Blackfrost padded away from Brownpaw, who was now starting to recover from the berries already.

I have to find Heatherpaw.

She dashed out to the forest where she had last seen the black-furred she-cat. "Heatherpaw!" She yowled. "Where are you?" A small laugh was heard from behind her, and Blackfrost turned around to see Heatherpaw herself.

"You should have seen your face! You were so worried about that useless cat!" Heatherpaw growled, smiling despite what she had done.

"Heatherpaw! Why did you give Brownpaw deathberries? You knew what they were, and you must have wanted him to die. But why?" Blackfrost narrowed her eyes at the apprentice, not knowing what to expect.

Heatherpaw laughed mockingly. "Oh, Blackfrost..." She sneered. "I tried to kill him for the same reason that you killed Adderstar. And Pebblestream. And Eaglestar." The she-cat defiantly flicked her tail, before growling two words that sent shivers down Blackfrost's spine; "For Power."

"H-how did you find out about that?" Blackfrost struggled to keep her voice steady, but failed.

Heatherpaw circled the deputy like a hawk about to swoop in on it's prey. "A nice cat named Hawkfrost told me." She stopped circling to focus on Blackfrost's wide blue eyes. "He is from the Dark Forest, and he has a plan for me. A plan for power!"

Blackfrost felt a horrible feeling well up in her chest. And struggled to keep still.

"What? Scared of me? Hawkfrost said you would be. After all, he did teach me everything I know." Heatherpaw sat down and wrapped her tail neatly around her paws.

Blackfrost gritted her teeth. "But you're only an apprentice." She choked out.

"You were only an apprentice too, Blackfrost." Heatherpaw rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm done here. My mission is to kill Stormstar anyway, not you. Yet."

As Heatherpaw began to pad away, Blackfrost unleashed what she'd been holding in; attacking the smaller she-cat with full force.

Heatherpaw rolled over and battered at her belly, but the apprentice was no match for a full-grown warrior; even with training from the Dark Forest. Blackfrost leaned in and bit open the she-cat's throat, knowing it was finally over.

She sighed and padded away to wash herself in a stream.

This is becoming all too common.

"W-why did you attack H-Heatherpaw?" A small voice muttered from behind her.

With wide eyes, Blackfrost turned around and saw Brownpaw, wide eyed and fluffed up to twice his size, cowering on the forest floor.

"Brownpaw," she said gently, "don't worry. It was for the best, I promise." Blackfrost's voice was steady and she watched the young apprentice as he didn't relax.

"You...you killed her!" He meowed, fear scent wafting off of him.

"Yes, I did. But she tried to kill you. Didn't you want justice?" She asked, struggling to stay as calm as she sounded.

"N-not like that...She didn't mean to give me deathberries. It was an accident!" Brownpaw backed away slowly, not taking his eyes off the deputy.

Blackfrost narrowed her eyes. "Brownpaw, please trust me. It was for the best."

Brownpaw shook his head. "I-I can never trust you again, Blackfrost! I will never be a part of a clan that you lead!" He dashed away through the forest, without another word, towards the Thunderclan border.

Blackfrost sat down, running through everything a thousand times in her head.

Was I wrong to kill Heatherpaw? She was evil, right? Where will Brownpaw go? Thunderclan? Will he tell them what I've done?

Too many questions were waiting to be answered, and Blackfrost had no time for them.

Maybe if I just sit here, Starclan will have mercy on me.