Carefully narrowing his eyes to ensure he didn't lose sight of Heronkit, Spiderpaw slipped through the trees and followed the small she-cat through.
"Do you have any idea where we're going?" Spiderpaw whispered.
"I've got a better idea than you do, that's for sure," the kit snapped back. Spiderpaw was ready to tell her to watch her tongue, but he wasn't sure whether he was in the right place to tolerate her backlash.
But deep down, he knew the kit was right. After all, she had been to this place many more times than Spiderpaw would have ever liked to.
But the voice - or at least the thought of the voice, came back to him. He couldn't help feeling like there was someone else among them. He figured that there were other beings here, but he never thought he would feel so inferior.
The bland scent filled his nostrils. He hated the way the darkness seemed to surround him. If this place was meant to be another part of StarClan, why did this place look so sad?
A rustle between some bushes made Spiderpaw jump, and he scampered towards Heronkit, his ears curled back to the side of his head. When the she-kit turned around to him, he battled to convince himself that the noise was just a squirrel.
"That was just prey - right?"
Heronkit shook her head. "There isn't prey here, Spiderpaw. You're in a dream. You're probably overthinking."
Spiderpaw took a step forwards. "No prey?"
Heronkit nodded, although she didn't seem interested to explain. Instead she seemed to just want to keep moving forwards, and Spiderpaw had to admit he felt a little better being besides her.
He didn't feel weak. He felt much stronger of an emotion.
In his head, although he wouldn't say aloud, he did think Heronkit was mature enough to become a warrior. Of course she was young, mouse-brained and had little training, but she had much more courage than him.
He knew that with Briartail's training, she would become a fine cat to serve ThornClan. Although the two cats didn't seem to get along perfectly, and Briartail was much fonder of Heronkit than she was to her, with Briartail's quick thinking and stealth, they would be a good match.
One thing that concerned him though was her attitude. He knew Briartail didn't take much to heat up, and Heronkit was snappy and sometimes nasty towards older cats. He knew that from experience.
But he felt sympathy for the kit. Sure, she had made a few mistakes, but she didn't deserve to face the humiliation of staying a kit, even if she was able to slumber in the Apprentice's den.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Spiderpaw stopped as he saw Heronkit freeze in front of him. "What's wrong?"
Heronkit turned around. "Stop talking."
Spiderpaw opened his mouth.
"Shut up!" Heronkit snapped.
Spiderpaw's jaws peered open. He was ready to turn the kit around and give her a lesson she wouldn't forget. But he knew now wasn't the right time, and he would have to wait until the morning.
Now wasn't the time to think of punishment. Spiderpaw took a few brisk paces back. He could have been sure he saw something moving in the distance.
Watching carefully, he stood still.
Heronkit seemed to do the same.
A shadowed flash raced past the trees. Spiderpaw froze. He felt as if he was on fire.
He saw a tinted red glow streak past him, and Heronkit whipped around. She said nothing.
Instead, she beckoned to Spiderpaw to get going.
Trusting Heronkit for what felt like the first time, Spiderpaw slid around and began making his way the other way. He was shaking, and he wanted to bolt back after what he just saw. "What was that?" he murmured, so quietly he could barely hear himself.
Heronkit glanced at him. He knew by the look on her face - she had seen something she wasn't ready for.
The two moved alongside each other through the bushes. Spiderpaw despised how distorted his view was, and he wanted to be back in his nest.
Spiderpaw heaved himself to a stop. He saw the glow again.
He took several paces back, his whiskers sticking out like thorns. Every hair on his pelt raised with panic.
The red glow stopped in place, and Spiderpaw let out an inaudible gasp of sickness.
The red was replaced by green as the movement stopped, and Spiderpaw's stomach curled as his eyes met two deep green cuts of eye.
The kit turned around again, and Spiderpaw could see the panic on her face. But he couldn't move.
Not when he saw the glow turn out to be a figure.
Spiderpaw felt stuck to the spot. He wanted to run and hide with all of his energy, but he felt such fear that he couldn't move. 
Heronkit stood behind him, her eyes wide with uneasiness.
There was no hiding.
Spiderpaw was shaking rapidly.
"I told you not to return," Spiderpaw heard the whisper.
Spiderpaw felt like he was going to be sick. His head was spinning, and with every minute that passed the trees around him distorted.
Heronkit's tail wrapped around Spiderpaw, and with a sickened shock, he could feel Heronkit shaking too.
"I warned you."
Spiderpaw gulped. He felt like he could have fainted, and for a second he was sure he was going to black out.
"Heronkit, what is this?"
Heronkit was still.
So many emotions hit the medicine cat at once, but his thoughts were blocked with panic.
"Please," Spiderpaw begged. "Please reveal yourself."
Spiderpaw didn't hear a grunt. He didn't hear a hiss or a single call of disallowance.
He took a brisk pace back besides Heronkit and let the shadow slip through. "Who are you?" Spiderpaw whispered.