In the split second he took to attack the apprentice, another cat entered the clearing and jumped between them. She had emerged from the ivy "Hey, what's going on here?" she asked, just before his claws scored across her face. "You can't hurt her Shadowpaw!" she said, before gasping in pain.

"Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do," he hissed.

Fawnpaw fluffed up her fur, for once using her longer fur to her advantage. "A cat who's a lot bigger than you! Scum like you don't deserve to even exist!" she snarled, showing off sharp teeth. She couldn't see out of her right eye, the blood was accumulating there too heavily, but her left eye was alight with fury and conviction.

His eyes narrowed. "This wasn't an unprovoked attack." Fawnpaw then began to straight up yell. "Oh yeah!? Well so sorry that your Clanmates care about you, you worthless piece of crowfood!" she spat.

"They don't," he snarled. "And they never have."

Fawnpaw growled. "Yes, we do! If we didn't care about you, my sister would have just left you alone."

"Oh, that's what she was doing? She should have just left me alone if she cared."

Fawnpaw huffed. "Whatever. I hope you're ready to get exiled, fox-heart, because BrookClan has no room for traitors."

"Traitor? Traitor?! I tried being polite! I tried ignoring her! Seems like she's more determined to make me an outcast then myself!"

Fawnpaw hissed. "From where I was standing, it looked like she was trying to include you, and for the record, ignoring someone is not polite. You are a traitor; a traitor is defined as someone who turns on their own clan. Well, guess what? You just attacked a Clanmate, and another apprentice at that! I'm pretty sure that fits the definition!"

Shadowpaw ignored her. "There's a reason why I didn't want her to include me! There's a reason why I wanted her to leave. Because look what happens when I am near other cats! This is why I avoid them! I never wanted this to happen!" His voice broke, and turned tail and ran from the clearing.

After a while, Shadowpaw decided to go back to camp. After all, there was no point in just staying out there. He had felt numb since leaving the clearing, and there was nothing worse than that.

As he slid in through the entrance, he saw Tawnystar speaking to Fernpaw. Fawnpaw, he assumed, would be in the medicine den. After a moment, Tawnystar nodded and made her way towards Shadowpaw. "Shadowpaw, is it true you attacked your Clanmates?"

Shadowpaw flinched away from the Clan leader and mumbled, "Yes."

Tawnystar nodded. "Can you explain why?" she asked, still calm.

"No," answered Shadowpaw.

Tawnystar frowned. "Let's try this again. As your leader, I order you to explain why you attacked your own Clanmates."

Shadowpaw raised his chin and repeated, "No."

Tawnystar sighed. "Shadowpaw, I don't want to exile you, but you need to give me a reason if there's hope to keep you here."

"No. I can't tell you," insisted Shadowpaw.

Tawnystar gave a sharp sigh. "Shadowpaw, what exactly do you hope to gain by this?"

"Gain? I don't expect to gain anything, Tawnystar," he snarled the last word.

Tawnystar flinched, then her eyes hardened. "Alright then. I'm sorry, but I have no choice but to exile you."

Shock flashed across Shadowpaw's face. No! I didn't mean it like that! he wanted to cry, but he couldn't. Then he resumed an indifferent expression. His emotions would have to be revealed later. But a lump rose in his throat, like he couldn't speak.

"If you want to give me an explanation, I could perhaps let you off on a lighter punishment, but as it stands, there isn't really a way to tell the Clan that you aren't a threat," she conceded.

I won't tell you, no matter how much time you give me," said Shadowpaw, putting a hint of malice into his voice.

Tawnystar shrugged. "Okay, but you might change your mind."

"I won't," replied Shadowpaw letting out some of his anger.

Tawnystar simply walked away, at which point Shadowpaw didn't even care.