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Chapter Text

Allegiances

HeartClan

Leader Pinkstar- pale pink she-cat with white speckles, long fur and pale pink eyes

(Pink Diamond)

Deputy Rosepelt- long-furred white she-cat with pink splotches, pink freckles, and pink eyes

(Rose Quartz)

Medicine Cat Peonyear- light blue she-cat with pink and white speckles

(Pearl)

Warriors

Redflame- young dark and pale red tabby tom with fiery orange eyes

(Ruby)

Jaggedscar- deep orange and pale orange tabby tom with black spots

(Jasper)

Aspenleg- grey-pink long-haired tom with white speckles

(Random agate)

Songpool- blue-and-white streaked she-cat with black freckles and soft blue eyes

(Sapphire)

Quickear- grey-purple tom
(Random quartz) Apprentice: Amberpaw

Spireheart- deep pink she-cat with white back paws and tail-tip

(Spinel)

Russetfoot- pale pink she-cat with russet-coloured freckles

(Superfan Rose Quartz)

Rushfur- dark pink she-cat with lighter pink splotches

(Shy Rose Quartz)

Ryestripe- pink-cream she-cat with russet specks

(Hippie Rose Quartz)

Birchneedle- big blue-grey tom with purplish stripes

(Bismuth)

Gingerleg- large royal blue, light pink, red, and black splotched she-cat

(Garnet)

Apprentices

Amberpaw- pale grey-purple she-cat with black streaks

(Amethyst)

SoulClan

Leader Whitstar- beautiful white-and-grey she-cat with a black torso, black tail-tip, ears, and speckles

(White Diamond)

Deputy Bigtuft- cherry red tom with dark beige stripes and lighter beige swirls

(Biggs)

Warriors

Orchidfur- aqua blue and dove blue splotched she-cat

(Ocean Jasper)

Zebrastripe- pale grey she-cat with darker grey swirls

(Zebra Jasper)

Apprentices

Antpaw- light blue she-cat with pale purple paws and a pale gold tail

(Angel Aura Quartz)

MightClan

Leader Yellowstar- brown and yellow faded she-cat

(Yellow Diamond)

Deputy Embereye- bright green and yellow splotched tom

(Emerald)

Medicine Cat Primroseleaf- brown-yellow she-cat

(Yellow Pearl)

Warriors

Perchfoot- pale green she-cat with yellowish freckles and back
(Peridot) paws

Deereyes- pink she-cat with a dark red belly and pale yellow eyes
(Doc) Apprentice: Littlepaw

Eagleeye- half-blind maroon tom with pinkish speckles and dark cream legs
(Eyeball) Apprentice: Nutpaw

Apprentices

Alderpaw- deep red tom with pale red legs

(Army)

Nutpaw- pale red tom with pink-red splotches

(Navy)

Littlepaw- light red tom with black stripes

(Leggy)

SpiritClan

Leader Bluestar- royal blue and light blue streaked she-cat with a pale blue face and speckles

(Blue Diamond)

Deputy Hollyfoot- blue she-cat with tabby ears, white back legs and pale blue front legs
(Holly Blue Agate) Apprentice: Cherrypaw

Medicine Cat Palelight- sleek pale blue she-cat with sky blue freckles

(Blue Pearl)

Warriors

Lilyspot- dark blue splashed she-cat with lighter blue

(Mean Lapis)

Jaysong- purple-grey she-cat

(Random jasper)

Lavendarsong- light blue she-cat with beautiful blue eyes and cream-coloured freckles

(Nice Lapis)

Sorrelheart- grey-and-blue spotted she-cat

(Random sapphire)

Larksky- pale blue she-cat with darker flecks and golden freckles

(Lapis)

Ashwing- small light blue she-cat with a darker blue cape and sky blue eyes

(Aquamarine)

Arcshine- pastel blue she-cat with pigeon blue streaks
(Random aquamarine) Apprentice: Jumppaw

Aspennose- royal blue she-cat with pale blue spots

(Random aquamarine)

Applenose- dark blue with lighter blue splotches

(Random aquamarine)

Acornheart- pale blue she-cat with royal blue stripes

(Random aquamarine)

Silvereye- royal blue she-cat with a pale blue smudge on her front leg

(Random sapphire)

Sagefur- purple-blue she-cat with a white cape

(Random sapphire)

Shellclaw- pale blue she-cat with white and royal blue specks

(Random sapphire)

Sleekheart- dark blue she-cat

(Random sapphire)

Apprentices

Cherrypaw- cherry-coloured tom with darker red tufts and light orange eyes

(Carnelian)

Jumppaw- pale ginger tom with light orange streaks and yellow eyes

(Skinny Jasper)

Cats Outside The Clans

Gorse- long haired pale ginger and pale orange tabby tom

(Greg)

Chapter Text

Prologue:

