I know. I KNOW! I haven't updated in over a year. I am so sorry. For a full explanation of why I've been a bad author, read the Author Note in chapter 22 of my fic The Growing Up Of Tigerstar.

You guys probably hate me. Especially since I put a big cliffhanger last chapter. I deserve the hate. Sorry.

Well, enjoy this chapter. I made it long.

Presenting…the long-awaited chapter 11!

"Kill them."

Amberleaf wasn't sure if she'd heard Tigerstar right.

Kill them.

NO!

"Amberleaf!" Jaggedwing hissed in her ear. "We have to get out of here!"

Destiny, Snowcloud, Blood, and Maul advanced on them. Snakeeyes shifted nervously on her paws, searching for a possible escape.

Blood roared in her ears.

Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.

I don't want to die.

"We're going to have to run," Jaggedwing whispered.

Blood sneered. "Prepare to die, kittypets."

"—when I say go—"

"Just kill them already!" Tigerstar yowled.

"—we'll run—"

"Say your last words," Destiny hissed.

"—straight through them."

Destiny raised a paw with unsheathed claws.

"GO!" Jaggedwing led his friends through the wall of fur and claws, and tore through it towards the trees, the safety. He didn't know whether the paws thudding behind him were friend or foe, but he didn't dare look to make sure. He ran and ran and ran…his chest hurt, and his throat was dry, but he kept running…

It seemed like forever until he heard a "Jaggedwing, they've stopped chasing us!" behind him, spoken by a voice he knew to be Amberleaf's.

Amberleaf and Snakeeyes caught up with him and slowed their pace. "I think we're safe."

"We should find them," Snakeeyes mewed softly.

"Come again?" Jaggedwing asked her.

Snakeeyes sighed. "Sandstorm and Sasha. I want to make sure they're all right…we owe it to them. And I'd also like to find Hawkshadow and Skywing—you know, the mutinees?"

"Why would we want to find them?" Jaggedwing questioned.

"Because," Snakeeyes replied seriously. "We're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to get rid of Tigerstar."

Sandstorm's POV

"Sandstorm!" Sasha gasped as we collapsed on some rocks. "I think we're far enough away."

I looked at our surroundings, pine trees more dense and the ground less marshy. "I think you're right. We're out of the Clans' territory completely."

Suddenly, I heard a twig snap behind me, and my muscles tensed. Then I heard running paws.

Sasha looked at me fearfully. "I think someone's watching us," she whispered.

I nodded, and then I saw something that almost made my heart stop.

"Sasha," I whispered. "Someone's watching us from that tree."

Sasha froze as she followed my gaze to a short pine tree with a pair of blinking eyes in it.

"Who's there?" I called out.

No one came out.

"Who's there?" I called again.

This time, I heard the thudding of paws, and a tom padded out to us.

"Who are you?" he meowed gravely, blinking his eyes slowly at us.

Sasha and I exchanged looks, and then Sasha nodded. "I'm Sasha, this is Sandstorm," she mewed warily. "Who are you?"

"I am Hawkshadow," he replied. "You look very familiar."

"As do you," I hissed. "Aren't you RiverClan? I could swear I've seen you before."

"One of the mutineers," he answered. "Skywing and I were chased away, and we took refuge here."

"Oh, right," Sasha mewed. "I remember that. Tigerstar was furious."

"It's too dangerous to try and escape to WindClan or ThunderClan," Hawkshadow sighed. "Tigerstar has patrols all along the borders."

"We've noticed," Sasha sighed. "We were racing for our lives and some of his patrols joined in the chase."

Hawkshadow was nodding, then he noticed Sandstorm's swollen belly. "You're pregnant."

Sandstorm stiffened. "Unfortunately…with Tigerstar's kits."

Hawkshadow's eyes widened. "Oh…I didn't know he had a mate."

"He doesn't," Sasha replied sadly.

Hawkshadow's look of confusion changed to one of realization. "You must come with me to camp."

"Camp?" Sasha inquired.

