Chapter 26

I woke up in my prison, alone. That was always a good thing. Except I noticed it was brighter than usual. The door was left slightly open! I jumped to my feet, ignoring the pain, and rushed over. I tried squeezing through, but was too big somehow. I tried pushing on it, but it was still impossible and wouldn't move at all. I sighed. So much for hope.

I kept trying however as this was my best chance yet. I slammed my shoulder into the rock repeatedly. There was no budge however. Maybe this was a useless cause. I then heard voices. Voices other than my tormentors!

"Hey!" I shouted. It was hoarse and quieter than what I could before, but hopefully someone would hear it. "Someone! Anyone! Help me!"

I saw Grasstail walking up to the door. Oh no. "You'll pay for that later," he hissed before shutting it back.

I had made a mistake. They were going to be so mad! They were going to hurt me so much! I probably won't get food for even longer and I'll be a bloody mess and I don't want to have to go through this. I should have paid more attention and realized Grasstail was near. I was so mouse-brained to think I had any hope of escape. Now things were going to be worse than ever and they'd be extra careful to make sure I'm stuck. Despite the agony, I paced the prison, too anxious to sit down. If there was one thing I was good at, it was making mistakes.

I can't pretend things haven't gotten worse since the day I had lost hope. I had regained my fight to a point and they had doubled in brutality or so it felt. Flurrytail had also visited recently, leaving my tail even shorter. Time passed slower than usual as I imagined all the horrendous things Grasstail could do to me. If only I could get out before then, maybe everything would be okay. Except there was no way for me to escape and if I got caught trying it would be so much worse.

The door began to move and I pressed myself upon the back wall, shaking. The door moved to show a mostly black she-cat with one white foot. She was obviously a SunClan cat, but I certainly didn't remember her name. She stared at me for a moment as I did the same.

"You're not Grasstail," I stated eventually.

"Thank StarClan I'm not! Who would want to be Grasstail?" she asked. "You're Deathfire, right?"

"Yeah," I answered. My adrenaline was fading fast and I was beginning to feel increasingly tired. I heard voices. Familiar voices.

"You need to hide," I whispered urgently, running up to her.

"I'm not leaving you alone to deal with them," she told me.

"If they find you, they'll kill you and I'll never get out," I responded. "Please."

She hesitated for a moment before running off. She left the door was open. I would be in so much trouble! I looked over to see Grasstail and Coldclaw.

"What is she doing?" Coldclaw asked.

The two ran up to me as I started uncontrollably shaking. I began whimpering. What were they going to do to me?

"What do you think you're doing?" Grasstail growled.

I cowered away and murmured, "Trying to escape."

He grabbed my scruff roughly and threw me across the prison into the wall. I got to my feet and scrambled up against it. They were mad. They were so mad. Both walked towards me. Grasstail grabbed my good ear, lifting me off the ground as I cried out. Coldclaw grabbed my scruff and began pulling. I screamed. I hate to admit it, but I screamed. Both were tugging at me in some cruel game, blood running down me, until eventually my ear tore to shreds to match the other one, sending me and Coldclaw flying in the other direction. I rolled off him and pressed myself against the nearest wall.

And then it was just biting and clawing and the tearing of flesh as my pelt became the color of blood. I whimpered uncontrollably. I still felt weak for it too, just letting them without any fight or resistance. I don't know how much time passed, but it was too long. My vision was edging on black as the two stopped and went towards the exit.

"Don't let us catch you trying to escape ever again, got it?" Grasstail asked. I nodded quickly. "Good."

He shut the door to the prison and I was left in there, bloody, broken, and weak. I fought the blackness at the edge of my vision, trying to stay awake. It wasn't long before the cat arrived back. The rock was moved, more light shining in. She stared at me for a moment, taking in what she saw, before she walked in.

"I'm going to need you to get on top of me, okay? I'll carry you back to my camp," she told me.

I nodded. She got down to the ground. I slowly dragged my bloody self onto her and buried my face into her fur. I felt safe for the first time in moons. I felt hope of complete safety for the first time in moons. Everything would be okay.

"SunClan camp is closer than NightClan, not to mention I don't want to have to deal with patrols, so I'll be taking you back to my camp," she explained as we began walking towards her territory.