Rosepelt shoved her way through the mass of fighting cats. Her ears rung with the echoing sounds of battle. Cats screeched left and right, blood covered Rosepelt’s paws, and slicked her fur. She could still taste the blood of a young SoulClan warrior. As she fought through the two clashing Clans, she was glad to see that her friends had kept their promises. Peonyheart, Gingerleg, Amberpaw, and Birchclaw had made themselves hidden near where Pinkstar was trying to get away from the fight. Rosepelt picked up her pace until she was racing through the edges of the crowd, easily slipping around tusseling cats, and having her eyes set on Peonyheart who was reassuring Pinkstar.
When she finally burst through the crowd, she slowed her pace to just seem like she had staggered from the fight.
She limped forward, spitting out blood.
She collapsed, letting herself go limp.
Peonyheart gasped, running forward to look over her wounds. Though Rosepelt had not even a scratch on her pelt, she knew Peonyheart was just following the plan.
Pinkstar followed her medicine cat, leaning over Rosepelt to inspect her blood-covered pelt.
Suddenly, Rosepelt’s eyes flicked open, she leaped up, kicking Pinkstar’s chin so her head was kicked back with such force she wouldn’t be able to move it.
Rosepelt landed softly and licked her lips, tasting the blood she had spat out.
She stalked over to where Pinkstar was still in shock.
Peonyheart fell back, her eyes deep with sadness, as Rosepelt approached Pinkstar, Peonyheart turned and fled back into the crowd.
Rosepelt stared straight down into Pinkstar’s eyes as she slowly rested her paws on her leader’s neck.
Pinkstar’s eyes were so terror-filled and looked like a helpless kit.
Her leader’s mouth was stretched wide open, she was obviously trying to scream, but Rosepelt’s kick had made it so her throat would swell so her voice would disappear.
Rosepelt smiled, slowly digging her claws into one side of her leader's neck as she slowly dragged her claws toward her, leaving five long, bloody slashes on Pinkstar’s throat.
Rosepelt grinned at her leaders as she started to spasm, obviously in unimaginable pain.
Her leader’s mouth was so wide open it looked like her jaw was detached.
The pink she-cat was shaking, rolling and spasming in pain as she slowly died.
Rosepelt quickly fled into the crowd, leaping off a large rock onto a ledge of the giant clearing, and took a giant breath.
“Pinkstar’s dead!” She screeched so loudly that she surprised herself.
Immediately, her throat started to hurt, but the fighting stopped.
Peonyheart had tumbled out of the crowd merely moments earlier, tussling with Whitetstar.
It was all part of the plan. Get Whitestar near Pinkstar just as she died so they easily had someone else to blame, their Clan would barely have a reason to suspect them.
Peonyheart immediately kicked away from Whitestar and screeched, “you monster!” The tiny she-cat flew at Whitestar, trying to claw at her throat. The giant leader threw her aside easily,
she was bleeding slightly just over her left eye which was swollen and half-closed. She had to blink away blood from it every few seconds.
“I did no such thing. Some other cat must have killed her.” Whitestar tossed her head to the side, glaring over at Peonyheart who was crouched down and shivering.
Though it was freezing cold, Rosepelt knew she wasn't shivering because she was cold, it was with fear- fake fear- as she stared at her leader’s dead body.
“Liar!” Rosepelt yowled, leaping down from the ledge and landed right in front of all the cats that were staring at Whitestar now and lowered her head, snarling.
“HeartClan, attack!” She screeched, flying forward.
She bowled into the SoulClan leader, raking her claws over her ear, feeling skin tear.
She dug her back paws into the leader’s uncovered stomach.
Whitestar kicked up with her hind paws to throw Rosepelt off and she flew into the air, flying across the clearing and slamming against the wall of the gorge. As she slammed against the side of the canyon, she gasped, the air knocked out of her suddenly.
Her vision went a bit blurry as she stumbled to her paws, gasping for breath.
She closed her eyes tight and shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
When she opened her eyes again, Gingerleg was tussling with Whitestar, matching her paw for paw.
Though Gingerleg was years younger than Whitestar, she was just as tall, let alone as strong.
Rosepelt darted forward, grabbing Whitestar’s tail in jaws.
Whitestar yowled with pain and spun around to slash at Rosepelt as Gingerleg leaped onto her back, raking her claws down her spine.
Rosepelt purred with amusement as Whitestar tried to reach Gingerleg who was just out of reach.
Rosepelt completely flattened herself to the ground, and darted under Whitestar, slashing at her stomach and darted away again.
Whitestar screeched, her wail echoing around the gorge.
Gingerleg leaped off her back and joined Rosepelt as they faced Whitestar, teeth bared and ears back.
Whitestar hissed, arching her back as Gingerleg and Rosepelt advanced on her.
Suddenly, there was a loud yolk from the top of the gorge as more cats poured into the clearing, Yellowstar in the lead.
Rosepelt’s eyes widened with fear as the MightClan cats joined the fight against HeartClan.
While Rosepelt and Gingerleg were turned, Whitestar leaped at Rosepelt, bowling her over and shoving her nose into the dirt.
Rosepelt snarled, helpless.
Fear really struck her, though, as she heard a yowl of pain that she knew too awfully well.
Gingerleg! She bit her tongue and arched her back, trying to throw Whitestar off.
She failed, falling back down, the wind knocked out of her.
She gasped for air, choking.
Suddenly, the weight disappeared and Rosepelt sat up, gulping in air.
When she got her breath back, she turned to see Redflame and Amberpaw fighting with Whitestar.
Rosepelt’s smile at her warriors suddenly disappeared as she took one look at the fight.
The hot smell of fear and blood covered the clearing, it was obvious HeartClan was losing.
She took a deep breath, trying to swallow her pride.
“HeartClan! Retreat! Retreat HeartClan!” She leaped from the gully, waiting for her Clan to follow her.
As they joined her, she ran through the forest, heading back to camp.
She heard the yowls from the other Clans, screeching insults as they ran.
The edges of her vision were tinted with darkness and her paws started to falter.
She slowed, trying to keep going.
“Rosepelt!” She didn’t know who yowled her name as she stumbled sideways into a tree.
She struggled to keep her eyes open as cats swarmed around her.
“:Rose! Are you okay?” Peonyear was right in front of her, her eyes and voice worried, but her paws held her down as Rosepelt mumbled something that she didn’t even know what it was supposed to be, and tried to sit up.
“It’s gonna be okay, I’ll get you some herbs and heal you up.” The last thing she saw was Peonyears’ hopeful smile as she closed her eyes.

