Russetstripe ran alongside Honeyfeather as the two she-cats' paws carried them over the grass, the leaf-bare wind buffeting their pelts. The two cats were neck-for-neck as they ran, and the challenging but playful gaze Honeyfeather was giving her urged Russetstripe to move a little faster. Just as she did, Honeyfeather put on more speed, and they climbed over the hills easily.
Sunfire's exhausted yowl pierced the skies from behind them. "Slow down!" he was gasping. "I'm not a WindClan cat!"
"And neither am I!" Winterfall yowled. "You need to wait for us!"
"Running is fun, though!" Honeyfeather called over her shoulder, but they listened to the toms and slowed their pace. Russetstripe rolled her eyes as they slowed their pace to a walk, allowing the two toms to catch up as they breathed heavily. Honeyfeather bounded over to Sunfire and shoved him affectionately. "You sure you didn't put on any pounds?"
"You cannot just go around and say that to cats!" Sunfire exclaimed. "Do you know just how offensive that is? What if I was sick, huh? And you just mocked me because I looked overweight? Do you know—"
Honeyfeather slapped her tail over Sunfire's mouth, and the yellow tom's chastising turned into barely audible mumbles. Russetstripe skidded to a halt, her green eyes narrowed as she noticed large shadows falling over the moor. Oh, damn… She unsheathed her claws and tensed her muscles.
"Is that you-know-who?" Russetstripe murmured to Honeyfeather, noticing the ThunderClan she-cat's gaze trailing in the same direction as Russetstripe's was.
"I think so," Honeyfeather whispered. Sunfire pushed Honeyfeather's tail away and took the lead as he loomed over the hills, his green eyes narrowed. Winterfall lashed his tail and flattened his ears. Russetstripe felt her claws tear up grass and dirt from the moor.
"Keep going," Sunfire murmured. "Pretend as if we didn't notice them."
The cats acknowledged the deputy's orders and continued their trek through the moor, feigning ignorance of the arriving rogues. Just as the patrol crossed another hill, the group of rogues took on a burst of speed, charging towards the patrol. Russetstripe narrowed her green eyes as she recognized Houndheart at the head of the patrol.
"I'm so tired of this!" Winterfall hissed as Houndheart's patrol came closer.
"Let's just kill them all and get this over with," Honeyfeather growled.
"Agreed." Sunfire nodded. "They're rogues, and we'll treat them as such."
"Attack!" Houndheart yowled as his figure appeared over the hills and he launched himself at Sunfire, rolling with the yellow tabby over the moorland. A black-and-white she-cat landed on Russetstripe, while Winterfall and Honeyfeather took on a pale dusky brown tom, hissing furiously at him. There was one cat who did not attack, though. He had sleek gray fur and cold, unfeeling amber eyes as he looked over the patrol.
Russetstripe clawed the belly of the black-and-white she-cat who leaped on her, recognizing her as Specklewing of ThunderClan. Well, used to be ThunderClan. Specklewing jumped up as blood spurted from her open wounds, and she rolled over, lashing her paws out and hooking her claws into Russetstripe's fur, bringing her with her. In seconds, Specklewing's claws raked down Russetstripe's ears. Searing pain pounded through her torn skin.
"What are you going to do now, pretty little thing?" Specklewing jeered. "Too bad I've ruined your beautiful ears."
The WindClan she-cat hissed angrily at Specklewing and leaped at her, but when another pair of claws swiped against her, they didn't belong to Specklewing. Specklewing was standing back, her yellow eyes glowing with triumph, and Russetstripe looked over to see that the gray tom who had been watching them had sliced his claws across her black. Suddenly, a strange, chilly feeling began to envelop her back, and Russetstripe felt herself hit the ground. The tom scored his claws across Russetstripe's underbelly, and just as the skin burst and blood tore out, she didn't feel any pain. No, it was a prickling sensation, tinged with needles, spreading through her body.
Searing fiery bursts pulsated against her wounds, intensifying with each breath she took, jarring and brutal. The pain amplified every time her chest rose, and her spasming muscles quivered. Black mists dabbed the edges of her vision, and although her hearing was muffled, she could feel a vibration on the ground as she heard the thump of other bodies. Russetstripe tried to force her head to move, to see what had happened, but her muscles weren't responding to her, no matter how hard she tried to order them around. Her jaw tightened, and when she tried to open them, she was greeted only by a paralyzing situation. She could only hear one last word before she faded into unconsciousness.
