A harsh leaf-bare wind buffeted the yellow grass and made the white fluffy clouds drift overhead, shifting the evening light. Roseblossom stood amongst her Clanmates on the ThunderClan border. Another border skirmish had broken loose.
Crystalflame had led the border patrol, with Frozenheart, Ambernight, Roseblossom, and Flamepath. The ThunderClan attackers consisted of Jaywatcher, Mistypool, Littlefrost, Hollyflower, Tawnyleaf, and Cinderibis. WindClan was outnumbered.
Roseblossom gazed around, gasping in shock as she saw Flamepath being swatted powerfully by Tawnyleaf. The huge tabby tom made Flamepath look meek in comparison. Roseblossom bunched her muscles, preparing to spring forward to defend her Clanmate. But a flash of gray fur beat her to him.
Frozenheart streaked forwards, slamming into Tawnyleaf. Tawnyleaf turned quickly to face his attacker, landing heftily on the gray tabby she-cat's back. Roseblossom gasped in horror. Tawnyleaf reached down and sunk his teeth into Frozenheart's throat. She tried to cry out, but her voice choked. He's going to kill her!
Flamepath crouched nearby, face welling with blood, unable to help. Roseblossom's paws seemed frozen to the peaty earth. A cat flung itself at Roseblossom, and fur covered her vision. Claws were raked down her side. Roseblossom twisted, lashing out. She had to help Frozenheart. She shook as hard as she could, knocking Littlefrost off. The small she-cat had been easy to knock off, light in weight.
But she was fierce. She blocked the path to Frozenheart. Roseblossom clawed at Littlefrost's ears, only wanting to defend herself. Littlefrost scored at Roseblossom's flank, and she gave out a gasp from the warm sting.
"Retreat..!" Roseblossom perked her ears at the distant cry of Crystalflame. She glanced at Littlefrost, who's muscles become less tense for only a moment, allowing Roseblossom to scramble away. She bounded up the rise, battered Clanmates beside her. But some were missing. Where's Frozenheart? Ambernight? Her chest tightened at the thought of her mate.
What if he was seriously injured? Or worse..? She skidded to a halt once they were a safe distance away. Crystalflame and Flamepath slowed beside her. Then she saw them. Ambernight was hauling a cat by the scruff up the rise. A wave of guilt washed over Roseblossom, and she couldn't help but shiver with sadness. Frozenheart's limp body lay at her paws. Roseblossom hadn't wanted to fight. Why can't there just be peace among the Clans? She glanced away, unable to look at her dead Clanmate. I could've saved her.
                             *•*•*•*•*•*•*
       Lush green grass brushed Roseblossom's paws. A wide sparkling river flowed gently in front of her. She was dreaming. Roseblossom sighed with relief at the warm sun and felt comforted. She hadn't had a nice dream like this in a long while. She had only had dreams of shadows looming around her and claws lashing out.
       She was afraid those visions were starting to come true. The skirmishes happened almost every other day, and WindClan was exhausted. They had just recently lost Frozenheart in a skirmish. It was a terrible death, but she died saving Flamepath and protecting her Clan. Roseblossom still could feel guilt tight in her chest.
       The undergrowth rustled, and Roseblossom spun around, jumping at the sound. She was both relived and surprised as a familiar long-furred gray tom emerged from the grass. Roseblossom scanned the tall grass behind him, waiting for Aspenrose to appear, but she never did.
       Roseblossom turned back to face Driftfrost, though dismayed, still excited to finally hear from StarClan again. Driftfrost's blue-green eyes sparkled with wisdom and an eerie calmness. 
       Roseblossom was too anxious to keep her jaws shut. "Where's Aspenrose?" She usually didn't start conversations with other cats, unless they were her close friend. But Roseblossom had grown fond of the two StarClan cats, and proudly considered them friends.
       Driftfrost dipped his head, gaze intense. "She has other plans. It will only be you and me, for now."
       Roseblossom felt herself shiver at his last words. For now..? She worried she would never see her friend Aspenrose again. She not only missed her presence, but wanted more answers.
       "Why have you brought me here?" Roseblossom questioned.
       Driftfrost dipped his head once more. "To tell you something you should have heard long ago." He turned his head around to face the grass from which he had emerged.
      It rustled. Roseblossom's pelt pricked anxiety, and then dismay. A white tom with amber eyes padded to sit beside Driftfrost.
       "Goosestar." Driftfrost dipped his head in greeting. Goosestar nodded a curt greeting.
Goosestar? Was he a leader of WindClan once? Roseblossom opened her jaws to ask, but Driftfrost seemed to know her confusion. "Goosestar was leader of ThunderClan before Doestar. He was the one who sent the prophecy to the medicine cats about 8 moons ago. You were almost 6 moons old then."
A leader of ThunderClan? Why hasn't a leader from WindClan come to see me. But then Roseblossom remembered that Driftfrost had been from ThunderClan. And something else explained why Goosestar specifically had visited her. He was the one who delivered the prophecy to the Clans, so perhaps he was about to tell it to Roseblossom. Driftfrost nodded at her, as if he could tell what she was thinking. Finally.
Goosestar sat on his haunches, closing his eyes before blinking them open again. "Every rose has its thorns. You must embrace its faults before you receive its beauty."
       Goosestar turned to pad gracefully into the undergrowth, leaving just as abruptly as he had appeared. Driftfrost gazed at the river, motioning with his tail for Roseblossom to do the same.
      The sunlit water churned gracefully, lighting the clearing with a calmness. Driftfrost's wise voice drifted into her ears. "Find the peace in the storm, Roseblossom."