Chapter Text

Chapter One

Rosepelt gulped down the last of the thrush she was eating hurriedly. She had promised Gorse she would meet him at Homeland near sunhigh. She had sent out the patrols already so she would be good until she got back later. Homeland was a small part of the Clan territory that every Clan met at every full moon for the gathering. Only SoulClan didn’t border the hollow. It was the perfect place to meet. There was a pond at one edge that was surrounded by tiny ferns that cats drank from every gathering. It was a giant hollow that was surrounded by brambles other than four paths for each Clan to get through. Each Clan had their own mark for their way home. A few sprigs of heather and some ferns for MightClan, tall stems of grass and a tiny pine tree for SoulClan, the pond was near the SpiritClan side, as well as some bulrushes, and a little oak tree, and some huge rocks that lead a path up to the HeartClan side. It was an easy way to pad from the clearing other than the other Clan that had to leap up over the huge sides of the hollow.
Rosepelt slipped from camp, nodding to Gingerleg who was keeping guard at the camp entrance. Gingerleg had been a rogue named Ginger and Rosepelt had even been on the patrol that had found her. She had been a very young warrior then, Gingerleg had also been quite young, but she had learned so quickly. She was stronger than Rosepelt but never quicker. Rosepelt could be halfway across the territory by the time Gingerleg could land a slash, but if you weren’t fast enough, that slash would hurt.
Rosepelt followed the well-trodden path toward Homelend, stopping along the way to catch a starling that had just been begging to be caught so she could say she had been hunting when she got back to camp. The Greenleaf sun shone through the trees and dappled her fur, warming it.
As she reached the hollow, she slowly picked her way down the path towards the middle of the clearing, Noticing Gorse sitting ever so patiently next to the Quartz Rock. It was just a giant slab of quartz that each leader had chipped away at for each of their places on the rock. Whitestar was right at the very top in the middle, with Yellowstar on her left, Bluestar on her right, and Pinkstar in the middle but further down on a ledge that made her head just under Whitestar’s giant paws. Just then, Gorse spotted her and his ears shot up, he leaped to his paws and bounded toward her, touching his nose to hers. “What took you so long? I thought you weren’t coming.” He said, sounding relieved. He purred and looked at her lovingly.
“Of course I came.” She said, rolling her eyes. “I said I would.”
“Oh! That reminds me!” His eyes lit with excitement as he twisted, dashing back to where he had been sitting. He grabbed a small leaf wrap and leaped back toward her.
Her whiskers twitched with amusement at the amount of excitement in his eyes. He was more like a tiny kit showing his mother a butterfly he had caught than her mate trying to show her something.
He trotted over and dropped the leap wrap at her paws. Tiny pebble-looking things fell out, actually, they looked more like rabbit droppings.
“Rabbit poop?” She asked, looking down at the leaf wrap strangely.
Instantly, Gorse went bright red and he crouched down, opening up the leaf wrap.
“They’re kittypet food. I got some from my friend Snowflake.” He said without looking up.
He opened the leaf wrap so she could see them better.
She giggled at how proud he had been to show her these, but smiled and leaned down, taking a small pellet in her mouth, hoping that it would taste good enough not to spit it out.
It crunched in her mouth, making her taste the flavour in one small part of her mouth unlike prey which would fill your mouth with amazing flavour all around.
But another key difference was the flavour in itself. It tasted horrible. It was like eating dung with the fragrance of meat. Rosepelt immediately spat it out, running over to the small pond that was muddy because of the bit of rain the earlier day, and lapped it up, desperate to get the horrible taste from her mouth.
“You don’t like it?” Gorse asked, he sounded timid to ask.
“I-” She hesitated, turning to look at him.“ It’s fine, but mouse is better. Here, I’ll catch you one.”
She lifted her paw to leap from the clearing and into the forest but Gorse stopped her.
“It’s okay, I can catch my own, but during the cold seasons, this stuff is what I live off of.”
Rosepelt hesitated, taking in Gorse’s shyness. She smiled and ran forward, pressing her nose to his cheek.
“I need to head out, but I’ll meet you again, right?” She mewed, looking into his eyes. “Two days after the gathering?” She asked, waiting for his reply.
He merely nodded and sat down, curling his bushy tamil over his paws as she crouched down, waggling her haunches and leaped from the clearing.

