Slatepaw has always been a very day-dreamy apprentice. He's never really been down-to-earth and determined to receive a position of power and prove his worth. And his life was going fine, until the small SkyClan runt wandered into ShadowClan territory.

   Shadowy cats took him to the heart of their mysterious Clan. Since this is one of the harshest leaf-bares that the Clans have ever seen, Slatepaw is held captive to be traded for herbs... but none of his Clanmates come for him. After moons in a damp, bone-filled prison den, Slatepaw is bought by WindClan cats at a Gathering. He is treated as a slave, forced to work non-stop for very little prey and shelter. Soon, the other Clans start keeping slaves too. They could just have been loners or kittypets wandering into Clan territory, or enemy cats stolen from battle or border patrols. The Clans are going down a very dark path, and Slatepaw may be the enslaved cats' only hope.