The Prison

By Giggle.

Chapter One
Moon blinked open her eyes to find herself in a dark cavern.The only light came from small gaps in the walls,and even that light was scarce.

The blue-gray she-cat staggered to her paws.The rocky cave continued on,deeper into the ground.She spun to find the entrance,but all she found was a huge,twisted wall of brambles and vines.It would take ages to get through that - not to mention ripping her pelt out on every thorn.And,she saw in dismay,a guard sat beside the gate way.The cat turned to glance at her,to see if she was still there,then settled back to his job.

Why was she here?Moon struggled to recall the events of the previous night.Claws,fire,then...it was all dark.But that didn't matter.She must've slept the whole day away,as she could see the faint light of the moon through the brambles.

She glanced down the tunnel.It couldn't hurt.As she wandered down the tunnel,it grew darker.A rustling here.A pawstep there.

Moon wasn't alone.

“Whose there?"She called,her mew shaky.

Claws clicked against the rock.The cavern floor was smooth,probably worn smooth by countless cats walking here.Moon swallowed hard.If these other cats were like her...

“Hello?"She tried again.

This time,a faint light sparked behind some boulders at the edge of the cavern.A head popped up,shadowed by the flame.The tom skittishly walked away from the rocks,the fire following him,just behind his tail.

Moon stepped back from the flame.“Who are you?"

“I'm Ravenflame."The tom wasn't much older than her,yet he spoke in a rasp.His pelt clung to his skinny frame as if he were half starved,and he stood with muscles tensed.

Moon swallowed.The fire wouldn't spread over rock,would it?But her fears subsided as she realized that the fire was contained in some sort of energy field.Ravenflame was what the Clans called one of the Mismatched.

What they called Moon.

“Where are we?"Her voice still shook.

Ravenflame glanced down both ends of the tunnel.The entrance,covered in brambles,was barely visible in the gloomy distance.The other direction was endless darkness.“We are in the prison at Fourtrees."

Moon cocked her head.“Fourtrees?"A prison - that much she had firgured out.But the place that this tom spoke of was new to her.

“Yeah."Again he glanced toward the entrance.“Come on.The more violent prisoners come out in the daylight.The sun will be rising soon."

He began walking into the darkness,the glowing flame at his tail.Moon followed.

After they had walked for what seemed like an eternity,Ravenflame stopp and groaned.The light flickered out.

“Why'd you-"

“You think the Clans feed us?We barelly have water - and most of us arent so lucky.I could barelly creat that small flame.Now we're stuck in the dark till the sun rises,and then we're dead."

Moon looked down the endless tunnel.“We don't need to stay here.As long as you tell me where we're going."

“What do you mean?"Ravenflame's voice was filled with hopelessness.

Moon didn't hesitate.“Follow me."

Teking the lead,the she-cat rested her tail on Ravenflame's shoulder and began walking.Relieved that he was following,she then asked,“Where are we going?"

“A little cavern,me and a few other of the Mismatched,we stay there.Food is scarce,but we manage.It isn't too far."

“Good."

Moon confidently walked into the gloom.There was a slight slope under her paws.She couldn't see very well,it was too dark,but she could tell every little detail of the prison.

A turn there.Pausing,she knew it wasn't the right tunnel.

Rocks over there.No cat hid behind them,they were safe.

A fork in the path.Here she hesitated,but she clearly knew the left tunnel led to the cavern.A right turn here...a left turn there...another left...a right.

“Ravenflame?"A voice sounded from the cavern ahead.“Whose that with you?"

“My name is Moon."Without a reply,she walked between two rock walls,the sides brushing her fur,but suddenly widened into a small cavern.

Inside,Moon could sense four or five cats,and then Ravenflame behind her.As he entered,one of the cats stood and closed her eyes.

Tbc