"Let's bring their bodies back to Peartuft as rewards."
Russetstripe didn't know how much time had passed when there was enough strength in her body that she could use to open her eyes. They fluttered open slightly, and she immediately closed them again when a rough shaft of blinding gold hit her vision, nearly blinding her. She forced them open again, blinking a few times to curb the effect of the light. When she was able to open them fully, the world she was greeted to was blurry. Blinking a few more times, it finally started to become clear. The first thing she saw was a veil of brambles right in front of her, and when she turned her head around, she was able to recognize the pelts of Honeyfeather, Sunfire, and Winterfall. Wh… what happened…?
"Ow, my head…" Honeyfeather was moaning in pain as she slowly came to. Sunfire was blinking weakly, and Winterfall was trying to get to his paws, but each time he collapsed.
"Stop talking." The reply was rough and deep, and Russetstripe knew what cat it belonged to. She compelled her head to move the other way, and she could see the big tabby tom through the cage of brambles. He was watching Honeyfeather with disgusted amber eyes. "Nobody wants to hear you speak."
There was another cat next to Houndheart, and Russetstripe had to blink several times before recognizing him. The thick gray pelt, with darker stripes and piercing yellow eyes, finally made a name in Russetstripe's mind. Peartuft.
"Have a nice nap?" Houndheart sneered when all four cats were conscious.
"Poison them again," Peartuft ordered a cat that Russetstripe couldn't see.
"No!" Honeyfeather gasped. "Not again!"
"I don't want to hear any of you speak," Peartuft snarled.
A cat with a low voice replied to Peartuft's demand. "Poisoning those once more wouldst killeth those folk." Despite his words, the cat raised his paw, and the shining sun illuminated the dripping dark violet poison that stuck to his claws.
"We won't do anything," Winterfall croaked. "I promise."
Peartuft looked unconvinced. "I don't trust you," he growled. "How can I trust you not to run and fetch your precious leader?"
"We're imprisoned, for starters," Sunfire commented dryly. Russetstripe looked up to see the roof of the bramble prison coated with even more poison. Russetstripe knew that moving would mean the poison would fall and land onto them. And he really thinks we're going to move? "We're injured and we can't run. None of us are going anywhere."
"Hm…" Peartuft clicked his tongue. "Fine. But if you try anything funny, you'll be killed immediately."
Houndheart glared at the four cats. "We shouldn't let them go free," he growled. "We need to exchange them for Mintsplash and my grandkits. I'm sure Rootstar is besides himself without his poor yellow fool, his ugly little sister, and his pathetic silver scrooge. And for you…" Houndheart turned to face Russetstripe. "Well, I'm sure Rootstar won't want you, so I can do whatever I want with you."
Gah… Russetstripe shot a fiery glare at Houndheart, who just chuckled maliciously and turned away. His voice was directed towards another cat. "Torture them. Make their stay in there as miserable as possible, where they'll beg for death."
Honeyfeather curled up in a ball, barely reacting to Houndheart's callous words, while Sunfire and Winterfall exchanged a glare. Russetstripe collapsed next to Honeyfeather, feeling the poison more than ever. She looked over at her friends – they all had a scratch or two, probably from the poison from the cat, but Russetstripe had many more wounds. Did he… poison me more than once…? But why…? I mean… I guess it's more important to keep the ThunderClan cats alive, rather than the WindClan cat…
A large dusky brown tom stepped in front of the prison, his yellow eyes blazing as he sneered at the cats. "Not so strong now, are you?" he growled, throwing a rock inside their prison. It hit Russetstripe, and she staggered back. "I didn't think so."
"Oh, Dusk, don't you know that's not the right way?" Russetstripe recognized Breezeflower's voice as the black she-cat walked over to him and glanced at the prisoners. "Have any of you eaten or drank in the past day?"
Russetstripe bared her teeth. Honeyfeather lowered her head, and Winterfall bit his lip. Sunfire's green eyes blazed, and Breezeflower chuckled sinisterly. "I think I've got my answer. What did Daddy want with them, again?"
"To trade them for Mintsplash," Dusk replied.
Sunfire's yellow fur bristled. He stared at Breezeflower, his green eyes blazing. "Tell this to Peartuft. ThunderClan would rather die than succumb to his will."