“Hey, Rosepelt!” Pinkstar called to her as she padded back into camp, two mice and the starling. She looked up as the leader called her name and she hurried forward, dropping her prey on the freshkill pile and trotted to meet her leader.
“What is it Pinkstar?” Rosepelt asked as she reached her.
“Who do you think should go to the gathering tomorrow?” Pinkstar asked, glancing around the clearing at the cats that were eating or sharing tongues.
Rosepelt turned to scan the clearing.
Amberpaw was batting at a butterfly, Jaggedscar was wolfing down a robin, Ryestripe, Russetfoot, and Rushfur were talking, Quickear led his hunting party back into camp, followed by Redflame, Aspenleg and Spireheart, loaded with prey. Songpool was lounging in the sun, her white fur seemed to glow in the sunlight.
“Well, really, it’s your decision, but I think Amberpaw should come to this one, she is getting close to her warrior ceremony.” Rosepelt commented, turning back to meet Pinkstar’s gaze.
Her leader nodded thoughtfully.
“And probably Quickear should come too, since he’s her mentor.” Pinkstar meowed.
Rosepelt nodded silently.
“We should bring Redflame, he’s been itching to be at a gathering for a couple moons.” Rosepelt glanced over at Pinkstar. Redflame hadn’t been to the last three gatherings, so it only seemed fair. Pinkstar dipped her head in agreement as Rosepelt went on.
“Ryestripe, Russetfoot, and Rushfur need to go, it’ll be their first gathering as warriors.”
Rosepelt said, not taking her eyes off the camp. Just as she was talking, Peonyear padded softly from her den, stretching as the sun hit her pelt.
“Obviously Peonyear and I will be coming.” Rosepelt said, but added a small hint to the end of her voice as for it to be almost asking.
She then waited a few moments before speaking again.
“I think Birchneedle deserves to come to the gathering, he’s been working hard lately.” Rosepelt glanced toward the warriors den where Birchnedle was sleeping after going on the dawn patrol, then hunting, and was scheduled for the sunset patrol.
“Yes, yes.” Pinkstar nodded in agreement, her bushy tail flicking calmly. “You have good insight, I’m glad I chose you as my deputy, Rose.” Rosepelt turned toward her leader, there was something about how Pinkstar had said that sentence that made Rosepelt’s fur stand on end.
“Thank you, Pinkstar.” Rosepelt dipped her head in respect.
“Well,” Pinkstar said, whisking her bushy tail across the ground after an awkward amount of silence as they both stared at each other, Pinkstar’s eyes seemed to hide a menacing glint behind them. “That should be good. I will think of what to say.” PInkstar flicked her ear and turned, padding back to her den with her tail sweeping close to the ground.
Rosepelt stared after her for a few moments, then shook her head and turned away, she felt like Pinkstar was hiding something terrible, specifically pointed at her. Rosepelt’s head swam as she padded to the warriors den.
Does she hate me? Rosepelt thought, her eyes fixed on her den.
No… that wouldn’t make sense. Why would she have chosen me as deputy if she didn’t like me? Rosepelt’s tail twitched, this was frustrating, why couldn’t she just figure out why PInkstar seemed to be acting weird?
Did she just choose me as deputy so she could get rid of me more easily? Rosepelt’s fur spiked.
No, no. She pushed her way through the lichen and into the cool, shaded den.
But it would make sense… if I was just a warrior it would be weird if I just happened to die when I went with her somewhere, but her deputy would make more sense…
Rosepelt curled up in her nest, narrowing her eyes to slits to watch the entrance of the den and soaking in the sounds of the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees.

