Author's Note: Well my friends, the end is almost upon us. There shall be one more chapter to "Ravenpaw's Secret"…and then the story shall be closed forevermore. As always, thank you for the reviews! It always pleases me when I see new ones added. Again, no threats about never updating if there are no new reviews…but reviewing keeps my muse alive, so please take the trouble and do so! The more reviews there are, the more likely I am to update! Enjoy, and I'm going to say this one more time and never say it again: please review! It keeps my muse alive!

Chapter Three: Ravenpaw's Escape

Ravenpaw stirred early in the morning, curled up in the apprentices' den. He heard Firepaw hiss Graypaw's name urgently, looking wide-awake.

"Are you awake, Firepaw?" Ravenpaw mewed sleepily, with a huge yawn. He felt guilty when he glanced at Graypaw, mourning the loss of his mentor, and he felt a shudder run through him. Tigerclaw had killed Lionheart just the night before; and now he had been named deputy. 'Oh, Bluestar!' he thought inwardly. 'Why could you have not named another cat deputy? Like Whitestorm?'

The black apprentice saw an annoyed look cross Firepaw's expression, and Ravenpaw felt a pang of fear. Had he done something to turn his friend against him? But the ginger colored tom only replied: "Yes!"

Later on, he was following Graypaw on his way to meet Tigerclaw for training. Firepaw had gone for his first training session with Bluestar, and Ravenpaw envied him for that. Bluestar would be a gentle and wise mentor, and she would certainly not try and murder Firepaw in training, which, Ravenpaw thought dryly, Tigerclaw would have no problem doing. He felt even more apprehensive when the dark tabby sent Graypaw off to hunt so he could train with Ravenpaw one on one.

Ravenpaw crouched low in fear on the far corner of the training hollow, his black fur fluffed up and the fear scent coming off of him in waves as the tabby stalked around him with narrowed amber eyes.

"So I see you've kept my secret about Redtail nicely so far," Tigerclaw purred, his amber eyes glinting with hatred, "and that's a good thing, for Goldenflower and Graypaw would be just so easy to get rid of…" an uncomfortable prickling went through Ravenpaw's spine. Tigerclaw spoke the truth. Goldenflower and Graypaw would be swept aside and killed without a pause if Tigerclaw had set out to kill them.

"You're deputy now," Ravenpaw mewed nervously, "you won't kill any more cats, will you?"

Tigerclaw snarled and bared his teeth. "Mouse-brain!" he snapped, "do you think my ambition would really be appeased after being made deputy? No, I shall become leader yet, but I shall not wait forever for Bluestar's remaining four lives to run out. I may have to kill her…" his tone changed and he let out a silky purr, "and that's another secret you'll have to keep if you want your precious Goldenflower to stay alive. No doubt you've seen me kill Lionheart as well…"

Ravenpaw let out a choked cry, his green gaze trained on his black paws. "How could you kill two warriors that you've grown up with?" he cried out, knowing he was risking his safety in questioning Tigerclaw, "Redtail and Lionheart were two of your kit hood friends…but you killed them both as if they were enemy warriors!"

Tigerclaw let out a vicious snarl and his long, thorn-sharp claws unsheathed. "Friends only get in your way," he snapped angrily, "I befriended Redtail, and I saved his life on that mission we went on together many moons ago. And then what happened? Bluestar overlooked me and named HIM deputy. If I had let him die…" he slashed his claws through the air irritably, "but he's dead now," he continued, changing his voice to a purr, "and I finally have his rank. Let that be a lesson to you, apprentice. No one can stop me."

Many Moons Later

"Ravenpaw! We must get you away from ThunderClan territory!" the urgent voice of Firepaw, a flame pelted tom interrupted Ravenpaw's thoughts. The black furred apprentice was curled up in the apprentices' den: Frostfur had just chased him out of the nursery for no apparent reason. He had just wanted to go and see Brindleface's kits, and maybe say hello to his mother, Goldenflower…beside Firepaw was Graypaw, eyes as wide as moons. The three had shared their apprenticeship together, and Ravenpaw had never seen them look so frightened.

