Domino stepped back. "Aster." She addressed the centered black and brown she-cat.

I narrowed my eyes at Flick. I knew he would sell us out. Why did I even trust him again?

Flick gave me an apologetic look but I tore my gaze away. Instead I looked at Aster. What was she going to do to them?

"Domino, where are you taking our prisoners?" Aster asked the black and white she-cat.

"Just on a walk, they needed some fresh air." Domino said calmly.

"Is that so? Because I was told that you were helping them to escape." Aster said speculatively.

Domino flicked her tail. "These cats don't deserve to be trapped somewhere they don't belong. They shouldn't be forced to stay here. You should know that better than anyone."

Aster narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare bring that up." She hissed.

I looked at Aster, surprised. Something must have happened in her past which the two she-cats shared. Did it have anything to do with the fact that Aster seemed to know too much about the clans?

"Face it, Aster. You know this young cat is just like you were." Domino said, gesturing to me. "You want her to go through just what you did because she's a clan cat. Why not just punish the cat responsible instead of an innocent young cat?"

I heard a low growl come from deep inside the black and brown leader. "You know very well what happened. It's their fault he's gone, anyway!" She turned back to me and her claws unsheathed. "This may not be that golden brown fox-hearted backstabber, but maybe killing one of his cats will teach him a lesson."

My eyes widened as the she-cat lunged at me and I barely had time to move when I watched Domino knock her out of the way. I flinched as the two cats collided directly in front of me.

"Are you betraying me now, sister?" Aster growled at Domino.

I looked shocked; sister? This family's problems ran deeper than just Aster and her sons.

"No, you know I would never do that; but you aren't thinking clearly. This isn't what he would want. He wouldn't want you seeking revenge on what was once his clan, too." Domino said, trying to reason with Aster. "Look at this young cat," she beckoned to me, "what has she done wrong?"

Aster hissed. "You know nothing!"

The brown and black she-cat attacked Domino again. I couldn't see exactly who was winning but I knew I saw blood and there was no mistaking the scent of it.

"You know nothing about him! Did you ever travel with him? Did he ever come to you whenever you needed help? Did you ever once smile because he made you feel like everything was going to be okay? Like you could do anything when you were with him?" Aster pinned Domino down. "You never once cared about him!"

Domino winced. "But I did care about you, dear sister. I promised mother I would make sure you were always protected, no matter what. That's why I tried to lead you away from him. I knew he was a-"

"Don't you dare speak about him as if you knew him." Aster slashed her claws across Domino's face.

Cliff darted over to the two she-cats. "Mom, what is are you two talking about? I thought we were just here to kill that sickening clan cat? What happened to proving we were better than them?" He asked.

"Tell him, Aster." Domino urged. "Tell him the truth."

Aster's eyes widened and she stepped off of her sister. "Cliff . . . I'm sorry, but . . . your father and I . . . we used to be clan cats . . ." The black and brown she-cat said, looking as if she would rather not be having this conversation.

Cliff's eyes widened and he took a step back. "But . . . but you taught me to always hate the clans . . . you said . . . you said they had to be destroyed . . ." The black tom said in disbelief.

Aster sighed. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth. We weren't born into the clans, but we did live with one at some point."

"Why would you want to live with the enemy?" Cliff asked.

"They weren't always my enemy." Aster answered. "In fact, at one point I almost considered them . . . my family."

Domino nodded and stood beside Aster. "The clans aren't as bad as your mother made them seem, Cliff. They are actually good cats."

"Then what about dad? You said he was killed by a clan cat! Was that a lie, too?" Cliff hissed.

Aster's eyes saddened. "No, it wasn't. In fact, that's why I hate the clans so much." Her claws dug into the ground. "Their treacherous leader killed him because he believed your father was an evil cat."

Cliff narrowed his eyes at me. "Then let's finish her off now. We can leave her dead body at their border and leave our scent on her. That way their murderous leader will know what happens when he messed with our family!"

The black tom barged into me and I stumbled backwards. I shook my head and was barely able to recover before he slashed his claws across my face. I hissed and used my tail to trip the tom when he reared up. The tom growled and pounced onto me. I dug my claws into Cliff's belly fur but all he did was his and dig his claws deeper into me.

"I want to watch you slowly bleed until your final breath leaves your body. Then that horrible leader of yours will know what we're going to do to every last one of his cats." Cliff said with a cruel grin.

"N-no . . . I won't . . . let you." I said and squirmed around, trying to get the black tom off of me. Even if I wasn't completely sure they were talking about the leader of Shadeclan, I wasn't going to let them kill innocent cats.

Cliff held me down as I struggled. Now that I looked up at him, he appeared to be much older than me; at least by about five moons. He had obviously been training for much longer, too. I sunk my teeth into his paw and he yelped in surprise. While the black tom was distracted, I was able to squirm out of his grasp. As I turned around, I felt something sharp grab ahold of my tail. I yelped and hissed at Cliff.

"Not so fast." He mumbled around my tabby tail which was in his mouth. I hissed and clawed at him; my wounds from the fox attack still hadn't fully healed, though. In fact, the wound on my tail had reopened and I could feel the blood dripping from it.

I saw a blur of sandy fur and felt my tail be released. I whirled around to watch as Flick batted Cliff away with unsheathed claws.

"Traitor!" Cliff growled.

The black tom darted to his brother's side and raked his claws along it. Flick hissed and swiped his claws across Cliff's nose.