"Look at Sunfire, being all brave," Breezeflower taunted him. "When you're stuck behind a poison prison, where every move could be your last." The black she-cat ripped a leaf away from a plant growing on the ground and used it to cover her paw, and with that, she tugged at the bramble walls, where more drops of poison fell from the ceiling and onto the cats' open wounds. Russetstripe flinched as one landed on the open wound in her back, and she couldn't help a small whimper escape from her.
"Russetstripe!" Winterfall gasped. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," Russetstripe murmured, but the new poison seeped into her wound and made the pain all the more agonizing as she fell against the bramble walls, gasping. "Hopefully ThunderClan comes to your rescue soon."
"I'm sure WindClan will come to yours," Winterfall assured, propping Russetstripe away from the bramble walls.
"Ha." Russetstripe let out a wry smile. "It's fine. There are more of you than there are of me. There's no point risking dozens of lives to save one. So, if you need me as your trojan horse, then…"
"Stop that." Winterfall's voice was harsh. Russetstripe looked over her shoulder to see Houndheart walking over to them. A sudden stab of hunger, her lips dry from dehydration, and the pulsating sting from the poison made Russetstripe snarl at Houndheart.
"Do you really think this is what you're meant to be doing?" Russetstripe hissed at him, her throat dry and sore. "You really think your destiny is to guard some four Clan cats that you snatched off the road like kits?"
Houndheart spun to face around here. "Sunfire is a joke for a deputy," he hissed at her. "He couldn't keep Rootstar in line like Brookfeather did. Winterfall fell apart the minute Peartuft revolted. Honeyfeather thinks she reigns over ThunderClan, but in reality, she's weak. Just like her brother. And you..."
Russetstripe lashed her tail.
The brown tabby leveled a gaze full of hatred and fury at the ginger she-cat. "Can you even decide what Clan you're loyal to?" He tilted his head. "Or who you're close to? I've seen you. In our camp. At Gatherings. I've kept an eye on you. I'm not a fool, like you think I am. And you have crossed me one too many times. You've attacked me and you've tried to kill me." He plunged his face closer to the prison, his white teeth bared. "Earlier you said you would risk your life for your dear ones. If that is so, then I will gladly grant you your release."
Russetstripe met his blazing amber eyes, never once faltering. She let out a hiss of irritation, as Winterfall swung his head to defend the ginger she-cat. "You speak nonsense, Houndheart."
"You defend her…" Houndheart's eyes widened. "Have you fallen for her, Winterfall?"
Russetstripe gazed at Winterfall, who said nothing, instead he pressed his lips together, and Russetstripe tilted her head in confusion. Huh…? There was a sad, pressed smile on Winterfall's face. Oh…
"I see." Houndheart laughed. "No answer." He turned his head over and called out, "Dusk! Take over from here. Make every single waking moment of theirs miserable."
Dusk nodded and parked himself in front of the prison, eyeing the Clan cats with undisguised disgust. Russetstripe stared at Honeyfeather, whose flanks were barely rising and her eyes were shut sticky with blood. Russetstripe cowered down, feeling her own wounds burn and turn numb as the poison slowly started to work its way into her body. But her concern was for Honeyfeather, who was barely moving.
"She needs a medicine cat," Russetstripe told Dusk, although she knew it was futile to even try to reason with the ruthless tom.
Dusk bared her teeth at her. "I don't care. You all can rot in there. You're not getting anything."
Russetstripe lashed her tail irritably, but once she felt the tip of her tail hit one of the poisoned brambles, she stiffened. Oh, I keep forgetting! She crouched down, curling into a ball next to Honeyfeather. She could feel rocks being thrown at them, and a sudden sharpness pricked her fur when she looked up to see Dusk and the gray cat prying in more poisoned branches. You're kidding.
"More poison…" Winterfall gasped.
"Get back!" Russetstripe ordered. "My fur is longer and thicker than the rest of yours. Let it hit me."
"Russetstripe…" Sunfire murmured.
"Did I stutter?" Russetstripe snapped. The ThunderClan cats exchanged weak glances, and Russetstripe moved to the front of the prison so the poisoned branches would prick her fur instead, shielding the ThunderClan cats with their shorter fur behind her.
"Very noble," Dusk laughed. "But they can't hide behind you forever. You'll drop dead, first."
"Shut up." Russetstripe gritted her teeth. "You're nothing more than a pathetic rogue."
