Berrystar met the apprentices at the camp exit. He had a forced smile on his face.

"I have confidence I can trust you trio. Remember to follow your mentors rules no matter what. Good luck!" Berrystar instructed as he stiffly padded away.

"This way guys." Emberpool, a young warrior called. Harepaw examined the young tom. He was a scrawny, white cat. He looked like nothing really.

"Stop daydreaming Harepaw do you want to be left behind?" Rosepaw nudged him.

"Of course not you mousebrain!" He snapped. Rosepaw sniffed and caught up with Ravenpaw.

"Do you think we'll fight them?" She asked him awkwardly.

"I doubt it honestly." Ravenpaw answered. "I hope they don't at least."

"Your as loud as a flock of birds! Stop talking and do your job." Rainclaw hissed quietly at Rosepaw . Rosepaw shrank down as she got scolded.

Ravenpaw took a large whiff of the forest air. Many scents flooded into his nose. Mouse, honey, crowfood, and .... Ravenpaw smelt a new scent.

"Do you smell that?" He called up.

"What smell are you talking about? All I smell is mouse. Maybe your smelling a herb." Acornpelt suggested.

Ravenpaw frowned. "Are you sure? I want to go check on it to make sure. I'll come right back."

"I'd rather you no-". His mentor was cut off as Acornpelt answered his instead.

"Come on let the cat go. Let his learn. If he's in trouble we'll notice it."

"I guess. Go ahead Ravenpaw but return here soon or I'll search for you." Nettlewing meowed.

"Okay." Ravenpaw answered. He padded into the thick bushes following the scent. It wasn't a faint smell at all. He stopped where the trail stopped.

"That's strange." Ravenpaw thought. He sniffed the air one more time. The scent was defiantly fresh.

"Behind you mouse-brain!" Ace meowed in his head. Ravenpaw looked behind himself slowly. He suddenly went by his instincts and lept to the side. A large cat was looking at him.

"Who are you!" Ravenpaw asked in surprise. He figured out what he had smelled earlier was. The scent was strong, and easy to scent. Why hadn't his patrol noticed anything?

"It's been a long time hasn't it?" The cat meowed. "You won't know me."

"W-Who are you and what are you doing on Mapleclan territory!" Ravenpaw repeated.

"I wonder if your the same cat I met that day." The cat ignored.

"I don't know what you mean! I've never seen you before." Ravenpaw protested. The cat dipped his head before vanishing into a bush. Ravenpaw realized he was panting and his fur pricked up.

"Ravenpaw!" A voice behind him howled. It was Rosepaw along with her mentor.

"We heard you yowl. Are you okay?" Rainclaw asked the shocked tom.

"The tom, he ran into the bushes away from the territory!" Ravenpaw meowed.

"What do you mean by "the tom"? I smell nothing." Rosepaw asked.

"He was right here a second ago. How can you not smell that?" Ravenpaw asked.

"How about we take you back to camp, Ravenpaw. You seem
battered up." Rainclaw added. Ravenpaw forced his fur to flatten and took a deep breath.

"I'm just overreacting. I'm fine." He convinced them as he padded towards them. "I shouldn't let myself overreact on a patrol." He thought. Ravenpaw walked with the rest of the patrol to check the borders.

Forestclan territory was much too shady with trees and brambles. The scents drifting from the territory were jumbled up and impossible to sort out. Invaders could come and nobody would sense it. No wonder they were so protective over their territory.

Time passed slowly. As it passed the thought of the cat grew bigger. When the sun peaked up slowly Ravenpaw could barely open his eyes. The group walked home after a while.

"That was more tiring then I thought." Harepaw meowed drowsily.

"When you guys wake up then it'll be dawn when you will have a fighting match to test your skills. For now get some rest." Nettlewing announced to the group of apprentices.

Ravenpaw scurried to his nest as it started to drizzle. He plopped down in his soft nest and drifted to sleep quickly. He opened his eyes and realized Ace was in front of him.

"Ace!" He meowed in surprise.

"Surprised? Ha your stuck with me." Ace responded.

"I have questions for you." Ravenpaw meowed.

"I'm sure you do." Ace sighed. "About that cat you met on patrol?"

"Yeah. I'm sure you know that cat." Ravenpaw nodded.

"I'll tell you if you beat me." Ace grinned as he unsheathed his claws.

"This is urgent this time! Please tell me then I will fight you." Ravenpaw pleaded. Ace suddenly raked his muzzle. Pain throbbed through Ravenpaw.

"I never mentioned I was a soft mentor!" Ace replied as he sank his teeth into Ravenpaw's shoulder. He screeched and yanked himself away from Ace's strong body. Ravenpaw felt betrayed. Maybe he was too soft. He wasn't okay either way. He dodged Ace's next blow barely and leaped back.

"What are you hiding?" Ravenpaw asked.

"I just want some fun for a change." Ace replied as he tackled Ravenpaw. Ravenpaw clutched his teeth as he tried to think of something fast. He had to fight back. Ravenpaw tried to force his way up but it was clear the larger tom was stronger then him.

"I won't fight you." Ravenpaw replied calmly.

Ace leaped off of Ravenpaw's battered body and laughed manically before he stopped all of a sudden changing his mood.

"And now I'm bored." He meowed. "Hey was it answers you wanted kitty?"

"Yeah." Ravenpaw sighed. "About that cat I saw."

As Ace spoke Ravenpaw's eyes widened.

"No..."