BloodClan: To love a killer

Chapter 7

Briarrose opened her eyes, stood up and stretched. She shook her pelt as if it was full of icy water. Her gaze travelled out the den, and she saw Sparrowleg setting out patrols. She athletically leaped out onto the lip of the dumpster and down next to the deputy. She fealt as if she could run to fourtrees and back.

"Hi Sparrowleg!" She said, startling the tabby tom. "Need any patrols on the edge of the forest?"

The deputie's whiskers twitched in amusement. "You seem better?" He enquired.

"Starclan...showed me something." Briarrose answered.

"A vision?"

"More like a ceremony..." The brindle warrior explained. "At highstones."

Sparrowleg raised an eyebrow, but said nothing further. "Well, Berrytail and Badgerfang are going along our thunderclan border...go tell them I said you could come."

Briarrose bounded over to the black toms, her green eyes shining. She told the brothers Sparrowlegs message and the three left camp, led by Berrytail. Soon, He told the group that his kits, carried by Sootfur, were soon going to be born. Briarrose thought this was wonderful news. She wondered when Thrushfeather and Leafdapples kits would be apprentices. They were nearly six moons old, so it couldn't be long.

Before long, they got to the border. Briarrose stood on a hill, off in the distance, she could just see highstones. A breeze ruffled her fur. "When will you be back, my love." She murmured, before heading back along the border. The trio crept through the forest, scent marking every now and again. A rustle caught   her attention. The brindle warrior stalked through a shrub and came into a clearing of cats.

Many cats stood in the clearing. At the head of the army, stood a white cat with dark brown points. Behind her stood a ginger-and-white tom and a ginger she-cat with a white underbelly. A little kit, with orange points, stood between her mother's paws. Briarrose could catch some of the conversation.

"I don't know Para," said a White she-cat. "You've seen how them foresters fight."

"Trust me Louise," Para insisted. "We outnumber them. And Montgomery can find some loners to help...or...not" the siameese smiled at a black tom with a white chest. Fear flashed across his face. Then a cream she-cat with a black paw stepped in.

"If you kill him, Para,I will personally cut open your face and gouge out your brain." She said.

"Now, now, Karen," said Para. "We wouldn't want for you to disappear too now would we?"

"Alright!" Said Louise. "We'll come at full moon. The four big trees, with every loner we have." Louise looked at the ground.

"But mom!" Shouted Karen.

"No buts!" Said her mother sternly. "Now go! All of you!"

The sea of cats dispersed and only Karen, Para and her family were left. Karen glared at the loner, Before opening her mouth. "I'll talk her out of it. You need to find some other mindless army!" Louise turned and ran for her daughter, but Para got there first.

With the ease of a knife through butter, Para sliced clean through Karen's neck. The cream she-cat gasped, then crumpled to the ground, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Louise got to her and let out a bloodcurdling wail. Montgomery sprang to her side.

"No, no." He cried. "Karen! Karen!" He screamed, and broke down into sobs. "No, no, no! Karen, fight! Fight it! Please!" The she cat smiled weakly. "No...please. We were going to have sweet little she-cats, just like you! Please Karen!" Briarrose stiffened. That wound looked exactly like hers...even the same shape too. Was this an omen?

No, she realized. With the shock of falling into cold water, she realized it was a warning. If she was not careful around Para, she would end up like Karen. Briarrose withdrew from the bush, rejoining the patrol. She told them what she saw.

"I think it would be best to tell Scourge when he gets back." Remarked Berrytail.

His brother nodded and they continued. Soon, they were in their part of the forest. She was two tail-lengths behind the brothers, happily chatting away.

Briarrose walked, feeling the grass underpaw. Rustle. She stopped, straining her ears to listen out again. As she turned, a cat dropped down on her from above, and she landed on her side. The cat had its paws on her shoulders, and she rolled over onto her back as her claws came unsheathed.

When she met his ice blue eyes, she let out a trill of joy. "Scourge!" She leaned forwards and pressed her nose into his neck fur, her paws circling his neck. "I'm so happy to see you!" The couple rolled onto their sides, nuzzling each other. Berrytail coughed awkwardly. Scourge pulled away and sat up. He smiled at her and she saw his tail flick, as if to say don't worry, there'll be plenty of that tonight. She sat beside him and covered his ears with licks. He chuckled.

"C'mon, Rosey, let's get back to camp,"he told her. "There's a ceremony I'd like to do."

~*~

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the dumpster for a clan meeting!" Scourge's yell echoed throughout the camp. Leafkit, Shellkit, Mothkit and Bramblekit exited the nursery followed by Thrushfeather. The queen sat with her mate, Leafdapple, while their kits sat beneath the dumpster.

"Leafkit, Shellkit, Mothkit and Bramblekit. You have all reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Until you recurve your warrior names, you four will be known as Leafpaw, Shellpaw, Mothpaw and Bramblepaw!" He turned to the crowd. "Holly, you will be mentor to Leafpaw. Pass on your courage and swiftness to your apprentice." The grey she-cat nodded.

"I will do my best." She said and dipped her head.

"Moonsky ," said Scourge. "You have yet to receive an apprentice, but I know you will turn this sparky She-kit into a warrior of note. You will mentor Shellkit." The white she-cat nodded, seemingly as exited as her apprentice.

"Thank you, Scourge!" Said Moonsky. "I won't let BloodClan down!"

"I'm glad to hear it." He replied. "Silverthorn, you have mentored Minkfur, and I think it is time for you to take on another apprentice. You will mentor Mothkit." The sleek silver tom nodded enthusiastically and shot a reassuring glance at Mothkit. " Mossfoot, you will mentor Bramblepaw, I hope you will teach her your faith and unflinching loyalty, as well as learn to loosen up from her." Mossfoot nodded.

"I understand, Scourge." He meowed.

The apprentices touched noses with their new mentors as the Clan chanted, "Leafpaw! Shellpaw! Mothpaw! Bramblepaw!" Briarrose congratulated them and watched as they left for a tour of the territory. She jumped as Scourge landed down beside her.

"Hey," he said. "I was wondering if you'd like to come on a quick hunt with me." He winked.

"Just us?" She breathed.

"Just us. "He confirmed.