-[ Warriors: With The Fallen ]-

Part One: Chapter Five~ Betrayal

(A couple sunrises later...)

A sharp jab to her side jostled Rose'paw awake. Startled, she jumped up to face her attacker; her haunches bunched up.

She heard wrestling to her side, and quickly spun around. A small smirk played at her muzzle. Rose'paw knew Mist'paw had probably just rammed into her. She readied herself for the play fight.

When she turned, she saw Dusted'paw and Mist'paw wrestled towards the entrance of the Apprentice Den, where there was more room.

"Sorry!" Mist'paw threw an apology among the rising laughter.

Rose'paw plopped back down. "It's okay,"

She remembered roughhousing with Mist'paw not too long ago. She even would've considered her to be one of her best friends. Now, Mist'paw hardly spent any time with her or Night'paw. Only with Dusted'paw.

Rose'paw turned to Night'paw. The she-cat had woken up from their loud commotion. She blinked wearily at the tumbling cats.

"Would you mind calming down?" Night'paw hissed; clearly irritated. "It's barely sunrise, and some of us are trying to sleep,"

She watched as Dusted'paw gave her a small nod. He darted outside, with Mist'paw at his heels. She was too distracted to even acknowledge their friend's words.

Rose'paw sighed. She curled back up in her nest right beside Night'paw's. At least the two still had each other.

'We'll always have each other,' She thought with a small hum.

As she settled back down to try to get a wink more of sleep, she saw Feather'paw staring right at her.

~*~

She woke up again by a small nudge. Rose'paw turned around to see Night'paw. She smiled at her friend.

"Oh good! You're up," She grinned back.

She tapped Night'paw with her snout, "Tag, you're it!"

Rose'paw dashed outside. She could hear Night'paw tumble after her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Feather'paw trot out of the Apprentice Den. Alone.

She felt a pang of sympathy for the tom. Then pushed it away.

'He can't just act like we're fine again, after what he did,' Rose'paw reminded herself bitterly.

Rose'paw had slowed down to a trot. She watched as Fog'star slowly made his way out of his den.

Rose'paw remembered with a flash of what had happened. About a moon ago, she and Feather'paw snuck out to go to a Gathering. Neither had ever gone to one. They had always seemed so exciting, but each time a different pair of Apprentices got selected. So, he took her out to go.

Rose'paw remembered the large valley — Way bigger than Cloud'clan's valley; nestled around all of their hills. So many cats filled up every area. Apprentices, Warriors, Leaders, Medicine cats, even a couple elders. Everyone mixed in and talking to one another.

She remembered the excitement she felt. However, Feather'paw wanted something more. The two stayed hidden beside a large shrub. Feather'paw just trotted out of there, like it was nothing.

Of course he got caught. That mouse-brained fool.

When he did, he blamed it on Rose'paw. That Rose'paw had pushed him to do it, even when he kept refusing, over, and over again. Then, Feather'paw being Feather'paw, everyone believed him. Because how could perfect little Feather'paw ever lie?

She had been so furious. She still was so furious.

"Boop!" Night'paw chirped as she tapped Rose'paw, "You're it,"

She scowled, and prepared herself to rush back at Night'paw. "You only got me because I slowed down!"

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather under the boulders for a clan meeting," Fog'star called out.

Fog'star rambled off about Petal'toe, the queen who had recently moved into the Nursery, and her new kits. Everyone awed. Little kits were just so cute!

Soon, Sound'kit would be big enough to become an apprentice. She never really knew Sound'kit, but remembered him as a newborn. The soft-pelted tom had a bold demeanor. —That's as far as it went for what she knew about him.

It unnerved her how Feather'paw kept looking back at her. His eyes were wide; desperate to tell her something.