Skyblaze could feel the eyes on her as she marched away from Hawkfeather. She hated to ignore him, but admitting that she knew him would doom them both. Right now, pretending she was the 'princess' was the best way to go if they wanted to get out of here. The guards at her den dipped their heads as she padded inside. Like always, there was a fresh mouse waiting for her. She dropped into her nest, unable to believe that she and Hawkfeather were really stuck here.

She knew what Hawkfeather was wondering. Princess? She was nothing like a princess. But being the 'princess' wasn't that bad. She got better treatment, and wasn't condemned to death. Every other cat in this... prison was destined to be executed as a warning to the clan cats.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Get off me!" Skyblaze clawed at the cats holding her down "Who are you?"

She felt a unsheathed paw at the back of her spine. "Now, now, we wouldn't want any... injuries."

"You're going to kill me anyways, why don't you just do it now?"

"That's a good option... perhaps I will." She braced herself for the blow, but it never came.

The paw on her back drew back, and she took her chance to scramble away. However, a band of cats formed a blockade from the forest. She turned around, facing a large tabby tom.

"Bow," It was a command

She stood her ground, but not looking at him.

"I TOLD YOU TO BOW!" Her head was forced down into the dirt. Pushing with all her might, she tried to lift her face off her ground. Finally, the force was lifted off, leaving her with a sore neck.

"Look up." She didn't. Her neck was then wrenched the other way. The tom's large scarred muzzle was in her face, and his eyes cold. After he took a good look at her though, disbelief took over.

"My daughter... you're back.."

"I am not your daughter!" She spat in his face, but the tom seemed to be in a world on his own.

"Tigerstar!" One of the guards rushed up to him and pinned Skyblaze down.

"Let her go!" This cat was out of his mind. She was not his daughter. Never. "Take her to the moss den."

"But sir! She's a clan cat!" one of the guards protested.

"Silence!" His growl pierced the air "You will address her as 'princess', just as I am your king."

'Princess'? This cat belonged in a mental hospital. Two of the guards attached themselves to her side.

"This way, princess." Skyblaze could hear the edge in his voice.

"Don't call me that!" She was not Tigerstar's daughter! The guards ignored her, and marched her towards a bigger den near the inside of camp. They pushed her in, and closed the entrance.

"Hey! Let me out!" Skyblaze pounded on the blocked entrance. This was a prison, and she need to find a way out. Now.

o0o0o0o0o0o

Skyblaze knocked on the doors. "Excuse me?"

The entrance opened, a battle-scarred cat peer in "Yes, princess?" The mocking tone was still in their voice.

"I need to go make dirt." She announced. He looked at her strangely.

"Okay." They won't follow her. Now... where was Hawkfeather? She snuck towards the back of the camp, but it was silent. The empty prison gave a haunting aura. Hawkfeather, where are you? She thought to herself .

Here

She jumped. Did someone just answer her? Inside her head? She tried answering back, knowing that she probably is going crazy. Where?

Tent No. 3

Yeah, she's going crazy alright. But that didn't stop her from following the voice inside her head. There were no guard outside the entrance, and she carefully shoved it over. A reeking smell pierced her nostrils.

"Hawkfeather?" she whispered into the hole. It echoed, but then footsteps followed. A ragged, but familiar face looked up at her.

"Skyblaze! It worked! It actually worked!" He touched his muzzle to hers. "How'd you get in this wreck?"

She looked around nervously, hoping no one will catch them. "Long story, but we've got to get out of here!"

Hawkfeather gawked at her "Now? Isn't it to.. sudden?"

"No!" She wanted to claw his eyes out "We have to leave now if we ever want to get out of here!"

"Why?" He looked uncomfortable "We should plan for the escape."

Seething rage over took her. She didn't even know why she felt this mad. Shouldn't she be happy that Hawkfeather was alive and well?

"The clans need us! We can't afford to stay here any longer."

"But they won't have our help if we get caught." She could hear the hard determination in his voice. A nagging feeling in her stomach told her it was hopeless to convince him.

