Preface

I am still excited about this story very much, and since I'm home alone for a while today, I hope this story will be updated the day that I start writing chapter- what is it by now, seven?? :D I'm so happy I'm doing well with this. In fact I spent my language art teacher's lecture about authors purpose thinking the next parts of it. Oh and Amberleaf, I warned Bramblestripe about his being lazy. I hope he plans on writing more soon, too. Ha, you should like Amber! :D

Thank you so much to: Nightshade07, Laterose13, .Amberleaf., Shadowave, Loststream, and leafpool407! You guys get a Purnak plushie and a blowtorch. Muahahahaha

Searching

Briarstripe's patrol was tense as they headed into the dark alleyways of twolegplace. It was still thundering, and as they continued on, leaving the familiarity of the forest behind them, a few drops of rain began to sprinkle down. Rocktail, Limefur, Gingerpelt, Greencloud, and Treepaw followed along behind their deputy, Treepaw bringing up the rear. She kept close to Greencloud and kept an eye out for anything suspicious.

The hard, cold ground felt unnatural underpaw, and the harsh glaring lights along the thunderpath that divided the nests cast ominous shadows in the gray light. Treepaw muttered in Greencloud's ear, "This is really freaking me out,"

Greencloud nodded encouragingly. "But we must rescue Firepaw before its too late," Treepaw followed along behind silently then as they began turning around the winding pathes. Rocktail had caught a scent similar to the ones in their territory and was following it as quickly as he could scent.

But soon the rain began to pick up and it was growing very dark. At last he let out a dismayed yowl, "The rain has washed away the scent!"

Hopeless now, Briarstripe turned and began to lead her patrol back the way they had come. With a sudden gust of usually chilly wind, a burst of rain hit the cats about halfway back. "Get to cover!" Briarstripe ordered. They dove into a narrow path between two nests and raced to the back. Treepaw's paw skidded on the ground and when she sat down to lick it, tasted blood.

"I don't like it here," Treepaw sighed. This place was not for cats. At least not for her. Greencloud flashed her a sympathetic glance. They sat there for a while, and the rain didn't seem to be letting up any time soon. Treepaw decided she would take a look around the space. There was a corner of the cave-like place so shrouded in shadow that she could not see anything. Maybe it was a clue!

Cautiously, Treepaw slunk up to it and discovered it was a deep hole, leading somewhere into the nest besde them. Curiousity got the better of her, and she slowly began to pad down into it, testing to see if she could hear anything. As she descended deeper, the smell of cats hit her mouth. This had to be something! Just as Treepaw was about to turn around and tell her Clan mates about her find, the patter of paws sounded in the tunnel and something slammed into her like a rock wall.

She let out a yowl of surprise.

--

In the next two days that Firepaw spent with Whisp, she learned much about the Fire Path cats. Whisp explained that to get to the auction place, which was on the other side of twolegplace- the city, she called it- the toms who were planning on bidding took the she-cats down a long path, walking at night and entertaining themselves with the cats during the day, all the way there. The journey itself took three days, and sometimes cats died. It was called the Fire Path, because of that. And thats how they got their name.

She also introduced Firepaw to a few of the other she-cats; tattered but detirmined Amber, who Firepaw liked a lot, mind-numb Rose, who gazed around with wide eyes and occasionally murmured, "Not the orange one," Something about her made Firepaw shudder every time she looked at her. Then there was Stream, who snarled at everyone and wouldn't talk. Such conditions made Firepaw shudder. Many of the other she-cats huddled down and seemed to be waiting to die.

Once in the two day period, Prick and a lean tabby tom padded in and tossed a piece of prey into each of the cages. In Firepaws, it was only a mouse. Whisp and Firepaw each had a bite, then gave it to the other she-cat in their cage, a scrawny tabby, so thin her face was shrunken in and Firepaw could count each one of her bones. She scarfed it down and then retreated back into her corner. Whisp had shaken her head sadly and curled up with Firepaw, sighing in despair.

