Dead Rose

Chapter 13: Silent Ghost

All around me are familiar faces,

Worn out places, worn out faces

Bright and early with the daily races

Going nowhere, going nowhere

"Well, I don't know what to do," Sunflower said, voice high and shrill due to her frustration. "Jaypaws vanished. I don't know where he could possibly be."

"Probably stumbled into a tree and took a nap," Hareclaw sneered, barging into Sunflowers conversation with Sharpclaw. Sunflower rolled her eyes and hissed, biting back a sarcastic retort about how much Hareclaws comment didn't make sense.

"I don't think he ran into a tree, Hareclaw," Sharpclaw put in mildly. Sunflower shot him a grateful look for jumping in. "He's not blind."

"He has a cloudy eye," Hareclaw snapped. "That's pretty much blind to me."

"I just don't know where he'd be," Sunflower whispered, deciding to ignore the arrogant tom. "The last time I saw him he was acting so strange."

"He's always had a spunky attitude," Sharpclaw said gently, pressing his cheek against Sunflowers. "Don't worry. He'll show up."

"Don't worry, he'll show up," Hareclaw mocked Sharpclaw with a false high pitched voice. "God damn. You're all getting worked up over nothing."

"Is there a reason you came over here?" Sunflower snapped. "Other than to make fun of us?"

"Gathering," Hareclaw jerked his head over to where a group of cats were clustered around a tree stump. "Get on it."

"One would think that would be the first thing he tells us when he comes over," Sunflower whispered in annoyance to Sharpclaw. "Now they're all going to be irritated because we're holding up the group."

"I'm concerned on why Hareclaws helping Jaggedstar with the gathering patrol," Sharpclaw whispered back. "That should be Scarfaces job."

All Sunflower could do was shrug, as they had reached the patrol of cats.

"Took you long enough," Leopardfur hissed under her breath. Sunflower bristled her fur awkwardly, embarrassed that the other cats had heard her.

"Let's not waste any more time," Jaggedstar said in a tired voice, looking up at the sky. "The moon is brighter than ever, and if we waste any more time in camp we'll wind up being late."

"Yes, single file line," Hareclaw barked, jumping up into a rigid stance. Jaggedstar sighed softly and looked on at the cats wearily. "Follow Hareclaw out," he said at last. "I'm going to trail a bit behind to have a word with Sharpclaw."

Sharpclaw looked confused, and he gave a glance at Sunflower before padding over to his leader.

"Tell me about it later," Sunflower mouthed the words. Sharpclaw gave a nod in return. Sunflower looked on at the group of cats, wondering where the clan deputy was. She hadn't seen Scarface since Jaypaw had gone missing, and she had a sinking feeling the events were linked. It was no secret that Scarface favoured Jaypaws brothers, but maybe Jaypaw being missing was awakening some sort of feeling in the hard-hearted deputy. Sunflower padded up beside Moonflower, a bright white she cat who Sunflower got along with well.

"What's going on with Scarface?" Sunflower whispered as they marched out of the camp. "Where is he?"

"This morning he went out looking for Jaypaw," Moonflower whispered back, eyes lighting up at the chance to gossip. "No one has seen him since."

"Huh," Sunflower narrowed her eyes. "So he was gone all day?"

"Uh huh," Moonflower nodded her head one too many times. "Why, are you worried?"

"Of course I'm worried," Sunflower said. "First Jaypaw, then his father. It just seems odd."

"It'll be okay," Moonflower replied. "Jaypaw's gotta show up sooner or later."

Sunflower mumbled an inaudible response, not wanting to discus the matter any farther. She was just starting to feel at ease again when Moonflower spoke.

"Did you hear about Deadclans new warrior?"

"Hm?" Sunflower turned to stare at her. "Did an apprentice become a warrior?"

"No," Moonflower whispered in a hushed voice. "I heard he walked right into the Deadclan camp, and they made him a warrior."

"No way," Sunflower had never heard something so absurd in her entire life. "Was it a rogue or loner?"

Moonflower shrugged. "No idea. His name is Denver."

"Weird," Sunflower mumbled. "What does he look like?"

"No idea," Moonflower said. "No one's ever seen him. I was just on a patrol yesterday when we ran into a patrol of Deadclans. Jaggedstar asked one of them how they were doing, and Jaggedstar said they were happy to announce the arrival of a new warrior," Moonflower paused to roll her eyes. "Typical. They just want to sound tough with their new warrior so they're bragging about it to anyone who listens."

"Well, maybe we'll see him tonight," Sunflower said, feeling excited to see this mysterious Denver. "We're here." They pushed their way into the already packed clearing. Sunflower breathed a sigh of relief as she realized Rainclan was pushing their way in too. We're not late, thank Starclan.

Sunflower looked over at the Deadclan crowd, scanning for Denver, whoever he was. They were crowded tightly though, and Sunflower couldn't make out any unfamiliar faces.

"I will start the gathering," Jaggedstars voice boomed loud over the cats, and he stalked right up to the tree stump, pushing Tallstar out of his way as he walked.

