Chapter 19

I don't think it had been that long, but I'd already lost track of the days. My stomach was eating away at me and my mouth and throat were dry as a drought. My entire body ached and felt heavy. All hope of rescue had since disappeared completely. I wasn't getting out of this unless I could on my own. I was on my paws, trying to calculate the best angle for me to push the door from. If I could move the door, I'd be free. I could go home. Everything would be okay again.

I ran into the door full force with my shoulder. It didn't move. I had grown used to the pain caused by my attempts to move the rock and it didn't bother me as much as it had. It was a reminder I was still alive and fighting. I backed up and ran into it again, this time continuing to push once I hit it. Not a budge. I sighed, tired of every attempt of mine failing. I felt the warm sticky feeling of blood and realized I reopened one of my wounds. One more time. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before running at the rock again. However, instead of hitting a rock, I hit a cat. I opened my eyes to see Grasstail. I retreated back into my prison, realizing what I just did.

"I'm sorry!" I exclaimed.

"Were you trying to move the rock?" Grasstail asked. I nodded slowly. "And how was that going for you?"

"Not well," I murmured.

"Maybe I can help you with that," Grasstail responded, walking towards me. I flinched away.

He pushed me onto my back and then one by one tore open the pads of my paws. He backed up, laughing.

"Stand up," he told me.

I hesitated a moment before rolling over and getting back to my feet. The scratches stung as I put them to the ground and worse as I stood up. However, I stood up anyway. It's easier to do as told. It will keep me safe until I find a way out.

He dug his claws into one of my shoulders. It was just finally healing from the night I got kidnapped, only to be reopened. He walked around me and did the same to my other shoulder. He was trying to make it harder on me. He was trying to make it more painful and impossible to escape.

"Hey Coldclaw, shut the door for me," he requested. The rock was pushed in front of the entrance. He looked back towards me. "Come on, try to move it." I stared at him and then the door, contemplating whether or not it was a good idea. "You were the one trying to do it earlier. Move it. If you can push it out of the way, we'll let you leave."

He knew I wouldn't be able to. He knew he wouldn't have to let me go. I shut my eyes tight and ran into the door, pushing against it with all my might before collapsing against the door. Blood streaked where I slid to the ground against it, tearing my shoulder more. I looked back over to where Grasstail was, laughing. I closed my eyes again, leaning my head against the rock. Everything was so pointless.

"What? Is that all you got?" Grasstail taunted. I looked up again. "Not gonna try again?"

He walked up to me and scratched my exposed side. I winced, but didn't respond. He bit down on my exposed shoulder, digging his fangs as deep as he could. I whimpered softly. He let go, then grabbing my scruff and flinging me across my prison away from the door. The pain in my shoulder flared as I hit the ground roughly.

"Get up," he told me. "Try again."

I whimpered, fighting to my feet once more. I went towards it as fast as I could, which was a brisk walk, and barely touched it with my shoulder before letting my legs give way again. Pathetic. I was so pathetic. I wished they would just kill me already. I was tempted to let myself die of thirst, not drink anything anymore. However, I had promised Tallblaze I wouldn't give up so I wouldn't. Even if it was my only driving force. I couldn't just yet.

"You're not even trying," Grasstail laughed.

I looked back over at him. The door began to open and I closed my eyes against the sudden light. Teeth grabbed my scruff and threw me across the den again. I opened my eyes to see both toms standing over me. I curled up into a ball and closed my eyes again. I attempted to ignore the laughter and the clawing of my exposed side. I couldn't take much more of this. Desperation ate at me.

I suddenly jumped to my feet and took off out of the prison, not knowing where I was going completely. I was just running away. I knew they were following and I couldn't let them catch me. It would be worse if they did. My legs collapsed out from under me and I began feeling the pain again. The adrenaline masked it and my exhaustion for a moment, but they were both back, stronger than even. I attempted to get back to my feet, but fell back down.

The two toms caught up to me. "Didn't get very far, did ya?" Grasstail asked.

I looked back in the direction I came. I could still see the prison. I barely got anywhere. I realized how hopeless this all was. I was trapped. I couldn't escape if I tried. I was too weak to.

"If she came over here, I think she can go back on her own," Coldclaw stated.

I fought back to my feet, only to fall once more. I whimpered, looking up at them for any sympathy. It would be less humiliating to be dragged back than fail at walking back. Grasstail just prodded me with his paw, silently telling me to get moving. I reached out with one paw and dragged myself forward, digging my claws into the dirt. I made another attempt to get back up that failed.

"What? Can't you get back?" Grasstail asked. "Are you that pathetic you can't even walk?"

I whimpered again, putting one paw ahead of me and then dragging myself a little farther forward. I looked forward, realizing how long this was going to take me. Grasstail's right. I'm pathetic. I don't even have the strength to walk. He roughly grabbed me by the scruff and carried me back to my prison. He threw me harder than ever inside, causing me to hit the opposite wall and fall to the ground. He walked up to me and pinned me on my back before clawing my chest and stomach.

"I'm sorry," I murmured.

He gave a snort of laughter. "Only because you failed," he responded. He turned to Coldclaw. "Come on, let's leave her to bleed out."

The two of them left, shutting me in again. I didn't move. I didn't feel like it. I was finally realizing I wouldn't be able to escape. I was stuck. I was finally in a situation I couldn't get out of. Then again, I'd never been able to get out of anything myself. Someone always had to come along and save me and now that I didn't have that, I'd never get out. Ever. I was going to be their toy forever and I couldn't change it. I finally curled up and fell asleep, giving into my exhaustion.

I opened my eyes, finding myself in the Dark Forest. Even Lightstar was better than Grasstail and Coldclaw however. I was more used to her at least.

"Hello," Lightstar greeted. "How are you doing?"

"I have lost all hope of escape and am trying to cope with the fact I may suffer there for the rest of my life," I answered. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing splendid, absolutely splendid," Lightstar responded. "Are you ready to begin tonight's training?"

"I'm in absolute pain and agony and can barely walk, but I doubt I have a choice," I responded.

"That's the spirit!" Lightstar exclaimed.

I fought to my feet, slightly stronger than I was earlier, but nonetheless weak. I faced her, calculating the best move for me to make in my current state. My best move was to just stand there and allow myself to get beat up. So I did.

Author's Note: *nervous laughter* Every time I post a Deathfire chapter, I feel like someone's going to come after me for my treatment of my precious OCs, but no one has yet. Everything has been deathly silent. Is that a reason to worry? Probably. But whatever. Anyway, my bracket is not doing too hot because Auburn decided to up and lose to Miami of all teams, but whatever, I don't think you guys come here for basketball commentary. Or do you? If you do, you probably need to find a better place to get your basketball commentary from. After all, this is a warrior fanfic. Anyway, feel free to leave a review. Comments are appreciated but I'm too socially anxious to comment on other really cool users' works most the time so whatever, I get it if you don't. Anyway, enjoy your week! I'll be back with more lovely chapters where main characters are definitely not brutally harmed!

-Rowan W.