Sunnyblade looked up from the prey to see Erol padding towards her. He sat down in front of her, and nudged the prey closer.
"You have to eat. You're skinnier then any cat here. I know this isn't home, but for now you have to accept it. I'll get you out of here soon. We'll both get out of here."
His voice was soft and was hypnotizing. Sunnyblade just shrugged, then stiffened when she saw Fierystar padding over to her. He hissed at her.
"Do you think I have not noticed your growing weakness!? Did you think you could slowly starve yourself to die?! Well, I will not permit that. If you think you can be useless as a warrior, think again. You can be useful for providing kits into our clan."
Sunnyblade's eyes widened. She had seen the Queen's in BlackClan. They were used, and had kits much too often. They were treated with rarely any respect, and once their kits were born, they were forced to have more kits. She shook at the thought, then saw Erol bristle.
"No! She can't be used for that!"
Fierystar snarled, and she saw his claws unsheathe.
"She will do as I say. Or do you want me to kill her?"
Erol shook with anger, but didn't say anything else, except look away. Fierystar nodded in approval, and spoke to Sunnyblade again.
"Good. Then that will be your new duty. Come to my den later and we'll speak more, and get you slightly acquainted with who will be the father of your new kits."
Fierystar smirked, and his eyes glinted before he padded away. Sunnyblade shook with fear and closed her eyes. She felt her paws weak beneath her, and felt like she was about to collapse, but then she heard Erol speak.
"I-i'm sorry Sunnyblade. I would help if I could, but it is not my destiny to battle Fierystar right now. Please eat. You'll need your strength. And I'll be beside you every step of the way."
She opened her eyes to stare into the amber depths of Erol's eyes. She bent down and took a bite out of the prey, and fought to swallow...
::---::
Sunnyblade padded to Fierystar's den. She had finished the prey, and had watched Erol leave for a hunting patrol, before going to see Fierystar. She paused at the entrance, slightly shaking before padding in. She saw Fierystar sitting in the center of the den, his gray tail lightly wrapped around his paws. His eyes lit up when he saw Sunnyblade, and a smile played at his lips.
"You're the daughter of Icycurrent. The strongest cat in BlackClan, before I came. I can see your power in your muscles when you take even the smallest step. Your sister is the same, though she is being a fine warrior currently. You have good bloodlines, except for your mother. But it seems you have not inherited much from her, lucky for me."
Sunnyblade shivered under Fierystar's gaze, and she felt very small in the predicament. Fierystar smirked.
"Don't be scared. It's a pretty simple process."
His tail uncurled from around his paws and flicked back and forth, and for the first time Sunnyblade noticed the tom sitting behind Fierystar. She stiffened, her eyes widening. The tom was a large tabby, who looked like he had red fur. He was one of the strongest cats in the clan, and Fierystar's new deputy after Flaringsun had joined LakeClan. She had seen him around, but had never really talked to him or had learned his name. Fierystar smiled.
"So I see you finally noticed him. I bet you have never actually known who he is. But meet my deputy, Raggedflame. This will be your mate. He is a powerful tom, and has good bloodlines, much like you. You two are a good match, and your kits will hopefully be well and strong."
Sunnyblade nodded, though her mind was reeling. She was going to be forced... to have kits, with a tom she didn't know or love. She felt her heart accelerate as Fierystar talked more about Raggedflame, describing his strengths and his parents. Then he turned to Raggedflame and told the tom about Sunnyblade. She didn't hear half of what the leader said. The only thing she was thinking about was how she wished that Erol could save her now as he had saved her and her siblings so long ago from Fierystar's wrath.
She soon noticed when Fierystar stopped talking to Raggedflame, and turned to Sunnyblade.
"I'll leave you two to talk, and only talk on your own for now. I'll be back when I hunt a bit."
Raggedflame nodded, and watched as Fierystar left the den. As soon as Fierystar had left, Sunnyblade noticed an immediate change in Raggedflame. His body relaxed, and his cold eyes turned softer. He glanced at Sunnyblade, and tilted his head.
"So, as Fierystar said. I'm Raggedflame."
Raggedflame smiled warmly, and Sunnyblade relaxed a bit. She looked away from Raggedflame's burning green eyes. She heard Raggedflame sigh.
"I'm not as bad as some of the cats you could have been paired with. I actually have a heart. And I'm sorry for putting you in this situation, but everyone needs to put some effort in. I know you want to escape from BlackClan, but that won't ever happen if Fierystar doesn't trust you. If he trusts you, then he'll expand your boundaries and give you more freedom. It takes time."
Sunnyblade immediately warmed to the BlackClan deputy. He was kind and sincere, and was actually willing to help her.
"But, as I said. Trust comes with effort. And the only way you'll get Fierystar's trust is if you go along with this... I know you don't love me, and trust me. I know who you love. But it's the only way. I'll help you out along the way. Most tom's won't. They'll just abandon the she-cat until they are needed again."
Sunnyblade looked at Raggedflame stunned.
"T-thanks... I think."
She smiled shyly, which made Raggedflame smile.
"Fierystar doesn't know who I really am. he just knows me for my strengths and quick thinking. I put up an act in front of him, so don't be intimated by me if he's around."
Sunnyblade nodded a thanks, but she still felt skittish and exposed, and she knew Raggedflame sensed it.
"You also need to start eating. If you want to stay strong, you need to be fit. If you had stayed fit in the first place, you wouldn't have to do this. But now Fierystar probably won't let you go back to Warrior duties even if you were to become fit..."
Sunnyblade looked down, saddened. Raggedflame purred softly.
"You can go if you like. We'll talk later."
Sunnyblade nodded a thanks, and turned towards the entrance, then stopped when Raggedflame called her name.
"Sunnyblade, just so you know. I think you are a stunning she-cat, and I am glad I was paired with you. You deserve the best treatment, and only a few toms I know of would give you that."
Sunnyblade felt her ears and pelt grow hot with embarrassment. She muttered a thanks, and slipped out of the den before the handsome tom could say any more. She scanned the clearing for Mossyclaw, and saw her talking to Yellowpaw. Sunnyblade smiled, then spotted Erol returning from the hunting patrol. He dropped his prey on the fresh-kill pile, but kept a shrew and padded over to Sunnyblade. He dropped it in front of her.
"Thought you might be hungry. And, how did it go?"
Sunnyblade sighed, taking a bite from the shrew, her hunger from the past few days taking over. She ravenously ate the mouse before responding to Erol.
"Well, I'm "paired" with Raggedflame... the deputy. He's actually really nice."
Erol nodded.
"Well that's good... Do you know when?"
Sunnyblade shook her head.
"I'll tell you when though."
He nodded gratefully, before hearing a yowl from Fierystar. He turned around to face where Fierystar was standing.
"This has been long over due, and I would like to make Yellowpaw a warrior. He has been an apprentice for much to long. So now I shall name him by him warrior name. Yellowpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Yellowstripe! That is all."
Fierystar padded away, and Sunnyblade glanced to where the new warrior sat. She looked away, her mind sullen. Erol was sitting close enough to her that their pelts brushed, and Sunnyblade smiled. But then she saw Raggedflame pad over to her, his eyes showed it all. Sunnyblade flinched, and she heard Erol whisper in her ear.
"Don't worry...."
She got up, and padded to where he waited. He nodded at Sunnyblade to Fierystar's den. Fierystar was waiting for them, to talk some more. He nodded at them, before ushering them in.
