Preface

I really really liked the last chapter, so I'm really excited to see how this one will turn out. I typed out chapter 3 at like 12:00, so I wasn't sure if it would be any good. But yay, people reviewed! :D Also sorry everything's been ending with cliffhangers. lol

Thank you so much to: Darksoul2Firestar'sKiller, Laterose13, Birchfeather, Nightshade07, and cassie glitter! You guys rock! :D

Out of the Dark

Aside from her breathing, Firepaw would have had no idea if she had gone blind and deaf, never to see or hear a thing again. She had grown almost oblivious to the fact that her paws just touched the ground, not supporting her weight at all, and the taught leash against her throat, the strap nearly choking her. The worst thing was the smell; she had nowhere to make dirt and now her fur was caked and messy. The hunger ached in the pit of her belly, and her throat burned, not just from thirst, but all the pressure on it worsened the feeling. There was no record of time here, and soon Firepaw doubted anyone would ever return. For the rest of her life- however many days that was- she was doomed to suffer here.

It was about when she had accepted her fate when pawsteps sounded again. After total silence, it seemed very loud. She looked up, but saw nothing as usual. Then the breath of another living thing filled the air. "Ah, here we go. I've been waiting for three days to talk to you again," Purnak's voice could have shattered her now sensitive ears. Firepaw flinched.

Suddenly the taut leash released, and Firepaw unexpectedly crashed to the ground. It jarred her bones, and when she tried to stand upright she found she was too weak from lack of food and muscle use and she staggered. A clinking noise sounded and then the leash was tugged again. Even more clumsy than before, Firepaw staggered out and, on trembling paws, followed Purnak back around the corner.

Firepaw had to stop and flinch when the light reached her. It had been too long without seeing anything. She screwed up her face and tried to follow Purnak, but fell and couldn't get up fast enough. With a growl, the black and white tom just dragged her along by the throat out of the tunnel. She heard loud, obnoxious laughter, and squinted her eyes to see the faces of unfamiliar toms gazing at her, their eyes alight with laughter.

Struggling, she managed to stand up and glared defiantly at the tom who was nearest to her, a lean brown tom with a ragged ear. He gazed back, and Firepaw was startled to see bloodlust strong in his eyes as he took in her body. And was it just blood lust?

Purnak stopped near the entrance to what Firepaw thought looked like a tunnel leading outside. He dropped the leash, and turned to her. "I'll be right back, and don't try anything, or I'll let them do whatever they want to you, okay, princess?" He growled in her face. Still shaky, but detirmined, Firepaw nodded and dropped her gaze. Purnak turned and headed down the tunnel. As soon as he was gone, a few of the toms approached her.

"Ahh, baby, look at that," one, a gray patchy furred ruffian grinned. "I'm biddin' high for this babe. So gotta get to the auction." He reached out and stroked her fur along her flank with his claw. Firepaw fidgeted. She was almost glad she couldn't talk; now she could think of a few things she would have said that would no doubt get her clawed- if only that.

"Hey, hey, no touching. Purnak'll have your fur for his nest." The tom who had gazed at her strangely padded up. "But, then again, might be worth it..." He closed in on her. Firepaw shrank back. Two more toms were approaching.

"Leave her alone." A strong voice rang out. Firepaw turned her head sharply, and surprise coursed through her. It was the handsome, caramel tabby she had seen in the forest! He stood commandingly, like a deputy or leader would.

The gray tom turned and curled his lip. "Who put you in charge, you mangey-"

Purnak's voice growled from behind Firepaw, "Get out of here, scumbags!" The other toms scattered, and he dropped a gray pelt soaked in water and a chunk of something that reminded Firepaw of some kind of bird, but with twoleg stench, at her paws. Then he unhooked the strap from her muzzle and suddenly her mouth was free. She opened it wide and drank in the air. Not even pausing afterward, Firepaw hurriedly scarfed down the meat and lapped up the water- however foul it was.

