Rootpaw's Death

[Snowlily]

Darkness engulfed the clearing. Everything was silent. Lenient winds stroked the plants that surrounded the glade. They whispered and sang lyrics that aroused the sweetness of the forest. The sun's rays lazily deluged into the darkness, until the fragile lights were devored by shadows. The plants danced in the wind's direction and smiled when the sun douched in. Melodious ballads of harmony twirled over the dust, making colors float and dance with the plants. The wind was the orchesta that created the music the forest danced with. A human being could never be part of this event, for such soul would be too corrupted to deserve this miracle. A cat wouldn't either, for their souls were almost as unethical as that of a human. Yet, there was a creature in this clearing, witnessing the phenomenon. It laid in the middle of the espectaculum and was curled in a tight furball. The wind chanted in its direction, and the forest's leaves pirouette around it. They were somehow aware of the creature's mortyfied feelings and did their best to sooth her. Then, abruptly, she began to quiver, and she woke up.

Terror furnished inside the swirling emerald pools of Snowlily. As soon as she woke up, the miracle around her demolished and everything remained quiet. The wind left no remains, and the forest stiffened. The femcat stood brusquely, unaware of what had happened. Her head tilted, her eyes completely reflecting her tremor. Then, when they finally settled, did she manage to sit down. Rootpaw, her deceased apprentice, had just appearead in her dreams. But not as a vision, no: As the memory of his death. Her mind had reviewed that horrendous episode of her life when her dear apprentice had been murdered. She had been traumatized by it and the vile dread of that scene had not relinquished her thoughts. 'Rootpaw...' was the word that crossed Snowlily's mind countless times.

[Brambleclaw]

The body of the small brown warrior lay buried deep in the earth. If one had ever cared to note his missing paw, and the growth that had sprouted. His spirit set free, pelting up to the stars. The voice, soft and melodic, like a small flute trilling out. And the call so familiar.

---

"Mother? Mother, are you there? Father? Anyone?" A lithe figure sprouting from the undergrowth that had tangled through her pelt.

"My babe." The she-cat's voice was rough, sweet like candy. Rootpaw savored it, allowing the soft sound to tumble through his mind.

"Mother, why did you leave? Why did you leave us? Did you not love us? Did you not love me? Why would you leave your kits? Even who we were, why?"

"I did not leave you, I was..." she stopped, sighing.

---

"Snowlily!" The same flute rang clear. Coated in dirt, body heaving as paws skidded over the earth. The cat, running swiftly on all four dusty paws. Flanks rising and falling swiftly. A sole cat shot like grease lightening into the clearing, stopping before his mentor. And the cat's wild gaze, full and anger and hate, suddenly revealed sympathy and pain.
"Snowlily..." the voice trailed.

[Snowlily]

The appearance of the cat into the clearing startled the wind and the forest. The wind began to bluster and the forest response was harsher. But none were as shocked as Snowlily, who merely stared at Rootpaw's outline, unable to believe what was going on. Sence then snapped her out of her thoughts. She was a Medicine Cat for StarClan's sake, she was supposed to interpret these kinds of omens. Hesitant, the she-cat's malachite eyes traced Rootpaw's transluscent frame. She headed in his direction, her paws imperceptibly grazing the dust. Only until their eyes met did she realize this was her apprentice. 'Rootpaw!' Snowlily exclaimed again and stretched her check to cuddle besides Rootpaw. But he did not have a body any longer, and her head declined gracelessly. Snap out of it! her mind told her. Of course, he was a spirit, he couldn't be hugged. Before Snowlily knew it, words made their way into her mouth. 'How did-- How are you?'

[Brambleclaw]

"Fine. I'll be better once this wears off." He nodded to his translucent body. He sat, quietly grooming himself. With each lick, a starlit piece fell from his pelt to the ground, where it vaporized. He smiled, rose.
"But more the question, how are you? Tell me I am not replaced." Rootpaw waltzed over to his mentor. "And don't worry. In a minute, I'll materialize, and be just like normal. Well, sort of..." Rootpaw let his voice trail away. He glanced off with his voice, not daring meet his mentor's soft gaze. She might ask, and he would have to answer. How?

[Snowlily]

'Materialization must be a very jubiliant process' Snowlily commented. 'The brain must feel very euphoric when it arranges the body's molecules once again after the painful dematerialization. Or so I was told by my uncle.' The femcat winked playfully at Rootpaw. Uncertain of how to react, she neared her former apprentice. 'Are you feeling better?' she asked, noticing his flesh layering above his blatant coat. She did not dare ask him if the wounds Canyonpaw had left behind were still burned to his skin. Then there was the question of Canyonpaw and why he had ambushed his brother in such a horrifying manner. Snowlily pushed those inquiries aside. She was patient enough to wait until Rootpaw fully returned to Earth before assaulting him with her questions.

[Brambleclaw]

Rootpaw did not smile at Snowlily's words. He remained silent, quietly contemplating how to speak with her.
"Did you give another kit my place?" Rootpaw glared at his mentor, deep into her soft gaze. His gaze was penetrating, hard and cold, unlike how he had been before. He seemed different, cold and cruel and hateful. He spat at the ground as he awaited her answer.

[Snowlily]

Snowlily frowned. Rootpaw had evidently become somebody darker and somber after his... departure. But she could not hide the truth. His spot had been taken by another apprentice and she had done nothing about it. Not that she could actually do something about it. Those were decitions she did not have any hierarchy on. And she could not deceive Rootpaw. 'Yes, your place was taken' Snowlily answered. 'But you weren't replaced' she added quickly. Maybe too quickly. 'The clan still misses you and I haven't even trained with Blue- the new apprentice at all. Nobody has forgotten you, and you can bet you're still a topic of conversation between others.' It was true. Rootpaw's death had been savage and the clan had not gotten over it yet. And he was a tender tom, many ShadowClanners still treasured his memory.

[Brambleclaw]

Rootpaw growled lowly. Bluepaw was probably what she meant, and nothing good of it either. Sighing, he looked away from his mentor.
"I came with valuable information on the afterlife." He meowed, a sly grin meandering slowly across his face. He licked his riffled fur, nodding. Valuable... He thought to himself.

[Snowlily]

Snowlily curtly nodded. 'My speech shouldn't delay you any longer. Please, proceed.' A message from StarClan should've startled any normal cat. But Snowlily wasn't a normal cat. She was used on receiving these messages. Still, she couldn't help a tinge of excitement, for the fact that she was face-to-face with her dear apprentice again.

[Brambleclaw]

"I have established a way to return from the dead."Rootpaw meowed, excitement nearly pouring from his voice. "Think, Snowlily, think! We could be the ultimate Clan! We could never die! We could go into battle, come back when killed, strike again! We could rule the forest!" Never before had Rootpaw been so... devious. His idea, though clever and just what you'd expect from a ShadowClanner. Yet Rootpaw had never been just any old ShadowClanner. Now he was a... a... a monster! Though the plan was almost foolproof. Ruling the forest could be fun...