A.N.: Happy New Year! My resolution is to finish all the stories that are in progress/on hold.

Faced with overwhelming odds and cut off from any source of assistance, the patrol's fate was a foregone conclusion. Captured, dragged to the paws of Hollystar, face-down in the dirt, the situation was grim.

Hollystar flicked her gaze over the cats she could dispose of. Her first thought was to execute them, display her power like Shade had taught her. But then, why get rid of them so quickly?

"Put these two," she flicked her tail at Mistyfoot and Rowanclaw, "with the other prisoners."

Mistyfoot focused her eyes on Hollystar as she was dragged to her paws, a bit of surprise in them. "What? Hollyleaf, how can you do this? How can you hurt you hurt own Clan so much?"

Hollystar had already focused on the remaining cats, and the RiverClan deputy was negated from a slow, torturous death for using her old name. As they were dragged to the warrior's den, the black she-cat looked down at Heathertail, who glared defiantly back at her, not saying anything.

An idea slowly formed into her mind. Turning to the rogue holding the brown she-cat prisoner, and lowered her voice to give him instructions. Heathertail strained her ears to hear what she was saying.

"...the den...wait...my brother...catch up..."

With that matter taken care of, Hollystar looked to the only remaining member of the patrol. Crowfeather. Her loving father.

"Go away! You ThunderClan cats mean nothing to me!" Mimicking the voice of the WindClan tom, she began to pace back and forth. She couldn't think of particularly slow way to dispatch him, so why do it now?

Then, a truly wonderful idea came to her. "Berrynose!"

"Yes, boss?" the tom answered quickly.

The she-cat whispered something under her breath, and Berrynose nodded. With a quick order from the cream-colored tom, Crowfeather was hauled up and bundled off.

"Goodbye for now, father. This should keep you happy."

The prison of Heathertail happed to be unnoticeable at first. The entrance of an old badger set, covered by a large boulder, was undetectable unless you knew what you were looking for. As two of Hollystar's horde restrained her, it took the combined strength of five other cats to move the stone.

Heathertail was shoved into the dark hole, and the boulder was pushed back into place behind her. Pressing up against it, the boulder refused to move. Heathertail stood, barely breathing, and listened for anything hiding in the darkness.

Nothing attacked her though, and slowly her blue eyes became used to the gloom. There was a single tunnel, going straight back. Mustering up what courage she had left, the she-cat forced her paws to move.

After several fox-lengths of traveling in the dark, she approached the back of the den. Something was lying in the middle of a patch of moss, unmoving, probably asleep. Crouching low, Heathertail tightened her muscles, and sprang right on the dark mass.

It came to life instantly. Springing to it's paws, the shape threw her off of it's back. Knocking her head against the low ceiling, the she-cat lay dazed, her vision swimming. The form stood over her, then it spoke.

"Heathertail? What are you doing here?"

Lionblaze? The she-cat stood up and shook her head to drive away the pain that was pounding in her skull. Sure enough, the golden warrior stood in front of her, looking much the same as he always did.

Heathertail felt a spark of hostility inside her. She still was angry at the tom for wanting to be a warrior and breaking the friendship they had because of it. She narrowed her eyes, "I was sent here in a rescue patrol. Hollystar caught us though, and she through me in here."

Lionblaze could detect the coldness in her voice, but lacked the energy to argue. His sister had thrown him in this stinking den the previous dawn, but he had no way of knowing how much time had past.

Two days? Two moons? How long have I been in here?

He desperately wanted to stretch his muscles, but he couldn't, the den was too small to run in. A feeling of fear crept in through the back of his mind at what was to happen, but he pushed it away. He decided the best thing to do would be to be to go back to sleep. But there was only one nest, and chivalry prevented him from forcing the she-cat to lay on the hard earth.

"Well, here. You can have the moss."

Sidestepping around Heathertail, he flopped over on his side in the dirt. He flicked his tail toward the moss. "There's a mouse over there too. You can have it."

The she-cat found the fresh-kill beside the nest, but was unable to open her mouth to eat it. Guilt raged within her, but she tried to ignore it and lay down on the nest to sleep. But her eyes kept opening, staring at the golden tabby lying on the hard earth.

Despite her brain telling her that it was what he deserved, her heart wouldn't allow her to be that cruel. Sighing, she pushed herself to her paws.

"The nest is big enough...we can share it if you want."

Lionblaze stood up and stepped over to her, settling down on the comfortable patch of bedding, his pelt light brushing Heathertail's. "Thank you."

There was a short pause, then out of the darkness came a sincere, "you're welcome."

Lionblaze sighed and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. Hollystar is going to come and execute me soon. That's what she said before he threw me in here. I have to protect Heathertail! But what can I do?

"Who's there?"

Crowfeather found himself in a situation similar to his Clanmate. With a heavy rock blocking the entrance of his prison, the tom tried to work out what to do. And then the scratchy voice came from the darkness again.

"G-get away from me!"

He heard paw steps as the unknown speaker turned and ran down the short tunnel. Crowfeather followed cautiously, until he reached the end of the tunnel.

There lay Leafpool, curled into a ball, shaking with fear. Her face was covered with her forepaws and her ribs show through matted fur.

"Leafpool?" The tom spoke slowly, "it's me. Crowfeather."

Leafpool turned and faced him, causing the tom to start with shock. Her eyes had been gouged out, leaving nothing but empty sockets in their place. She looked hesitant at first, then slowly pressed her flank into Crowfeather's.

Delighted that he didn't move away, she buried her face into his chest, breathing in the WindClan scent.

"Oh, Crowfeather! Hollystar is tearing ThunderClan to pieces! And she'll kill you too! I'm so sorry..." her voice trailed off into sobs.

Crowfeather tried to calm her down by gently grooming the knots out of her fur, feeling terrible at how he had treated her at the Gathering where their secret has been revealed. Hollystar was his kit as much as Leafpool's, and he was in this as deep as she was.

"Don't worry, Leafpool. We'll find a way through this. I promise."

A.N.: Sorry for the short chapter! I need some names for the rogue cats. Review! Those who review will get a toasted English muffin with butter and jam.