It took a full minute for Shadowpaw to fully process it. There was a cat watching him, spying on him even.
His first instinct was to attack, but he swiftly suppressed that, and instead strode quickly off in another direction, hoping to lose them. Maybe the cat was just hunting. Yet even as he covered ground, he could hear the pursuers pawsteps. He broke into a run, and yet the cat still followed, it too picking up speed.
He finally slowed as he entered a clearing, and when the cat behind him did, he finally caught a glimpse of her face. Of course he thought to himself. It was Fernpaw. She was always trying to see what he was up to, yet she'd never actually followed him like now. Like almost anyone, he resented her.
Her eyes widened, and stopped abruptly. Trying to get over her abrupt stop, Fernpaw breathed, "Hi...Shadowpaw."
His face was cold and calculating. She managed a smile. "Where are you going?"
He gave a strong glare and turned once again to leave, this time his walking at an easy walking pace, if Fernpaw was smart, she'd leave. She began to follow him again, running from time to time to keep up with his longer stride. He sighed. If the apprentice were to leave him alone, he'd have to ignore her.
"Why do you hide all the time?" she asked. He stared straight ahead and didn't answer, although in his mind, he thought to stay away from nosy apprentices like you.
"You don't have to put up a tough exterior around me, I'm just an insignificant apprentice." He didn't do anything, and his face stony.
Fernpaw nudged him, trying to get a reaction. He shoved her roughly away and bounded away into the forest.
Fernpaw persisted, although he was faster. His paws nearly skimmed the ground, and hers slipped a bit because she was less experienced.
Shadowpaw halted when he was confronted by a dark clearing. Fernpaw took the moment and jumped on his back. He unsheathed his claws and forced the she-cat off.
Shadowpaw spoke for the first time. His voice was low and hostile. "Leave." Fernpaw's eyes dilated. "What?" His eyes burned with hatred. His words were pricked with malice. "Leave." Fernpaw trembled a bit, but kept eye contact with him. Shadowpaw glared at her straight in the eyes. He sunk his claws into the ground. His voice was low, but pricked with venom. "I will ask you one more time. Leave," he growled. Fernpaw padded forward, trying to offer support to him. Shadowpaw swiped at her, claws sheathed thankfully, and gave another warning growl. His eyes showed no remorse. His pelt seemed to radiate heat with anger. She had to go, if she didn't, well, things wouldn't end well.
Shadowpaw's eyes narrowed. "I'm warning you." His claws sank into the mossy earth. Then he growled in his most dangerous voice, "Go. Back. To. Camp." Fernpaw shook her head. "You wouldn't attack a she-cat, let alone a fellow apprentice, or your Clanmate."
"You don't know what I would and wouldn't do," he hissed.
Standing opposite him, Fernpaw insisted, "You can't keep hiding."
"Hiding?!" Shadowpaw asked in a voice pricked with danger. "You think I choose to hide? Anyways, is that even any of your business?" he asked, then walked toward the ivy wall and went through.
Fernpaw followed. "Well who knows, maybe you're working with FlameClan."
Shadowpaw pushed his head back out of the ivy. "FlameClan? That bunch of fox-hearts?" he asked with a hiss detectable in his voice. Fernpaw padded through the ivy
As soon as Shadowpaw saw Fernpaw enter the ivy, he leaped and pinned her with one paw. "I never thought an insignificant apprentice. would be as mouse-brained to follow me in here," he sneered.
Fawnpaw bucked him off. "I never thought you'd had the smarts to talk."
"You dare." he said, eyes narrowed to slits. Then he leaped, claws outstretched, for Fernpaw's underbelly.