Journey of a flame (Book 1 of A step in the wild direction AU series)

Chapter 4

Scrapping together stale bedding, Firepaw picked it up in his jaws, turning to Ravenpaw. He tilted his head, taking the lead out of camp. They both dropped the moss and bracken down further from camp. 
"I can't believe that Tigerclaw did that to Greypaw" Firepaw sighed, flicking his tail once.
"Is that normal for him?" Firepaw asked, kicking some of the stale bedding with one paw. 
"I can see him doing it to me but not other apprentices" Ravenpaw dipped his head, ears pressed against his head. Firepaw leaned in, pressing his muzzle into Ravenpaw's scruff for comfort. The black and white tom lifted his head, locking eyes with the ginger tom. The bushes rustled seconds before a mouse shot out from the leaves, sprinting towards them. Firepaw leapt in its path, bringing his paw down hard on its back to trap it. It squirmed beneath his paws before Firepaw bit its neck. 
"That's weird. I didn't think prey would run towards us" Firepaw pricked his ears and looked around. Ravenpaw lowered his body.
"I think I'm just bad luck" he grumbled, curling his tail close. Firepaw lifted his head, tilting it to the side.
"How is this bad luck? Its easy prey." Ravenpaw tilted his ears back.
"I don't know. Ever since I got back from that border patrol 2 moons ago weird stuff has been happening around me" Firepaw dug at the ground, burying the mouse in a shallow grave for collection later.
"Like what?" Ravenpaw sighs, head dipping as he led the way to find some moss.
"When I was in the medicine den the other day, some herbs just went flying onto the floor. No one was near them" Firepaw pricked his ears.
"Huh. That is strange" Firepaw followed the black and white apprentice, stopping at the tree where fresh moss was growing. 
"I don't know what could be causing it" he whines, pawing at some moss.
"Maybe your haunted" the ginger tom chuckled. Ravenpaw's fur stood on end.
"Oh Starclan, please don't le that be the case" Firepaw laughed, crouching on the ground.
"Ooooh. I'm a spooky ghost and I've come to haunt you" Ravenpaw squeaked, jumping back and falling over his paws in the process. Firepaw stared at him with an ear twitch.
"You alright?" He got to his paws, shaking out his fur.
"Yeah I think so" both apprentices looked up when the leaves above them shook. 
"Are you feeling a wind?" Firepaw asks. Ravenpaw shook his head. The branch above began swaying up and down, almost like something was jumping on it. Firepaw caught the brief glimpse of something glittering amongst the leaves when they moved but couldn't identify what it was. Ravenpaw's fur stood up. He reached out, grabbing a large chunk of moss in his jaws and quickly backing up. Firepaw hesitated in place, looking between his friend and the swaying branches. He stared up until a pair of glowing golden eyes looked down at him. He let out a yowl of surprise, sprinting off past Ravenpaw who quickly followed. They both skidded to a halt close to the camp entrance, wheezing as they tried to catch their breath.
"Did you see something?" Ravenpaw asks through breaths. Firepaw nodded.
"I saw glowing eyes look down" Ravenpaw let out a whine.
"I really am being haunted. Some evil spirits must have it against me" he groaned, lowering his head.
"Lets not think about it. We can just finish getting Yellowfang's nest cleaned" he picked up the moss that Ravenpaw had dropped, taking the lead into camp. Ravenpaw trailed behind him. Both apprentices looked across the camp where Tigerclaw was sat with Darkstripe and Longtail. All three toms turned to look at them, watching them closely. Ravenpaw quickened his pace to stay close to Firepaw. The ginger apprentice stretched out his tail to run it along Ravenpaw's spine in reassurance. The black and white tom only fluffed his fur out slightly as they continued their walk towards Yellowfang's den. The she-cat lifted her head to look at them.
"Your fur is all puffed up. What's going on?" she asked, flicking one ear. Ravenpaw showed his teeth in a sheepish smile.
"We thought we saw something but it was nothing" his ears lowered. Yellowfang stared between the two, swishing her tail to curl it around her paws but saying nothing. Firepaw dropped the moss, pulling at the bracken that they had gotten from Spottedleaf. Both apprentices got started on making up Yellowfang's nest, pushing the moss and bracken into a more comfortable position for her while the former shadowclan cat watched.