"I call it a camp…rather, it's my refuge with my mate, Skywing. Us and our three kits."

Sasha and Sandstorm exchanged looks. "Better than nothing," Sasha meowed.

Sandstorm hated it.

She hated the vulnerable position she was in.

She hated her pregnancy.

She hated Tigerstar.

As she and Sasha padded through the trees, their paws making no sound on the soft undergrowth. Sunlight streamed on her pelt, causing her added discomfort along with the weight of what felt like three kits. Three kits. She couldn't believe it.

What would they look like?

Toms or she-cats?

What would she name them?

"Welcome home…sort of," Hawkshadow meowed, gesturing the two she-cats into a small, secluded hollow with his tail.

Sasha ventured in cautiously, before being jumped by three squealing bundles of tabby fur.

"KITS!" Sasha screeched. "Hawkshadow, call off your kits!"

"Marshkit, Reedkit, Heatherkit! What have I told you about ambushing?"

The three kits raced over to their father and wailed apologies.

Sasha, meanwhile, got to her paws and shook dust out of her fur. "Crazy kits! I hope any I have never tackle me!"

"I'm sorry," Hawkshadow sighed. "They haven't learned manners yet." He nudged the smallest gray tabby she-kit forward. "Heatherkit is the mastermind of the group."

Heatherkit looked up with an innocent smile. "Hi!" she chirped.

Sasha jumped, still not having gotten over the ambush.

"Marshkit," Hawkshadow rested his tail on the black tom with a mischievous grin, "and Reedkit." He gestured towards the golden tom hiding behind his father."

"They're sweet," Sandstorm meowed, wondering if this was how her own kits would act.

"Sit," Hawkshadow offered.

Sandstorm sat, and gave a small gasp as she felt one of the kits move.

"What is it?" Sasha demanded, concerned for her friend.

"One of the kits moved…I was surprised, that's all."

"Do you need anything?" Hawkshadow asked. "I'm no medicine cat, but Mudfur did teach me a few things. Though you would probably do better to ask Skywing. Speaking which…" He looked at Heatherkit. "Where is Skywing?"

Heatherkit shrugged. "Left a few minutes 'fore you came back. Went 'unting to get somethin' for you to eat."

Hawkshadow nodded. "Let's hope that she can catch some prey for our two guests." He looked at Sandstorm and Sasha, eying them critically. "You two look horribly underfed."

"Tigerstar's not very generous with his rations," Sasha agreed.

Skywing chose that moment to appear, coming through the den entrance with two fish dangling from her mouth. When she saw the two newcomers, her mouth dropped open and the fish fell on the ground.

She hastily moved them to a clean, flat rock, and meowed, "Who is this?" She glared pointedly at her mate, while her kits snuck up on the fresh fish.

"Sandstorm and Sasha," Hawkshadow answered. "They are refugees fleeing from Tigerstar. They were formerly his prisoners."

Skywing's look was one of surprise. "In that case, you're very welcome to stay. We are sympathetic to any cat Tigerstar inflicts pain upon."

"And you're pregnant," she added with a quick look at Sandstorm's belly. "Who's the lucky tom?" she purred.

Sandstorm gave the gently teasing she-cat a dark look. "Tigerstar."

Skywing didn't try to hide her disgust. "Oh…" She turned to her kits. "Darlings, it's time to go to sleep. Go to your nests."

Grumbling, the three kits slipped through the lichen curtain in the den and moments later, snores could be heard.

When they had left, Skywing whispered, "Were you consenting?"

"As if I would to a sadistic killer like him!" Sandstorm hissed. "Every moment…every second with him was torture. If I never see him again, it'll be too soon."

Skywing laid her tail on Sandstorm's shoulder, smiling sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. But all you can do now is move on. Raise your kits, perhaps find a true mate, live life to the fullest."

"I have a mate," Sandstorm muttered. "And when he finds out, he'll hate me."

Firestar's face.

His disappointed face.

She couldn't imagine what it would be like telling him.

I'm going to have Tigerstar's kits.