Rosepelt leaped through the forest next to Pinkstar on their way to the gathering. The patrol thundered through the forest, paws thrumming against the ground, scaring prey back into their dens.
“I wonder who will be there?” Rosepelt wondered aloud as she and Pinkstar leaped over a fallen tree with an easy bound /> Pinkstar shrugged and started to slow, bringing her pace to a fast trot.
Rosepelt flicked her tail and slowed as well.
The patrol went silent, slowly walking forward.
Rosepelt fell back, letting Pinkstar take the lead.
The trees slowly started to diminish as the patrol followed the well-trodden path to Homeland.
Suddenly, Pinkstar paused, sticking her tail straight up.
The patrol stopped completely, other than a hushing from the back of the patrol.
Rosepelt crouched down, flattening herself completely so her front legs were completely spread forward and her back legs were low and tucked beneath her. Pinkstar sat down, her ears flicking.
Then, her tail flew down, hitting the ground with a thud, time seemed to slow for a second and the very moment her tail reached the ground, the Clan rushed forward, racing past their leader like a river running around a rock.
Rosepelt hit the edge of the clearing and kicked off, soaring through the air and letting out a small yowl to announce their arrival. All the eyes in the clearing flicked toward them as Rosepelt twisted in the air and landed, her chest puffed up in pride and her Clan lined up behind her before the gathering and Pinkstar leaped after her Clan.
The HeartClan leader trotted to the Quartz Rock and leaped up onto her ledge, curling her tail neatly around her paws, signalling to her Clan to sit.
Rosepelt padded through the crowd to her place under the rock and Peonyear headed the other way.
“Well, why don’t we begin, since all the Clans are present.” Whitestar called out.
Pinkstar dipped her head, along with Bluestar and Yellowstar.
“Then I shall start.” Whitestar meowed after confirming. “SoulClan is thriving, our Medicine cat stayed at camp today to treat a couple wounds from a fox we drove from our borders last night, we will be picking up patrols from now on.” With her last words, she narrowed her eyes but Rosepelt didn’t miss the glance that she had at Pinkstar, just below her.
“Yellowstar? Would you like to go next?” Whitestar sat back down at her place.
Yellowstar dipped her head and stood up, her pelt seemed just brown in the dark, not perfectly faded from yellow to brown like it did in daylight.
“MightClan is doing well, prey is plentiful with the good weather. I would just like to mention we have found some strange scents at our borders, out of any Clan we know, or animals, has any other Clan had any problems?” Yellowstar glanced at the other leaders.
Whitestar shook her head, Bluestar shrugged, and Pinkstar murmured a no, obviously distracted by something else.
“Alright, that is all I have to say.” Yellowstar sat down.
Bluestar stood up, her pelt gleaming in the moonlight.
“SpiritClan is doing well,” Her voice was smooth, kind sounding, but her eyes were hard and slitted. “We have two new warriors, welcome Lavendarsong and Lilyspot!”
The Clans cheered, their voices echoing around the hollow.
“Lavendarsong! Lilyspot!” Rosepelt yowled, joining in.
“That is all we have to report. Pinkstar?”
As Bluestar sat down, Pinkstar stood up, her bushy tail waving and her pale eyes glowing.
“HeartClan is proud to report we have three new warriors, Russetfoot, Rushfur, and Ryestripe!”
The Clans took up the names, congratulating the young warriors. Rosepelt glanced behind her and saw the three sisters proudly taking compliments.
Rosepelt smiled, happy at the harmony within the four Clans. The air was warm and prey was plentiful, making every Clan happy and well fed.
She remembered her own warrior ceremony, and when it had been announced at a gathering. It had been leaffall, and Pinkstar had been trying to make some more warriors by leafbare.
“That is all. If all the other leaders have nothing else to say, shall we call this gathering to an end?” Pinkstar glanced up at the other leaders, and when they all shook their heads, she took a deep breath and called out, “This gathering is over, every Clan head home. May StarClan light your paths.” She stood up and leaped down from the rock, landing right near Rosepelt.
Rosepelt stood up and stretched, normally it wouldn’t make her legs sore to sit for so long, but the ground was colder at night.
Pinkstar headed for the edge of the clearing while Rosepelt called everyone together.
They leaped up the large rocks that led back to camp while the other Clans went their separate ways.
“Well, that was a pretty fast gathering.” Roseeptl commented to Pinkstar when they were passing through their own territory.
“Yes, well, there is not much to report, and the Clans are at peace, it is a good thing that gatherings are fast.” Her voice was solemn.
“Well, yes. But that one was a bit too fast…” She lifted her nose to the air, suddenly smelling something she didn’t recognize.
Pinkstar glanced over at her.
Suddenly, without warning, Rosepelt hared away, fear making her legs strong.
Immediately, the rest of the Clan followed her, not questioning.
As she burst into camp, her fears were confirmed.
A huge badger was facing off against the small number of warriors left in camp.
It was only Songpool, Jaggedscar, Spireheart and Aspenleg.
Wait, but Gingerleg was here too. Rosepelt stiffened, her body rigid with panic.
“Help!” Only a screech from Songpool knocked her back into reality.
