A/N: Ugg I just realized how tiny this chapter is. Just a tiny bit over 1,000 words, sorry about that. Maybe this new update thing-y really isn't working... I'll give it another week and see...

So, I've noticed the reviews for the past chapters have been dropping, does this story need more action, is my writing failing, or what is happening? I don't mean to complain, I'm fine with as many reviews as you guys are willing to give, but I want to know why they are dropping so that I can fix the problem. Please let me know if you don't like it and what is wrong with it if you don't D

Special thanks to Wishheart01, Silver wolf rain, and Stormfeather of LakeClan for reviewing!

Chapter Seven: Freedom for None

Akain strolled down the streets of the town, his gray and black striped pelt gleamed silver in the moon light. His ears suddenly perked and he lunged forward, his jaws grasping the scruff of another cat.

She squealed and twisted around, lashing out at his face, but the well-muscled thirteen moon old rogue clamped down even harder, pinning her down to the soft grass. At first he was stunned at his catch, but then slowly retracted his claws.

"How did you escape?" he growled.

"I fought… just like I'll fight you for my freedom!" she lunged forward, lashing out at him with unsheathed paws.

Her jaws clamped around his paw and Akain held back a yowl.

"Let go, you're putting us both in danger," he whispered through gritted teeth.

"Oh, is little kitty hurt?" she let go of his paw but still remained in a defensive position.

Akain lashed his tail, "Nimble, if you want to go, go, now."

"Do you mean it?" Nimble remained on her guard.

"Yes, I am not my father. I-I really… you look beautiful in the moonlight, Nimble."

Nimble gasped, "Akain!"

"I'm sorry… I-" she cut off the mumbling tom.

"Don't you smell it?"

Akain's eyes widened "Go!"

"No, they'll know you let me go. Just- just pin me down," she unsheathed her claws.

"But your freedom!" Akain hissed.

"Do it, now!"

Akain leaped and gently batted her to the ground, putting one paw lightly against her throat.

"Over here! Her scent leads over here!" a voice sounded in the distance.

"Don't let your voice tremble," Nimble whispered, "Answer them."

At any normal time Akain would have snapped at advice like that. He knew what to do. He was the son of Rezkin, after all.

A cold wind ruffled his pelt, masking the search party's voices.

"Now," Nimble hissed.

He took a deep breath, his legs trembling and his heart clenching, "Over here! I caught her!"

A massive dark gray and black tom shouldered his way into the clearing, dipping his head slightly to Akain. He could feel Nimble shiver slightly under his paws and resisted the urge to let her up and yowl at her to run.

"Drake," Akain's voice was stony, "Send one of your patrol to go fetch my- my father."

Drake dipped his head once again to Akain and sent a dark ginger tom scurrying off with just a small whisper.

"Fang will be back in a moment," he growled.

Ravenheart was wide awake although the moon was high up in the dark sky.

"Your shift is over," Songheart strolled up to him, her pelt freshly ruffled from sleep.

He nodded to her and she took his place beside the camp entrance.

"I think I'll go on a walk, I need some fresh air," Ravenheart lashed his tail.

"You were just on guard duty," Songheart pointed out, "Fine; go, if anybody asks I'll let them know where you went."

"Thanks!" Ravenheart pushed through the bushes and into the open forest.

He stilled his tail and crept forward, enjoying the feeling of his paws lightly treading on the forest floor.

"Ravenheart? What are you doing?" Stormdance leaped out of the trees, landing on nimble paws before him.

"Oh, uh-" Ravenheart awkwardly licked his chest, "I was just… practicing?"

Stormdance rolled her eyes, "Didn't you have guard duty for the camp?"

"Yeah, but I didn't feel like sleeping yet," Ravenheart bit his lip, "With Nadia and everything…"

Stormdance's eyes softened, "Nadia confessed to you what happened, right? The whole clan wants to know."

Ravenheart turned his head away, starring into the dark forest, "Blizzardstar will probably call together the clan and tell you all soon enough."

"Please! Ravenheart, you don't know how much I need to know!" Stormdance pleaded.

"Promise me you won't do anything rash."

"I… I promise," Stormdance replied.

"Nadia was threatened to tell about the clans, Nimble's been taken prisoner until she tells," Ravenheart gritted his teeth.

"Who, who threatened her?" Stormdance growled.

"Rezkin."

Stormdance's reaction was not what Ravenheart thought it would be. She sat there for many minutes in silence, her claws digging into the earth and her eyes closed. Finally, when she did open them, they blazed with amber fire.

"This has gone too far. I'm getting Nimble back," she vowed, "Tonight."

"Your promise, Stormdance!" Ravenheart protested.

"Ravenheart, this has gone too far! Now poor Nimble!" Stormdance hissed.

Ravenheart's eyes met her own, "Then I'm coming with you. There are a couple others, Emberstrike and her siblings?"

"Really?!" Stormdance grinned, "Come on!"

Ravenheart crept after her, "Why don't you just go and get the others, I'll wait out here."

"Fine," Stormdance nodded and disappeared through the bushes.

"Ready?" Emberstrike asked.

"Where's Bouncetail? And Forestpath will kill us when he finds that we've taken Hazelblossom along…" Ravenheart groaned.

"Bouncetail is such a deep sleeper," Emberstrike over exaggerated, "Anyways; he would end up making too much noise. And Wolfshadow will watch over Hazelblossom... if she needs watching over, that is. She is, after all, a warrior."

"Come on Ravenheart, we need all the help we can get!" Stormdance growled, "Come on, let's go, we don't want all of the warriors chasing after us when they learn we are all gone."

Ravenheart followed them out of ForestClan territory and through the forest that separated the territory from twoleg place.

His heart beat faster as the stony structures came into view, the rest of the patrol also tensed out, claws clicking on the cold ground.

"Where do you think she is?" Emberstrike whispered.

"I… I smell blood," Hazelblossom shivered.

"Nimble's scent!" Stormdance cried, "And it's only a couple days fresh!"

Ravenheart scented the ground; Hazelblossom and Stormdance were both correct. There had been blood shed here; more than just Nimble's blood.

"It leads this way…" Emberstrike growled, "And, oh Stormdance!"

Stormdance's pelt fluffed up as she scented another familiar scent, she unsheathed her claws and ran forward before the others could react, disappearing into the maze of dens.

"Stormdance!" Ravenheart called, "Is that Rezkin's scent?" he guessed.

Emberstrike nodded her head, "Come on, we need to go get her. Wolfshadow will you take the lead?"

Her brother nodded, his fur raised slightly. Ravenheart gritted his teeth, knowing just about how much danger they were in. As Wolfshadow took a step forward a voice called out from behind them.

"I wouldn't suggest that if I was you," a dark gray and black tabby slipped out of the shadows, "My father doesn't put up with intruders very well; and neither do I."

A/N: So... short, I know, but action packed!

Lets see where you guys want this story to go... shall we?

A) more action

B) more romance

C) slow it down, everything is going to fast!

D) (NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE) list what you think it needs-

Hope that wasn't to confusing XP

~Willow