Fireheart sat at the base of the Highrock as the Clan gathered. He was shaking in fear, for he knew that Tigerclaw's idea of "training" could likely lead to his death.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Tigerclaw called from the top of the rock. Fireheart held his breath as he readied himself to be denounced. "Last night, I received my nine lives from StarClan. That means that they support me in my desire to be leader."

"Tigerstar! Tigerstar!" The rogues called. They growled and bared their teeth at the Clan cats until they joined in. "Tigerstar! T-Tigerstar!"

How could StarClan allow this? Fireheart felt hopeless, as helpless as a newborn kit. Surely they must know that Tigerstar will kill us all!

Tigerstar waved his tail, and the crowd immediately went silent. "Today, I have an important ceremony to perform—"

"Ooo, he means us!" The whole Clan turned to look at the cat who had spoken. It was Sootkit. "We're going to be apprentices!"

One of the rogues leaped forward and snatched Sootkit. It took the tom a moment to realize what was happening, but by then it was too late. Crunch. The rogue dropped the limp form of the kit onto the grass and let his blood pool around him.

"My kit!" Willowpelt screeched, diving forward to her son. Tangleburr and Mowgli snatched the queen and held her down while she cried out in pain.

   "You promised that her kits wouldn't be harmed!" Fireheart yowled furiously at Tigerstar.

   The leader simply flicked his tail, but Fireheart could see in his eyes that even he was startled. "Scarlet, you are not to act without my orders," he snarled, unsheathing his claws.

   The black she-cat stood strongly, but her bottom lip quivered. "Y-yes, sir. It won't happen again."

   Tigerstar grunted. "It better not." He turned back to the rest of the Clan, who were still sitting in a shocked and horrified silence. "Anyways, like I was saying, yesterday in the battle, many of you fought very well. I was impressed. But one cat was quite a coward."

   "Fireheart, step forward," some cats in the crowd gasped, but quickly shut their jaws when the rogues slid out their claws. "You did not prove your loyalty to me in the battle yesterday. Instead of giving you the punishment you deserve, I will keep you alive," his eyes glittered menacingly down at the dark ginger tom. "By my power as the leader of ThunderClan, I denounce you to an apprentice under the name of Firepaw. I will be your mentor, and this time, you will not fail."

   No cats cheered his name as Firepaw stepped forward to touch noses with Tigerstar. The tom lead forward just as they were pulling apart and hissed, "That wasn't so hard, was it, kittypet?"

   Firepaw felt a growl rumbling in his throat, but he forced his fur to lie flat. Don't let him get under your fur. That's what he wants.

   He padded back to sit next to his closest friend, who immediately leaned over to murmur in his ear, "This is madness. Surely I just ate too much food last night and this is all a nightmare induced by a bellyache?"

   All Firepaw could do was sigh and shake his head as tears welled in his eyes. "It's real Graystripe. It's all real."

                             ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

"Oh, Firepaw."

The dark ginger tom stuck his head out of the nursery and curled his lip. "Yes, Tigerstar?" He spat out the leader's suffix, still unable to accept that StarClan could be so cruel.

The broad-shouldered tabby sneered. "It's time for your first training session," he paused, still smirking. "Most apprentices are excited for their first day out. Oh well, I guess you're far from normal, kittypet." He spat in Firepaw's face, then turned around and stalked towards the camp entrance. Firepaw scurried to catch up, making sure that he kept his chin held high.

"Where is Cloudpaw?" He asked after the made it out of camp and passed the guards.

"In the prison den."

Tigerstar didn't even glance at his apprentice. "Prison den?" Firepaw asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. I can't let him know how much that naive furball means to me, or Cloudpaw will just be in more danger.

This time, the leader did stare at Firepaw through narrowed amber eyes. "Yes, the prison den," he turned back to face the forest. "Come, I'll show you, so that you know just how much your kin is suffering. We'll train tomorrow."

It was almost sunhigh by the time they stepped out of the undergrowth. They were at the riverbank once more. "It's here?"

"Yes," Tigerstar growled, leading him to a giant tree. Firepaw thought he could recall Yellowfang calling it a banyan tree. It had one main, thick trunk in the center, but more trunks grew off of the spindley branches, creating the illusion of never-ending bars of wood.

Firepaw narrowed his eyes, searching the area under the tree. Eventually, he made out a blob of white fur under the roots of a false trunk. The were brambles and thistles woven around all of the gaps between the roots, so that Cloudpaw was barely visible.

"Is he alive?" Firepaw breathed, the breath catching in his throat.

"Yes, and so are the others."

Others? Firepaw stared harder, and with a gasp he realized that Tigerstar was right. Trapped in several other woven root prisons, were many cats. One-Eye, Halftail, Smallear, Patchpelt, Dappletail... and Willowpelt! He could also see two smaller bundles of fur in a root cage near Willowpelt's. "The elders and queens! Wait, where's Goldenflower?"

Tigerstar swiped at Firepaw's ear's suddenly, making the tom yelp as he felt his flesh tear. "You're really stupid, aren't you? I may be cruel, but I would never imprison my family."

"But... why?" Firepaw asked, rubbing a paw over his stinging ear. "Why are they there? The elders and queens deserve the most protection, not the least!"

"Those cats contribute nothing to our Clan," Tigerstar growled. "They're all to be executed in one moon's time, except for Willowpelt. The second she's done nursing, she's gone."

"But why? Willowpelt still has many years in her yet, and the elders served us for countless seasons! And Cloudpaw..."

The leader flicked his tail. "Your kin is safe, until you disobey me," he growled. "But the others are just a waste of prey and den space. The elders' den is going to be inhabited by my loyal warriors, and the nursery is my family's personal suite."

Firepaw sighed, knowing that there was nothing else he could say. I'll have to visit them often. I don't even know if they're fed.

"Alright, Tigerstar," he sighed. "Are we returning to camp soon? It will be nearly dusk by the time we get there."

The leader narrowed his eyes. "You're not a warrior anymore, kittypet," he spat. "I tell you when it is time to go back to camp. Now go catch five pieces of prey, and do not step foot in camp until you're finished." And with that, Firepaw was left alone as Tigerstar melted into the shadows.

He turned to the prisoners. He could hear raspy breathing and a few feeble coughs. Leaf-fall is half over, and these cats will be dead by leaf-bare. Do they know of their fates? Are they aware that they haven't got much time left?

Firepaw padded around the tree until he reached the den that surrounded his apprentice. It looked painfully small, and Cloudpaw's fur was sticking out of gaps in the brambles. "Cloudpaw?"

"Mh-F-Fireheart?"

Firepaw felt his heart drop. Something was terribly wrong with Cloudpaw's voice. It sounded like he had been stung in the tongue by a swarm of bees. "Cloudpaw, what's wrong with you?"

"Go to the door," he heard the apprentice mumble in his slurred voice. "It's around here. You can't open it, but it has a window where they deliver my food."

At least they're fed, Firepaw tried to reassure himself, but that all melted away when he saw his nephew's face.

The bridge of his nose was badly broken, and it looked as if the bones along his jaw had been completely crushed. His whole muzzle was crooked, and his eyes sagged in an unhealthy-looking way.

"Cloudpaw, I'm so sorry," he choked out a sob. "This is my fault. I should have known Clan life would be too harsh."

"No." Teary-eyed, he gazed up at the white tom. "It's not you're fault, it's Tigerstar's. You have to beat him, Fireheart." The white tom was trembling with the effort of speaking for so long. "Fireheart, you have to save us."