"Now get you're fur cleaned up," Purnak growled after she was done. "You're a mess, and I have to bring you to Nightshade then."

Firepaw swiped her tongue around her muzzle, wishing for more. "And who's fault was that? You had me chained up there for days!" she growled.

Quick as lightning, Purnak's claws flashed out and Firepaw flinched as they dug into her cheek. Blood welled up and ran down her fur. His angry green eyes were not a mouselength from hers. "Here you must learn quickly to keep your mouth shut. Now clean up!"

Quietly Firepaw turned to her rump, caked with dung and matted with bile. Shuddering, she began to clean herself up, spitting occasionally and trying to ignore the foul taste that made her eyes water. When she was done, she couldn't help but notice Purnak had been staring at her strangely, a bit like the ragged brown tom had. She tore her gaze away and searched the room for the tabby tom she'd seen before, but he was nowhere in sight.

The large tom jerked his head for her to follow him, and lead her down the tunnel where Nightshade's nest had been. She was at least grateful that he did not put the strap back on, but he carried it with him, so Firepaw was smart enough to keep her mouth shut. Her pawsteps grew unsteady as they came into the small space. Nightshade was up now, licking his paws. He swiped his tongue around his jaws and then sat up. "Ah, I've been looking forward to this. Did you feed her?"

"Yes," Purnak dipped his head. But Firepaw's belly let out a grumble of hunger, and Nightshade laughed. Firepaw crouched low, her ears flattened. Nightshade rose to his paws and padded over to her. Purnak dipped his head again and padded back out of the tunnel.

"Ahh, little she-cat," Nightshade grinned. "I could have so much, much fun with you, but unfortunately I must save that for later. Well- not too much later." His eyes lit up. "Purnak!" he bellowed.

Purnak's face appeared again momentarily. "Yes, Purnak?"

"Tell the cats we'll be starting her Endurance Test right away!" He purred, glancing at Firepaw again. The Endurance Test. That sounded worse than the Break-In Cage. Purnak whirled around quickly again. Firepaw glanced back up at Nightshade. "Folllow me." he growled. "And if you try anything, then I may just change my mind about letting you go for now, okay?"

"Okay." Firepaw snorted. "But do I have a choice?"

Nightshade's snarl ripped through the air and he whirled around. His furious eyes were nearly up against hers. "You are the luckiest she-cat in the world that I have chosen to ignore that." He jerked away and began swiftly back out to the main cavern. Shivering, and recalling the pain in her cheek, Firepaw followed after him as fast as she could manage. He led her down yet another tunnel, near his. To her surprise the cavern was nearly empty, she barely had the chance to look around before they were rushing down the new tunnel. This one looked like it was once bright white- but brown and red patches stained it.

Out of the tunnel it looked like the outside world a bit, but it was still closed to the sky. The ground was dirt, and a few patches of grass, and there was a stream running out of one of the tunnels that was too small for cats. Along the walls there were different twoleg things of some sort, and a lot of them looked very sinsister. Across the other wall, cats were gathering, and as they entered more followed behind. Excitement was in the air. It made Firepaw sick.

Purnak joined them, and Nightshade nodded and bounded off to sit on a small red platform beside the stream, facing the cats. Firepaw shifted uneasily, feeling her fear build as she saw that all the cats were toms, and most of them looked at her with that strange look she had yet to identify. At last, when Firepaw thought she could stand sitting here for all eyes no longer, Nightshade let out a yowl and the cats quieted.

"As you know, we have found another she-cat for our auction in two days. For those of you who will be bidding and then leaving for the forest- this is one you should keep your eyes open for. A fine cat, yes very fine." Firepaw shuddered. "But for now, we will start with the Endurance Test."

The cheers from the crowd were deafening. Nightshade raised his chin, but Firepaw wished she was invisible.

"Step forward," Firepaw trembled as she realized he was talking to her. "Forward," he repeated.

On shaky paws, she obeyed.