Warrior Cats: Venom

2

The rivers were your guide.

They flowed through the territories and connected everything together.

Without them there would be no clans.

No life.

Roseripple had grown along these rivers. She knew that as long as these waters were safe, then so were the clans. That's what the light she-cat was taught as all warriors were.

She remembers a time when they weren't.

When the large group of rouges came from no where. The leader demanding their group as the true cats of the forest. The clan leaders denied his request, and in retaliation they had started war with the clans.

Roseripple was an apprentice when it happened, but it doesn't stop the nightmares. The battles and deaths, the wounds of her siblings and friends. Even the brutal murder of Emberstar had burned a way into her memory.

No one knew how many lives the old leader had, but the wound the rogue inflicted was enough to take them all. In her dreams Roseripple can see it clear as day. The large hole in the leaders throat. The sight of endless blood. The smell.

It took moons for the clans to put aside differences and join together. In one last fight they drove the rogues back to whatever shadows they had come from.

They won, but lost many warriors in the process.

Roseripple shivered. The air was still cold, even though it was the start of Newleaf. She wondered if there was even going to be a warm Greenleaf. Her thoughts were interrupted by a tortoiseshell she-cat.

"Roseripple, did you even here me?" Asked the she-cat

The lighter cat could feel the heat grow on her face. Owlpoppy was her childhood friend, and ever since then Roseripple found her to be one the prettiest she-cats in the clan. The tortoiseshell was friendly, and kind. She was there when Roseripple was grieving her brother, and she was the first one to greet her after receiving her warrior name.

She was perfect.

"No. I'm sorry, Owlpoppy." She answered.

The tortoiseshell rolled her eyes and smiled, "Well I was asking you what you thought about that gathering."

"Oh." Roseripple cocked her head to the side, "It was definitively... something."

Owlpoppy snorted, "Definitely. You think Hailstar is going to try anything?"

"I don't think so. We're all still healing from the last fight."

"Yeah."

There was a sad silence that hung between them. It wasn't just Roseripple who lost everything. Many cats did. Owlpoppy had lost her sister, and that not only hurt her but Skunknose too. She was his apprentice.

Crowsun had lost his mate, and Stormripple had lost her leg and eye. Iceheart and Aspenpelt lost their kits, Brindlespirit lost her ears, and Featherstar had lost the cat he had looked up to as a father.

So many cats died. So many in all the clans.

"How's Aspenpelt doing?" The tortoiseshell asked.

Roseripple hesitated, "She's okay."

"I didn't expect her to take that kit." Owlpoppy murmured.

"...Neither did I."

Ashenpelt had two kits, and took a rogue as her own. Her decision to care for the kit shocked the clan, as the light brown tabby was known to despise the rouges. Her mate Ratespiral was angry at her for it, and the two would constantly argue. It left their relationship cracked, and only worsened when one of the kits died. Roseripple was the one who would comfort Aspenpelt, and even though the two never got along in their apprenticeships, they developed somewhat of a mutual bond later on.

No one knew the origin of the kit, and Ashenpelt never told.

"But she did." Owlpoppy said quickly, "And that's all that matters."

Roseripple nodded, "I wonder who will be their mentors."

"You would make a good one."

The lighter she-cat looked at the other shocked, "Me?"

Owlpoppy laughed, "Of course you."

"I don't think I'm ready for one yet." Roseripple muttered, "What if I mess up?"

"Don't be ridiculous." The tortoiseshell purred, "You've been a warrior for almost four seasons now, and you won't be alone either. You can always come to me."

Roseripple felt the heat rise up in her cheeks and she looked away, "Thank you."

The other she-cat purred loudly and bumped her head against Roseripple's shoulders. She smiled and turned back to look at Owlpoppy. The two smiled at each other, and then a voice yelled out.

"We're here!"