Jaggedscar was facing the badger, snarling ferociously at it while Aspenleg had jumped onto its back.
Rosepelt dove into camp, grabbing the badger's teeth in her jaws and biting down.
The badger roared and spun around to slash at her, but Rosepelt had retreated to the edge of the clearing already.
Amberpaw rushed forward, her small body easily sliding under the badger's stomach.
She slashed, opening up a giant wound on the badger's stomach.
The badger yelped with agony as Pinkstar leaped forward, slashing at its muzzle.
Aspenleg leaped from its back and joined The rest of the Clan in front of the badger. Rosepelt followed.
When the badger saw the cats lined up in front of it, its beady eyes narrowed, and with a snort, it lumbered from camp.
“Any serious wounds?” Peonyear called as it disappeared.
“Where’s Gingerleg?!” Rosepelt yowled loudly.
It was barely dawn and the sky was dark grey, but light enough to be able to see around camp.
“She was guarding the camp, didn’t you see her when you came in?” Songpool’s misty blue eyes were wide.
Rosepelt didn’t waste a second to think, she just turned and ran out of the camp.
As soon as she burst through the bracken she noticed that the blood scent was a lot stronger here, she hadn’t noticed earlier because of her hurry and she had just expected that it was wafting from the camp.
She lifted her head to the morning sky and took a deep breath.
“Ginger! Gingerleg! Where are you?” Her scratch echoed around the forest before she heard a low moan from deeper in the forest.
Rosepelt slowly padded forward, making sure to step lightly so she could hear where Gingerleg was.
The fur along her spine rose as she saw a trail of blood that led into a patch of ferns.
By the look of it, Gingerleg had dragged herself into the bushes.
Rosepelt followed the trail into the ferns and gasped when she saw her friend.
Gingerleg was obviously unconscious. Her head was laid back on the grass, her eyes clouded and dead-looking. Her mouth was hanging open, and her whole body was covered with blood.
Rosepelt stood over her friend for a minute, shocked, then started to lick her friend’s fur.
If she could wash off the blood, she could figure out where her wounds were and try to stop the bleeding.
Gingerleg whimpered, her paws twitching.
Rosepelt’s eyes filled with tears as she lapped rhythmically along her friend’s pelt. Every time she cleared blood off of one wound and moved onto the next, blood was already pouring from the first one.
Rosepelt gritted her teeth, trying to keep lapping at Gingerleg’s long fur.
“Someone help!” She yowled, her tears dripping onto Gingerleg’s pelt.
She dug her claws into the ground to keep them from shaking. She couldn’t risk falling over when Gingerleg needed her help.
The blood that had soaked the ground had covered her paws, turning them from pink to red in heartbeats. Her muzzle was covered with blood, too, from Gingerleg’s wounds.
Her heart was beating rapidly, just what seemed like moments before she had been sitting at Homeland, watching her Clan assemble and Pinkstar announce their arrival.
Just two days ago she had met with Gorse.
Her tongue was starting to get sore but she refused to stop lapping at Gingerleg’s pelt.
She was starting to feel dizzy but she dug her claws into the ground, flattening her ears.
She heard voices coming near and paws thudding on the ground as Peonyear, Pinkstar, and Amberpaw came into sight.
“Help!” She called, her tongue barely moving enough to make out a word.
Peonyear sat down beside Gingerleg so fast that Rosepelt took a step back, surprised.
“Keep lapping at her pelt.” Peonyear ordered, looking through the herbs she had brought.
“Amberpaw, hold her shoulder down, like this.” She demonstrated by holding her paws down on Gingerleg’s shoulder forcefully.
“Her shoulder is dislocated.” Peonyear spoke fast even though she was panting from running.
“Pinkstar, if Gingerleg wakes up I need you to hold her legs down, do that now.”
Pinkstar rushed to follow her orders.
Rosepelt didn’t stop licking but narrowed her eyes in confusion. Pinkstar was leader, she had much more authority than Peonyear, yet she followed her commands and didn’t question her whatsoever.
“Okay,” Peonyear sighed and placed her tiny paws carefully onto Gingerleg’s leg.
Rosepelt glanced up and saw the concentration on Peonyear’s face as she shoved Gingerleg’s leg up with such force that Rosepelt winced.
There was a pop and then Gingerleg’s eyes seemed to glow with life as she screeched, paws flailing.
Rosepelt stepped back, frightened, and looked over at Peonyear who was just rummaging through her herbs.
Gingerleg stopped screeching, her paws going limp once again.
Amberpaw had run away but now emerged from some ferns, her bright blue eyes embarrassed but also scared.
Rosepelt fixed her eyes back on her friend.
Gingerleg was back unconscious, her eyes cloudy again.
“Take this.” Peonyear was shoving a stick covered in cobweb at Rosepelt.
Rosepelt grabbed it and started to wrap the cobweb around her paw.
Peonyear was plastering herbs onto Gingerleg’s wounds.
Once Rosepelt had finished she started to cover the herbs with the cobweb to keep it in place. At first she had to go slow, being careful and making sure she was doing it right, but as she moved onto the fourth one she was starting to get the hang of it. She couldn’t do it as fast as Peonyear but she thought she was doing well.
Once she had finished she helped Peonyear haul Gingerleg onto Pinkstar’s back and take her back to camp.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two

