I was glad I blacked out. When I woke up, I couldn't move. I was on the floor of the cage, red blotching my pelt. I could barely tell the color anymore. Then, the pain rolled over me, and I gasped. The pain made my vision clearer, and I struggled up. And fell back down.

My body was shredded, worse than I thought, and my hind paws were both dislocated. As an apprentice, I tripped and had my front paw off before, and the pain was unbearable. Now was even worse. A tongue rasped over my ear. It was Stripes. He didn't look as bad as me, but he still looked in pain.

His shoulders were dark red with clotted blood, and his grey flank was bright red, the blood hadn't stopped flowing yet.

"You should get some rest."

I nodded, and lowered my head back on my red paws. His eyes were sympathetic, and he lay down by me, pelts brushing. I shivered, then let sleep wash over me.

Stripes POV

I slept with Frostfire. She was much worse than me. I hated this. I really wanted to get out. It's a simple statement, but holds meaning. Irene was guarding the door, with a tom, Smoke. They were both silvery dark grey. I didn't know them that well, but that doesn't mean their nice.

I awoke before Frostfire; no surprise really, considering all she's been through. I really hoped she wouldn't die, I knew some who did. I outlived them all.

Anyways, I padded up to Irene, and hissed, "Does being prisoner get free food?"

I knew the answer already, but I wanted to see the personalities of these new cats. Maybe they can favor me. Irene slowly turned around, and meowed back, "Yes. Do you want some?"

Smoke growled, "No communicating with prisoner."

I scoffed, "Puh-leeze! Pixi always bullies us."

"I never really like Pixi," Irene whispered. She stood up briskly and meowed sternly, "You had better not try any tricks. Wait there."

"Where else am I going? To the moon?"

She flicked her ears and padded off. It was night now, and it was all dark. Irene's white tipped tail flicked in the darkness, and that's the last I saw of her. Smoke turning around, his pelt shining white on the tips.

I didn't know how long I waited, but it didn't seem long. I just sat there, staring blankly into the darkness, unable to decipher much, even with my night vision.

"Here."

Irene was back, her mouth holding a plump finch, and two mice. She nosed the finch towards Smoke, who grunted thanks, and wedged the mice through the bars. I snapped at them, and placed one by Frostfire.

"Thanks," I told Irene.

"No problem."

I noted as I ate, "It's good"

"Fresh from the pile."

During our most delightful and engrossing conversation, Frostfire was slowly waking up.

"Urg… Unn… Stripes?"

I turned, and flicked my tail towards her mouse, "There. Eat up."

I could tell she was really hungry by the way she dug in. She swallowed the last remnants of the meal and lowered her head again. The white warrior whispered to me, "Will there be more life for us than this?"

"No."

She looked up at me with hollow, mourning eyes. Such despair shown in the deep depths of her pupils that I was shocked, for a moment. I shuffled closer to her and dropped my voice, "Not unless we escape. It's never been done before though…"

Seeing her hopeless eyes—the hope I deprived her of—I hastily added, "But there's always a first."

Frostfire nodded, and looked at her paws. This was nothing like the cat I've seen before. She seemed to have been stripped of all strength, and power, all in one –ahem- round.

We sat there… for what seemed like forever, trying to fit new plans of escapade to our situation.