"What? Why?" he asked, already trembling from ears to tail.

"Because Tigerclaw is afraid about what you know," Firepaw continued, "he's spreading rumors about you around the camp that you're a traitor to ThunderClan!"

Ravenpaw could hardly believe his ears. "A traitor?" he echoed numbly. "What are you talking about?"

Firepaw flicked his tail with annoyance and meowed: "Come on, Ravenpaw, we have to get you out of here! You're not safe in ThunderClan anymore. Tigerclaw is turning every cat against you, it's spread everywhere: the nursery, the elder's den...you'll be chased out of camp if you don't escape now!"

Ravenpaw felt his head spinning dizzily as he sprang to his paws. 'So this is what Tigerclaw is going to resort to,' he thought bitterly, 'even though I've been keeping his secrets about Redtail and Lionheart, he's trying to drive me out! He doesn't trust me…and good reason for it!' The only thing the black tom would regret was not seeing Tigerclaw revealed for the murderous cat he was. But his true form would be shown eventually: he had told Firepaw the truth before this.

The three apprentices were halfway out of camp when a voice stopped them. Ravenpaw's heart froze and his green eyes filmed over with panic. Tigerclaw!

"Just where do you think you're going?" Tigerclaw meowed menacingly, his tone icy cool, his amber eyes ablaze. Ravenpaw gaped; his friends were equally as stunned.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Bluestar padded up next to the apprentices. "One of Brindleface's kits has a cough," Bluestar explained calmly, '"Firepaw, Ravenpaw, and Graypaw are out to fetch some coltsfoot for it."

Tigerclaw narrowed his amber eyes. "In this weather?" he growled. Bluestar's eyes narrowed as well, and her voice was stern. "Yes," she replied, "hurry up, the three of you!"

Firepaw ducked his head appreciatively, exchanging a grateful glance with Bluestar. Tigerclaw was obviously distrustful, but he could not prevent the three apprentices from leaving when Bluestar was watching.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Graypaw let out a noisy sigh. "Great StarClan! That was close. Too close for my liking."

Firepaw nodded in agreement, and Ravenpaw's heart was still thudding. "We're going to take you to Barley's farm," Firepaw meowed.

Ravenpaw's green eyes widened. "Barley's farm?" he exclaimed, dismayed. Ravenpaw wanted to become a warrior, but he knew that was impossible while Tigerclaw was in ThunderClan, spreading rumors about him. He let out a sigh; his hopes for a warrior ceremony disappearing forever. He was a Clan-born cat, but it didn't matter if he remained an apprentice forever: he valued his life more than any warrior ceremony. "What if Barley doesn't let me stay?" he meowed worriedly. After all, the last time he had seen the loner, Tigerclaw had accused him of leading them into a trap. He might not be so welcoming of another cat to share his home with, either.

Firepaw purred reassuringly. "Remember, Barley catches rats for a living. Just tell him you caught an adder once! Besides, it's your best option. Just be sure to avoid the ThunderClan cats if they ever stop by. We're going to tell them that a ShadowClan patrol killed you off."

Ravenpaw nodded flicked his ears with confusion. "ShadowClan patrol? What are you talking about?"

Graypaw shook his head. "There's no time to explain, Ravenpaw," he mewed urgently, "we can't go with you any further. Travel carefully! StarClan be with you!"

"Thanks Firepaw, and thanks, Graypaw. I'll never forget this!" Ravenpaw mewed earnestly, his green eyes shining with fear and gratitude. He was frantically retracing the route in his mind: and he also remembered the Twoleg dogs that roamed this territory. He shuddered, suddenly more afraid then ever now that the time of parting had come.

Firepaw pressed his side comfortingly against the black tom. Ravenpaw, a forest born cat, would have to live life as a loner. He would never know the glory of receiving his warrior name; never go on another patrol or share tongues with his friends after a long day of hunting. The threesome had been broken up now that Ravenpaw was leaving. But his safety came first, Firepaw knew. Graypaw also touched noses with his friend, mewed a hasty good-bye…and disappeared into the bracken; and only StarClan knew what awaited him in his new life.