"Who?" Hawkshadow pressed.

The name felt heavy on Sandstorm's tongue. "Firestar."

"The ThunderClan leader?" he asked.

"No, the RockClan leader," Sandstorm shot back sarcastically. When she saw the shock on Sasha's face, she meowed an apology. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just…upset."

Hawkshadow padded outside with a "I'll be right back."

"Understandable," Skywing murmured. Her eyes landed on the fish she'd caught. "I'm so sorry! Here we are talking about your trauma, while there's fresh prey and you two are starving!"

"No, it's fine," Sasha began. "We wouldn't want to take your prey. We can catch our own."

"I've already eaten today," Skywing told her. "You and Sandstorm take a fish each. We'll be fine."

Sandstorm was about to protest, but the growling in her stomach overtook pride and she bit into the fresh fish carcass Skywing dropped in front of her.

Her first reaction was to cringe, for the fish flavor was a bit too strong, but she swallowed and kept face, gulping down the rest.

When the fish were eaten, Skywing pointed out the dark sky. "We all should get some sleep."

Hawkshadow reappeared. "I made some makeshift nests for you two under a bush. It's not much, but at least you'll have a place to sleep for now."

"Thank you," Sandstorm told him gratefully. "You're a gift from StarClan."

After a couple of "good-nights" and a "may StarClan watch over you", Sasha and Sandstorm trudged out to said bush and plopped wearily in their nests.

Silence hung over them for the good for the good part of an hour, and Sandstorm was about to fall asleep when Sasha's voice interrupted.

"You may not like what I'm about to say, but—"

"If you think I won't like it, then don't say it," Sandstorm murmured sleepily.

Sasha sighed. "It's just that…I'm a tiny bit jealous."

"Of what?" Sandstorm replied curtly.

"Your kits."

Sandstorm abruptly lifted her head off her paws to glare at her friend. "You're jealous of the fact that I'm pregnant? How could you? They're Tigerstar's."

"Tigerstar's or not, they're still kits. And I'm jealous because I can never have any."

"You can't have kits?" Sandstorm asked.

Sasha shook her head. "No. I had a mate once and we wanted a family…but it never happened. I've always wanted a little family to care for…kits calling me Mother."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Sasha yawned. "Just…never look at your kits like they're devil spawn. Love them…cherish them…"

"I get the idea. Thanks."

"You'll be having them soon, won't you?"

Sandstorm's heart plummeted. "I suppose so. It's been a moon and a half since I was captured."

A moon and a half.

"I'm going to sleep," Sandstorm suddenly meowed with half a sob. "Good night."

Meanwhile, back in TigerClan…

Featherpaw paced nervously around the small den. She and Stormpaw were alone.

Another scream sounded from the clearing outside.

She cringed. Destiny had taken everyone but Featherpaw and Stormpaw out to be tortured.

"This is awful!" Stormpaw blubbered. "I would rather be out there than in here worrying."

Featherpaw nodded, eyeing the far wall of the den.

Ever since Sandstorm had provided her with an escape plan (which Graystripe still refused to let her follow through on), Featherpaw had been secretly enlarging the tunnel Sandstorm had pointed out. Without Graystripe's knowledge, she had made it big enough to squeeze through.

A sudden idea struck her, and she almost laughed at the stupidity of it.

Perhaps to go to the end of the tunnel now, while she was as close to alone as possible…and maybe just take a tiny peek outside to see who was in her way.

Everyone in TigerClan must be watching the torturing…

It was broad daylight, and it was stupid, but Featherpaw decided to try it.

"Stormpaw?"

"What?"

She took a deep breath. "Remember that escape plan Sandstorm told me about?"

He nodded. "You've been working on that tunnel."

"I'm going to try to escape. Right now."

"WHAT?"

"Quiet!"

"What?" Stormpaw whispered. "Are you mousebrained? That's crazy!"

"No, it's not. Everyone is probably watching the others get tortured. It's the perfect opportunity."

