AN/ Yesterday I had to ruff it, I had no indoor plumbing, AC or light (or wi-fi) for the better part of the day. I'll try to post as many chaps as can as quick as I can, but between School and freak incidents like that you'll have to bear with me.


WARNING: This chapter is a higher T for some gross imagery farther down. You have been warned.


There's something off down in the cavern. After a good bit of thinking, I was able to put a name to it. Tension. It's like I'm drowning in it.

Snow coughed, it didn't seem very bad, but in the cold, damp cave it is likely to get worse, especially because she refuses to take any herbs. Late at night, I can hear Raven and Tangle talking in harsh whispers, sometimes they'll wake Dew too, or Raven will go into the tunnel for a long while. Scrap picks up on the mood, and spends less time playing games and more time just sitting in his nest, fooling with a moss ball.

Most of the time I'm just frustrated. Everyone is deep in their own problems, but no one dares to bring them out to the surface. Scrap and I are left clueless, unable to do anything but sit around and sulk.

I'm lying in my nest, awoken from my sleep by a rustling noise. The curtain covering the tunnel.

I sigh and turn over in my nest. Whatever Raven's doing, he needs to learn to do it more quietly.

I'm one breath away from sleep when I hear something that makes me prick my ears. It sounds like Raven's talking to someone out there.

I try to ignore it and go back to sleep, but I can still hear it, very quiet, but still there. I creep out of my nest, and go as quietly as possible to the entrance to the tunnel. It definitely talking, Raven and some cat with a familiar mew.

I reach out with my nose until I hit the curtain. I drag a small section away and squeeze myself through. I stop and sniff, but something's missing. If two cats were standing in the tunnel with me there would be two strong, fresh cat scents, not two faint ones coming from different directions.

I draw back in to the cave. Something's making me uneasy about the missing cats; I don't want to investigate by myself. I walk on my lightest paws back to my nest and curl up tight. Raven will reenter the caver eventually, and I'll question him then.

I fells like I'm waiting there for an eternity, but in reality it can't have been more than a few minutes. Soon enough he's back in the den.

"Raven! Where were you?" I hiss.

"I was, um, in the dirt place!" he hisses back.

Now I snort. This is a cat who is not a good liar. "You fur ball, the dirt place isn't in the tunnel. And I heard another cat talking with you."

I can hear him backing away from me, just a few paw steps.

"Well, I may or may not have been talking to a warrior about how to get rid of Hawkstar." He says, and then moves back.

"What? You could get us all killed! If he found out he would kill all of us and probably that warrior too. I can't believe this!" I always thought Raven was smarter than this. I should have expected it; it was why he was down here. But plotting with a warrior in the middle of the night? Not smart.

"Look, she's been telling me important stuff. Today, Hawkstar called a meeting and told the clan that they have to maintain the clan's image of perfection. No socializing at gatherings, and no badmouthing anyone. He's started marking cats, as a warning. Cutting a line in their shoulder, and if the get another on their De-ranked."

"Raven, are you not seeing the point?" I growl. "It's a warning. What if they find out?"

"Look, we'll talk in the morning. Just go to sleep and dream of whatever she cats dream of. I'm exhausted." He says.

As angry as I am, I'm still asleep as soon as I tough my nest.


In the morning, I do my best to make sure my body language screams "I am displeased.", but no one seems to notice. Raven avoids me, and everyone else goes about their routine.

The peace is disturbed by a warrior barging in to the den.

"Come on, up, all you lazy lumps. There's a meeting."

I don't question, I'm too afraid of the answer.

We all go up the tunnel, until we reach the sunny camp clearing. I expect to stay in the back, out of the way. Instead, the warrior leads us up to the front.

My pelt burns a Hawkstar calls a meeting from directly above us. We're dead center.

"Clan, as you know, our new system of punishment consists of marking those who deserve it. In front of you are six cats that deserve it."

I can hear all the clan yowling in agreement, and the realization in. They are going to slice into my shoulder and anything I could do about it would only result in them doing it again.

"Clan, Blazesun will be your representative in their punishment. I will list their crimes."

Again, yowls of agreement.

"Dew, step forward."

I know he will be brave, and this would not compare to any of his old battle wounds, but I still feared for him.

"Dew, you were once an honorable warrior, but you gave that life up for the life of a coward and a fool. You were marked, and your mark will be crossed as a reminder that you continue to leech off of the clan you betrayed."

There is a sound, one that makes me want to shut my ears, of fur parting and skin splitting. I draw back and draw Scrap against me with my tail.

Hawkstar continues on, even though Dew is tense with pain and Scrap whimpers against my side.

"Snow, you have quite a history. I could list your deeds from now until sundown, if you had not gave u your right to them the day you were De-ranked. We mark you again as you continue to be a menace."

Snow is closer to me, and I have to press my ears shut, but I can still hear her cry out when claws meet her skin.

"Feather, you were born useless. You kept your warrior mother away from her duties for three moons. This alone earns you your first mark."

A cat scent hits me, cloyingly close to my nose. I pry Scrap from my side and brace myself.

She struck and for those few moments the only thoughts in my mind were of pain. It never occurred to me how much you rely on your shoulder until I was expected to use it while wounded.

"You have also continued to be a nuisance to the clan, earning you your second mark.

Getting sliced in the shoulder hurts. Getting sliced in the shoulder ACROSS an existing wound really hurts.

I couldn't tell you what happened during the other "ceremonies". All I was aware of was pulling Scrap to me after his and numbly making my way down the tunnel.

It hardly even registers as, in the middle of the night, Raven pads out of the tunnel with a bundle of fresh herbs in his jaws.