the young tom pressed deeper into the dark , the charcoal bombay ‘ s tail stiff behind him , & his gait tight & afraid . his fear was tangible , a lingering , bitter scent in the air . he shivered , his shining fur standing on end . ravenpaw ‘ s breathing had become more laboured , & whether it was because of the humidity or his anxiety , he did not know . blood gushed through his veins , & his heart thumped in his ivory ribcage , like a frightened chickadee .
ravenpaw anxiously crept out of camp , as per his mentor ‘ s orders . he ‘ d stepped out of line , & he ‘ d apologized . as he usually did , he ‘ d swiped him across the muzzle , & on tigerclaw ‘ s talons was his own blood . but what he said next was the first time he had told him anything of the like ; he ‘ d said to meet him by the bracken patch near the river for a special punishment . the ebony tom couldn ‘ t foretell what would happen , but his stomach turned at the millions of possibilities that buzzed through his mind .