It was time for the apprentices final assessment. They were all tasked to venture into a cave to retrieve a special kind of rock only found at the end of the cave.

The cave had many tunnels and it was easy to get lost in, the leader Leopardstar reassured parents and mentors that if an apprentice did not leave the cave when its sunset, they were to retrieve them.

The apprentices stood outside the cave excitedly except Brownpaw who gazed into the darkness of the cave blankly.

A white apprentice jumped enthusiastically.

"We're gonna be warriors!" She squeaked like a kit clearly excited.

"We have to complete our assessment first Cloudpaw.." A brown tabby tom pointed out rolling his eyes.

"I know Twigpaw, I'm just excited." Cloudpaw mewed happily.

"I don't know guys.. What if we get lost? Or get hurt?" A small grey tom meowed shakily.

"Seriously Mousepaw stop being a scaredy-mouse.." A stocky white and grey tabby tom teased.

"Silverpaw's right Mousepaw we'll be okay. If we get lost our mentors will come find us.." Twigpaw reassured Mousepaw.

"Is everyone ready!?" Leopardstar yowled as the clan eagerly answered and the apprentices got into their places.

"GO!"
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"Its so dark.."

"Ya think?! Its a cave Mouse-brain!"

"Guys focus! We need the find the stone!"

Suddenly a loud bang was heard on the stony walls.

"What was that!?" Cloudpaw yelled.

Suddenly rocks fell down from the ceiling and covered of the entrance to the cave they came from.

"We're trapped!" Mousepaw yowled.

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Meanwhile outside of the cave cats stared at the collapsed cave in shock and fear as everyone began to panic.

Frozenfern was also in shock. Would they be okay?

Suddenly a yowl rose up and cats swiveled their heads quickly to the source.

The deputy, Rainfrost as well as two warriors looked utterly horrified.

"Nightdusk and Lilykit...Are

Dead!"

Shocked yowls and gasps were heard from the crows of cats and Frozenfern's blue eyes widened in terror as dread filled her.

She rushed over to the leader. "Get them out! Get them out of there! GET THEM OUT NOW!" She bellowed.

Leopardstar's eyes widened in shock and confusion.

"What why? What's wrong!?"

But Frozenfern didn't answer, her gaze was locked onto the entrance of the cave, terrified.

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"W-we have to keep going.." Twigpaw mewed now afraid.

The apprentices had no choice but to keep moving, during that time none of them seemed to notice Brownpaw's sudden disappearance.

Mousepaw trailed off into a separate tunnel as he trekked alone, well he thought he was, but he could feel something watching him.

Before he could say anything, a brown blur tackled him to the ground and bit into his neck, the light from Mousepaw's blue eyes faded as Brownpaw got up from him, blood drizzling down his chin.

Cloudpaw and Twigpaw were together sniffing every stony wall and crevice.

Amber eyes stared at them as they walked on, Brownpaw slowly crept closer to them from the dark.

Twigpaw paused.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Cloudpaw asked confused.

Before Twigpaw could answer Brownpaw pounced onto him, his claws digging into his shoulders.

"TWIGPAW!" Cloudpaw yelled as she tried to pounce onto Brownpaw, Twigpaw tried to buck him off but to no avail.

Brownpaw sunk his teeth into Twigpaws neck as he howled on pain.

"You're hurting him!" Cloudpaw hissed trying to claw at Brownpaw.

Twigpaw eventually collapsed and heaved a final breath before stilling.

"NO!" Cloudpaw screeched leaping towards Brownpaw.

Brownpaw immediately swiped his claws over Cloudpaw's neck as she tumbled to the ground gurgling on her own blood.

"M-m-monster.." She rasped.

Brownpaw simply lifted a bloody paw and licked it clean before heading off to search for Silverpaw.

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Outside the clan heard the howl of pain from inside the cave.

"GET THEM OUT NOW!" Frozenfern shrieked demandingly.

Leopardstar nodded to his warriors to start digging them out.

As the rest of the clan watched with horrified expressions.

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Silverpaw was padding into the deeper darker depths of the cave, his ears twitched as he sensed something was wrong.

"Mousepaw? Cloudpaw? Hello!? Twigpaw?" He called out uncomfortably, his fur bristling.

"Hello."

Silverpaw quickly turned to see Brownpaw leaping at him with bared fangs.

He yelped in shock barely dodging Brownpaw's claws as they raked his side.

"Wh-what are you doing!?" Silverpaw hissed his ears flat.

But Brownpaw didn't answer and leapt again at the grey and white tabby tom, this time, raking his ears and muzzle.

"Traitor!"

Silverpaw yowled at him as he began to fight back he then got pinned to the ground and Silverpaw raked Brownpaw's belly fur with his hind legs trying to get him off.

Brownpaw hissed at his face, his face only a whisker away from Silverpaw's.

Silverpaw so at angrily at Brownpaw before Brownpaw bent down to sink his bloody fangs into Silverpaw's neck, Silverpaw gave one last howl of pain before Brownpaw tore out his throat.

---------------

Back outside the cats couldn't barely dig into the cave and Frozenfern just watched fearfully before catching some movement in the rubble.

The cats stopped digging and backed away confused.

Once the rocks moved out of the way Brownpaw, his brown fur splattered with blood and his dark brown paws soaked in it.

His amber eyed were dangerous and cold, but once he fully got out of the rubble he glanced at every cat, who watched him with their jaws wide open in absolute shock.

A few heartbeats went by before a few cats tried to rush over to Brownpaw, hissing spitting and yowling at him. They were the mentors and parents of the other apprentices.

Meanwhile Brownpaw gave a small smile and began to bow politely, like it was some sort of show.

Frozenfern stood there frozen.
She could only watch her son, her bright blue eyes now wide, in absolute sheer horror and disgust.