"Stand still. The trees ahead of you and the bush beside you are not lost."

Albert Einstein

Blood Feeds the Roots

It had been three moons since the death of Firestar and rise of TigerClan and BloodClan. BloodClan ruled Riverclan and WindClan's territory while TigerClan got ThunderClan and ShadowClan's territory. Scourge and Tigerstar would often send warriors over to each others sides for news and training. Tigerstar wanted to learn all of the techniques from BloodClan, but Scourge would never teach him his tricks.

The warriors of TigerClan were abused and tired. Their ribs stuck out and kits cried for milk from their exhausted mothers. Tigerstar and the higher warriors would eat first, then move down from rank...or how much Tigerstar liked you. Apprentices were always last, for they didn't give enough service to the Clan, Tigerstar would always say. Occasionly, Tigerstar would give them all equal amounts of food so that they wouldn't all starve to death.

Some cats from ThunderClan were still numb from the shock of Firestar's death. The flame had died out from their Clan. WindClan warriors tried the best they could to hide the ThunderClan warrior's weakness from Tigerstar. It had been working so far. But every now and then, a Thunderclan warrior or apprentice would be beaten by ShadowClan warriors for lack of work. It was a horrible existance.

Sandstorm was the worst out of all of them. She did her work, but never spoke. She unted, but hardly ever ate. Some she-cats had to force the food to her. She was still wound up in grief about her lost mate. Firestar's death had taken it's toll on the feirce warrior, and it seemed to be getting worse. Whitestorm was slowly passing away as he got older. The elders did the least amount of work, Tigerstar didn't kick them out because of their vast knoweledge.

Kits were made to make walls out of brambles. Their pads were cut on the sharp thorns and queens would spend hours licking the cuts away until infection was impossible. Cinderpelt had done her best to help the Clans, along with the other medicine cats. Tigerstar kept them around to make sure that his Clan was in tiptop condition for battle.

Lostface was considered a special warrior and helped Cinderpelt treat for Tigerstar and the higher warriors. All of the apprentices slept in one den near the border. They were supposed to warn TigerClan is any intruders were coming to invade their territory. Warriors slept around places in the forest and the higher warriors slept in the camps. Former leaders slept with the warriors.

One night, Bramblepaw walked into the den for apprentices, exhausted after a hard day of sparring with all of the ShadowClan warriors. Cinderpelt had treated his wounds and set him off to bed. Dawnpaw, Ceaderpaw, Rowanpaw, Fernpaw, Ashpaw were all in the den. Tawnypaw was outside keeping guard, a new thing the apprentices had come up with ever since they had been attacked by a patrol of warriors claiming it was a sneak attack.

"Hello," grumbled Bramblepaw as he walked in and curled up on his nest of old moss.

Dawnpaw poked him with her paw. "Get up sleepy head, we need to discuss something." Bramblepaw mumbled as he got up from his nest. His muscles protested from the movement. Roawnpaw sneered at him.

"What are we doing?" Bramblepaw asked.

"Fernpaw believes there is a storm coming. I feel it too," Ceaderpaw said. "Not just a weather storm, something bigger."

"Like what?" asked Bramblepaw, his ears pricked at this news.

"We don't know, but we want to be prepared. Soemthing big will happen between the two Clans, I just know it," Fernpaw said.

"I agree, there's too much tension between the leaders. Scourge and Tigerstar won't live in peace like this forever you know," Rowanpaw said to the other apprentices.

"What do you think we should do then? There's going to be a battle soon, everyone can feel it," Bramblepaw asked his peers.

Dawnpaw looked at the others before answering, "We believe that we should leave the forest. But not now, when a battle starts."

"And go where?" demanded Bramblepaw. "To become soft kittypets? Ha, I doubt I could live like that."

"I would never become a kittypet," growled Ashpaw. Everyone ignored his comment.

"We don't have a full plan just yet, but we want to get up our strength for our grand escape once the time comes along. tell them your idea, Roawnpaw," Fernpaw said, gesturing with her head for Rowanpaw to speak.

"I believe we should catch prey at night and keep it here, hidden. Eat it everyday and keep herbs here for when we escape. We don't want to get hurt out there with no herbs," Roawnpaw explained.