"Featherpaw…"

Featherpaw took a deep breath. "Please, Stormpaw. I have to get help. I can do this." She took a pawstep towards the tunnel.

"Let me go with you, then," Stormpaw pleaded.

Featherpaw shook her head. "It's too dangerous for both of us. Besides, I need you to stay and tell Father where I've gone. And tell the guards that I knocked you out or something when you tried to stop me…anything to keep them from blaming you. Make me the villan, okay?"

Stormpaw sighed—a sign of acceptance. "Alright…promise me you'll get help as soon as possible."

She licked her brother over the ear. "I promise."

A few good-byes, and she had begun her way through the tunnel.

It was a close fit, and she thanked StarClan that she was smaller than most apprentices.

The dirt stuck to her fur and got in her eyes a few times, yet she kept moving.

Sunlight was the first clue that she'd made her way to the surface.

Relief.

Freedom.

Not yet.

Reminding her wildly beating heart that she wasn't out of the woods yet, she cautiously allowed herself to take a peek at her new surroundings.

It was still RiverClan territory.

But right next to the river. ThunderClan territory was a few foxleaps away.

Could there be luck this good?

And true to her prediction, the area was completely deserted…

…Wait.

No!

She burrowed down again as she heard both pawsteps and voices come her way.

A patrol.

"Firewing, stop, I smell something."

No.

No.

They scented her.

"It's one of the prisoners!" the same voice exclaimed. "I recognize the scent!"

Another voice laughed. "I think you hit your head on that rock a bit hard, Blackclaw. It's just a mouse, hiding. You go on to Mudfur, I'll see if I can catch some prey."

Blackclaw grumbled, but Featherpaw could hear his pawsteps fading.

It was all she could do to keep from shrieking as Firewing sniffed around the tunnel.

"Stupid mouse," he muttered. "Oh, well."

Featherpaw sighed in relief as he padded away.

She waited a few more minutes before she dared to emerge again.

When she did, it was heaven.

So long since she'd seen the river.

So long since she'd walked freely.

So long since she'd been alone, and not under watch from a guard member.

Don't allow yourself leisure time. Run. Now.

She took a quick look around, making sure that there walked not a single enemy on RiverClan territory.

When she was sure she was safe for the moment, she ran.

Ran.

Fast.

Faster than she'd ever ran, all the way to the stepping-stones to cross the river.

She didn't bother wasting time, so she took a plunge into the water and swam.

Swam.

Fast.

Faster than she'd ever swam, all the way to the bank on ThunderClan territory.

Safe. She was safe.

"Thank you, StarClan," she whispered. "Thank you."

That was when she heard the yowl.

Turning around, she saw that the torturing had apparently ended, for cats were dispersing and one…

…one saw her.

Featherpaw's fur stood on end.

And she ran again. Faster. Faster. She wasn't looking where she was going.

She only knew to get as far away from RiverClan as possible.

That's why she didn't see the ThunderClan patrol, and why she ran headlong into Whitestorm.

"Featherpaw?" he exclaimed. "Graystripe's kit? What are you doing?"

Featherpaw didn't know who this cat was, but she looked into his eyes and pleaded: "Firestar. Take me to Firestar."

End of Chapter 11

Well, that was an interesting chapter.

I know I might have moved things along a bit fast. Sorry. And I've got four different storylines to work on now…the Sandstorm and Sasha storyline, the Amberleaf and friends storyline, the Featherpaw storyline, and the prisoners storyline. Wow.

So Hawkshadow and Skywing are back! I named one of their kits Heatherkit because horseloverheather submitted Hawkshadow to me, intending him to be a she-cat, but I made him as a tom instead. Sorry, horseloverheather. On the plus side, you get a kit named after you!

What, oh what, will poor Sandstorm do with her kits?

Again, sorry for the EXTREMELY long hiatus. The next chapter will be up VERY soon.

If you have any questions, let me know in a review!

What will happen to Amberleaf and the gang?

Revriley, I PROMISE Cloudtail and Longtail will be tortured next chapter.

Ciao~

~LenzieKat