This is set after the last hope, but the clans didn't win and neither did the dark forest. Instead Scourge has returned -wanting revenge. He is different from the Scourge in The Darkest Hour, for he is both insane and deadly, as he has discovered human things and uses them both the clans and the Dark forest have been enslaved, and things seem pretty hopeless. The clans don't even know how he can be alive, or where he went when he died. So now what? Are the clans doomed?

Chapter One,

Brambleclaw's eyes narrowed as he surveyed his surroundings. He was in a dark musty smelling room of sorts, but he could see through the gloom enough to know he was trapped. Scourge had put them in cell, - yes that was Scourge had called it. He could make out shapes, so he knew he wasn't alone. Brambleclaw saw Tawnypelt first, as she was the closest to him. Next he saw Mothwing a little further back. Last he saw Hawkfrost watching him, a fearful look on his face. Scourge put all the children of Tigerstar together! He glared at Hawkfrost, daring him to attack. Hawkfrost looked away first. I wonder where Firestar is. And Squirrelflight. What had become of his beautiful mate? Brambleclaw tried to remember how he'd got here, but all he got were bits and pieces.

Tigerstars teeth in Firestars throat, Scourge ripping the massive tabby of Firestar, locking something cold around his paws. Scourge had called them chains. Countless cats swarming around them. Lots of pain. That was all Brambleclaw could remember. He shivered for it was very cold in the cell.

Hawkfrost got to his paws and started towards him. Brambleclaw tensed, preparing for a fight, but Hawkfrost stalked right by him. Where is he going? Brambleclaw turned around and saw- nothing. He looked at Hawkfrost again. His half-brother was looking up. Brambleclaw looked up too, and this time he saw and heard something. A strange grating sound echoed through the small cell, and light suddenly flooded in. Brambleclaw saw a small shape fall from the a hole in the ceiling and the there was darkness once more. He ran towards the shape, and realized it was a cat! Ivypool!

"Where am I?" She looked around, bleary eyed and confused. Is that Hawkfrost? Uh oh he's going to kill me!

Hawkfrost beat Brambleclaw to Ivypool. Claws unsheathed he pounced on her ripping his sharp claws through her flesh, staining them red. She tried to twist free but he was too strong for her.

"Do you know why we are here? What's going on? Why is Scourge alive? Hawkfrost peered down at her, eyes filled with hatred and fear.

"Get off! I don't know!" She struggled helplessly underneath him. Brambleclaw lunged at Hawkfrost fury burning inside him. How dare Hawkfrost attack her!

"Get away from her!" With a yowl he threw himself at Hawkfrost and ripped him off Ivypool. He hissed and backed away. Brambleclaw felt fear rise in him for he knew he wasn't strong enough to defeat a Dark forest leader, but luckily for him, he had back up. Tawnypelt jumped on top of Hawkfrost pushing him to the ground. But Hawkfrost was stronger than her and he threw he off. By this time Ivypool had gotten to her and she stalked towards them. Hawkfrost backed away, out numbered. Brambleclaw was prepared to finish the fight when he realized Hawkfrost was cornered.

"Make sure he doesn't move," he growled at Tawnypelt. Hawkfrost hissed but didn't attack her. Brambleclaw ran over to Ivypool.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you? Do you know what happened to the rest of the clan?" Brambleclaw stopped realizing that Ivypool needed time to answer.

"I'm fine, but I don't know what has become of Starclan or the clans. I do know that Firestar, Tigerstar, Thistleclaw and Brokenstar have been taken away to some unknown place to be, well I don't know. Scourge hates all of them so I do know that whatever he's doing to them can't be good. I hope Dovewings ok." Ivypool looked at Mothwing who was cowering in the corner. "Wait I don't understand. If all the children of Tigerstar are here, why am I with you?"

"I don't know." Brambleclaw ground his teeth in frustration. What was happening to his clanmates? Were they even alive? What was Scourge planning? He looked at Hawkfrost who was watching them, a look of concentration on his face.

"What? Do you know something?" If Hawkfrost did, then maybe they could find away out of here.

"Why would I tell you brother?" Hawkfrost glared at him.

"Because I will kill you if you don't." Brambleclaw took at step forward.

"The walls."

"What?"

"The walls are hollow." Hawkfrost watched Brambleclaw's expression change from fury to surprise. "The only way in or out is through the roof. The cell is made out of the same material as our chains. Scourge is holding a catfight, and you and I might be in it. Just stuff that you would have heard if you hadn't been lying helpfully unconscious while the rest of us were fighting back." Brambleclaw growled at the insult, but as he tapped the walls he realized Hawkfrost was right.

"Is that it?"

"It's more than you knew." Hawkfrost shoved Tawnypelt out of his way and stalked up to Brambleclaw. "Your precious Squirrelflight insulted Scourge thus making us the competitors in the cat fight. Scourge laid out twoleg objects that can kill around the arena. The loser "will be taught the true meaning of pain" according to Scourge."

"Well, I look forward to killing you- again."

"Well have fun with that, because if you do, Scourge will kill Squirrelflight, and if I kill you, Mothwing will die."

"That's not fair! You don't even care about her!"

"I know. Greet Starclan in their cell for me." Hawkfrost smirked at Brambleclaw.

"Remember the loser will suffer greatly. I will make sure of that." With those words of encouragement, Scourge threw them into the arena. Hawkfrost looked down at his chains then up at Scourge.

"Ready set go!" The chains opened. Hawkfrost lunged at Brambleclaw teeth bared. His sharp claws pierced his half-brothers flesh causing blood to flow in great rivets down Brambleclaw's sides. With a yowl, Brambleclaw tore himself free and launched himself at Hawkfrost. Hawkfrost was ready for him, and dodged easily. Around them, kept out by glass, were the clans watching nervously. Firestar, Tigerstar, Thistleclaw, and Brokenstar were nowhere in sight.

Hawkfrost dug his claws into Brambleclaw's head. He felt his muzzle slam into the cold hard ground. He waited for the deathblow, but it didn't come. He looked up to see Hawkfrost eyeing Scourge waiting for him to stop the fight. When he didn't, Hawkfrost raised his claw high above Brambleclaw's throat. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shiny glint to his left. Scourge called this object a knife. It was jagged and sharp- and just out of reach. Brambleclaw stretched out his paw as far as it could- but still not far enough. Hawkfrost hadn't yet seen what Brambleclaw was doing. He was to busy gloating. Come on. I can do this. His paw touched the hilt. Just a little farther now! He grasped it just as he felt Hawkfrost's paw slam into his throat. He felt his vision swim.

"No!" He had to this! If he died, who would protect his mate from Scourges rage? He pushed the knife up with all his strength deep into Hawkfrost's chest. Hawkfrost screamed as he collapsed on top of Brambleclaw suffocating him. He tried to push him off, but Hawkfrost was too heavy. Brambleclaw's lungs screamed for air as Hawkfrost's fur clogged up his breath. It was too much. Brambleclaw blacked out.