Rosegaze watched distastefully as the clan crowded around Flamelily once again. Every time something happened and Flamelily was involved, she was given all the credit. Even though, this time, Rosegaze had done just as much as her golden counterpart. Maybe even more. Flamelily had saved Sunpaw, whereas Rosegaze had rescued Honeykit AND Stagkit. Just because she was quieter and less pretty than the gorgeous red-striped molly who'd saved only her own kit didn't mean she didn't exist. She sighed, directing her pale-reddish eyes to the ground. Ribbontail came up and sat next to her. "Rosy!" She wrapped her tail around her daughter. "Aren't you happy that Sunpaw was saved?" She nodded. "Of course I am. O-of course." Ribbontail looked her in the eyes. "Well, then what's the problem, my sweet?" Rosegaze felt anger boil deep in her chest. "The problem is Flamelily!" She tore away from her mother, glaring at her. "The problem is mousebrains like you, who think Flamelily is the best of the best! I'm just as good as her!" She looked around, realizing she'd been yelling. Everyone was staring at her. Flamelily looked hurt. Rosegaze turned away, storming into the wilderness. ------------------------------------------ Sweetpetal was the first one to find Rosegaze. "What was that? What did Flamelily ever do to you?" Rosegaze snorted. "Nothing, I guess. But if you're just gonna side with her, say she's amazing and wonderful and beautiful and brave and strong, you can leave." Sweetpetal scuffed her paw on the ground. "I guess I'll leave, then." ------------------------------------------ Rosepetal slept away from the camp, out in the wilderness. She woke up in a dark forest, except she didn't wake up. The air was cold but humid and the trees loomed hauntingly. The dirt under Rosegaze's paws emitted a wet kind of cold that snaked up her legs, sending a shudder through her body. "Rosegaze..." A voice whispered. It was empty and cold and low, yet shapeless. Like it wasn't actually a sound, but rather something in her mind. Like a dizzying illusion. It was muffled as well as if it was speaking from afar or with moss in its mouth. "Rosegaze. Do you want to be special? Like everyone else in your clan? Like... her?" Suddenly, the voice was a lot clearer, and an image of Flamelily sleeping peacefully flashed through her mind. Rosegaze found her voice. "No. I mean, I want to be special, but not alongside her." The voice gave a rasping laugh. "That's what I thought. You are strong, Rosegaze. You're going to do what I say, and you won't be special alongside her. But she's the only special one, the only one you COULD be special alongside. So when I'm through... there won't be anyone you could be special alongside. So... are you ready to rule your clan? Not as the leader... but as the best?" Rosegaze nodded. The voice hummed. "Well then. Time to put a new meaning on the word 'queen'."
^^ this is written from the perspective of Rosegaze. Like in Mapleshade's vengeance, it is meant to make Flamelily look like the antagonist and Rosegaze the protagonist, when in reality it's vice versa. It is not meant to be read as if Rosegaze is in the right.
