@starkravingmad
[ i'm already so sorry for how long this is. i spend like years away from classic and don't write a single word but when i come back i feel the need to write actual novels ]

Windsweptashes had to brace themselves as they padded towards the cellar, their pawsteps in equal stride with the small, barely apprentice-aged cat that tried their best to keep up with his speed. Orrerypaw, the newly name Luminary, really should have been the one to primarily handle this. After all, it was a Luminary's job to watch over the prisoners, to train them, to fix their schedules, to make their routines, to be the ones to choose every day if they would continue their training, or if they would be marked as failures and sent to the execution block. 

The only problem was this Luminary, their best and brightest and only Luminary, barely made it to Windsweptashes' shoulder, and was hardly more than a kitten. Less than a moon ago, Orrerypaw would have probably been in the nursery with the fledglings, but now given the current situation Moonclan was in, the apprentice held what might have accounted for the third or fourth most important job in the clan.

Which wasn't necessarily a problem. Everyone had to learn, and in some ways the fact that he was going to be groomed from basically the moment he was out of the nursery to do his job was a boon instead of a set back. His early learning sessions into how to properly deal with prisoners; how to coldly and strictly order them around, make them realize their place until they fell in line, on how to rip them apart until they were built back up in the image of Selene's chosen -- all of this would be invaluable. The only problem was this was his mentor's, Windsweptashes', first time dealing with a prisoner too, and he was terrified. 

He'd already heard that the former prisoner they would be dealing with had once been the leader of Moonclan, and the kind of life experience and skill that implied this prisoner brought to the table worried him immensely.

Windsweptashes was a big cat -- at first glance he was lumbering, intimidating, and to put it simply, scary. If size alone could make the she cat waver and put her in line, he probably would be successful. But somehow, Windsweptashes doubted it; this was a cat who had lead over cats who were likely his size and greater, who had once comanded this whole clan. They had even defied Selene outright if what he'd heard was true, and while that had seemingly blown up in the she cat's face and gotten her overthrown and locked in Moonclan's prison for who knows how long, even Windsweptashes knew it must have taken some significant bravery to face down a goddess. Would he even be able to make the she cat waver?

He tried not to show his own insecurities however, especially not to the small Luminary who was at his side who seemed much more eager than him to face down their first ever prisoner they were both now on a mission to convert. 

As the pair finally made it to the Cellar where their one and only prisoner was being kept, Windsweptashes thoughts and concerns were broken by the eager voice of Orrerypaw as the two prepared to enter and greet their soon-to-be "trainee". 

"So what do we say? When we first go in, I mean? Do we start out really agressive and maybe slam them on the floor -- you know, to assert dominance? Or are we going to act calm and collected and only start beating them up after we greet them?" Orrerypaw's gruesome questions were so eager and so cheerful that it was hard for Windsweptashes to truly accept the words that the luminary-in-training had said had just come out of their mouth. Were they molding a monster, were they turning a child into an animal just by bringing them out here? 

Windsweptashes had to shake off the thought. No. They were just preparing them for a job, and it was a job that had to be done. If they weren't prepared, if they weren't so eager to show their dominance, they would get eaten alive by these prisoners, right? ...Right? 

"We walk in calmly and we keep our poise. First we have to see how open the are to Selene's words and tell them the training plan they'll be on if they ever hope to be one of Moonclan's Chosen. If they cause trouble after that, then we start punishments." Windsweptashes' response felt hollow to him, like he was just giving information. The thought that he might have to act on what he said soon enough was a thought he tried desperately to keep out of mind, as the two walked past the myriad of older students standing guard and moved through the thin gap in a thick pille of wood, stone, and ruble that eventually found themselves in the dark prison quarters. 

"Prisoner." Windsweptashes greeted, trying to keep his tone cold and firm, not bothering to dignify the she cat with her name. Beside him, Orreypaw eagerly waited for a response; he new soon the fun would begin.