"Fine," She snapped, not understanding why she would want to stay "Have it your way." Turning around, she quickly padded away, not wanting to look back.

"Wait!" His voice carried through the air. "Skyblaze, please!" She ignored him, continuing on. The thud of his pawsteps. He ran in front of her, blocking her way.

"I'm sorry! We just need to think this out okay?" His voice was pleading "Come tomorrow night. Please."

She ignored him again, and stepped around him. His tail drooped, but didn't chase her.

I'm sorry, truly. His voice echoed in her head. She shook her head, as if it would shake his voice out. The walk back to her den was extremely long and tiring.

"Princess, where have you been?" One of the guards glared at her, but the other seemed actually concerned.

"I said I went to make dirt," She lied, acting irritated "I have diarrhea, okay?" In response, both of them seemed to take a step back. Feeling a bit amused, she stepped inside her warm den. The air inside made her drowsy, and as soon as she laid into her nest, sleep crashed over her.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Her dreams were covered with fog, but Skyblaze could still tell the clans were in trouble. She heard her sister's pitiful wail, and ran towards them. But the further she ran towards the forest, the further it dragged away.

"Wait! Noooo!" She cried out. The cries were becoming fainter and fainter.

"Skyblaze." She could hear StarClan calling her. Turning around, she faced a crowd of warriors.

"The clans are in danger. You must return..." The message was brief and clear. Trouble. Get home. Now. Then, she was plunged into darkness.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Princess, you 'royal' presence is requested." The sneering guard put an emphasis on royal. Skyblaze shook her fur, and padded outside. The sun's light was blocked by strangely shaped clouds.

"What is it?"

"One of your 'clan' cat friends are here." He smirked "That is, if he is actually 'clan' anymore."

She was confused, and worried at the same time. Had they found out that she saw Hawkfeather last night? As they led her out of the den and towards Tigerstar's den, she felt a heavy stone in her stomach. This was it. They're probably going to be killed.

"Sir, she's here."

A harsh push sent her flying into Tigerstar's den. The sight made her gasp. The walls of the den were lined with pelts. Not just any pelts though... Tiger pelts! A familiar, gray cat turned around

"Stoneheart." She breathed, shock sending waves of terror through her. He was working with these uncivilized creatures! "How could you?"

He looked at her calmly, a strange gaze in his eyes. Hate? "How could I? How could you, Skyblaze? You've been commuting with enemy warriors."

What was he talking about? Skyblaze wanted to rip that unsettling look off his face.

"What are you talking about," She spat, unaware of Tigerstar's amused expression. "I haven't done anything of the sort."

He began washing his ears. "Oh really? What about that RippleClan warrior that you were so attached to? Or should I say, still is?"

She sat frozen. How did he know about Hawkfeather? They didn't meet in broad daylight.

"It seems like I've touched a nerve." He meowed, amused.

She felt rage bubble over inside her and lifted a paw to strike. But Stoneheart's gaze stopped her. His eyes were glazed a strange orange color, instead of its usual amber. As she drew closer, a flicker appeared in his eyes.

"What happened to you." she breathed. Something bad had happened to him. It was like he was trapped.

"I..." He began, but the orange overtook the flicker of recognition "I don't know what you're talking about. Leave me alone, you disgust me."

Now she was even more sure. She turned over to Tigerstar, hissing "What have you done to him?"

He laughed. It was a nasty sound. "I simply gave him what desired most... for a small price."

"Get it off of him!" She didn't know what it was, but she had a feeling that Stoneheart would die.

Tigerstar shook his head, mocking disappointment "I'm so sorry dear, but promises made on the Bloodstone cannot be broken... unless.."

"Unless what?" She didn't know why she wanted to save him so much. After all, he did say some pretty nasty things...

"Oh, I don't know..." He was smiling. She slammed into his chest, catching him off guard. Pinning him down with one paw, she unsheathed the other.

"Tell me," She growled, anger overtaking her "Or I will rip out your throat and tear your remains into thousands of pieces."

"Well, I don't think you'd want do know, dear.." The laughter was still in his voice. Did he really think she wouldn't do it?