Wind blew through Rosepelt’s fur as she padded through the forest.
Greenleaf was turning to leaffall, making the woods cold and the prey scarce.
She was supposed to be gathering herbs for Peonyear because she was busy. Rosepelt didn’t like the fact she was doing apprentice work but when she had complained Pinkstar had told her it was that or cleaning out old bedding.
Amberpaw, Spireheart, and Songpool were weaving now bramble stems into the warriors den, Pinkstar, Jaggedscar, and Birchneedle were getting new nests for the warriors, Redflame, Aspenleg, Quickear, and Gingerleg were hunting, Ryestripe and Rushfur were getting more brambles for the dens, and Russetfoot was cleaning out the bedding in the medicine den.
At least Rosepelt didn’t need to be cooped up in camp with almost everyone else, though the cold air didn’t make her like it out in the forest either.
Rosepelt sighed and looked around, searching for herbs.
Another wind blew and she fluffed up her pelt, trying to stay warm- or at least warmer than she was now.

“Did you find much?” Peonyear met her when she padded into camp, her eyes hopeful.
Rosepelt dropped her mouthful of herbs. She had found a bit of borage, some tansy, a couple stalks of yarrow, and goldenrod.
“Well, I can’t say this is bad, I expected less than this, really. Good job.” She added through a mouthful of herbs.
Rosepelt glanced around camp and then decided to join in on the bramble weaving.
“You’ve done good, go get some prey.” She told Amberpaw as she reached the warriors den.
“Thanks!” Amberpaw ran away to the fresh kill pile with her tail up.
Rosepelt turned back to the den and spotted the bramble Amberpaw had been weaving.
Rosepelt tucked it into the rest and grabbed another stalk from the pile next to her.
The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky by now, making the sun point straight at her.
She squinted as she worked, her pads were scraped and scratched from the brambles but she was set on reinforcing the den. It would be worth it for the warmth in the leafbare.
The patrols had returned and cats were starting to settle around the clearing, sharing prey and savouring the last of the evening light.
Rosepelt tucked the last of the brambles into the den and dropped back onto her paws, shaking out the leaves and sticks in her fur.
She headed over to the freshkill pile and grabbed a sparrow.
Her fur waved in the wind and her eyes sparkled in the setting sun.
She sat down in a comfy spot near Pinkstar’s den and began to wash her pelt.
She was hungry but she knew once she had eaten she would sleep so she wanted to wash now.
Once she was done washing her fur was smooth but still fluffy, she never slicked it down all the way because her fur looked good fluffy, if she smoothed it down completely it would itch and she would look much smaller. She also just liked it when her fur would wave in the wind.
By the time she bit into her prey the sun was almost gone and the clearing was washed with twilight light. Most cats had gone back to the warriors den.
The reason they had only reinforced the warriors den was because Amberpaw was just one apprentice and would be allowed to sleep in the warriors den even she was an apprentice, and Pinkstar’s den was carved out in a rock so she didn’t need more brambles, and if she got too cold she could sleep in the warriors den, too.
They’d had to make the warriors' den much bigger not long ago, when Russetfoot, Rushfur, and Ryestripe had become warriors, it had been way too small.
Rosepelt smiled, her Clan had come up with so many plans of how to combat the cold.
Suddenly, her body seemed to turn to ice. Something was behind her.
She immediately turned, unsheathing her claws and baring her teeth.
“Hey, Rose.” It was Gorse, his yellow eyes glowed in the dark.
“What are you doing here?” Rosepelt hissed, sheathing her claws and dropping her mew to a whisper.
“I-I was thinking and-”
“Do you know how much trouble I could get in?” Roseplt’s eyes sparked with fury.
“I just-”
“No. No. Apparently you hadn’t thought about anything if you thought you would be even the slightest bit welcome here.” Gorse’s eyes shone with hurt.
“I wanted to ask-”
“Shut up!” Rosepelt immediately blinked, her anger disappearing. “I’m sor-”
“No, it’s alright. I’ll just go back to twolegplace.” He turned to leave.
“No! Gorse, I-” she cut herself off.
“What?” Gorse looked at her over his shoulder.
“What do you need?” Rosepelt sighed, she didn’t want to be heard but she couldn’t just send Gorse away.
“I wanted to ask to join your Clan. Winter is coming and I don’t want to live off of kittypet food again. Your clan would welcome me, right? Because I'm your mate?”
Rosepelt’s mouth hung open. She was shocked into silence at the amazing amount of things wrong with that response.
“Wha- I- you-” She was at a loss for words. “The fact that you’re my mate is one of the many, many reasons you can’t join my Clan. Listen, Gorse,”-She sat down, curling her tail over her paws and trying her best to stay calm- “I know how bad kittypet food tastes, and I know leafbare is cold and hard to bear, but I can't let you join my clan. I am deputy and if I announced you as my mate, or even offered to let you join I would probably be kicked out, or at the very least be removed from my deputy position. I’ve wanted to be leader for so long, and even though I love you, I can't give that up. Also, your own reasons contradict you. Leafbare affects everyone, not just rogues- not just you- and since you would be a new member you would have to learn our ways, and you would just be another mouth to feed until you do learn, which would take a while. Gorse, I’m sorry but I can't help you.” She finished with a sweep of her tail and a sigh.
Gorse didn’t say anything, just kept walking. Rosepelt hung her head low, feeling more tired than ever.
“What in StarClan was that about?” Rosepelt jumped, startled, and turned to see Gingerleg standing behind her.
“I-I-” her eyes grew large.
Gingerleg’s eyes narrowed.
“How much did you hear?” Rosepelt asked, heer whole body was shaking and her mind was screaming at her but she forced herself to be calm, sinking her claws into the ground to keep her composure.
“Almost everything. I’m surprised you didn’t notice me, you’re normally so vigilant.” Gingerleg faced her calmly.
“I can- I can explain- I-” Rosepelt couldn’t talk right, her mind couldn’t think of any words to say, but obviously it could yell at her for not noticing that Gingerleg had been watching her.
“I just came to see if you were coming to your nest for the night only to see you talking to him.” Gingerleg flicked her tail toward where Gorse had disappeared.
Rosepelt slowly nodded, knowing she wouldn’t be able to make up words right now.
“Is he really your mate? I thought you would never take one. I always saw you as one to be self independent.”
“Well, since you’re my friend and you already know enough to have me exiled from the clan- gorse and i have been mates for five moons, we met when i saw him wandering around the forest. I went to warn him off and, well, he-”
“It’s alright. I won’t tell.” Gingerleg turned to leave, waving her tail as if she had just said something normal.
“Wait!” Rosepelt took a step after her.
Gingerleg turned, her eyes still narrowed to slits. “What is it?” She flicked her ears. “ Do you want me to tell Pinkstar? It would be my pleasure if you do.” She took a couple steps toward the leader's den.
“No!” Rosepelt held herself back from leaping at her. “It’s alright. Never mind. I’ll be there in a moment.”
Gingerleg turned again without a word and padded to the warrior’s den.