"Am I?" Dusk's eyes gleamed as he pushed the thorns further in. The poisoned thorns pierced Russetstripe's fur, and her eyes watered as she tried to push further away. Russetstripe grunted as she used herself as a shield for the ThunderClan cats. Just then, the thorns stopped pushing, and she looked over to see Dusk having been called over by another cat. Russetstripe let out a relieved sigh and felt the brambles digging into her skin.
"Is there any way to escape?" Winterfall asked.
Sunfire was looking at the back of the bramble prison. He let out a sigh. "No."
"Damn." Winterfall clicked his tongue.
"The only thing we can do is wait to see if someone will come," Sunfire meowed.
"And if they don't?" Honeyfeather whimpered. "They may not even know we were taken."
Sunfire was quiet. "Then we meet our fate like brave warriors," he finally said.
Russetstripe swallowed the lump in her sore throat. Is this really how it's going to end? she thought miserably. Sentenced to our own death in Peartuft's camp, unable to escape, and without a rescue in sight? She gazed sadly at Sunfire, who peered through the gaps of the bramble bush, saying nothing. I have no idea what we're going to do.
Two days passed and the four prisoners stayed in the cramped bramble den with no food, water, or medical treatment. Russetstripe's side was rising shakily and dots of black were misting her vision. None of them had moved, and their muscles were sore and shaky. Russetstripe could feel Death try and envelop the WindClan she-cat in her arms, but she fought the best she could to keep her away. She could barely feel her body – and she could not move at all. Her back was still pressed against the poisoned thorns, and she wondered how much poison was in her bloodstream now.
Russetstripe leaned back, thinking of her brother, her best friend, and the cat she loved more than herself. She wanted to apologize to her brother for everything that had happened between them. ...I hope he knows I love him. Even though he may be infuriating at times... and we've fought since we were kits... he's my brother, and I love him. Maybe I have to haunt him as a ghost from StarClan to tell him that. She thought about her mild-mannered best friend, Blackdove, the polar opposite of her, but her dearest friend, one she wouldn't trade for the world. And... him. Runningflame. She swallowed the lump in her throat. How could she let the tom know she loved him as well? Were they doomed to fail from the start? Maybe Blackdove will tell him. Tell him that I love him more than I've ever loved anyone, and I'll be waiting for him. She shut her eyes. If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart. I'll stay there forever.
Russetstripe could recognize Peartuft's orotund voice as the tom spoke from behind them. "I don't think their Clans are coming for them any time soon. Let's end their misery."
Houndheart's low chuckle was unmistakable. "I was waiting for you to say that." He padded over to the den, and even though Russetstripe's back was to him, she could imagine the leering, mocking smile on his face. "It's time to say goodbye." The brambles rustled from behind them, and Russetstripe blinked, looking over to see the gray cat who had poisoned them pulling them away. Houndheart grabbed Russetstripe's scruff and pulled her out, sending her crashing to the ground. The gray tom walked over and picked up Sunfire, while Peartuft dragged Winterfall away. Dusk sank his teeth into Honeyfeather's scruff and threw her to the ground.
Peartuft, Houndheart, Dusk, and the gray cat stood in front of them, twisted, malicious smiles on their faces, save for the gray cat, who stood emotionless. Houndheart examined his sharpened claws, while Dusk focused his glare on Honeyfeather. Peartuft locked his eyes with Russetstripe, and Russetstripe used the last shred of strength in her body to bare her teeth at him. Peartuft let out a low chuckle.
"Still trying to be brave until the very end, I see." Peartuft let out a grin. "Don't worry. You won't have to suffer any longer."
"Go on, end it all!" Honeyfeather sneered. "Once we're dead, you'll realize things won't get any better now that we're out of the way. There'll be plenty of more warriors to stand up to injustice."
"You four have gotten in my way too many times," Peartuft snarled. "When you're dead, I won't have to worry about you. You're the only cats who have proved to be a threat to me. ThunderClan will be destroyed after I've killed you."
"Our Clan shall never fall. No matter what happens or what world we find ourselves in." Russetstripe gazed at Peartuft.
"Shut up. You're not even loyal to your own Clan, or else you wouldn't be here, dying for ThunderClan." Peartuft lashed his tail. "Now, Houndheart!"
Houndheart nodded and lifted his paw, his claws unsheathed as he walked over to Russetstripe. "Goodbye, dear Clanmates."
Just as Russetstripe shut her eyes and prepared for the quick swipe of Houndheart's claws across her throat, a voice, muffled but still recognizable all the same, shouted through the clearing.
"Stop!"