"...and then at night, you can gaze up at the stars through the roof of the den- when it isn't raining its so wonderful, and even though Froststar asked us if we wanted it mended we refused. It's the best part of sleeping in the apprentices den," Firepaw sighed, gazing up at the roof of the tunnel as she lay on her back comfortably beside Whisp.

"It does sound wonderful living in a Clan. But this- StarClan- you say, are they truly real?" Whisp asked, turning her head slightly.

Firepaw paused for a moment. "Only leaders and medicine cats speak with them. But lying outside at night, running through the forest, and knowing the thrill of hunting, I don't see how any forest cat could doubt they're not real," she purred.

"I've been in the forest only once. We knew of the Clans, but most only referred to them as the Forest Fools. They make jokes about them. My brother," her eyes darkened with sadness, "was caught tresspassing because he scorned them so, and they clawed his pelt to shreds."

Firepaw shifted a bit.

"I was so horrified. What kind of cats would do that? But now living here for nearly three weeks- I would prefer that to anything these cats do to us." she meowed quietly. "But you know what? I think that if we-"

She broke off and sat up as pawsteps and the sound of laughing voices were carried to their ears. Someone was coming down the tunnel. Four hefty toms- Purnak and the tabby rogue included- entered. Purnak stopped walking first and threw back his head and yowled, "Prepare yourselves! We leave in the morning for the Fire Path! I want you all ready because those who fall behind will be dealt with appropriately. Understand?"

The startled cats gazed back at him uncertainly. With a snort, he turned and led them back up the tunnel, laughing once again about some poor she-cat they had tortured. Firepaw shuddered.

"At least they told us," Firepaw meowed. "I don't know what time it is, but I should probably rest."

Whisp nodded. "Like we're so busy in here," she meowed almost bitterly. Firepaw sighed and curled up next to her, as she let concisousness drift away, and for a few hours she could be outside again, running through the sunlight and chasing bright, vibrant-colored butterflies until the sun went down and the moon and stars danced above her. She tumbled through the lush, glowing grass and when she looked up, saw the warriors of StarClan above.

She could have sworn they smiled at her.

--

Purnak left the other toms at the mouth of the she-cat tunnel and padded in the direction of Nightshade's tunnel. He had decided that he would not stay here anymore, and possibly try to win the young she-cat they had just captured for the auction. It had been four years he had lived here and served as Nightshade's top Searcher and Secret Adviser, and he was thinking about retiring and moving to the forest. Perhaps he'd take a few cats with him as partners as well as slaves...

"Nightshade?" Purnak called, pausing at the entrance. An irritable growl answered him, and he headed up and ducked his head repectfull as Nightshade snarled,

"What? Did you tell the she-cats we're leaving?"

Purnak nodded. "Yes, I did sir. But before we went down to them, Shadow found something very interesting." his eyes glinted. Nightshade looked up with interest. "A Clan she-cat was sneaking down one of our back tunnels. Shadow grabbed her and took her to the others. They're having some fun with her right now- what should we do with her?"

Nightshade sat up and thought for a moment. "Hmm, you've done very well in capturing the other one- Firesomething, correct? Why don't you take her and finish her off, do what you want and then kill her afterward. Why don't you force the she-cats to watch?"

Purnak grinned evilly. "Very excellent idea. And then afterward we'll take them to the Fire Path."

The large black and white tom looked thoughtful suddenly. "I heard you were planning on leaving this year." Purnak braced himself, but nothing happened. "You'll be missed. You have served me well," Nightshade looked almost nostolgic.

"Th-thank you," Purnak was surprised to see a different side to the cold, merciless tom he had called leader.

"I won't be seeing you before you leave," Nightshade went on. "So I'd like to say goodbye,"

"Goodbye," Purnak padded back out of the tunnel, a bit dazed. For a moment real sadness passed through him that he had probably seen Nightshade for the last time. Had he once been a different cat, kind and thoughtful? Perhaps. And perhaps if he could have been different, perhaps Purnak himself could be.

No, he told himself as he headed to find Shadow. It's too late for you.