Warrior Cats: New Beginnings

Chapter 5: Ill-Fitting Piece

Rosepetal was pretty sure she hadn't run that far from camp. Perhaps the reason this walk back to camp seemed long because of the awkward silence between her and Weaselwhisker.  I thought he was too busy with his apprentice. she thought to herself spitefully.

Weaselwhisker cleared his throat. "Rosepetal... I'm sorry." When she didn't reply, he continued: "I know you were expecting Kelppaw as your apprentice. The whole clan was! But perhaps..." The yellow tom hesitated, but then continued, "But perhaps it was the right decision." 

Anger boiled inside her. She stopped in her tracks and glared at Weaselwhisker. "Of course it was the right decision!" she mewed sarcastically. "It was totally the right decision to not only publicly embarrass me by giving everyone in my age group in an apprentice but me, but also giving a cat who has been a warrior for two moons an apprentice he's barely talked to!" she hissed. "If you think that's the right decision, how dense are you?"

Weaselwhisker's fur bristled. "Think about it. Clearstar wants the apprentices to learn Riverclan techniques. Fishing. Swimming. Fighting like a Riverclan cat. Not to climb trees and catch birds." Rosepetal gave him a scathing glare. "So you're saying I'm not Riverclan enough?" He nodded. "Exactly." Weaselwhisker mewed. "Perhaps if you-" 

"Perhaps if I what?" Rosepetal exclaimed, her fur bristling and her tail lashing angrily. "Fish for a whole moon? Swim for a whole patrol? I've given Riverclan every ounce of strength and smarts and cunning for two years as a warrior, and what do I get? Mistrust and accusations thrown in my face!" Rosepetal met Weaselwhisker's gaze, his eyes a mixture of confusion and frustration. "I'm tired and sick of it. I shouldn't have to change myself just to get approval, if they'll even give it."

Weaselwhisker flattened his ears, curling his tail in frustration. "It's obvious you're too angry to talk logically right now." He turned away from, heading back to camp. "Talk to me when you start thinking rationally."

Rosepetal watched as the yellow top stalked away, annoyance shown in every pawstep. With and snort of anger, she turned and wandered to the riverbank. Her mind was spinning, chaotic withs thoughts and feelings, all of them too overwhelming. I need to calm down. I need to control myself. I need to... not want to claw everyone's' faces off. 

She laid down by the river, dipping a paw in the swift water. How long does it take to get to camp from here? Is he there yet? She shook her head, her gaze focusing on the reflected stars in the river. Rosepetal took a deep breath. And then another. And then another. She could feel herself slowly calming down, and slowly realizing what she'd said. 

"I'm a idiot." she murmured to herself. I was so mean. So hurtful. Part of her regretted what she'd said, but another part agreed with herself. She glanced up at the moon, and watched as it slowly rose to the middle of the sky. Once it had reached the center of the sky, she slowly rose to her paws and padded back to camp.

After all this... I just want to sleep.