"Wait for the rest of us," Sagestar snapped, angrily making his way to the top of the stump too.

"Where's Redstar?" Tallstar asked in his quiet voice, fur still bristled up from when Jaggedstar had pushed him.

"I'M HERE!" Redstars voice shattered ears, Sunflower winced and thought to herself how someone could create such a noise. She turned her head to Deadclan to see the scatterbrained leader walking through the crowd of cats in the most ridiculous getup she had ever seen. Redstar had made a crown out of dead daisies, and it was loosely tied around his head. He had a cape like thing made out of leaves over his body, dragging on the dirty ground behind him. He had smeared red berries all over his face and paws. The clearing erupted into laughter, but Redstar held his head high and pranced to the stump.

It was then when she saw him.

A few feet behind the leader, a smaller cat walked with the same ridiculous cape and crown. She couldn't get a good look at his face, mainly because his crown of daisies fell over his right eye.

"CATS AND KITTENS, ROGUES AND KITTYPETS!" Redstar screeched, voice so shrill Sunflower could hardly believe it was coming from a tom cat.

"So I take it you're starting the gathering?" Jaggedstar said sarcastically, looking up and down at Redstars theatrical display.

"Redstar, you look completely ludicrous," Tallstar spat. "Why are you wearing that comical outfit? And where is Deadrose?"

"DEADROSE IS IN THE AUDIENCE," Redstar shouted.

"Can you stop screaming?" a cat called from the crowd. "We can hear you loud and clear!"

"Kings don't cower," Redstar shouted back, but a little bit quieter. Sunflower turned to see if Deadclan knew that this was going to happen, and felt an icky pang when she realized they all wore masks of content.

What the heck is going on?

"What is the purpose of this?" Sagestar hissed. "And who's this?" he jabbed a paw at the cat who was accompanying Redstar.

"This is my newest and greatest warrior," Redstar said slowly, Sunflower figured it was for emphasis but wasn't certain. "DENVER COTTONFLUFF! You may applaud now."

The only cats who gave any sort of applause was from Deadclan, unsurprisingly. Sunflower looked closer at Denver, wondering why she felt like he was familiar. Finally he raised his head, his eye that showed shined bright.

"This is a disgrace to the gathering," Sagestar whispered angrily. "Redstar, make your announcement so we can move along."

"Okay," Redstar said. "I have received a gift from Starclan and he's sitting beside me."

"That's it," Jaggedstar snapped. "Redstar, get down off the stump."

"No," Redstar said stubbornly. "I have every right to stand here."

"Yes, but your friend doesn't," Jaggedstar hissed. He turned to Denver. "Denver, please get off the stump."

Sunflower wonderd briefly if Denver would simply refuse like Redstar. She also wondered for a moment if he wouldn't talk at all.

But then he spoke.

And his voice chilled Sunflower to the bone.

"I'm sorry," he said. "We have not meant to do no harm," he turned to Jaggedstar. "I will go wait in the audience."

"Denver, no," Redstar whined. He hung his head. "I thought you were going to stay with me..."

"Thank you," Jaggedstar dipped his head to Denver. "I am happy you don't follow everything this loon does."

"No worries," Denver dipped his head in return.

And then Sunflower saw it.

As Denver dipped his head, his crown slipped forward, revealing his other eye. Sunflower stood rigid, staring at the cloudy eye that she had looked at ever since he was born.

"Oh my god," Sunflower whispered.

"What?" Moonflower mumbled.

"That's... that's Jaypaw," Sunflower whispered, eyes stretched wide. Her blood was turning colder by the second. What's he doing up there?

"Um, that's Denver," Moonflower whispered back in confusion.

"No, that's Jaypaw in disguise," Sunflower said louder.

"No, he's not," Moonflower narrowed her eyes. "Have you gone mad?"

Sunflower ignored her, and slowly rose to her paws. Cats turned to stare at her, and the leaders stopped talking to look.

"Is there something you'd like to say, Sunflower?" Jaggedstar asked slowly, looking annoyed. Sunflower still couldn't believe what she was seeing. Denver stood staring, he had flipped his daisy crown back over his eye. He looked calm, but the way he stood rigid made Sunflower aware he knew she knew.

"That, That's..." Sunflower started, but her voice broke and she stopped.

"Yes?" Jaggedstar said sarcastically. "Is there a reason you've interrupted the entire gathering?"

Sunflower opened her mouth to speak again, but before she said her first word, a ghost like mist rose in the background. Sunflower almost

missed it, but when she squinted her eyes and looked closer, she realized it looked like a cat.

A cat shaped, cloudy eyed ghost.

It was the spirit of Jaypaw.

He slowly raised a paw and held it to his mouth, indicating for her to keep quiet. Sunflower stared at him with wide terror struck eyes, and turned back to her waiting audience.

"Sunflower!" Jaggedstar howled. "I've had enough of this! Speak now, or sit down!"

Sunflower took another look at the ghost, paw still over his mouth.

She sat down.