Rospelt opened and closed her mouth many times before she just sat down, not wanting to return to the warrior’s den.
Her head spun, Gorse had tried to join her Clan, her biggest secret had just been discovered by one of her best friends.
She shivered, it was completely dark now and shadows seemed to creep toward her, consuming her.

Chapter Text

Chapter Three

Rosepelt bit into her mouse, eyes glazed over as she worried about Gingerleg. She could be exiled for the information Gingerleg knew. The mouse tasted like dirt in her mouth as she dug her claws into the ground. She thought she could trust Gingerleg with that information because she was her best friend, but the more she thought of it the more she remembered Gingerleg's angry face and forgot her promise. She hardly noticed when Peonyear came and sat down beside her with a small vole. "Something bothering you?" She glanced over at her. Rosepelt felt her face turn red. Was her anxiety that obvious.
" it's not hard to tell. With the amount of confidence that you normally have, the second you aren't completely aware of everything around you its a bad sign. " Peonyear bit into her vole, turning her attention back to the clearing as she chewed. Rosepelt looked at her paws, embarrassed She took a deep breath, composing herself. She straightened her back, narrowed her eyes, and pricked her ears.
"There we go." Peonyear didn't move her sight away from the camp.
Rosepelt rolled her eyes and took another bite of her mouse and looked away.

She pricked her ears as Pinkstar and Gingerleg walked from Pinkstar's den. Pinkstar began to pad toward her and Peonyear. Rosepelt's heart started to beat faster.
Pinkstar walked up, dipping her head to Peonyear and turning to Rosepelt. "I would like to talk to you. Now." Rosepelt's ears pinned back in fear. Her throat tightened. She couldn't leave the Clan! But Gingerleg promised!
Peonyear gave her a weird look as she pushed herself to her paws shakily, trying to calm herself down. She took a deep breath and followed her leader.

Pinkstar padded into her den and sat down in her nest neatly. Her eyes giving nothing away. She flicked her tail for Rosepelt to sit down. She couldn't sit still, figeting and eyes darting all around. "I-" Pinkstar started.
"Listen, I'm sorry! I-" Rosepelt burst out, cutting Pinkstar off.
"For what?" Pinkstar's eyes glimmered with confusion.
Rosepelt went bright red.
"Nothing." She mumbled, looking at her paws. "Anyway," Pinkstar looked and sounded confused but she went on, not questioning Rosepelt.
" I believe SoulClan might be planning to invade us. Whitestar was very hostile- more than normal- at the last gathering. I have also had reports that SoulClan has been scented in our borders. I was going to go to the SoulClan camp and I wanted you to accompany me there. I know they might attack while we are gone, that is why I just want it to be me and you. Gingerleg will be in charge until we get back. " Pinkstar narrowed her eyes.
" Of course. When are you planning to go? " Rosepelt felt much less worried but her heart was still beating hard. She tried to stay calm but it was hard to.
" We will be leaving tonight. "

Rosepelt dipped her head, trying to calm herself down as she stood, backing from the den. The second she emerged into the clearing she let out a huge sigh, hunching down in exhaustion as she reassured herself that she would be fine.
Once she straightened up and narrowed her eyes to keep her normal demeanour she noticed Peonyear and Gingerleg sitting next to eachother Gingerleg grinned at her and Peonyear rolled her eyes.
Rosepelt flattened her eyes in annoyance and walked over to them, settling herself back to where she was before.

The Rosepelt blinked open her eyes to see the warriors den just start to fill with milky dawn as the sun rose into the clear sky and shone over the misty forest. She yawned, slowly pushing herself to her paws to stretch. She was really tired but she hoped it didn't show as she walked from the den, stepping around her clanmates and watching for tails. She hadn't been able to sleep well into the night and she was only asleep far after midnight, since that was the last time she was the sky. When she emerged into the chilly morning she shivered, not used to being outside in the weather rather than inside a den that was warmed by many cats. She looked around, only Spireheart, Quickear, and Ryestripe were awake, but it was enough for the dawn patrol. Spireheart was eating an old mouse, Ryestripe was grooming herself, and Quickear was sitting my the entrance of the camp, obviously ready for patrol. "Quickear! Spireheart! Ryestripe!" She called, stepped forward, closer to the center of the clearing. All of them looked toward her and came to meet her in the middle of the camp. "I want you three to do the dawn patrol. Be wary of the SoulClan border. They've been agressive. And try to bring back some prey. Don't go out of your way for it but it's always good to have prey in the morning, before the hunting patrol gets back." When she finally finished her orders she stopped, wondering why she had talked so much. Quickear dipped his head first. "Of course." He started to head toward the camp enterance and the other two followed, falling in behind him.