Featherpaw opened her eyes weakly. She was in a gloomy den, where the dark ginger tom was. He was gazing at her, his eyes clouded with concern. Peachfur was leaning over Featherpaw.

"Oh, StarClan, you're awake!" Peachfur gasped, licking Featherpaw's head. "I'm so sorry, I should've listened to you when you'd first told me about your paws. It's all my fault!" Peachfur whimpered.

"It's over now," the dark ginger tom meowed, his voice deep. He padded forward, coming into the light. This tom was big and had broad shoulders. His amber eyes were dark. Featherpaw noticed that his left ear was cut badly, along with a scar running from under his eye to the bridge of his nose.

"You never told us your name," Smokyflame meowed, padding forward. "What is it?"

"Ant Carrying Leaf," the tom answered. "Or you can just call me Ant," he meowed. He lifted his tail. "I come from the Tribe of Rushing Water," he told them.

"You come from the tribe?" Peachfur gasped. "Oh thank StarClan! We were hoping that we'd stumble across the tribe!"

"We.... seem to be in a bit of trouble," Ant meowed, flicking his tail. "We were hoping that Clan cats could come up here to help us."

"What's wrong?" Stalkfire asked.

"These cats took over. But they were in our own tribe! It was three of them that just killed Stoneteller and then they all took over. They've forced every cat to be a cave-guard," Ant meowed.

Featherpaw blinked at Peachfur. The tribe was in trouble. Would any of her Clanmates step up to help? 

"I'm not sure if we can help, I'm sorry," Peachfur meowed. "We didn't come here to find the tribe. We came here to travel across the mountains and down to the other side in hopes of finding a missing Clan," Peachfur explained. 

"But we have enough time to help them!" Featherpaw mewed, sitting up in her nest. She blinked at Ant. "You said there were only three, right?" She asked.

"Only three," Ant answered. "Unless there are others who are following after them," he sighed, flicking his tail.

"Then we can help!" Featherpaw exclaimed.

"Then it would take longer to get this journey over with," Stormgaze growled.

"If Featherpaw is fighting, then count me in," Smokyflame meowed, stepping forward.

"Then I'll help too," Stalkfire meowed, coming up to Featherpaw's side. "She is my apprentice after all," he mewed.

"Thank you," Ant meowed, dipping his head. "What about you?" He glanced at Peachfur.

"I'm a medicine cat, so I don't fight," Peachfur explained, her whiskers twitching. She looked at Stormgaze. "What about you, Stormgaze?" She asked.

"I guess I'll fight," Stormgaze sighed.

Ant then turned, heading out of the den. "Then let's go. My home cave is not far from here," he meowed. "My tribe lives in the cave."

"Then why are you all the way out here?" Featherpaw asked, her ears flattening against the cold.

"I was out hunting until I found you, and then brought you to the little cave. I only ended up catching that hawk, but we ate it in the cave, so I fear what would happen if I come back empty-pawed," Ant commented.

"It's fine, we can just chase them off and whatever," Featherpaw meowed. 

Ant rushed into the cave, the patrol behind him. A light blue-gray tom with black markings came up for them, his tail flicking. 

"Ant, what in the name of the Bloody Mountains is this?" The tom growled, his tail lashing. He narrowed his eyes, ears flat. The tom seemed a bit small.

"I'm sorry, Jay," Ant growled. 

A broad-shouldered brown tabby tom padded forward with a small honey-colored she-cat at his side. They must be the leaders.

"These cats smell like they come from the forest," Jay growled, his tail lashing. He turned towards the brown tabby tom. "Cliff," he growled. "Take these cats away." 

Cliff dipped his head, then turned towards the she-cat at his side. "Lily, stay here."

Jay curled his lip. "We should execute Ant for not bringing anything back," he growled. Suddenly, he leaped on Ant quickly, his claws extended. 

Featherpaw gasped. "Stop!" She cried. She leaped forward, landing on Jay. She bit into the tip of his ear and felt blood gush into her mouth as her teeth tore away at the soft flesh. It felt like she'd crushed a bug in her teeth.

"Attack them, Tribe, kill them!" Jay yowled, pulling himself away from Featherpaw. Some of the cats in the cave dove forward, and some stayed back. 

Jay dashed forward and grabbed Featherpaw's scruff. "You stupid brat! You should know your place!" He growled, his claws sinking into her shoulders. Jay swung her around and threw her across the cave.

Featherpaw gasped as her body hit the hard floor. She lay still, her body shaking. Her whole body ached from hitting the stone floor and blood leaked from her nose and mouth.

Jay walked closer, his tail flicking. "An easy kill. You should've never come here if you knew you were so weak," he growled. He leaped forward, sinking his teeth into her shoulder. "I mean, what did you think, really? That you could be a hero?"

Featherpaw gasped with pain as she felt her fur and flesh rip from her shoulder. She could feel warm blood trickling through her fur. Featherpaw curled her lip. I refuse to die! She rushed forward, striking Jay's side with her claws. She felt fur rip.

Jay turned. Blood trickled from his ear and down his face. He leaped forward, slashing at Featherpaw's chest.

Featherpaw flinched back from every swipe. She ducked beneath the large tom's belly and sliced his flesh. Then she turned over and began to pummel his belly with her hind claws.

Jay suddenly slumped on top of her, crushing her with his heavy weight. Featherpaw tried to keep clawing, but she couldn't move. 

Jay smiled, sharp fangs showing. "If you really want to be a hero and rescue this Tribe, then you'd be doing a good thing by dying right now," he hissed.

Featherpaw curled her lip. I won't die! She gasped as Jay suddenly turned her over and pinned her down easily. His head lowered and she could feel his breath on her neck. She clinched her teeth as she felt jaws wrap around her neck. Teeth pierced her fur.

"It ends now. You were pretty easy to beat, and that means your friends will be easy too. Too bad you won't get to say goodbye though," Jay growled, his teeth sinking in deeper.

Featherpaw went limp beneath him. She wasted all her energy trying to fight him off. Am I going to die now?