Stonepaw awoke in a dream. He was in a forest. He saw a strange silhouette standing behind him. The mute cat gave the odd creature a scared look. the creature stepped forward. It was a snow leopard. "Hello. I noticed you want to speak. I can grant you this. My name is Claw." he drew a circle on the ground with his paw. "Now to speak, put your paw here. I know you are a good cat. You will have many good things to say." Stonepaw did as Claw said. The circle began to glow red. The whole forest turned dark red. Stonepaw was unable to move. Claw laughed. "You desperate cat! Whenever you say a word, I will take over more of your mind! But, I know this won't stop you from saying your mind. SPEAK!" Stonepaw nervously said "Why are you doing this to me..?" He felt a sharp pain on his neck. A cut appeared there, bleeding a black liquid. Stonepaw, finally able to move, ran away, He could still see the light of the circle and hear Claw's laughter. The apprentice awoke to his sister, Featherpaw, and the healer, Cherryfrost, standing over him, looking concerned. "You bled in your sleep. That's not blood." Cherryfrost said. She felt some of the black stuff on her paw. She left the den and went to her own. She took Featherpaw and Stonepaw to Talonstar's den. "Sir, the Dark Realm has spoken." Stonepaw looked at her. He said "Is that good or bad?"