"Featherpaw and Stormpaw have some ideas, we'll just have to wait for them to come back," Dawnpaw looked out the den as she said this. Their den was an old badger's den, and it sometimes reeked of badger.

"Why can't we just escape during the middle of night?" asked Bramblepaw.

"Because Tigerstar will suspect of what we did when he sees our empty nests in the morning. If we leave during a battle, he'll just think we all got killed or something," Ceaderpaw explained. Bramblepaw nodded at what Ceaderpaw said.

"Hush, someone is coming," warned Tawnypaw as she dashed in the den. All the apprentices quickly got in their nests and pretended to be asleep. It took all of Bramblepaw's self-control to not fall asleep.

"Wow, everyone is asleep already," they heard Featherpaw say. The apprentices got up, sighing in relief.

Stormpaw jumped back, surprised, "Wow guys, you scared me."

"So, don't you guys want to tell us your ideas for the great escape?" asked Dawnpaw.

Featherpaw nodded, "I was thinking we could soak moss with water and that could supply us with water at dry places and what not..." She trailed off.

"Tawnypaw, shouldn't you be on guard?" asked Stormpaw.

"Great, I was hoping someone wouldn't notice!" exclaimed Tawnypaw as she stomped out to the guarding postition. The apprentices snickered at her as she stormed out of the den.

"What if we get caught?" asked Ashpaw, voicing everyone's fears.

"We won't. That's why we have to plan ahead and work out every single little detail," encouraged Dawnpaw.

"That will get annoying," grumbled Roawnpaw.

"I'm wathing you," Ceaderpaw threatened. Roawnpaw made a face at the other apprentice.

"Hey! No face making at each other," warned Fernpaw. Both ShadowClan apprentices made faces at her.

"Yeah, real warrior like," Bramblepaw said sacarstically.

"Let's get back to planning," suggested Stormpaw.

"No thanks, I'm bushed," Rowanpaw said, flopping down on his nest.

"I'll relieve Tawnypaw of her post," Dawnpaw said as she went out to take her spot as guard. Tawnypaw dashed back in to her nest. Bramblepaw curled up and was glad to leave this hell of a place that he used to think of as home.

Author's Note-

Ducks and runs.

Sorry, it was so TERRIBLE, and SHORT! I wasn't even going to post this, but I checked my email and orignally I had no new email, but guess what...I had eleven messages. I actually fell off my chair because of this. And this story has been up what? Six hours. so here is Chapter 2!!

Sorry about my out-of-charactness somewhat, I couldn't think because my cat was killing my feet. And if I was a little mean in the beginning...SUCK IT UP!

I have a game! Let's play: GUESS HOW OLD THE AUTHOR IS! I'm younger then you would think, I'll tell you that. IDK why I wanna post this, but all my friends were like, "Insert real name here, you should make your readers guess how old you are." Then they wouldn't leave me alone yesterday. Damn it was confusing as hell!

Here are my responses to my awesome reviewers!!

Mew Anju- Glad you think so. Firestar sucked, but rock on Fireheart! Read your Warrior Cats Idol. Nice story, could you ask people to read this one? Want some publicity! You don't have to, but it would make me dance around my room in my underwear (and shirt) if you did.

Ichisuki the ninja- Damn, I can't even pronuce your username. Glad you like it, but that will all change in later on chapters. (Laughs evily because I know the ending). And I will keep working...hopefully.

Pocket97- Ahh, you anymous reviewers are so freaking awesome! You are like a master of disguise, (hums mission impossible theme song). Glad you enjoyed my story. I enjoy angst stories too. :D.

Lunarpaw- Firestar was only awesome in the first series in my opinion. Well, your reaction is different then my friends. They died when I told them about my idea for this story on Friday. They were like, "But we hate Scourge!" I don't like to kill main characters and when I saw the dedication I was like, sorry Erin for killing our flame colored hero.

The Silver Tabby- First of all WTF on the username. I had a tabby, but it ran away. So did the other six ones I had and one got ran over (don't name your cat Max). Depressing is like my favorite kind of story!! Go angst! No offense to you or silver tabbies.

Also, I am a big angst torture fan. Espically for POTC. Read any good angst stories? Put 'em in a review. Thanks,

Holly