PineClan: The Never Ending Torture

Chapter 1

The shaken she-cats were huddled in a tight line, shrinking on the floor of the den. They all had glazed eyes, fear washing in them as the light of the entrance seemed to mock them. One of them would become the mate to Wolfstar, the cruel leader of PineClan. The unchosen queens had been told that day that Wolfstar's former mate, Lightpetal, had been savagely beaten to death, and had died, kits already swelling in the young pale golden she-cats belly.

Two shadows blocked the light of the den, and the she-cats let out faint whimper as the large dark gray tom, and his deputy, Hawkfang, arrived. Frostflower looked down the row of she-cats. There was Dappleflower at the other end, the dappled she-cat that never stopped complaining, Orangeflower, who's bright ginger coat stood out against the dark cave, Snowflower, the dark pelted she-cat with snow-white paws, Amberflower, the always talking she-cat, and Jayflower, Frostflower's sister, who shivered beside her.

Wolfstar eyes hungrily observed the she-cats, his dark blue eyes turning Frostflower's pelt to frost. Hawkfang walked beside him, hatefully staring at Jayflower and Frostflower, his littermates. Frostflower sadly stared at her brother, before Hawkfang bared his teeth silently at her, telling her to be quiet.

"Let me see..." Wolfstar growled, starting with the frightened Dappleflower. Dappleflower stared frightfully back at the looming tom, before Wolfstar passed her and moved to Orangeflower. Frostflower sighed with relief as Dappleflower, Orangeflower, then Snowflower and Amberflower were safe. Frostflower shifted in fear as Wolfstar came to Jayflower. The gray tabby shrunk, and Wolfstar shook his head. She's safe. Frostflower thought with relief until it came to her.

Frostflower's blue eyes widened as Wolfstar sniffed at the beautiful white she-cat's whiskers. Frostflower stood her ground as thick as an oak tree. Wolfstar narrowed his eyes in, what? Pleasure? Amusement...? Wolfstar smiled at Hawkfang, who was sitting near the other end of the line, and Hawkfang smiled back.

All unchosen queens stared frightfully as Frostflower was dragged out of the nursery in the PineClan leaders mouth.

Frostpetal shrunk into Wolfstar's mossy nest. It had only been a sunrise ago that she was chosen to become the murderous leaders mate. Her name was changed from Frostflower, to Frostpetal, and the long-furred beautiful queen had never been more terrified in her life. Just a sunrise ago Frostpetal had learned that the dark gray tom had killed his former mate, Lightpetal. Would this happen to Frostpetal as well?

The she-cat shrunk down deeper into the moss as a shadow stood in the entrance of the den. Frostpetal sighed with relief as she realized it was just Daisyfeather, Hawkfang's sweet, kind mate. The cream she-cat nudged Frostpetal to sit up straight, pressing against her friend in comfort, without words. But Frostpetal needed to be told things were going to be fine, even if Daisyfeather wasn't sure.

"You'll be fine, Frostpetal." Daisyfeather meowed, lying her tail on Frostpetal's shoulders, sensing the white queens distress.

"Be fine? But-look at what happened to Lightpetal. She died. She was murdered by Wolfstar. Things won't be fine." Frostpetal whimpered silently, not sounding so loud so that Hawkfang or Wolfstar might hear.

Daisyfeather shook her head. "If you do as your mate says, and you don't shake and look scared, you'll be OK. Wonder why I'm the only she-cat besides Mistpool that has a few scars?" she told her, twisting around to prove her point further.

Frostpetal stared in shock. "You... you do that with my brother? And he goes easy on you?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.

Daisyfeather's green eyes looked unsure. "Well... that, and because... he actually... erm, likes me." She struggled for the right words, not wanting to send Frostpetal into a nervous ball.

Frostpetal sighed. "Then I'm a goner. Every cat knows how much Wolfstar hates she-cats. I don't know if it will work, but-"

"Daisyfeather? What are you doing with my queen?" a rough, angered voice sounded from outside the leaders den. Frostpetal let out a whimper and shrunk down as the bulky frame of Wolfstar came into view.

Daisyfeather rose to her paws, shaking the loose moss from her cream fur. "Visiting her." she answered lightly, inching towards the entrance of the den.

Wolfstar let out a snarl. "Hawkfang wants you. Now. And I better not find you lurking around here again!" he snarled after Daisyfeather as the she-cat bounded out of the den. Wolfstar turned back to the terrified Frostpetal, before pacing over to her. "Ahh, my Frostpetal... hiding? Not very resourceful with your spot, you know," Wolfstar came to the nest before lying next to her, shoving her to the wall. "If I were going to hurt you, I assure you, I would've done it before. Now... I understand that you... think I hate she-cats? Hum?" Wolfstar nuzzled her shoulder, making Frostpetal shiver with discomfort.

Frostpetal shook her head. "N-N-No! I... It's... It's just that... Lightpetal... was... beaten to death... and-"

"And your worried that I'll do it to you? My dear, I have no intentions what so ever of laying a harmful claw on you... for now, anyway. Lightpetal was not nearly as beautiful as you. I was shocked a tom hadn't chosen you before." he meowed, licking her flank.

Frostpetal nudged away. "I-I'm hungry! May I have some fresh-kill?" she asked, shrinking into the wall of the den.

Wolfstar seemed angered by her moving away, but his eyes hungrily stared at her. "Not until you learn." he hissed, rising to his paws and grabbing her scruff. Frostpetal withered and tugged away from his grasp, but to no avail as she found herself thrown on the floor before him. Wolfstar raised an unsheathed paw before running a sharp claw down her face, right beside her eye until it got to her muzzle, then begun on her neck.

"And I'm not sure if you'll ever." He leaned down to hiss in her ear. Frostpetal shrieked with pain as he pressed the claw on her chest.

Authors Note: Man I love cliffys.