Ravenpaw was keeping himself pressed to the ground, the ground swayed as the sounds of the massive dark brown tabby circling him out of sight were keeping the small black tom on his toes. He could feel the hot breath on his neck as though Tigerclaw was right behind him while circling at the same time.

Then from the bushes, Tigerclaw finally broke through. His long claws unsheathed and heading straight for Ravenpaw's neck. Ravenpaw instantly booked it, straight for the nearest exit which seemed to get farther and farther away as Tigerclaw got closer and closer.

Ravenpaw did not stop, he was pleading for starclan to let him get away. It felt as if the ground was pulling him towards Tigerclaw's jaws which got bigger and bigger until they were big enough that they could swallow the small black tom whole. And Ravenpaw was unwillingly heading straight in backwards.

He could not escape; he could not out run him. He could not make it to the camp entrance, and he was falling into darkness as the ground collapsed from under him.

"Ravenpaw and Graypaw, Bluestar has chosen you to go with her and Tigerclaw to the moonstone later today." Lionheart's voice broke through the apprentices den. Shaking Ravenpaw out of the terrifying nightmare he just had. He pressed his paws on his ears to block out sound.

Graypaw seemed every more grumpy with his sleepy groan that Ravenpaw's attempt did not drain out. Dustpaw poked his head in. "Why do they get to go together, Graypaw is younger than him and I am yet to go as well." He demanded from the ThunderClan deputy.

"Recommended by Tigerclaw that Ravenpaw went with them makes sense since it's his Apprentice. Bluestar will judge when to take you and Darkstripe along with next time." The golden tom responded.

Dustpelt frowned, but said nothing and stormed off. Probably to go chat with Sandpaw again. Ravenpaw raised himself to his paws, and looked at Graypaw who was struggling a little to get up. Ravenpaw nudged Graypaw onto his belly so the gray tom could get up easily.

Ravenpaw emerged through the den entrance, blinking in the sunlight. Thankfully Tigerclaw wasn't there waiting for him to hurry up and get up. Instead the tom was off with his closest followers, Darkstripe and Longtail. The tom didn't even look up from his conversation to see Ravenpaw staring at him. Taking this advantage, Ravenpaw slunk towards the fresh kill pile.

Bluestar was watching the camp, having a conversation with Whitestorm all the while. the blue gray she-cat seemed a little weary, but she tried her best to stay strong in her pose. Whitestorm was sitting beside the high rock at the same spot he usually does.

Ravenpaw picked a scrawny mouse from the fresh kill pile, and dragged it over to the apprentices corner of the camp to eat with his friend as usual.

Sandpaw and Dustpaw walked away from it. They didn't even acknowledge the two other apprentices. As they headed to their own individual mentors. Dustpaw held his head high, and Sandpaw walked with a sense of pride and vanity.

Graypaw set down his nice freshly caught jay, and sat down to begin munching on it as Ravenpaw settled down to eat his mouse. The two shared no words, just ate in silence. Until they were done.

"So, we're taking the path that every warrior must do before they are no longer an apprentice." Graypaw meowed.

Ravenpaw nodded, his limbs shaking from under him. He never thought that he should visit the moonstone; starclan must already be disappointed in him for his constant torment. But it was always the next step in an apprentice's journey.

Ravenpaw approached the medicine cat den, he looked over his shoulder at the warriors den. Tigerclaw was starting to walk their way. Ravenpaw turned his head as his mentor approached. Before they entered the medicine cat den, tigerclaw halted Ravenpaw. "You know what you're to expect today, yes?" he asked.

Ravenpaw nodded slowly, staring as his friend talked with Spottedleaf. The tortoiseshell she-cat gazed over in his direction.

"Good, make sure you get yourself something to eat before we set off," Tigerclaw turned his gaze inside the medicine cat den, "I see young Graypaw has generously gotten your traveling herbs for you, do thank him for his kindness." He meowed, turning his back to head towards the warriors den.

Graypaw's meow reached deaf ears as Ravenpaw stared after his mentor. wondering what happened, no cruel words. No threats. Could he finally be free?

Thinking back to Sunning Rocks, he shook away the thought. No, he wasn't out of the badger's den yet. He could see it as Tigerclaw turned to look back at him, in those amber eyes he could see deep inside the same murderous look still glowing. Ravenpaw diverted his eyes to the herbs that Graypaw set at his paws.

Ravenpaw walked beside Tigerclaw and Graypaw on the way to mother mouth. Graypaw was practically shaking with excitement; Bluestar was in the lead, her tail staying still behind her. Tigerclaw held his gaze high with unease trickling through. And Ravenpaw, kept his head where it normally is but a tiny bit higher as he felt comforted by his friend's presence.

But he thought of tigerclaw using an opportunity to try and get Ravenpaw during the trip if they got separated. There was no doubt that something was being carefully thought through in the massive dark brown tabby's hard amber eyes.

Ravenpaw kept to the side when he picked heard a cough from above, he looked up to see a black and white tom watching down at them while balancing on a small log that was interconnected with other ones. beyond were fields of a golden colored grass. "Ah, hello Barley." Bluestar addressed the black and white tom.

The tom gave Bluestar a nod, and looked over the others. "I see you are taking more apprentices to High stones, am I right?" Barley asked, his blue eyes were soft and warm.

Bluestar nodded, tigerclaw seemed to be glaring at the loner. Who returned the gaze with confusion. "What's with him?" he asked.

Bluestar shrugged. "We'll stop by to visit later barley, for now we must continue on our trek." She explained, turning to start heading back on the path.

Barley watched them leave, and Ravenpaw just stuck beside his friend while Tigerclaw brought up the rear.