time to respond. They fell off the waterfall at the same time, twisting and screaming. Violet braced herself for death, hoping for it to be quick. He body thudded against a rock, and she rolled down into the angry foam. Her life seeped from her body before she could see the way the guards body pierced the sharp rock, killing him instantly. She died before she could see his death. She died before she could see the way his spirit rose from his body and drifted away, in search for a new body to possess.

Farther off on the shore, the corpse of Rusts lifeless body seemed like an invitation. The spirit floated over to him, and opened his mouth extremely wide, almost double the size the mouth should normally open. There was a lost shriek that nobody would ever hear, and then with a quick movement the ghost disappeared.

In moments, Rusts lifeless eyes opened once again.