"I won't let you kill an innocent cat!" Flick shot back at his brother.

"Innocent? I doubt that. Please, brother; don't tell me you've grown soft on clan cats, have you? Or is it just this one she-cat in particular . . . ?"

Flick narrowed his eyes. "No matter who she is, I won't allow you to harm her."

"Hmm, then I guess I'll just have to kill you first, won't I?" Cliff said with a grin.

"Lavenderpaw, take Bella and that white tom and get out." Flick said.

I looked at him in disbelief and shook my head. I stepped forward to stand beside him. "You should know by now that I won't run from a fight, especially when you're trying to risk your life for me. Your life is no less valuable than mine."

"Lavenderpaw . . ." The sandy tom said doubtfully.

I gave him a determined look. "We fight together."

"Oh, how touching." Cliff mocked. "If you lovebirds are done, I'm just itching to taste some blood." The black tom licked his lips.

Before the fight could begin, I looked around me. Domino and Aster were arguing, but they weren't fighting with tooth and claw anymore. Bella and Winter were talking as the cream and white she-cat watched Flick and I nervously.

I turned my attention back to Cliff. No matter how much I wanted to run with those two, I wasn't going to leave Flick to fight on his own. His own wounds had reopened from the fox battle, which meant we both already had more wounds than Cliff. I didn't expect Bella, the kittypet, or Winter, the blind cat, to help us fight. Which meant it was up to Flick and I to fend off his brother.

Cliff crouched to lunge at us when a voice stopped him.

"Wait."

The three of us turned, confused (Flick and I also relieved), to look at Aster. Why had the brown and black leader stopped Cliff? Had Domino convinced her she was being unreasonable?

"Would you like to fight them yourself?" Cliff asked.

Aster shook her head. "Actually, I had a better idea. Flick and Lavenderpaw will be our new entertainment for this evening."

Flick looked horror-stricken and I was confused. What did she mean by entertainment? I realized that Bella and Winter had froze, staring at Aster with surprise and terror.

Cliff smirked. "Great idea; may I be involved as well in tonight's entertainment?"

Aster shook her head. "Sorry my son, but no. I actually have a surprise for tonight. The hunters have brought in an extra amount of food, so we will feast. As for these two, they will be the center of attention this evening."

Domino looked down, not even trying to step in. What had Aster told her?

I stepped forward. "What do you mean exactly by . . . entertainment?" I asked.

Aster chuckled. "You will find out soon enough.

I shook my head and bent my head to Flick's ear. "We need to get out of here, something doesn't feel right."

Flick nodded. "I know exactly what Aster intends to do, and we will need to escape now before she can bring us back to camp."

I walked over to Bella and Winter. "We need to escape, now."

Winter sighed. "I knew I would just cause trouble for you three."

I shook my head. "Winter, you are not a burden to us. We want you to come with us, and I will make sure that you escape safely with us."

"Let's not waste anymore time." Aster said. "Cliff, Domino, will you help me escort these cats? I would like to start the feast soon."

Cliff grinned. "Of course." He said and shoved Bella, Winter, and I to join Flick. "Let's go, prisoners." He said with a chuckle.

Domino followed slowly behind us. I looked at her questioningly but she didn't even meet my gaze. Aster lead the way back through the broken window.

I narrowed my eyes and lunged onto Aster. As I did, I heard Flick and Cliff behind me. I dug my claws in as deep as they would go.

"I won't be controlled." I said to the black and brown she-cat.

Aster hissed and rolled onto her back, squashing me beneath her. I gasped and closed my eyes as I felt the breath get knocked out of me. I tried to lift the she-cat off of me but she was just too heavy for me. Fortunately, I felt her weight be lifted off of me.

I gasped for air and looked up to see Bella battling Aster. I growled and slashed at the she-cat's side. The black and brown leader yowled and turned her violent gaze on mine. When she met my gaze, she gasped. Bella and I backed away from her when she did.

"You . . . I can't believe it . . ." Aster whispered.

I tilted my head confusedly. "What do you mean?"

"You're the one . . . I . . ." Aster froze on the spot as if she were stuck in the path of a monster. She looked . . . afraid.

Bella looked at me and her eyes widened. "Uhhh, Lavenderpaw? Why are your eyes glowing?"

I looked confused. "What do you mean?"

The others had grown curious so they walked around to meet my gaze. Their eyes all widened in surprise besides Winter.

"She must be the one." The white tom said.

Aster began to back away. "Cliff, Domino, let's return to camp. I can find a different way to get my revenge." She said before turning to dash back into the twoleg den, Cliff following.

Domino dipped her head. "May you have safe travels." She said before disappearing into the twoleg den.

I looked at Flick, Bella, and Winter, confused. "What do you mean, my eyes are glowing?" I asked.

Flick looked around and lead me to a dark window that wasn't broken I gasped when I saw glowing lavender eyes staring back at me.

What could this mean? Why would Aster be afraid of a cat with glowing eyes? Hmmm?

I would love to read your theories about this!

I know Bella and Winter didn't really do much but Winter is blind and doesn't want to let anyone down and Bella (even though she tried to help) knows she doesn't have enough fighting experience to really make a difference.

Now why would Cliff call Flick and Lavenderpaw lovebirds? Cats can have each other's backs without being lovers . . . right?

So much more to come!

//Word count: 2174//