"Okay," I agreed.

"My name is Whitefoot by the way," she told me.

She walked slowly towards SunClan camp, not wanting to move me too quickly. It was peaceful as I rode along on her back, resting after everything that had happened. It wasn't too long before we arrived in SunClan camp. All eyes were on us and everyone went silent. Grasstail and Coldclaw looked at each other anxiously as Whitefoot shot them both a glare. She took me to the medicine den.

"Violetnose, I need you!" Whitefoot exclaimed.

The medicine cat emerged from the herb stores. "What seems to be the problem?" she asked, looking over and spotting me. "Set her down in a spare nest, I'll go get cobwebs."

Whitefoot got down again, allowing me to get off. I collapsed into the nest. I forgot how much more comfortable moss was. "I'm so glad I didn't trust Grasstail," Whitefoot stated. "That way I was able to find and help you."

"Thank you," I told her.

"So what is this about someone finding Deathfire?" Brownstar asked, entering the den.

"I found her trapped in some old animal den not far outside the territory. I heard her calling out earlier today on patrol and Grasstail went to check it out, but said it was nothing," Whitefoot explained. "I'm glad I didn't trust him because I went back later and found Deathfire. I had to hide for a while for my own safety as both Grasstail and Coldclaw showed up. Apparently they did this."

"They what?" Brownstar exclaimed. "I knew they were terrible cats, but this?" He composed himself. "This will be dealt with. Was there anyone else involved, Deathfire?"

"No one you can do anything about," I answered.

"Very well then. You can stay here as long as you need," he told me. "Should I alert NightClan?"

"Yes, please do," I answered.

"I will warn you then, Wingstar sounded like she very much so wanted you gone," he warned me.

"I am well aware of Wingstar's opinion of me," I responded.

"I'll leave you to Violetnose then," he said. "I'll be calling a meeting to exile Grasstail and Coldclaw as well as send a patrol to NightClan to tell them the good news."

"Thank you," I told him.

"It's truly nothing. Any good Clan would help a cat in need, regardless of where they come from," he responded, exiting the medicine den.

Violetnose began fussing over me with herbs and such. Apparently I was worse off than I thought because she mumbled a lot about how many infected wounds there were. Whitefoot sat with us because she said she wanted to make sure I was okay. Eventually Violetnose finished with me and I laid down, tired and hurting but happy to be safe. Everything was finally going to be alright.

I would also get to see my friends again! I couldn't wait to see them all. I hoped they were all doing okay while I was gone. I can't wait to see how the kits have grown, although I doubt I'll like how much taller than me they'll be. They're probably apprentices now, aren't they? I've missed so much. More than I really thought about. I was too busy focusing on surviving I didn't think about it.

Snakeheart walked into the den carrying a mouse. She set it down by me. "I figured you could use something to eat!" she told me.

"Thanks," I responded, taking a bite. It felt so good to eat.

"Just ask and I can bring you some soaked moss if you're thirsty. You can't really get up, but you certainly need to stay hydrated," Violetnose told me.

"That would be nice if it's not too much trouble," I told her.

"It's my job," she told me, grabbing some moss and disappearing.

I like being able to do things by myself and it always drove me nuts to rely on others. This time was no different, but I didn't feel like getting up so I suppose it was okay.

"Your friends were very worried for you," Snakeheart told me. "Wingstar tried to declare you dead, but Tallblaze made sure everyone knew you were alive and to keep a look out."

"I didn't know he did that. I knew Wingstar announced me dead, but not that," I responded.

"Your sources of outside information weren't exactly reliable," she reminded me.

"You're right," I agreed.

Violetnose returned with the soaked moss and it was so nice to feel water in my dry mouth. It felt like forever since I had had anything; it probably has been.

It wasn't long before I finished eating and curled up in my nest again. I was asleep almost immediately.

Author's Note: Yay for Whitefoot saving Deathfire! And yay for Grasstail and Coldclaw getting exiled! And yay for SunClan taking care of the gal! Looks like everything's looking up, huh? Anyway, feel free to leave a review. I'll see you all next week!

-Rowan W.