She pierced his flesh with her claws. Drops of blood seeped out. Skyblaze shrieked. Tigerstar's blood was coal black. He didn't react.

"What? Why..." As she hesitated, Tigerstar pushed her off.

"That, is the result of being a true ruler." He spat, looking unconcerned. "Now, get out! I will deal with you later." Though she needed to find out how to save Stoneheart, she backed away, still shocked.

Outside, the sky seemed even darker. No doubt a storm was about to come. She went back to her den, not sure what to do. Guards were everywhere, and it was forbidden to casually walk around camp.

She didn't know why she was so shocked by Tigerstar's.. condition. He, after all, did have a heart that made a raven's wing seem white. What had he done to turn himself into a monster? And how had he hypnotized Stoneheart? He can't possibly be that powerful. Just thinking about how he turned himself into the demon he is now made her head hurt.

Minutes turned into hours, and hours seemed to drag on forever. Skyblaze thought night would never come. Now that she was thinking about it, she wasn't really mad at Hawkfeather. Or was she? Why did he want to stay, when they could go back to the clans? Did he meet someone? He probably did, and fell in love or something. A sick feeling grew in her stomach, along with realization. She was jealous.

"Am not!" Great, now she was arguing with herself. Perfectly normal. "I'm not jealous of whoever Hawkfeather's loving." Deep inside, she knows that she's lying to herself. She was jealous. Very, at that. Sighing, she peeked outside. Did she even want to go meet him? The answer was obvious, but what if he brings his girlfriend? That would be awkward. The sky was dark like always, but tonight it seemed even darker. And even more strangely, no guards were outside of her den.

"Hello?" She called out. No one answered. What is going on? All the guards were gone. She snuck out, still being cautious. The entire area was completely empty, and she walked on the main pathway without anyone noticing. Turning onto the prisoner's area, she snuck over to the side of the path, along the bushes. Only two guards were patrolling here, but they were both lazing around. Squeezing herself into the tight path in the back of the fence separating the prisons from the living area, she pushed through the brambles and leaves.

"Skyblaze?" A voice called her name. Looking around, she saw Hawkfeather. There was another cat with him.

"Oh, you're here." She tried to act casual and bored, but inside, she was panicking.

"Yeah," He looked uncomfortable "Um, this is Michael."

The cat appeared out of the darkness. Skyblaze felt a ton of weight lifted off her shoulders. He was an old tom.

"Why'd you bring him?"

Hawkfeather scratched at the ground. "Well... I was hoping that we could bring him along..."

"Bring him along?!"What did he think he was doing? "Where is he going to stay? RippleClan wouldn't take him."

"I know, but.."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Michael suddenly spoke up. Skyblaze got a better look at him. He had a ragged muzzle, and a scarred pelt. It was almost like he was a retired warrior. "and I can find my way back to the twolegplace by myself, thank you very much."

"Problem solved." Skyblaze muttered. Was Hawkfeather stupid? This mangy old cat will just slow them down.

"Okay, that's good." Hawkfeather sighed in relief. "We'll go now. No one is here tonight, and well, I want to get home as soon as I can."

Now he realizes that they need to get home? "I thought you said we should plan this out." Skyblaze couldn't keep the daggers out of her voice.

"Sorry," He really did look apologetic "I just needed to convince him to come with us."

"Whatever. Let's go."

She led them through the brambles, feeling uneasy. They could all be captured, but if they didn't try to get out, the clans will be in great danger.

After walking along the fence for quite a while, they came to a stop. Ahead, a huge wall of bramble separated the camp from the outside world.

"How are we going to get over this?" Skyblaze murmured, eyes glazed with shock. They'll hurt themselves trying to climb over it. She looked around. Hawkfeather was tugging at the brambles with his teeth.

"Come help me!" He meowed to Skyblaze when he caught her gaze. She grasped onto a thick branch and pulled. It was more secure than she had thought it would be.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Someone shouted in the distance. It was Tigerstar's guards.

"Shoot." Her eyes grew wide. They're going to die for sure.